Virtual Retreat 2017

[wendy w.]

Thanks, you guys, for the thoughts & prayers for us here in Texas. I think it's Brenda and me....anyone else near Houston-ish? Or now southern Louisiana as well? I guess I'd say "along the coast" really, as it goes south/below Houston too....?

For me and mine, we are fine. We are very fortunate to be high enough and in a well-enough planned neighborhood that even with 35"+ of rain in 3 days, our neighborhood streets filled & emptied, over and over again, but never did the water cross the sidewalks along the street, get even into front yards, or anywhere near the houses. We're also located well away from both rivers in our town/area, between the 2 but far enough from each that flooding from neither one will reach me.

We have a family (good friends of ours) who had to evacuate their home in case of potential river flooding, now staying with us until the river crests today and the water recedes sometime this weekend. Earliest predictions of the river suggested their home would likely flood, but as the storm moved, the rain slowed, and then stopped for us, the predictions have gone down and now it seems certain that the levees around their neighborhood will be sufficient to protect their home (but they will still be cut off from accessing their home until the water recedes).

The worst part for our particular area is that it's the same people who flooded last year and the year before that....both of those were "100 year flood events" or greater, back to back (May 2015, April 2016, and now this in Aug 2017), so it's just particularly devastating to any that endured/suffered both of those to be doing it yet again. And of course Harvey was so insanely humongous that it flooded tons and tons and tons of people who never flooded before at all.

I have not yet talked to Brenda, am going to try and text her, but sadly I suspect very strongly that if she hasn't flooded yet, she will; I do not believe that anyone who flooded last year (or any structure that flooded) will escape the floods this time......it is just too great an amount of rain, the rivers are all cresting even higher than they did last year, which was already record setting (they called last year's a "500 yr flood event", and this one an "800 yr flood event'), and our city and those adjacent to us had 35" to 45" of rain from Saturday to Monday/Tuesday. Houston area normally averages 50" for the entire year.

If I am able to text her & hear back, I'll update you guys, or if anyone else emails her and hears something before me, please do share.

Most of Houston is beginning recovery mode now, aside from those waiting on rivers to crest. Folks all over are out sorting donations, helping at the shelters, taking food, etc., so much so that many shelters in the area are to the point of turning away donations of all but cleaning supplies and pet food. We're going to see what shelters are accepting in our area and take some things; I know one location near us is partnering with the local ministry that does year-round help for food, clothing, etc, and they are accepting the overflow of items not needed now but that might be needed in weeks and months to come as people get back into their homes and discover what they need.

Please keep praying for the folks in the way of the storm; it's hitting east Texas now around the Texas/Louisiana border, and the devastation just keeps growing. Towns to the southwest of us (along all the rivers, the Colorado River, the San Bernard River, the Brazos River, and the San Jacinto river) and along the various reservoirs are all the ones currently in danger of flooding as most of the rain water flooding has subsided for Houston and below (but not north/east of us up the coast, as Harvey moves that way).

But, for me personally, we're good. Brenda....I'm not sure. I'll try and reach out to her.

[Catherine S.]

Heather, thank you for updating us. I have been so worried about you and everyone else in Texas. We will continue to keep you all in our prayers. Let us know if you get in touch with Brenda. We may not be blood relatives, but you are family to us. Take care and be safe. I will add your friends to my special prayer list that their home is safe and they can return to it when the water is down. I am sure you will be blessed for helping them. Now, I need to go call my friend in San Antonia. I am sure she is fine, but I have been waiting for things to settle down before bothering her.

[Catherine S.]

Heather glad to hear you and yours are safe. Prayers for all those caught in the deluge.

On a happier note I have heard this evening that Maxiature has won first place in the miniatures class at the Great Northern Quilt Show, :woohoo: and unlike FoQ they award ribbons B) Will get to see it on Sunday.

[Catherine S.]

Congratulations Rosemary, I'm very excited for you.

[Nancy R.]

Congratulations, Rosemary! How exciting!!

[Geneva C.]

Heather thank you for letting us know that you are safe. Please do keep us updated if you hear from Brenda. I am so sorry that this awful storm has hurt so many people. My prayers are with you.

Rosemary!!! Yippee! Congratulations to you and and well deserved.

Geneva

[wendy w.]

great news Rosemary, well done. :cheer:

[wendy w.]

Rosemary, congratulations!!!

I did post in Row Robin, but will post here, too....I spoke to Brenda via text and she did get 18" of water in her home but was feeling very positive, already had workers there thanks to her good contractor, and while of course no one wants to go through a flood two years in a row, she did sound grateful not to have gotten it worse, as some of her neighbors did, and so much of the surrounding areas.

Our friends who are staying with us are so far still dry and the current river projections indicate it should stay dry, just waiting for water to recede so they can get home. We're all doing well; it's quite a blessing to have a family of 5 stay with you for 5+ days and still feel like you'll be sad to see them go. Just last night at dinner, the mom of the other family asked me, "So, when this is over y'all will move in at our house for a week, right?" In a kidding manner, but just to indicate how well we're all getting along still, and proving wrong the saying of "fish & company, after 3 days, both start to smell" Not the case here, quite the opposite, so really things are good.

Will be sporadic in posting just now as we help our less fortunate neighbors, but your thoughts and prayers for our community & those affected means a great deal. Thank you!

[Renata L.]

Congratulations, Rosemary, well done! Excited that your Maxiature ribboned, well deserved!

[Pamela N.]

Congratulations Rosemary - I'm delighted for you x

[Pamela N.]

Not just ribboned, but cupped as well! (Although I only get to keep the cup for a year, but then my name gets engraved on it).

Thanks to Lorchan for taking the photo. We had a great time meeting up and Izzy came too



In her new skirt I made for her yesterday -very swishy and she loves it.

[Pamela N.]

Not just ribboned, but cupped as well! (Although I only get to keep the cup for a year, but then my name gets engraved on it).

Thanks to Lorchan for taking the photo. We had a great time meeting up and Izzy came too

In her new skirt I made for her yesterday -very swishy and she loves it.

[Pamela N.]

That's fabulous Rosemary and such a well deserved win! x

[Pat L.]

Congratulations Rosemary!

[Sharon E.]

Rosemary that is WONDERFUL and a beautiful ribbon hanging too. I guess I missed somewhere that your quilt is a mini. WOW

Sharon