You Just Never Know...

... what your online friends are going to be like when you finally meet in real life.

I was pleased to find out Nancy was as nice in person as she'd come across online. For two people who proclaim they're quiet, there weren't many moments where silence filled the air. Sometimes there's an uncomfortable awkwardness in meeting people from the world wide web. Fortunately for us, that wasn't the case. We got along famously, I thought. :)

I've followed Nancy's blog since she started one, plus we've emailed back and forth about various things, so I felt pretty good about having her stay the weekend when she suggested it. She's from Michigan and her coworker's daughter lives in the big city just east of me. So, we took the opportunity to meet and hang out. On a cloudy, rainy Friday afternoon, I trekked my way across two counties to pick up her up.

Since we were in the city, I suggested we take advantage of the opporunities to stash shop -- Michaels (25% off coupon), Hobby Lobby, JoAnn Fabrics, and an LNS!

After we got to my house, Nancy unpacked her bag and held up two bottles of wine, one in each hand. "I brought wine!" Nancy's DH makes wine... and does a great job of it, too! We spent the rest of the night drinking wine and talking as she looked through my stash of charts and magazines.


On Saturday, we did get some stitching in before and after our visit with Deborah in IA. I have to say the trip to IA was much easier than it was the last time I went to see Deborah. It seemed much shorter, too, since Nancy was there to keep me company. :) Deborah was in good spirits and we all had a nice long visit. I had my florist make up a special basket of Deborah's favorite colors: mauves, pinks, and purples. She just loved it. Nancy gave Deborah the flatfold she made in the class, along with a nice smelling Yankee candle/warmer. We both took projects to show Deborah, too.

Me showing Deborah my Pink Carnations box and Christmas ornies
Nancy showing Deborah Tuscany Town Mandela
Me, Deborah, & Nancy
With a little over an hour drive home, we had to say our goodbye's to Deborah. She invited us both back for another visit. It was really nice to sit and chat with her. She's got quite the sense of humor. :)

On the way home, Nancy and I both determined we were starving, since we hadn't eaten anything since breakfast (and at that point it was around 6pm). We drove... and drove... and drove... before we saw anything resembling a restaurant. This particular restaurant had the word "RESTAURANT" handpainted on it's roof so you could see it from the road, LOL. Come to find out from the local gas station attendant, it's the only restaurant in town. It was surprisingly busy and nice on the inside... a small mom-and-pop family style restaurant. The food was pretty good, too! It was kinda funny... We both went in starving, and came out overstuffed. LOL

After getting back to my house, Nancy worked on a flatfold and then we both worked on our stitching projects. We were so immersed, and neither of us were talking! Nancy worked on Mystic Fruit & Cheese, and I worked on JG. I was SO impressed at Nancy's ability to stitch two-handed! She was zipping right along on F&C, while I was plodding along like a mule pulling a plow through a field. The frog came to visit me and JG not once, but twice! Determined to finish the over-one stitching, I trudged forward until it was all done. At midnight, I went to bed. I'm not sure what time Nancy went to sleep.

Had to take Nancy back to the city on Sunday. The morning was pretty uneventful... spent getting ready and driving. Remnants of Hurricane Ike is reaching his cold wet fingers way up into Illinois and working his way east across Chicago, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio right now.

My trip back home
This is nothing compared to areas NE of me are getting.
It was really great to meet another stitching member from my online groups, and to see Deborah again. I hope we all can get together again! More pics can be seen HERE.