Quilt Retreat is only nine days away. (Can I get a hallelujah?) Not that I'm counting. Or crossing days off on the calendar. Or gleefully removing links from my paper chain.

And that means that O'Dell and Bernina have been spending lots of time together again. The gossip has been flying over egg salad sandwiches and fresh lemonade. Between sewing seams and proofing invitations for the hospital benefit, they're busy swapping plans for new curtains in the family room and recipes for chicken pot pie and figuring out the Easter dinner menu.

This morning O'Dell told Berni that she looked tired.

"I was up late last night. It's like this every year. A mad dash of sewing before quilt retreat."

O'Dell harrumphs loudly. "Well girl, don't wear yourself out. You've got quilt retreat next week. You've got to get some rest before then."

Berni just shakes her head and sighs dramatically, "I just have to survive the next couple of weeks and then she'll ignore me for the rest of the year." Berni loves to play the martyr. Overworked or ignored, it's impossible to make her happy.

We all survived our first day back to life. Last night we ate dinner out on the porch and listed our grievances: Fractions and decimals and the upcoming standardized testing were all vociferously maligned. This morning I planned out our day like we were going into battle, coordinating troop movements and checking supply lines. It turns out that today is the busiest day of the year (I had no idea), but we all have plans to meet back here around eight and share O'Dell's fried chicken and dumplings together. I may even whip up a lemon pie just to celebrate our getting through the day.

Spring break already feels like a very long time ago.