You might have noticed that Mandy and I sent out a survey recently. We’re in need of a bit of input to make the necessary changes so that we can keep on providing crops for you to attend. One of the more repeated comments is along the lines of “I’d love to come for a weekend retreat, but I don’t have anyone to go with.” To this I say, please just come. I know it’s scary to go someplace by yourself, especially when you’re not used to it and you don’t know anyone there. Mandy and I don’t bite, and neither has anyone who has attended any of the past 6 events. There’s a lot of laughter that happens, a lot of good natured banter and joking around and a lot of constructive collaboration. “What do you think of this?” or “I’m stuck on this layout, what does it need?” I’ve watched strangers become family. It’s a magical thing and I don’t want anyone to miss out on it. I am the one who assigns roommates to the singletons and I make a point of having the potential roommates exchange contact information so you can get to know one another before you share a room. I want everyone to have a good time at our retreats and I’m more than willing to do whatever I have to (within reason) to make that happen.
Another question that came up this weekend is tipping the MM Lodge staff. Tipping is not mandatory but it is appreciated by all of the staff members. They work hard at treating us like we are goddesses and if you feel they deserve something extra as thanks, please do so. When I’m checking out, I tell Dave or Bill “this is for housekeeping, this is for the kitchen and dining room staff, this is for the bar…” and hand over a couple of bucks for each. A great resource for Bed and Breakfast Etiquette can be found at http://abedofroses.com/blog/
The last question that I want to touch on is “Why isn’t anyone here on Thursday?” The
answer is simple: money. I would love to open the crop on Thursday and make it a 4 day event, but Mandy and I can’t afford to. We have careers that do not *gasp* involve scrapbooking and families that enjoy our company. More often than not, I am able to get out of work early enough to drive to Mountain Meadows Thursday afternoon so I can stay overnight and set up first thing Friday and be ready when everyone arrives but it’s rare that I can be there early enough to have everything set up for a full extra day of cropping. I encourage anyone to come up the night before and not have to rush around in the morning. An extra night is $89 per person plus tax and includes continental
breakfast the following morning. (Rates are subject to change). Dave assures me that there is an awesome pizza place that will deliver to the lodge for those who didn’t have a chance to grab dinner on the road. If pizza isn’t your thing, Rutland is a hop skip and a jump up Route 4 and they have many restaurants right on the main drag.
Mandy will be updating the website shortly with pictures from the October 2012 weekend and the registration information has been changed to reflect the 2013 dates. We hope you will join us March 15-17, 2013 and again November 8-10, 2013.
-Liz