Scrap, Rap, Draft, and Craft! Ponder Place Retreat, Texas

Ponder Place- 13-16 September 2018

Oh how I love to scrap and craft!  Attending a Scrapbooking Retreat has been on my bucket list for years and years and finally I find myself at one in Ponder, Texas.  Not my favorite state in the world, believe me, it is actually on my most least favorite list.  But, my friend, Jojo lives here and she invited me to this "scraptacular "event.

The woman who planned and built this fantastic place ...well she has thought of everything. It's equipped with everything a scrapper/crafter could or would, want and need.

A very large parking lot greets you with room to back in, in front of the door to unload all your crafting supplies. Open the door and enter into a garage sized room equipped with 16, 6 ft craft tables, printer, cricket machine, 2 TVs hung on the wall, movie bin, small refrigerator for water  and a small powder room. The beautiful gray hardwood like floors give it a very welcoming feel.  Each table is decked out with an OTTLITE, large cutting mat, a shelf, trashcan, drink holder, three drawer storage bin, and a foot rest for those shorter people whose legs may not touch the floor.  Six large windows bring in beautiful sunshine for good lighting.

The kitchen is modern with white cabinets and black granite counter tops . Two refrigerators for storage of food that you are allowed to bring. You have free range of all dishes, glasses, pots and pans, utensils, etc. There is a rooster theme here. Cock a doodle doo! A Kuerig machine and a regular coffee maker greet you in the morning. Breakfast bars, oatmeal, snacks are on the house too!  But, you can cook whatever you bring and share or not share. Up to you. Two dining rooms tables accommodate the 16 people who are attending.  Clean up after yourself and it remains clean and tidy.

The small lounge area provides a bit of quiet time if you wish. A small couch and two chairs are just enough . In this area also is a small boutique with Creative Memories supplies for you to peruse over or buy from the local consultant.








 
There are 5 bedrooms all decorated with the same circle comforters. Lime green, purple, browns on a background of cream. Lovely. All single beds, NO BUNK. Yeah!  And the mattresses...omg...like Goldilocks would like....just right. Wonderfully comfortable, sleep you will.  You can choose from a 5 bed, 3x3 bed, 2 bed, room.  Three full baths to shower and do your ablutions. All bright white and dark fixtures and new.  On each bed is a dark brown leather-like basket with two fluffy white towels and two washcloths. A small table between beds to store your jewels, phones, and trinkets.  The whole house has beautiful dark "hardwood" floors throughout the house. That fake stuff sure is nice!

Out the back door is a huge yard looking out over pastures and fields. A portico protects you if you wish to sit outside at the deck table and chairs. It is hot in Texas so am sure during the cooler months this is well used, especially at sunset because you will find beautiful ones here.  All they need, in my opinion, is a hot tub, small swimming pool, and a fire pit.

So what am I making?  I am working on my Junk Journals. I plan to finish my travel notebook with a train theme, then start two or three Halloween Junk Journals.  Junk Journals are  my new passion and I will continue to do them until all my ideas stop .  Scrapping my photos will be in-between all my Junk Journals.

There are 11 other women here with me. I only know two, but it's fun getting to know others who share the same passion that I do. We all are learning about each other's family and there could be a great chance for longer and deeper friendships. Lovely ladies.  Jojo and I have been friends for 12 or more years. We have a lot of inside jokes which no  one could possibly get but us. I laughed so hard with her here that I almost wet my pants.  Got to remember to get some poise pads if I go on a long trip with her where we are sightseeing and standing...eeekkk...a little leak. We chat, we watch TV or listen to music, or are comfortable in our own crafting silence. Silence being part of "crafting/scrapping" because most of us do not attend weekend retreats every week, we scrap alone in our own home. All in all this was a very enjoyable long weekend. I highly recommend Ponder Place for scrapping/crafting fun!