I felt funny asking Mason to haul everything if I wasn’t going in his car, so I looked at Barry and he shrugged a yes and started to load up the Tahoe.

Mason stepped close to me. “It was a memorable weekend.”

I thanked him for everything, and hugged him. Barry was busy arranging all the extra stuff in the Tahoe as Mason went on to his rental Explorer.

Other retreaters were getting in their cars and leaving, or heading for the airport in cabs. I took one last look around the weathered buildings of Asilomar and climbed in the front seat of the Tahoe. Barry got in his side and started the motor, but before he could put the car in gear, Mason ran in front of the hood, waving his arms.

Barry stuck his head out the window. “Is something wrong?”

“The motor won’t turn over on the Explorer,” Mason said. “The rental place is coming to pick it up, but they can’t guarantee when they can get me a replacement. So I’m kind of stranded. I was hoping I could hitch a ride back to Tarzana with you.”

“What about flying back?”

“Not an option. All the flights are booked up.” Did I detect the glint of a smile in Mason’s eyes?

Barry was unmoved. “You could call another rental company.”

Mason was unmoved, too. “I already tried. Would you believe there isn’t a car available in the area?”

Barry blew his breath out, clearly not pleased with the way this was going, and I don’t think he exactly believed Mason. “How about I try calling for you? I bet I can find an available car.” Barry locked eyes with Mason. Mason pulled out his cell phone and reached out to hand it to Barry, calling his bluff.

“Never mind. Get in,” Barry grunted in capitulation. Mason was definitely smiling as he went for his things.

“You must be tired from driving up here,” Mason said after he loaded his duffel bag in the back. “I’d be happy to drive.”

“No worries, pal, I have it covered,” Barry said with gritted teeth as he put the SUV in gear.

As we drove out the gate of Asilomar, Mason leaned against my seat and showed me the hook and yarn he still had from Izabelle’s workshop. “Maybe on the way back you could show me how to crochet,” he said. “I’d like to make a dog sweater for Spike. Of course, I’ll need your help.”

I watched Barry clench his jaw and I knew what he was thinking. Mason fought dirty.

It was going to be a long ride home.

All-Purpose Pouch Purse

Using the J hook and Red Heart Designer Sport yarn, chain 16.

Row 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across. 15 single crochet stitches made. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: Single crochet in the first stitch and across. 15 single crochet stitches made. Chain 1 and turn.

Repeat row 2 twenty-two more times. On the last row do not chain one or turn; instead, finish off.

Make two pieces with above directions. Place them together, right sides facing out. Join pieces by attaching yarn with a slip stitch on the top left side. Working through both thicknesses, do a single crochet in the same stitch and continue single crocheting down the side. At the corner do 3 single crochets and then continue single crocheting along the bottom. At the next corner do 3 single crochets, then continue single crocheting up the other side. Add an extra single crochet on the top stitch. Do not finish off. Chain 120 for the handle and, being careful not to twist the chains, connect to the other side with a slip stitch. Do not finish off.

Beginning with the first stitch of the body of the bag, start the picot stitch *(chain 3, single crochet in the third chain from the hook, single crochet in the next 2 single crochets)* Repeat from *to* around the body of the bag. Do not finish off; instead, continue and make a single crochet in each of the handle’s chain stitches. End with slip stitch in the first stitch in the body. Finish off. Weave in ends.

With the H hook and Bernat Glow in the Dark yarn chain 10 and join with a slip stitch.

Round 1: Chain 1 and do 18 single crochets in the ring. (Mark the first single crochet with safety pin or stitch marker.) Slip stitch to marked first single crochet.

Round 2: Chain 1, single crochet in the marked stitch from the previous round, * chain 3, skip the next two single crochets, and single crochet in the next single crochet. *Repeat *to* 4 times. Chain 3 and slip stitch into first single crochet.

Round 3: Slip stitch to move the yarn to the next chain 3 space *(single crochet, double crochet, double crochet. Triple crochet, double crochet, double crochet, single crochet).* Repeat *to* in the 5 chain 3 spaces for the petals. End with slip stitch to first single crochet. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Tack flower or flowers to front of pouch purse.

Flowers can also be attached to pin backings and worn as a pin.

Note: Flower can also be made in Red Heart Designer Sport yarn.

Using a P hook (11.50 mm) and white Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn, yarn over and put hook through chain stitch, pull yarn back through, yarn over, go through 2 loops on the hook, which leaves 2 loops on the hook; yarn over, go through stitch, pull yarn back through, yarn over, go through 2 loops on hook; which leaves 3 loops on hook; yarn over, go through stitch, pull yarn through, yarn over, go through 2 loops on hook, which leaves 4 loops on hook; yarn over, go through stitch, pull yarn through, yarn over, go through 2 loops, which leaves 5 loops on hook; pull yarn through all 5 loops. Chain 1.

Note: Adele is still trying to figure what to do with the stitch.

Commander Blaine’s Savory and Sweet Mini Cream Puffs

½ cup butter

1 cup milk

1 cup bread flour

4 large eggs at room temperature, unbeaten

Put butter and milk in a heavy saucepan and bring to boil. Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture no longer sticks to the side of the pan. Remove from heat and cool ten minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating with the wooden spoon until the egg is completely mixed in.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a buttered cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes, until the puffs are golden. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut off tops, fill and replace tops. Makes about 30 appetizer-size puffs.

Filling

SAVORY

8 ounces of sour cream

3.5 ounce jar of black lumpfish caviar or 15 kalamata olives, finely chopped

Place approximately 1 tablespoon sour cream in puffs and garnish with approximately ⅓ teaspoon caviar or 1 chopped olive. Replace the top of the puff. Makes about 15 savory cream puffs.

Other savory options: ham, cheese, lox and cream cheese, creamed spinach, crab salad, egg salad, chicken salad.

SWEET

8 ounces whipping cream, whipped

About 15 strawberries sliced thin

Place about 1 strawberry in puff with about 2 tablespoons of whipped cream on top. Replace the top of the puff. Makes about 15 sweet cream puffs.