Your stats go into the clinker.
Well, sometimes “real life” needs to ride shotgun in the pickup truck. Last weekend, I met some wonderful women bloggers from Oklahoma. I drove all the way out to the Lazy W Ranch way over on the other side of central, rural Oklahoma. If you visit the other bloggers listed below, you’ll see that the star of the meeting was M.I.A., a Toulouse goose who had a thing for Rose. However, I was all about the chickens and the baby buffalo. Only in Oklahoma would a blogger meeting also feature a buffalo. Seriously.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was energizing. We had all ages and ranges from the blogosphere, and I loved talking to Oklahoma women because, honestly, I miss my Red Dirt Sisters. Working full time writing, I don’t get out as much as I once did. If I’m not writing, I’m helping people with their gardens, taking care of kids, or working in my own plot.
Although we all blog about different topics, we all had one thing in common. That spark of creativity which led us to blog in the first place. We have passion.
There were lots of funny tweets from the Bloggers Ball, as it was named by Katie J. My personal favorite was “Write drunk and edit sober.” Although I don’t drink, I still get it. Don’t you?
I think I put everyone on my blogroll, but you might miss them there. So, if you have a hankerin’ to visit with some Oklahomans other than little ole me, here’s your chance. They’re great girls . . . everyone one of them.
Kelly from the Red Dirt Chronicles with her co-bloggers, tells us the what’s going on in Oklahoma. She is also the one who put this shindig together. Thanks so much Kelly for inviting us. Great bloggers abound in Oklahoma.
Marie from The Lazy W who was the hostess with the mostest. She really was. She made the most awesome alcohol-free sangria I’ve ever tasted. Perhaps, she’ll share the recipe one day on her blog? Her house is also the cutest, and she made everyone feel at home.
Allison from Refunk my Junk. She is a businesswoman superb, a blogger and crafter who turns stuff from Craigslist and other venues into to fun stuff you can actually use and abuse.
Brooke, an Agriculture expert from Rural Gone Urban, who took a chance with an online job listing for a social media expert and is now working for the Chickasaw Nation. How cool is that? She’s a great example of how you can step out there and make your dreams come true. Read her story.
Rose from Roserock, Oklahoma. You know I’m gonna love anyone named Rose. My mama’s name is Rose, and of course, it’s my fave flower. Also, where else in the world can you find red rose rocks? Only here baby. Only here. Rose keeps her personal stuff separate from her day job, but her writing is worth traveling for. She is a generous soul and knows a ton about social media and how to use it.
Katie from Dishin’ and Dishes. I’ve been watching Katie on KFOR and Freedom 43 for awhile now and reading her tweets and personal/professional blog. I recognized her, but she didn’t know she’d been reading me too. She’s got a new book coming out in a few months where she gives us the scoop on all the fantastic food to be found here. Oh, and there is lots of great food in Oklahoma. I didn’t get this body from eating Twinkies.
Laura from The Steen Style who is also a decorator. I just read her piece on her new wood floors, and boy-oh-boy, they are beautiful, but I’ve laid those suckers myself. I could see all the hard work she and her husband put into them, and it took me back to when Bill and I remodeled our log home.
Sonya, from Beyond the Screen Door, another wonderful decorator. I see a theme here, and perhaps, I should write about decorating or food instead of gardening. Nah, gardening is my first love, and if you saw my house, you’d know I’m no decorator. More of a collector really. Anyway, Sonya’s piece on damask was so interesting. I loved it.
Some of us had blogged for a long time–long in terms of blogging anyway. Others were just starting. We talked of juggling all the parts of our lives. Something women have struggled with throughout time. We also discussed staying true to ourselves and our unique voices. It was a beautiful spring day in the middle of winter, and in the midst of the sunshine and blue skies, a wave of fresh spring air blew on the Oklahoma wind.
When I looked a your list ofBLOGGERS…I thought HOW YOUNG YOU ALL ARE…..I’m 73 and love to read about your flowersmfood and decorating….please don’t forget we seniors love to read what you young women are finding to talk about…
How fun to meet bloggers from all over our state with different blog styles! I have met Katie before and she is married to my friend’s brother…”Mr. Wonderful”. His sister is a talented jewelry and glass bead maker. Sounds and looks like you all had a great time. Love the baby buffalo!
Miss Bloomers
Love the chicken photo! And, really loved your summary of the day…bless you!
Blogger get-togethers are always fun, as you know, and it’s good to see such solidarity among Sooner State bloggers. Keep on blogging!
Sounds like a great time. I’m glad you got to get some inspiration from what looks like a great group of gals.
Ah, Hemmingway. What a guy and what a writer. Though I suspect he edited and wrote in the same condition.
Looks like you have a great network of writers to stimulate thoughts, experiences and good times.
Yes, I think Hemingway was often inebriated, but I still love For Whom the Bell Tolls. They are an excellent group, and we plan on more meetings with more bloggers up your way. I’ll let you know.
What a great get together! I have only met with a couple bloggers from my area and that was when I lived in VA. We did a few ‘field trips’. Looking forward to getting to know the Spring Flingers– think it will be a super charged weekend!
Hi Janet, ooh field trips! That would be fun. I’ll suggest it. Can’t wait to see you at the Fling in May.
Woohoo, great story!! Thanks for these photos too. You’re right, it was energizing in every way. So glad to have met you, Dee, and I hope to talk dirt & tomatoes with you privately as time goes by. XOXO
Hi Marie, I’m glad you liked it. We will talk dirt and tomatoes a lot this summer.
What fun. It is always a good time when you meet up with your friends. I will have to check-out some of these other blogs.
And, Lisa, bloggers make such good friends.
Oh, honey, what fun you had! Thanks for passing along the blogs. I must look up more here in AL, but as you say, I’m either taking care of children, the family, house and garden, or writing. It’s all okay– creativity comes from chaos. Oh, and the heroine of my new book project is Rose. I, too, adore the name. Well, obviously. ~Rosebud
Rosebude, we did have such fun. You would have loved everyone. Creativity comes from chaos. I love that.
One of the most awesome things about blogging—meeting the bloggers. Thanks for sharing these ladies’ sites.
Yes, it’s some of the best part. I think you’ll enjoy their sites.
Life certainly is more important and this seems a wonderful gathering…how lucky you all are.
Donna, that’s how I feel too.
What a fab gathering Dee. I know what you mean about how getting together with fellow bloggers is energising 🙂
I went on a web writing course last year – ‘Write drunk, edit sober’ was one of the key messages from that too. It’s an Ernest Hemingway quote BTW.
VP, thanks for letting me know. After all those years of reading Ernest Hemingway, and being a journalist, I can’t believe I didn’t know he said that.