Sunday, October 27, 2013

A Weekend to Remember ~ Time With Blogging Friends

I began blogging in November of 2008.  I thought perhaps my mother would read my blog, but beyond that, I didn't think anyone else would ever read it.  I decided to blog because I wanted to practice the discipline of writing.  Little did I know the worlds that blogging would open to me.  Little did I know how important my blogging community would become to me.

My very first blog reader was Jann from Benchmark 60.  That's Jann, in the photo below.  She is dressed in green and sitting in the middle on the left side of the photo. Back in those early days of blogging,  Jann commented on my blog and then encouraged me to write more blogs.  I owe my blog presence to her.  In time, in the mystical way that is the way of the blogosphere, I began to read the blogs of many other bloggers and form friendships with the blog writers.  

A year ago, two of the ladies in photo below met and decided that the rest of us should meet and spend the weekend together.  We all rented a house on Vashon Island in Washington State and spent a fabulous weekend getting to know each other.  I wrote about it here:  Vashion Island 2012.  That weekend was so magical and special, that we talked of meeting again in a year.  We decided you can't improve on a perfect location, so this past weekend, we again met at our wonderful destination spot, Lavender Hill Farm on Vashon Island.  


Breakfast out on Vashon Island
I flew in from Colorado on Friday.  We spent Friday afternoon and evening, all day Saturday, and this morning together.  We talked, laughed, read, ate, walked, and just had a wonderful time catching up with each other.  This year the weather was cooler than last.  We spent a lot of time in front of the fireplace.

The "glow chair" was moved from its spot by the window 
so we could sit together in our new favorite spot.  
The sun did not shine on our wonderful yellow chair this year.

We could not see Mt. Rainier.
We did not see blue skies.
We saw fog and mist.
It was all beautiful.

We were also rewarded with beautiful fall foliage.



The view from the porch was stunning even if it did rain. 


The lavender bed are not blooming, but lavender is always beautiful in any season to me.

Orange is the color I will carry home with me.






It seemed to punctuate every landscape
as we visited the Farmers' Market,
walked down the main street,
and 
hiked in the woods.

I have wanted to store the colors of this fall in my heart this year. 
Since the leave just began to change, I've wanted to drink in the colors every chance I got.

I was especially blessed to see the rich colors of fall in the beautiful northwest this year.
I won't forget the red, the oranges, and the vibrancy I felt on this special weekend.

These two feed the soul and the body.
Deb, in pink, just saw some wonderful bird outside the kitchen window. I was able to capture the look of awe on her face.


DJan, the adventurer, in the sky and on the shore, led the walk we took along the shore, and took my arm and helped me walk up the steep hills.

There is so much more I want to write about, but I must get some rest.
Tomorrow, I fly home.
The doctor cleared me for this trip.
My friends said he had to let me come because the time would be
good for my heart in every way.
It was.  Indeed, it was.
Thank you dear Vashionistas for another wonderful time together.
I can't wait until next year.

I will arrive home Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday morning, at 7:30 a.m.,
I will be meeting my cardiologist at the hospital.
He gave me a reprieve, for a few days, but as soon as I get home,
he will be doing a heart catheterization on me.
I am worried about the procedure because no one like to have medical procedures.
I am reassured when I consider that the doctor did let me go on this trip, so he must not be too worried, just worried enough to check everything out.  

In the meantime, I will trying to take this advice:
Keep calm 
and
Dream On.

29 comments:

  1. Yea, me too...it was a wonderful weekend. Take care. I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday.

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  2. Oh, thank you for this lovely report on your Vashion weekend. I'm so glad the rain and fog didn't spoil your fun.
    Have a safe trip home and a safe procedure after you arrive. We'll all be waiting to hear from you as we hold you in our thoughts.

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  3. What a wonderful tradition to have, Sally! I'm so glad you didn't have to miss it -- and will be wishing you the best (and saying some prayers) on Tuesday. I hope that you and the Vashionistas have many more reunions. It sounds like such fun and such a time of renewal. And I love the message Keep Calm and Dream On! A mantra for all of us!

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  4. I am so happy that your cardiologist gave you the nod to make the trip to be with your blogging friends. I keep saying this over and over again: "Blogging friends are the BEST. "
    Beautiful fall colors...and the orange is especially stunning.
    You couldn't have had a better arm to support you than Jan's. She is a blogging friend of mine, too. Isn't she amazing!
    Best wishes to you as you have your heart cath done this week. God's blessings on you.
    Love,
    Jackie

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  5. It looks and sounds like an absolutely perfect weekend, Sally! I'm so glad you were able to go! I'll hold good thoughts and say some prayers for you on Tuesday and hope all goes well. And may the Vashionistas have many more happy reunions!

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  6. HI Sally I love reading this post and seeing the' girls'. You obviously had a brilliant time. You are fortunate to all of you being able to meet up. Hope your health issues get sorted out quickly.

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  7. How wonderful that you all did this! I love deb and would enjoy meeting get and you! Praying all is well for you when you return.

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  8. Hey, I sense a connection! Saw the same photo on DJanity's blog. I'm going to have to check out all six of you. Good luck with the heart procedure.

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  9. What a wonderful post, Sally. I love it! It was indeed one of the more special weekends of my long life, and you will be in my heart and mind while you endure your heart cath. I am hoping that the procedure will reassure your doctor. My mom had a dozen of these and I know they are not fun but are also not too awful. Love you so much!!!

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  10. Your title is perfect because this does indeed look like a weekend to remember. I'm so glad your doctor cleared you to go. I will be hoping to hear of very good results following your procedure.

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  11. Lovely post, Sally. I remember watching you taking all your pictures. You caught the spirit of the season and the weekend.

    See you next year!

    Linda

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  12. I read Djan's version of the meeting and was looking forward to yours. How wonderful that you all get to meet and enjoy such a beautiful place. I did get tickled at the picture of all of them hunched over their laptops but after all, it was a meeting of bloggers.
    I hope your cath goes really well and brings you good news. Please let us know.

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  13. It sounds like a fantastic experience.

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  14. So glad you got to go! You are all lucky ladies.

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  15. What a wonderful time filled with memories for you with good friends!...:)JP

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  16. This weekend with fellow bloggers could NOT be improved upon, the natural beauty, the friendship, orange leaves. I hope your heart catheterization results are great.
    "I will restore your health and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord." Jeremiah 30:17

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  17. As I read this, you are probably now home and doing whatever you must for tomorrow's tests. So first and most important, I send you good wishes. I hope you will not have to be in the hospital too long and that this will be the last of your year of hospital and doctor visits.

    What a wonderful time you had with your bloggies. I can't agree more about meeting these good friends and what a difference the blog can make in one's life. You looked vibrant in the photos (I loved all that orange) and I can see why. Pure happiness!

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  18. Sally, This is an awesome story. Who knew about your secret life as a blogger??

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  19. There's just nothing better than meeting up with special blog friends.... I love it!!!!!!

    Looks like you gals had a wonderful time together...

    You are in our prayers as you go through the next few weeks... God Bless.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  20. Sally, The spot you Vashonistas have chosen is gorgeous no matter what the weather, it seems. So glad you were able to be there. Now I hope your heart cath goes smoothly and your recovery does the same. I will hold a good thought for you.

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  21. Wish I could have been there! I hope your procedure goes very well.

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  22. Loved reading about your second reunion. It looks beautiful there in any weather. I'm reading this late, so your procedure must be done. I'm sending you positive thoughts for healing Sally.

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  23. Loved reading about your second reunion. It looks beautiful there in any weather. I'm reading this late, so your procedure must be done. I'm sending you positive thoughts for healing Sally.

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  24. Dear Sally,
    I hope that the procedure went well today. Your blog more than did our weekend justice! I probably won't finish my version until this weekend, and sadly, with no pictures! I don't know what happened with my camera, but every photo came out blurry and fuzzy. I was so bummed!
    Love and big hugs!

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  25. Wonderful vibrant post - both pictures and words. It's still Tuesday, so I can still say a quick prayer or two before I go to bed. Hope your procedure went well. JP

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  26. I am so glad that you had that weekend with blogging friends, especially in such a glorious setting. Not so glorious, however, was the news that you have undergone a heart cath. I hope the news was as good as it's possible to be, and that you're soon recovering from the cath or other necessary procedures and going back to fun activities. I think of you so often when my wonderful husband comes in from working out at the club, looking stronger than he has for many years and all recovered from his quintuple bypass. I think of how close I came to not having him come through that door, and you had such a major part in the difference in outcomes. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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  27. This is so cool! I just found a moment to drop by some blogs and happened to stop at DJan's place. I recognized you in one of the photos and had to come quickly over here to check. Sure enough! Wow!!! I love it. Sigh... I wish I could have been there.

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  28. I rem,ember last year's post on the subject, Sally, and am so glad this year's meeting was equally enjoyable for you all. there is nothing like the company of fellow bloggers. :-)

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  29. You captured our weekend perfectly. I love the orange theme here. I love you.

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