{There is nothing more soul nourishing than unexpected joy.} My moments of serendipity at Blissdom: *late night and early morning heartfelt discussions with my roommate Jessica, who listens and encourages *hugs and love from Jana, one of my favorite writers and photographers who I didn’t expect to even be at Blissdom lower photo credit: lifeingrace...
no I don’t tweet.
I am so so so mad that I wasn’t there. It looks like sooooo much fun, and I would have loved to meet you.
Boo.
And I like cupcakes!
I am excited to see what you do over here, it’s already a favorite blog of mine 
Lovely! Patty you are such a beautiful person, inside and out. Your photography is as gorgous as your spirit. Hugs, Ruth
sounds like a terrific time! oh how I would love to take part in this!
wonderful summary, my friend! the pictures speak volumes nah, no tweeting…’fraid it would just cause snores…”walmart deli out of low sodium ham”, “gas prices too high!”, “my fingernail polish is chipping”, “modern family is re-run!”…
Loved your post. Great pictures Patty! I loved our chats too and I can’t believe I’m admitting this but yeah, it looks like he was singing to you. XOXO
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO delightful!
And delightful is a great word for you–I’m always amazed at the various levels of fabulous LIGHT you capture in your pictures. Both the actual light that can be measured…and then the light that jumps out of the photo because of the HEART behind the photographer!
YUP!
That’s you!
Hugs/blessings,
Lana
PS I’m having Blissdom Envy now! I so wish I was able to go–but, alas, this Italy packing is overwhelming!
We’ll be back in just under a year and I will definitely make the next Blissdom! I’m already reserving a hug from you a year in advance
Wow friend, you captured it beautifully with your words and pictures. thankful for the time we got to spend together. I was able to meet robin briefly too, thank goodness because I kept referring to her in my mind as “gold pantsuit woman” from her terrific outfit. am looking forward to watching all of the beauty unfold on your blog.
blessings,
One, I LOVE seeing you!!! You post so many photos, so I get to see your heart, but seeing your face is just so good!
Two, I’m jealous and inspired and totally happy that you got to go to Blissdom, and that you had so much fun there! I am thinking it is the place where the introverts get to be the extroverts. I love bring what is real in our hearts to the real in our lives!
Beautiful post. Glad you’re back!
Sounds like it was absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love all the photos!!!!!!!!!! How fun to meet so many awesome blog ladies!!
I don’t tweet but have been thinking of starting an account. Still not sure. My tweets may be a bit too boring.
Ruth
Awesome Patty! These photos of all these beautiful peolple together inspiring each other to be the very best “you” possible is so inspiring, even second hand. I am just so excited for you and all that this conference has, is and will inspire in you!
great post! aren’t you glad you went? i love the blogging community.
Thank you for stopping by! So many of your favorite moments were mine too!
Blissdom always sounds so amazing. I would have loved to meet Karen. I’m glad you had an amazing time. <3
My moments spent with you were among my faves, too. And your graciousness in offering me a place to throw my stuff, and just hang out? You have no idea what that meant to me.
I hope this is just the beginning for the whole lot of us…
Patty, meeting you and sitting with you during that last session was, for me, the icing on the Blissdom cake. I would say the cherry on top, but the cherry is kind of superfluous. I can do without the cherry. I don’t want to do without you.
Talking with you, being able to discuss genetic disorders with you, talking to you about surgery and medicine and life, signing up for DropALoveBomb right beside you–it was important to me. Kindness fairly oozes out of you, did you know? I so appreciated getting to know you a little bit.
I hope to get to know you better in this virtual neighborhood. Your blog is absolutely beautiful. That’s fitting, because so are you.
So glad to know you!
Patty, I am SO glad that we got to meet and spend some time chatting! You are such a gracious and lovely lady. Thank you SO MUCH for the ride to the airport and sparing us the agonizing wait for our car!! You are such a dear!! Looking forward to following your blog and getting to know you better!
Melissa
[...] you been? I’ve been twice, in 2011 and 2012, but couldn’t go this year because of an unfair and {lucky me} obscene amount of [...]
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Love it. Lucky you to be there.
indeed my friend…you are…I am…we all are enough, and enough is plenty.
I’m so happy for you to have had this time at Blissdom. You deserve it! Thanks for sharing a little bit from the conference. It is important to remember that “I am enough!”
Perfectly said. Loving my time here with you and all these amazing and smart women…what a great experience.
*Sigh*
Happy for you, and sad for me as attending one of these conferences is pretty well impossible from NZ…..
Hope that your spirit has been refreshed and inspired x
Yay! Great shot. Soak it all in! xoxo
Awesome!
Fabulous picture! You have the rare gift of enlightened photography. I’m grateful we got to experience Blissdom together,. Blessings
I am.
okay today, I wish I was a little more, but I get it
Wow. Wonderful. I need to remember that. <3
[...] truly in the raw, but we both feel compelled to do this. Can you imagine helping a girl to believe she is enough? {Suggestions for directions gladly accepted.} 4. Maintain my commitment to my own health. [...]
born swaddled in anticipation wrapped in joy peeping playfully over mountains dancing across fields bursting through woods conquering night’s shadows with clarity and sparkle my good morning ***** sharing this with darcy, and then i’m off on an adventure…
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beautiful words and pictures, patty. i was wondering about the adventure! i hope it’s splendid! wonderful! fun! i wish carissa and i could go…but we are with you in spirit!
stunning stunning photos..
I thought of you as I saw the references to it,
you will shine , you will.
Patty, these photos are exquisite! You are such an amazing photographer. I hope you have a fabulous time at Blissdom. Be careful going over the plateau.
so pretty. makes me wish i was there.
Your photos and words are so beautiful and inspiring!
I’m speechless. And once you get to know me, you’ll understand what a miracle that is 
GAW-JUS!
Hugs/blessings,
Lana
hey! and you say your pics aren’t sharp!! my gracious, girl!!
i’m teaching a photoshop class next month at scrappin’ in the city. . .it’s a beginner’s class. . .but then i’ll teach an intermediate to coincide with this one! just wanted to tell you!! you can call the store and get the details. . .i’ve not been to all my fav blogs (yours included) in ages. . .
i feel so out of the loop…can’t wait to see what all you’ve posted!!!!
hey!%20and%20you%20say%20your%20pics%20aren’t%20sharp!!%20my%20gracious%2C%20girl!!
i’m%20teaching%20a%20photoshop%20class%20next%20month%20at%20scrappin’%20in%20the%20city.%20.%20.it’s%20a%20beginner’s%20class.%20.%20.but%20then%20i’ll%20teach%20an%20intermediate%20to%20coincide%20with%20this%20one!%20%20just%20wanted%20to%20tell%20you!!%20you%20can%20call%20the%20store%20and%20get%20the%20details.%20.%20.i’ve%20not%20been%20to%20all%20my%20fav%20blogs%20(yours%20included)%20in%20ages.%20.%20.
i%20feel%20so%20out%20of%20the%20loop…can’t%20wait%20to%20see%20what%20all%20you’ve%20posted!!!!
Love these shots! I love the close ups, but I also like the way you chose to have the sun peeking from behind the trees. Great job!
Patty my dear,
I’m so impressed with your photos. I’ve obviously been following you from the beginning but these ones I believe, are you best yet! In awe. Love, Your Blissful Roomie
What a beautiful morning view. I love that.
Have you read this book yet? It’s stunning… It’s about here, these beautiful mountains and the magic they contain. And it’s about her people, people here, and I swear, I will see those around me differently because of this book. Edie met the author, Amy Greene, {a local gal} at our fall festival and invited...
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Hi there!
I love your pictures. They are beautiful!
What camera and lenses do you use?
I am starting out with fotografing and trying out all kinds of things. Maybe you can give me a few tips on getting such great shots.
Do you overwork the pictures?
Your blog is really inspiring!
Greetings from Austria!
Lisa
I loved Bloodroot. Being a native of the same area made it feel like I was reading a letter from home. The language is so authentic, and the description of the area always had me trying to imagine where the real places are. Id like to crash your book club sometime, by the way, looks like a great time was had by all.
I promised myself to read this book when Edie first introduced it to me on her blog. And then life just got in the way and I forgot. You have rekindled that desire for me to go out TODAY and get this book. I adore this post. It is so authentic and I just feel as if I were a little bird looking in on a wonderful day spent with an amazing author who graciously shared her thoughts and wisdom with you. The photos you took are amazing! My favorite is the one of Edie looking intently at Amy. You can tell she is listening to every word and taking it all in. Since I live in these mountains too, I am looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for sharing this, Patty. Have a wonderful weekend!
It was magical, a day I will never forget. I’m so glad that you are a part of so many of my wonderful memories. Beautiful words, beautiful artist capturing our mountains, our dreams. Love you.
edie
I want to add this to my list of must reads….looks like a great time! We’ve started a book club of sorts with ladies from our church & have read “Same Kind of Different as Me.” We’re getting ready to read “What Difference Do It Make.”
i live on the other side of those mountains!! and amy’s book is in my queue. and i would love to see a book list as i am an addict. and in a book club!
I’ve got a big stack of books going right now but I just had the library pull it and hold it for me! I loved “The Last Sin Eater” by Francine Rivers and Greene’s book sounds like a similar setting/culture. Thanks for the tip…and what FUN to share a meal with a real, live author!
L♥ve this Patty…I must find this book! Your photos of the mountains and your friends are superb dear friend!
What a lovely day and group of women.
First of all, your photos are out of this world.
and yes. oh, that view.
and all of these women look so radiantly beautiful, I’m guessing your hospitality has something to do with that.
I will try and read this book asap. The author sounds like a gem.
and what you said to me. I can’t thank you enough for believing in me and taking the time to tell me so.
I do believe. I do.
I am going to make this a reality. I am.
love you.
and here’s to I don’t know what, but something. Something.
Beautiful pictures and lovely words.
I did love the book. I read it once Edie posted about it on her blog. It was great-hard to put down.
What a lovely time for you all to share together. I have to say I am a bit jealous. Wished I could have been there too.
Ruth
What fun!! Love, love the pictures! Patty, I will put that book next on my list!
Hugs!
Susan
What a lovely group of gals! I am SO excited to get my hands on that book!
Wonderful photos as always–truly vibrant! It sounds like an incredible time! I wish I lived closer to your all’s book club!
Hugs/blessings,
Lana
Lovely pics – you live in such a beautiful area Patty!
And your new logo is stunning! Did you do it yourself?
Hope you are well x
it all sounds so lovely!
What a perfect, timely reminder to me to follow my calling, just as I’m getting back into writing one book and revising another. I want to read this book. Your photographs, as always, are lovely.
[...] My gifted poet friend Patty wrote a beautiful piece about our day together and a big thank you to my dear friend Sue, who loved the book, read it three [...]
I know, I know…. what’s this? All different lookin’ round here… Frosty blue skies and I swear, I just heard birds singing. It’s January, and I am ‘full up’, as they say in these here parts… Full of lofty ideas and dreamy anticipation. And so thankful for the chance to start again… one of life’s...
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hard for me to be full up this time of year. your post is refreshing to me as i am only dreaming of spring!
I’m loving your new blog header. What a great way to look at new beginnings, as one of life’s greatest gifts. As for me, new beginnings are also a gift. To start fresh, to start renewed, to let go, to move forward. Isn’t it wonderful that we get to do this every day! One of my favorite little quotes that’s “out there” in the little sayings boutique world is “It’s never to late to start the day over!” I like that. Bad attitude, just rewind and begin again. New beginnings happen every moment of the day actually. How wise you are Miss Patty to make note that new beginnings are one of life’s greatest gifts.They REALLY are! Happy Day Friend!
OH MY GOSH!!! Beautiful, Patty! Truly! I love the simplicity. The font is incredible. And that hint of blue? Heaven. The bird and the tree are so gentle-looking and peaceful. And your name? wow! I feel like I’m friends with a famous author (well, you are famous to those of us who know you). Love, love, love everything! xoxo
This is a beautiful photo. I love the new year, but I love spring time more.
I love the clear, bright blue of the sky and the contrast with the branches!
i love it!
and for some reason it took way less time for your page to load on my computer, YAY!
that is some beautiful pictures and love the blue blue sky…makes me want spring on this icy cold day!!
i am totally in love with the new year and new beginnings. I like you love dreaming up all the things that they year will bring!
I so love this, Patty. It’s beautiful. And yes, full of dreams. The little bit of pain I feel is nothing compared to how alive I feel again.
I love that new header and I wish I had some of that blue sky here.
who wouldnt be inspired when the sky is bright blue like this..amazing and lovely!!
love your composition!
Love the new look! So excited about our trip! My new dreams are enhanced old dreams, to serve others more and think of myself less, to expand our family through adoption, and to breathe in the beauty of each and every day
I love your photos. They are perfect for the beginning of the year. They truly make me think that anything is possible.
I love your photos and your writings! In response to your question on my blog, the last shot is of a cupcake crown decoration. My cousin used them at her wedding to dress up the cupcakes.
Today I am just dreaming of a little sun, to shine across the snow
It looks wonderful. Blue skies here are giving way to clouds and dumping snow and more snow on us here. I am looking forward to the new year and my theme this year is hope.
Ruth
A 31 Days Series on Nurturing Her Self-Esteem
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