Big Summer Potluck 2011 Recap
photo courtesy of Three Many Cooks
A week ago I returned from Big Summer Potluck 2011, a gathering of friends from the food blogging community. What I’ve usually found to follow most conferences or workshops is a bit of the blues, along with spinning in circles feeling “less than” compared to what everyone else is doing. Not to mention the 50+ things I always seem to learn that I’m not doing right or didn’t know about at all.
But Big Summer Potluck was different.
Big Summer Potluck wasn’t a conference or a even workshop. We listened to talented photographers and writers share how they use their gifts to capture life’s stories to share, and connect with others. We hung out with friends, old and new, listening and laughing and encouraging one another. There was no SEO, or optimizing, or analytics discussed. No business cards were passed about. We were able to just enjoy the company of each other. It felt like a family reunion with many cousins, some who I’d never met in person.
photo courtesy of Three Many Cooks
Yep, Big Summer Potluck was different.
After returning home, missing my friends set in a tad, but instead of a long list of things to tackle and get a move on, I found myself just thinking. Just being. And then thinking some more. I also found time to reach for my guitar, that I haven’t picked up in months, and learned something new. The next garden project plans were begun. A few chapters of a much neglected book were read.
And I breathed.
For me, Big Summer Potluck was the pause I needed to realize (once again) that my life is not my blog. My blog is just a way to share bits and pieces of my life, and what I learn from others like you. I don’t live to blog.
I’d say that’s pretty good stuff to get from a potluck, don’t you? Plus, I’ve got some pretty darn cool cousins y’all!
I encourage you to take some time this week to sit and think and breathe. Maybe learn a new song, or pick up that knitting project that’s gathering dust. It’ll be worth it and make you a better you for all the other people in your life. Promise.
Appreciation and hugs to Erika from The Ivory Hut, and Maggy, Sharon and Pam from Three Many Cooks, for planning such a great weekend for all of us cousins. Many thanks to the inspirational speakers, Penny de los Santos, Shauna Ahern, Pam Anderson and Justin Schwartz for sharing your experiences from the heart. It was a lovely weekend. Mwaaah!
Read more about Big Summer Potluck 2011, and see what others took away… (and meet some of my cousins too!)
I’m tickled that you’re here! Like you, I wear many hats, and live to tell about it. This space is a place for sharing food, home, garden, travel and lifestyle tidbits, with some fun always thrown in for good measure.
Sounds like a fantastic time. It’s always nice to meet fellow bloggers and benefit from one another’s talents.
The place looks especially gorgeous.
Love your recap… and all you took from the experience. 🙂
Amy, It’s interesting that you post this, about your life being your blog and feeling “less than” others. It’s interesting because it is so very relative. I could say the exact same things about how you blog compared to me, I would definitely be the less than in that category. But what I think is important to remember is that what you have to say (what anyone really has to say) is important and touches the lives of many of those that follow you. And whether your are super big or super small, or somewhere in between, what you do is important. No matter what, what you write about makes a difference and impact on people and is important. I think that the potluck sounds like a wonderful event. Small and intimate, friendly and fun. Spending the last few days at BlogHer, being a very small and pretty quite blogger is a bit intimidating. Something small and intimate would probably serve me better. Do you remember when I met you last year? I could hardly believe I was meeting “she wears many hats”! (a testament to relativity!)
Colette,
You are always full of wisdom AND encouragement.
I totally remember meeting you last year and won’t forget how we were instantly at ease with each other! Sisters forever!!!
~ Amy
Love this, Amy! Taking a nice, deep breath along with you.
I felt similarly when I came home, and I also took the chance to breathe and to just be content. It was lovely to see you, even though we didn’t get to chat long. Great post! 🙂
Lovely recap. I loved seeing you! xxoo
I love this post, Amy. It sounds like the perfect kind of get together!! I wish more conferences were that way.
so sad i missed it this year! i hope to make it next time 🙂
Looks like a lovely place and by all accounts a worthwhile get together. Thanks for sharing.
I vote for all conferences being just “get-togethers.” Can we get a petition going or something?
PS…really sorry I missed this! And missed seeing you again!
Sounds like my kind of conference!
I’ve never attended a blogging conference, but if I ever do this is the kind I’d like to be a part of. Looks like a lovely place full of lovely people who happen to be your cousins. 😉
Such a great little recap! That place is so gorgeous! You are so lucky to have gone!
Such true words Amy.
I miss you. I miss you much.
Everyone needs this kind of reminder! Sounds like it was one fab event!
What a perfect snapshot of the weekend, I LOVE the cousin reference…that is so true!
The weekend, the weather, the people, the speakers, the food, the location all came together like ingredients to a recipe that tasted so good, you can’t wait to make it again! So glad we had a chance to hang out 🙂 Have fun in the garden and in the kitchen!!
I definitely find myself sitting and thinking a lot more this week. I love reading everyone’s perspectives of the weekend so thanks for sharing. It was an amazing experience and glad I was able to be a part of it.
I wish I could of have been there, but couldn’t travel due to the baby:( Next year!! Glad you had a nice time!
Well said sweets! Loved seeing you again!
It sounds like a perfect “reunion”!!! So glad you had a great time.
Oh Amy. I so love this post. I love how honest it all is. What a nice breather for you and for everyone else who went.
Blogging so much more than the whirlwind of stuff we learn about. To me it has really always been about the people, though I do admit to get caught up in it all sometimes. For instance, I have never heard of Amos Lee until I met you. And everytime I see guitars or Amos Lee pops up on The Coffee House on XM I think of you and smile. I think that’s pretty cool considering we live in different states and don’t talk everyday.
Anyway…thanks for sharing…I wanted to go to this so bad but couldn’t work it out. I would love more of these types of get togethers. Small, intimate and just special.
Beautiful reminder Amy. I’m so glad that you had such a great time catching your breath with everyone. Wish I had been able to make it this year but there’s always next year right 😉
being fed . . . that is what it’s all about . . . being fed physically, fed emotionally, fed spiritually (however you define spiritual) . . . it’s about the connections NOT the comparisons . . . no ‘less thans’ or ‘more thans’ no ‘big’ or ‘small’ . . . just plain ‘being’ . . . who you are, who you are meant to be . . . being reflective, being thoughtful, being present . . . being. it’s all good Amy, it’s all good . . .
Oh, this post is so happy! I’ve been to a few travel blogging conferences, and I know that feeling so well — that feeling that you know everyone, even the ones you’re meeting (technically) for the first time. Glad you had fun!
Wonderful! Just wonderful…thanks so much for sharing. And thanks for sharing all the other post. I feel like I was there ; ) xoxo
That sounds so wonderful. I wish I could have attended this…it sounds right up my alley – very refreshing!
Amy, this potluck sounds like exactly the kind of event I need. I am a bit over the usual large scale “corporate” shows. This is more my bag. Beautiful!
Loved this, Amy. So hear what you are saying. My goal a month ago was to shut off at nighttime and move on to what really matters. Family, friends, garden, food, …connecting. It’s been the best summer ever for me. It’s good to be reminded and encouraged to keep healthy boundaries and a positive perspective on blogging. Thanks for the refreshing post!
Sounds like such a great event! I’m definitely hoping to make it next year.
Your words are so true, and so good to hear. I made a very conscious effort to step back a bit a few months ago, and I’ve had the best summer ever with my family. I’ve played more, connected more, and have taken in alot more fresh air. It’s been priceless.
I really love this recap Amy. And the “not living to blog” is something I realized there, too. I came home and have been able spend more time living and less time blogging as a result…a much better use of time. xoxo