{Reflection of You} 5 Fact Friday California Dreamin'

Hello friends,

It's Friday...already. Oh my....  I sure wish you could stop by and sit on the front porch... We could sip tea or diet coke...you could tell me your story.... I could tell you my 'story' of the past few weeks...and you could share some wise words.... and it would feel so much better. 

But I am trusting all is as it should be...this too shall pass...... and everything will be okay.

sigh.... 

Let's dive into another 5 Fact Friday... A California Dreaming eDition.... I'm linking up over at Reflection of You....  Every Friday in August ROY is hosting a little 5 Fact link up. Please join us!! The more the merrier!

And before I dive in.... Just a Reminder, Behind the Scenes starts on Tuesday! Are you in? Click HERE for more info.

Fact #1: I often sit in the sun....close my eyes and go back to October 2011... Camp Shutter Sisters. California Dreamin'.... So good! Life changing..... truly.... life changing...

Fact #2: California feels like home to me. I can't really explain it...it just does. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.... In fact, one dear reader, Earl.... understands exactly how i feel about it...it was his home for many years..... Today I'm waving to Earl... He's a regular TT'er. Earl's been a little under the weather. I hope you are doing okay Earl!! I'm sending you healing thoughts and prayers. This Big Sur photos for you, Earl!

Fact #3: At Camp we had this awesome lab space.... It was so much fun... People gathered, visited, edited their images... printed tons of photos... the energy was magical. So good! I can't wait to do it all over again this October in Palm Springs.

Fact #4: Xanthe and I will be landing in Los Angeles a few days before Oasis starts.... We'd love to plan a little gathering....(possibly on October 18th or 19th) If this interests you, please feel free to fill out this form and we will update you with any news....

Fact #5: I never thought I needed real-life creative connections.... I thought my online creative friends were more than enough. I called myself a loner.... quite happy in my own company.....Camp made me realize how awesome it can be to spend time with people who really get 'it'. It's incredibly powerful....Life changing.... As much as I still LOVE my alone time... I now crave need time with other creatives... It's funny how thingschange when we are open to the possibilities.

How 'bout you? Do you have real-life creative connections? People who get it, get you? If not do you ever wish you did? Perhaps you're just like I was... quite happy on your own? I'd love to hear how you feel about this..... Do tell....

Before I sign off.... did you see the give away I posted yesterday? A chance to win a space in the lovely collaborative eCourse.... Creatively Made Home. Check it out HERE.

Until next time.... lotsa love to you...

xo,

p.s. I'm running way behind on my emails.... If I owe you a reply...  bare with me... I'm hoping to catch up this weekend..... xo

p.s.s. I'm over at Shutter Sisters today...talking R&R... come share a little with us today. :)

Comments

[Viv Halliwell]

Sigh Kim.... looks soooo much fun just a little too far for me but I will be thinking of you guys..... send lots of IG love my way xxxx

[Sylvia]

What a lovely post with gorgeous photos, Kim !
Have a nice day,
Sylvia

[leonie wise]

"Do you have real-life creative connections? People who get it, get you?"

Some of my most treasured friends I found online and now know in real life. I have made some amazing connections (like the lovely Xanthe) who are inspiring and encouraging and just generally total fun to be around.

It's lovely having online friends, but sometimes what I really need is to sit, barefoot in the park with someone telling them about crazy creative dreams. And have them do the same for me. Online just can't compete with that :)

[Julie]

I don't really seem to have "real life" friends who get it although my daughter's humor me and always say nice things about my projects. All three of my kids are "creatives" - my son is quite good at writing and even had a weekly column in a Greek magazine last year (Greek as in Fraternity/Sorority). Both girls enjoy photography and photo editing. I am blessed. Happy Friday!!

[Marilyn Gallas]

Looks like you made some wonderful friends at Shutter Sisters. I totally love your sneakers!!

[Kia]

Gorgeous photos and facts, Kim! Thanks for sharing. :)
Glad you made some wonderful friends at Shutter Sisters!
I can be very happy on my own, I am never bored. But I love my friends too, of course. Alas most of them are far away (in the USA, in Italy...). Creative connections? Yes, I met Jaana on line years ago, and even if we didn't met yet (even if going to Finland and see her is on my bucket list), she has been a real inspiration when it comes to art and photography, and I am having a blast with our new venture:
http://happysnappy12.blogspot.com
Happy weekend! :))

[Barb]

I agree - my dream is to meet an on-line friend who loves what I do . . .
your photos are so inspirational!

[Yvonne Michelle]

I love your posts as always, Kim. Fun 5 Fact Friday... Oh my, the October Palm Springs getaway sounds just heavenly!

[Sarah]

Palm Springs will be very nice. I was there once a number of years ago. Just don't go on any horseback adventures. That was quite the experience. Needless to say, I got stuck with a mule instead of a real horse. Have an awesome time in California.

[Patrice]

Looks like great fun!

[geetlee]

Hi Kim :)
California holds a very special place in my heart. I started blogging in San Francisco.. I needed a little nook to share the beauty of that wonderful place...and so my blog was born. Never looked back ever since.

I hear such wonderful things about Camp shutter sisters... It makes me want to go so bad and belong... Hopefully soon when I have the means. It is definitely something to put on my list.

Btw, the list you suggested we write (in Beyond Layers)... some things have come true in mine. I find it so hard to believe :)

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

[Olivia]

Do I have friends who get it, and get me? I have the on-line communities that I lurk in, still always on the edges, the fringes, never much in the middle of things. In real life, I'm very much the loner, the creative who's just a bit on the "strange" side. In rural SC, there aren't many creative communities readily available. Most of the time, I am the loner. . . . How I would love to go to the Shutter Sisters retreat, but it's financially impossible right now (I'd have to win the multimillion dollar lottery to manage that!--and that won't happen if I don't buy the ticket!) Yet, I can be content in my own little creative world.

[nancyjean]

Hi dear Kim...California Dreaming...sounds wonderful! I am such a home body...i just love my "me time"....my time in my creative space. I am sure it must be just awesome to find such a wonderful creative group...enjoy!

[Roxi]

I love that ocean picture! be still my heart..... Like how you stuck that van in your story board.

[stefanierenee]

you make me teary just looking at these pictures from last year...still not accepting the truth that i won't be there this year...maybe i'll see you in LA?! these photos make me love california just a little bit more...oh and big sur! mmmm
miss you!
xxx

[nina]

yup---loner here!
I feebly tried to get a photograpHER group going....we sorta meet here and there....but it's not regular, or a close group yet.
We do call ourselves F.O.C.U.S.... "four old chicks usually snapping!"
One more will be joining soon....so it will be FIVE old chicks!
I hope we can grow together, and feed off of each others creativeness. We do encourage each other....and try to push for new things.

[Terri Porter]

Kim, I was surprised and delighted to see the photos from camp last year and see myself in one! These brought back so many wonderful memories and I can't wait to make more at Oasis. I have made so many wonderful online photography friends but being at camp last year and seeing many of them in person and just being in the company of so many people who shared my love for photography was such a treat! Six of the ten women who write for the same collaborative blog that I do will be going to Oasis and I'm so excited to meet the ones I haven't met yet. Love your post and thanks for the inspiration to do a mosaic. I just came back from a week on the California coast and will be posting my mosaic in my collaborative blog Focusing on Life (http://focusingonlifegrp.blogspot.com) on Tuesday this week. Can't wait to see you again in October!

[Andrea]

Looks wonderful. I wish time and funds were not an issue. I would be there. Thanks so much agian for all your inspiration.

[Sharon]

Hmmm.... why is it the people who "get me" creatively seemed to be mostly online? People I know do appreciate what I do creatively and my creative interests, but do not share the passion or personal interest. I love to go to workshops where I meet people with the same passion but between those (I try to do one per year) the internet is a great place to find like minds and enjoy wonderful e-classes. Given how little time there seems to be outside of work, it works out fine and truth be told, I am sort of a loner but love meeting and connecting with other creatives. Oh, and if you ever make it back to the northern California bay area Kim, I'd love to connect with you. So wish I could go to Oasis, but my work schedule does not allow it. Absolutely hope to book whatever event the Shutter Sisters does next!

[JenEve]

Kim - I LOVE the idea of meeting up - Yes! Yes! Yes! (do i sound a little too excited!?!)

[Helen]

Your California connection is reminding me of my son who's over there and I'm missing him! Your photo sums up what he loves about life in sunny LA!

[Lee]

I believe Californias climate to be much like Queenslands from the people I have met on line and if thts the case
summer is too hot for me!I love our sunny winter days!Enjoyed nyou 5 facts,will be posting mine.
Have a great get together.
Lee

[Lee]

Kim ,you seem troubled,I sure hope thing will be better soon,if you want to talk,I have big ears.I recently noticed my blog had changed from an on line diary that I was going to have printed for my grandchildren to a superficial place where I took pics and posted them ,hoping someone would look,a cheery shallow mask that reflected nothing that was going on in my life. I had lost my place of sharing in my rush to become accepted and not burden people with my problems.Talk to someone, if not me then someone else, a problem shared is a prtoblem halved.Big Higs,

[darlene]

I am so excited about being able to attend Shutter Sisters Camp this year - best gift I ever gave myself. I am ready to relax, recharge, make new friends and be with other creative souls. I am a loner too - I have a few creative friends here on NY but don't get to spend as much time as I would like with them
I will be arriving on the 20th so I guess I will miss the fun with you and Xanthe but I will see you on the 21st at camp
have I told you lately how much you ROCK kim - you are an amazing person and it will be so much fun to meet you in person