When was the last time you went to camp? As a kid, Momma packed me up and sent me off to various camps during the summer including basketball camp in Conway, church camp in Ravenden Springs, and cheerleading camp at Arkansas State.
Except for the basketball practice, preaching and constant “we’ve got spirit, yes we do…” part, I liked camp.
Last weekend I attended AWBU, a blogger camp for Arkansas women bloggers, quite possibly some of the same ladies who attended basketball, church and cheerleading camps with me in the seventies…
AWBU was held at Ferncliff, a 1,200 acre camp nestled in the forest near Little Rock. With a bunkhouse and cafeteria, it was not unlike my memory of beautiful Ravenden Springs.
The whole ‘face with a name’ thing was exhilarating. I met bloggers I’ve been fans of for two years—Delta Moxie, Porkchop Tuesday, Desperately Seeking Gina, Dining with Debbie, Pink Heels Pink Truck, The Park Wife, and Ramblings of a Little Wife to name a few. When people said to me Oh, you’re Grace Grits?, I felt validated.
Meeting Gregg Patterson from Arkansas Farm Bureau was also a highlight. Yes, I follow Farm Bureau around like most follow sports teams…
The conference was fast paced with educational sessions throughout the day involving SEO, branding, and coding. Being able to talk blogging all day and night with like-minded ladies without getting that oh-no-here-she-goes-again-glazed-look was as delicious as the Petit Jean bacon served for breakfast each morning.
I left the conference feeling more focused and excited about my writing. The weekend included just enough cheerleading to make us energized and just enough exercise (a 5-K instead of basketball) to work off some of that bacon. Plus, the serene setting was downright spiritual.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
