You lucky ducks! The pics are wonderful & it looks like a "good time was had by all," except perhaps, Ollie :) Did anyone happen by on SKYPE? I planned to & then ended up with a terrific cold. Oh well, next time will have to do. Great job, Ronni. Dee

One conversation on Skype worked out well, but others had connection problems. Plus, I'm pretty sure I missed hearing the Skype alert for a call or two due to all the conversation.

For future meetups, I think that there is probably too much going on with the party to successfully include Skype.

Paul and I had a wonderful time and it was everything you said with the wonderful and interesting good matched by the same kinds of conversations. We really enjoyed ourselves and hope we all do get together again with maybe some others who couldn't make it this time. You were right about how well your home works for entertaining as it lets conversation and people flow.

I have one cat like Ollie who finds anybody entering our house to be a threat and can send him into even an allergic reaction later and the other who loves to be in the center of things but has bitten us in the past; so I am not sure which cat makes em happier. Often we just have to close doors and make them both stay away from the company.

I had such a good time at your gathering Ronni! I also wish I could have stayed longer. I know I missed some good conversations and hope we can do something like this again. The food was wonderful.

I hope others will list their blog connections.

Jan

What a great time! So many people in one room with similar outlooks, different experiences, and original thoughts! I came home with lots of new things to think about and process. the food was delightful as was the hostess. Truly it was like being with old friends, especially you Ronni!

I am soooo jealous. I was with you in spirit and intended to try reaching you on Skype, but it didn't work out. I think it's a good thing that it didn't as you had enough on your plate being a good hostess without the interruption of phone calls.

I just entertained one couple for cocktails and nibbles and was exhausted. I applaud you for holding such a large and lovely gathering. You are a virtual Pearl Mesta.

Oh how marvelous. I so wish I could have been there with you all. Maybe I can manage it next time. Fun, fun fun.

Ah, wish I could have been there. I would have loved to have met everyone in person.

Thanks to all of you who took pictures of the get-together. I was there in spirit.

Hi Ronni, what a great gathering you hosted on Saturday! What a pleasure to meet you and all the interesting, creative, friendly people, What talents everyone has, inspired my creativity!!Poor Ollie, but he spent only a day in hiding, one of my cats, Bobby the former feral, spent most of 25 days under the bed while we were enjoying New Mexico!! our "cat lady" fed him and petted him,(she on the floor) while he remained in hiding! He is not fond of people, or his own shadow,it seems!! What fun we had as total strangers, we all seemed compatible and had lots to say! it was GREAT! my blog will be coming soon! PS, food was so good and the desserts! oh yeah!!! good coffee too, I might add:-) Thanks again for the best Saturday talk/meet festever!

I thought of you all on Saturday. Ollie phoned me from under the bed and complained that the SPCA was closed and I was the only alternative. He wanted to lodge a complaint. I told him to take a nap and relax! I'm sure he has forgotten about the whole sorted incident by now.

Loved the pictures. I have been laughed at for taking pictures of food at social gatherings but I am really glad Rain did that! It adds to the flavor of the event. Yum!

That sounds like a truly satisfying day and it encourages me in my own plans for meet-ups on the East coast toward the end of this month. Like old friends, you say...delightful!

It was a great meet-up, Ronni! Thank you again for your splendid hospitality.

Ollie just cracks me up in this photo! He looks a bit calmer than he did under the bed, however.

The cap nip was from me! One reason Ollie likes the ribbon is the little cloth-covered catnip ball that I tied to the ribbon (courtesy of the staff at our veterinary clinic). Onyx, who helped me pot the plant, says he will take it off Ollie's paws anytime. ;)

Many, many thanks...and it was terrific meeting other bloggers.

I love Ollies' ears. She is beautiful. Reminds me of my Charlie, she did'nt have ears that stand up like Ollies. I miss her every day of my life.

Sure sounds like it was a fun time!

But ... did Ollie have to spend the whole day without food, while everyone else was eating?

If all of us who would like to have attended the meet-up could have attended, you would have had to rent a conference room somewhere.

And Ollie would have stayed home, in peace.

Love Ollie! Our three furry felines would have pulled an Ollie and headed for the hills (under the bed). They'd have stayed there the entire time, too!

I love parties, and recently gave a few myself: about 30 attended my swim-class friends, animal sheler pals, and hubby's fiddle friends. We had a rousing outdoor potluck with new friendships and cross connections made, plus live jamming.

Then last night I had a dinner party, seven of us, for a nice meal I'd fashioned all day, music made and comfortable hours spent together inside since the rains have begun. Is autumn/winter really here!?

I'm just six hours due south and love every opportunity to drive up to Portland, so keep us posted on another event.

Ronni, would it be too much trouble to facilitate other, regional hookups? Maybe some of us could volunteer to coordinate. I'd consider connecting folks from say, Eugene down to Sacramento, if you have such a 'bunch' and it would be fun to read of others' events elsewhere.

Have a gathering, friends! It helps you clean your space and focus on something new and fun!

Cheers, ~Kathi (in far northern CA)