Friday, August 9, 2013

Happy Friday!






I'm an introvert... I love being by myself, love being outdoors,
 love taking a long walk with my dogs
 and looking at the trees, flowers, the sky.

~Audrey Hepburn  
 
I really didn't have a specific post in mind, but I ran across this quote and it seemed to fit me very well.   I chose the photos to fit the quote, too.
 
Yes, I am an introvert.  Always have been and always will be.  I do love to be by myself, not all of the time, but most of the time.  

He's no longer with us, but I used to take walks with our sweet, faithful and smart German Shepherd, Baron.   We got him when our daughter was very young and he grew up with both our children and watched over them when they were outside.  When they were old enough to go to school, very often as soon as the school bus pulled away, Baron and I would take a nice long walk.  He was such a good dog and he'll always have a place in my heart.

The tree above is one I photographed in a park.  I thought the bark was so unusual.  Do you know what kind of tree it is?

The flower is another of my zinnias.  I love the colors of this one from light to darker pink.  I will definitely be planting this variety again and hope to save some seeds this year.  

I do love to look at the sky and see fluffy clouds and I love to watch the colors change in the evening as the sun goes down.

There is so much to enjoy outdoors.  One thing I would add to Audrey's quote is birdwatching.  Most of you already know I love to watch my feathered friends outdoors or through my kitchen window! 

Do you love being by yourself or would you rather be around people all the time?  Do you love the outdoors, too?  

Enjoy your Friday and your weekend whether you're going to be indoors or outdoors!

Until next time...

38 comments:

  1. HI Cheryl Lovely to know a bit more about you. I love to be around people sometimes however I also love being on my own, and as I get older, I enjoy my own company more and more. Love being outdoors with nature in any form. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Hi Cheryl! I love the quote and your beautiful images! Happy weekend to you!

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  3. I HAVE to have my quiet "me" time each day in the early morning. But I am also addicted to group settings with a lot of deep discussion: hence my Small Group on Sunday mornings and my in-home WOW (Woman of the Word) Bible Study on Tuesday nights. I am energized and motivated by both extremes.

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  4. beautiful quote. i have become more of introvert as i have gotten older ... i love my space, my quiet time & just peace from the outside crazy world. ( :

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  5. Cheryl, I love being by myself! I also love walking, cloud watching and nature. Your pictures are great. Are you liking your new camera? Have a lovely weekend! Twyla

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  6. Morning Cheryl, enjoyed your post, so soothing, Francine.

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  7. I hope someone knows what kind of tree it is...very interesting. Sadly, I am happiest in my own company. I have never thought of being an introvert as a good thing and so have used blogging as a way to be less so. When I find a truly likeminded person, I am very content in his or her company, which is another thing I love about Blogdom. Nope, I'll never be at the club or the company party. ; )

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  8. Interesting Cheryl, I wouldn't have thought you to be an introvert. I am an introvert I think, I like to say I am a loner. I was very shy as a kid and as I got older I sort of grew out of that and became an extrovert when I worked retail. Now I have come full circle back to being kind of shy again! You know I think how much I love the outdoors.. :) Love the quote! Don't know about the tree.. :)

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  9. I love being by myself and I don't do crowds at all. as in Disney croweds, theaters that kind of crowds. i do like to have someone with me at certain times. like traveling, but most of the time i prefer myself. i can say though that i did not like living alone. married 18 and divorced and lived 3 years alone. did NOT like that. now married 28 and i like it but do like my alone time.

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  10. Lovely photos on this Friday morning!

    I have never considered myself an introvert, because I do enjoy the company of people and I can talk a blue streak if I am comfortable. However, I read an article recently that described me to a T, and now I think that I may have some introvert tendencies...needing to decompress after being with people...not needing to be with someone all of the time, enjoying quiet, thinking time (yes!). Truth is, we're all so complex and don't really fit into boxes with tidy labels. :)

    Happy Friday to you, Cheryl!

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  11. Lovely photos. There is a new book out called "Quiet" - all about introverts and how is it NOT a bad word or a bad thing to be, and how the world is run by the introverts, quietly working to get things done (Steve Jobs, for example) and the extroverts are out there getting the notice while the introverts are chugging along doing the hard stuff and loving being by themselves.

    I'm an introvert for sure - I had to give a talk before 5 other people the other day - I would have rather gone to the dentist - but I did it and it came off well - just not my thing.

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  12. I do love alone time if it isn't burned up doing chores..boring. My best times are with my daughters. Hope you have agreat weekend. xoxox,Susie

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  13. I am definitely an introvert. My father used to call me the "Loner".
    Not that I don't like people, I just don't have much patience for when they act stupid or petty.
    My neighbor has a tree like that but I don't know the name of it.

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  14. i love being alone. but if i'm in a social situation, i'll work the room with the best of them. i've always called myself an extroverted introvert.

    love that zinnia! and very cool paper bark!

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  15. I'm kind of a mixtravert (a bit of both) but can enjoy all of the above along with you and Audrey.

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  16. Oh the comments here are wonderful and I really got a kick out of Patti's above...a mixtravert...hahahahaha...

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  17. i think maybe that tree is a river birch? i love river birches and they have a really cool bark like that....loved your memories of baron. while we lived in missouri, our dog rock died suddenly from an illness that came on and within the week he was gone. i remember a day or two after he died, i was outside grilling and heard him running up behind me. i could hear the clink of his collar and turned to greet him when it hit me that he really wasn't there....i heard him clear as day though! that was about 10 years ago and i remember that feeling like it was yesterday....i'm kind of an introvert and kind of not lol...i like alone time but also like being around family and friends (which is probably like everyone else lol)
    have a great weekend :)

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  18. You seem like a beautiful person! I love the outdoors too. Great photos, happy I found your blog :)

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  19. I am pretty outgoing but I really LOVE spending time alone-something that doesn't happen much around here. I do enjoy spending time with people but I like to do things just by myself, too. I would have no problem going out to dinner by myself or going somewhere alone...that's just me. Blogging is a very good outlet for me because it allows me to "connect" with people even while I am by myself. GREAT post!!! xo Diana

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  20. Happy weekend to you...and thanks for your pretty photos today!

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  21. that peeling bark is just marvelous!!

    i am never alone, NEVER!! the hubs and i are 24/7, but i am use to it.
    and he's my bestest friend!!

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  22. When I read the quote I thought my name would be on it. Ha, I guess that tells you which way I lean. I am glad that you opened this discussion as it makes me feel good to know that I am in good company. I think too often I feel like I'm in the minority.
    I have seen trees with that type of bark in my neighborhood. I know they are some type of birch tree, but not sure of the exact name.

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  23. Love this quote and thought (until I got to the end) wow Cheryl is so much like me..smile.. Then after reading it, I found out we are so much like Audrey Hepburn! Smile...

    Blessings,
    Gert

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  25. I have to have some time alone. While I so enjoy being with people, I can only take small doses... it makes me feel drained. Someone once told me that the difference between an extrovert and introvert is that the extrovert is ENERGIZED by people and the introvert is drained. I fit the introvert side. ;) blessings ~ tanna
    ps love those zinnias!

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  26. I love to spend time with my kids and my hubby....but lately, mostly with my hubby. We have really reconnected since the kids all left. And we both feel most at peace when we are with nature. I love to be away from the crowds. Don't get me wrong...one on one, I deeply care for most people. I can find some good in most everyone. Even those who are cranky and cantankerous, if you dig deep enough, you can find a soft spot still....and a warm and caring person who just wants to be understood. But, if I had to chose for the rest of my life to be spent with a lot of people or just my hubby, it would be just my hubby, hands down. Love that man!

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  27. Oh, your zinnia is just gorgeous!!!! And the bark is really special!!! I have seen bark like this, but not o this extreme. I do like Phil to be with me, one reason is my failing health and dangerous nosebleeds. I worry about being alone.

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  28. I'm an introvert too. I love my alone time. Being around people for too long wears me out. I can be extroverted though when I'm out among people.
    Great photo of that tree.

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  29. Very interesting quote- I tend to introvert, but have occasional outbursts of extrovert...LOL!
    That tree is cool

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  30. I've had such a sweet visit with you....I too like being by myself and I love enjoying nature and enjoying the beauty all around us..Beautiful shots to illustrate your points....I am definitely going to plant this type of zinnia next year; they are beautiful with their layers of color....I too think the tree is a river birch...We have lots of them around here.....

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  31. Oh, I really need some alone time...time to hear myself think.

    I think the tree is some kind of birch...my daughter has a tree with bark similar to that and I think that is the conclusion we came to. But I am not sure...

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  32. Dear Cheryl,
    I like both. When I was young, I think I was actually afraid to be alone. It scared me for some reason. I was even afraid to walk across the school campus alone..sooo self concious..nearly died when my best friend did not show up for school..and once spent the entire lunch time in the bathroom..
    Today..I love my solitude. I don't mind being alone. Not for long but for a day is alright. I have always been around a lot of people..but was an only child for along time. I love people..but a quiet afternoon with just me for company..is fine. I've learned..to be alone. I had to.
    :) It's the cards I was delt.
    Hugs,
    Mona

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  33. Beautiful quote! That zinnia is pretty. I have never seen a tree with that kind of bark before, but it has such a great texture. Sometimes I am an introvert, and sometimes I'm an extrovert. It depends on my mood. I do like to spend a lot of time alone outside puttering around with the plants and flowers and my camera. There is always something to see there.

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  34. Great topic today, Cheryl, and the responses were just. Interesting. I too value my alone time and consider myself more an introvert, than my husband. Like Debbie's comment about being with her husband 24x7 as it is the same with us, yet we both find our own joy in being alone and not letting the other feel ignored. And, a child, my mother called me "the lone ranger" which was upsetting at times, but did not change that I enjoyed my own company and still do and never get bored, even when it's just me, myself and I.

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  35. Girl...do I ever love being by myself. But...you would have to understand my life style to understand how true that statement is. My house...I promise...has revolving doors. It is never dull around here and I never know what or who is going to come through the doors. They say a home that is full of people is a happy home...guess this is true..

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  36. I am definitely a introvert. I wasn't when I was young, but now, being in a crowd just makes me crazy.

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  37. Hi There, I'm back after a big birthday week. Trying to catch up a little on my blogging.

    I too love being outdoors --and do NOT enjoy being around lots of people... I'm more of an introvert --but do love being with ONE person all of the time... George and I truly love just being together 24/7... Awesome.

    Great photos.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  38. I too love being outdoors. This year has been so rainy that I haven't been out as much as I like to be.
    Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

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