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Monday, August 31, 2009

What I learned from my Summer Bloggy Break

Dixie on the shore of North Lake Tahoe... August, 2009

As many of you know... I decided to take a summer bloggy break for the past few months. I still blogged... but not as often... I didn't host Wordless Wednesday... and rarely participated in the weekly Meme's... so how was it? Well, here's what I learned about myself... and this applies only to me; so if you read this post and see yourself... it is completely coincidental... I am writing about me and me only... k?

and Candy... sorry about all the words... you can just look at the picture if you like... ;)
Ahhhh vacation... it's a beautiful thing...
I learned that I don't like the responsibility of a weekly meme... so Heather has kindly accepted the responsibility of Wordless Wednesday... it is hers to manage and do with what ever she likes... now... I can sit back and be an occasional participant.

I learned that I like to occasionally participate in various meme's...and I like trying new ones... but I don't like feeling obligated to do them each and every week... If I have something to say or to show... I will... and if I don't... I won't.

I learned that its not necessary to leave a comment each and every time you visit someones blog... but you should do so every week or so... just to let them know you've stopped by.

I learned that I like being behind the camera much more than being in front of it. I also learned that I need a better camera to take the kind of photos I dream of taking.

I learned that I really enjoy reading Sally's book reviews, and that she has some great book giveaways, and its pretty easy to enter and win... opps! I might should have kept that one to myself?! I'm sending out a special thank you to Sally for providing me with such wonderful summer reading... I've enjoyed every word of each of the books I've "won"...

I've learned that sometimes I just like to look at the photos... and sometimes I like to read the stories of each blog post that I visit... and that I like to read funny and interesting stories about other peoples lives and families... but I also like hints, crafts, how-tos and great ideas...

I've learned that the more time you spend doing... the less time you have to write about it... and that's just fine with me....

I guess you could say, I learned a lot this summer... and one thing is for sure... I love to visit my bloggy friends... and I promise to visit you real soon...

until next time... from down here in French Lique...

32 comments:

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Great post. I learned a few things about myself while reading it. I feel pretty much the same as you do. For example..when I did my post today I felt..for some reason..that it should be connected to a "meme" and then suddenly erased the "meme" and just did my post. I cannot explain why I did that, but perhaps it is because I am finding it so difficult afterwards to visit every single one of the participants. It simply is not possible..so I am backing off a little on the "meme's" thing.
Anyway...you learned a lot this summer and thanks for sharing it with us.

KBeau said...

Great lessons, and I did see myself in some of these things--well, most of them. Got to go check out the book give-aways, because I love books.

I would love to have a better camera. Mine's okay, but I really want a digital SLR.

I like the memes too, but I can't do them every week. When I have something appropriate to contribute, I'll try to do so.

Will continue to follow you and read your posts. You always have something interesting to say.

I need a link to the book review blog.

Linda C said...

Great post! I enjoyed reading it and agree with alot of it. It reminds of me of what we used to have to write in school-What I did on my Summer Vacation... :)

Linda C

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Welcome back, Miss Dixie! I am glad you enjoyed your bloggy break! I have learned many of the same things about myself this summer!
I have also been enjoying taking photos and I learned that if I would just read the instruction book, I might discover that I had a nicer camera than I thought!
I have also learned that if I post once a week, I am a much happier person than I was when I was posting 3 or 4 timnes a week! I just don't want folks to forget about me...that's all. It does free you up to visit more if you want to!
And you are right about our fellow bloggers! I don't think I could ever stop visiting and chatting with them! They have become my neighbors...only they all love the same things I love and they don't look to see if I've mowed my grass yet! lol
Enjoy your week!!...hugs...Debbie

cottage farm villa said...

Amen! :) xo Cheryl

Angela said...

Hey Dixie!

Great post! I agree with you totally! I like to participate in memes but I sometimes just can't do it.

I too need a better camera! I love taking pictures. I still haven't finished posting many of the pictures that I took while on vacation back in June! hahaha

Plus I've been trying to take pictures of the globe zucchini that you gave me. That poor plant, yes, I said plant. Only 1 has survived and that is the one that I planted in a flower pot by the front door. It now has 1 zucchini on it! Just 1 and it is the size of a tennis ball. I just don't think that the weather here in West Virginia is agreeing with your Texas plant! lol We have two different gardens that I planted them in and nothing.

Hugs,
Angela

Heather said...

Yes..yes..yes! I've learned these things too, with life and opportunity and just being...living in the moment and being okay with that. This is a SUPERB post that MANY, MANY, MANY of us can benefit from hearing :)

I love WW, I've also thought of sharing the hosting with others...that might be something I think of in the future, each person who regularly takes part could be the host of the month and chose the themes. Not sure yet...I'm still enjoying the hosting of it. Doing that, though, would give everyone hosting the opportunity to share themselves even more so with others :).

We shall see - so happy that you're happy and content with life.

Love to you, Miss Dixie :)

DKG aka Scrappy Doo said...

Dixie,
Looks like ya had a great break and I agree with this post all the way
Have a Great Evening!
Scrappy

SmilingSally said...

Thanks for the mention of my book blog, but you forgot to give the link. It's

http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/

FrenchGardenHouse said...

perfect post! I couldn't agree more...you said it well. looks like you all had a fabulous time here in CA...such a happy wedding.
xo Lidy

Helen said...

Hey Dixie ~ a great big Cowgirl Up to you. Loved your post today!

Joy Tilton said...

I am feeling close to cracking these days so I need a bloggy break I guess. Sometimes I feel like I post the same stuff that is in my head so often, health issues with parents right now. Todays post shows I'm falling apart...
http://grannymountain.blogspot.com

Candy said...

You have been on my mind the last several days...giving you time to get back into things after your trip. Knowing your new venture was probably screaming at you and while I was going to connect today if I didn't see any sign from F.L.
And there you are lounging in a hammock and I'm sure I saw R. bringing you a huge Chili's refreshment ;-)
Looking forward to getting together soon, will be in touch!

Blondie's Journal said...

Well said, Dixie!! I am glad you had time on your summer break to prioritize your time. I feel sometimes that I live in a circle of creating, then blogging about it, then visiting, then creating...I think the time has come that we all admit that as much as we are alike, we are also different. And so is our blogging style.

xoxo
Jane

trash talk said...

What a great "come back" post. You said a lot of things I've been feeling. Sometimes it gets to feeling like work and that was not what I wanted when I started blogging. Thanks for pointing out, it's up to me to keep it fun!
Glad you had a wonderful vacation.
Debbie

Vera said...

I like what you said...

Kat said...

Welcome back Dixie. I'm glad you enjoyed your break. I've discovered alot of the same things you have. I've been posting less, which does give me more time to visit other blogs. I've also discovered that I'm moving away from the weekly memes and posting more of what I want to. If it happens to fit with a particular meme, great. If not, I'll post it anyway! Hope you're getting a little bit cooler weather down there in French Lique. It was "only" 92 today and felt downright cool lol. Kathy

Maria said...

Well done! Just what I would write... but you wrote it better ;o)
All the best, Maria

donna baker said...

Hey Dixie, what's a meme?

Junque Couture said...

I can relate on the camera thing. What exactly is a RSL digital? (did I get that right?) As soon as you feel obligated to blog or comment the fun is gone! It becomes a job! Relax and repond naturally...

Lynn said...

Yep.
Totally!

Dawn said...

Gee Dixie, sounds like you picked up some CA surfer attitude and you didn't even make it to the ocean!
It's all good!
Dawn

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Dixie, you expressed yourself so well, and I can relate to everything you said (except I do like the camera I have). I'm starting to feel like I might need to take a blog break too. Never thought I'd say this, but I think I've run out of things to say!! laurie

Barbara said...

Well Dixie Gal, It seems you hit a note or two in each of us, I was beginning to feel crowded by my blog. Some of the things you said go for me also and you set me free in many ways without feeing guilty.

Thanks for all you said...same here.

Purple hugs,
Barbara

Dixie said...

If you point and click on the words "Sallys Book Blog" it will take you to her...

Yep.. that's me in photo one... I don't post me very often.. (I'm camera shy".. but Ricky thought I should post it just this one time... LOL

So happy to see that many of you are finding pieces of yourselves in this post. Touching others is a wonderful thing.

bj said...

So glad you had a good break, Dixie. I love Lake Tahoe..such a beautiful place.

I am also beginning to post more of the things I WANT to post about..not always a meme involved. Oh, yes, you get more comments when you are linked to at least one meme...but, like you, when it starts turning into a job...I don't want to do it.
I also don't leave messages at every blog I read. Some blogs have something that I might not agree with..or a photo of a room that I don't care for..I just pass these up without words.
Blogging should be fun...not a job.
Have fun today...

The Raggedy Girl said...

I too took a bloggy break and as I make my "once per week" visit to you I think I have learned much the same thing. I now just have to get back into posting. I am hoping to post about three times a week. I didn't want to quit but had to find a way to cut the amount of time it was taking and I think I did. Now I still get to see the wonderful thoughts, recipes, trips and other subjects that are posted and still have a life.

The Raggedy Girl

Lavender Chick said...

You are so right! I think that this is why sometime a great blogger simply disappears... It can sometime begin feeling like an obligation. Glad you learned some things on your holiday!

Nancy said...

Well, Dixie Doodle it should be a pleasure not a chore and I say do it however you want. I'm with you - I doing different things, too. ;0 ) Nancy

Joan J said...

As a fellow blog-breakee, I agree with you 100%. Blogs are wonderful, but when they become a "job" rather than a diary of thoughts, we've taken a wrong turn. When we feel obligated to entertain our readers, rather than using it to entertain ourselves, something's lost! So do what you do so well and do it when and if you feel like it!

Mike and Linda said...

You learned very good things
The more time you spend doing the less time you have write about it....that's a good thing.

Sarah said...

This is a great post. I just started blogging in August. I jumped in the deep end, but now realize that like you I don't need to feel pressured to join in every week if I don't have something to share. I love participating in the weekly parties, but I've also learned it takes a lot of my time to get it all together the way I want to present it. So, I felt good reading your thoughts. I'm feeling a lot of the same feelings. Thanks for expressing it so eloquently. ~ Sarah
PS
My Met Monday and Outdoor Wednesday post this week is about the rain we FINALLY received this past weekend. I greatly enjoyed reading your post about rain in Dallas. :-)