Claire Cappetta, author of A Broken Ring is featuring my book, Awakenings, on her blog today. Please visit Claire’s site and leave comments. I am offering my book as a Kindle Giveaway to one lucky commenter! Yippee!! 
Thank you, Claire,
for being so supportive of my writing and providing this wonderful opportunity!
Author Interview with Sharla Shults
See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond
Summer time, open-air beach parties, warm nights, cold beer and a hot date! With or without the beer, that was the era of the Carolina shag. An outdoor pavilion with the roar of the ocean waves in the background set the stage to dance your heart away hand-in-hand with your favorite gal or beau.
During the 50s, the “Shag” became such a way of life to so many people that it is hard to imagine a time before “Beach Music” and pink shoes.
See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com
Today is a day of celebration and catnip is all dolled up for the occasion:
catnipoflife‘s 1st anniversary!
This past year has been incredible in the blogosphere! So much joy is received each time a Like or comment is posted with recognition that one of YOU has truly enjoyed my inspirational poetry, novice pictures, impromptu writings and humorous catnip. The purpose for this blog has always been to inspire:
echoes of the heart, remembrances from the past and catnip of life.
Without you,
This blog would no longer be
Without you,
My words no one would see
Without you,
The cat would cease to purr
Without you,
Catnip would no longer spur
Because of you
The cat seldom whines
Because of you
The sun always shines
Because of you
Catnip whirs and whirs
Because of you
Vision never blurs
You’re the inspiration
Soft fur and sharp claws
Spurring me onward
To write just because
You’re the inspiration
Through which I write
You’re the reason
I’m up late at night
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
Free Write Friday (FWF) lyric prompt…
“Oh yea, they say ‘life goes on’ long after the thrill of living is gone.”
This is one of Kellie’s favorite Mellancamp songs, Jack and Diane, that she says leaves her pining for those long lost summers of youth and wishing she hadn’t been in such a hurry.
What does this lyric mean to you?
When I was a child
Thrills were in toys
Barbie dolls, Play-Doh
Anything but boys
Later as a teen
Thrills ran with friends
Drive-ins, roller skates
The rouse a kiss sends
Summers came and went
Thrills gone too fast
Boys, boys, boys
None that would last
As a young adult
Thrills & chills hit the scene
Fast cars, night clubs
Anything in between
Summers still came
Thrills led abroad
Oceans of pleasure
Applaud, applaud
Then came thirties
Thrills took a turn
Heartache after heartache
Made the heart yearn
Finally one summer
Thrill of it all
Set my heart afire
My soulmate’s call
Ah! But forties
Thrills at their best
Children of my own
Those were life’s test
Summers came and went
Thrills beyond measure
Swimming, playing in the sun
Search for life’s treasure
The nifty fifties
Thrills beyond compare
Kids grown and gone
Much music in the air
Summers brought joy
Thrills forever after
Wedding bells rang
Grandbabies thereafter
Sixties are here
Thrills still abound
Two cats, a bird
One funny hound
With each day
Life quickly marches on
New sights, new sounds
Long after thrills are gone
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
Off to catch the thrills of others…be right back!
feminineocean says:
http://rigzenchomo.com/2013/02/22/free-write-friday/
terry1954 says:
http://terry1954.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/fwf-free-write-friday-lyric-prompt/
Books & Art – Spirit & Soul – Lesley Fletcher says:
http://inspirationimport.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/the-music-man-fwf/
charlesmashburn says:
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/last-night/
graypoet says:
http://graypoet.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/life-goes-on-fwf-lyric-prompt/
Ron. says:
“Sundress” at Scrambled, Not Fried
Hugs across the miles sent with joy and smiles!
That is me…… but don’t eat me……just hug me….
I love teddies and soft toys here are my favourites.
This is Petzie and Retzi. Petzie is a German Steiff Teddy which is actually my sister’s and is over 50 years old dressed in our baby clothes. Retzie lives in London but was allowed to visit Germany, he does have his own passport.
This is Teddy Mac Fluff, our cool teddy.
Another collection:
Teddies are patient, loving, cuddly, soft, fluffy, cute and always happy.
I hope Manny from Marsha’s blog likes all his friends here.
See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond
It was the end of WWII. However, the world felt far from safe: impending war in Korea, frightening talk of Communism, threatening talk of nuclear war. Even amid new fights and threats, post-war America’s priority was family: feeling safe and secure within structured communities.
But, where did that leave the teenager? The teen was between…sandwiched in between child and young adult. In fact, the term ‘teen-ager’ was coined during this time — the 50s, the era where the teens started to hear music about their world, love songs about high school sweethearts, wild parties and fast cars. This was the age of rock ‘n’ roll — the devil’s music of Elvis Presley, the rebelliousness of James Dean. A new culture was born and there was no stopping it!
Long live rock ‘n’ roll!
MORE on awakenings2012.blogspot.com
With winter comes days that chill right to the bone. Unlike our furry friends, we don our heavy coats, boots, woolen socks, mittens and scarves to ward off the bite of the frigid air. Of course, we know the soft fur of our little friends keeps them warm without the need for all the extra ‘gear’ but that does not necessarily mean they do not feel the cold.
BUT… does the cold inevitably keep them indoors? See the slideshow ‘Come play with me!’ after the poem!
Winter’s Berth
A mound of silky white fur
Amid cushions of bottle green
Reflects hues of icy blue
Off crystal dewdrops barely seen
Teeny tiny silver moons
Draping from hairy stems
Tickle a pink little nose
Like frosty pearlized gems
Stretching and yawning
Rising above home turf
Tiny paws reach forth
Scratching in winter’s earth
Within a few steps
Visions begin to blur
Chilly winter winds
Softly lift the long fur
Delicate hints of sunlight
Peeping through bleak gray skies
Grant fleeting moments of warmth
Around wide-open eyes
Suddenly through the bitterness
A little hand reaches down
“Nosy Nettie, why are you here
Among plumage turned gray brown?”
With a special purr-r-r
Ever so thankful to be found
The snow white fur ball
Bids farewell to the cold, cold ground
©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
The purr from cat to man says, ‘You bring me happiness; I am at peace with you.’
—Barbara L. Diamond (Writer, n.d.)
Touch of Catnip: Come play with me!
See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond
“Like a bee that settles on the fragrant pistils of a flower, and sips in the nectar for honey, so should you sip in the nectar from between the lips of your love.”
Since there is so much history behind the art of kissing I am posting this to America and beyond. Of course, kissing is definitely an intricate part of the catnipoflife so it will also be ‘planted’ on catnip just like a first kiss!
See on www.brainpickings.org
See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond
What does Presidents’ Day mean to you? Do you have the day off from work? Are you seeking out the best deals and sales? Are you into Clothing and Accessories, Shoes and Purses, Home and Garden, Health and Well Being, Tech/Computers/Accessories? Slow down. . .actually, STOP!
Presidents’ Day is so much more than bargain basement prices on a single day of the year. Celebrate America, celebrate the leaders instrumental in establishing and maintaining America’s freedom!
See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com
There is no advance notice for inspiration. It comes within a moment’s time without notification, without hesitation. It comes from near, it comes from afar: As close as one’s backyard, as faraway as across oceans and continents. catnipoflife is blessed with many wonderful followers across many divides, each of whom presents his or her perspectives on life, experiences of life, joys, sorrows and personal reflections.
Today while visiting press-inside, I was inspired by the video, Danube Delta, Romania: a unique region in Europe – where one still may find, at least in certain places, untouched wild nature, unaltered by civilization. Not only did it provide so much beauty of the country but it was set to background music by Enya. By truly listening to the lyrics of Enya’s music, you will understand the catnip of life!
Enjoy and marvel in the wonders of nature within a world of endless possibilities!
so much beauty
so much beauty
outside as well as within
waiting to be explored
inviting you to begin
looking and listening
reaching for touch
laughing, singing
enjoying so much
away from the noise
the hustle, the stress
knowing inside and out
when moments need rest
abiding in the heart
deepening in the soul
waiting for the time
to unleash and behold
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
catnipoflife 