The JOYS of Parenthood

by catnipoflife

There are mornings when I simply DREAD opening email…

I DON’T want to go there…

I know hundreds of messages are screaming OPEN ME!

In spite of the dread, I sign in and voila!

The delete feature sizzles as I delete, delete, delete in rapid succession all the while wondering , “Did I just delete something important…a message that I NEEDED to read…an inspiration for my next write?” Oh, dear! Can’t worry about that now OR should I check the trash before deleting permanently?

NO WAY! That thought escapes my mind as quickly as it entered, maybe even quicker! Let them go and move on! A swift wipe of the brow and I do just that…

Until this catches my eye. . .

HOW CAN ANYONE NOT WANT CHILDREN?

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Now, tell me which one made you laugh the hardest, the loudest…completely and totally out loud?

Humor Quick Post Reflection Slideshow

29 Comments »

Life is Full of Surprises…

by catnipoflife

…with a little craziness tossed into the mix!

Which is your favorite?

Cats & Catnip Humor Quick Post Video Clip

23 Comments »

Free Write Friday #19: Image Prompt

by catnipoflife

Welcome back to FWF. If you are new here, feel free to read the intro. Otherwise, let’s get started.

Here is your prompt…

Credit: Richard Baxter

Here is my contribution. . .

After the Storm. . .

Like a memory
The home place
Was swept away
In an instant
A flash
Without warning
In a dash

Gone but not without hope

The structure
Tattered
The windows, doors
No more
Boards mere splinters
A roof without a floor

Yet still a feeling of hope

While no material
Will soon
Be left to see
I still have you
You still have me

There indeed lies hope

We can rebuild
Start anew
The image will fade
But we hold hands
In our old age

Now, as usual, I am off to see what others have contributed. Come back later to check out the links to some excellent, creative writers!

Books & Art – Spirit & Soul – Lesley Fletcher says:

http://inspirationimport.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/i-felt-it-before-i-felt-it-fwf/

terry1954 says:

http://terry1954.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/fwf-image-prompt/

graypoet says:

http://graypoet.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/mental-tornado-fwf-photo-prompt/

A.B. Thomas says:

http://abthomas.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/free-write-friday-a-blouse-is-like-a-house/

Maleko’s Art – Mark Schutter says:

http://malekoarts.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/my-broken-mind/

Marbles In My Pocket – Charles Mashburn says:

http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/the-story-of-rob/

Grace Unveiled – Carri says:

graceunveiledblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/dark-halls/

Free Write Friday PoetrybySharla

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Kids React to Valentine’s Day

by catnipoflife

The day is not over yet…

Humor Video Clip

7 Comments »

Remembering Our Soldiers

by catnipoflife

From Awakenings. . .

Support Our Troops and Military Pictures

To our soldiers. . .

A special greeting

Is sent today

To all our soldiers

Near and far away

Just to let you know

While protecting our nation

You are in my heart

Truly with gratification

Words are not enough

In thankfulness for all you do

With little thoughts of self

Only sacrifice through and through

Throughout this day

As well as others too

Know this message

Holds loving thoughts for you

~~~~~

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Awakenings

8 Comments »

A Catnip Valentine’s Day

by catnipoflife

To all my visitor’s and followers in blogland…

A Valentine filled with hugs and wishes for a purr-r-r-r-r-fect Valentine’s Day!

This day is a day of love with the word of the day being HUG!

Hug those who are near you, send a hug to those far away,

let them know your thoughts are for a Happy Valentine’s Day!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The automatic slideshow advances too quickly to read the poem. Wait for the slide that says Pause HERE or use the arrows to move ahead or back manually, then pause. From there, advance each slide manually using the right arrow which allows ample time to read the lines.

Visit Awakenings for the history of NECCO Candy Hearts and the written form of the poem.

PoetrybySharla

15 Comments »

Awakenings: How do I Love Thee

by catnipoflife

Awakenings features Micki Peluso, author of …And the Whippoorwill Sang.

See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond

With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, let’s examine some history behind this day and what makes it so special. The featured article on Awakenings is from Micki Peluso, author of …And the Whippoorwill Sang.

February 14th sometimes signifies the first day of Lent, depending upon the date of Easter, and is also Admission Day in Arizona. Most people however, celebrate the day by sending comic or heartfelt Valentines to family, friends and lovers. People seem to delight in St. Valentine’s Day, as florists, candy stores, boutiques and card shops do a rallying business providing heart-shaped novelties of all variety. Chocolate, long known for having properties that produce a euphoric feeling similar to the bittersweet emotion of love, seems an appropriate gift for St. Valentine’s Day.

Continue reading @Awakenings…awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Mick Peluso is a prolific writer. Her articles, stories, and book,. …And the Whippoorwill Sang, have won rave reviews. Thank you, Micki, for providing such a great historical account for St. Valentine’s Day. You can visit Micki at her blog A Writer’s Journey.

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Awakenings Scoop.it

Licking the Bowl

by catnipoflife

Admiring Family Ties

What common thread binds families together?
Must be those silent unspeakable memories
Which hide in the attics of our minds
Gathering dust, but never brushed away

Episodes of loving, laughing, defending each other
Strengthen emotions to immeasurable depths
Wanting not, wasting not treasured moments
That natural instinct directs along the way

Domestic chatter that may breed bitterness
Welcomes forgiveness with open arms
Knowing a quarrel is momentary
Quickly resolved and not for keeps

Times with friends, pets, even the common cold
Bare little resemblance to a naked forest
But instead resemble a sheltered canopy
To inherently stay even while winter sleeps

Recollections of coveting Mom’s cake batter bowl
Hiding tooth brushes, locking the bathroom door
Borrowing money without any vision of payback
Reveal frowns only later lifted with a kiss

Family ties shed radiant lights like chatoyant gems
Making us at our absolute worst look our best
Are never meant to be broken
And ultimately become bondages of bliss

Discount/Autograph Copies Available
Contact poetrybysharla@gmail.com

Also available on Kindle

Inspiration PoetrybySharla Reflection

9 Comments »

Laughing at Yourself

by catnipoflife

Life is a Journey

Today I needed a memory jog
I looked for the ice cream
And found a peanut log

Candy in the freezer? Okay
Certainly not a BAD idea
Ice cream in the candy jar, NO WAY!

Life is a journey, enjoy the ride
Laugh at yourself, take it all in stride

Laughing is just good for the soul. If you can’t laugh at yourself, then how can you expect others to laugh along with you? As I get older, I have to laugh at the ‘silly’ things I do sometimes without even thinking – putting the milk in the panty and the cereal in the fridge, thinking one thing and saying another, calling my own phone number, driving to the grocery store and realizing I am at the post office.

I can’t help but laugh – literally LOL! That’s right, laugh out loud! So hard, my sides hurt! I just stand there, look at what I am about to do or where I am instead of where I am suppose to be and just totally burst out laughing!

Someone once said doing such crazy things was a sign of old age. Most of the time it is simply a case of just too much mental clutter! It’s the day I go to the pantry and find the milk that has been there for several days that worries me! That would mean all the things that should have gone into the pantry are now…um-m-m-m? Where is the bag of potato chips? Peanut butter, where are you? Is that the sour cream I spy in the corner?

What about you? Have you experienced any “I can’t believe I did that!” moments?

“Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.”
~Queen Victoria

A Quote for Today Humor PoetrybySharla Quick Post

24 Comments »

Free Write Friday #18: Word Bank

by catnipoflife

Welcome to another Free Write Friday! Today Kellie Elmore’s challenge is . . .

Word Bank: Opal, Vague, Whirl, Dream, Sheer, Conjure, Bare, Allure

With Valentine’s Day only a short time away, emotions of love and the beauty of the opal gemstone just seem to go hand-in-hand. So, thank you Kellie for your latest challenge and hopefully I live up to your expectations.

The Opal…

A gemstone of rare beauty
Alluring to the naked eye
Never vague, always unique
This surely one cannot deny

Colors of the spectrum
Whirl and twirl in the light
Conjuring bare opalescence
A dream of sheer delight

My Love…

Precious and rare in beauty
The opal of my eye
Never wispy, always strong
This no one can deny

Poignant emotions
Dance and cry with joy
Bare opalescent smiles
Readily you deploy

Happy pre-Valentine’s Day!