This one took a lot of time so don’t stop until the very end! HUGS to all my blogger friends!
Flowering Bouquet by Nikki Dalton
Catnipoflife has truly been blessed in the past few months with many awards from her visitors and followers. With every award comes obligations that take thought, time and effort in expressing gratitude and paying each forward. For catnip, delays have resulted in postings because of personal reasons and limited time online.
It is especially important for everyone to know how much I am truly grateful for all visits, Likes and comments but most importantly for so many intercessory prayers during what is now Day 55 of my husband’s hospital confinement. When I first entered the blogging world November 18, 2011, Awakenings became my first venue. A seed was planted and out of that experience came the birth of Awakenings’ sister site, catnipoflife. From the moment of inception, the blogging community became a family!
So, without further adieu, catnip shares her joys with her family!
Awarding the people who live in the moment,
The noble who write and capture the best in life,
The bold who reminded us what really mattered –
Savoring the experience of quality time.
catnipoflife has been honored not once, but twice with the Best Moment Award. Thank you, Marilyn @Serendipity and Ute @Ute Smile, for this wonderful award! Here is a little information about both wonderful ladies. I encourage you to visit their blogs where you will definitely be enlightened!
Marilyn Armstrong @Serendipity
Marilyn is an extremely brave woman who has overcome many battles in her lifetime. She is unique. She is funny. She is a GREAT photographer. She calls herself a geek and that may be true for she is Grand, Enjoyable, Energizing, Kind all rolled into one!
Ute is all about smiles…making people happy, offering inspiration and sharing her passion for music and dance. She is a very positive, upbeat person and don’t just take my word for it…visit her blog!
RULES:
Winners re-post this completely with their acceptance speech. This could be written or video recorded.
Winners have the privilege of awarding the next awardees! The re-post should include a NEW set of people/blogs worthy of the award; and winners notify them of the great news.
My Acceptance Speech:
I am not much into speeches but do feel strongly about showing gratitude. It is indeed an honor for catnipoflife to be recognized as one about the moment…that which is captured or perhaps even lost in the blink of an eye. It is the smell of the rain, the soft tender kiss of nature, the rhapsody of the wind; it is openness of the mind, gentleness of the heart. May each of you, her readers, go forth and follow the motto of catnipoflife: Observe life at its best, listen to life’s songs, embrace life’s bounties, breathe the breath of life and savor life to its fullest! Don’t miss a moment! Thank you heartfully and soulfully for your visits, Likes, comments, shares and of course, the awards!
My Awardees:
Arlen Shahverdyan @Arlen Shahverdyan. Author’s Blog
Arlen is Armenian. His personal author’s blog is a unique combination of website and blog, which has been active since April, 2011. Since June 2012 he has translated his articles into English, thereby featuring both the Armenian and English translations. Here you will find published books, works in prose and poetry, research papers, paintings and photographic preferences.
Barbara Beacham @Life in the Foothills
Can you imagine Life in the Foothills? I can! after visiting Barb’s blog and her exceptional photography. With just one look, you will be hooked! She will draw you into the lowest valley one minute only to take you to the highest mountaintop the next. She will enlighten you with the wild side of the countryside!
Penny Coho @The Why About This
OK, this is a tough one…the award is The Best Moment Award and Penny’s site is full of best moments! Of course, upon reading what this award is all about it is obvious why The Why About This fits it to a ‘T’! Thank you, Penny, for your creative thoughts and insights in life and its why!
Raani York? What can one say about Raani other than remarkable! Her wit is surpassed by none, especially when it comes to jabbing celebrities. Then, of course, for the purr-fect fur-iend, there is Jake, the Cat Prince, whose diaries will make the least cat lover into an avid follower!
Taylor Fulks @Taylor-Made Thoughts and Doodles
Taylor is a writer/author but more that than she is a survivor. Here are Taylor’s own words, “I have had numerous blessings throughout my life. Some were planned, like the conception and births of my wonderful daughters, and some have come at a high price to me personally…overcoming fear, shame, and darkness.” Check out her award-winning novel My Prison Without Bars.
Super Sweet Award received from The Call of the Pen http://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/sunday-morning-sunshine/
Just a few questions/answers to share and ask you, my recipients, to pass along to your nominees:
Questions/Answers:
- Cookies or Cake?
At one point in time, I would have automatically said ‘cookies’. Now, I will take either one at any time of the day!
- Chocolate or Vanilla?
Um-m-m? Does vanilla topped with Hershey’s syrup count?
- Favourite Sweet Treat?
Cheesecake, definitely Cheesecake! - When do you crave sweet things the most?
Night time when I should NOT have it! - Sweet Nick Name?
Sweetee
Recipients:
You, my visitors and followers, are all Super Sweet! How can I possibly award some and not others? NO WAY! You are all deserving of this award. Grab it, display it on your site and pay it forward!
A Twofer for Moi! Word Press Family Member Plus The Sunshine Award from Serendipity! http://teepee12.com/2013/06/25/wordpressfamily-and-sunshine-award/
The Sunshine Award also received from Ute @utesmile.wordpress.com/!
The RULES that apply here are the usual question/answer typical questions. So, I am going to follow Serendipity and provide/answer with pictures. Photography says it all without the necessity of a plethora of words!
Favourite colour?
Favourite animal?
Foxie
Boots, aka Bootsie…RIP (May 30, 2009 – June 21, 2013)
Favourite number?
Favourite non-alcoholic drink?
My passion?
Prefer getting or giving presents?
Favourite days of the week?
Favourite flower?
Recipients:
There is no way for me to know at a moment’s point in time which of my followers are WordPress or not. If you are a WordPress site and have not been ‘invited’ into the family, then by all means grab the badge I Am Part of the WordPress Family, post it to your site and pay it forward. Why do you need an invitation anyway? You ARE part of the WordPress family!
As for the Sunshine Award, see the Shine On Award. I am combining the two…make a choice or grab them both!
The Shine On Award from Raani York @http://raaniyork.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/shine-on-award/
THE RULES ARE:
1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 (more or less) other bloggers for this award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award requirements.
7 Things About Me
1. I have an uninvited guest in my bedroom: a snake! Any suggestions on how to find and get rid of it?
2. I enjoy cooking! Right now I have a Succulent Southern Pecan Pie cooking in the slow cooker…that’s right…Crock Pot Pecan Pie!
3. Painting is one of my hobbies.
4. My shoe size is 7.
5. Favorite time of day: Sitting on the back porch in the morning.
6. Least favorite food: Beets but I do like rutabagas!
7. My favorite sport is playing golf. Before I ever got a birdie I got an eagle on a Par 4…go figure!
Blogs I Am Nominating (Two awards means double the recipients! So, for those who gave me one, you grab the other!) Some of you I know have opted out of the awards participation but I wanted to thank you anyway!
Thank you for bringing sunshine into my life. . .
Aditya @Being Chirpy
Alastair @Alastair’s Blog
Alejandro @Chief Writing Wolf
Amber @Lady Lovely Blogger
Angela @angchronicles
Arlen @Arlen’s Author Blog
Autumn @Autumn Sunshine
Bruce @brucelouisdodson
Barb @Life in the Foothills
Carine @Texas, a Cat in New York
Charles @Marbles in my Pocket
Chris @A Hairdresser’s Diary
Claire @ClaireCappetta
Cynthia @Simple Pleasures
Diane (Coastalmom) @The One Thing I Know For Sure
Dicy @Dicy McCullough’s Blog
DJ @Stutley’s Tales
Don @Don in Massachusetts
Gys @Love Poems French & English by Gys
Janice @Jana’s Dreams
Julie (aka Cookie) @cookiecrumbstoliveby
Kellie @Magic in the Backyard
Len @My Own Heart.me
Lesley @Inspiration Import
Lori @Lori’s Song
Lyn @The Call of the Pen
Marilyn @Serendipity
Mary Helen @Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblog
Megan @Make Something Mondays
Mark @Maleko’s Art
Micki @A Writers Journey
Penny @The Why About This
Poets @Poetree Creations
Resa @Art Gowns
Rosemary @Extraordinary Ireland
Sandie @Sandie’s Snippets
Sandra @quirkybooks
Susan @Women Making Strides
Susie @Country Side Poet
Taylor @Taylor-Made Thoughts & Doodles
Terry @terry1954
Ute @Ute Smile
Valerie @Valerie Davies
Wendell @ Forever Poetic
catnipoflife 
You honor me all the time just by being my friend…
I found you by accident. But I’ve since learned, people don’t come into our lives by accident…we are meant to find each other along the way.
God has blessed my life with you sweet friend…I’m forever humbled and grateful.
Love and hugs my sister…
Taylor~
Love and hugs back to you, too! Looking forward to another Skype talk! 🙂
Thank you again, my friend. I just gave you the awards you gave me and I made a new badge for the Sunshine award because it was getting a bit tired … you are welcome to come steal it from my site! I’ll keep these in my pocket for the next time I’m ready to do an awards thing.
Sandy (my DIL) says try googling “snake removal.” That poor little garter snake is going to die of starvation under your dresser and I think the smell will be worse than the live snake … so short of offering him/her a live mouse, I’m at a loss. But maybe there’s some information on the internet. For all I know snakes are crazy about pecan pie. I mean, mice are totally wild for bread pudding so maybe it’s pecan pie for snakes. Or something. Apples? Fruit? I have no idea, but there must be something they find irresistable.
Hugs and more hug!
Can’t believe you mentioned pecan pie. I cooked a Crockpot Pecan Pie last night. But, how do I actually bait this snake? I don’t have a cage.
Congrats on all the awards you deserve each and every one multiple times! Prayers for your strength and healing for your your hubs it takes so much strength and courage to go through all the two of you have been through but God is on your side never forget that. Prayers, love and hugs my dear.
You did see where I passed some on to you….right?
Oh yes and I am pleased that you did, I am trying to figure out …still…how to display in the sidebar of my blog but I have had a glitch for some time as long as it is text only it will take it but not photos…go figure. But again thank you so much.:)
Sharla congratulations on all your well=deserved awards, and keeping up the flow of good cheer from your blog for all these tough weeks when you’ve had so much on your mind.
Thank you for thinking of me … what great company I’m in !
Re snake… I once lured a mouse from under the sofa to outside by leaving a trail of cheese crumbs across the carpet to outside the open french doors. It worked. Could you try something similar for your lost creature???
He has definitely gone into hiding. Have not seen trace one of the little fellow since that first encounter. I do hope he does not pop out of my underwear drawer one morning!!! Eeeeek!
Sharla, I did not realize your husband is still in the hospital. I will get back to the prayers!
Many thanks for nominating Women Making Strides for the Shine on and Sunshine awards. You are the most generous blogger I know. I am grateful and smiling from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat! 🙂
Here I am smiling with you, Susan 🙂
I’m glad you planted that seed a little more than a year and a half ago. Thanks again, Sharla.
Thanks, Chief. I don’t get around to the blogs I am following as much as I would like to but hopefully that will change one of these days. I am ready for some GOOD news! Last night my husband’s temp spiked at 105.8 and that is NOT a sign of anything good at all! 😦
Well done, and thank you, Sharla.
You are always welcome, Alastair! Great photos on your blog lately, especially like the sea gull!
Thanks. 🙂
Hope your husband starts picking up soon. I know this is a difficult time for you.
Well deserved Sharla. And thank you so much for thinking of me! I appreciate it and I wish you and your husband all the best. Thoughts and hugs with you!
I pressed reply to quickly , I wanted to thank you also for your lovely words you write for me. Very kind! Much love Ute
Thank you Sharla 🙂
Thanks Sharla – Your acceptance speech was beautiful!
Huge big hugs to you Sharla! And my humble thanks for honoring me! I feel truly blessed, not only to have met you through blogging, but to be able to call you my friend! Again, hugs to you! May Jim recover quickly, and please do share a hug from me to him! – My best to you and yours — Barb
Love the hugs and passed a BIG one on to Jim today! 🙂
Thank you!
Got the poem ready for the pics…sending it to you now!
[…] have been honored with not only one but two Awards today. catnipoflife has provided me with as well the “Best Moments Award” as also with the “WordPress […]
Thank you so much Sharla, for the Awards I got from you. I followed a lot of your great rules!! Thanks again!!
http://raaniyork.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/awards/
You are always on the ball, Raani! Thank you for accepting and reposting so promptly 🙂 Now I have some more new blogs to visit! 🙂
Let me know how they are. 🙂
Thanks so much for adding sunshine to my life. I love receiving awards. I am behind with awarding at the moment due to a very hectic schedule both now and in the coming weeks but I will eventually catch up. I appreciate you thinking of me.
Anytime and always! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Just on the train back from London. It was a dream and fairytale come true to speak to HM the Queen at St James’s Palace. Memories I will treasure forever.
Thank you, Sharla, for this award. I’m in awe of your energy. Your thoughtfulness and kind spirit are to be admired. Lots of love, Dicy
Love you, too, Dicy and thanks again for the post! Love the way we all support each other. I have never been acquainted with so many wonderful people than those I have met in the blogosphere!
thank you for thinking of me, but better yet, congratulations on all of your awards!!!! who better to receive them than you, my friend……..
*blush* Thanks, Terry! You are always such a ray of sunshine!
thank you so much for these nice words!!!
Thank you so much. You have made me smile when I thought I couldn’t anymore. Been in a real slump lately. Then here you come with this… ♥
Kellie, whatever is wrong, I hope things get better for you soon. Take care.
Thank you, Susan. I am just a bit overwhelmed with life at the moment. Too much on my plate. But I served myself so I’m the only one to blame. I was never good at juggling lol.
Thank you for your concern. It means a lot, truly. “This too shall pass.” ♥
Hope you are feeling better, Kellie! I really enjoyed getting back into FWF this week! I have missed it 🙂
[…] A Summer Bouquet Blossoming with Awards (catnipoflife.wordpress.com) […]
Thank you so much Sharla! My prayers are with you always for your husband, many hugs and some kisses thrown your way! (((0))) ❤
Claire, I grabbed and am hanging on to the hugs! Will be so happy if things ever return to even semi-normal! Last night Jim’s temp spiked at 105.8! Still don’t know the trigger but suspicion another infection. Just what he doesn’t need!
Sharla, I’m sorry to hear about Jim’s fever and possible infection. Praying again and sending you a virtual hug.
[…] Super Sweet but none are sour Others Very Inspiring any hour Many Shine On within the sunbeams All Part of the Family it seems When you are Tagged, You’re It! Quite an honor to admit Best Moments doth each […]
OMG! What a haul! Congratulations!
Thank you for thinking of me, Sharla! As I already have these awards, I won’t be doing a post, but I thank you again for your thoughts!
Best Warm Wishes, Resa xo
Hey, you can have them more than once! LOL 🙂 You can even become a Veteran Best Moment Award winner…of course, you may already be one!! As I posted on your site, LOVE the gown!
[…] first one is from my friend Sharla of catnipoflife, the Shine on […]
What a lovely post! Thank you so much for nominating my blog!
I am sending plenty of purrs!
[…] am assuming) with their acceptance speech. This could be written or video recorded. Please click here to read the post where Sharla passes on the award, including her thanks to those bestowing it upon […]
[…] May 2013, Labellestudio and Catnipoflife nominated me for the “Shine On […]
[…] first one is from my friend Sharla of catnipoflife, the Shine on […]