catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

Awakenings: Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!

Today in History: June 27, 1939

 

On this day in 1939, one of the most famous scenes in movie history is filmed…

Scarlett O’Hara: Rhett. . .Rhett. . .Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?  Rhett Butler: Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.

There is probably no movie line reaching iconic status any more than the famous scene of Rhett Butler walking away from Scarlet in Gone With the Wind. And to think it was almost NOT in the movie, at least the use of the curse word. Remember, the year is 1939 with censorship at the beginning of the 20th century being much more stringent than that of today.

 

Source: awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Do you think it would have had as much impact or be remembered and revered had the curse word been removed?

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The Pulse of Life

heart_beats

From the first heartbeat to the last, there is a rhythm to life known to us all in the form of music…slow beats, rapid beats, beats out of sync, skipped beats, irregular beats, beats that make the heart flutter. The pulse of life changes as moods swing and bodies sway in accordance with the sequence of stressed and unstressed beats until the final beat falls silent.

Remain on-beat thwarting those off-beat moments that attempt to set you off balance. Keep upbeat with a pep in your step as you reach out for the sun or walk in the rain. It’s all in the music…the music called life!

Music-Heart-Beats

Heartbeats

Enjoy the Chords of Emotion @Awakenings or make new ones…

music-heartbeat

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Awakenings: Virginia & New Hampshire

This Day in History: June 25, 1788

Virginia, “Old Dominion,” “Mother of Presidents,” “Mother of States,” the Birthplace of a Nation

Each of the state nicknames independently, as well as in combination, attribute to Virginia being declared the “Birthplace of a Nation”. Virginia is an American history icon! This is where our country began…the founding of Jamestown on the banks of the James River, our first permanent English colony, in Virginia in 1607 – 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in Massachusetts. So much American history, so many historical sites. No wonder it is said Virginia’s history IS America’s history!

Source: awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Bit of Trivia: Maine, Maryland and Massachusetts have a state cat, Maryland also has a state dinosaur, West Virginia has a state rattlesnake and Virginia has a state BAT!

flagbarhorizontal

New_hampshire_in_autumn

Also in June, 1788 is the establishment of New Hampshire as the 9th state to join the union. Did you know New Hampshire was first named North Virginia, and it was once under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts?

This Day in History: June 21, 1788

New Hampshire, the Granite State, the Mother of Rivers, the White Mountain State, Switzerland of America*

*This state is also called the Switzerland of America, on account of the salubrity of its climate; its wild and picturesque landscapes; its lakes and rapid streams. The celebrated White Mountains, in the northern part of the state, are of great elevation, and afford the grandest display of mountain scenery in our country. [From Hayward’s New England Gazetteer of 1839]

Source: awakenings2012.blogspot.com 

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Scaredy-cat or Scared Cat

scaredy-catThere are “scaredy-cats” and then there are scared cats. As humans, some of us are startled or frightened by a slight change or movement, even to the point of being afraid of anything and everything. Others take it with a grain of salt. Cats are among those that frighten very easily.

When startled, cats usually jump (often quite high), stumble over their own feet and scamper as fast as their little legs will carry them. Their expressions are indeed priceless! Yes! Cats have expressions…anyone who says cats are expressionless have never truly watched the face of a cat. In the close-ups within the video, focus on the eyes and ears. There are moments that will make you bend double laughing while others will bring on an aw-w-w-w moment.

For your added enjoyment, a step back in the past to the Scaredy Cat in the cartoons…

scaredycat

Scaredy Cat (1948) from kili on Vimeo.

Do you frighten easily? Share your scariest moment…personal or cat!

5 Comments »

Awakenings: West Virginia: The Mountains are Callin’

This Day in History: June 20, 1863

West Virginia, the Mountain State

 

West Virginia’s karst topography contributes to its cool trout waters, diverse landscapes, whitewater rapids, historic caves and lost world caverns. The state motto of West Virginia Montani Semper Liberi or “Mountaineers Always Free” was adopted in 1863 reflecting the character and beliefs of the citizens of the state at the time of its adoption. Being known as the land of rugged mountains (the scenic Allegheny Mountains cross the state), it is most appropriate for West Virginia to be nicknamed The Mountain State.

Source: awakenings2012.blogspot.com

On June 20, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, West Virginia became the 35th state to join the union. West Virginia is the only state in the Union to have acquired its sovereignty by proclamation by the President of the United States. Statehood was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln.

3 Comments »

Give Up Giving Up!

Give-up-giving-up

Click the image to visit Awakenings. June 19 is… GARFIELD THE CAT DAY

Has life thrown you a curve ball to the point you just felt like giving up? Throwing in the towel? Flushing it all down the drain? Pulling your hair out? The answer is probably “Yes!” because it can all be summed up in one all-powerful four-letter word…LIFE!

Choices must be made, mistakes will happen. That’s inevitable. With wrong choices that leave us with the feeling of giving up comes the need for change. Life demands change yet with one thing definitely for certain: You just don’t give up…remember, it’s life! There are no guarantees and Life IS a Bed of Roses

“With the beauty of the rose comes its thorny stem.
Life captures the essence of the rose for it too is beautiful
but filled with many thorns.” ~catnipoflife

Give up giving up! It may take once, twice, three times a charm but pick up that towel, give it a quick snap stepping forward into life’s next day. Remember, Life = Risk! that often leads to failure and the felling of giving up. So, when a stone is thrown in the midst, that stone just may be the ‘stepping stone’ to the success that lies ahead!

Having-a-Rough-Day

Don't-give-up

Stop-giving-up

4 Comments »

‘Monday Tuesday’

Tuesday-MorningToday is Tuesday but it feels like a Monday. If I wish it were Friday (and the good genie granted my wish) then what would become of Wednesday and Thursday? Time goes by too fast as it is and definitely too precious to ever wish any day away. Time lost can never be regained. What a mess!

As for today, have you ever experienced a Monday on Tuesday? All the things that normally happen on a Monday have decided to show their ugly faces today. Maybe it is because yesterday, the Monday, was actually a pretty good day.

Monday-Tuesday

As time moves on, hopefully the ‘Monday’ in this Tuesday will be history! Could be worse, it could be raining! Is that thunder I hear in the distance?

Sophisticated-CatMaybe I should just drop everything and go get a manicure!

What kind of day are you having today? Have you ever experienced a ‘Monday Tuesday’?

4 Comments »

Awakenings: Arkansas: Natural Wonder

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

This Day in History: June 15, 1836

 Arkansas, the Natural State, the Land of Opportunity

Arkansas is famous for its natural scenic beauty, clear lakes and streams, and abundant wildlife. Since 1995, it has been officially known as the Natural State. This nickname replaced the official Land of Opportunity nickname adopted in 1947 following the slogan, Arkansas Is a Natural, which was used to promote tourism and outdoor recreation. The state motto of Arkansas is “The People Rule.” As with many state names, origins can be traced to native American Indian languages. The name Arkansas is the French interpretation of a Sioux word: acansa, meaning “downstream place.”

As part of the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase,which nearly doubled the size of the United States, Arkansas became a separate territory in 1819. Nearly twenty years passed before it achieved statehood in 1836 becoming the 25th state (13th slave state) to join the union. Arkansas withdrew from the United States and was the 9th state to join the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

“Because of its location as a gateway to the Wild West, Arkansas didn’t luck into the romantic Southern moonlight-and-magnolia image. Rather, it became known as a rough crossroads where people — and outlaws — hid in the mountains, married cousins and sold moonshine.” Source: Arkansas Hillbilly Image

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

2 Comments »

Wonders of Nature

What’s Happenin’ over @ Awakenings is Nature Photography Day! Sometimes repetition is the best practice so here it is @ her sister site catnipoflife! Be sure to visit all of the sites whose photography is featured…you won’t be disappointed! To all whose photographs appear, links have been provided and full credit to each owner! MORE @Awakenings!

Impromptu @ catnipoflife

From dewdrops clinging to soft petals of a flower
to a spider spinning its web within the hour
nature’s wondrous beauty whether stormy or calm 
emanates poetry in motion like a psalm
A Web in the Morning Dew @ Life in the Foothills

A Web in the Morning Dew @ Life in the Foothills

There is nothing more breathtaking than a sunrise
unless it’s the splendor of a sunset’s surprise
 the wonders of nature beyond imagination
capture priceless moments in anticipation

Thankful for the Morning @ Oh, The Things We Shall See!

The roaring sounds a waterfall creates
draws attention for a magical place awaits
Mother Nature always alluring, never boring
invites you into her world, forever soaring

The Waterfall – Up Close & Personal @ Serendipity

Wildlife, hummingbirds, butterflies and bees
creatures of all kinds bring you to your knees
nature’s habitats from forest floor to the skies
woo, amaze and ablaze before your eyes
the-lace-of-a-wing

The Lace of a Wing @ Life in the Foothills

Birds of all feathers flock together
withstanding ice, snow, stormy weather
Nature! Nature! at its worst or best
Shouts raw imagery…a camera’s test
Fluffy Ducklings @ A Mixed Bag

Fluffy Ducklings @ A Mixed Bag

What are you waiting for? Nature is calling…calling for you!

Don’t forget your camera!

9 Comments »

Awakenings: Happy Father’s Day!

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Sunday, June 15, 2014 is Father’s Day…a day of honor and celebration for our dads and fathers. Not all fathers are dads nor are all dads fathers. Each holds a special place in a child’s, teen’s or adult’s heart. Regardless of the role—dad, father or both—not any one of us could be here without having been fathered. With fatherhood comes a tremendous responsibility encompassing tasks of sharing, caring and preparing for life’s journey.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

May this Father’s Day be filled with wondrous blessings that continue through each day of the year! To each of you…A Father’s Day Salute!

See with pictures on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

A father’s day is every day
Not just one day of the year
Holding a wee little hand
(day time and nighttime)
Wiping away a tear
*****
It’s faith, hope, love
All rolled into one
Encouragement, patience
(never giving up)
‘Til a task is done
*****
It’s being thankful
Gratitude of heart
Knowing what you need
(when you need it)
Right from the start
*****
It’s together time
The thrill of hearty laughter
Seeing what you’re going through
(even if it doesn’t show)
The morning of the day after

*****
It’s helping with decisions
Staying taut through outs or ins
Teaching life’s not easy
(taking the right road)
Supporting losses and wins
*****
It’s hurting and being hurt
Holding discipline’s place
Leaving behind a legacy
(not of material ‘things’)
Rewards of saving grace
*****

It’s compassion and comfort
When a hug is all that’s needed
Priceless moments in time

(Teddy Bear hugs)
Quickly and tenderly heeded
*****
It’s shaping, molding
Each life that has begun
Making an investment
(often without return)
‘Til the full course is run
*****
It’s when having to leave
Looking back with pride
Releasing all the tears
(happiness and heartache)
Bottled up inside

 

2 Comments »

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