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!

Remembering Our Soldiers

From Awakenings. . .

Support Our Troops and Military ImagesSupport Our Troops and Military Pictures

To our soldiers. . .

A special greeting
Is sent today
To all our soldiers
Near and far away
Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star
Just to let you know
While protecting our nation
You are in my heart
Truly with gratification
Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star
Words are not enough
In thankfulness for all you do
With little thoughts of self
Only sacrifice through and through
Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star
Throughout this day
As well as others too
Know this message
Holds loving thoughts for you
~~~~~
Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Awakenings: How do I Love Thee

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

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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

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Awakenings: Southern Fried Chicken

See on Scoop.itcatnipoflife

Nothing says Southern like fried chicken! It is the epitome of the southern America comfort food. It is a staple, its own food group…fried to a golden crisp with juicy mouth-watering goodness at first bite, simply just too ‘ba-a-a-li-i-i-cious’!

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Can’t eat the fried like I want to but sure enjoy it when I can every now and then!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Enjoy the poem Echoes in Wartime (Good Ol’ Southern Fried Chicken) which was featured in Poetic Bond II, 2012. The poem depicts the love and loss of Southern fried chicken before, during and after war.

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Awakenings: Time for Br’er Groundhog 2013

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Are you READY for one of America’s quirkiest holidays, Groundhog Day? Groundhog? Do you mean woodchuck, whistle-pig, or land-beaver? No? You say a groundhog forecast the weather? What kind of folklore is that? Um-m-m-m-m? Let’s look a little deeper into this weather hound. Click HERE for more…

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Hurray for an early Spring! Thank you, Phil!

See on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Watch the video and live stream!

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Awakenings: 7 Writers Get To Strut Their Stuff (The Seven-Line Challenge)

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This is a little different post for Awakenings but yet is representative of a form of awakening befitting of any culture: awakening of the senses. An excellent way to awaken emotional senses is through the written word. Writing is an art: An art enjoyed by those who are the writers but most importantly its readers for the written word is only as good as the message received when read. The online environment is totally dependent upon writing presented within varied avenues/genres. A question that often arises is, “Which ones are worth reading?”

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

If you missed the 7-line challenge at catnipoflife, here is your chance to be introduced to some great reads @Awakenings. Seven authors from various genres are featured with links to their blogs where you can gather more information about their writing and books.

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings Official Book Launch

AWAKENINGS from THEN ’til NOW is officially available @Amazon.com as of 12:01 am this morning, January 22, 2013.

AwakeningsHR1Click HERE!

Get into the swing of things…

SwingCat

Always a touch of catnip!

This is America’s story. . . YOUR story in poetic verse for inspiration toward understanding the sacrifices made in establishing and maintaining America’s freedom.

Awakenings is a journey through time. Within the pages of this book is a chance for you to uncover how past experiences, as well as your ancestry, connect to the present and ultimately define your future.

Embrace the past, empower the present, enrich the future. You are not an isolated individual but a thread binding together with countless other threads to create a rich and colorful tapestry of life. From the far reaches of America’s past, we can all, in some way or another, connect to someone who set foot upon America’s soil looking for a land of promise. It is through laughter and tears that the yesterdays of centuries past paved the way for today’s future.

PERSONAL NOTE: Proceeds benefit Wounded Warrior Program and Veterans of Foreign Wars. This is purely a personal decision and in no way connected to either program for advertisement or endorsement.

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NATIONAL HUG DAY

With all the posts catnip has been featuring lately about hugs, she was not aware of the National Hug Day. Well, there is one and it is today, January 21. Visit Awakenings for information about this national day. Don’t leave without watching the two videos.

Awakenings: National Hug Day

Click the picture!

Also here are the links to the prior “HUGS” posts from catnipoflife in case you missed them:

Hugs Sent Your Way. . . 

HUGS & THANK YOUS!

HUGS: The Universal Language

Hugs, Hugs, & More Hugs: Are you a hugger?

Of course, I have to leave you with a new video. In this one, be sure to look closely at the expressions on the animals’ faces. Don’t tell me they do not have feelings!

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Thank you, Lesley, for recognizing Awakenings in your latest post. Lesley Fletcher is the author of 5 Pillars of the Gypsy. This is her newest book and contains both her unique art and inspiring verse. I encourage you to explore her blog. You definitely will come away with the desire to return for more!

Books & Art - Spirit & Soul - Lesley Fletcher's avatarInspiration Import

lost angel js

awaken

MYSTIK MAGAZINE COVER

Leonardo da Vinci

The word ‘awakening’, in my humble opinion is sure to be the buzz word of 2013. The world events in 2012 gave many a rude awakening. Although these horrid events have happened for centuries all over the world, the fact that we are subjected to details quickly and accurately to the point of bombardment with thanks to social media and the Internet has left many reeling.
I counted the number of times during the normal process of my day that the word was contained in blog posts, articles, book titles, poems, magazines etc… and came up with an astounding 48 times in one week.
Now there are several ways to identify ‘awakenings’ both in the spiritual sense and in the common sense areas. Some people need a super dose in the common sense area but I am comfortable letting Karma take care of them. In the spiritual sense…

View original post 558 more words

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7 Writers Get To Strut Their Stuff (The Seven-Line Challenge)

Wow! Today has been a busy day! I have uncovered several awards from some of my followers and a tagging. Because of the time involved in the award acceptance process I am going to tackle the tagging first.

Raani York: htAwakeningsHR1tp://raaniyork.wordpress.com has tagged me in the 7-line challenge. Well, Miss Raani (that’s Southern addressment you understand), you really presented a challenge for me. My genre is poetry so 7 lines are virtually impossible since most of my poems are comprised of quatrains in iambic pentameter. That means a specific rhythm is maintained within every four lines of verse. Ah-h-h! Lightbulb! You only get to read 7 lines…the 8th is left to the imagination. Brilliant!

Here are 7 lines from page 77 of Awakenings. Keep in mind that Awakenings is America’s story, your story. It spans five centuries from the 17th century to present day 21st century. It allows you to uncover how your past experiences, as well as your ancestry, connect to the present, and ultimately define your future. The except below is found within Whisperings of the Past at the end of the 17th century (1600-1699). The pureness of heart, the intellect of the mind, and the spirit of the soul were Puritan beliefs instrumental in forming the foundation for America. Basic principles focused on family, loyalty, and honor to the highest degree.

Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star

What poetic justice
Do your words impart?
Those self-inflicted
War of mind and heart

Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star

Are the ways of the world
Really much different today?
Mere diversions of thought…

Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star

It is now my turn to tag 7 other writers, whose works are varied both in product and stage, to keep the challenge going. Today I have selected avid followers from Google+.


Yves Johnson – http://elderyvesjohnson.wordpress.com/

Louise Malbon-Reddix – http://www.victoryroadwellnesscenter.com/blog/

Trish Jacksonhttp://romanticreviewramble.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-7-line-challenge-tagged.html

Jeanette Andersen – http://jeanettesandersen.blogspot.com/2013/01/7-writers-get-to-strut-their-stuff.html

Seeta Rajesh Nawagekar – http://seetarn.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/7-writers-get-to-strut-their-stuff-the-seven-line-challenge/

Roxana Jones – http://roxanajones.com/

 

Carole McKee-Spalino – http://author-carole-mckee.blogspot.com/2013/01/7-linechallenge.html

This is your mission:  Go to lhine 7 on either page 7 or page 77 of your manuscript and do a post with the next 7 lines, then tag 7 people to keep the challenge going! This a short and savvy way to see what others out there in the blogosphere are writing.

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Awakenings: 50’s & 60’s TV Commercials

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Television – entertainment for the home BUT not without commercials! How producers come up with the zany ideas they do is beyond me. Do you find it interesting how the most stupid commercials are those most remembered? Are such antics truly indicative of average human being behavior? They do make one wonder!

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

The ol’ black and white of the 50s reminded me of a box with four legs! Ah-h-h, I remember it well!

Check out the video on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Do you remember Bosco syrup, Fluffo, Ovaltine or Tang?

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