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!

Relax: Let Nature Be Your Alarm Clock

Word of the Day: Relax

Life is filled with schedules and deadlines. Most mornings begin abruptly with the harsh, annoying sounds of an alarm and first words of the day are often “Hurry, hurry, you [we] will be late!” Routines govern every minute of every hour and life in the moment is lost within chaos. 
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STOP! In order to maintain sanity, RELAX! Throw aside senseless thoughts of “I will never get caught up!” Because you probably never will. The only true form of ‘catch-up’ is red, comes in a bottle and is labeled Ketchup! You will get done what you can get done, nothing more (perhaps less if you procrastinate)! The 24 hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds (however you look at the course of a day) will pass regardless. You cannot add to it…that is all there is! So…slow down, chill, loosen-up, unwind, RELAX!
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Embrace the Craziness of Nature

“Blue seeks peace and tranquility above everything else, promoting both physical and mental relaxation. It reduces stress, creating a sense of calmness, relaxation and order – we certainly feel a sense of calm if we lie on our backs and look into a bright blue cloudless sky. It slows the metabolism. The paler the blue the more freedom we feel.”

 The Earth. An ocean planet. Our home.
Color image showing the full disk of Earth.
A true-color NASA satellite mosaic of Earth.

Enrich the Moment

Do something exciting before you relax!

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Awakenings: Timeless B&W Photography

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A continuous range of spectral colors engulfs the Earth, sometimes pastel, oftentimes bright and bold, but such is not true for the beginning of photography. Yet, the images captured are nothing short of spectacular – delicate, pure and detailed – and that is simply the black and white (B&W) of it!

During the 1890s, black and white photographs became commonplace in seed and nursery catalogs shortly after Kodak introduced the first handheld camera in 1888.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Visit Awakenings for the video The Photography of Timothy H. O’Sullivan: After his start capturing the horrors of the Civil War for Mathew Brady’s studio, 19th century photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan uncovered the beauty of the great expanses of the American west.

Guest Photographer: Marilyn Armstrong @Serendipity

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Twilight

Barb Beacham from Life in the Foothills has graciously provided some awesome photographs to accompany the catnipoflife poetry Twilight. Barb was one of catnip’s featured photographers last month. If you missed her great photographic match to You have but one life, LIVE it! then, I encourage you to check it out. NOW! Yes, right now…just click HERE!

Thank you, Barb! You truly outdid yourself on this one!

Twilight

bth_dividersBetween dawn and sunrise
Where time seems to stand still
The sun not yet visible
Ascends in slow motion until…

Twilight1

Sunlight scatters along the horizon
Where clouds catch the first rays of dawn
Erupting into a blaze of color
Only heaven could possibly spawn

Twilight2

Standing on the edge of silence
A sense of calm penetrates the soul
Hovering between darkness and light
Sheer magnificence to behold

Twilight3

Between sunset and dusk
Day’s last light seems to stand still
The sun barely visible
Descends in slow motion until…

Twilight4

Intense color splashes across the horizon
Where the sky catches the sun’s last rays
Illuminating a thin veil of haziness
Below the clouds that are now ablaze

Twilight5

A silhouetted figure lost and alone
Against the pending backdrop of night
Grasps the last red-orange rays of the sun
Fervently kissing the day’s twilight

Twilight6

With radiant images now past
The world becomes shrouded in grey
While the twinkling of night’s first stars
Engulfs the glories of the day

©2013 catnipoflife

©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

AND as an added plus to help you relax at the close of day. . .

Then, to top it off, introduction to a brand new blogger:

InspirationalVideo

“Twilight drops her curtain down, and pins it with a star.”
—Lucy Maud Montgomery (Canadian author, 1874–1942)

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Amazing Grace

There are probably very few people that are not familiar with the song Amazing Grace. It has been sung by countless choirs, recorded by numerous artists in multiple languages, enjoyed by young and old, and dubbed the most popular song on earth.

After listening to this awesome rendition of Amazing Grace, venture over to Awakenings, catnipoflife‘s sister site for a bit of history behind this remarkable song. If you are seeking a good movie for this Sunday afternoon, check out The Amazing Grace @Awakenings.

Elaine's avatarElaine's Random Thoughts

Sung by an amazing 7 year old Gospel singer!

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Awakenings: The Biggest Baddest Bubble

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

How many of us as a kid tried to blow the biggest baddest bubble only to have sticky goop covering our faces, sometimes becoming entangled in our hair, the end result being to cut it out? It is definitely a natural phenomenon from the earliest age of the bubble gum chewer.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Be sure to stop by Awakenings and leave comments on your results if you attempt the biggest baddest bubble!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Dare to Dream!

Dare to dream the impossible for it too may one day be possible!
Life is no life at all without dreams…

Dream a little, live a little – Live a little, dream a lot – Dream a lot, live a lot – Your choice!

“Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy it.”

—Sai Baba (Indian leader, 1838–1918)

bth_dividers

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”

—James Allen (British philosophical writer, 1864–1912)

bth_dividers

Life is a trail of tears, the will to cope
A mountain of discomfort based on hope
It is a highway of dreams, a road very demanding
Out of balance at times, but not without understanding

—Sharla Lee Shults, catnipoflife

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Empty Nest

Each of us at some point in time has hoped for that perfect (well, almost perfect) Kodak moment: the moment when the extraordinary appears right before our eyes. To have that happen to the novice of novice photographers is indeed PRICELESS!

I have seen pictures and watched videos of tiny baby hatchlings but NEVER experienced such a sight up close and personal. I spotted the bird nest as I was in the midst of completing yard work, specifically edging around one of the Crepe Myrtles in our front yard. My camera broke some months back and I was told it could not be repaired. So, I quickly ran into the house and grabbed my SmartPhone. (Don’t you just love the name of these newfangled phones!)

Needless to say, I knew the bird nest wasn’t going anywhere since it had already endured days upon days of wind and rain thus enough time to get Mr. SmartieSnap. Of course, I thought I was only getting a picture of a nest.

Here are the results:

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

Occasionally in the outdoors
One discovers a bird nest
Fascinating in its craftsmanship
Where speckled eggs gently rest

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

 Collected mud, sticks or dried grass
Are readied for the begotten
Woven against a soft lining
Of fur, feathers, hair and cotton

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

Intricacy of design
Built by two feet and a beak
Becomes nature’s protector
From that which predators seek

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

Cradling of such a small nest
Rests in the crook of a branch
Simple but awe-inspiring
Like dawn at a Western ranch

Hatchling

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

Tiny little hatchlings
Eager to fly on their own
Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp
Letting their presence be known

Baby birds flop out of the nest
Landing abruptly on the ground
Mother bird stands close by watching
In case danger might be around

Baby_Bird1

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

Baby_Bird2

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

Once grown, flying on their own
Mother knows she did her best
Does SHE now somberly mourn
Facing life with an empty nest?

Empty_Nest

© 2013, Sharla Lee Shults

©2013 catnipoflife

©catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

“Empty is a negative word. Replace it with peaceful, calm or relaxed.” —Joi Sigers (Author, b. 1978)

A little something extra from one much more professional than I. . .live and learn!

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Just for Laughs

Laughter: rhythmic beats of the heart that invigorate the soul ~catnipoflife

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Awakenings: 2 – Countdown to 4th of July

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Countdown: 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 to Happy 4th of July!

One day away from the Fourth of July celebration! Yep! It is tomorrow! As you continue to prepare for the festivities of Independence Day, keep in mind many of our service men and women are stationed on foreign shores where celebration may not be the topic of the hour. They are the defenders of our nation ensuring that the freedom obtained centuries ago remains in tact.

FEATURED VIDEO at Awakenings – Remember me! and MUSIC “For Freedom” by Avalon.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Having a loved one deployed for lengthy periods of time is tough, but it’s especially hard during any holiday. While you might be reveling in backyard BBQs, listening to patriotic music and of course, enjoying the grand finale, fireworks, the day may not be so entertaining for everyone. For those defending our independence, the red, white and blue they carry on this day may only be in their hearts.

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings: 3 – Countdown to 4th of July

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

I pledge allegiance

Countdown: 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 to Happy 4th of July!

Day after tomorrow we will be celebrating the 4th of July. Whew! Seems like just yesterday and we were celebrating Christmas…well, maybe not that far back but time does seem to fly by all too quickly!

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Go to Awakenings. As you watch the video and listen to the words of Red Skelton, keep in mind this was produced in the year 1969!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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