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: The Lost Spirits

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Today is a quiet day…a co-o-o-old day so definitely a day to stay inside simply enjoying the warmth of hearth and home. Just finished reading The 12-ft Teepee by +Marilyn Armstrong (featured below) and thought I would take some time to visit blogs I am following. How surprised I was upon coming across The Lost Spirits @A Misbehaved Woman.

What better topic to revisit than that of the American Indians?

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Featured author @Awakenings is Marilyn Armstrong and her book The 12-ft Teepee. Visit Marilyn @Serendipity where you can become lost in her words of wisdom, humor, photography, book reviews, author interviews, Americana, nature, pets, and so much more!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings: We’re not in Kansas anymore or are we?

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

The nickname “Sunflower State” calls to mind the wild flowers of the plains of Kansas. Also, nicknamed the “World’s Bread Basket,” the great state of Kansas leads our nation in wheat production; has given us leaders in politics, aviation, and sports, and fuels our Hollywood image of the Wild West (Dodge City). The state motto of Kansas is Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties).

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Do you know the state song of Kansas? Did you know the song has been used in countless movies and shows, being sung by everyone from Willie Nelson to Porky Pig?

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings: Remembering the Challenger

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Today marks the day of a horrific tragedy for our nation. Like others before this time in different arenas, the atmosphere left many in the wake of death and destruction. Only this time it was not on this earth, but in space. America was in the height of the space age. Having placed man upon the moon decades earlier only set the stage for much more space exploration to come in the future. 


Read MORE @Awakenings…

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Along with progress comes tragedy but that does not make the loss any easier. We can only learn from our losses in hopes of bettering the future. Today my thoughts and prayers are with the families whose loved ones perished as a result of this event.

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings: Familiar sounds?…going, going, GONE!

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Sounds of the past are not limited just to music, which allows history to speak to us other than only through the written word. We live in a highly technological age where many items of the past have or will soon become obsolete. Each is identifiable by its unique sound for we live in a world of cacophony. Unless you are in a location to visit a museum many of these will never be ‘heard’ by you or your kids depending upon your age. Enjoy the memories or listen to sounds you have never heard! Better still if you have a child or grandchild at home, invite them in for a history lesson!

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

It is very possible these are sounds your kids have never heard and possibly will never hear unless you take the time to introduce them!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings: “TAPS”…Day is Done

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Hopefully you are aware of “Taps” but many of you may have never heard the version played in its entirety. “Taps” was originally written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801. It was rather lengthy and formal, as you will hear in the clip presented below. In 1862, it was shortened to 24 notes and re-named Taps.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

The video @Awakenings features 13-yr-old Melissa Venema playing “Taps” on a trumpet whereas the original was played on a bugle.

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Touch of Catnip: Cats LOVE Vacuum Cleaners

Any day is a wonderful day for a good laugh! Who brings on laughter more than a child or a cat (or dog, of course)! ENJOY! Hope your sides hurt!

Sidenote: Click HERE for the original video of the first cat in the compilation.

Maybe not all cats…

No cuter sound all around than the clicking claws of kitty paws!
~catnipoflife

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Free Write Friday #37: Trust

Kellie Elmore has done it again…presented another great prompt!

Kellie sure has a wWriting_Banditay of hitting the mark, getting adrenaline pumping and the mighty pen (or pencil) sharpened. If you have not participated in Kellie’s Free Write Friday, she has extended an open invitation. Read the intro. Would love to ‘see’ what you have to say! You may write in any form you choose for the prompt as she will never discourage your pen, but she encourages you to try your hand at free verse for the exercise.

Trust me. How many times has that phrase been whispered in your ear? When you have been lied to, cheated on, pushed around, talked down, doubted and abused, it is sometimes…no, a better word, often…difficult to regain that feeling of trust. It’s hard. Worse than hard, it is all too frequently impossible. Why? What is so important about trust?

Trust

Love is binding
built on trust
a necessity
the Elmer’s glue

Without that bond
cocophony reigns
hope abandoned
shadows in the hue

Faith dissolves
leaving emptiness
soulless music
within a void

Melodies rewind
unleashing memories
not in harmony
only discord

Eternally yours?
Heaven forbid
all seems lost
belief forsaken

Life without trust
seeks a way out
feeding on fear
the tie broken

Why is trust so important?

It is the glue that bonds, hope within the shadows,
faith to carry on, harmony within the soul,
belief in tomorrow and the tie that binds.

It is The Ribs of the Umbrella Staying Together even on the windiest day!

Umbrella_wind

Now I am off to visit other contributions. Please come back for I will post links to some great writings! Be right back…

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Just Little Things

It’s the little things… The moments… The sighs… The smiles… The cries.

The times unforgotten… Laughing at yourself… A lover’s sigh… Smiles from a stranger…A baby’s first cry…

Encouragement

Kitty Kallen (born May 25, 1922) is an American popular singer who performed with a number of big bands in the 1940s, and scored her biggest success, a number #1 hit in 1954, with the song “Little Things Mean a Lot“.

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Mystic Songs

My heartfelt thanks to Maxima and all visitors to his site. I greatly appreciate the comments and look forward to new visitors @ catnipoflife and/or Awakenings! Blessings to all with smiles and laughter following you throughout your life’s journey! [One correction to my location – should be Donalsonville, GA.]

Maxima's avatarMaxima

Interview:
Sharla Shults

Beacon Educator Consultant/Facilitator at Beacon Educator
Location:Dothan, Alabama

Written: Maxima
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My guest today, poet Sharla Shults has a very impressive, rich, and unique poetic background.  Her verses are composed with beauty and harmony, rising into the beauty of the night sky with universal harmony and stellar qualities. Her poems are as lovely as a bride in white, a lovely spiritual tone , pure and joyful. bringing new life to the meaning of poetry
Let’s listen to what she tell us here…My name is Sharla Shults. I am extremely pleased today to be a  guest of  Maxima. His soulfulwriting is an inspiration of mine so when he extended the invitation,I felt  deeply honored.Thank you, Maxima!

Welcome to my world…You can find me on any given day at my computer with coffee cup, pen and notepad.The coffee gives me that much needed boost of energy plus I just l ove   the taste of coffee. Of course, it all starts in the morning when the aroma of that dark,     rich liquid infiltrates my nostrils even before getting out of bed. (Thank you, Honey!) The pen and pad? Well, even though most of my drafting is on the computer, there are always occasions when a random thought must be written down right then and there within a moment’s notice before it becomes nothing more than a mere fleeting moment.

From mathematician to writer…

Through the years leading up to the publication of my first book in 2004, I never envisioned myself as a writer. I was a loving wife and mother devoted to family (still that today!), mathematician and educator, content on teaching and working in various arenas with youth in middle and high school.I enjoyed writing little poetic notes and wrote my first poemto my husband (Jim) on his birthday in 2004.

That was the beginning! From there, I began to challenge my students: creating curriculum that went outside the basic equation into the realm of creativity. Have you ever been given a poetic math challenge? My students were given just that: a challenge where imagination  reigned and creativity soared. As a result of that unusual beginning, I am now on the   verge of publishing my third book..WOW! Number three! As I look back to my writing’s inspection .                                                                 …

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Awakenings: Stuck in the Mud

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

This Day in History: January 20, 1863

With today being celebrated as Robert E. Lee Day along with Martin Luther King Day, it seems most fitting to include a little story about mud and an event of the American Civil War. This, in turn, leads to a personal childhood mud story.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

What is history without a story from childhood? Each of us has a fond memory that perhaps either directly or indirectly connects our lives in some way to past historical events.

Mine is a story of mud. . .@awakenings

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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