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!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

This week’s photo challenge is guest hosted by Jared Bramblett. Read on @ The Daily Post @ WordPress.com for more information about this week’s theme and Jared’s photography tips!

Since I am a novice photographer I do not have a collection of photographs upon which to offer reflections. So, I challenged myself today when an unexpected opportunity arose as our cat, Foxie, paused at the back door for a peek outside.

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Daisy Award, for you and for me!

It is on rare occasion that a connection is available to the creator of an award. This time the beginning link in a chain of unknown number of recipients is Subtle Kate. In Kate’s own words on June 28, 2012, “I would like to start a new award. It’s called the Daisy Award.  Daisy’s are very sweet flowers, but they are stealth with hardiness. They’ll come up anywhere and beat the frost.  This award is for the brave.”

So with out further ado… there are of course rules to follow:

Number1Thank the person who nominated you. Thank you, Claire Cappetta .

Claire is a creative writer having recently retired from the financial world to concentrate on the dream of publishing a first novel. That dream has just come to fruition with the release of A Broken Ring. CONGRATULATIONS, Claire! (Read the First Chapter.) Claire’s story follows a woman’s journey through relationships, domestic abuse, inspiration and empowerment. Although a difficult topic to cover, the story is heartwarming and inspiring.

Number2Tell your readers seven unusual things about yourself. Alright I’m having a tough time with this! Because what is unusual about me?! There are ‘things’ that we all like and dislike but it is the word ‘unusual’ that has me stumped. I don’t have six toes (on one foot) nor one eye in the middle of my forehead! But, I DO have. . .

1. one grey streak in my hair that has been a part of me since I was a teenager

2. the wasp waist of the 19th century

3. Morton’s toe

4. a love for cappuccino but my morning coffee must be black – NO cream, NO sugar

5. a fondness for iguanas

6. an affinity for cats that is hard to explain

7. the heart of a tomboy

Number3Nominate several worthy bloggers: Since my ‘number’ is 5 I have elected to bestow this award upon 5 brave bloggers. As I pondered the recipients of this award from catnip, the following immediately came to mind with reasons why they are the bravest of the brave:

1. Serendipity: Marilyn Armstrong tells it like it is…no fluff, lays it on the line, whether you like it or not, tells it like it is. She will tease you with her humor, enlighten you with her photography and will shower you with tidbits of knowledge just to test you and see what you think. She has endured her own personal hardships being a cancer survivor.

2. A Hairdresser’s Diary: Chris Hannon is a victim of a major car accident that took her livelihood away as a hairdresser, make-up artist and model. She is a self-taught artist who learned to paint to help her deal with daily chronic pain. She is also a poet and has published a new book ‘Versify’. Amazing stories of her life as a hairdresser are published in her book A Hairdresser’s Diary.

3. A Writer’s Journey:  Micki Peluso began writing as a catharsis to heal the wounds of the death of her 14 yr-old daughter at the hands of a drunken driver. She has recently released her first book, a memoir – about her daughter’s death – . . .AND THE WHIPPOORWILL SANG. It’s a funny, poignant celebration of her daughter’s life more than a eulogy of her death.

4. Northwest Photographer: Bob Milke is a veteran. He served his country, your country, my country in Vietnam. He is also a great photographer. He makes you feel you are there when you view his photos. He frequents the Portland, OR Zoo and I do believe the animals await his visits. You will see what I mean when you visit Bob @ Northwest Photographer. Check out the expressions (‘smiles’) on the animals’ faces!

5. Taylor-Made Thoughts & Doodles: Taylor Fulks’ story is one of turmoil through a childhood of sexual abuse. Her debut novel My Prison Without Bars: The Journey of a Damaged Woman to Someplace Normal has just been released. On her blog, Tayor hopes to share the bits of information gleaned from her journey and encourage others, hopefully, to share their knowledge and expertise.

CONGRATULATIONS brave souls and keep writing!

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TGIF

ARE YOU READY?

T.G.I.F. is a most familiar acronym!

Has this day always represented the ‘end’ of the work week?

Ever wonder where this T.G.I.F. (“Thank God It’s Friday”) catchphrase originated?

In today’s society, “weekends” are taken for granted. However, that luxury has NOT always been recognized. The work week was once Monday through Saturday with work, especially on farms, starting before the sun came up and not ending until sundown. Jobs ‘back in the day’ consisted of positions, such as… 

Continued @Awakenings!

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Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

So blessed with this award being bestowed on catnipoflife by Len @myownheart.me:

Welcome to the Sisterhood!

There are rules for this award which are basically the same as for most any blog award received. The last part, deciding on recipients for this award, is exceptionally difficult. How does one choose from all those who have visited and provided support for catnipoflife? To me, you are all my ‘sisters’ (of course, there are ‘brothers’ too but their honor will need to come in a different form). For a sisterhood, why should some be selected while others are left out? Since there is no other criteria for selection other than choice and even though this is not exactly the intention of the rules, it is the decision of catnipoflife:

All of my ‘Sisters’ are Welcome to the
Sisterhood of the World Bloggers!

Acceptance is contingent upon the following:

1. Leave a comment that you would like to be a member of the Sisterhood.

2. Grab the badge for posting to your blog, thank catnipoflife for this award and provide a link to her blogsite.

3. Answer the same questions as posed to catnipoflife (see below) in your blog posting.

4. Nominate and provide the links to 10-12 blogs that you find a joy to read OR follow the same procedure as catnip. [If you choose to bestow the award on special sisters, be sure to kindly let the recipients know they have been invited into the sisterhood.]

5.  Return to catnipoflife as soon as your posting is complete to provide a link to your blogsite. Those links will be added to this posting as comments of completion are received.

Here are the 10 Questions

1. What is your favorite colour?

2. What is your favorite animal?

FOXIE

BOOTS

3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?

4. Facebook or Twitter? = Tweet me @ awakenings2012

5. What is your favorite pattern? = B&W Check
6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents? 

7. What is your favorite number?

8. What is your favorite day of the week?

9. What is your favorite flower? 

Handful of Daisies

10. What is your passion?

Welcome to the Sisterhood!

 1. Posthumously Sandra @ Dare to Dream Big!
Character books for kids and Kids Can Do It! Dare to Dream Big!

2. Claire Cappetta @clarecappetta
A journey through writing and publishing an indie book and all that pleases and irks along the way

3. Marilyn Armstrong @Serendipity
Popcorn on Main Street

4. Raani York @raaniyork
Beauty/Fashion, Diary of a Cat Prince, Letters to Celebrities. . .

5. Gys @ Poèmes Français & Anglais by Gys
Poignant poetry written in both French and English, as well as an awesome photo blog

6. Who is next? Leave your comment per ‘acceptance’ above…

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Awakenings: What is your brew?

See on Scoop.itAmerica

What is your favorite brew – coffee, tea or hot chocolate? Pros, cons and trivia  fun facts. . .

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa  – yum- yum, each carries with it an aroma and goodness that is possibly only surpassed by pure chocolate! Ah-ha! Then, there is the addition of extra chocolate to any of the aforementioned that makes it all the more sinful!

See on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.fr

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A Tragic Loss: Sandra McLeod Humphrey

Today’s posting at catnipoflife is a tribute in memory of Sandra McLeod Humphrey. I feel very honored to have known Sandra even if for only a short period of time. I encourage you to visit her website Dare to Dream Big! If you did not know Sandy, there would be no better way to celebrate her life than to acquaint yourself with her writing by visiting her blog @ http://www.kidscandoit.com/blog/. Then, I encourage all, whether you knew her or not, to order one of her books as a Christmas gift for a friend, loved one or family member. What a great tribute that would be for Sandy!

Here is a brief account of the tragic death of Sandra and her husband, as well as a little insight into her remarkable writing.

******************

  “Tragedy has taken the life of award-winning children’s book author Sandra McLeod Humphrey and her husband, Brian Humphrey.  Both were killed in a house fire on November 23. The couple’s single-family home in Minnetonka, MN, was in flames at 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to news sources, including the Minneapolis/St. Paul TV network KARE 11. No official cause of the blaze has been released.”

Sandra is best known for her overwhelming desire, knowledge and talent for writing books to build strong character. She has written many award-winning books to help empower young people to believe in themselves and to make good choices. Although her books cover many different subjects and span different age groups, they all have one thing in common: they are written to get young people thinking and talking about important social and moral issues and to help them be the best they can be!

Sandra, you will be deeply missed but your dream lives on!

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Message of Inspiration

This is a message of inspiration…a message of unconditional love! Thank you, Raani, for sharing on your blog so its message can hopefully be reblogged, reblogged, and reblogged many, many more times.

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The Bench in Waiting

Today as I visited Serendipity, which I do quite often for her excellent photography, interesting articles, candid humor and wonderful musings, The Bench in Waiting immediately captured my attention. Thank you, Marilyn for your inspiration that guided me to reflect on The Ol’ Bench. . .

Photo Credit: Marilyn Armstrong

The Ol’ Bench

A resting place, a stopping-off point

Relief from labors along life’s way

The bench beckoned moments for solitude

To ponder reveries of the day

How many have passed this way

Stopped for a moment or two

Rested, mused, wondered

Contemplated what to do?

What decisions were made

Changes to start anew

Thoughts and reflections

Begin again, redo?

Beaten, battered, broken

Life’s pain abates

It holds a lifetime’s worth of stories …

And still, it waits

Awaits the next visitor

To settle down, to rest

To ponder, to wonder

Tomorrow — life’s next test

A resting place, a stopping-off point

Relief from labors along life’s way

The bench beckons moments for solitude

To ponder reveries of the day. . .


©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

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The Masters Award is presented to Ed Parkinson (and Invitation to his Exhibition)

See on Scoop.itcatnipoflife

The Masters Award

The Masters Award is passed along to ONE blogger at a time.It began with Barbara @ Life in the Foothills (http://salmonfishingqueen.wordpress.com/?s=masters+award).  Its journey so far has included stops, enduring visits and accolades to…

The Masters Award (http://thewhyaboutthis.com/?s=masters+award)

The Masters Award (http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

The Masters Award (https://catnipoflife.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/the-masters-award/)

The Masters Award (http://greatpoetrymhf.wordpress.com)

Today, the announcement of the latest recipient of The Masters Award is made by Mary Helen Ferris to Ed Parkinson @www.spiritualartblog.com.

See on http://greatpoetrymhf.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/the-masters-award-is-presented-to-ed-parkinson-and-invitation-to-his-exhibition/#comment-6840

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One of the most wonderful perks of blogging is the ability to reblog. I do hope you enjoyed the poetic writing presented by Diane as much as I did. It certainly made me think about my own experiences and lessons learned. . .What about you?

coastalmom's avatarThe One Thing I know For Sure

If I could do it all again

would I make the same mistakes?

Would I bypass all the times

when I knew  my heart would break?

Would I still fall in love

with the father of my kids?

Would I do the dumb things

I remember that I did?

If I could go back,

and undo everything I’ve done…

Would I trade it all

to once again be young?

It is a tempting question,

to consider what I’d do,

to be able to wipe the slate clean,

To undo the things I wish I didn’t do…

And yet, I have to wonder

what the trade off would have to be

if I undid my life…

And could re-invent the one called “me

Even with all I now know…

and the lessons I have learned~

The “Do Over” I could have,

and the places I’d return,

I would still…

View original post 74 more words

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