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!

A Touch of Catnip

xxx

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[This is the original poem published in Remembering, 2009. An adaptation is presented in slideshow video format at the end.]

Foxie, The Cat

Independent, full of curiosity
Agile, former creature of the wild
Foxie shares our home taking over the place
Demanding attention like a child

Curious by nature, held in awe
Cuddlesome, yet loving all the while
She expectantly meows for ‘tasty’ treats
At times leaving her prizes behind in style

Behind the settee, under the bed
Foxie scampers constantly without a care
Mysterious, perplexing, aggravating
Preferring to curl up in Daddy’s chair

Going from indoor to outdoor
Never looking for a new home
She emits confidence, strong will
Unhappy only when left alone

Distant and aloof, yet cherished
Quiet as though in simple meditation
Foxie resonates a soothing purr-r-r
Inviting soft cuddles and loving adoration

Finicky, picky about her food
Moody and sometimes remote
She prissily swishs her fluffy fox tail
Like a tiny, little woman in a fine fur coat!

©2009 RememberingSharla Lee Shults

©2009 Remembering
Sharla Lee Shults

Do you have a favorite pet?
(Click HERE!)

13 Comments »

American Classics

Awakenings from Then ’til Now
Click HERE!

BE SURE TO CLICK THE LINK, READ THE POEM AND LEAVE A COMMENT AT AWAKENINGS!

Catnipoflife invites you to visit her sister site, Awakenings. Ah-h-h-h! The American classics – where would we be without them? Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet, all have their place among America’s iconic figures. From books to poetry to songs to movies and videos, each has its place among America’s favorites.

It was while I was visiting various blogsites that I was prompted to revisit the posting at Awakenings. Dicy McCullough’s post for the day was Braves’ Game: Favorite Thing #4. It brought back so many memories, especially of my late sister-in-law. She dearly loved the Braves. If a game was on and she had to go to the bathroom, the radio was right there with her! I have never known anyone as devoted as she. The sad part is she never did get to see a game live but she dutifully listened to their games.

With or without the baseball game, there is no better treat, at the table or on a picnic, than the all American hot dog. Whether grilled, broiled, boiled or fried, Chicago style, coney dog or your own home style, the feeling of biting into that ‘dog’ is all American!

Don’t know what to prepare for dinner tonight? Grab a hot dog! Give and receive a smile!

Added bit of Trivia: The hog dog is no longer just a ‘dog in a bun’. Numerous hot dog variations can be found state to state, across the nation, country to country and around the globe. Enjoy to their fullest!

What is your favorite ‘dog’?

13 Comments »

One Lovely Blog Award #2 and #3

WOW! Not one,but two! When I entered the blogosphere, I never dreamed of acquiring so many wonderful relationships, true friendships, through my writing. What is so amazing is the inspiration I receive on a daily basis through visiting other blogsites, as well as comments left on catnip. Not only do I love to write, I LOVE to read!

FIRST, A BIG THANK YOU TO. . .

Jen Davies, A Writer’s Journey, who has graciously bestowed One Lovely Blog Award to catnipoflife. Jen has an awesome blog and shares about her journey in writing, plus she has some great photos on her site.

Jen Owenby, Jen’s Thoughts, who expresses her thoughts on writing, reading and life. Visits to her site never have me leave without inspiration.

Thank you to both Jens, for this honor which now allows catnip to pay the award forward to other bloggers who offer inspiration on a regular basis.

SECOND, before announcing the nominees, the ‘rules’ begin with my posting seven random facts about myself.

1. My favorite foods: bacon, grits and toast with honey (The honey is NOT store bought!)

2. I love to travel, just don’t get to go as much as I would like.

3. Our children: Scott, April, Nicole, Wendy, Foxie and Boots [Guess which two are the cats. LOL:>)]

4. I enjoy painting as well as writing.

5. My favorite poet: Wendell Brown, aka the One Brown Poet

6. While working at the computer, you can find Boots in my lap on a regular basis!

7. I am a photographer for Voyage en éphémère [Visit my homepage and The Murals of Colquit, GA and The Murals of Colquit, GA #2]

THIRD, as I ponder the list for my nominess, I find some are totally inspiring through the written word while others are solely visual. The world of photography is indeed an art within itself providing insight into the marvelous world around us. Thus, the nominees are

Soulmetry

Marbles in my Pocket

Inspiration Import

My Own Heart

Women Making Strides

The London Flower Lover

Marla Martenson

The Why About This

Valerie Davis

Books That Sow

angchronicles

Extraordinary Dreams of an Ireland Traveler

Cosmuse

Free Tag Zone

Don in Massachusetts

AMS Daily

Please leave a comment so I will know you have received notification of the award.

34 Comments »

Free Write Friday #3: After Midnight…

FreeWriteFridayBadgeDoesn’t seem like it has been a week since I participated in Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. Time seems to get away with not enough hours from one day to the next. Of course, if a day were 48 hours, I would probably still claim not enough time. C’est la vie!

While I may not participate every week in Kellie’s writing prompt, I will surely check out each week’s scenario. This week it is a Time & Place Scenario. Here is how it goes:

It’s after midnight. You find yourself in an eerie yet, magical swamp. You hear whispering and see flashes of light… What happens?

Goodnight on Fairie Swamp Garden (Photo credit: echoroo)

Photo credit: echoroo

On the edge of silence, soft whispers of the night penetrate the darkness. I stand alone wondering what happened to the others. How did we get separated? Lights flash in the distance. . .but we forgot the flashlights. My knees are knocking, my heart is pounding, chills are running up and down my spine, my palms are sweaty and ringing in my ears are my father’s last words, “Nothing good ever happens after midnight!”  DADDY!

Of course, being the poetess that I am, I could not stop there.

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Midnight in the Swamp – Dream or Reality?

Alone in the darkness
Thoughts eerily sway
When was the last time
I ventured this way?

Once in my dreams
Within a magical land
Flashes across the sky
Fuse as if hand in hand

Shattering the sky
A mosaic in black
Announces its fury
As though under attack

Moss-laden trees
Cast shadows of ghosts
Purple-black silhouettes
Make the perfect hosts

How can I be there?
This can’t be real
Only moments ago
We kissed
love’s seal

I twist and turn
Toward whispers I hear
Hoping and praying
It is you who are near

A clash of thunder
Jolts me awake
I reach across the bed
Your hand I take

Eerie, yet magical
Real it may seem
Feeling your warmth
Reflects but a dream

© 2012
catnipoflife

14 Comments »

Stormy Times

Throughout life we encounter experiences that bring on tears of happiness but all too often those tears are tears of sorrow. While catnipoflife strives to share thoughts of inspiration on life’s beautiful reflections, it is also necessary to sometimes pause in refection of the stormy times in life. Like the firey nature of a storm, the atmosphere may suddenly appear bleak and often dark but never without the shining rays of hope.

Recently there have been several bloggers who have shared ‘stormy’ times within environments of either family members, friends or both. Prayerful thoughts are sent to each of them.

♥***♥***♥***♥***♥

May you always find the light within and
have the courage
. . .
the courage to accept, the courage to bear the sorrow, the courage to show strength to others, the courage to carry on but most of all, the courage to believe. For though the world may at times appear dark, you have the light of the gospel, let it be a beacon to guide your way throughout the long hours of each day.

To each person who reads this message, take a few moments of silent prayer for those who seek and need your support during dire times in their lives. I just did!

23 Comments »

Inspiration: Tranquility

[At the end of this posting is a slideshow you do not want to miss!]

With the unrelenting rain still in our midst, thoughts today shift to moments of tranquility. While the rain can definitely be soothing within melodic tunes, its rhythm can be somewhat unsettling as echoes of thunder break the silence and flashes of lightning zigzag across an already bleak sky. Let’s close our eyes and let our minds become absorbed in a less stressful atmosphere.

Picture this. . .

Cathy Marshall Two Sun Morning

A soft haze engulfs the scene as early morning fog slowly begins to lift. Everything in sight begins to shimmer with the earliest rays of sunlight casting reflections in droplets of dew. You are alone. With coffee cup in hand, you gaze out the window as eyes shift across the lake and begin to pan the horizon. Thoughts drift to the day before and events that now set the stage for all the tomorrows to come. What a great morning for a walk along the rocky shore of the lake! Coffee will have to wait.

Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee, USA

In the distance, you spy the old dock built by your grandfather when he was a young man, stout and strong. The visions of fishing with cane poles, laughing at his worn-out jokes, and hopes of catching ol’ granddaddy catfish bring on a soft laugh and a smile. You walk on. You stop at the dock peering down the long stretch of planks as it juts outward as if reaching for the other side of the lake but never making it. You pause.

Ol’ Granddaddy Catfish

As you stroll the dock, sunbeams engulf your whole being like a warm cloak being draped across your shoulders. You peer down at the water just in time to see tiny tadpoles dancing in the morning light. A splash a few yards away gets your attention knowing it is that ol’ granddaddy catfish teasing and tempting you to drop a freshly baited hook in the water. He will just have to be content on playing about in the water and enjoying one more day in the lake for on this day you do not have your fishing pole. His lucky day.

The panoramic view from the end of the dock is green with envy as the tree-line shore masks long forgotten cabins in the background. They had been abandoned many years earlier for the owner had died leaving no one as heir. Broken windows and battered boards shield only the ghosts that linger in the shadowy stillness of both the daylight and the darkness. You wonder about the stories that could be told if any of those old cabins could talk. But, perhaps, it is a good thing the remaining walls could not speak for you have far too many secrets of your own whose stories best not be aired.

Taking off your shoes, you lay them aside and take a seat on the end of the dock. Dangling your legs over the edge, your toes begin to swish back and forth across the top of the cool water disturbing the stillness of the lake with ripple after ripple. In the next few moments, you are completely surrounded by only the scenes of tranquility.

“Tranquil moments are treasured moments: moments where time seems to stand still, thoughts drift away to a magical place and worry becomes a thing of the past.” ~catnipoflife

 
 

Don’t leave without sharing your thoughts.
What do you ponder in your tranquil moments?

35 Comments »

Rainy Days and Mondays

A rainy day in Georgia today reminded me of The Carpenters and the hit tune Rainy Days and Mondays. Playing the tune, watching and listening as the rain pounded the tin roof of the porch invited me to record a brief encounter with the rain on a Georgia afternoon.

Relive your rainy days and Mondays as you listen and revive memories of the days and times of
The Carpenters.

Did you have a Sunny or a Rainy Monday? What about this day perhaps gave you inspiration?

22 Comments »

Happy Friendship Day

A MESSAGE TO ALL MY FRIENDS: PERSONAL AND VIRTUAL


HOPE YOU HAVE A SPECIAL AND BLESSED DAY!

11 Comments »

Living a Book

How many of you ‘LIVE the book’you are reading? By that, I mean feel like you become part of the scene, a member of the family, the main character, the villian or the victim? The written word has a way of sucking you in, dragging you down or lifting you up dependent upon the nature and the purpose of the writing. You laugh, you cry, you fuss, you cuss (sometimes, admit it), you love, you hate, you question, you wonder why but you don’t put the book down.

The best of the best hook you from the start, dangle you in suspense and
lead you on a journey never to be forgotten.

What have you read lately that pulled at your heart strings or left you hanging by a thread wanting to know when the sequel will be out?

20 Comments »

Free Write Friday #2: The Street I Grew Up On

FreeWriteFridayBadgeIt has been awhile since catnip participated in Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday. When I read the topic for today’s writing, The Street I Grew Up On, I could not let it pass by without a walk down memory lane. As thoughts shifted back and forth in memory, several images passed through my mind. In the poem below I do hope I have captured the essence and sadness of East Fourth Street.

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East Fourth Street
(Donalsonville, GA)

Similar street in Donaldsonville, LA
(Interesting coincidence in town name)

A narrow street
First began as dirt
Straight as an arrow
Always on alert

Watchful as children
Walked to and fro
Kicking up dust
Without shadow

Bumpy along sides
Longing for rain
Rutted and worn
A rough domain

Through the years
Change remade
What once was dirt
Now was paved

Where once I walked
Now a bike trod
Over gravel and stone
It plod and plod

A quick turn
Slid across stone
Cuts and bruises
No broken bone

Gravel and rock
Did meet its fate
Covering of asphalt
Brought it up-to-date

Lined with oaks
Massive on scene
Intense in beauty
Regal of queen

Forces of nature
Hurling all around
With mighty fury
Ripped the ground

A narrow street
Barren along each side
Bears only ghosts
Where mighty oaks once thrived

©2012
catnipoflife

“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love,
the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”
~From the television show The Wonder Years

28 Comments »