awakenings | catnipoflife

Awakenings: How do I Love Thee

by catnipoflife

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

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

Awakenings Scoop.it

Awakenings: Southern Fried Chicken

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – catnipoflife

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.

Awakenings PoetrybySharla Reflection

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

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond

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

Author Connections Awakenings

Awakenings Official Book Launch

by catnipoflife

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

Click HERE!

Get into the swing of things…

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.

Awakenings

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by catnipoflife

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!

Inspiration Import

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…

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Awakenings Reblog Reflection

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

by catnipoflife

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: ht AwakeningsHR1 tp://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.

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

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

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 Jackson – http://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.

Awakenings Awards/Nominations

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Awakenings: 50’s & 60’s TV Commercials

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond

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?

Awakenings Reflection

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Awakenings: Arrival of the “Ghost Dance”

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond

Arrival of the “Ghost Dance“

This Day in History: December 29, 1890 –
Massacre at Wounded Knee

How did it begin, this hate for the Indian nation? They were, after all, native to America well before the arrival of the “white man.”

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Such senseless killing and for what end? And the senselessness has not stopped to this day!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Awakenings Reflection Scoop.it

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Awakenings: Kick Back Moments: Give Yourself a Santa Moment

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Each of us relishes memories of our favorite Santa moment. One most cherished is perhaps the preparation and presentation of the ever popular plate of cookies and glass of milk. Read MORE @ Awakenings where Peggy Stack, author of A Stop in the Park, is the featured author of the day.

See on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com