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!

The Masters Award

Gratitude abounds for the award bestowed on catnipoflife by Penny Coho

@ The Why About This.

 

With a simple shake of the hand
A pledge is made, a bond is secured
Within the virtual world, words become bonds
Where pledges of friendship and hearts entwine

I don’t remember how I first ‘met’ Penny but I do know how she inspires me on a daily basis. Her words are words of wisdom, not to simply make a statement or impart knowledge (which they do), but to provide avenues for discovery and insight into one’s self. Penny’s natural curiosity about people and life have led her to focus her writing lens on creativity not solely for herself but instead mainly for others.

To my fellow bloggers: I am so thankful for the joy, inspiration, reflections and humor each of you share within the blogosphere. Whether through personal experiences or purposing writings toward book endeavors, you bring rays of sunshine, hopes for a better tomorrow, even in the darkest of hours.

Blogging is personal. The friendships gathered along the way have far surpassed any beginning thoughts or expectations and continue to grow each day. I feel truly blessed to share and be a part of your sharing with words of the heart and soul: words to lift others in times of need when neither you nor I know who exactly will be touched at the time the words are penned.

For the Masters Award, all of the following criteria must be met by the blog site receiving this award.  The blog site must be:

1) Inspirational – The blog must inspire one in some way.

2) Informative – The blog overall, must in one way or another impart information in a creative and captivating way.

3) Imaginative – The blog must titillate the imagination, making you see, hear or feel the message they are trying to impart.

4) Insightful – The blog should capture the inner nature of what is being written about, photographed, et al…and this includes seeing intuitively.

The Rules:

1) The blogger bestowing this award must tell why they are bestowing their award based on the four criteria. All the criteria have to be met.

2) The blogger bestowing the award must do so in a post on their blog site and include “The Masters Award” emblem. They must also include in their post a link to the site that they are bestowing the award to.  Please notify the person who you are bestowing the award upon with a note to them on their site.

3) The site who the award is bestowed upon must write a post of thanks, linking their post back to the site who bestowed the award upon them.

4) In the same post, they must pass on the :award based upon the criteria and they must follow these rules.

The New Recipient:

It is my honor and privilege, to bestow “The Masters Award” to Mary Helen Ferris, Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblogwhose words are derived from the heart reaching deep into the Spirit of the Soul. Mary Helen lives in Alberta, Canada where, as she puts it, the winter is a great time for writing. She is fascinated by water, fire, birds and most of all people. It is no wonder her writings, poetry and photography overflow with inspiration, captivating information, imagination teasing all senses and intuitive insight. When you visit her blog, it will become obvious from your very first visit how easily she meets the four criteria for this award. As for Mary Helen, the best description is provided in her own words:

I am a lover of sunsets
People and wonderful words
I am hermit who loves the birds.

I am a rebel who loves setting suns.
I am a traveler, I know you are one.

So take a moment, sit back and have what your please
Most of these poems were written on Soul’s knees.

Mary Helen Ferris
Nov 7, 2010

27 Comments »

This is another of those times that nothing else need be said. The music is Enya…OUTSTANDING! Thank you, Penny, for another wonderfully inspiring post!

Penny L Howe's avatarThe Why About This

It is one Thing to learn and know a lesson.

Quite another thing to “Use it!” ~ Penny L. Howe

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We have so much potential – each and every single one of us on this planet of ours. Please listen to your heart,. Grow and learn, share and LOVE!

~ Penny

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6 Comments »

Porcelain Unicorn

It never ceases to amaze me how some things come full circle when least expected. I received the video link, Porcelain Unicorn, in an email message last April and filed it away in a personal folder because it is so compelling. Intentions were to revisit it during some quiet down time. This morning that revisitation occurred while trying desperately to find daylight at the end of the mega messages in my email Inbox.

Here is the background. . .

Legendary British film director Sir Ridley Scott launched a global film making contest for aspiring directors. It’s titled “Tell It Your Way.” There were over 600 entries.

The film could

  • be no longer than three minutes,
  • contain only six lines of narrative and
  • be a compelling story.

The winner was “Porcelain Unicorn” from American director Keegan Wilcox.

It’s a story of the lifetimes of two people (1930 – 1945) who are totally opposite, yet, very much the same – all told in less than 3 minutes.

Mythical symbol of magic
Enchanting in the realm of fairies
The unicorn imbues in dreams
Reflections of pure innocence

~catnipoflife

41 Comments »

After the Storm

To all impacted by the storm’s wrath. . .

After a storm comes a calm.
~Matthew Henry

After the storm the sun still smiles

Easing the sadness across the miles

Helping hands do quickly extend

Working together to heal and mend

Prayer is uplifted for all today

As faith in tomorrow lights the way

light shining power_shine.jpg photo

Photo Credit: photobotos.com

“We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.”
~Martin Luther King

22 Comments »

Reblog: Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblog

Sometimes it is not necessary to write a new post; just listen to your followers for their inspiration is what often inspires you!

greatpoetrymhf's avatarGreatpoetrymhf's Weblog

 

Do you ever wonder at the miracle of you?

Think about all the joys, 

 the struggles, the laughter,

and the lessons you have  been through.

You are a miracle.

A bright and shining star.

Now you share your joys and lessons with others.

I love you as you are. 

You teach me so much laughter

You share your strength time and again.

I love the way you talk about dancing in the the rain.

Do you ever wonder at the miracle of you?

I have seen your beauty at  least a thousand times….

You are a miracle to me….in all you say and do. 

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Moving Autumn

Photo Credit: Garden Stop Sign – Rosanne Jordan

STOP! Take a few moments to just sit back, relax and enjoy the Piano Instrumental – Moving Autumn

soothing clear waters
wind magically
amid chatoyant
gems of autumn

Thanks goes to Peggy Strack @Kick Back Moments for sharing this great video on her blog. Peggy is the author of A Stop in the Park, which is quickly gathering nothing but 5-star reviews. After reading her book, I have decided while it does encompass ‘a stop in the park’ it is definitely ‘a stop in the heart’! Highly recommended good reading!

29 Comments »

Nature’s Nightlife

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
—John Muir (Environmentalist, 1838–1914)

Today’s catnip journeys into the realm of the night: a place of darkness where there is light, a place of shadows but not of fright, a place serene in tranquil scenes, a place where you may or may not have been. . .

 

Nature’s Nightlife

Nature by day renders amazing views
From zesty pastels of spring
To autumn’s golden hues

Butterflies and daisies go hand-in-hand
As endless summer meadows
Stretch forth over the land

Winter time glistens a personal glow
Adding magic to the air
Mosaics in the snow

Ah-h, such beauty by day, what of the night?
Does nature curl up and sleep
Totally out of sight?

Doesn’t nature’s nightlife buzz and flurry
Watching, waiting, wondering
With patience, no hurry?

Nocturnal gardens remain fascinating
Ugly weeds during the day
At night begin blossoming

Gypsum’s voluptuous trumpet flowers
Challenge French perfumes
While hosting dark after hours

Night owls, sleepwalkers and insomniacs
Witness fleeting brilliance
Deep forest greens to delicate lilacs

Dusk ’til dawn, exotic blossoms unfurl
Quaking, twisting and popping
Within nature’s night world!

catniplogosm1©2012
catnipoflife

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
—John Muir (Environmentalist, 1838–1914)

What is your favorite sight or sound

of nature’s nightlife?

Related Article

Be sure to visit Len @MYOWNHEART.ME for a personal reflection on night life. It is great with an amazing video at the end!

27 Comments »

Polar Bear: I come in Peace

See on Scoop.itcatnipoflife

(Click the link or the picture to get the full story!)

Polar Bear: I come in peace….Unbelievable

Ever hugged a bear or seen a bear giving a hug? For most of us, that experience is engrained in remembering the hugs of the ever precious teddy bear. But let’s take a look today at the REAL bear hug. . .

See on www.galacticchannelings.com

Rescooped from http://www.scoop.it/t/ireland-travel

7 Comments »

Sunday Savorings

I had not planned on posting any catnip today but in cleaning out some clutter on my computer desktop, I happened across a document where I had saved some links for future reference. I have probably opened this document hundreds of times but just had not reflected back on the words or why they had been saved.

Warm wishes and hugs to everyone on this blessed Sunday! Take five, kick back, put your feet up, watch the video and become enraptured in the beautiful music. . .

Do you recognize the artist of the music?

What are your reflections on the butterfly? Any special moments?

Related articles:

Inspiration: Butterfly Magic

Inspiration: The Butterfly Effect

Inspiration: Meeting the Challenge 2

. . .echoes of life. . .

Butterfly Mysteries

Butterfly Questions and Answers

Facts About Daisies Attracting Butterflies

20 Comments »

Quick Post: Follow-up to Bubbles

One of the greatest perks of blogging is the wonderful people you meet on an almost daily basis. You really don’t know who or when a stranger will stop by for a visit and upon visitation leave a touch of their own catnip. That is exactly what happened this evening: I was led to Bubbles for a Cure. [Be sure to read the article, it is short and doesn’t take much time to read but is well worth it!]

Karen Ingalls is a retired nurse living in central Florida with her husband, Jim. (Um-m-m? I use to live in Florida and my husband is Jim. Already a connection. . .see what I mean?) She is a cancer surviver whose battle with ovarian cancer has been a difficult one but yet also a rewarding one. Meeting many wonderful people, learning a lot about herself, and having a deeper appreciation for life led her to write her book, Outshine, An Ovarian Cancer Memoir.

As Karen so graciously puts it on her blog. . .

“I encourage you to blow some bubbles in honor of someone you know who has or had cancer, say a prayer for a cure, and then support and contribute to cancer research.”

2 Comments »