The Cantankerous Cat: A to Z Blogging Challenge

Cats...you love them and, at times, you hate them!  Have you noticed there are more quotes and jokes about cats as opposed to dogs?  

Maybe these quotes from "The Quotable Cat" selected by Denise Little, will give you a clue:


Cats invented self-esteem; there is not an insecure bone in their bodies.  Erma Bombeck 

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. Leonardo Da Vinci

If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow, but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.
Mark Twain

Playing the Sphinx

When it comes to the advantages of cats versus dogs as pets, there is no competition.  Try going away for a weekend, leaving your German Shepherd alone with a bowl of dry food, some water, and a litter box.
Robert Stearns

No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can remove his fur from your couch.  

Leo Dworken

I had been told that the training procedure with cats was difficult.  It's not.  Mine had me trained in two days.  Bill Dana

Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat-watching is a near perfect method of writing avoidance.  Dan Greenburg

Our Ragdoll, Cosette

Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you.
Missy Dizick and Mary Bly

A cat will be your friend, but never your slave.  Théophile Gautier

"I am not amused"

Here are a few descriptive words for the cat:

neat and clean
quiet
scare easily
suspicious
sly
hate water
can't be lead around
will not fetch...only as it desires
meows and hisses and purrs and howls
tail wags sideways if angry
stealth

Can you think of others?  What is your cat joke or story??

Books, Books and More Books! A to Z Blogging Challenge

We love books in our family...books we've read, books we will read in the future, books we keep for reference, those we want to pass on to future generations, or to friends and family.  In my husband's case, he has collected books to be read when he retires. You can see that our home is replete with books. On shelves, tables, and couches...

 Almost two decades ago, I found the book, "A Passion for Books" by Terry W. Glaspey. In reading it, I was delighted with the quotes found therein. They are mostly from authors themselves, and they ring true.

 What good is a book?



 NO BOOK is really worth reading at ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.  C.S. Lewis




 When I get a little money, I buy books; and if there is any left I buy food and clothes.  Desiderius Erasmus

 Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence, attention.  Francis Bacon

Our homeschool books

 If he shall not lose his reward who gives a cup of cold water to his thirsty neighbor, what will not be the reward of those who by putting good books into the hands of those neighbors, open to them the fountains of eternal life? Thomas à Kempis

My 'must-read' stash

 Books are the compass and telescopes and sextants and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life. Jess Lee Bennett

 My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read. Abraham Lincoln

 We use books like mirrors, gazing into them only to discover ourselves. Joseph Epstein

Olivia's bookshelf (one of many!)

 The love of reading enables a man to exchange the wearisome hours of life, which come to everyone, for hours of delight.  Montesquieu



 A home without books is like a room without windows...A little library, growing every year, is an honorable part of a man's history.  It is a man's duty to have books.  A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life.    Henry Ward Beecher

A portion of my husband's shelf

 My early and invincible love of reading...I would not exchange for the treasures of India.  Edward Gibbon There is a space on everyone's bookshelves for books one has outgrown but cannot give away.  They hold one's youth between their leaves, like flowers pressed on a half-forgotten summer's day.   Marion C. Garretty

Why do you read books?

Awesome Argentina! A to Z Blogging Challenge

Our family had the opportunity to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Patagonia in January.  We were amazed at the awesome scenery.  So,  what makes Argentina so awesome?



 Is it the Estancias that dot Patagonia?

 The penguins and elephant seals along the shore?

 Or the glaciers at the foot of the Andes near the Chilean border?

 All the above! What do they have in common? They were all created by an Awesome God.


 Awesome!

 Dictionary.com defines awesome as:

 "An overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration and fear, etc, produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful and the like: in awe of God... Archaic: power to inspire fear or reverence."

 We use this word lightly, don't we?

 "Wow, Jason, that's an 'awesome' bike!" (is he fearful of the bike?)

 Or "Kim, where did you get that 'awesome' dress?" (does Kim's friend reverence the dress?)

 Psalm 66:1-4 ESV 1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

 Let's begin to use the word appropriately again, and attribute it to one who deserves our 'reverence and fear'...who is that for you? What amazing adjectives would you use in the above sentences in place of AWESOME?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Only Two Days Away!

A Potpourri of Posts: Lessons from Life, Leaders and Literature...that is my theme for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Twenty-six days of quotes, wisdom from the past, lessons I've learned, and slices of life from those that have been there, and done that!

We are using the Tools of our Writer's Trade...26 letters of the Alphabet...in order, for 26 days.  What is the Challenge all about?  See my post here.

Each day, not only will we post subjects in alphabetical order (one for each letter for 26 days in April) but we will be visiting at least 5 blogs a day to comment and encourage our fellow bloggers.

The A to Z team is readying us for the task ahead.  Here are some helpful hints they gave us:

Turn off the Word Verification mechanism that a visitor is required to copy in order for comment to be posted. It discourages folks from leaving a comment on your blog. I did...

Write short, concise posts, with photos and paragraphs interspersed in an easily readable way.  I plan to...

Provide a link on your website, (where it can be easily seen), to another website where you can post in case your blogger host goes south for a day or two. Check...I have a Blogger site, but began a Wordpress post for emergencies.

Plan ahead, and write some, if not all of your posts, ahead of time, and schedule them to post automatically on the appropriate day. You never know when an emergency can arise. I'm planning at least a week of automatic posts, and I have all my letters assigned, and ideas are flowing!

Sync your posts to be linked to FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn...this was my added idea.  I did, through dlvr.it.com  Wordpress had their own way of linking through the dashboard.

Then, sit back and enjoy the process, the things you will learn, and the people with whom you will connect.



Here is a sneak preview of a few of my posts:

A  Awesome Argentina!  (What IS the definition of 'awesome'?)
G  Good Gardening
H  Homeschool Harvest
I    Interest in pInterest?
K  Kodak Moments
M  Missionary Martyrs Speak
R  Repurposing your Rubbish
W Writer's Voice...Who, what, and Why?

If you like what you see, follow me...via email, google or RSS feed.
Stay tuned...Sunday morning, it all begins.  No Foolin' !

The Sunshine Award!!

Well, it was bound to happen...I lost a draft that I spend a couple of precious hours composing!  So, I will need to be brief, since my time is so limited these days!  But, I am honored to receive this award, thanks to Bethany Telles. It is given to those who's blogs inspire positivity and creativity in the blogosphere.  Thanks, Bethany!

 Bethany has good things to say on her blog, Perched in a Tree, sharing her view of the world from a lofty vantage point.  I love the fact that she sees the good in everyone...Bethany calls that a weakness.  I call it a strength! She is blessed to be able to stay at home with her children.

In order to accept the Award, we are to answer the following 10 questions, and then pass on the award to others.  Some say around ten, but, I will need to hone it down to four, but not because the awardees are limited!

Here are my questions:

FAVORITE COLOR:


      I would have to say green.  When I was younger, it was blue, but now I love sage green, seafoam green, honeydew and forest green...all the greens but olive and army.  Green speaks of life, energy and renewal.

FAVORITE ANIMAL:

     I love all animals in God's kingdom, but, right now, it's the hedgehog...my daughter owns an adorable one named Pippin.

FAVORITE NUMBER:

     It's seven...it always has been.  The perfect number according to the Bible.

FAVORITE DRINK:

     Tea!   All kinds, but mostly milk oolong, Japanese Cherry, and specialty drinks such as Thai and Bubble Tea.

FACEBOOK OR TWITTER?

     Even though I use both, it's Facebook that I use the most.  I love to see what my friends are thinking and doing....

MY PASSION:

     In writing, it's to make history and Scripture come alive for my readers, who are mostly women and children.  In my daily life, I love to plan and take my family on "educational field trips" to various parts of the world.  We visit locations we are studying during our homeschool year...it's history we will never forget!  The trip always includes a visit to a missionary family we know in the area.  This blog began as a travel log of our trips...the side bar shows some of the links.

PREFER GIVING OR GETTING PRESENTS?

     I'm embarrassed to admit this...I enjoy getting gifts if it's what I need or want.  So, because of this, I prefer to give to others, and spend some time studying people's preferences before I purchase a gift.  Sometimes, it's something that I already own, that I know another friend or family member would appreciate.

FAVORITE PATTERN:

     That is a tough one for me!  I love pretty patterns of all sorts...especially on vintage clothing or wallpaper.  So, since they are usually floral, I'll say flowers, swirls, or any floral pattern.

FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK:

     It used to be Fridays, the end of the work week.  But now that I am home educating our teens, I would say Sundays.  It's a day of rest.  After church I love to come home and sit down after dinner with an inspirational book.  We do that as a family for at least a hour.  There is little time the rest of the week!

FAVORITE FLOWER:

     What flower don't I love??  Sweet peas and stargazer lilies (in my bridal bouquet) are among my favorites, but I will say my absolute fav is my birthflower: lilies of the valley.


Now its time to PASS ON THE SUNSHINE AWARD:


These are the worthy recipients...amongst many others yet to be chosen:

Laura Miller   for her whimsical drawings

Miranda Paul for her literacy work in Africa

Alison Hertz for her helpful writer's posts

Kirsten Larson for encouraging creativity in kids


Grab the Sunshine Award Button above, ladies, and spread some sunshine to others...congratulations!



   

Another Challenge for the Writer's Platform

Here I am again, with yet another challenge from Rachael Harrie's FourthWriter's Platform-Building Campaign.  This time, we have a variety of options.  To begin with, we have one written prompt, and four seemingly unrelated photos (one is below), which to me, is the ultimate in challenges!

Since I am off to a Family Economics Conference this weekend, I chose to do only one of the options...another flash fiction of less than 200 words.  And  I'd like you to make a comment below.  Let me know what you liked (if anything), and how I could have done better.

If you'd like more info on the Writer's Platform Campaign Challenge check this link.  I'm #70, if you'd like to give me a thumbs up.  It would be much appreciated!  And while you are there, check out the many other creative entries...


Here goes:


Too Close For Comfort


Hyperventilating because of my near death experience, I leaned against the rusty remains of a concrete bridge, thankful to be alive.  Miraculously, I had only a cut on my leg. Becky, my best friend, had rescued me again. But this time, it wasn't from a social faux pas. And she had only wet hair to show for the feat. 

Swimming  near a tributary of the Amazon, I suddenly felt myself pulled under and spun like a whirlpool on a wooden spoon.  I panicked, and cried out to God. Thoughts of my young son on a Brazilian Estate flashed through my mind. Instantly, Becky pulled me from the undertow, and onto the bank, where national children rummaged through a garbage dump.

A brilliant web of tiny stars whirled before my still closed eyes. "Vicki, Vicki...are you okay?  Wake up...speak to me!"

Coming back to reality, I felt a gentle slap on my cheek. Becky had somehow delivered me to the crumbling bridge, leaning me against it to catch my breath.

"Looks like it's not your time to go, Vicki...the mission still needs your help!"

I smiled weakly, thanking God once more...I would see my son again.



So, what do you think?  Any constructive comments would be appreciated...thanks for stopping by!

A to Z Blogging Challenge: With a Little Help from My Friends!

Well, the challenge begins in 27 days...what challenge, you ask?  Here is a rundown:

Who will participate?  

ME...and hopefully over 1,000 other bloggers!


What is the Challenge?

Compose 26 posts during the month of April...one each day, not including Sundays.  Each day, the post's title or topic will begin with a letter of the alphabet, in order, and progress until the last day, when the Z post will finish the challenge.

Where will you find the posts?

Here, on my blog, and on almost 1,000 other participant's blogs...so, sign up on the right to follow me.  I would love to have you comment on my posts!

Why are you doing this?


To flex my blogging muscles, drive more activity to my site, and, most importantly, share things that are on my heart, and inspire others.

When does this all begin?


April 1st...no kidding!


How do I join in the Challenge?


Click on this link, and you will find the sign up list and other info you need...we'd love to have you join us!

Now here's where I need a little help from my friends:


I have my list of potential posts for the month of April, but have quite a few empty spots, so here's where I need your help...I have ideas for letters A, B, C, D, G, H, P, Q, S, T and W.  But, I haven't yet thought of post titles for the other letters.  If you can think of a topic for one I am missing, let me know in a post comment below.  Here's the catch:  my theme is 'Lessons from Life, Leaders and Literature.'  So, if it fits the theme, I'll consider it.  If I choose it...I will feature a link to your website, or, of another's that you enjoy, on the day I post that letter, as a thank you for your help!

Looking forward to those ideas....