Challenge

QUOTE CHALLENGE: DAY TWO

I was tagged by Annie from McGuffy’s Reader to participate in the Three Day Quote Challenge. Yesterday I presented my first quote, and you can read that post here.

Today I am sharing my second quote in the Three Day Quote Challenge. Each of the quotes I have selected are from Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Here’s my second quote:

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

I selected this quote as Tom and I had a candle ceremony as part of our wedding ceremony. Like all couples, we have had our ups and downs through the years. In the 42 1/2 years that we have been married, however, I believe that we have mostly been happy. That happiness has come from supporting, loving and caring for each other. And I do know that when Tom is happy, I feel happy as well. Just as with a smile being contagious, happiness breeds happiness!

The rules of the challenge are simple. They are as follows:

1. Post for three consecutive days.
2. Choose and share one or three quotes each day.
3. Challenge three additional bloggers each day.

Today I am selecting:

Emily, Kitty Cat Chronicles
Sharla, Beaded Tail
Sherri-Ellen, Purrince Siddhartha Henry an LadyMum’ss Purrfect Pad

Of course, If any of you do not wish to participate, please don’t feel obligated.

I’ll be posting my third quote on Thursday as tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday.

February 2, 2016 by Janet Blue Challenge 18

THREE DAY QUOTE CHALLENGE: DAY ONE

My friend Annie from McGuffy’s Reader tagged me to participate in the Three Day Quote Challenge. I never back away from a challenge, so I, of course, accepted.

The rules of the challenge are simple. They are as follows:

1. Post for three consecutive days.
2. Choose and share one or three quotes each day.
3. Challenge three additional bloggers each day.

I am choosing to share one quote per day. I participated in a quote challenge in September, which you can view here. I didn’t want to share any of the same quotes, so this really did become a challenge. It also can be a bit daunting to do this as we end up revealing things about ourselves that we maybe rather not. My three quotes are all by the same author, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Today’s quote is:

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”

When I was younger, I had a really short fuse, and it didn’t take much to set me off. I usually didn’t get angry with other people but rather at situations over which I had no control. Since I was a control freak, (and still am to a degree), this is no surprise. Though I still like to be in control, I have learned things happen that I cannot do anything about. Getting angry in these instances is a waste of my energy and detrimental to my mental and emotional health, which is punishment I was bringing upon myself. Being able to let go has made me a much calmer and happier person.

If you’d like to know more about Siddhartha Gautama and how he became Buddha, click here for a short, five-minute video.

I am going to pass the challenge to these three bloggers:

Obviously none of you are obligated to participate, but I hope you’ll accept the challenge.

I will share my second quote tomorrow.

February 1, 2016 by Janet Blue Challenge 18

HAPPINESS CHALLENGE X EIGHT

Our dear friends from Critters in the Cottage (Mitalee, Levon, Malou, Esme, Isadora, Duffy and Mom Sophie [aka LP]) invited us to participate in the Eight Photos of Happiness Challenge. As far as our mom is concerned, any photo that isn’t blurry or fuzzy makes her happy. But after a few hours of searching through our photo archives, she selected eight photos that put a smile on her face.

We probably have posted some of these photos previously or, if not, at least some from the same photo shoots. It is our wish, nonetheless, that you will enjoy and find happiness in the photos Mom selected.

Lily Olivia happily covered in catnip.

Mauricio (un)happily shows off his Easter bonnet.

A trio of tuxies (Misty May, Mauricio, & Lisbeth) plus Fiona happily snuggled up to their dad.

Giulietta is happy to curl up for a nap in bubble wrap.

Lisbeth and Fiona are happy to add their paw stamps of approval to our Santa Kitty Toy Hop donation to Angels of Assisi.

Astrid happily relaxes in the teleportation tunnel.

C.J. enjoys a happy nappy in the “cat” bowl and shows off her cute toesies!

We all are happy to have resident squirrels to entertain us.

We hope you have enjoyed our selections and that they brought smiles to your faces.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.