The Language of Flowers

The brilliant colors, delicate natures, and scents of flowers have mesmerized humankind since ancient times. Whether consciously or not, flowers evoke feelings and meaning.

What is it that prompts me to purchase a batch of fresh tulips in February for my kitchen table? Possibly I am yearning for a little color after a long, dark winter, or a little taste of spring to come. Maybe I am looking for a little renewal in my life. It is quite possible that I am reading a little too much into this tulips purchase, but there is an element of truth in all of those answers.

Why do we send roses to loved ones, or forget-me-nots to someone far away? There is just something primal about flowers as a way to communicate what’s in our hearts.

Lensmaster pastiche knows quite a bit about the symbolism of flowers, what she calls “floriography.” On her lens, The Secret Language of Flowers, she explores the meaning of flowers symbolizing love and desire, flowers for celebration and remembrance, and even flowers that represent ill will and anger. In terms of love alone, there are flowers that indicate love at first sight, fidelity, chaste love, or hopeless love. Now I understand that when my husband brings home sunflowers from the farmer’s market, it means he adores me! I wonder if he knows that?

Some flowers have dual and contradictory meanings. For example, Pastiche writes, “Poppies can symbolize both good and evil. The Wizard of Oz film used poppies in a drug-related negative manner, however poppies are also a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in armed conflict.” Besides learning the meaning of flowers on this lens, you will be treated to flower quotes, beautiful images of flowers, and resources to learn more about the symbolism of flowers.

So, the next time you send a bouquet of flowers, think about what you are saying!

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Image Credit: White Lilies by SusanSavad

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Visit: The Language of Flowers

The Truth About A Cochlear Implant

The cochlear implant has been controversial since the beginning. Many deaf people are actively against the cochlear implant because some feel it threatens the deaf culture and the use of sign language. I imagine fear is a contributing factor for parts of the controversy, but as a hearing person I know I will never fully know or understand each side of the issue.

I do know that fear of the unknown can be debilitating, and it can consume energy better spent elsewhere. I guess that's why I cherish people who tell their personal stories. Reading those stories helps reduce the fear because it shines a light into the darkness of the unknown and it makes stepping into the unknown a little bit easier.

Lensmaster Spook shines a light on the cochlear implant as he tells his story in The Cochlear Implant A Medical Miracle. He tells about his own personal experience with the cochlear implant. He is honest about the device's ability. He tells about how it's different than one my expect or hope, but for him it was the right decision.

Lensmaster Spook tells about one particular incident that sent shivers up my spine. It was about hearing his son call out to him once his back was turned enabling him to face his son to see what he wanted instead of not hearing him and going about his business. That was a major turning point in his relationship with his son because, as Spook said, "From that moment we were mates. Consequently, I'm forever grateful for the Implant. There he was always seeing his dad walk past him." The implant enabled Spook to be a better father because he could be more attentive to his son's needs, and his son didn't have to feel like his dad was just walking past him anymore.

Lensmaster Spook doesn't hold the only opinion of the cochlear implant. It is the best choice for him and his family. It is something that improves his quality of life. Everyone has to make their own decisions in life, but for anyone considering the cochlear implant or anyone who knows someone who is, I'd recommend The Cochlear Implant A Medical Miracle.

Visit: The Cochlear Implant A Medical Miracle

Image Credit: Cochlear Implant Awareness Keychain by tessajo76

Abyssinian Cats A Most Popular Breed

I've often wondered what life would be like if I were owned by an Abyssinian Cat. They are quite a popular breed of cat that comes with a pedigree. My husband and I have been adopted by a tortoiseshell cat named Patches and a tabby cat named Chessie. They are not cats with a pedigree of any sort but we love them just the same. They have captured our hearts and we let them order us around with their specific needs and we often laugh that they have us trained well.

From afar I have always thought that the Abyssinian breed of cat was uniquely different with its coat of fur that looks like rabbit fur to me. Such a regal and unusual cat. I recently found an article written by Katherine Tyrrell who writes under the name of makingamark that gives some great resources and information about Abyssinian Cats. Katherine also introduces us to Polly with an original colored pencil sketch that is really remarkable.

The Abyssinian has become one of the most popular breeds of short hair cats in the United States. These cats have a silky fur and the name Abyssinian refers to Ethiopia. Most people, however; feel that these cats originated in Egypt and they do look very similar the the Egyptian drawings of cats. No one is certain where these lovely cats really originated though.

If I were ever chosen by a pedigreed cat to be the human of note in their life, I think I would love to be adopted by an Abyssinian. They are an intelligent cat, playful, and extroverts in their nature. This breed of cat is not known for being lap cats but are extremely playful and full of energy. It might take some getting used to not having a cat on my lap in the evenings but watching their curious adventures would be fun. Go on over and visit the article by makingamark and find out a little more about this popular breed of cat.

Visit Abyssinian Cats

Image Credit: Abyssinian Cat Greeting Cards by Dogartist

40 Shades of Green -- A Forest Diary

At this time of year where I live, and perhaps where you live too, you can see the seasons shifting before your very eyes. Trees are bursting into leaf and blossom, green shoots are appearing through the ground, and the countryside is full of new life.

It's a wonderful thing to be able to escape into natural surroundings and simply observe the changing scene. Even better, it's something we can all do, young or old. However, I'm not sure there is anyone quite as in tune with the shifts, both subtle and grand, of a year-round landscape as the artist. There is a perception that can only come from stillness, from being willing to become part of your surroundings and to forget yourself as you focus intently on what you see before you.

A rewarding experience indeed, and one that Martin, an artist known to many of us as EditionH, has shared in his beautiful forest diary. This talented man has spent over a year now exploring different spots of a nearby forest. On each excursion he has paused for a while with his A3 notebook and his art materials, and has recorded in pen and ink, pencil and paint the sights and colours before him.

Forest diary -- keeping a nature sketchbook is an opportunity not only to peek into this unique artwork and to see through the eyes of an artist. It is also an invitation to linger beside him as he recreates for us the places he visited, and the sounds and smells of the woodland around him. For this is not simply a visual journey, beautiful though his sketches and colour studies are. It is in equal part a diary of his experience as an artist, learning both about his medium and about the forest in all its detail.

EditionH is not a native speaker of English, but his writing is more than just competent, it is poetical. Here is someone who has eyes and ears wide open to the beauty of the world about him, and who has taken the time to see a year through its cycles. Here is someone who had the vision to see the forest in May as "40 shades of green" and now shares all the colours of his world with us.

Note: The artwork featured here is taken from Martin's forest diary.

Visit: Forest diary - keeping a nature sketchbook

Image Credit: art card Forest diary by editionha

A Hero for the Planet

My very first Squidoo lens was about my top 10 heroes, a subject that meant quite a lot to me. One of those heroes was a not so well known woman named Donella Meadows, who died prematurely in 2001, at the age of 60.

Ms. Meadows was a scientist with a degree in chemistry and Ph.D in biophysics, from Harvard no less. She became an expert in system dynamics and taught at Dartmouth College for 29 years, as well as writing books and advising corporations.

But more importantly than this spectacular resume, she loved our earth, and wrote a weekly column called “Global Citizen,” commenting on the state of the world from a systems point of view. You might think that her writings would be a little dry, but that is certainly not the case. She wrote poetically and with great wisdom and personal passion. One of her articles is my favorite of all time. It begins, “The world was formed whole and continuous, without lines” and ends, “Even between you and me, even there, the lines are of our own making.”

Meadows is best known as one of the lead authors of the book, “The Limits to Growth,” and founder of The Sustainability Institute. But, you may not know that she is also the author of the essay, “If the World Were a Village of 1000 People.” Like most writings that strike a chord, this essay is simply written, and has since spread across the Internet in the form of a video and even turned into a children’s book.

To read the essay, you will have to visit the lens created by Lensmaster lisadh. She says, “The concept (for this essay) is simple: we live on one small planet, and share scarce resources that are not always equitably distributed.”

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Image Credit: Pastel Earth Magnet by teeboutique

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Visit: If the World Were a Village of 1000 People

Happy Birthday To Bev!

BevsPaper is a stellar lensmaster, a stellar online friend, a loving grandma, and one hard-working lady.

Happy birthday, Miss Bev!

To celebrate you today, I have listed your whole lensography here—as well as your wonderful blogs, Gifts For Grandkids and Native American Totems. I hope it helps more folks to find your wonderful, thoughtful, and beautiful work.

Love.

• Best of Dean Martin on Twitter


• 60th Birthday Gift Ideas


• A Peter Rabbit Nursery


• A Squid is Born


• A Vintage Halloween


• A Wrinkle In Time


• American Girl Bitty Baby


• Animal Totem - The Fox


• Apatite and Diamond Jewelry


• Assassin's Apprentice


• Back To School: Life Lessons


• Bambi Watson


• Beatrix Potter Stuffed Animals


• Bernese Mountain Dog Gifts


• Bessie Pease Gutmann


• Bev's Baby Squids at Team One


• Birthday Gift Ideas for the 40 Year Old


• Birthday Gifts for the Big 5-0


• Bissell Healthy Home Vacuum


• Book Lenses for December 2009 Giant Challenge


• Book Reviews and Authors Lensography


• Calico Critters Deluxe Village House


• Camping in Hamilton County Indiana


• Carmel Old Town Antique Mall


• Carmel, Indiana


• Cheetah Posters


• Chocolate - 2000 years of history


• Cincinnati Ohio


• Clothtique Santas


• Collecting Santa Fe Railroad Memorabilia


• Compulsive Hoarding Disorder


• Cornstalk Shawnee Chief


• Cross Stitch Birth Samplers


• Daylilies For Your Garden


• Decorating a 1950's Style Living Room


• Department 56 Yankee Stadium


• Dirty Dancing


• Elk - Animal Totem


• Elvis Presley Sings Gospel


• Empress Godspeaker Trilogy Book Review


• Ephemera and Paper Collectibles Headquarters


• Fabulous Fifties Automobiles


• Fall Festivals In Indiana


• Family Bibles


• Female Sleuths in Mystery Novels


• Five Funny Men I Would Invite To Dinner


• Flowers and Plants: A Lensography


• Funny Man - Louie Anderson


• Glenn Ford American Film Star


• Gooey Bars Recipes


• Grandma Instruction Book


• Grandmother Moon


• Gregory Peck Film Star


• Grieving Souls of Suicide Headquarters


• Halloween Candy Molds


• Halloween Trick or Treat Bags


• Halloween Troll Costumes


• He Chose Suicide


• History of Sewing Patterns


• Hollywood Celebrities in Vintage Advertising


• Horseradish - The health benefits


• How To Make a Purse from Old Books


• I Believe In Santa Claus


• Illustration Art Collecting


• Illustration Artist: J C Leyendecker


• Introducing Grandma Bev


• Invite Lucky Bamboo into your home


• Jacobs Ladder Quilt Block


• Jamey Johnson Country Singer Songwriter


• Jamie Sams - Author and Teacher


• Johnny Carinos Italian Kitchen


• July Birthday Gifts


• June Birthday Gifts


• Keurig Single Serve Gourmet Coffee System


• Kindle: The Next Generation


• King Leonardo and his Short Subjects Cartoon


• Kitty Norville - Werewolf Series


• Kyjen Christmas Paw Stocking


• Land of the Indians - Indiana


• Larkspur - Flower of July


• Le Vian Jewelry With Chocolate Diamonds


• Lensography of BevsPaper


• Let's Talk Turkey For Your Table


• Lily of the Valley - flower of May


• Madame Squidtema At The Giant Squid Fair


• Magazine Cover Art by John Falter


• Mamma Cat and her Kittens


• Mr Potato Head Toys


• Mrs. Claus


• National Blueberry Month


• Native American Beadwork


• Native Americans: The People, The Culture, The Spirituality


• Novelty Cufflinks For Women


• Nursery Bedding For Little Boys


• Old Railroad Dining Cars


• Old Sheet Music Collecting Tips


• Otter - Animal Totem


• Panther In The Sky


• Parker Novels - Mystery and Thrillers in one


• Patsy Cline Sings Blue


• Peony - State Flower of Indiana


• People Who Influenced the Senior Squids


• Personal Goal To Make More Money On Squidoo


• Pet Athletic Club


• Pink Luggage For Your Travels


• Pink Polka Dot Bags and Accessories


• Popular Authors in 1909


• Popular Authors of 1908


• Puss 'n Cahoots - A Book Review


• Quaker State Vintage Advertising


• Quiz: Do you know your facts about Elvis Presley?


• Quiz: How well do you know Bev (aka BevsPaper)?


• Rachael Ray Green Kitchen Tools


• Recipe For Happiness


• Recycle those Old Jeans


• Recycle Your Old Shoes


• Red Cloud - Sioux Chief


• Reflections from Baby Boomers


• Rock n Roll Racing Music


• Rocket Moms Grandma Club


• RocketMoms Lensography


• Santa Claus in Advertising


• Santa Cookie Plates


• Scarlet Widow


• Senior Squids Interesting Historical Facts


• Senior Squids On Hot Topics


• Seven Deadly Wonders - Book Review


• Sheet Music from the 1920s


• Sheltie Gift Items


• Soldiers Angels


• Strawberry Shortcake Collectibles


• Tablecloths for Halloween


• Thanksgiving Table Accessories


• The Achiever Personality


• The Helper Personality


• The Many Hats of BevsPaper


• The Northern Right Whale


• The Perfectionist Personality


• The Polar Express


• The Rose - Flower for June


• Tinkerbell Bathroom Accessories


• Tinkerbell Bedroom Decor


• Top 10 Jessie Wilcox Smith Illustrations


• Unique Door Knockers For Your Home


• Vintage Beer Advertisement Captions


• Vintage Magazine Ads - The Nostalgic Factor


• Vintage Magazine Advertising: A Lensography


• Vintage Style Valentines


• Visiting 100 Lenses for My 100th Lens


• Wander Through Hamilton County Indiana


• Water Tables For Kids


• What Is The Best K-Cup Coffee Flavor?


• What is your birth totem?

Image credit: Monogram postage by PMCustomWeddings

A Birthday on Earth Day

One of our beloved writers and Squidoo lensmasters here at Squidoo Lens Reviews has a birthday today! I thought that a birthday celebration would be perfect for the occasion. Don’t you agree?

This person is one of the hardest working lensmasters and people in general that I have ever met. Even during times of extremely stressful Squidoo competitions, she remains friendly and calm.

Never one to back down from a challenge, she worked tirelessly to get to Giant and then to Giant 100 all while helping others on their way to Giant also.

She is a very involved RocketMom Big Sister, retired Squid Greeter, a member of the Senior Squids, one of the ten extraordinary lensmasters making up the group of Tenfinity and a very helpful group leader on Professional Squids. Her tentacles are in everything.

I have learned quite a bit from her about my Birth Totem and Indian beliefs from her blogs and lenses.

There is much more to this wonderful lensmaster! You really should check out her list of over 150 lenses. I promise you that you will learn something.

So, who am I talking about? Lensmaster, Bevspaper, of course. Bev is a well loved and highly respected member of the Squidoo community. She is a team player and good friend to many.

She even has lenses about your personality. I found a little of me in two of the lenses and then BAM! Lightning struck and there I was in The Achiever Personality.

Happy Birthday on Earth Day, Bev! I hope it is a wonderful and wonder filled day for you!

Image Credit: Happy Birthday by Kixodesigns

Child Abuse

Child abuse and neglect is a growing problem in the United States and throughout the world. Children are dying at the hands of their parents, the very people who are supposed to protect them. There are people who abuse their children so often that the abuse becomes a normal part of life for the child, and when that happens it's harder for the child to seek help if they are even old enough to do so.

There are people who turn a blind eye to child abuse out of convenience and possibly even fear. There are neighbors that could get help for children that just don't want to get involved. There are family members that don't want to break up the family. There are teachers that don't have the support they need to seek help. There are so many reasons that people turn their backs on those that can not stand up for themselves, but there are no valid reasons to do so. It angers me more than I care to say when I hear someone dare to utter the words, "I just don't want to get involved". How can anyone's comfort be put above the safety of a child?

As a survivor of an abusive step dad, the subject of child abuse hits close to home. My mom's second husband was a monster, but the abuse happened so often that it was just a "normal" part of life. My mom was married to this monster for 8 years of my childhood. The first time I witnessed his wrath was when I was 4, maybe 5 years old. I don't know what my younger sister did, but as punishment she was made to run around a coffee table and each time she went by my step dad on the couch he'd hit her with a fly swatter. I don't know how long it went on, I was helpless, and I had to watch, and that was the beginning of the abuse he inflicted on our family. This was before my mom married him and I often wondered why she'd married him. I had just assumed she'd seen the bruises.

Recently I found out my Mama didn't know. I didn't tell because that monster told me he'd kill my sister if I did, and after witnessing that I believed him. I recently found out that he kept my sister quiet by telling her he'd kill our Mama. He used love to control and abuse us, and we had no way out. If only a neighbor had heard, or seen the bruises... They divorced when I was around 12 years old, maybe 13.

Often the hardest subjects to write about are the most important ones, but it takes a special person to be able to do it. It takes a person with compassion, strength, and above all else love. It means being able to put extreme feelings into words so that they accurately convey the message you are trying to send. It means allowing yourself to feel so that whomever reads what you have written may feel the emotions that prompted you to write. Skiesgreen has done just that with her lens Child Abuse. "Child Abuse" puts the act of child abuse in your face, so to speak. There are pictures, there are videos, there are sad stories of children who didn't get the help they needed. The silent victims of abuse are all to often children, and skiesgreen decided to speak for those tiny, innocent, silent victims. The comment I left on her lens when I first read her lens says it all. "There's not much I can type at this moment through tears. This is a horrible topic, but you have presented it very well. This lens made me go hug my two year old." This is a lens that will make you go hug your children. It is horrifying. It is disturbing. It is a reality for many children. I just hope it gives people the strength to speak up, the strength to save a life.

Visit:Child Abuse

Image Credit: Child Abuse Handprint by fightcancertees

No Calories In These Cupcakes

Looking for a no calorie cupcake? Not low calorie but a scrumptious little bit of heaven that won't put extra ounces around your waistline.  Swimsuit weather is approaching so finding a delectable little treat that doesn't add inches to our waistline might be in order.

Unless you are a hermit living in a cave, you are probably aware that cupcakes have become quite the popular dessert treat here in the United States.  Let's not kid ourselves, we aren't even waiting to have them for dessert.  Some of us have been known to stop by the local cupcake bakery on our way to work and have them for breakfast! Let's face it who can resist a Maple Syrup cupcake with bacon for breakfast? It is almost the same as eating a pancake with bacon on the side, it's just more portable and no dishes to wash when you are done.

Well, I promised to tell you about some no calorie cupcakes so I better keep my word.  As I was scouting around for an article to review this week, I found a really fun one by Treasures-by-Brenda. Her article takes cupcakes to a new level. Crazy About Cupcakes? Tie on a Cupcake Apron showcases cupcake aprons for those of us who like to make our own cupcakes at home. These adorable aprons are fun and perfect for the kitchen and there are absolutely no calories in the cupcakes featured. I have it on good authority that no cupcakes were harmed in the making of the article or the aprons featured.

Brenda is one of my favorite authors on Squidoo and I'm always amazed with her apron articles.  She is so creative with her niche and comes up with some of the most clever ways to tie an apron into a variety of topics.  If you haven't read her work, you are in for a real treat.  So go on, grab a cupcake and scoot on over to Brenda's kitchen and tell her Bev sent you.

Visit Crazy About Cupcakes?

Image Credit: Cupcakes and Muffins by PeachberryBlue

The Fascination of Clouds

Friday was a perfect day here in Scotland. For once we had a cloudless blue sky, warm sunshine, and the merest hint of a breeze. With UK airspace closed as a result of volcanic ash at high altitudes, the gliders and paragliders had the skies all to themselves. Given half a chance, I would have joined them.

A sky without clouds is certainly a welcome sight after dull days, rain, even a last late blizzard not so long ago. But clouds too are a thing of beauty, when we take the time to stop and look at them. Fascinating and Beautiful Clouds! is a celebration of these natural wonders in all their many forms. With stunning illustrations and engaging scientific explanations, Lucy (LKW31) takes us on a tour of the ethereal, ever-changing cloudscape above our heads.

This young Englishwoman describes herself as always having her head in the clouds, and says 'I am forever bumping into things and tripping over because I am too busy looking up!' Her fascination with clouds is our good fortune, as her passion for them is contagious! Don't expect 'boring' science, this article is packed with interesting, bite-size facts and some amazing phenomena such as the Morning Glory Cloud and the UFO Cloud.

This introduction to cloud types is effortlessly blended with classic poetry and quotes, and a couple of cool videos. After a visit to Fascinating and Beautiful Clouds! I found myself looking upwards with new appreciation. What can I say, Lucy -- mission accomplished!

Visit: Fascinating and Beautiful Clouds!

Image Credit: CLOUD SHOP postcard by matasaburo

The Powerful Pomegranate

I seem to be having fruit cravings lately. Last week I talked about strawberries. This week I am exploring pomegranates. I must admit that I rarely eat pomegranates. But I may change my tune after reading Leanne Chesser’s lens, “Interesting Facts About the Powerful Pomegranate.”

First of all, the pomegranate is a fruit (actually a berry) that grows on a deciduous shrub, which also has very beautiful flowers. It looks like a cross between a tomato and an apple and is often called the “apple of many seeds.” The shrub originated in Iran, spread to Egypt and China, and is now grown all over the world.

What is so powerful about a pomegranate? Well, besides being one of the oldest fruits, it is considered a “superfruit” because of its nutritional value. It contains powerful antioxidants, which help to fight against cancer. The pomegranate is synonymous with health and wellness and there is even a company based entirely on the pomegranate called POM Wonderful. Its products include POM juices, teas, coffees, bars, pills, as well as the fruit itself. Pomegranates have been used since ancient times to help with many ailments including eye infections, digestive problems, and morning sickness. Pomegranates seem to be as versatile for cooking as they are for healing. A search for pomegranate recipes turned up pomegranate chutney, pomegranate pound cake, and even pomegranate lentil soup!

This lens was awarded a purple star because it is not only extremely well written and informative, but it is beautiful too, with many photos of the lovely pomegranate. Leanne has two other lenses on pomegranates if you would like to learn more – Pomegranate Nutrition and Pomegranate Symbolism.

Do you like to eat pomegranates?

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Image Credit: 3 Pomegranate fruits by mystic_persia

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Visit: Interesting Facts About the Powerful Pomegranate

Farewell to a Friend

Yesterday, I learned of the loss of one of our friends and Squidoo lensmaster family members. My very good friend, Heather Burns, sent me an email informing me of our friends passing.

I met Sherry Holder Hunt on Twitter. I received the message that she was following me on May 23, 2009. Knowing she was part of the family of Squids we became friends.

I remember sending her an invitation to join RocketMoms, a Squidoo club, for session three. She replied that she was very interested and had already received a couple of invitations from others. It is not hard to see why she would be invited more than once.

Sherry always showed a smile to the world and did what she could to help her friends and anyone else who asked or needed it.

We did not have to talk very often and the last private or direct message I received from her on Twitter was on January 21 when she informed me she had added me to her top friends list. She certainly knew how to make you feel good.

Currently, Sherry's top lens is all about her. If you never got the chance to "meet" her, here is where you will find her personality. The lens is entitled Sherry Holder Hunt, artist. Her art can be found in all corners of the internet. All you have to do is put her name in Google and you will see the wide range of beautiful artistry she has created.

I would like to paraphrase something a very close friend of mine once asked. Can real friendships be found in 140 characters or less? Yes, I believe they can. I have found many close friends that way.

I would like to send my condolences to Sherry’s family and friends. She will be missed by many who basked in her friendship and wit.

Iris by SherryHolderHunt

An Inspiration Celebrates His 84th Birthday

There are normally only a handful of people in our lives that have a profound effect on who we are as people. There are many that teach us something or help us grow in an area of our life, but there are few people who shape who we are. Sometimes these people are teachers, sometimes they are family friends, a spouse, and if we're lucky they are our parents.

I've had the pleasure of having my grandparents be two of those people. My granny and papa would give you the shirt off of their back if you needed it. They helped so many people in their lives. I think of all the people they helped, the ones they helped the most were perhaps the ones they didn't even realize they helped. My grandparents had no idea how much they helped shape my character. They taught me compassion, they taught me how to love, they helped me understand that there was nothing wrong with a little hard work.

Both my grandparents are gone now and I wish I could tell them just how much they helped me. I'm sure they know, but I'd like to be sure. Lensmaster callinsky has made sure that special person in her life knows how much they have helped shape who she is. Her special person is her father, Pops as she calls him, she lets him know that he is her Inspiration.

When I read My Inspiration a few days ago I couldn't tear my eyes from the page. Each story she shares is a beautiful story about a lesson her father taught her. Each story she told reminded me more and more of my grandpa. I felt such a deep connection to her and to her father immediately, you just can't help but connect when her writing style is so captivating. Her writing style is one of those storyteller styles that makes you feel like you're talking to her face to face.

This lens (article) is so very special on it's own, but add the fact that she wrote it to wish her father a Happy Birthday makes it that much more special. So head on over there already and wish Mr. Callinsky a happy 84th birthday.

Visit: My Inspiration

Image CreditSpring Sunset Happy Birthday by dreamerdoll

Cat Speak

If you are privileged enough to be owned by a cat, you know that your cat speaks to you in many different ways. Sometimes it is with body language, sometimes with a purr, and with a variety of different meows that you, as the human pet, have learned to translate. There is the "I'm hungry" meow which with many cats is one of the first phrases we humans begin to understand in cat speak. Usually the second meow phrase we understand is "Excuse me! I am not a happy cat!" meow. The cat who has determined that we are worthy enough to be a part of their life finds ways to communicate with us using various methods to convey their thoughts and wishes.

At times the cat in our lives does not speak with a meow but uses the tail to communicate. If we return home or enter a room and our cat greets us with the tail straight up in the air with no bends, we know our cat is telling us "Hello" in a happy and enthusiastic way. If the tail is straight with the tip bent, we are getting a hello but with some reservations. If we, the human pet, pay attention our cat owner tells us quite a lot with it's tail. We will know if they are happy, curious, fearful, or down right upset by the way they speak with their tail.

There are a few humans who have become so in tune with the cat or cats that own them that they communicate in cat speak at a much higher level. Take Grannysage for instance, she is so loved by her cats and so adept at cat speak that her cats Lady Ghost Whispurr and Wileykat convinced her to write their stories and to explain about cat rescue, cat behavior, feral cats, and so much more. You will find her stories humorous, informative, and filled with love. In my opinion, Lady Ghost and Wileykat picked the purrfect woman to share their lives with.

Patches and Chessie, the two cats who adopted my husband and I, use cat speak to let us know when they are hungry, when they are unhappy, to tattle on each other, and to shower us with love that only a cat can give. I asked Patches, the tortoiseshell, why she hasn't hired me to write her story. Her response with a little catitude in her eyes, "I'm just not ready to put my paw print on it yet." Chessie, the playful one, spoke up and said, "You can write my story, Mom!" Patches snorted and walked away with the tip of her tail twitching and purred under breath, "Come here, kid. I need to have a little chat with you!"

Perhaps one day, Patches will let me tell her tail or is that tale? In the meantime, I think you will thoroughly enjoy reading about Lady Ghost Whispurr.

Visit Lady Ghost Whispurr Speaks

Image Credit: Bee and Kitty by hallmarkeveryday

The Story of a Muscovy Duck

Life is full of surprises, isn't it? No matter how firm we are in our plans and beliefs, it has a way of turning around sometimes and challenging us. I guess it's all part of learning and growing as human beings, and it's what keeps life so interesting.

Today I have the great pleasure of introducing you to a story about a surprise that took the form of a small but endearing duck, and how she forced the writer's husband to find a place in his heart for the birds he once viewed only as pests. In fact, I didn't know that Muscovy ducks were so common in Florida that they turn up just about everywhere, and rarely with an invite.

The enchanting true-life story of how one such duck, 'Archimedes', waddled her way into the life of author 4U2C and her orchid-grower husband is told in Archimedes our Pet Muscovy Duck. And what a read it is!

After viewing her husband repeatedly shooing away the local Muscovy ducks in the early days of their relationship, the writer knew he had no love for them other than in the roasting pan. So the last thing she expected was for the ducklings that he had secured in their garage to be a pair of orphans in need of protection, and for him to be their rescuer.

As you read this humorous tale, you'll find yourself captivated by the two heroines: author and duck. Both of them are full of personality! However, it was the husband in this story who ended up with the biggest surprise. As 4U2C puts it, 'God surely laughed...' But I don't want to spoil it for you by telling too much here, so why not head over there and say hello to Archimedes for yourself?

Visit: Archimedes our Pet Muscovy Duck

Image Credit: Female Muscovy Duck by birdersue

Vintage Strawberries

My sister-in-law recently asked me for food pictures for her newly remodeled kitchen. One of the pictures she selected had sliced meat and cheese with a pickle in the background. Her daughter, however, balked at this because she doesn’t like pickles. She said that it would be hard for her to walk in the kitchen and see this pickle staring at her every day. I must admit that she has a point. If you want food pictures for your home, they have to have a positive, emotional significance for you.

Take strawberries, for example. Lensmaster prosperity66 has a thing for strawberries. She grows them, she eats them, and she loves to look at them. In her lens, Vintage Strawberry Pictures, she makes the case that vintage strawberry pictures are a great choice for your home.

Why vintage? For one thing, vintage prints look like paintings and they evoke feelings of the good old days. Not only does she provide examples of the very best vintage strawberry pictures, prosperity66 also suggests the type of room and background color that would work best with each print. For example, a picture of a strawberry milkshake would go well in a kitchen designed in the style of a 50’s snack shop or malt bar. A poster in gold and red, advertising a strawberry festival, would work well in a Tuscan-designed room. Rustic-style prints would add a nice touch to a porch or a summer cottage. Besides poster prints, you will also find a wonderful collection of vintage strawberry print ads which could be framed.

And if you would like to learn how to grow your own strawberries, prosperity66 has several lenses that will show you how.

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Image Credit: Vintage Strawberries by YesterdayCafe

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Visit: Vintage Strawberry Pictures

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Do you believe in ghosts? I have always tried not to. I would rather not know for sure and certainly not at close range. However, one too many encounters has made me open my eyes to the evidence set before me.

You would probably imagine that I am one of those people who are easily frightened of the unknown. You would be correct in that assumption. Yes, some might even say I am the perfect scary movie date.

You know the folks that say they love scary movies and then sit through the entire movie peeking timidly through their fingers? That’s me, fearless mommy by day and scared chicken by night.

Lensmaster andreaberrios has created a haunted niche for herself on Squidoo. Each time I land on one of these lenses the spine tingling feeling begins and the goose bumps pop up on my arms. The tales are chilling and many are backed by video evidence.

The America's Most Haunted Hotels lens really attracted my attention. In a former life, I was an internet and network technician for most of the major hotels and chains across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Some of the hotels she has listed on this lens were under my care, such as the Hotel Del Coronado, or as it is also known, Hotel Del or just The Del.

When you work with hotel managers and staff on a daily basis, you hear many stories. Many of us just listen and think of them as scary tales to drive traffic to the location. I think many times we did this because we didn’t want to believe there was something that was not under human control in some way.

I remember watching The Shining for the first time. The Stanley Hotel was the setting for this terrifying story. The word “redrum” is forever etched in my mind. Even now, I can see the children in the hallways and hear the piano playing in the dining area.

If you were planning a trip, would you chose a haunted hotel as one of your destinations? Or are you a chicken like me?

Visit: America's Most Haunted Hotels

Hotel California by Buttion Buttons

Salt Dough Maps

It's spring break and the weather is warm, the sunny days are beautiful, the Dogwoods are blooming, the grass is growing, and... the kids are home. Now I love having my kids home, especially the oldest since he's normally at school and we don't get as much time together, but spring break can be a very hectic time if you're unprepared. The calming and fun spring break of your dreams can tun into a nightmare if you don't have at least a few fun things planned for your kids.

Salt Dough Maps is an excellent spring break project to do with kids. It's educational, but it's still lots of fun. What child wouldn't want to create and paint a map using salt dough? Jimmie has taken all the guess work out of making a salt dough map. There is a great recipe for salt dough, and she has included step by step instructions including pictures on how to create the map.

All that is left for me to do is decide on what type of map we will make, and then I'll have a great project for us to do this week. Knowing my children they'll have to make people, trees and animals to go on their map.  Have you used salt dough for a craft project?

Visit: Salt Dough Maps

Image Credit:Child Craft Apron by lynnhsmomof2

Return Of Our Bird Friends

Listening to the little concert outside my office window this morning, I couldn't help but smile over the return of our bird friends. Spring is my most favorite time of the year and it has a lot to do with the lovely birds who come back from their little vacation away from the cold temperatures to visit our yard. Color is added to our landscape each morning with the blooming of the flowers, trees, and shrubs. The birds add the final touches with their colorful feathers and cheerful songs.

Bird watching is enjoyed by many people around the country and I would think that Spring is a favorite time of the year for them, too. As the birds begin to migrate back to their favorite nesting and brooding areas, the bird watchers observe the different species as they paint their own color to the landscape. Recently, I came across a wonderful article about the Birds of Ohio by lakeerieartists featuring some artwork from her Gallery near Lake Erie.

Birding opportunities are plentiful in Ohio with nature preserves, forests, wildlife areas, and the shoreline of Lake Erie providing many species to delight your senses.

Living in the neighboring State of Indiana, I found this article most enjoyable with information on bird watching along with the artwork of Joe Gombarcik showing some of the species that nest and brood in Ohio. Many of the same birds migrate here in our area, as well.

When you visit this article you will find that Warblers, Goldfinches, and Blue Herons are among some of the birds that can be found in Ohio which boasts having some of the best birding sites in the nation. Find out what other species are common and enjoy some great artwork as lakeerieartists takes you on a visual tour.

Visit Birds of Ohio

Image Credit: Birds of Ohio Poster by lakeerieartists

The Beauty of Wild Faces

One of the things I most enjoy about the Internet is the explosion of creative talent, above all in the visual arts. While not everything out there will be to our own taste and the democratic aspect of self-publishing on the web means we have to take the bad with the good, the fact is there is a whole lot of 'good' out there.

Lately I've seen breathtaking photography, unique and beautiful artwork, even some fascinating visual presentations of statistical data.

Not all of these people are professionals, either, although many of them are. The door is wide open for talented amateurs to share their work beyond family and friends. And those who have worked hard to painstakingly build a hobby into a business are reaching a global audience. We can sit at our desks in our homes or offices and view images of original works on display in galleries all around the world.

Mona Majorowicz of Wild Faces Gallery is just one of many such artists now sharing their work online. For those that haven't yet discovered this wonderful artist, 'Wild Faces' is a big clue as to her subjects, which range from the giraffes and elephants of Africa to the horses about which she is so passionate (despite not having one of her own, or in her words 'being unhorsed', for the first 30 years of her life).

Fortunately for us, Mona is as gifted a writer as she is an artist, and the pages showcasing her work, not to mention the gallery cat Budda, are a joy to read. The dilemma this gives me is of course which one to present to you here. I've gone with The African Wildlife Artwork Of Wild Faces Gallery, which is one of her newest pages and includes paintings of several different African animals, including a work in progress. These painitings have been created either in watercolor pencil or in oil pastel, along with a graphite portrait of an African elephant. Each one captures something of the individual animal's character, from mischievous to wise to wistful. As for the lion, Mona has had so many different reactions that she has decided that this one in particular reflects back the viewer's own emotions. If you visit, it would be fascinating to know what impression he makes on you!

Visit: The African Wildlife Artwork Of Wild Faces Gallery

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Image Credit: Two Lions by postcardsfromtheedge

Life Lessons

“All you really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.”

Who said this? If your answer is Lucy from the Peanuts comic strip, you are absolutely right. That line really resonates with me. Often, the greatest wisdom comes out of the mouths of children and maybe this is why the Peanuts cartoons, created by Charles Schulz, have been so successful.

The Peanuts comic strip ran from 1950 until 2000, with the last original strip published the day after Schultz’s death. It is widely considered to be one of the most influential comic strips ever published and had readership in 75 countries. This comic strip was very popular in Canada, where I grew up, because Schultz, a native of Minnesota, often incorporated hockey and figure skating into his strips. As a matter of fact, he was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2007.

What was the secret of its success? I believe that we can all identify with some of the Peanuts characters at one time or another. How about Charlie Brown, who often feels like a failure; Lucy, the bossy one who always thinks she’s right; Linus, who has to have his security blanket wherever he goes; Schroeder, obsessed with his own interests and oblivious to what else is going on; Pig-Pen, who’s always a mess, and, of course, Snoopy, the lovable dog who takes everything in stride. I must say I have a little of Schroeder in me.

Cynthia (arncyn) provides clues to the success of this comic strip in her inspirational lens, Life Lessons from Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang. With wonderful pictures, writing, and videos, she expands on the following life lessons found within the humor of Peanuts comics:

• Keep on trying.
• Let your imagination run wild.
• Don’t sell yourself short.
• Believe in yourself.
• Don’t force yourself to let go if you can’t.
• Happiness can be found in the little things.

Who is your favorite Peanuts character?

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Visit: Life Lessons from Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang

Image Credit: snoopy by NILANG

April Fool's Day ~ Did You Get Pranked?

April Fool's Day is the recognized day of practical jokes. Most people are caught by at least one harmless joke. Some people do manage to go to extremes and upset their friends and loved ones.

Some of the recent big perpetrators of such jokes have been the always trust worthy Google, Microsoft and Youtube. Even Neopets has tarnished their reputation on this well-known day for pranksters.

Google has come up with some real winners in the past such as Google TiSP free in-home wireless broadband service and Virgle where Google announced a joint project with the Virgin Group to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars.

Google’s apparent love of April Fool's Day caused many people to believe the new Gmail with 1 gigabyte of storage for emails to be a hoax when it was announced on April 1, 2004.

In 2009, President Barack Obama was said to have ordered Chevrolet and Dodge to pull funding for NASCAR. This was reported on the Car and Driver website.

My good friend and Squidoo lensmaster Joan4 has a prankster hubby. Whitey is legally blind and yet still finds a way to play a prank on Joan every year even after more than 50 years of marriage. Joan tells us all about it in her lens April Fool’s Day Pranks.

Joan’s birthday is April Fool's Day. How would you like to wake up on your birthday and know you have to have your game face on even before you get your face washed?

Joan even shares her birthday with Mad magazines Alfred E. Neuman.

Did you forget that Big Ben is going digital and that Canada issued a three dollar coin? Burger King will bring back their left-handed Whoppers and I will be ordering a new Spaghetti tree from Italy.

What do you suppose Whitey was able to prank Joan with this morning?

Happy Birthday, Joan! We love you!

Visit: April Fool’s Day Pranks.

Image Credit: The Joker by ZazzleHolidays