~~~~~~~~~~Thoughts from Cathy~~~~~~~~

Look through this window. 

What do you see?

A World full of Magic & Mystery.

It is Important to use your Imagination everyday. It keeps your soul young. 

CLC

~~~~~Thoughts From Cathy ~~~~~

~~~ `September is here, but I am not quite ready to give up the splendor of Spring& the Warmth of Summer` ~~

Thoughts From Cathy ~ Leaf's Life

Thoughts From Cathy

"" Dusting off Cobwebs""

     I have always loved poetry so I guess it was only natural when my girls were born for me to write a lullaby for them. Every night I joyfully sang them to sleep with my special little song, A Land Not So Very Far Away. They were my babies and they didn't care if I sang it out of tune. And who was to say it was out of tune since I made that up too? My husband decided that my singing was at least a little better than their crying, so he wisely held his tongue about by vocal disabilities.

     By the time my babies had grown into rambunctious young girls, they had learned their secret lullaby by heart. This was when they decided they needed pictures to go along with the words, so I brought my lullaby to life with colorful chalk pastels. I had so much fun sharing this gift with my girls. It was our lovely little secret.

     All too soon my lively little girls transformed into charming young ladies and were off on their own adventures. I tucked my sweet little lullaby away along with all of their other childhood memorabilia as I wiped a tear from my eye. “A Land Not So Very Far Away” was now sleeping soundly in my memory box. It slept through many years of family trials and changes, patiently awaiting the arrival of a new baby.

     The time finally came. Our first granddaughter was born. The first night I got to spend with her, I gave her my gift in my not so gifted voice. She smiled and cooed, just like her mama had done when she was a baby. Even though my manuscript was still suck in the memory box, it was being passed down to another generation. It was happy and so was I.

     The time finally came for me to pick one of my picture book stories for the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. Writing Contest. I had the perfect story picked out. It was a story I had written for an online writing group. The prompt was to write a Dr. Suess styled story using no more than 50 words. My story “Where Oh Where Is That Darn Cat” would be a perfect piece for the contest. Then I got devastating news. The contest rules would no allow any stories published on an online site to be entered.

     I begrudgingly put my kitty story away and frantically searched for a replacement. It was then that my granddaughter’s mama came to the rescue. She suggested that I enter, A Land Not So Very Far Away.

     “Really,” I said, “don’t you think it is too old fashioned?”

     “I think it would be perfect. It won’t hurt to try it,” she countered.

     Why not, I thought. It was just sitting in the box collecting cobwebs. But was I ready to share my precious lullaby with the public? I pulled it out of the box and revisited those wonderful memories. Yes, I decided, I had to share it. Who knew how many other precious memories it could make for mothers and their babies.

     I entered it into the contest, with hope that at least I would get some good advice from a professional about whether it was publishable or needed more work.

     Then it happened. I was sitting at my writers group’s table. My beautiful daughters were seated on either side of me. We were enjoying the lively conversation at the table and waiting in anticipation to hear a name from our table announced as a winner.  I was stunned when my precious little lullaby’s name was called out accompanied by mine for 2^nd Honorable Mention for Picture Book. My lullaby had literally come out of the closet, or in its case out of the box. 

     Floating on one of my lullaby’s happy faced clouds, I found my way to the presenter and accepted my award. Both of my wonderful daughters greeted my return to the table with enthusiastic hugs. I also received priceless constructive criticism for my lullaby picture book. Now “A Land Not So Very Far Away” is in the process of become a lot closer to getting into the hands of mothers and babies everywhere.

     Lesson learned. There is no expiration date on your writing. So dig in those drawers, boxes and family chests, dust off those cobwebs from your old manuscripts, and get them out there for everyone to enjoy.

Happy Writing Everyone

Cathy Lea Collar

A Land Not So Very Far Away

Me & My Award

Me & My Beautiful Daughters

Thoughts By Cathy ~ Blossom

Blossom Where You're Planted

By Cathy Collar

This Holiday Season, along with all of the revelry and mayhem that comes with Thanksgiving, Christmas and the beginning of the New Year came a very special gift tucked inside a very sad moment. Right before Christmas one of my husbands’ cousins passed away. She and my husband were not close, her family having moved far away from his, but she was family. When we found out that her funeral would be held in her parent’s hometown just a few miles away from us, we knew we must attend. 

The service was very small and personal. We suspected her family had probably given her a larger memorial service in their hometown. After the beautiful music and eulogy, the preacher came to the part of the funeral that to me is always the most important. The life and family memories shared by her loved ones.

I sat there expecting the same routine; hearing what a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend she had been. Then it happened. This person that I had only met a few times in my life made an impact on my life that I never expected. Her family shared her favorite saying: four little words that I plan to implement to the best of my ability for the rest of my life here on earth.

Blossom Where You’re Planted

            These words were uttered to her children whenever they complained to her that life had not been fair to them. They whined that they were stuck in hopeless situations that they could not possibly climb out of without help and of course none of it was their doing. Mom place her best smile on her face and stated these words and these words only, leaving her sulking child to ponder what on earth she was talking about. Eventually they figured it out.

Blossom Where You’re Planted

 The words kept repeating themselves in my mind throughout the rest of the ceremony. I began to ask myself, “What exactly did she mean? Were you just supposed to grow up and learn to deal with your situation like an adult? Quit the whining and be happy with what you have? Did she not expect them to try to better their situation?”

I must confess that my body went into automatic mode so that I said the right words to the family that I didn’t know about their loss and gave the appropriate hugs and condolences to those I faintly knew. The questions just kept forming in my mind. “What did she mean?”

  Blossom Where You’re Planted

            I thought, maybe this was a saying that had been past down on my husband’s side of the family. I would ask him about it as soon as we were in the privacy of our car and headed home which I did. He had never heard the saying before, but yes it was a nice one. I could tell by his reply that he really wasn’t all that interested in it so I let it go. I would ask his mother if she had heard it before the next time we talked, since this cousin was from her side of the family.

            A few days passed before I finally got to broach the question to my mother-in-law. She thought it was a very interesting saying, but one she had never heard before, so I was back to square one. What did the saying actually mean? I sort of had an idea of what I thought it meant, but wasn’t quite sure, so I did not bring the subject up again until after Christmas.

 I had decided that I would discuss it with my daughters. They both have very strong opinions and are not afraid to let me know when they think I am wrong. I guess they get that from me, maybe. Anyway, a few days after Christmas I shared my new saying with both of them and asked them what they thought it meant. You can imagine my surprise to hear them not only agree with each other, but also with me on the true meaning of the statement.

Blossom Where You’re Planted 

~ Make the best of every situation that you are placed into and learn from that experience. God has given you a brain and a heart. Use them both wisely and remember that he is always beside you whether you need a firm hand to help you up or a firm kick in the rear to get you going again. You can always count on him.~

So now I pass this gift on to you for the New Year. Please remember that where there is Despair; there is Hope. Where there is Sorrow; there is Laughter. And where there is God; there is Everything in Life that you will Ever Need. May your New Year be a Blessed one and be sure every day to  

 ~ Blossom Where You’re Planted~

                            

Thoughts From Cathy ~ Fun Cat

Fun Thought for the Day

When you have written about how fantastic I am instead of writing about the stupid stuff the dog does, I will read it. Until then leave me alone.

Time to have some FUN!

Have you had your smile Today? Check out all of the Fun by clicking the on the FUN POEMS tab.


Isn't this just the cutest critter you've ever seen!

Thoughts From Cathy ~ Fairy Anthology Update

Do You Believe In Fairies?
I have Four Fairy Stories and 
Three Fairy Poems
edited for my Anthology!
Comming Soon!

Thoughts From Cathy~ Freedom to Choose

Quotes By Me

Freedom To Chose

Freedom To Strive

Brings Out the Excellence

Hidden Inside
~CLC~

Thoughts From Cathy~ Whispered Beginnings

I have a story published in an anthology of Love Stories 
{Whispered Beginnings}. My story Whispers In The Wind is a fairy tale love story and the book is available through our Anna's Legacy Store @ www.annaslegacy.com with 10 % of the proceeds being donated to Anna's Legacy.  Have a wonderful Day and READ A BOOK! 
I had a  wonderful time at the Oklahoma Writers Conference in Oklahoma City! There were a lot of fascinating people there with wonderful information to help everyone with their writing careers. This was my first time to attend a conference and it was well worth the time and money spent. I would encourage anyone who writes to attend a conference near you. They are Fantastic! Also I have to brag just a little.  I won 2nd place in the conference contest for Inspirational Story with my Childrens story "Hugs From Heaven"! Yeah!!!! I beat out 52 other entries!!! My judge was from NY. WOW! I am now looking for a editor to send this childrens christian story to be published. I will keep you posted on my progress!  

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Thoughts From Cathy~ May Day

It's May!!!
Happy May Day!!!

Thoughts From Cathy~ For The Love Of Salt

For The Love of Salt

By Cathy Collar

 Okay, I admit it. I am a saltaholic. There I have said it, but I am not ashamed of it. I LOVE the taste of salt. I do not have high blood pressure. I do not retain fluid and I am generally a very healthy person, so therefore when I decide, and it is MY decision, to use salt on my food I should not be criticized for it. In fact when I was pregnant with my 3^rd daughter I cut back on my salt intake like any good little mommy to be should. The results were a severe blood pressure drop that caused very annoying dizzy spells every time I stood up. Not knowing what was causing this problem I of course went to my doctor who abruptly told me that even though he would not say this to very many pregnant women I NEEDED TO EAT MORE SALT. So of course I did, in the very healthy form of tomato juice. No more dizzy spells after that. I also remember getting leg cramps during high school basketball practice and having to take sodium pills for that. So I will eat my salt and be very happy that I can without any adverse side effects. I did check pluses and minuses for salt consumption for “Normal” people. We all need salt or actually sodium in our body for it to function normally.

Our body needs a small amount of sodium to help maintain normal function of nerves and muscles, especially in relaxation and contraction and keep normal blood pressure. Also sodium functions as a proper hydrator, Lower level of sodium in our body results in dehydration. Insufficient sodium can also cause an imbalance in pH level of blood and bad muscle function. The daily intake of sodium for a healthy adult is 2,400 mg, but this may differ with each person.

So, I am going to continue to salt my food, even after it has been cooked and use seasoned salts when I cook. Those people who think this is wrong or BAD for me can just eat with someone else.  To all of my salt lover friends out there let’s raise our salt-rimmed margarita glass and salute our tasty seasoning, SALT!

Thoughts from Cathy ~ Insignificance

Though you might think you are plain and insignificant, God sees you as the shinning diamond that you are with in.~ CLC ~

Thoughts from Cathy ~ Listen to Your Heart

 

Listen With Your Heart......

The art of listening seems to be another one of our wonderful qualities that is slowly yet definitely fading into nonexistence. Listen to what people have to say. Listen to all the words, not just the bits and pieces that interest you. You might just hear a hidden meaning, a hidden cry for help.

By Cathy Collar

Thoughts from Cathy ~ Special Kind of Stupid

Just Wondering if this sounds really odd to anyone else.


It IS January and albeit it has been a relatively mild winter here in the Texas Panhandle, what I saw yesterday made me stop and gap and wonder if common sense has just said forget it and left the planet.


The temp was about 40 deg and the wind was whistling a blustery 25 to 30 MPH!
I had just finished helping the nice young man wrestling my 50 lb bag of dog food into my vehicle, by holding the door and trying desperately not to let the wind take it and me off on a kite ride and was very thankful that my daily duty had been done.  My Hunky Husband could unload it later.  I pulled out of the parking lot as a large gust of wind whipped across the road carrying with it a massive spray of Texas drought dirt.  I'm thanking my lucking stars that I don't have to work in this awful, nasty weather, when I am passed by ..wait for it..wait for it.. A White Mustang Convertible with it's Top Down!  No this was not an old convertible that had a malfunctioning top.  It was a brand NEW one.  No there were not teenagers driving it, which would have at least made some sense, but 30 somethings, one girl and two boys and the girl was driving!
As I looked on stunned, she hit the gas and spend down the road as dirt piled into her new car and her face.
It was cold. It was dirty. It was a New Car! Why would anyone with common sense do this?


My only solution I found later in this pic. Then it all came to light!

Thoughts from Cathy ~ Save the Twinkie

Hostess, Maker Of Twinkies, Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

NO MORE TWINKIES?

Boy are we in trouble now!  No more TWINKIES! No sugary treat in our lunch box? No delicious delight in our vending machines? No Sacred Treasure in our glove box? We will have to break open President Clinton's time capsule to find our fix! 
Pleased Help! These treats are in serious danger of going into extinction!
We must all work together to alleviate this desperate situation! It is up to us to pull this precious icon from the grasp of  nonexistent.  We can not leave this critical matter up to our government, for they would just sweep our treasured TWINKIES under the carpet and forget they ever existed.


So let's do this!   SAVE THE TWINKIES!!!!
Everyone go to the store first thing in the morning and buy some TWINKIES!
Please pass the word on to all of your friends!

Quotes By Cathy ~ Freedom of The Mind

Freedom of the mind gives you the start,
But the finish comes from deep down in the heart.
By Cathy Collar

Thoughts from Cathy ~ Recipe for Life

Thoughts From Cathy

Recipe for a Successful Life
Flour & Water( Family) to keep it all together
Eggs (Belief in life) to make it rise to the top
A little spice (Fun) to make it interesting
... A little Oil (Understanding) to make it flexible
A sugar frosting (Compassion) to sweeten the taste

Results: A gooey bottom that shows you stuck with it (Birth to Adult)
A supple moist middle that shows you can compromise (Middle Age)
And The Icing on the cake - The Taste of Sweet Success! (Senior Years)

ENJOY!!! CLC