Kathleen J. Shields's Blog, page 8

Portraits of Bygone Days – An Ode to America

In a recent trip to see my grandfather I came across an old booklet on his shelf.  “Portraits of Bygone Days” by Bessie J. Hemp of Frederick, Maryland self-published in a simple handmade booklet in 1973.  Within it were poems she had written and desired to share with friends and family and I came across a poem I felt needed to be shared with a few more people. So while this isn’t my poetry it is OUR poetry – as Americans – and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. I also thought it was a great choice for the 4th of July!

[image error] An Ode to America

I’m not the boisterous, braggart, type
Nor do I like to shout
But loud I’ll sing the praises
Of America there’s no doubt.

Our country’s bathed with heroes’ blood
They rallied to the call.
And when the final test was made
They willingly gave all.

Of fame and fortune I have none
I do not boast of power.
But in our country’s darkest days
I’ll be there every hour.

The stars and stripes; red, white and blue
On battlefields are flown
And to God in all His wisdom
Not a single soul’s unknown.

So hoist the flag and sing a song
Your patriotic lay.
Please, God, send lasting peace on Earth
And hasten soon the day.

Our country’s strong, our country’s great
And we are on our guard.
The History pages tell the tale
Of why it’s battle-scarred.

I hope everyone enjoyed this poem as much as I did, and if anyone out there knows Bessie, let her know her poetry is still being appreciated to this day!  Isn’t that what all of us self-published authors dream about?

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Smurphy’s Last Video

In Memory of SMURPHYMy Beloved Son

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In Memory of Smurphy June 10, 2014

Smurphy was a red-haired golden retriever that was left, abandoned by the mail boxes in our neighborhood. When we found him, it took a lot of coaxing to get him to come to us, and quite a while to earn his trust. He soon became MY dog, and I found he would do literally anything for me. He would walk the dam for CROP Walk (raising money to end hunger).  He’d dress up in costumes and help hand out candy to children for Halloween.  He even had his own website where we posted videos, games and music of Smurphy; for the entertainment of children. In fact, whenever someone sent Smurphy a message from the website, I’d give him a cookie. Sometimes he’d get a dozen cookies a day and the smile on his face every time I told him he got a message was priceless.

For quite a while though, Smurphy hadn’t been feeling well. The vets were at a loss and I chose quality of life for my baby. I fed him 3 meals a day, spoon fed, and in the end I carried him upstairs to bed. When heaven called I was with him, holding him, and although my heart was breaking I took comfort in knowing he’d soon feel better and be with my mom and Jesus.

The following video and song was created for Smurphy’s website, his last video.  I wrote the lyrics and sung the song. I hope you will appreciate it as much as he appreciated all of his fans. He was my star. He will be missed. God Bless.

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Troll Patrol – Stopping Bullies, Before They Start

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Rosa Raccoon telling Hamilton Troll about Rudy Rat

PAWS for Friendship

Canyon Lake, TX – Award-winning author, Kathleen J. Shields, releases her latest Hamilton Troll book with the objective of stopping bullies, before they start. In collaboration with local elementary school teachers, Shields’ has created the Troll Patrol with the goal of promoting “PAWS for Friendship”.

The mission of “PAWS for Friendship” – which stands for Pause, Approach, Welcome & Smile – is to teach young children social skills; how to make friends, and teach the ‘mean kids’ how to be friendly.

“Bullies tend to focus on loners, children without friends. My aim is to teach children how to make friends, so there will be fewer children available for the bully. But the plan is two-fold. The potential bully, the ‘mean’ kid, needs to learn there is no fun in being mean, that it is more fun to play with others. If you teach children how to make friends, how to talk to each other; true social skills, they can band together, be stronger in numbers and feel better about themselves. It also encourages the ‘mean’ kid to join in, thus teaching him or her how to be nice and the many rewards of friendship.”

In the book “Hamilton Troll meets Rudy Rat” you hear about the mean things Rudy does. The children are all upset about this and they go to Hamilton for help. He quickly discovers that Rudy is alone and scared and doesn’t know how to make friends. When Hamilton encourages the children to stand together for friendship, to Welcome Rudy to join their games and to Smile at him, Rudy begins to feel accepted. He is able to hang out with the other kids and have fun, making friends rather than enemies. Rudy Rat will then learn to grow up having friends, being social and not become a bully.

“While I respect every organization out there working hard to promote the education of bullying and initiating campaigns to stop it, I believe the education needs to be taken a step further and started sooner. I feel a great need for social skills to be taught and at an early age.”

Hamilton Troll’s Troll Patrol has only just begun. The goals set forth are lofty, just like the goals and expectations we have for our children. Let’s all learn together how to make friends so we won’t be alone any more.

Learn more at www.HamiltonTroll.com/TrollPatrol

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Hamilton Troll’s Troll Patrol

 

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Advice from the Ocean – A Poem

The other day I came across this picture and I just had to share it – yet I decided to add in my own two cents as well… and since poetry seems to flow through me like air…

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Be Shore of Yourself

When standing on the edge between water and sand,

Go ahead and jump, you know where you’ll land.

 

Come Out of Your Shell

Don’t ever be shy, God made you, YOU.

So step out of your home, and do what you do!

 

Take Time to Coast

Give it some time, life is quite long.

You’ll get it done, ‘cause God’s never wrong.

 

Avoid Pier Pressure

And when you aren’t alone and others cause doubt,

God knows you are worth it. You’re great, flat out!

 

Sea Life’s Beauty

‘Cause life may have trials, but there are beauties for sure,

It’s worth every obstacle, even through a detour.

 

Don’t Get Tide Down

Keep your options open. Keep a look out for doors.

God has his plans, and he knows what’s in store.

 

Make Waves!

Be yourself and stand out. Don’t follow the crowd.

It’s what HE wants. It’ll make him proud.

Have a great day!!! –

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Elwood asked questions

If you want to know something, you ask about it.If you don’t understand, you ask questions.

That’s what Hamilton Troll and Elwood Woodpecker did, they didn’t know what something was so they sought out the Beaver Brothers and asked them.

That’s how you learn new things. That’s how you become smart and that’s how you too, can teach others!

If you want to know, ask about it. Everything you learn benefits you and that is a good thing! If you don’t ask questions, you won’t get answers, so ask away and learn something new each day!

https://www.kathleensbooks.com/produc...

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Heaven or Hell Paper Folding Project

The other day, while at a tradeshow, I met a couple who taught me something that was way too neat. I had to share it with all of you and I DO hope you try it out as well.  They took a sheet of paper. a single letter size sheet and created a story from it that I will always remember. When you see it come together, you will smile and be wowed.

Matthew 7:13-1413 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.HELL = Matthew 7:13Heaven (or the CROSS) = Matthew 7:14

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I created this letter size PDF with the folding instructions below. Do print it out and try it. You will enjoy it. PS, If you can fold a paper airplane, you can do this.

[image error] Click here to open, save and print the folding instructions for Matthew 7:13-14

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A Blessed Memorial Day

Of all of the reasons,    of all of the people,        of all of the pictures,             and all of the messages…Memorial Day is about this…          No caption,              no sentence,                  no title,                      can say it more appropriately                          than the feeling you feel in your heart,                              when you see this:

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REMEMBER – on Memorial Day– as Always –Our Prayers are with You!

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The Pig Who Looked Up – A Poem

Most animals are designed with their bodies to be able to get to their food sources and to escape from danger. So, for giraffes, they have a neck pointed to the tops of the trees. For pigs, their heads are directed downwards. They can only move the head up enough to be level with their backs. This doesn’t allow for any ‘star gazing’ but does allow them to do everything else the pig needs to do in it’s life.

This story was inspired by a pet pig owned by Larry Jackson. He always wondered about this topic so I just had to write a rhyming story for him. (It’s what I do)

I hope you all enjoy it.

The Pig Who Looked Up

Once upon a time there was a teeny tiny pig,
who liked to wonder off, and explore instead of dig.

He’d walk along the country side and smell the flowers sweet,
but he always wondered curiously about the sky that seemed so neat.

He’d look at his reflection in the pond water when it’s still.
And see the fluffy clouds float by, which always gave a thrill.

He’d watch the birds soar up and out and disappear from sight.
But tried he did to look up at them, he hadn’t will or might.

He watched the lamb look up and smile, he watched the chicken too.
He asked them what they saw up there, but they said “The same as you.”

He tried to explain he could not look up. He tried to share his plight.
But the others figured he could see it fine, so long as he had his sight.

But one day as the pig walked passed the barn, he felt a gust of wind.
The fluffy white clouds turned to grey, a storm was rolling in.

And with a clap of loud thunder, it started to rain down.
And it moistened the dirt in front of the pig, a mud mess on the ground.

And as the rain came down so constantly, the little pig did wonder,
where the water was coming from and what made that loud thunder?

He wished and wished he could look straight up but his neck would not bend back,
then a duck came waddling up to him, “Go inside.” He spoke a quack.

“Oh mister duck I’d give anything to look up and see the sky.
I can see you do it and how easy it is, but no matter how hard I try,

my neck won’t bend that far back you see, and it truly breaks my heart,
to know there’s a part of the world out there that I can not be a part.”

The duck looked up at the little pig and waddled around him slowly.
He looked at the pigs wide hind end and thought about this wholly.

He pulled the pigs spiral tail and poked his thighs and back.
Then returned to his front and looked at him, then spoke a little quack.

“Can you sit down?” The duck first spoke and watched the pig proceed.
“Can you lean back?” He asked him next, and watched the pig succeed.

“Now use your springy tail back there to hold you just upright,
and at that angle you should just get, to look up towards the light.”

And as the raining slowed a tad, a ray of sun came out.
The little pig finally looked up to the sky, beyond his round pink snout.

And as he smiled in excited joy, he watched a rainbow form,
the colors of all the world shined out, beyond the passing storm.

“Oh thank you sir duck, you’ve made my day! I can see the sky so blue.
It’s much bigger than I expected it’d be and so much color within it too.

“What a wonderful moment!” The pig exclaimed as he squealed out his delight.
Which brought the other pigs on out, to see if he’s alright.

He told them about the sky so large, the colors and clouds so fluffy.
He told them about the duck who helped. Who’s chest became so puffy.

He invited the each of them to try this trick, so they too could look and see,
the wonders of the world so bright, and asked if they’d agree.

And as the yard of pigs all sat and leaned back to look up,
they wowed and oohed and awed and such, the little pig spoke “Yup.”

He knew the world was taller than the farmers apple tree.
He knew the sky would be this grand, it was all he hoped it’d be.

So while the sun sets and the moon will rise you will see the pig explore.
Because there’s so much more to see out there, just beyond that big barn door.

Kathleen J. Shields December 2013

If you liked this poem, check out my new poetry book: A Rhyme for Everything

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A moment for craziness…

Life is about having fun, expressing yourself and living…so when we get the opportunity to ice skate on stage or swim out of water… why not take it?

For those who follow me but don’t really know, I am a little bit crazy (just a little) and when two of my friends and I get together, chaos ensues! And because we live in the digital age, and I am not afraid to share it here you go.

The Fischer Store School Community Center an organization we belong to that has fun events every month holds their follies every other year. People from all over the Texas Hill Country come to show off their talent. Some sing, some dance, some play instruments or read poetry… we, we are the comic relief.

The first video was taken two years ago at our last Fischer Follies.  The second video was shot Saturday night. The question on everyone’s mind now is: what are we going to do in two more years???

 

Fischer Follies 2012 – Synchronized Swim Routine

Fischer Follies 2014 – Olympic Figure Skating

 

Fischer Follies 2016 – The sky is the limit!

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Bunnies… Bunnies… It must be bunnies!

Someone will get that title, but most likely no one from my social groups.

Anyways, I saw this beautiful painting the other day and just had to share it with everyone.

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I know, at a quick glance it’s okay… there’s nothing special about it. Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes. A Texas jack-rabbit in the tall grass. A dragon fly. A rather blah spring scene – but I loved it! And do you know why? Because of where I saw it.

Location! Location! Location!

They say it matters and some don’t believe, but imagine my surprise when I walked into the gas station bathroom and saw this scene surrounding me.

I was smiling.

It was a very pleasant surprise and it cheered me up.

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Sometimes it’s the little things.

How many gas station bathrooms have you been in and wished it was as pretty as this one? How many times have you been anywhere in your life and hoped for a sign of something better to come? Maybe you just need to stop to see the bunnies!

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