Positively Music

 by Mauverneen

"Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast." 

Music can be soothing, but it also can get you motivated, set a mood, or bring up memories. 

Music makes us dance, it makes us sing - in the shower, in the car. C'mon, You know you sing in the car. And lately, I don't care who sees me. If I want to sing along, I'm going to sing along. It makes me happy.

I like all kinds of music. I'm sure we all have a list of our favorite songs. There are a couple that go on my all time favorites list, but I also have a favorite romantic song, a favorite hymn, a favorite dance tune, etc. And there are always those one or two that I will stop no matter what I'm doing, to listen (or dance) to.

Here's one. In my opinion, it's one of the best songs ever! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXWHpbpNdHE

So put on some music, sing along, and dance around. It'll feel good!

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Positively Mardi Gras

  by Mauverneen

As they say in New Orleans: laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll)

Today is Fat Tuesday, or to make it sound better, Mardi Gras. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the start of 40 days to make up for today’s transgressions. 

Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival. 

Hurricanes, Paczki, Crawfish, King Cake. 

Today we can eat, drink, and party, because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the day we are supposed to give it all up for 40 days - no more fun until Easter. 
 
Fasting has merit, even if you're not religious, and it never hurts to put aside over-indulgence. Give up smoking, drinking, swearing, or some bad habit and maybe, just maybe, by Easter Sunday we will have kicked at least one bad habit. 

No offense to the Paczki, but I sure wish I had a beignet right now! 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Positively Courage

 by Mauverneen

I've been thinking about the word courage lately. I think most of us associate it with some great act of heroism. It takes courage to run into a burning building to save someone, it takes courage to jump into a body of water to save someone from drowning. There are great acts of courage in war. But sometimes, courage isn't noticed nor is it even recognized. 

I once saw a woman in a wheelchair (non-motorized) wheeling herself down the sidewalk and across a busy street. I watched in awe thinking to myself  'Now THAT'S courage.' THAT picture should be on a poster of what courage is'. 

Courage can mean speaking up, it can be standing up for what you believe in, it can mean speaking out on someone's behalf. It can mean doing the right thing, or taking that first step.

And sometimes courage is even simpler than that. Sometimes it takes courage to get through the day. Sometimes it takes courage to just get out of bed. Sometimes, it takes all we've got to come face to face with - life.

Have courage my friends, have courage. 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint. However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it! Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com See more photos at 

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html