About

I am a journalist, artist and photographer who is interested in everything.   Do I lack focus? Maybe!  I’m easily distracted, fascinated and obsessed, so just about anything may appear on this blog.   I’m also a sometime columnist in the suburban section of The Kansas City Star and a freelance writer and photographer for other publications. 

Some of my interests and topics I’ve written about for newspapers:

  • Natural History
  • Paleontology (I love to go to digs.)
  • History (I was a graduate student in American History, specializing in western American studies.)
  • Photography (I studied for a few years.)
  • Economics and politics.  (I was an editor at a commodity news service and was a graduate student in public administration.)
  • Biology, including theories of evolution, population biology, the environment, birds, botany and entomology (I did graduate studies in biology, mostly botany.)
  • Art and artists  (I’m a painter.)
  • Books and writers (Journalism and English degrees. Someday I’ll finish one of those thousand novels I’ve started writing.  I’ve been in a book club for 20 years.)
  • Music and composers (Studied piano. Never better than mediocre. I still love it.) 
  • Health and medicine. (I was an editor and writer in the public relations department at a large teaching hospital and medical school.)

Most of the photographs on my blog are my own, although I have swiped a few off the web  — such as the portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman.  (I’ve got some miles on my tires, but I’m not that old.)

I feature some of my photographs and art in greeting cards at Greeting Card Universe and Zazzle.

“I never submitted the whole system to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself.  Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent.  If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.”  Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

“The only security of all is in a free press.  The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary to keep the waters pure.”   Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823.

I feature some of my photographs and art in greeting cards at Greeting Card Universe and Zazzle.

70 responses to “About

  1. Jan Marshall

    I love your website and it’s given me ideas aplenty. I do remember Kathy Dawson and the trip you two made to Berkeley back in the day. Your photos should be available as screen savers. Have you thought of that?

    Blogger-to-be,
    Jan

    Like

  2. Bella O.

    🙂 I just left a comment and now I realize you already pursued a career in writing! My mistake!

    Like

  3. drcorner

    It’s funny, our About pages share a lot of the same “abouts”…lol. Particularly this quote: “I am a journalist, artist and photographer who is interested in everything. Do I lack focus? Maybe! I’m easily distracted, fascinated and obsessed, so just about anything may appear on this blog. ”

    By the way, some of your photography that I’ve seen so far is great.

    My About page: http://drcorner.wordpress.com/about/

    Like

  4. aminhers

    Nice to see you in WP
    happy blogging
    best regards
    aminhers

    Like

  5. Carolina Maine

    Kansas-what an interesting place? I’m currently in Kansas:(
    I am enjoying your blog though.

    Like

  6. Catherine Sherman

    Carolina, where are you in Kansas? Sorry about the 😦
    I’m in Kansas City. It’s lovely here…..I’ve been photographing a hummingbird in my flowers.

    Like

  7. I just visited your blog for the first time. Very impressive!!!!
    Can’t wait to see some shots from your excavations with Dr. Martin.

    Like

  8. Terri Mulligan

    Hi! I just discovered your blog as I was looking for information on hummingbird migrations. Most of my hummers left weeks ago and I hadn’t seen any signs of the one lone hummer (that had stayed long past the others) for about ten days. This morning about 7:30 am I spotted a hummer feeding on my Lady In Red salvias. I live in Maryland between Baltimore and Washington D.C. I’m trying to find out if there is any hope that this hummer will make it south before the weather gets too cold.
    I really like your blog and plan to revisit soon to read some of your other postings. Keep up the good work.

    Like

  9. Catherine: Your CV is impressive! Just wondering, I know you didn’t mention, how much of a Jane Austen fan you or those in your reading group are? I’ve just posted a poll for those who’re familiar with JA’s heroines.

    Like

  10. sambissell

    I am so glad we connected through Anna….. an amazing woman doing an amazing study in AZ!

    Thanks for looking at my site (spread the word). 🙂

    It appears you and I have traded adding each other to our blogrolls….good places to be!

    All my best-
    Sam

    Like

  11. Marc Gruber

    Hi Catherine, Merry Christmas from Europe! I just came across your blog and found the Stones entry—- would you be willing to sell the signed pic? I read you keep it in your drawer…I am a huge fan and would love to put it on my wall —
    all my best,
    Marc

    Like

  12. carina roter

    Hi Catherine,
    I came across your blog by accident while snooping around for Robert Plant info. I saw him twice with Alison Krauss this summer. First in Toronto whilst visiting friend I treated all of us to tickets [better than a lame hostess gift, n’est pas?]and then I got on the internet immediately after the concert and saw that they were launching another tour. I went by myself to Seattle and sat in the front row!! Actually, I stood against the stage, with my arms crossed. I was in heaven!
    My mother never let me go to see Led Zeppelin when they came through. She was convinced I would come home a drug addict or pregnant. Or both!
    All this to say I found your blog looking for Robert Plant info and I found a really interesting blog.
    Keep up the good work!
    Cheers!
    Carina

    Thanks for your comment, Carina. Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin are my absolute favorites, and seeing them was heaven for me, too! Robert Plant and Led Zep appeal to a wide range of people. Last night, I went to a college basketball game (the University of Kansas Jayhawks — national champs! — against arch rival K-State), and the KU band played Black Dog and Kashmir! I thought I captured it on videotape, but my memory was full. KU won! Any team whose band plays Black Dog and Kashmir has to win. Plant and Krauss performed Black Dog this summer when I saw them. So fun to hear so many different versions!

    Like

  13. I came across your blog while I was deciding on name for my website. (catherinesherman.com was already taken).
    I’m a bit of a nosey one when it comes to looking at what Catherine Sherman’s around the world may be doing, and wondering what the similarities are.
    And now I find myself regularly checking in with you.

    Like

  14. Carolina Maine

    Hey, I re-read your about page..cool:) I once had a medical blog and had high marks on Google professional boards for my reviews of medical studies. That is neat:)

    Like

  15. Tasha

    I love your blog and all the photos you have 🙂 you seem like a very well – rounded and very well read person!!! keep it up 🙂

    check out my blog if you want:

    http://www.ilbu.wordpress.com

    I’m new to it and have only written 3 entires so far.

    Tasha

    Like

  16. edison

    Glad to visit your blog, I’ve found a new experience, I want to learn from you, by sharing experiences, I am a black man from Papua, an island in the Pacific Ocean sea, some people say that our island is an island paradise, because here there is a bird of gold, which according to some people’s birds of paradise
    Greetings from the island paradise

    Like

  17. sandysays1

    CS,

    Having varied interests certainly is a plus, not a minus. The greater the depth of your experiences, the more likely it will lead to firing synapses in the gray matter when confronted with a similar situation that you’ve seen, read about, or experienced in the past. Even when you get as old as my human (He’s 10 days older than dirt) you learn things. Eg. He’s working as a volunteer with an archaeological center. Did you know that the sea level has been 4′ higher and 2′ lower in the last 2000 years. Interesting isn’t it.

    Like

  18. Hi,

    Loved your Monarch Watch blog post. I was looking for something interesting to link to my blog post on how Monarchs are able to migrate :-

    Butterfly antennas act like GPS!

    I’m linking your post to show how this butterfly is such a living celebration for the American people.

    Perhaps you could link my blog post if you find it suitable also as it would help my blog go around a bit.

    My blog audience is the amateur naturalist and the common man in India.

    Like

  19. Hello there,
    I love your website and I happened to come across the article about Robert Plant, whom I just adore!

    Like

  20. At first glance, I thought it was UNION S(QUARE) in NYC, but the yellow train confused me, and I don’t know the buildings in the background. So where is this? Kansas City?

    Yes, very good. It’s Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

    Like

  21. JUST CAME ACROSS YOUR BLOG, AND WANT YOU TO KNOW, THAT I LOVE IT 🙂 LOVE THE CATS!!!

    Like

  22. James Weir

    Hi Catherine!

    Your photos are wonderful; full of colour and really speak more than a thousand words.

    I am retraining to become an arborist (self employed) and wonder if I might be able to use your images on my website I am trying to design to help get started off?

    Naturally I would publish full credits and links etc back to yourself.

    I am retraining next month and am building the website now so I can try and hit the ground running when I qualify. I won’t use any of your images even at this stage without your permission.

    My kindest regards

    James

    Like

  23. Eric Bakke

    Hi Catherine ,
    In regards to your studies at the Natural Trap Cave in Wyoming .What a wonderful place and the John Blue canyon area .My sister Freya and her then boyfriend Barry Fuller where part of the team ,they are the two sitting by the food and guitarist at Arm Pit.What an exciting find and wondering if you have any other photos if my sister that I could share with her .She doesn’t have internet but I’m sure she would love to see them .Thank you Eric Bakke

    Like

  24. Oh my… this is my first time reading this Page and how versatile and multi-talented you are, Cathy! I’m truly impressed. I’d like to see all of your interests represented on your blog… maybe a video of your music making? 😉

    I’m blushing. Sometimes I think I look like a person with a short attention span, running from topic to topic. A video of my music making would need to be muted! 🙂 Cathy

    Like

  25. bluefishway

    Well done, Cathy !! I’m new to WordPress and learning by examining other sites and yours is VG 11/10. Content is so variable. Well done !!

    Like

  26. Gee, Catherine. You’ve studied so many things! Sounds like you have a voracity for life, for sure. Love that.

    Like

  27. Thanks for visiting and liking my blog. Please come again soon!

    Also–how the heck do you get to go on paleontological digs? That’s fantastic!

    Like

  28. Great Stuff. ..regards to Kansas….

    Like

  29. Thanks for liking and following the Beagle Project. I’ve enjoyed looking through your latest posts and am looking forward to following your site, too!

    Like

  30. Love the cover photo. I miss Kansas City and wish I could be there now to enjoy the snow!

    Like

  31. ciao! luvFAB blog.
    thebestdressup

    Like

  32. Hi, Cath –
    Thank you for following my blog, and I guess you have read the ‘About’?
    The idea behind this blog is to give Americans (and others) with Norwegian heritage a chance to see how it looks like where Grandpa once grew up 🙂
    If you may think of ways to make American discover this opportunity? We (on our side) will publish a new photo report from somewhere in Norway every week and also smaller presentations in between. Could really use your help 🙂

    Like

  33. Thanks for following my blog!

    At first I did a double-take because I went to high school with a CathLEEN Sherman and . . . I had to remind myself of the difference. 🙂

    Like

  34. Hi! thank you for following my blog 🙂

    Like

  35. Jerry

    Thank you so very much for your visit Catherine. I did enjoy corresponding with you. I’ll be snooping around here for a bit. 😉

    Like

  36. Thank you very much for the like, it’s very encouraging.
    P.S. I noticed that you follow Andrew Bolt’s blog………..WHY!!!!!!??????

    Terry………. in the Hills on the edge of Melbourne. (Down Under)

    Like

  37. I love your header photo. I that an old tram under the ‘car port’ on the left? Do you have a full size version on your site that I could look at?

    Terry

    Like

  38. Hi Catherine! I just subscribed to your blog and I can’t wait to catch up on all of your writings! Also, we LOVE animals and are trying to help raise donations for the APL. If you yourself or others would like to help us, here is the link to donate: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/nikitaland/2013-doggy-dollars-kitty-kash This is the 8th annual fundraiser for the APL and it’s our third year participating in it. It is such a worthy cause and helps all those animals who are strays or left abandoned on the streets. ~Val~

    Like

  39. Greetings! Thank you for dropping by my blog and spending some time there. You really have a great web journal. Keep visiting. 🙂

    Best wishes
    Tanumoy

    Like

  40. You have a great blog here. Keep blogging. I guess I will be hanging around here a lot 🙂

    Like

  41. Hi Catherine,
    You are like several people in one body… so versatile! Are you a Gemini by any chance? Heila

    Like

  42. I like persons who are “easily distracted”. I’m glad I found your blog.

    Like

  43. Love the bio. I will poke around.

    Like

  44. MikeW

    Great work. I’m adding your blog to my WordPress Community blogroll at Farm Your Training Day!

    Like

  45. what a completely splendid place to come and visit.

    we shall return!

    Like

  46. Hello! I’ve really enjoyed exploring your blog and have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – http://traveldefined.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/versatile-blogger-award/
    Happy Blogging!

    Like

  47. Hi, nice to meet you! You blog is very interesting and I look froward to read your new post! Bye. Kamila

    Like

  48. Can’t believe I’ve only just discovered this. I’m interested in History, Politics and Journalism too! Keep up the good work, looking forward to your next post! Follow back if you will, thank you.

    Like

  49. romilade

    You are a lot like me, Catherine. Love your About.

    Like

  50. I like your blog and your experience. Thanks for following my blog. Happy New Year! Regards from Spain.

    Like

  51. i love your site and thank you for following. i look forward to doing the same for you – best, beth

    Like

  52. Cardboard Express

    Hello there! I just wanted to say that you have an incredible blog, and I enjoy reading what you have to say about various topics. I also think your writing is insightful, refreshing, and apt! I also dig archaeology. (Pardon the pun)

    Liked by 1 person

  53. Interesting blog, and very diverse interests. Like that! My mother was a “Sherman”, she was born in the U.P. of Michigan. Which put us in the same family tree with Gen. Sherman. Do you know your ancestry?

    Like

  54. Erik Von Norden

    I enjoyed your blog, mostly the history-related things, though I did leave a comment about hugging giant trees. Keep up the good work.

    Liked by 1 person

  55. I have a political mean streak. I exercised my intelligent donkey on something I saw. Keep it on my differently thoughtful and considerate site.

    Et Tu Trump

    Like

  56. Greetings and Happy New Year from another KC photographer.

    Like

  57. Kurt Reineck

    Could you send me the name of the resort you stayed at that had the falconer. I was unable to bring my raptors to Cancun so I’m going to have to get new birds. We’ve purchased a house here. I’d love to find Runner and his owners.
    Sincerely,
    Kurt D. Reineck

    Like

  58. I just thought I’d check out the About page and it all makes more sense as to how I gravitated to your blog. I too am interested and pursue many different passions. I do a lot of freelance journalism sort of work. I’m also an artist. I combined my love of working with words and pictures into developing into a comics artist but I love painting too. Glad to find you here. You may enjoy some of my activity on my blog.

    Liked by 1 person

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