Category: Gratitude

Heffalump or Woozle…

Wiwohka5 Comments

If someone were to ask if you wished to be either a Heffalump or a Woozle, I bet it would be a good minute before you could confidently answer. Well, maybe it’s just me, beings that I’m quite small and have only just begun reading through the Winnie The Pooh series.

Ok, so maybe I’m somewhat large for an ant, but I was only just born last summer, and it did take me all winter to learn my letters and sounds. If I’m to be any good at writing, I gotta figure a good many things out on my own… that’s what journalists do, you know.

We do a good amount of reading, interviewing, and gathering up the facts, before we put things down on paper… or keyboard.

Please don’t say anything, but I may have gotten in over my head with this Winnie The Pooh business. You see, I sort of made a big deal about being able to read books all by myself, and assured Mee-maw that I didn’t need her help.

Things were going fine, til I got to the part about Heffalumps and Woozles…

Are you kidding me? That’s not fair!

As I’ve been told, time and again, Google is my friend, so I went to said friend. But, now I’m more confused than when I started. I’ll try to explain.

Ok, so according to Google a Heffalump is like an adorably chubby Elephant that can fly, but only when you’re dreaming, I guess. A Woozle is apparently meant to be a Weasel, but cuter, and also flying like the Heffalump… and again, only seen when you dream them.

Time out! Am I the only one whose never seen them before, aside from these Winnie the Pooh stories? How come Google knows about them, and I don’t?

Or, better yet, when did Google ever get the chance to interview the dreamy little stuffed teddy bear, hmmmmm? Answer me that!

Ok, ok, ok… let’s say that I buy this whole Google meets Winnie the Pooh stuff. If I accept that Google got it right, after questioning the teddy bear, I am expected to believe that Elephants can indeed fly, as well as Weasels… but, apparently, only in my dreams. Or does that mean only the teddy bear can see them when he’s dreaming… this is so confusing.

What if I want to see them when I dream? Can I? And, more importantly, do I want to see them? Google says that they represent fear and/or anxiety, well, at least that’s what I think it’s saying. Here, I’ll show you…

What follows are the actual definitions from Google’s AI:

A heffalump represents a childhood fear of the unknown, an imaginary creature stemming from the word “elephant” as mispronounced by a child, often depicted as a large, monstrous, or scary beast. While first described as an unseen, dangerous “heffalump trap” in A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books, the concept was later expanded in Disney’s adaptations to include the real, friendly, and less frightening Heffalumps and Woozles, ultimately becoming a symbol of overcome fears and prejudices. 

A woozle represents the unknown, a manifestation of unfounded fears or anxieties, as depicted in A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh where the characters chase their own tracks, thinking they are Woozle tracks. This concept extends to the “Woozle effect,” where weak, unverified evidence is repeatedly cited, leading to the mistaken belief in a fact or urban myth, such as in political or public health misinformation. 

Wait a minute… how did we get from fluffy purple elephants and pink Weasels, to the White House?

I will agree that elephants can be easily frightened, and weasels ARE rather high energy and anxious creatures, but to compare them to a politician… that’s taking things a bit too far for my liking.

I did like the part about overcoming fear of a thing, and also about truth over here say, as far as the whole misinformation thing goes.

Me? I’m only an ant, and a young one, at that! Somehow, even if I hadn’t gone to all the trouble of looking things up, I think that the book does a fairly good job of helping me figure things out… and it didn’t need a politician to do it! Just sayin.

I better give you some goodies, like Mee-maw does when she gives her two-cents on a thing…

My family is here for a visit, so I hope you don’t mind sharing… they don’t!

Saturday Sweet talk…

Wiwohka8 Comments

As you must know by now, I’ve had to go ala natural with my foods. This means having to rethink every single thing I eat, from the ground up!

Baking sweet things has been my passion from the time I was a small girl, as I talk about my Easy-Bake Oven at every opportunity. Being the tenacious cookie monster that I am, there will be no white flag… no meek signs of retreat, no, no!

Seeing’s as it’s already heading into the holiday baking season, we’ve been afforded the opportunity to begin displaying our favorite sweet treats… even if it is Gluten, and mostly, Dairy Free (I can still bake with eggs, even if I can’t eat them on their own).

For now, I shall bring you a new recipe each Saturday that can replace an old one, thereby, allowing continued baking success for this Wiwookie Monster (I know, that was worse than a bad Dad Joke).

I know that I probably told you about my first successful Banana Muffins adventure, but it was a bit like cheating to be honest. I simply bought a box mix and added water, in a manner of speaking. The point is, it wasn’t homemade the way I’ve always done in the past.

I’m not about to be bested by something as silly as flour or milk, are you kidding me?! No way…

I found a recipe on Pinterest that I’ll share for anybody that’s interested, because it came out so good that you’d be hard-pressed to consider it Gluten Free.

And, there was hardly any sugar added…

https://www.noglubread.com/gluten-free-banana-bread-recipe/

gluten-free banana bread

Gluten-Free Banana Bread

A moist and flavorful gluten-free banana bread recipe that even picky eaters love.

  • Total Time: 75 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 medium overripe bananas
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup neutral oil (or melted butter)
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mash the bananas in a large bowl using a fork.
  2. Add eggs, oil, brown sugar, and vanilla extract; stir well.
  3. Add gluten-free flour blend, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix until almost no powder remains.
  4. If using, fold in nuts or chocolate chips now.
  5. Pour the mixture into a greased or parchment-lined loaf pan.
  6. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 65 minutes, starting to check at 50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Let the bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes, then cool on a rack before slicing.

I only had two overly ripe bananas and one that was fresh and new, so she suggests that you can add several tablespoons of raw honey to add more sweetness. Besides adding three tablespoons of raw honey to the mix, I opted out of the nuts and chocolate morsels, so as to get a true taste of the banana. I used everything else per the recipe, aside from adding a sprinkling of brown sugar across the top, for that crunchy crust that I especially love.

It rose just as much as a normal gluten bread…

And it was very sweet, moist, and had a bready texture as one would expect from a sweetbread…

I give 5 stars to this recipe, as I only had to add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 3 Tbsps. of raw honey, in order to achieve a Banana Bread Lover’s melt in your mouth sweetbread!

Definitely, two thumbs up!

Tune in next Saturday for the next scrumptious scientific survey of sugary sweets, or possibly savories, or maybe even some soul foods. If you’ve suggestions for any specific scientific surveys you’d like me to try my Easy-Bake hands at, shout it out!

Have a blessed weekend, my sweet WordPress Family.

Remember that God loves you very much! And, so do I…

Archives(2016)The Finish Line!

Wiwohka2 Comments

(I’ve added the photo, but the content is in it’s original form)

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”     Acts 20:24

If I woke one morning to find myself standing at the finish line of a race, with a trophy in my hand and a bunch of people cheering, I would be quite confused.  I would be wondering why it was such a big deal and would feel kind of funny standing there with some silly little trinket in my hand.  The blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to run that race are what makes the finish line so valuable, and what gives that trophy such importance.

There are so many times where I think I have it figured out and then things go in a completely different direction. It reminds me that He is God and I am not.  I always look back from the other side of things and see so clearly how things went the way they did and why.  I think, how did I not see that, because it is so obvious. I am realizing that I do not have nearly the patience and faith that I think I do.  There is so much less fear and frustration when I do not seek beyond one day at a time.  Tomorrow is never certain so why waste my time worrying over what is not here yet.  If I focus on what I choose to do, say, and feel in today, I am much more content and I see more of what He wants of me.

The journey is where we find value, making us who we are.  I think I want to look to my finish line and see my Heavenly Father waiting for me with love, hope, and open arms; then I can strive everyday to find joy in my journey and finish well!

I did them anyway…

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Daily writing prompt
List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.
View all responses

Many will say that my choices of Love, Life, and Laughter, aren’t really jobs. Some will say that my answers are more emotions instead of careers. Well, let’s think on that for a moment…

Take love, for instance! If you’re the one pursuing love from another, I bet you’d argue that money comes into play! Don’t get me started on the average cost of a wedding! As a woman, I’ll be the first to admit that if money were no matter, my wedding would be over the top! Just sayin.

After Love comes Life…

Children have to be some of the most expensive things on the planet, aside from a space shuttle, maybe. There are hospital bills, college funds, and 18+ years of financial responsibility. I haven’t even begun to touch on the cost of feeding said passel of hungry mouths, nor have I had a chance to expound on the amount of cleaning, teaching, disciplining and raising up of those little beans.

This is where the Laughter arrives! How many can say that their careers bring them joy, like holding one’s baby for the first time, or watching their prodigy butcher a musical piece of Mozart at a piano recital. Both activities bring forth joy and laughter that cannot be bought with gold or silver!

The careers of Loving, Living, and Laughing are quite far away from being free, nor inexpensive, but oh so worth it! I’ve given over 35 years to loving, living, and laughing. I sacrificed the money, time, energy, emotions, blood, sweat, and tears to fulfill those three careers, with few regrets… and none of them were my loved ones!

Don’t forget your cookies…

Thursday Thoughts…

Wiwohka5 Comments

(2023) Looking Back…

I don’t often like to see into my own childhood memories, as they are precarious at best.  But for you, my friends, I have courageously looked through the curtains of the past that most often obscure my view.  I have learned that we must take the good with the bad, as far as memories go.  Haven’t we all had to make peace with our past, in order to walk forward towards a better future?

          This particular memory arose out of the oddest sort of recollection.  My husband brought home a watermelon the other day, and that sounds normal so far, as I am sure this behavior occurs within homes across the globe, nearly every day.  Things played out typically for us, just like most, until the moment my eyes came to rest on the label stuck to the side of the watermelon.  On the sticker were the words, “Grown in Hermiston Oregon”.  I do not often come across the name of my childhood home, and the last place I would have expected it to be, was on a piece of fruit. 

          For several moments, a cacophony of strange emotions floated briefly across my heart.  When I encounter these things, I usually set them aside to process on their own… I have learned not to rush into things willy nilly.  In this way, I dismissed the strange feelings and carried on with my day.  For several days I truly forgot about the sticker.

          Yesterday, as I was working on a story about two squirrels, a memory popped into my head, and the squirrels were momentarily replaced with the memory of a cat. 

I had forgotten about this cat for many years… until yesterday!  In the past I would have slammed the door on this part of my childhood immediately, as it has always brought an overwhelming fear.  I have learned in time, that I can view my past without fear or shame, but rather, with clarity and grace; both of which are great navigators, along the pathways of our hearts. 

          I do not generally slam these doors anymore, as I walk a better path now… a healing path.  While I will look at my memories, I have not ever written down a good one where my father was in the same story.  This morning was different for the first time.  In this memory will be the first written work I have ever done, where my dad is going to get his moment, but not like you’re thinking.  And another surprise I have for you is that you’re going to laugh and walk away very happy.  Let me show you…

          His name was Leroy!  We named him after that song, Bad Bad Leroy Brown!  From birth, this cat was crazy about me, and at the same time he was mean as they come… he stole my 7-year-old heart.  Another thing about this cat… he hated my dad! 

          This was not a passing fancy, a tiny dislike, or even a mild aversion to the man… Leroy was always planning the old man’s demise, I think.  This cat would destroy my dads’ things, and only his.  Leroy would intentionally pee on his clothes or in his boots, and every day from the moment my dad came home, the cat would stalk him and seek to bite him at every opportunity.  Guess where Leroy slept at night… hehe… with me!  At one time, my dad got so mad at the cat, he shot him!  Leroy disappeared into the woods… but he lived!  And he came home!  My dad was so mad, but a little scared too, I think.  He left the cat be, and pretended he didn’t care either way.

          One day Leroy did something that set my dad off, and he loaded the cat up and drove him across the county, dumping him at a friend’s barn.  We were devastated by the loss of our Leroy, and for some unknown reason, this was one of the few times my mom ever displayed her emotions.  She went off!!  By the time she got done yelling, my dad was sheepishly driving down the driveway with an empty cat box on the passenger seat.  My mom made him go all the way back down the road and retrieve our cat from that barn!  When that old station wagon pulled back into the yard, we all came running out of the house in excitement.  The first thing we saw as the car door swung open, was our cat Leroy climbing slowly and leisurely from my dad’s lap.  The next few moments are some of the most precious memories I hold of my dad with my cat…

          The man looked like he had been attacked by a weed wacker!  He was covered in cat scratches and bite marks, and Leroy peed and poo’ed all over his lap.  My dad barely got the cat inside the box he had brought along, and Leroy broke free as soon as the car ride home began. Our station wagon never smelled the same after this escapade, by the way.  That cat kicked my dad’s hind end for the full 20-minute ride from that barn.  This twelve-pound feline lived up to his name that day.  Let me tell you…

Loosely written from the Lyrics of the song,

He was my Bad Bad Leroy Brown

Maddest cat in the whole darn town

Badder than that ole shotgun

Meaner than that Junkyard hog (I would never insult a dog)!

 What I wouldn’t give to have been an observer in another car, or even walking on the side of the road, as that station wagon drove by.  There is for sure someone out there, who witnessed my small hero, scratching the life out of my dad all the way home!  It is very true what they say, that many times great heroes come in small packages!

That Cat Ruled!!!!

***No animals were harmed in the making of this episode, and each of the stunt cats were given their wages in delicious fishy treats, as well as, numerous bags of fresh catnip!***

I spared no expense!

From death to life…

Wiwohka13 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
View all responses

I was conceived in wickedness, born in the midst of evil, and have been a wanderer all my 56 years of existence.

No one claims me, my bloodline, nor my destiny!

I was cursed with death before I took my first breath.

The me that was born into that life held no value, to anyone, aside for the men who helped themselves to that which was not theirs to take. My mother was so consumed with her own trauma and grief that she failed to protect any of her children, eventually dying of severe Dementia before I was able to tell her that I understood.

Perhaps this question would have been more valuable, were I to have the memories and life lessons handed down from a healthy, normal background and cultural heritage. But, I don’t. Therefore, this prompt might be considered a waste of time to answer.

By grace, mercy, providence, and purpose, you don’t have to accept the prompt response of the me that died, some time ago, in fact.

This is the me that was brought from death to life, and who stands before you now…

I know who I am

I am a child of God

The kingdom of heaven is my culture, my eternal heritage

I am born again

Chosen

Set apart

Written in the Book of Life

Bought

Paid for

I am free…

You better not forget your cookies! I worked all morning on them…

Wednesday Words…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Apparently, Eustace has such a nice voice that he’s been asked to make the morning announcements for them. Well, at least til December, anyways. After last year’s success, the company has permanently installed him as their Christmas Camel!

I did have to have a long conversation with him, regarding how long it took him to get back into shape after his candy cane infusions, remember?

The poor camel was downright hateful, there for a while. We would like for this season to go a bit easier. Eustace assured me that they’ve ordered him an outfit for this year. I guess the insurance company had a fit when they got the bills for all rehab. I don’t blame them, do you?

Perhaps that’s the purpose of offering Eustace some differing jobs, other than the eating kinds. We’re probably fortunate they didn’t ask him to be their stand in fire extinguisher, what with all the water he carries in his humps…

You ARE like those you associate with…

Wiwohka4 Comments

Brands, that is…

Daily writing prompt
What brands do you associate with?
View all responses

Ah, the good ole days…

Once, there was time when a girl could eat whatever she wanted, with reckless abandon. She wasn’t tied down to just any old brand. And she never had to worry over what brands she chose to associate.

There was a time when she loved to celebrate with her closest associate, Mr. Folgers…

Alas, those days are gone.

There were the days of joyful indulgences with her most frequent of associates… you may know them. Folks used to call them the Tillamook Gang, but to me, they were my friends. I think I miss Cheddar the most, as she was most often in the kitchen…

Well, as I mentioned at the beginning of this, you are like those you associate with! Unfortunately, they weren’t the best influence, so I had to give them up.

Now, after learning to let go of that which is a bad influence, I cleaned up my kitchen and now have a new circle of brands to hang out with… the healthier kind!

At first, it wasn’t so easy. Meeting new brands that behaved far differently than my old brands was difficult for a time. Strange names and unusual characteristics made me feel very self-conscious and intimidated, not to mention a bit scared. Change is never easy, but for the sake of healthy associations with brands… it had to be done!

Now that I’ve taken the time to get more familiar with her, Chiquita has become a very loyal brand, faithfully supplying me with a better association with potassium, and the like…

Chiquita was so genuinely helpful and giving, she actually introduced me to the Foster Farm Girls…

You know, associating with them has done wonders for my health, seriously!

There is, however, one brand that has been my friend since my earliest days. My mother actually introduced me to them, first. I was only about five years old, when my mother bought me an Easy-Bake Oven. I’d never made cookies before. I’d only ever seen my mother do it, but she was now handing over the spatula, so to speak!

I was placed upon a stool that had been stacked with several Yellow Page telephone books. Before me sat my brand new oven, all the little trays, sprays, spoons, and such. But the world turned on it’s axis, when my mother handed me a large bowl filled with cookie dough! It wasn’t just any cookie do, however, but the original recipe from Nestle Toll House Morsels package… that was all it took!

From that little oven, came some of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted! Now, perhaps it was the sugar rush that kicked in, or even the bit of caffeine from the chocolate chips, hitting the bloodstream. The point is, I was hooked… not just on cookies, but on the Toll House brand!

I’ve had occasion to use other brands, but I always come back to Toll House! Whenever I see their packages, I’m immediately transported back to my childhood days… the good ones, though they be few. Thank you, Toll House!

I bet you guys are glad I kept this brand. I wouldn’t serve you anything less than wonderful… hugs

Bridges (2024)…

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Made of Iron, made of wood

Some have fallen, while others withstood

Some can be burned, or break free from their moorings

While others hold strong, given plenty of shoring

Bridges offer travel, from one side to the other

providing a way, helping one reach his brother

These connections need work, in putting them together

They provide safe passage, even if there’s foul weather

If a bridge is destroyed in the depth of a storm

The gap that it leaves, is where heartache is born

We must tend our bridges, making sure they stay standing

holding firm to the ground, over waves life keeps handing

If your bridge falls apart, breaking away from the dirt

Get down on your knees, and confess all your hurt

Even if your bridge broke free in the storm

God can build a new bridge, fully shaped in His form…

No fair…

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Photo by Alexas Fotos on Pexels.com
Daily writing prompt
What could you do more of?
View all responses

I wanted to say “Eat, Pray, Love” but Julia Roberts already took that one. No fair!

Well, I can still tell you that I could be eating more, as I just got off the phone with my nutritionist, and she’s concerned that I’m not eating enough calories.

And, I can attest that we all should be doing more praying, of late.

Also, there is never enough love to go around, these days.

Now do you see why I wanted to use that title so badly? It was just perfect, but I’m not one to steal from another, so Julia wins this time.

Hmmmmm… I could have used Shake, Rattle, and Roll, possibly. Then there’s Live, Love, and Laugh, or maybe even Take a Walk on the Wild Side, but they just don’t sound the same, you know?

Maybe, I should just bake more cookies…

Ya, I think I’ll do that!