Thursday Thoughts…

As I’ve already mentioned previously, I lost the use of my free AI generator unless I bought a subscription for the program.

Since that time I’ve been sort of floundering a bit, as far as, how I’m going to be able to retain the visual identities of my differing comrade’s-in-arms, not to mention the ones I use for myself, and my miniature me version. I know that it might sound silly, but I’ve come to love the look and style of all the characters created here in the lobby, out at the barnyard, as well as my mini-me’s kitchen, and both of the new puppies. Perhaps, I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill here, but to me, it’s the little touches that really count!

Anyways, I went back and forth and back and forth on it, prayed about it, argued with myself some more, and finally just asked my husband if he would decide for me.

Here’s the thing, I’m a writer not an artist, nor am I computer savvy AT ALL, without my husbands capable hands on my computer whenever there’s an issue. He knows all that stuff… that’s why I hired him, I mean married him. I tease, but he really does have a brilliant mind, and he is also really good with numbers and/or money, so success comes from deferring to the expert! (The bonus here is that my expert has a major crush on me, so all I really have to do is bat my eyes. You would be proud of me for not abusing this weakness of his, in regards to this important decision. I remained objective and sincere about my frustrations over the AI issue, and asked what he thought. God Bless my husband for his no fuss, no muss, non-overthinking, logical… and madly in love with me, can-do attitude!

In all of about fifteen minutes, my man was able to step in and save my bacon… well, my Brutus, Eustace, Tilly, Squagon, Dinky Do, Boomer, Lilly, Auzzie Clawzy, and all that are still yet to come!

So, I am now the proud new user of an AI Generator platform called OpenArt AI. It is a whole new program for me to learn, as I’ve always just used the easy peezy free programs without bells and whistles, so to speak. So, if you would bear with me for a bit, as you start seeing my beginner attempts.

It may take some trial and error, but in the end I think this was a positive move towards the future of Journey With Me, not to mention a new horizon for Barnyard Business (they help you create videos with your creations). If Tilly and all the rest of the babes are to have any chance at truly coming to life in the eyes of a child, this new platform might just be the answer!

Tell me what you think about today’s image of my persona, if you would. This new program is allowing me to really fine tune her features and expressions. I’ve never had the choice before, nor was the woman ever really the same one. I always struggled to find images that were similar enough to use, since reusing any image for other projects required subscriptions for those features.

Before you go, I’ve left you with two additional images to critique. Seriously, it really will help me in the fine tune department.

***Just in case you thought that this last photo was a duplicate of the one at the top of the article, look at her mouth. This image was actually the first picture of my Avatar that was generated. The first of these three pictures, happens to be my first attempt at changing her expression… and of course, I wanted to see her smile more!

Leave any thoughts, ideas, and/or suggestions in the comments, if you could. Hugs!

Toes in the sand…

You know that refreshing sensation one gets while dipping their toes into the sand, just at the water’s edge?

If you asked me what it feels like to walk with God on a daily basis, well…

Toes in the sand, my friends, toes in the sand!

The power of water…

Daily writing prompt
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

By Google’s current definition, the word Wiwohka either means roaring water, a Native American tribe up near the Great Lakes, or my least favorite… a group of derelict misfits that banded together to make a settlement town of some sort, or other.

I liked it much better back in the day, when I first chose this nickname, if you will. When I originally found this name more than twenty years ago, it was on a Native American name generator site, and simply read as “Rushing, roaring, or raging water”. No idea where this new village of miscreants definition came from, nor do I find it very appealing. In answer to the prompt this morning, I’ll be sticking with my original definition, since it’s far less nefarious than the most recent description.

While the name written on my birth certificate carries absolutely nothing, as far as, meaning, significance, nor etymology… Wiwohka does! Though the word’s etymology doesn’t concern me, the significance and meaning are threaded throughout the tapestry of my existence!

Throughout my life, the name Wiwohka has been the truest explanation of who I am… who I’ve always been. My very birth came during a storm, of sorts. I spent much of my childhood in back alleys, strangers beds, and often times… out in the rain, drenched to the skin. Up from those dark and troubled waters arose a very angry, volatile, and fiercely independent young woman.

What’s rather interesting about the meaning of my name is that it’s definition has taken on a completely different meaning, though the words have not been altered. I originally chose it because it made me feel strong and self-reliant, and flowing by my own power. Looking back now, I realize how powerless I actually really was!

The truth about water is that it is, in fact, very powerful… but, how? Water, in and of itself, just sits there unless something moves it! Water gets it’s power from whatever source it originates from, as well as how its path has been directed. The strength, force and sometimes destructive power of water will be based on who or what is directing the water’s flow.

When I finally came to realize where the water within my spirit had originated, its like all the places within my heart and mind that had been mistaken in thinking that I controlled the flow of said water, simply washed away with the tide. Do you know how difficult and exhausting it is, always having to push a thing along with your own effort? Isn’t it always more pleasant to get a ride, instead of doing all the pushing by your own strength? I guess that somewhere along the journey I realized this, and I’m so glad that I did!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Now, I flow with a power and strength not born of my own ability, but of the One who is my source of power… my living water!

Have a cookie…

The Crier…

They cry in the happy times and cry for the sad

they wail like a baby whenever they’re mad…

They cry during weddings, baptisms, and any royal coronation

Every event they attend must have a tissue station…

No movie theatre is safe, nor any concert venue

If they’ve had a bad day, they’ll even cry over their menu…

Some think it endearing while others get irritated

Whenever they start weeping, the whole room gets irrigated…

Keep in mind, the next time that you see someone crying

over a movie or a gift, a sad story or bad rhyming,

be thankful that empathy still exists in this world,

for it’s the soil where the seeds of love can unfurl!

Sometimes…

Daily writing prompt
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?

Sometimes…

Sometimes, it’s the way he looks at me and smiles.

Then there are times where he doesn’t even have to smile or anything… I can see it in his eyes.

Sometimes, it’s the way he laughs at the silly things I say.

But there are still those moments when things aren’t so funny… he won’t laugh or say anything at all, really. He just rests his shoulder against mine to let me know that he’s there.

Sometimes, it’s the little things he does… like bringing me that first cup of coffee in the morning, or surprising me with my favorite candy bar. It’s not even about receiving a gift, it’s about the planning or forethought, if you will. It makes me feel so loved that he was thinking about me, even when I wasn’t with him. You know, sometimes I’ll wake up from the sensation of him tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear… he’d been lying there watching me, as I slept. Isn’t that so adorable!

I could go on and on about all the sometimes that I have felt loved… and these examples are about my husband. I haven’t even gotten to God, yet! If I could share with you all the times that I have felt God’s love, it would fill a book… oh yeah, I already did that!

Let’s just leave it at this:

With enough examples gathered together, one might say that I always feel loved! But, since it was very hard to pick just one time to tell you about, I opted for a handful of my sometimes.

Don’t forget your cookie…

Wednesday Words…

If Eustace and I can help it, wherever we go and whatever adventure’s we take you on this year… we’re going to try filling them with laughter!

Why?

Well…

Why not?

Laughter is good for the soul…

And, the One whom I follow and serve happens to be in the soul business, and He does have a sense of humor… I’m certain of it!

Where do you think I get my sense of humor from?

It runs in my family!

Tuesday’s Tinkering…

I’m not really happy with the pictures I used to update Journey With Me’s website for the new year, so I’m sort of on a quest to find a fun theme for this spring.  What to do, what to do?

I could go full nautical, with short stories, ditties, and fun seafaring food recipes… stuff like that.

Or, I could head for the hills with a camping, hiking, woodsy theme…

I don’t think I’m up for foodie stuff on a large scale, and I doubt you are either.  We’ll just keep to the cookies,

with an occasional review from Gabriel, who considers himself a pretty good judge of flavors…

What I am seriously considering is a fun mystery kind of theme.  Some of you may remember when I did several episodes last year called Tuesday Tattler, which read somewhat like a journalist writing a column in a paper…

If I do a mystery theme, I think it would be really fun to take this miniature version of my persona and take her around the world on some hilarious assignments…

If you haven’t noticed yet, I deplore boredom… can’t stand wasting my brain!

And… if I don’t like reading the same old same old, I suspect that you don’t either…

As a writer, it’s important that I keep your reading experience fun and engaging, among other things.  Your thoughts are important to me, so let me know what you want to see more of this year…

And I’ll get right to it!

As Castle says, “It’s what I do!”

Monday Message…

We finally got to sleep in, with mom’s back hurting and keeping us up and all.  She actually slept all night long… and barely even moved!  I, being the older puppy (even if it was only by 12 minutes), felt some concern at first.  I insisted that Bailey lick the inside of mom’s ear just to see if she would move.  She did, but only to swat at her ear, nearly missing Bailey’s backside as she did so…

No worries… my sister slid down onto the pillow safely.  But, you have to admit that it would be pretty funny if mom’s hand made contact with Bailey’s bootie at just the right time, flinging her onto dad’s head.  On second thought, maybe not…

It’s really nice here, and we might both get kicked out of the bed… guilty by association, dad would say. 

Anyways, as I, Gabriel, seem to be the only one concerned about  sending you your Monday message (well, the only one awake), have taken the time to make breakfast for everybody. 

Help yourselves and enjoy the goodies.  I think I’m gonna snuggle back down with mom and sis for a bit…

Have a wonderful Monday!

Prompt Thievery (Me and My Shadow)…

I know that today’s prompt asked about my favorite road trip, but in December of 2023 there was a similar prompt that asked for my most memorable place visited… you say toematoe, I say towmotto!  Either way, it’s a fruitegible… just sayin.

Enjoy…

My most fond memory of a place visited would have to be Kamloops, British Columbia.

Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

When my oldest daughter was about eleven, I wanted to do something special with her… just the two of us. I packed her up and drove straight through from Seattle to Kamloops for a massive Native American Gathering… a Powwow! I had wanted to attend one for much of my life and finally had an opportunity for a Mom Daughter Road Trip, so I took it!

I woke my girl up during the night, packed her snoring little body into the passenger side of our Toyota Camry and headed for Canada. We drove straight through Banff National Forest, which was amazing, by the way. Once we got to Kamloops and dumped all our stuff in the hotel, we headed for all the noise!

*This is AI generated*

We attended two days of amazing displays of incredible Regalia, outstanding music and intense dance performances… f.y.i. taking pictures willy nilly is considered quite rude. If you wish to take a picture of someone, it is sort of expected to give a gift in return. I learned this early on and left my camera in my purse.

We toured the local museums, got lost driving around in the countryside and ate whatever we wanted. I will never forget that trip. I honestly can’t remember what I bought my daughter, but she picked out a necklace for me that I have kept to this day! It is a bronze cast of a wolf’s face. Though the necklace bindings all gave out, I have continued to reset the cast all these years later.

While some may think I remember the Powwow as my favorite place to visit… in truth, it’s the time spent with my oldest that holds my memories fast! She and I haven’t spoken in some time. Many years have passed since we were that close. No matter how angry she is, no matter how unforgiving she tries to be… I know we will always have Kamloops, and that is enough memory to get me to the gates…