(2023) I’m a Cookie Monster at Heart…

Wiwohka6 Comments

Daily writing prompt
What food would you say is your specialty?
View all responses

While I can make a pretty mean chili, salsa that can melt the paint off a house, homemade soup bowls to fill with dreams, and a good many other dishes I picked up along the way… baking is my passion!

Not just baking, but desserts mainly… and not just desserts… I LOVE COOKIIIIEEEESSSSS!

I am well versed in baking most types of cookies, but my most highly prized handheld delight would by my secret recipe of ………………..

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are not just anybody’s cookies, but my own twisted version. While I won’t tell you the exact recipe, I will say that it mostly has to do with HOW I bake them, more so than all my secret stuff I throw in before baking the dreamy mouthfuls.

Let me just say that I have perfected the art of perfect oven temperature, yummy ingredients, and a sore back from standing bent over in front of the oven, and watching for the perfect moment to pull em…

They come out golden brown and crispy on the surface, but when you break them open they are perfectly ooey gooey on the inside… A tall glass of milk is a must for these, as I forgot to mention that I make them about the size of an open hand, not a child’s hand, no no no, but a grown up people size hand…

They were Huge!

When my girls were small, we spent a great amount of time involved in church. Every spring the church would do bake sales to raise funds for our Children’s Ministries. I would make a triple batch of my cookies, wrap them individually in colored cellophane and ribbon, set up a spot on the church bake sale table, and watch the cookies disappear within less than a half hour. That’s a lot of cookies people, A LOT!

When I refused time and again to give up my recipe to some of the moms, I seriously worried for my safety a few times… lol… just kidding!

I did often jokingly say that my recipe was a Government Secret and if I told them the recipe, I would have to make them disappear… that always got some laughs.

So there you have it folks, hot off the press… we can bake cookies pretty good!

**The original cookies had mold all over them, so, as per my commitment to quality… These are fresh!

Wednesday Words…

Wiwohka16 Comments

If you hadn’t already noticed, my writing has been rather ping pong like, of late. The lack of nutrition, lack of proper medication, and lack of any urgency by my doctor, has begun taking a toll on my ability to concentrate fully… not to mention the mental and emotional toll.

The soonest the surgeon could see me is November 6th, due to his being on vacation. Apparently, when a doctor takes time off, the world has to stop getting sick til they get back in the office. I’m rather surprised that a fully functioning hospital only has one specialty GI surgeon on staff. Anyway, they were going to make me wait until December 18th until I began to sob uncontrollably and beg them to see me sooner. According to the surgeons scheduling nurse, my referring GI doctor has at no point, made mention in my chart notes of any urgency in things. I don’t think doctors want to doctor any longer.

At least they moved my appointment closer, but that means I still have to make it another 2 more weeks, just for the consultation. I’ll still have to wait for him to agree that it’s medically necessary, let alone schedule a surgery.

I’ve been surviving on a bowl of oatmeal, and a chicken/rice/vegi bowl thing I’ve concocted for optimal caloric and nutritional needs… I can’t get beyond about 650 calories per day. This has been my meal plan since the beginning of July.

That means no coffee, gluten, dairy, chocolate, and absolutely everything outside of a list of about 8 safe items to meet my needs daily. I am slowly starving to death, but at least it’s SLOWLY, which buys me time.

I am fully in God’s hands, so no worries. Like I’ve mentioned in the past, writing out my feelings on WordPress, is really my only outlet. I often share my journey with you, not for pity or pocket change, but to remind myself that I exist, and am called to continue forward in faith… even when my strength is gone. Thankfully, that is where God shines the brightest!

The reason for all this TMI is simply this,

For the next few weeks I’ll be posting articles solely from the archives. As I feel that my health situation has compromised my ability to write amidst this part of my journey, I’ll be relying on all the oldies but goodies, so you should enjoy it, I think.

I won’t be absent from you, nor will I stop reading and supporting you in all that you do. I simply need to get past this little dip in the road, if that makes any sense.

Let’s have some fun with these next few weeks and go wild with all the memories! I want to do a whole retro thingie, reposting some of the Do You Remember Mondays, Investigating Truths, Live Novel Fridays, Note To Self Saturdays, and even some Live Wire Sundays.

And, I give you my solemn oath that I shall bake fresh virtual cookies, even though the articles aren’t fresh. Stale cookies just won’t do…

Plenty…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Photo by LT Chan on Pexels.com
Daily writing prompt
What major historical events do you remember?
View all responses

Thanks but no thanks, in regards to what historical events I remember. Let’s just say that I’ve seen some things, heard some things, and experienced the fall out from said things… and I’m still trying to unthink much of the ugliness displayed during these so called Historical Things!

I’d love more than anything to hold a list of my favorite historical events worth remembering, but since they have to be things I myself, personally observed… I got nothin!

Based on my understanding of this prompt, the events should be only those I actually remember happening… meaning, only the ones I witnessed, personally.

While I do have a memory like a steel trap, I don’t really feel much like dredging up the past, as I’m struggling to survive our current historical events… sorry, not sorry! I’m full up!

I apologize if this answer seems a bit sharp, but this girl is Hangry, this morning. The only historical event that I want to witness is the kind where a Doctor can doctor with education, skill, and compassion… and, without prostituting themselves to Big Pharma!

Cookie?

Here, Pturkey Pturkey…

Wiwohka5 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?
View all responses

I suppose if I’m to think of the biggest dish I’d like to bake, it would be Baked Pterodactyl… you know, like a Turkey but bigger!

If a Turkey dinner could feed a family of 5 for several days, then why not use a bigger bird? And, as I’ve no desire to eat any of the pretty birds like Ostriches, or Big Bird, for that matter… we’re left with the Pterodactyl.

The down side is, I’ve heard that Pterodactyl meat shrinks in the oven due to being rather dry.

Maybe I should just stick with Turkey…

Yes, I understood what the prompt was actually asking, but as I’ve no risks that need taking, I went with the birds.

Oh, and don’t forget your cookies…

So which Way is it, anyway?

Wiwohka6 Comments

Now, I’m not saying someone did something wrong, or anything, but they sure made it confusing for us young readers.

Driveways, Parkways, Freeways, Doorways, and such, all share the Way part… but that’s where any normalcy ends. I get the meaning of way, because it’s describing the meaning of passing through, or

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

way /wā/

noun: way; plural noun: ways

  1. 1. a method, style, or manner of doing something.”there are two ways of approaching this problem” h Similar:methodcourse of actionprocessproceduretechniquesystemplanstrategyschememeansmechanismroutinemannerapproachrouteroadmodus operandi

There was more detail in the definition, but I’m only interested in the first part, which is simple enough to understand.

I understand the definition of Way… but that’s the only part that makes sense. It’s the other half of the word never makes much sense…

Why do they say Driveway, when we park there, but call it a Parkway if we drive on it? Have you ever been given gifts or complimentary packages while driving on a Freeway? Doorway makes sense, because it’s a door that you pass through, right? I don’t want to guess what a Highway is supposed to offer, verses the rest of the Ways… sheesh!

I think grown-ups make these word things a lot harder than they should be, if I’m being fully honest. In truth, I’m fairly certain that we all do this at times. I think it’s in our nature, or something like that…

How bout them cookies…

Wiwohka4 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What are you most proud of in your life?
View all responses

There are many different emotions I’ve experienced over the years, and to be honest, pride hasn’t been one of them.

I’ve felt humbled, exhausted, grieved, and abandoned, on numerous occasions, but pride… sorry.

I suppose that if I’ve felt any pride at all, it’s in my children. Through all my selfishness, mistakes, and missteps, my prodigy make me very proud. They’ve survived and thrived, despite all the things I did wrong.

Now, before you start thinking that I’m doin the “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I’ll eat some worms” song and dance, I’m not! I’m simply saying that parents aren’t perfect, and most of us had no idea what we were doing when they handed us our first baby.

The fact that my offspring are breathing air, have all their extremities still attached, and know not to drink the acid out of a car battery… I should be very, very proud… just sayin!

Don’t forget your cookie…

It’s time to bake bread…

Wiwohka11 Comments

Today, I shall be tackling Gluten-free bread baking, both sweet and savory, I think.

I know for certain that I want cinnamon in there, somewhere.

This’ll be my first attempts at working with yeasted Gluten-free dough, so pray for me, lol!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone… Hugs

Too Late…

Wiwohka8 Comments
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
Daily writing prompt
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
View all responses

The problem with asking the same question year after year is that I’ve now run out of secrets.

Duh! Blogger, here! Before finishing my second cup of tea each morning… I’ve already overshared something!

Just be glad that I try to use some form of discretion, or things could become quite awkward.

Cookie?

Tilly received a letter…

Wiwohka1 Comment

When I opened my eyes this morning, I found Tilly staring back at me, from across the pillow. She held something that looked like a letter, and I couldn’t see who it was from, but the look on her face was answer enough. Young Henry had written to Tilly, that much was quite clear!

But, why the long stare fest? What was in the note? At first, I honestly thought Tilly looked more frightened than happy. For a moment, I feared something unpleasant may have occurred. Only after taking the letter she offered me, did I come to understand her conflicted emotions…

The words of the letter were few, but very heartfelt, as young Henry wrote down his words of love for our young Tilly.

My Tilly
I love you
I hope you love me
Meet me at our spot by the river, if you can
I want to ask you something.

Henry

No wonder Tilly has such a strange look on her face… She is truly in love. The rush of emotions, fear of the unknown, and excitement for what’s to come, all bouncing around inside… yep! I’ve seen it before, and even though I’m seeing the backside of my fifties, I too, remember the butterflies, giddy laughter, and rush of emotions at every smile or touch… yeah, I remember them like it was yesterday.

So, it has now become my joy and honor to walk this journey with our young Tilly. Whatever she needs, we’ll be there to help and guide her along the way… that’s what family does.

Once Tilly saw how excited I was, her face relaxed into a more dreamy and confused state. She just kept twirling into things, as she wandered about looking for what to wear. I picked out several of her favorite dresses, in an effort to speed things up a little. For the next hour and a half I watched Tilly get dressed in one outfit, leave for the river, and then return to change into a different dress…

Finally, she made up her mind…

I do really love that sweater she’s wearing. Young Henry’s mother made it for Tilly while we were out to sea, presenting it to her upon their first visit, once we’d returned to the Barnyard. Tilly absolutely loves that sweater, as I think it bears a great deal of love, woven throughout the garment.

So anyways, I watched from the front porch as Tilly scampered across the grass, and down the path toward the river… I stayed there to watch til long after she’d disappeared into the trees. I could only guess as to what would come………………….

…she’s late…

… maybe she won’t come…

I think she loves me…

… what if I’m wrong, and she says no?

Well, God told me to ask her, and I did read that verse saying, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart”. I think it was Psalm 37:4…

Here, she comes…

I can do this, I can do this…

Ok…

Ahhhemmm…

Miss Tilly…

I love you with all of my heart. In fact, I’ve loved you from the moment we met. I offer you all that I have in this world. Please say that you’ll be my wife…

……… give em their moment…………………………….

(10 minutes later)

I am getting married… I am getting married! He asked… he really, really asked me to marry him…

…………………………………………………………………………………………

… she said yes… she actually said yes, God…

What am I standing here waiting for… I gotta go tell mamma! We’ve got things to do…

…………………………………………………………………………………………

… What am I doing dancing around in the woods? I can’t wait to get back to the barn and tell Ma.. Mee… oh for heavens sake, I’m callin her my Mamma cause it suits her, and she’s always been there for me…

… and I’m gonna need her now, more than ever! I hope she knows what we’re supposed to do. I don’t know the first thing about getting married…

My kind of lazy is never unproductive…

Wiwohka4 Comments

Daily writing prompt
Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?
View all responses

Lazy days, for me, are a far cry from being unproductive! Are you kidding… while I might be resting in my favorite chair, I’m busy saving lives! If the world ever has a zombie outbreak, my services are going to be in high demand.

Do you even realize how much laziness I have to endure, just to keep my trigger fingers in good working condition? Are you going to know how to zombie proof your safehouses? I bet you never thought about that!

Then, there’s figuring out how and where to get food, fresh drinking water… and bullets! I’m forever in search of more bullets… oh, and repair kits. You’d be surprised how often your weapons need repairing.

Then there’s zombie proof clothing (that’s armor) and antibiotics! Don’t let yourselves get bit, or anything. I’d hate to have to shoot you!

Yep! You’ll all be thanking me…

Want a cookie?

Just kidding!

I’d at least pick the cookies up first, just to flick off anything unpleasant! I’m not a monster… just a survivor! Now eat your cookie, and don’t ask what’s in the ingredients…