While you may be used to my switching things out, now and again, I am about to perform a major alteration in the normal order of things about this site!
Why? What could be the reason for such sudden changes? Take a wild guess…
If you thought the answer was “A BABY”, then you win the prize!
I had a great many delusions of grandeur, in regards to this summer’s line up of stories, jokes, and anecdotes to regale you with… but, that has been thrown out with the bath water, as they say.
This ole mare ain’t what she used to be, at least when it comes to balancing a nearly 25 lb. baby on her hip for hours at a time. It never occurred to me how much energy my grandbaby would be requiring. So, after this last weeks schedule, I realized that things would have to change drastically, at least for the time being. As she grows and becomes more independent, things should normalize. For now though, we’ll be navigating these writing/baby waters more thoughtfully. Work smarter and not harder, as they say.
I realize that I’d previously told Lilly that Monday’s would be her baby question series, but I really need her help with things aboard the ship, as we search for Squagon’s lost squirrel kingdom.
I feel bad, honestly I do, but it made more sense to focus on one or two important tasks, rather than try and hold up the entire schedule of baby care, website activity, and my own personal projects that go on, after the daily posts have been completed.
I know she’s upset at the moment, but I give you my word that she’ll get her chance to write on Mondays, upon our return from this summers travels. Besides, there will be so much activity about the ship, and tasks she’ll be needed for; it’s doubtful that the ant will have a moment to think on it.
The two commitments I’ve chosen to hold myself to, are the Thursday and Friday postings. It shouldn’t be difficult to send you the updates from our journeys aboard The Torrent, as captain’s logs are a requirement while under sail… I think it’s maritime law, or something like that. The Friday posting, while supposed to be written live on that morning, will actually be worked out several days prior, after Maisie flies home to her mamma. Well, she doesn’t actually fly herself home. Brutus takes her back and forth, being that he can fly, and all.
From here on out, we shall be winging it, as they say. I know, I know… I use that sayin a lot. But, it’s not really my fault though. I can’t help it if those sayings keep popping into my head, and I’m certainly not going to take credit for what somebody else thought up!
This was a rather long winded way of saying that I’m busier than I expected to be, and the time spent with my granddaughter is far more precious than any writing I might ever accomplish. The writing will always be there, ready to go, but these fleeting days spent with Maisie are far more important, and they won’t be here for long. Before we know it, she’ll be walking, talking, and growing up. I choose not to miss any of it, not even for a moment!
And, I plan on sharing all those moments with you, my WordPress family. Isn’t that what family is all about?!
After Ollie’s abrupt departure, Maiyah found herself facing quite a different set of challenges than before. While she no longer had the need to hide Brugo, nor was she required to fulfill her normal list of chores, the poor barmaid was saddled with all the work Ollie normally did, which was far more than she’d ever realized.
There were the books to do each day, along with ordering fresh supplies, assigning duties, and paying wages to all those employed at the tavern.
The problem was… Brugo was in constant need of attention, often refusing to let Maiyah out of his sight. It was an unusual change in the little one’s behavior, since Ollie had gone. It was almost as if the baby were searching for him, from the moment she brought him down each morning, til they retired to her room for the evening. It seemed odd that the baby would notice Ollie’s absence, and Maiyah wasn’t entirely sure that it was all just her imagination.
What she did know with certainty, was the increase in Brugo’s crying sessions. He’d barely made a peep when she was hiding him in her bedroom, but now he seemed to cry all the time.
It made no difference whether she fed him, changed him, or even tried to play with him. No longer was it safe to leave the baby by himself, as he began to find mischief wherever he was, at the moment.
Somehow, he learned how to open doors, drawers, and any cupboard that wasn’t padlocked! Maiyah spent all her free time cleaning up his messes, which seemed to be everywhere.
Days turned into weeks, with Maiyah struggling to keep the tavern running, in Ollie’s absence. At times, she would feel so frustrated with her situation that it filled her with anger towards the aggravating ogre. She told herself that it wasn’t her problem, so this was the time to simply walk away. She could be well and clear of the place, before Ollie ever returned, and surely someone else could care for baby Brugo.
But then, at night, while she sat beside the sleeping babe, Maiyah knew that she could never abandon either the child, or Ollie. The orc was the only family she had now, just him and Brugo…
As time went on, Maiyah began to have troubling thoughts about Ollie’s version of things, as well as, how abruptly his behavior had changed when he read the letter she’d given him. How she now wished that she’d broken her own rules. She should have read the letter first, before giving it to the ogre.
Why would Ollie lie about the timing of when he bought her from off that ship, so long ago? There wasn’t any way that the sleeping baby was older than she was, as Brugo couldn’t be more than a year old, possibly two. Maiyah, herself, was nearly grown into a young woman, and she hadn’t been more than seven or eight when she first set eyes on Ollie.
And, why was he so quick to hand her the tavern key? The business of running the place had always been his passion. Something wasn’t right, and Maiyah knew it. But, as to what wasn’t right, the answer was yet to reveal itself.
A great distance from the old shanty town, Ollie found himself journeying along an old familiar trail, heading toward a distant seaport, rather than toward his clan. He’d already decided that he would not seek them out, as they had turned their backs on him after he abandoned Shelor, and his son. There would be no warm welcome from any of his clan. Some wounds run deep, and stretch beyond one’s lifetime, never to be mended.
Ollie felt a pang of guilt over leaving the way that he did, vowing never to return to that world, after the way things went with Shelor’s clan. The circumstances were partly his fault, but much of the blame truly lay with the leaders of both clans. They had ruined everything for the young couple, and when Ollie left, he felt certain that he would never look back.
It wasn’t Maiyah’s fault that she was neither ogre nor orc, by blood. How could he choose between the human child that he’d raised, and the woman he loved, not to mention his own son!
All that Ollie had ever wanted was a family; his own clan. Maiyah was just as much a part of that clan, as his wife and baby. For a time, he had actually believed that it might work out…
He split his time between the tavern, and life within his wife’s clan. But, for as much as he tried, Ollie wasn’t able to convince the clans to allow his human daughter to join them. Even Shelor had accused him of loving Maiyah over herself, and their son. Things quickly fell apart, after that. Both clans threatened to turn him away, unless he abandoned the tavern life, as well as, his human pet, as they called Maiyah.
Now, the ogre found himself separated from his clans, his wife and son, and his life upon the wharf. And, to make Ollie feel even worse, he bitterly regretted the lies he’d offered Maiyah, shortly before they parted. He was a coward! How could he tell her the reason why things had gone the way they had? She would be devastated at such an awful truth, just as he now felt.
In shame, the ogre made his way along the trail until it split, and then carried on down the path that led to the sea, instead of inland, toward his warring clans. There, he boarded the first vessel in need of an extra sailor, and sought to forget all that he was leaving behind…
Deep in the heart of orc territory, amidst a myriad of battle encampments, sat Brugo’s mother, Shelor. All orc were born to be warriors, whether male or female… it was the way of their people. Shelor had seen many battles before, though none since the birth of her son. It now felt different, somehow, though she found it difficult to understand the reason why. She should be proud to fight alongside her clan, and even more proud to die upon the battlefield. That was every orc’s pursuit, especially hers! At least it had been, at one time.
Sitting before the fire, listening to the men as they talked of the upcoming battles, all Shelor could do was think of Brugo. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again, never feeling the touch of his fingers tangled in her hair, nor holding him in her arms. What if she were to die in battle, without knowing what happened to the child? After the way she had crushed Ollie’s spirit over the human child he’d raised, Shelor understood why her husband would never come for her, now. The least she could hope for was that he would care for their son, in her absence. Surely, he would do that.
Shelor had watched from a distance, on the day she’d left Brugo behind the fish shed, just outside her husband’s tavern. The young barmaid that found the baby, fit the description Ollie had given of his human daughter, from what Shelor could remember. The girl looked kind, Shelor thought, and had felt sure that the baby would be kept safe. As she sat watching the flames flickering in the darkness, Brugo’s mother pray that she had made the right decision…
Back in the small shanty village, miles away from the orc battlefields, and oceans away from Ollie, Maiyah watched over the baby, as if he were her own. Night after night, she sat by his bedside as he lay sleeping, hoping with all her heart that Ollie would one day return. And, with the babe’s mother by his side!
Maiyah pray that perhaps one day, they could all become a family. The young barmaid hadn’t any memory of a mother, so the idea of a family began to wash over her like a comforting, warm blanket.
Many times, long after the streets lay empty and quiet, and when sleep refused to come, Maiyah walked along the dock, listening to the sound of the waters. Would Ollie ever return? A nagging doubt had begun to grow, as to whether the ogre had simply fled, abandoning both her and the baby.
In truth, Ollie didn’t owe Maiyah anything, nor was he obligated to her, in any way. She had been nothing more than a purchase, a worker for his tavern, so perhaps he hadn’t cared for her so much, after all…
Will Ollie return from the sea? Can Maiyah keep the tavern afloat, and still manage to care for Brugo? Will Shelor survive the impending battle?
Do you realize how easily I could spend someone else’s money? No one would ever offer me such a proposal, once they realized the damage I could do. Do we actually believe that most lottery winners make wise choices with all that cash they’ve won?
If they can spend money fast, I can do it faster!
You see, I’m not talking about shopping sprees and frivolous gifts for anyone close by, no no. In the span of 24 hours, I can do substantial damage to our national debt!
The first thing I would want to do is gather up all the politicians that have any real power, but I’d do it in the middle of the night. I’m sick of tax dollars being spent on their extravagant holidays, from such hard work that they claim to be doing on behalf of the American people. I’d get them all in the office, but on their dime, not ours.
Besides, the prompt didn’t give any stipulations, as to what time my 24 hour spending should begin. If we get all the paperwork done during the night, we’ll have the whole day to spend said money. See, pretty smart, right?!
What would we be spending money on, you may be asking. Why the people, of course! My desire would be to create a nationwide trust fund, and every politician, or government worker, must fork out 10% of their annual income to fill the coffers, so to speak. No one said whose money I get to spend, right?
Said trust fund would be meant for widows, orphans, and disabled, no questions asked! If anyone of those folks come knocking, they are to be given a monthly income provided by the trust fund, equivalent to the cost of living. Why am I adding such specific rules? Haven’t you seen Pirates of the Caribbean? Balbosa was very good at taking advantage of specifics. That’s how Captain Jack got marooned on that tiny island, and more than once, I might add.
So, anyway, if there’s any money getting spent overnight, it’s got to come from somewhere. I just want to make sure we’re not spending our own money, by whomever planned on funding this party. Isn’t that how it’s done? Promise someone something special, but in the end, they have to pay the tab? I know Oprah did it, with all those ridiculous cars she gifted to her audiences.
Just sayin!
Cookies should take the sting out of that…
Fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies spilled on a sunlit kitchen counter
Books, clothes, games, tools, fishing stuff, diving stuff, and of course, exploration stuff… check, check, and triple check!!!
Oh well, we can always send Brutus to retrieve anything we’ve forgotten, right?!
Now, for everyone coming along on this venture, a tour of the ship, as well as your quarters, is in order. Otherwise, you’ll never find the bathroom, and the babe’s will take all the best bunks.
Come on, let’s get you settled…
First stop is the kitchen. This is one of the best places on the ship, and where we spend a good deal of time together. Mini Wiwohka will be our cook for this voyage, as Miss Tilly has her hands full with babies, and all.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that Tilly had twins…
While mamma and babies are all doing well, Tilly won’t be able to accompany us this time. She is needed at home, which is totally understandable. With that being said, Mini Wiwohka has gained quite the skill in the kitchen, so we are all in for a real treat!
Moving on, let’s show you where everyone sleeps, as well as, the restrooms.
You’ll find that there’s a ladies room at the bow (that’s the front) of the ship,
And, yes, we do provide unlimited hot water. Why, we have a dragon to heat the hot water tank, of course! There’s water being piped to both bathrooms, the kitchen, and also a washroom for the cook.
Check out the boy’s bathroom at the stern (the back)…
Oh! I’m so sorry, Peanut! We didn’t know you were in here.
How embarrassing!
Anyway, you get the idea about where the bathrooms are, so let’s move on to the bunk area…
It looks as if Nugget has already claimed one of the bunks. You should probably make quick work of finding your bunks, before the rest of the babes get here. They should be arriving any moment.
Speaking of the babes arriving, I must leave you here to settle in, as I must finish my tasks before we depart. As soon as little feet start dropping on the deck, we’ll be shoving off. I want to get started as soon as possible. Hopefully, we’ll be weighing anchor shortly.
If you wish to say your goodbye’s, I suggest you stow your things and make your way above deck. I think I just heard Eustace moving about above our heads, so I better get up there. I made the mistake of telling him it was alright to bring extra things for the baby, if necessary. He’s gone a bit overboard (no pun intended, there)…
Oh, brother!
Well, at least the baby will have more than enough stuff to keep her happy. I can’t fault the camel for that. I know we’ll be thanking him later, and he knows it, too!
Luckily for you, she has her own designated bedroom, so Eustace can shove everything in her closet.
There should be more than enough room for us all, thanks to Creed’s handywork. It’s too bad that he couldn’t come, what with schoolwork, and all. We’ll have to make due without him. No worries, though. If anything needs repairing or replacing, Brutus can fetch him for us.
Ummm, I think that’s everything. If I’ve forgotten something, there will be plenty of time to figure it out, and fill you in. For now, let’s say our goodbye’s, or farewell’s, if that sounds more mysterious…
Awww, look how excited Squagon is to be leaving. It’s no wonder though, as this whole journey is to find those lost to him. And to think that you will be a part of this adventure, as well. I couldn’t be happier to have you all aboard.
Why on earth would I want to eat dinner with a complete stranger? How uncomfortable would that be?
Busily trying to prepare and serve food to someone I don’t know, while simultaneously attempting to hold a somewhat intelligible conversation with them, seems absurd.
You know, I went out onto the internet and queried a list of all the philosophers. It’s substantially longer than I expected, and no surprise here, folks… I didn’t recognize any of them.
That’s not to say that they don’t hold any value, or useful knowledge. It just means that I don’t know them, personally. What on earth would we talk about? I fear I would bore them with ridiculous questions about how they managed to survive without modern conveniences.
There honestly isn’t any list of important questions I’ve been holding onto, for someone I’ve never met. I mean, if they hold important information, don’t they normally write it all down somewhere, anyway? If I’ve a list of burning questions, I can simply look them up on the internet. Why do I have to fork out dinner for them, first?
Now, I would go back and walk beside some of our greatest prophets, and apostles of Jesus Christ. Those would be the only people of interest to me, as I spend most of my time reading and studying scripture about them. They saw the things that Jesus did while on this earth. They heard his voice, walked with him, and were taught by him. I’ve always wondered over the impact Jesus had on those He touched, those that were changed by his teachings, and his sacrifice.
Outside of that, I don’t really have any desire to seek a dinner reservation with anyone I don’t know, personally. Don’t judge! I’m just not a social as I once was.
With our departure this Thursday approaching rapidly, there’s a good many things still needing to be done aboard The Torrent. Along with the comfort level of all her guests, this ship needs to become more solid, as a whole.
I’ve made numerous Avatars of the differing personalities you see, moving about the ship, but no solid re-usable image for the ship, herself. Don’t ask me why I like to refer our ship as a her, but I thought to look it up, out of curiosity. Did you know that there’s an actual reason for calling a ship her? Well, there is…
Referring to ships and cars as “she” or “her” is a centuries-old tradition born from a mix of historical superstition, deep emotional bonds, and linguistic quirks. [1, 2]
The main reasons behind this practice include:
Maternal Protection: Historically, sailors spent months at sea and relied completely on their vessels for survival. Because a ship carried, nurtured, and protected the crew from the harsh elements, it was often viewed as a maternal or goddess figure.
Linguistic Roots: In ancient languages like Latin, objects (including ships) were assigned grammatical genders, and the Latin word for ship (navis) is feminine.
Honoring Loved Ones: Sailors famously named their ships after wives, mothers, or influential women as a mark of respect and to bring good luck on perilous voyages.
Appreciation for Elegance: Just as with ships, early cars were highly prized, expensive possessions. Early enthusiasts and drivers anthropomorphized them, assigning feminine pronouns to reflect beauty, sleek lines, and perceived grace. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
Huh, go figure! Well, at least now we know why, right?!
Anyways, back to the work at hand. The Torrent needs to become a solid ship, before we can adventure anywhere, so let’s do this!
First, we need some images to begin the process:
As you can see, creating a visual that is authentic and yet appealing isn’t such an easy task. Just trying to be far away enough to capture all her sails and riggings, is a feat, in and of itself. I spent some time out on the internet, looking through differing styles of ships, masts, and sails. It’s quite extensive, actually.
Here is the image I worked with last year, from OpenArt:
Starting with a simple boat image, I worked with Norbert to enhance the colors, and transition into a more authentic design:
From those images, I finally struck gold, so to speak:
Now this is a good stock image, I think. It’s still rather simple, as those sails, ropes, and riggings need a lot of work, if we’re to seem legit!
How bout these?
All that’s left to do now, is to take the handful of images we’ve gathered, and hand them off to Norbert. Let’s hope the ai can create something beautiful…
I think she is coming along nicely, though we’ve still work to be done on that figurehead… what on earth is that supposed to be, anyway, a fishhook or something?
Overall, I feel rather confident that things will all be ready to go, come Thursday.
For those joining us, don’t forget to bring your Dramamine, if you get seasick. While the seas in this image seem calm, once we leave the safety of shore, all bets are off! It can get pretty choppy out there, and where we sail will be quite stormy, at times.
At least you’ll sleep good, knowing that the ship is sound, and the crew be loyal, to a fault.
Much of my life has been spent running… running from hurts, fears, and enough self-doubt to sink a battleship, as they say. From the time I was a small child, anything that caused one or more of these emotions, meant it was time to run away.
I ran away from an abusive and neglectful home, ran away from every foster home they put me in, and tucked myself away from watchful eyes. Much of my youth was spent wandering the streets, in the hopes that I might find my own safe place.
Somehow, I managed to let my own fears and self-doubts destroy my first marriage, and the lives of my children. Ouch! Yeah, fear will do things like that.
For much of my 58 years on this earth, I allowed my own fears to dictate my journey. I refused to let go of all that haunted me, all that continued to cause incredible damage to my body, mind, and soul.
When Covid brought about a nationwide shutdown, the world around us imploded! When that occurred, the scales of balance in my fear department were simply shattered beyond recognition! The weight of it all seemed to crush my spirit, leaving nothing more than an emotional disaster area!
Not more than three years ago, I chose to quit running from painful things, as I’d been doing all my life. The running hadn’t done anything for me, aside from make things worse. God offered me the freedom of letting go, surrendering it all to His will, and trusting in something other than myself, for once. While I’d been a Christian since the age of 18, I never fully let go, and let God, if you will. I’d made a right disaster of my life, thus far, so I had nothing to lose.
Well, I did have some things to lose… like that ole fear and self-doubt that the prompt was asking about. It’s not a perfect walk, nor always an easy one, as I’ve shared with you on occasion. But, whether the journey is easy, hard, long, or even painful… it is without fear, and for the most part, without any nagging self-doubts. If any of those pop up, it’s not God that’s the problem, but my willingness to surrender.
So, when fear and self-doubt come knocking at your door, you don’t have to let them in. Be brave, be strong, and lay those fears down. They won’t change the outcome of a thing, unless you let them.
With the shocking reveal of baby Brugo, things took a sudden turn in the way Ollie saw Maiyah. The grumpy ogre now found himself at the mercy of his young bar maid, as he had no idea how to care for a baby. He felt awful for the way he’d treated her, always yelling at her, and making her work such long, hard hours in the tavern. He’d never shown her the love she deserved, and yet, Maiyah was as loyal as they came. For days, she’d been secretly caring for his own son, and under his very nose.
As the two stood watching the sleeping baby, Ollie worried that the child would be frightened of him, and wouldn’t recognize his father, as they hadn’t seen one another since the child’s birth. Ollie could see his wife’s features on the baby’s face, even though Brugo’s eyes were closed.
The infant looked just like his mother. Her face was etched upon the ogre’s heart! There hadn’t been a day that went by, in which Ollie hadn’t thought of her…
The ogre’s heart hurt, when he considered what could possibly possess the child’s mother to abandon her son.
He looked down at the letter in his hands, afraid of what might be written on the paper. Ollie knew that the answers he sought would be written there, but he was terrified of what it might reveal…
“You should read her letter, Ollie.” Maiyah encouraged the ogre. “At least we might have some answers.”
Ollie wept openly, as he read the words from his wife. Never before had Maiyah seen the ogre cry, nor show any emotion, aside from being grumpy all the time and yelling at everyone. Here he was, looking so hurt and confused.
Suddenly, in the middle of reading the letter, Ollie gave a shocked and startled grunt, causing Maiyah to jump, and disturbing the sleeping baby, momentarily.
“What is it, Ollie? What’s wrong?” Maiyah whispered gently, placing her hand on his arm in concern.
“War,” replied the ogre, in a subdued voice.
“War has been declared between our people. My wife, Shelor, has been called to battle with her clan, but my own clan has chosen to stand apart, due to my being rejected by her clan.”
“Oh, Maiyah, this is terrible! Their clan hasn’t the number needed for success, which was why we tried to join with them, in the first place. We were trying to help strengthen both our nations, but while the marriage was sound, the joining of clans failed, entirely!”
Ollie looked toward the sleeping baby, then to the letter, and back at the baby.
Then, after several long moments, he turned his attention to Maiyah. Ushering her out of the room quietly, they headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
“I know that I have no right to ask this of you, Maiyah, and it is certainly within your rights to deny me, but… I need your help! I am torn between caring for you and Brugo, and finding my wife. I know what I must do, but I need your help if I’m to do it.”
“What must I do?” Maiyah asked.
“I must return to my clan and convince them to assist Shelor and her people,” Ollie lamented. “Whether or not I am accepted, doesn’t have any bearing on whether we should protect my wife and son.”
“Then you should go to her, Ollie,” Maiyah asserted.
“But to go means that I must leave you, Brugo, and the tavern. It’s all we have for coin, food, and shelter. How can I choose?”
With a resolve born of love and commitment, Maiyah stepped directly before Ollie, placing both her hands on his arm. “There are enough workers for the choring, and the sailors all know of me, so why not let me run the inn, while your gone?”
“You would do this for me?”
Remembering back over the years they’d been together, Maiyah’s eyes misted over with tears, as she replied, “You are the only father I have ever known, and you’ve cared for me all these years. Of course I shall do this for you and Brugo, both. You are my only family.”
“I have treated you terribly, Maiyah,” replied the ogre, shamefully. “I should have given you my name long ago, and you don’t deserve to work like a hired worker. If you will do this for me, I give you my word that things will be different from now on.” Reaching out, he took the young bar maid in his arms, affectionately. Briefly giving her a fierce hug, the orc quickly gathered the remaining supplies needed, and stuffed them into an already full satchel.
Before leaving, he gathered all the workers together and gave strict instructions to obey Maiyah’s orders around the tavern, as she would be in charge, until his return.
Stepping out the back doorway of the kitchen, Ollie turned and handed Maiyah the keys to the tavern. “Now that you are running things, I don’t want you doing your normal chores,” he stated. “You’ve Brugo to look after, and coinage to be mindful of, instead. Leave the tavern work to the others, and just watch over the work. And, please don’t keep Brugo closed up in your room, any more. It’s not good for either of you.”
“You don’t want to see your son before you leave?” Maiyah questioned the ogre.
“He will know me, but not now. First, I wish to bring his mother home, if that makes any sense. I want our first meeting to be a happy one, and without his mother, it just feels wrong.” Somehow, that made sense to Maiyah. She nodded her head in agreement to his explanation. Quickly, she gave Ollie one last hug, and then reluctantly stepped back, and said her farewells.
Watching the ogre walk down the dock, and disappearing into the crowd, Maiyah wondered how on earth she was going to do any of the things she just promised Ollie. She’d never run the tavern without Ollie roaming about the building somewhere. Now it was up to her!
Will Ollie find Shelor and her clan, before it’s too late?
Why are the clans suddenly at war? What happened?
How will Maiyah manage to run the tavern, while caring for baby Brugo?
With Monday being as busy as it was, what with baby Maisie here, I wasn’t able to do my normal writing, like I’d planned. Things should be a bit more settled by next week, and then I’ll start my new Exploring Babies series.
For now, Wiwohka said that I could help her with the Tuesday Tinkering segment she normally does. I guess she felt bad for leaving me out, yesterday. I totally understood though, just by watching her carry a huge baby around all day. How can something so little, be so heavy? But that’s for my Monday writings, so no spoilers.
Any how, I know Wiwohka’s been really hard a work, writing the story about the baby orc, and all. I thought I would surprise her with a new character creation for the baby’s mom. I know there isn’t one made, as of yet. But if I don’t make it quick, Wiwohka will make one before I get the chance to do it for her.
Let’s see if I can do this. I’ve been watching how it’s done, so I think it might be possible to do, even if I am only a tiny ant. Here we go…
Now, we already have the first image Wiwohka used for last weeks episode, so we’ll start by using her for our template,
There was also one other image that was made, but not utilized yet,
I think her face seems too pinched, or to snooty, if you will. Baby Brugo is adorable, and I can’t imagine his mamma to be so gruff looking, even for an orc.
I used the program feature that allows me to make some images that are either slightly varied, or greatly varied, from the original image. When I tried the slightly varied, I got this,
When I opted for the greatly varied button, I got this one,
I like this second one, much better than the first. She looks softer, and more like what Ollie would be drawn toward. Well, that’s what I want to think, anyway.
So, now comes the hard part. We take the three images, along with a few different poses of each, so that the computer has enough to work with, and we head to the creation board. Wish me luck!
…………………………………… intermission ………………………………………….
Wow! That was much harder than I thought it would be. Wiwohka made it look rather easy to do, but I found it nearly impossible, at first. In the end, I think I did alright. She will either fix it the way she wants it, or simply make one of her own characters, though I hope she’ll be pleasantly surprised, just as I hope you will be…
I like her! She is a warrior, of course, but still a mamma. I know that orc’s are known for their prowess in war, as well as, their fierce angry nature, but she’s still a mother, right?! Mamma’s love their babies, don’t they? I hope Wiwohka will see that in this character, but that’s for her to decide, not me.
Well, I hope I did alright for this mornings tinkering session. Thanks for letting me be a part of it. In the future, however, I think I’ll leave all this technical stuff to the professionals. I’m gonna stick to the writing bits from now on. That’s where this ant excels, don’t you think?
See you next week for my normal Monday Messages… hugs from all of us, here in the barnyard.
Honestly, my list of simple pleasures is extraordinarily long, so I’m unable to pick just one to describe. Since that makes for a very poor response to the daily prompt, I want to make the effort of giving you something worth reading.
If I can’t answer straight up, then the next best thing is to seek somebody else’s answer, right?! So, I asked Mr. McGoogle the prompt question. The response was much better than I expected. Instead of giving just a basic answer, the ai overview actually helped me understand why it was so hard to pick a simple answer.
Why is it so hard to pick one? Because we’ve been asked to give a simple pleasure that brings joy, not some huge undertaking, or major life-altering activity.
Anyway, here is the response from the web’s ai overview:
Life’s simple pleasures are the easily accessible, everyday moments that ground us. They bypass the need for grand milestones or large budgets, offering immediate calm, happiness, and a restored sense of well-being. [1]
I liked how the ai summed up a little breakdown of what exactly life’s simple pleasures might look like. From there, it broke it down into categories, so you can see how many directions one might go, in selecting their favorite simple pleasure:
Discovering these little pockets of joy helps shift the nervous system into a state of rest and relaxation. Explore some of the most universal everyday joys organized by category: [1]
☕ Sensory & Comfort
Taste: The first sip of morning coffee, biting into fresh, juicy fruit, or the rich taste of dark chocolate.
Touch: Crawling into bed with fresh, clean sheets, or feeling the warmth of sunshine on your face.
Smell: The aroma of fresh rain on hot pavement (petrichor) or the scent of a favorite candle. [1]
🌳 Nature & Outdoors
The Elements: Stepping on crunchy leaves in the fall or feeling a cool breeze on a warm afternoon.
Observation: Listening to early morning birdsong or looking up at the moon and stars.
Sensation: Walking barefoot through plush green grass or breathing fresh, salty air at the beach. [1, 2, 3, 4]
🧘♀️ Mind & Body
Routine: Waking up naturally without an alarm or taking a cozy afternoon nap.
Release: A deep, satisfying stretch after waking up.
Peace: The clean, uncluttered calm of a tidy room. [1, 2, 3]
🤝 Connection & Hobbies
Communication: Receiving a handwritten letter, or exchanging an effortless laugh with a loved one.
Leisure: Sinking into a really good book or listening to an old, nostalgic song.
Company: Having a cat choose to rest on your lap, or simply people-watching at a local coffee shop.
If I could choose a simple pleasure from the Sensory and Comfort section, it might be a really rich scented candle, leaving it’s aroma throughout the room. My favorite kinds of candles are the deep, earthy kind, with differing notes of oriental spices, and such.
Choosing a simple pleasure from the Nature and Outdoors section, I’d pick walking barefoot on the beach, and stepping into the surf, just enough to feel the waters pulling me toward it.
From mind and body, I’d probably be the stretching girl. I wonder if yoga would be my jam?
Last but not least comes the Connection and Hobbies section. For this I’m choosing the entire Leisure section, and not just one answer. Why? Because I can, that’s why. Music, books, and old movies are definitely some of my favorite simple pleasures to indulge in, just so you know. But only some, which is why I had to give this incredibly longwinded answer.
Why I didn’t just pick baking cookies, I don’t know. Hey, it’s early and I was a bit slow on the take!
Try one, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that a good cookie can be a very joyful simple pleasure, or maybe a guilty one. I’m sure you’ll figure it out…
Journey With Me! 