An Old Favorite – Updated

When I was a kid, before microwaves, in a household that pinched pennies until Mr. Lincoln wished he had never entered my mother’s clutches, the above was a regular item on the limited menu.

Fast forward to this future, and you have me, who despises cooking and turning on an oven in scorching temperatures.

I have adapted the dish to something microwave friendly. The ingredients are:

Place a number consistent with your appetite on a microwave-safe plate. If desired you may make slits across the weiners to keep them from bulging in the heat.

Add:

You may use any brands you like, these are those I had on hand. Distribute ketchup over weiners in the desired amount and thickness.

Lastly, add:

I am a cheese fiend, and this is my favorite binge. Place cheese slices over wieners and bed of ketchup.

Place plate with preparations in the microwave, heat for a minute twenty seconds, or until you decide the meal is done.

Serve with your choice of chips (if you like) and beverage.

I do not usually share cooking ideas, so if you like this, drop me a line.

Have a blessed day and stay safe.

Changes Spark Creation

Design Your Space

I wanted to make a standing desk because I rarely sit down, that is how I lost sixty pounds, but that is another tale. I thought about putting cement blocks under the legs of the table I was using, but I thought that would look terribly unappealing. Though I have few visitors, my sense of style would have been insulted.

There were plastic file holders and other assorted important junk on this bar-like extension of counter space, I moved all of it. I cleaned the surfaces and moved the technological equipment and various desk accouterments here. There are spotlights just over this space, and the area is much brighter than where I had worked on the table.

My willingness to explore creative endeavors has increased dramatically. I have programs of which I never took advantage nor learned to use correctly; now I have begun expanding my repertoire and horizons.

I encourage you to optimize your workspace. Proper lighting is essential, it will lift your spirits and make your work much more comfortable. I did not spend anything to make the changes which I made. I merely expended some cognitive resources and some time. You can do likewise.

We often think our creativity is unaffected by outside influences, but the evidence shows that the environment can positively increase productivity.

I hope you will consider this advice, as always, take what you can use and discard the rest.

Your visits to my website are genuinely appreciated. If you have thoughts to share, please leave a comment. May all you do be blessed and may you ever be safe.

I am totally messed up! Really?

You alone are you, and you are enough. There is no need to hide who you are nor strive for unachievable perfection. You are adequate in all your ways. You be you and let the world think what it will, for you transcend the world. You are magnificent and whole. Be yourself. Believe in yourself. Use your creativity to outshine the stars, realize yourself more fully than yesterday, and build your dreams. Treasure your ideas and be uniquely and entirely genuine. Do not fear! There is no need to worry! Your journey will carry you where you belong. Trust that even in the darkest hour you are being led into your good.

Advice to a friend, I share with my friends…

You cannot give up, you have family and friends who love you more than they could ever express. You have survived and thrived in situations people cannot even imagine, you are as strong as most and stronger than the rest. You are vibrant, generous, friendly, loving, lovable, funny, kind, beautiful, and good; the world needs you and more like you. Believe in yourself, believe you are Beloved, remember the Lord is with you, and Never, Don’t You Ever, Give Up!

We Are So Much More

Growing wild in a world
Where trials seem like mountains,
And temptations insurmountable;
There is hope because we surely know
God loves us more than any creation,
And made us with greater love,
But look, see, even the weeds are beautiful.

Do not doubt your worth,
Do not hold down your head,
Do not tell yourself you are less
Than enough; you are purposed
For this time and place, a chosen one,
A Child of Most High God,
He gave you life, He builds your hope,
He knows your pain, He supplies fresh joy.

Every day you are given
Is a chance to enact agape goodness
To those traveling the same realms.
Lift up your face, set your shoulders,
Lighten your voice, settle your smile,
Claim your place as one blessed,
One Beloved, given to share Love.

I am grateful:

Even in my darkest times, I am given positive words to share.
Things are no worse than they are.
Libraries are bastions of knowledge.
I live in the hope of the resurrection, believing there is more than this life.
My dog, Hope is still with me.
I renamed Ko-Ko as Tribble.
There are always little things to bring smiles and satisfaction.

As a prompt: Consider the weeds, write or create what you will.

My Critic Delayed This

#2018-05-04 Face Your Fear

I tell you all to create; that you are creative. I did the above on May 4, my critic said I could not post it. It was not good enough, it was a dumb idea, poorly executed. It is true, I used to do better. My critic stopped my art.

I want you to know, that critic in your head when it tells you negative things before you even begin, and when you have made something, it is a liar. I like that song, “Fear is a Liar.” Look it up, and listen.

Face your fear, do not let it stop you from helping change the world. Your creativity is desperately needed. If you know, something is not all you want it to be, practice. No one became a master at anything without trying, mistakes, and continued training (self-teaching).

No matter what your mind, another human, a boss, a parent, a teacher tells you; if there is an attempt to stop your hopes and dreams, the advice is false, a lie. You are endowed with creativity and greatness. Let no one, and nothing convince you differently.

I fight this. Fear is a problem. We have to have the courage to be ourselves in a world where many follow the crowd. We are originals, all of us are unique, blessed with different vision, dreams, talents, gifts, and abilities. If we expect the world to be better, we must make it.

Prompt: Create something you have been considering, but your critic blew you off. All of us have something like that, I know you do.

I am grateful:

I slept good Thursday.
I have my new friends from Nigeria, they call me, it is so awesome.
Ham sandwiches.
Animal crackers.
Heritage Baptist Church, Douglasville, Georgia.

Speak no invective
To any living creature;
Our Judge knows each one.

Mother’s Day Without

It has not been a year,
But your absence is a void
I will never fill;
The love you gave
There is none other
Could replace its totality.

I try to forgive
The fact I did
Not appreciate you
Nearly enough;
I find no absolution,
No mending the pain.

The tears come less
Often like a deluge,
I am trying to build
A life I can inhabit,
But there is no
Denying the missing pieces.

I realize you would advise,
Be strong, happy, active,
Continue to create,
But Mama it is hard
Without your love, hugs,
Presence when I am weak.

I miss you like
The waves would the shore,
The stones would the earth,
The sun would the sky,
The moon would the night,
Without you, I am almost undone.

Yet, now, writing this
I know you know
All the things I cannot,
Will not say and you love me,
You always have, always will,
And I will see you again someday.

So thank you, Mama,
For giving me this life,
Believing in me,
Always loving me.
I will continue, I will succeed,
I will be who you thought I could be.

I have more, but this is sufficient. I bid you be well, be happy, create, share love all you can, be a friend to someone, never forget everyone is trying to overcome something, so live gently in the world.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. You know the deal, follow if you like, if not come back as you will.

God Bless and much love to all,
Jo Ann

Sunday, Not According to Plan

Sunday morning, I was going to church. I showered, dressed, loaded the Explorer, got in, turned the key and nothing happened. Therefore, I stayed home. This was not my plan. We make plans, life intervenes, it has ever been so. I did a little writing in journals, so I shall share it with you.

Make sure you share yourself generously with those you love and assure them of your affection and love. Life is a mystery, it comes sudden, and it departs without permission. The most important gift we are given is the honor of sharing our dear ones’ life. No promises we make, nothing we plan, no conditions or happiness are guaranteed. Live, live abundantly, unselfishly, trusting, caring, sharing, and loving with all you are, because this second is all you can be confident you own.

You may be able to break faith with your creative impulse, that is not a luxury I am privy to. Only God has more of a claim to me than does creativity, especially writing. Because it makes demands know in my daily relationship with my mind, and the Spirit is more gentle, the compulsion to make the words known is often very strong. If you can tame your intellect, bravo to you. Mine has me in a vise grip.

The Samsung cell phone and I are often at war. I am always trying to maximize it for my use. What is most disconcerting is when it disappears my apps or adds some I was not asked did I want. We are at a ceasefire at present. I made major changes.

Lots of people complain about rain, but I love rain. It means there will be water in the reservoirs, to nurture flowers, trees, and crops, and it washes the air so I may breathe easier. Yes, it is messy, and sometimes no fun, but the benefits outweigh the inconveniences.

I think you might use appreciation for others as your prompt and explore what is lost when someone passes from this plane.

A heart fully shared
Is an original gift
Only you can give.

I hope your week is progressing well and to your satisfaction. Even troublesome days have rainbow moments. Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I would love to know your thoughts on this posting. Should you wish to follow the website, there is a button, if not, please come back whenever possible.

As each day passes
Remember you must forgive
To completely live.

No one will remember your Facebook statuses or tweets on Twitter, but if you spend time face to face, you will insert yourself indelibly in their memory.

No broken person
Avoided, forgotten, goes
Without compassion,
Because the shattered can see
Holes in the fabric of time.

Look to God for your joy, and you will be less disappointed than if you depend on your things. May the Lord go with you every day and every way. Blessings to you now and always.