Rebuild and Recharge: Use Your Words

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I'm using: stomping ~ music ~ screaming ~ brown leaves ~ green grass. They were submitted by Dawn of Cognitive Script.

                          
The brown leaves gave way to bare trees and, like it does every year, winter arrived. Shaking my fists and stomping my feet (and that's even before they were snow covered) I railed against the cold and the ice and the snow, but still, as I knew it would, it came.

Today, for the fourth glorious day in a row, I'll walk past the beautiful, vibrant emerald green grass, over the bridge and onto the beach. Waves lapping is music to my ears I'll walk barefoot with my tootsies in the gulf, eyes peeled for some of my favorite shells: conch, spiral, and of course the elusive sand dollars. I'll feel the sun on my sunscreen covered shoulders and sigh, as I always do as I head towards Tigertail beach, or the other direction, towards the Marriott.

My mindset switches to content here, my soul is nourished. The sun, the beach, the salt air, it all does that. I'll be back here this afternoon with my boys and a beach chair but for now I just walk. And breathe. Grateful that the island is still here. Battered and bruised but here.

picture taken by cousin Mira Dee

In September Hurricane Irma hit this beautiful little island head on. Smacked it silly. Streets were flooded, homes and businesses destroyed. Never in my life have I seen a bare naked palm tree and I hope to never again.

picture taken by cousin Mira Dee

She will carry her scars, but the beauty of this island will live on, and for that I am eternally grateful. Because, it turns out, I need her. I realize that every time I return and walk this beach. Just as this island is making her way back to her best self, she lifts me up to my best self.

Tonight after a dinner of fresh fish, we'll sit on the deck with a cocktail (Pina Colada for me, thanks), my mom and my sons and I, and watch the big red glorious sun slowly sink into the Gulf. If we're lucky, a pod of dolphins will show themselves just before dusk takes one more day of heaven on earth away.

Pina Colada Popcorn

In 6 short, way too short, days I will say "good-bye" to my mom and to my younger son, to this glorious island, and get on a plane and head back to the land of the coats and gloves and scarves. And although I know I must go, chances are College Boy will have to drag me onto that airplane, kicking and screaming.

Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:

Bookworm in the Kitchen 
On the Border
Cognitive Script
 The Bergham Chronicles
Southern Belle Charm
The Blogging 911
Part-Time Working Hockey Mom   
Climaxed

Pina Colada Popcorn

                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
3 TBSP salted butter
1 tsp of rum extract
2 tsp grenadine syrup
1/2 cup chopped dried pineapple
about 12 cups Kettle Corn (sweet popcorn)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut flakes on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake until it just barely start to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove immediately and set aside to cool.
*Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Stir in the rum extract and the grenadine.
*Place the popcorn in a large bowl. Drizzle half of the butter mixture over the popcorn, mix well, add the rest of the butter, mix well. Last, mix in the toasted coconut and dried pineapple.