Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Remembering How to Breathe: Word Counters

 

 

Word Counters, a multiblogger writing challenge | Developed, run by and graphic property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
 

Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month one group member picks a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with.






 This month's number is 17. 
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border.

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme (remembering how to) breathe.

~ Four chaotic years, especially this past month, proves it's possible to hold your breath while still breathing.

~ It's psychological, emotional, the difference between automatic respiration and the cleansing, deliberate ability to really, freely, breathe.

~ Virus, mass death, disinformation, selfishness, herd immunity, all inhibit the ability to breathe, even while still breathing.

~ Alliances, relationships, reputation, diplomacy, democracy, safety, science, medicine, environment, elections, education, stability, security, all dangerously at risk. 

~ Blacks, browns, Jews, gays, liberals, Muslims, police . . . with targets on our backs. No wonder we can't breathe.

~ You can cook, write, binge watch Schitt'$ Creek, and torture your kids. Diversion's necessary but not cleansing.

Parmesan Garlic Loaf is an easy compliment to any meal. This crusty loaf is filled with swirls of garlic and herb butter and parmesan cheese. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bread

Parmesan Garlic Loaf
Parmesan Garlic Loaf is an easy compliment to any meal. This crusty loaf is filled with swirls of garlic and herb butter and parmesan cheese. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bread
 
~ No administration's perfect, either party. I'd been disappointed through the years, but at least I could breathe. 
 
~ History will judge us all. Harshly. Can we at least show that we've learned from these atrocities?
 
~ The people's house is welcoming new occupants. Finally. Goodbye Putin, narcissism, deceit. Welcome back norms, decency, decorum.

~ This ends not the damage done, but the spiraling, frenzied calculated chaos. And I intend to breathe.


Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:


Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics





Parmesan Garlic Loaf         
                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1# frozen bread loaf
3 TBSP + 1 tsp garlic and herb butter spread, divided
2 TBSP + 1/2 tsp grated parmesan cheese, divided
2 TBSP flour

Directions:
*Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and wrap around the frozen bread loaf. Refrigerate for 4 hours (or overnight) until defrosted.
*Spread the flour on your counter, remove the plastic wrap from the dough (keep the wrap) and place the dough in the flour. Allow to sit for 1 hour.
*Grease a loaf pan. 
*Press the air bubbles out of the dough and roll into a square about twice the length of your loaf pan. Carefully spread 3 TBSP of the butter spread onto the dough, leaving about 1/2 edge. Sprinkle with 2 TBSP grated parmesan.
*Fold the dough in half so it's about the same length as your loaf pan. Roll it up and place into the pan. Cover loosely with the plastic wrap and move to a warm dry place to rise for 4 hours.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove and discard the plastic wrap.
*Bake the loaf for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately, gently, spread the remaining butter spread over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese.
*Run a knife around the edges to release, then remove from the pan to serve.

14 comments:

  1. This is EXACTLY how I feel! I've been like a cat on a hot rock for four long years. Longer, even because it started the night HE was elected. I remember it so clearly. Movie with our good friends and Timmy's hot chocolate afterwards. The next table was rejoicing over the election results. We stared at each other. Surely not?! Lived with that disbelief for what seemed forever!
    I think of Foghorn Leghorn, "My lungs crave air!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. And I'm thinking about Annie: "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow. You're always a day away."

      Delete
  2. I was breathing easier just reading your post. But, being the pessimist that I am, I don't believe we are anywhere at the end of "this". It will just keep popping up and popping up like a horrible Whack A Mole session. And yes, history will judge us all. So let's turn to food, which is always comforting. As far as your garlic parmesan loaf, I don't dare make it because I would probably eat the whole thing at one sitting. Too tempting. Alas. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that it does and will keep popping up, I'm hoping that how high it can pop up before we wack it back down never again parallels the height it reached these past 4 years.

      Delete
  3. If we don't breathe we are dead just saying
    Learning to breathe through issues is for some harder then it should be

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think how hard it is depends on how long the issue goes on.

      Delete
  4. I will breathe when it is done. I don’t have high hopes for the next administration being able to bring us together in peace. At least there will be decorum in the West Wing. I have no hope for the Capitol, it will be trash talk as usual. Until the hearts and mind of all the people are void of hate, nothing will change. We are a house divided.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we are forever changed but there are some things that will be better, like the approach to beating Covid, return to the climate accord, having our president respected on the world stage. It's a start and I'm grateful for it.

      Delete
  5. It’s so funny I was just saying that I want to learn to make bread. I’ve never tried. For some reason it intimidates me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't do yeast, we've battled over the years and although I've won a round or two, yeast has won the war. So this is a cheat bread. I can live with that.

      Delete
  6. This was so deep and emotional, Karen! I can relate, but again I feel WE [the people] need to be more accepting of each other to surpass all these problems we've been facing! Before we blame anybody, we must look at ourselves where we stand, and how best we can participate to bring a good change and to make a difference that can help everyone live and breathe freely.

    https://www.thepositivewindow.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I'm hoping that we can remember how to come together, to work together, and to heal this country.

      Delete

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