Pace the living room, arms hugging my chest. My growling belly needs comfort and protection, not for need of nourishment, but because it craves. Outside, snow drives sidewise, piling up outside the doors, gathering in dark window corners.
The fire’s lit, has blazed and quieted to embers. Red is poured, been airing and warming for half the day. White rises, bowled, in stiff peaks in the refrigerator. Dinner’s been dispensed with, a thick, hot mess of beans, beef, and tomatoes. Yes, I’ve planned this winter respite.
The timer dings, chocolate molten lava cake is ready. Bring on the Whip!
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2020)
Carrot Ranch Prompt (08/06/2020): In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about molten lava. It can be real-time, such as a volcanic event or the result of one in the geologic timeline. Or, think about making the prompt into a metaphor of heat. What is so hot? Go where the prompt leads!
Valley of the Trolls 
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Yes! Oh, this makes me crave a good winter storm meal. In a way, I felt like the start of Covid lockdown was like hunkering home for storms and I felt the craving to bake and cook. I want toat cocooning again.
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We’ll get that, soon enough. Went hiking at the end of a downpour that visited us with a double rainbow. Then went home and had a creamy tomato bisque soup. Heavenly!
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That’s the sweet spot in life, Liz!
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To have warm food on a cold day…yum. Sounds amazing.
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“White rises, bowled, in stiff peaks in the refrigerator.” That’s a clever trick. How do you do that?
Your writing belies the old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” No painting or photograph could put the reader into all dimensions as do your judiciously and poetically arranged words.
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I do that with a blender set on high, in a bowl of heavy whipping cream. 🤗
(Cuts & spoons out a slice of cake & hands over the bowl of whip, with gratitude)
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I like the way you ride out a winter storm! This sentence struck me: “My growling belly needs comfort and protection, not for need of nourishment, but because it craves.” Being snowed in causes (at least for me) a certain anxiety and it leaves one in need of comfort and food fills that need perfectly. Let’s see… three months and you could be living this story!
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Looking forward to it. And when the snow slows? Kickin’ it out on the x-country ski trails. Woot!!
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What a great read in the middle of our summer heat! I’m going to remember this story post come January!
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That makes two of us…Lol!
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