The power of words

I love words.

I think I always have.

My mother has said I always have....I believe her.

Recently I spoke of how much I miss reading.

I think about reading a lot- I wish I could translate that thinking into actual reading.

While I have been stuck in my readers block I have been thinking about the power of words.

I have ALWAYS been confused & a little dismayed by this old rhyme:

STICKS & STONES MAY BREAK YOUR BONES
BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT YOU.

Do you remember being recited this as a child?

I do.

It NEVER made sense to me.

I have always been in awe of words.

By the messages we can convey with them.

By how we can use them to express how we feel.

They have an incredible power..... more powerful than most things.

Words can last a lifetime- can change the direction of our lives.
Words can fill our soul with joy & warmth.
But INCREDIBLE hurt can be inflicted by words- hurt that stays buried & aching forever.
Broken bones mend.

I love to read how different people put words together.

I guess it is EXACTLY this that I miss about reading other peoples words.
I miss how when I read,  it opens a window into thoughts that perhaps I couldn't put into words or pictures that I couldn't portray.

This week I read some lines from Charles Dickens- still as powerful & magnificent as he ever was.

Such inspired language. So rich & beautiful.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
English novelist (1812 - 1870)

It reminded me how & why I love words so very much.

I was left taking a deep long breath.  Flummoxed by the beauty and fullness of his words.

It left me still.

It had reminded of the power of words.

GOURMETGIRLFRIEND'S ZUCCHINI FRITTERS with DILL & FETA:
Zucchini's are just BEAUTIFUL at the moment.  I love them but I konw lots of people who are not fussed.
Try this EASY PEASY recipe and enjoy.  It is the same basis as Potato latkes- you can just substitute the zucchini for Potato.  Your kids could make this recipe quite easily.
They are great served on their own or as an accompaniment.
I served mine alongside a pan-fried Snapper fillet for a really quick dinner last night. So simple & delicious!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 2 zucchini, grated
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• a bunch of dill, chopped
• S & P
• 200g feta, crumbled.
• olive oil for shallow frying
• sour cream to serve- optional

METHOD: 
Squeeze the grated zucchini to remove excess moisture.

 

Add eggs, dill, feta, flour, baking powder & salt & pepper.

Mix ingredients well.

 Heat a non-stick pan to medium heat.  

Add 2 teaspoons of Olive Oil.

Use a tablespoon to pick up a large spoonful of mixture and add to pan.

I fried 3 at a time.

Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes.

Remove and serve immediately topped with a little dill, some crumbled fetta & a dollop of sour cream.