Just pencils...

This sweet parable was sent to me so I thought I would share it with you. If anyone knows the author, please let me know. I would like to thank this wise person.

"A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it in the box:

1) Everything you do will always leave a mark.

2) You can always correct the mistakes you make.

3) What is important is what is inside of you.

4) In life, you will undergo painful sharpening, which will only make you better.

5) To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are is what's inside of you."

Star Pie...

When I was a little girl, I absolutely hated leftovers. However, my mother thought leftovers were wonderful. Now that I have grown up, I understand why. The best thing I have ever created using left overs is a "Star Pie".

Following a dinner of a 'Mediterranean' pot roast, which had been cooked in the slow cooker, there was some wonderful left over beef.

I rolled out a rectangle of puff pastry. Then on one side, I placed pieces of the roast beef, roasted garlic, sundried tomatoes, and some fresh spinach. Next, I folded the puff pastry in half and pinched the edges closed. After brushing with a bit of egg yolk, I placed cut out puff pastry stars on top and gave them a little brush with the egg. The 'star pie' was then cooked in a medium hot oven for about 30 minutes, or until browned.

The results were spectacular! Flaky crust, savoury beef, plenty of green spinach with the sophistication of the sundried tomatoes and roasted garlic…. dare I say it was heavenly?!

If you haven't tried puff pastry, be brave, roll it out and get creative!
This is one 'leftover' dish that has become a 'star' in my cooking repertoire!

Less is more...

The issue of ‘stuff’ has been discussed between my husband and myself quite a lot lately as we are dealing with some end of life issues with my mother who is very ill, but currently stabilized.

We recently visited her where she lives in a nursing home. She shares a room with another resident. Over the past 10 years in various assisted living arrangements, and then nursing homes, she (or rather we) have helped her pare down to the bare essentials. It is amazing that when it gets to the later stages of chronic illness, stuff has little relevance.

Currently, her possessions are the following:

* collection of family photos in frames set along the windowsill (5 in total)
* wall clock which chimes the time of day with a little ‘bird call’ sound
* painting of two brightly coloured parrots (she is legally blind in one eye; other eye was removed years ago)
* personal care items (lotion, toothpaste, comb, etc.) which fit into one drawer
* two drawers which hold her nightgowns
* 1 robe and 3 sweaters
* Kindle Fire (avid Scrabble freak)
* compact DVD player (like small laptop) for listening to audiobooks from local library
* bird feeder outside her window so she can watch the birds
* 1 pair of headphones

She owns no underwear, no shoes, no coat, and no other items. When the time comes, it will take no more than 2 boxes to clear out her room.

We enter the world with nothing and, when we depart, we need nothing.

It was a humbling visit. She is bed-ridden but can feed herself and play Scrabble. She seems happy and at peace. She has finally arrived at a place where less is more. She seems to only ask for two things: chocolate pudding and Oreos. A simple request and we indulge her. Her strength and dignity shine through and she makes a point to make us feel at ease with her smile and her words.

We all go through life growing, dreaming, accumulating, down-sizing, dying. It all just depends where on the “Wheel of Life” you are at any given moment.

Not a judgement, just an observation.