 A Moment withDonna
…….Lesson from a Donkey
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into an old, dry well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, totally frustrated, he decided the animal was old, the well to deep and as it needed to be covered up anyway it just wasn’t worth it to continue to try to retrieve the donkey.
So after explaining his plight to his neighbors the farmer asked them to come over and help him take care of the unique situation. Sympathetic to his dilemma they all grabbed their shovel and began to pitch dirt into the deep well. At first the donkey, when he realized what was happening, brayed horribly. It was quite upsetting to listen to…then to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few hours later, for this was a very deep well, the farmer finally looked into its depths. What he saw astonished him!
With each shovel of dirt that was pitched over the well’s wall it fell on the donkey’s back. The donkey realized that this was his way out and instead of braying he concentrated on shaking the dirt off of his back and stepping onto the raised surface underneath his hooves. When the farmer told his neighbors what the donkey was doing their spirits lifted and they shoveled dirt into the well as fast as they could. Each time this was done the donkey would shake the dirt off and step up. Within a few hours the happy donkey was high enough within the well that he stepped out of the well onto level ground, walking away from what had seemed an impossible challenge without any practical resolution.
~~Author Unknown
This story I thought was terrific and the person who sent it via email didn’t know who originated it but the moral of the story was pretty straightforward. Thinking, instead of fretting, evaluating circumstances and going with the flow is what life is really all about. There isn’t a one of us that doesn’t get ‘dirt’ thrown on us at one time or another. Sometimes we end up in a deep well of circumstance that seems to confine us terribly. It is ok to cry, wail and even bray at the top of your lungs if you think it will make you feel better. However, when one quiets down, evaluates and thinks through possibilities, then takes one step at a time, eventually we climb out of our dark holes of experiences moving on to new levels of life and learning.
Fall is a magnificent time of the year. Just about everywhere you look the colors of Nature’s paintbrush are evolving into brilliant yellows and gold, vibrant oranges, reds and lush shades of brown. It truly is a feast for the eyes, heart and soul. Take time to feast on this banquet of Nature’s visual bounty and breathe in the aroma’s of fall’s perfume for it signals the richness of change before winter comes to keep us company. Every season of life brings its gifts.
Live in the moment for it is how you deal with it that creates the future. If you can’t enjoy the now how can the future be any different from what you are experiencing today? You are the wizard of your destiny. The magic lies within you and only you can bring it into your life by how you think, feel and act. Remember the donkey…he figured it out and so can you.
Have a fabulous day.
Donna Seebo
The Recipe Box – Pumpkin Custard with Peppery Pecans
Everywhere you look golden orange pumpkins are piled high. Pumpkins have been used as a food source for thousands of years. Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C.
Here is a recipe that I found in Better Homes & Gardens I think you’ll enjoy. Between the sweet and spicy ingredients it makes for a delicious dessert that will be a delightful addition to your traditional recipes.
Ingredients: 2 eggs-lightly beaten, 1/2 -15 oz. can of pumpkin(about a cup), 3/4 cup whipping cream, half & half, or light cream, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, a cup), 3/4 cup whipping cream, half & half, or light cream, tsp. salt, 1⁄4 cup Peppery Pecans, 1/4 cup maple syrup.
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl combine eggs, pumpkin, cream, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Beat until smooth. 2. Place 4- 6 oz. custard cups in a 2-quart square baking pan dish. Divide pumpkin mixture among cups. Place baking dish on oven rack and pour boiling water into baking dish around cups to a depth of 1 inch. 3) Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the centers comes out clean. Remove cups from water, cool on a wire rack. If desired, cover and chill for 1-8 hours. 4) To serve, unmold custards onto four dessert plates. Sprinkle with Peppery Pecans and drizzle with maple syrup.
Peppery Pecans; Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9x9x2 inch baking pan with foil, lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup broken pecans, 3 Tbls. Granulated sugar, 2 Tbls light-color corn syrup and ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper. Spread nuts in the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring twice. Spread on a piece of greased foil to cool. Break into clusters. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Makes about 1 cup.
A Bit of Pumpkin History.
The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for "large melon" which is "pepon." "Pepon" was changed by the French into "pompon." The English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion." American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin."
Native American Indians used pumpkin as a staple in their diets centuries before the pilgrims landed. They also dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. Indians would also roast long strips of pumpkin on the open fire and eat them. When white settlers arrived, they saw the pumpkins grown by the Indians and pumpkin soon became a staple in their diets. As today, early settlers used them in a wide variety of recipes from desserts to stews and soups. The origin of pumpkin pie is thought to have occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and then filled it with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire.
Gold Nuggets
True Stories about Real People
This is a true story that was passed along to me and I thought it fit this season of the year well. Enjoy.
This story was told to Will by Frank Romer, a member of the University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, England, Paranormal Club. You must decide its veracity yourself.
A paranormal investigative group in Cheltenham were called to a "haunted house." The homeowners warned the group that the house was haunted by an especially "nasty" spirit that enjoyed playing pranks.
The team leader of the paranormal society invited along a friend from Gloucester; he was a physicist, and amateur paranormal investigator everyone called "Doc". Doc believed that there were no such things as ghosts or poltergeists, and that every type of haunting or unusual phenomenon had a reasonable, earthly explanation.
They travelled across the town in cars filled with team members and equipment. Upon arriving at the home, the team immediately started setting up the monitoring equipment as the team leader and his friend, Doc, received a tour of the home from the homeowner.
At one point in the tour, as the three men approach the staircase that led to the second floor, very loud footsteps could be heard on the upstairs landing.
'Is anyone else home?' Doc asked the homeowner.
'No, my wife's at work and we have no kids,' the homeowner replied.
Excited to have his first opportunity to confront an alleged ghostly spirit Doc walked to the foot of the stairs. 'Come on. You can do better than that you lousy ghost.' Doc yelled up the stairwell.
'Doc, I wouldn't do that if I were you,' the paranormal team leader advised. Doc ignored him. Instead, he stepped up onto the bottom step. 'If you're really a ghost, why don't you show us what you can really do, you lousy, no-good prankster!' Doc bellowed.
The moment the last word came out of his mouth his trousers flew down around his ankles. The homeowner and the team leader burst into laughter as Doc, terrified, struggled to pull his trousers back up. He then stumbled as fast as he could out the front door of the house. He refused to re-enter the house or to talk about the episode ever again.
However, the episode went down in the records of the University Paranormal Club as one of the most humorous moments the team had ever witnessed in a haunted home. They still tell this funny ghost story to every new team member.
Author Special Mention for October
Each month I interview 20-25 authors and they all have something special to contribute to making this world a better place. You can find out about each of them by going to www.bbsradio.com Station One and look up what is listed for the month and a brief summary of information for each publication.
Here are my three picks for interesting reading for October.
1. ‘What’s A Parent To Do’ by Dr. Abraham. A parent’s worst nightmare..their child has become an addict of alcohol or drugs. What are you to do? How do you educate yourself? Who do you go to for help? This is one of the best books I have read on the subject. This is a must read.
2. ‘Wilma, An Alaskan Tale’, by Tam Agosti-Gisler. This is a true story about a woman’s experience in Alaska with wolverines. The story was tucked away until her daughter found it and decided to publish it. It is an incredible tale that will capture your imagination and heart.
3. ‘The Idiot’s Guide to Identity Theft’, By Mari Frank. With our electronic age a whole new type of criminal has evolved. These criminals are very savvy about how to use technology to steal your most precious asset – your identity. This book gives you the tools to work with if you should ever have this awful experience.
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