“I found peacefulness of spirit

in a quiet forest glade.

And a beauty in it’s silence

that a city never made.

The reflections of a tree-top

and a cloudlet, fleecy white,

enticed my wistful fancy

to a pool off to the right.

And I languidly leaned over,

and I garnered from the sand

a brightly colored pebble

that I held within my hand.

Then I tossed it through the stillness

and it landed in the pond,

and the ripples spread forever-

to the shores- and far beyond.

So may one small act of kindness

change a million lives or more

as it does it’s work of wonder

far upon another shore.”

~Clifford Williams, Falling Leaves

I am going through an old blog that I’m closing down, moving some things to my others, and thought I’d share this here today. My mom wrote this article for me last year and it’s been such a blessing. Hope you are encouraged, as well!

Have you heard of the “ripple effect?” One small change in the decisions you make could tremendously change the quality of your life and the life of others. This concept can apply to all areas of your life. Each act of kindness, each bit of knowledge shared, all ripple outward to make a positive difference in your life and the lives of those around you.

Lets apply this to your family and your kitchen. How can you change the cost and quality of the meals you serve? For example, instead of buying the expensive apple pie that is screaming at you from the deli section, (or 4 of them, if you have a large family) buy a bag of apples and make a delicious apple crisp. It costs less and is much more satisfying.

This apple crisp recipe is a spin-off from one I have had in my recipe box for years. I have revised it to fit my current basic kitchen stock.

 
 
Oatmeal Apple Crisp
8 apples, peeled and sliced
2 1/2 TB cinnamon sugar mix
2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
2 c. raw oats
4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. butter, cut up
1/2 c. melted butter
sweet cream*

Grease a 13×9 pan, add apples, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. In separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients, except for the melted butter and cream. Use a fork to cut in the cut up butter, then pour the mixture over the apples and pour the melted butter on top. Bake at 375º for 30 minutes and serve warm with sweet cream.

*To make the sweet cream I used a can of evaporated milk and beat it till fluffy, and added a cup of sugar and blended.

“Nothing had been changed by my presence. Or had it? Maybe a pebble lying for years in the same spot had dislodged and was now being carried down to the sea by the stream. Here and there underwater flora had been disturbed, bent down by my feet. Was a person the same way? On the surface appearing unaltered, moving along as always with no apparent difference in character, but underneath changing from day to day because of encounters with people and events?”

~Tara’s Song by Barbara Ferry Johnson