Planting seeds as we go . . .

"What seed have you sown in your garden of mind?
Wha thoughts have you sent into space?
Remember they yield you a harvest in kind,
A life you henceforth must face.

For you are the sower, you choose your own seed.
You fashion your future each day.
Your garden is fertile, producing with speed,
The fruit of each thought tucked away.

So if you wish happiness, health and peace,
Then choose well each seed as you sow.
Your future is shaped by the thoughts you release,
Each hour, each day as you go.
~Elizabeth B Waddell

I found this little poem and I thought to myself, how very true these words are. We are, each of us, the master's of our own destinies. If we sow evil around us, it is bound to come home to roost, and the reverse it also true. If we sow seeds of kindness, then kindness will be sure to bounce back our way. We surely do reap what we sow. Life is hard for all of us at one time or another. It goes in ebs and flows. The difference between a happy life or not . . . is in how we choose to face it, and the things we choose to plant along the way . . .



I do have a confession to make, but not just yet. I am waiting for something first, but soon, people, soon! I promise. I want everything in place first. I am a bit messy sometimes, but I do like to be organized. Things just work much better that way for me.

That's about all I have to share with you this morning. Sometimes I am full of words, and sometimes I'm not. I have often wondered, do I go on a bit too much? I don't know! I often wonder, do people visit me here at Oak Cottage for my thoughts, or for the recipes, or for a little bit of both? I like to think that it is a combination of things, and that I am able to uplift or inspire you with both. If I'm deluding myself, please don't let me know! ☺




Here is an easy and comforting soup that is just right for this time of year. We never know what each day is going to bring to the table weatherwise. It can be chilly and rather cold one day and then hot as hades the next. I often think that's why you see so many colds and sniffles around. This tasty soup will help to chase them away!



*Farmhouse Cheddar Soup*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe

This soup is delicious. I use a combination of cheese in it, but you can leave the blue cheese out without too much problem, if it is not to your taste. I, personally, like the slight tang it gives. If you wish you can reserve a few of the florets of cauliflower and then saute them until lightly browned in some butter, and use them to garnish the top. It does make a nice touch.

4 cups vegetable stock
2 cups chopped, peeled potato
1 head of cauliflower, trimmed and broken into florets
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 cups strong cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried dill weed
1/4 tsp dried mustard
1/8 tsp white pepper
3/4 cup whole milk

Combine the stock, potatoes, cauliflower, onions, carrots and garlic in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all the vegetables are tender.

Remove from the heat and let it cool for 15 minutes. If you have a stick blender use it to puree the soup until it is smooth. If not you may have to use a food processor or standing blender to do it in small batches, but proceed with care as you can get a nasty burn by doing so. The heat of the soup creates an expansion of air and it can blow the lid right off your blender! (If I am using this method I always put a towel over the top of the blender and then hold it down tightly!!!)

Return to the pan and whisk in the milk, 1 ½ cups of the cheddar cheese, blue cheese (if using), dill, dry mustard and white pepper. Taste for seasoning and add salt if needed. Cook and stir until the cheese is all melted and amalgamated and the soup is hot.

Serve in heated bowls with the rest of the cheese sprinkled on top. I like to make some little buttered croutons to float on top as well. I just cut out shapes of bread with a tiny cookie cutter and brush them with a little butter and toast them in a hot oven until they are nicely browned. A very delicious touch and quite pretty to look at!

Pork and apple together in a pie? Not possible? Check out The English Kitchen to find out just how possible and how delicious this can be!