Wednesday Wit and Wisdom . . .

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."
~George Bernard Shaw

Most of the greatest lessons that I have learned in my life have been learned by making mistakes, and let me tell you now . . . I have made some real whoppers!

Lessons like . . .

Any job worth doing is worth doing well. There is no point in cutting corners and rushing through a job to get it done sooner, if, at the end, you have really botched things up in your haste, and have to redo it anyways. You might just as well have done it properly in the first place, which can save you a lot of time and grief.

Read a recipe thoroughly and assemble all the ingredients before you start to cook. I can't tell you how many times through the years that I have gotten something half put together only to realize that I have completely run out of an integral ingredient, or that I should have waited til the end to add something that I added too early . . . Reading a recipe through and making sure you have the necessary ingredients to hand are two very important steps any good cook needs to follow judiciously!



Pretty much anything I know about computers . . . I found out by making mistakes. Thankfully none of them were so horrific that they actually broke my computer, but I have had some very close shaves!!!

You should not compare yourself to the best that other's can do. By doing that . . . you will always find yourself coming up short. Just do the best that you can do all of the time, and nobody can ask anymore from you than that, plus you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did your very best. Doing anything else only really cheats yourself in the long run.



Credentials on a wall don't make a better person or a more decent human being. There is not much good in having credentials and stacks of degrees, unless they are accompanied with compassion, understanding, forbearance and love.

In order to be a good teacher . . . you have to be teachable yourself. Acting like you know it all doesn't make you any friends and it sure doesn't help anyone to want to listen to you. There is always something valuable to be gained from listening to another's point of view.

It takes years to build up trust, but only seconds to destroy it. Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. If you choose always to be honest in your dealings with others . . . and with yourself . . . you can save yourself a lot of grief in life.



Actions always have consequences, and it's always wise to think of them before doing or saying anything. If don't think you can live with all the possible consequences, then you best rethink what you are going to do or say. You know that old saying, "Act in haste, repent in leisure?" Well, it's true!

Just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean that they do!! I have known some really successfully married people with wonderful relationships that argue all the time. They seem to thrive on it, and . . . I have known others that never argue, but have pretty empty and meaningless relationships.

Just because someone doesn't love you the way that you want them to love you, it doesn't mean that they don't love you with all that they have to give. Take whatever love you are presented with and embrace it. Know that it comes from the heart, even if it isn't accompanied with hearts and roses. Some of the simplest gestures can be the most loving and enduring.

Your life can change in an instant with a single action or a word that will give you grief for the rest of your life. Choose both carefully, for . . . once they are out there, they cannot be taken back.



It is often easier to forgive others than it is to forgive yourself. It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself and that can sometimes be the hardest thing of all to do.

It's not what you have in your life, but WHO you have in your life that counts. You could have everything in life that anyone could desire, but . . . if you have nobody to share it with, it is pretty meaningless. Life was meant to be shared.



True heros are the type of people that do what has to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

No matter how hard you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will also be hurt in the process. It's all a part of living. We need the knocks and bruises that life deals out in order to grow. Some of our greatest strengths arise from being challenged and hurt.

You can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes, but after that . . . boys oh boys . . . you had better know something!!! There's no use pretending to be an expert at anything if you really aren't. The truth always outs in the end.



You cannot MAKE someone love you. All you can do for sure, is to be somebody worth loving . . . the rest is up to them.

and, finally . . .

Crying over spilt milk, doesn't get it wiped up!!!

I hope you have enjoyed what I have written this morning. I am sure that you could probably relate to at least some of it!!!

Here's a fun little recipe that kids, old and young alike always seem to love. These go really well with soups or beans, or even chili. They're also very tasty on their own. The recipe makes a lot, but they do freeze rather well, so no worries there!




*Corn Dog Muffins*
Makes about 18
Printable Recipe

One of the most popular things at local country fairs back home are corn dogs. You can buy boxes of frozen ones in the grocery stores also. I think they are called Pogos, but I am not sure if I am remembering correctly. Smokey hotdogs on a stick, dipped in a delicious corn batter and fried. You can get them over here, but I like to think that this is a somewhat healthier take on the same idea. Take note you do have to store them in the refrigerator because they contain meat. These are great snacks or lunch box treats and they are fabulous served with a nice plate of homemade baked beans!

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 TBS soft light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tin (418g) of creamed corn
1/4 cup milk
1 cup grated strong cheddar cheese
5 smoked frankfurters, sliced

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Grease three six cup muffin tins well. Set aside.

Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Mix well. Beat the eggs, cream corn and milk together in a large measuring beaker. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients all at once. Stir together only long enough to combine. Fold in the cheese. Divide this mixture evenly amongst the prepared muffin cups. Push pieces of hot dog down into the top of each muffin. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until well risen and nicely browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from the pans to a wire rack to finish cooling.

I like to serve these warm, but they are equally as good cold. Kids really love these!



Over on The English Kitchen today . . . delicious Cherry and Almond Scones.