The Golden Eagle Story . . .

I'd like to share a little story with you all this morning that I read a few days ago and which really inspired me. I like to call it The Golden Eagle Story.

Once upon a time, far, far away . . . there was a chicken farmer who had found an egg which had rolled out of an eagle's nest. He knew that if he put it back into the nest, the mother would probably reject it and push it out . . . he also knew that if he left it where it was, it wouldn't develop either, and so he did what any caring person with a barn full of chickens would do . . . he took it home and popped it under a sitting hen.

Eventually all the eggs in the chicken's nest hatched out. The young eagle found itself scratching around in the dirt, daily . . . with a family of chickens. He may have been a bit larger than the others, and even a bit uglier . . . but he felt quite comfortable with them as it was the only home he'd ever known, and they were his family.



One day he looked up and saw a great eagle soaring in the sky. What's that he wondered? How majestic. He asked his mother chicken.

"Why that's a golden eagle." she replied. "Monarch of the birds."

Oh, he thought, and then he returned to scratching in the dirt, satisfied with his mother's reply . . . and content with being a chicken, for that's what he thought he was. Little did he know that he, too, could have soared across the sky, like the eagle he was born to be . . .



Isn't that true of many of us? We remain earthbound, scratching in the dirt, instead of realizing our full potential and flying high. I believe that each of us have been given great talents and that we should develop and use them whenever we can. We each have the potential to soar across the sky.

No, they may not be magnificent talents like painting Mona Lisa's or singing wonderful songs . . . it could be something as simple and yet as great as being able to help other people feel better about the world and themselves . . . the talent to bring a smile to another's face and a song to their heart, but it is a talent all the same.

Today it is my prayer that we will all find the means, and discover our ability to soar across the sky, like the eagles we were born to be . . .

We finally have heat and hot water again. The boiler man came and fixed our boiler yesterday! (Fingers crossed!) Brrr . . . it has been a couple of cold days with no heating or hot water! It sure is nice to be warm again! I am so grateful that I live in a country with central heating!



I had such a nice surprise yesterday evening. The telephone rang and it was my friend Lura from California (Grammy's News). She and the whole family were calling to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving. I was so touched by their love and thoughtfulness. Lura and her husband John had to say goodbye to their dog Heidi earlier this week. It was very sad for them. She had been their beloved companion for 12 years. I know how heartbreaking that is, having gone through it myself earlier this year. Why not pop on over to her page and give her a hug. I just know she would appreciate it. She's that kind of gal. She's a special person, a truly special person.

This is one of my favourite ways to cook sweet potatoes. Not only are they quick to do but very delicious, and sweet potatoes are very good for you. They are known for being one of the “super foods”, full of vitamins and goodness.



*Sweet Potato Oven Fries*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

These are so quick to make and so full of goodness. You can vary the spices if you wish, but this is the combination we love. It’s a great combination of sweet and savoury. I could eat a whole plate of these and nothing else!

4 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed and dried well
2 TBS olive oil
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp of mild chili powder
½ tsp of garlic powder
½ tsp of onion powder

Pre-heat your oven to 205*C/425*F/ gas mark 6. Lightly grease a shallow baking tray and set aside.

Take your sweet potatoes and cut them into medium wedges lengthwise. There is no need to peel them. I think the peels give them even more flavour. Put them into a bowl along with the olive oil and all the spices. Give them a really good stir, making sure they are coated evenly. Scatter them onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

Pop the baking sheet into the heated oven and bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until they are tender and starting to brown, turning once, halfway through the baking period. Remove from the oven and serve right away. They will not be as crispy as regular potatoes would be, but they sure are delicious!



In The English Kitchen today, a delicious Pork and Mushroom Casserole.