The Moral of the Story...Stone Soup

This is my favorite story, and a recipe i would like to share with all of you in good fun. This is one to share with your children. It shows when people work together giving everything they can...a greater good can be achieved.

"Once upon a time, somewhere in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering soldier came into a village and began asking questions as if he planned to stay for the night. “There’s not a bite to eat in the whole province,” he was told. “Better keep moving on.”

“Oh, I have everything I need,” he said. “In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you.” He pulled an iron cauldron from his wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.

By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the soldier sniffed the “broth” and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.

“Ahh,” the soldier said to himself rather loudly, “I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage — that’s hard to beat.”

Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he’d retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. “Capital!” cried the soldier. “You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king.”

The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the soldier a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved."

4 fresh tomatoes
1 lb. Italian sausage (bite size pieces)
1 can (14 oz.) tomato sauce
7 c. beef stock
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. barley
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c. sliced carrots
1 tsp. basil
1/4 cup italian parsley
1 tsp. oregano
2 c. sliced zucchini
1 c. fresh mushrooms
1 green pepper, diced
1/2 c. green peas
2 c. frozen tortellini

Combine first 9 ingredients in a large pot and simmer 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer an additional hour, adding more water as necessary to cook tortellini. Of course, you must have a proper stone in the bottom of the pot to make it authentic Stone Soup. Apparently quartz is a good choice, as it doesn’t break down. Makes 10 servings.

Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness are as powerful as a smile. They are small they require near nothing in effort, and are rewarded with one of the greatest things in the world; one we may find ourselves complaining we dont have enough of...appreciation. Try it just for fun. It can be something as simple as stopping to turn around with a smile, and holding open a door for a complete stranger, or even helping someone complete a task they are struggling with. Everytime you receive a thank you, We receive appreciation...you know that thing we always bitch we dont have enough of?

That is all it is, and it will make you feel amazing to know it is noticed!

I remember a story almost 7 years ago now where i had went a little out of my way with this moral. It was a girl i had met, and one i will never forget. She worked in a huge city, and me being the country boy was completely and utterly lost. I walked into a gift shop, and asked her for directions. I know i needed help.

She had a beautiful smile, and without even a hesitation helped me find where i was going. Suddenly i felt like that huge city was almost as comfortable as home. I thanked Kari, and left the store. I wanted her to know how she made me feel, and let her know how appreciated she was. I immediately ran off to the nearest flower shop in the mall (Haha yes as corny as it sounds!), and grabbed her a single rose. The smile i got in return when i gave it to her made me feel damn good inside. I felt even better to see how happy she was...you see i was the first person to go out of my way to bring her flowers.

Kari's favorite flower is a blue orchid maybe one day she will tell you why.... Two people that never would have known each other from that day forward formed a friendship, and to this day i am sure she thinks of me as i think of her smile.

Imagine what life would be like if everyone took just a minute to do something little for one another. If we actually showed our appreciation towards each other. I am sure that we will no longer complain, or feel we are lacking...

Smile and the World will Smile Back

This is an interesting concept i really love to follow. It is almost as literal as the title believe it or not...I swear sometimes people think i am right estranged because i smile all the time. What do i gain in return for smiling? Just a smile back. It seems so small yet it is so simple, but it probably has more impact on a person than one would think. A smile is something you dont really see everyday. The importance of smile is definately underestimated.
It can open a conversation, bring a comfortable feeling to your day, or even get you noticed in a world of millions of people. Face it... smiling is a positive sign of body language, and it is one of the strongest forms being both in the open and direct.

Think about your last experience in a job interview. Were you nervous or were you worried? Did you sense doubt? What if you walked in shook your employers hand, smiled, and introduced yourself. You immediately break the ice, show you are both confident as well as holding a positive attitude which are truly quality traits.

Simple acts of kindness can go along way as well. Something as simple as a smile can do alot more than one would think. Maybe if you have time read the article the author has written below. Funny how far a two second action can further your life, or someone else's...

A Smile Today Could Save a Life Tomorrow

People can think i am odd for smiling all the time, but i am glad i do. It has opened many opportunities i thought i would never have, and has helped brighten the day of the people around me....

Life it is truly a simple thing...

Life is actually a very simple thing filled with so many other complications that usually creates something not quite as planned. Most of us get up everyday, go to work, bitch about a boss, nag because this person did that, shake a couple times and repeat.
Other times we struggle to keep our heads above water grasping to primal instinct in what some call a civilized world.
Have you ever heard the term unfortune...everybody in their lives probably have experienced this to some degree. Un-for-tu-nate in defined form is "Characterized by undeserved bad luck; unlucky."
My blog is simple. I have spent so many years caught up in the ramble that i wish to share some of the things along the way that i have learned. It is a magazine about Life...the good things...the simple things...and sometimes will even look how to get through the unfortunate things.