Groundhogs, sweethearts, and postcards from the past!
The regional favourite weather predicting groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, did not see his shadow this week, which means early spring! I’m not sure about the accuracy of this form of predicting the weather (and spring is technically only a few weeks away, shadow or not) but it is a fun tradition.
Speaking of spring, Shirley and I have already started making our plans for the Gardens of Hope; it is the time of year to look at gardening magazines and dream of green and colourful scapes and of course, warmer days.
At present we are drawing up plans to add a sunroom to the Respite Cottage. A big thank you to all you that donated the funds to make this possible. Many individuals and families were able to take time for respite at the cottage, some coming as far away as Vancouver and Illinois.
Staff have been busy packing up lots of sweet treats from the store for our customers over the past few days, a sure sign that Valentine’s Day is on the way!
Our shortbread cookies are baked in the shape of hearts if you’re still looking for something to send someone you love, include yourself, by the way!
Warning: these cookies are tastefully addictive. You should probably order two boxes. Click here to take a peek. Another favourite is the "Chocolate Covered Potato Chips," oh my, there is an addictive treat if ever there was one. We have some items representing a little piece of heaven for chocolate lovers. Click here to taste, whoops not possible to taste sorry! LOL. Ok, I taste another one for you. hmmm..so good. Thank you.
As much as I enjoy the tradition of Valentine’s Day, I try not limiting my love to just one day per year. Every day is a gift but sometimes forget to treat it that way!
I love this quote by Thomas Merton, "The beginning of love is the will to let those we love to be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image".
I heard a wonderful news story on the radio, about an Ontario man with a collection of roughly 1,750 Prince Edward Island postcards, many of which are more than 100 years old. I think you’ll find the story quite interesting; I know I did. Click here to read.
This makes me think about how the mail delivery system in Prince Edward Island was years ago. It is such a small place, which at one time (not that long ago!) if you were mailing something, you could get away with simply addressing the item to the recipient, with just their name and their community name. No need for street addresses, post office boxes, or postal codes! “They’ll get it to them!”
I remember when we first started the business, Barb MacAndrew wrote an article for Atlantic Insight about us. It wasn't too long after that we received our first piece of mail, and the only thing written on the envelope was Bruce's Jam Kitchen, Charlottetown, PEI and I got it!
I love our Island!
Over the next few months, we will be moving our blogs to a different format, and we are considering some areas to include. Bruce's Blog will probably transition to "Steeped Thoughts," where I will share thoughts about topics that intrigue me, encourage me and hopefully others as well.
For example, I love these words by Henri Nouwen.
Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. When we say, "She is a kind person" or "He surely was kind to me," we express a very warm feeling. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response. But when we encounter it we know that we are blessed. Is it possible to grow in kindness, to become a kind person? Yes, but it requires discipline. To be kind means to treat another person as your "kin," your intimate relative. We say, "We are kin" or "He is next of kin." To be kind is to reach out to someone as being of "kindred" spirit.
Here is the great challenge: All people, whatever their colour, religion, or sex, belong to humankind and are called to be kind to one another, treating one another as brothers and sisters. There is hardly a day in our lives in which we are not called to this.
Thank you for reading, I am curious if you have any funny or interesting stories about the mail? Memorable letters you’ve received, or comical mix-ups that occurred? Or items you would like to see included in the blogs going forward.
I do have a favour to ask as well. I need your help in finding our blog voice.
Can you list for me, three adjectives that best describe our business from your perspective?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Don't be shy.
Have a great week!
With love from Prince Edward Island,
Bruce
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