This was Hard to Say + How to Hug a Cow + Getting Even
Good Morning from Prince Edward Island,
Happy Halloween!
What is a mummy's favorite type of music?
- Wrap!
Thank you for inviting me in, do you have the time for a cuppa?
The coolness in the air has arrived. We even had small hail stones arrive at home late yesterday. They were uninvited and didn’t stay very long. Waking this morning to find a pretty white blanket covering the fields in front of our home, was a bit of a surprise though.
Writing this morning seemed difficult. Between this sentence and the one directly below took me more than 30 minutes.
I know for me personally, and probably a lot of folks there is angst lurking in the shadows. When I started to write this blog years ago, I mentioned I would not write any political commentary. This is still the case.
Collectively, we are all responsible for the quality of our relationships. Our relationships creates the world around us.
Fractured relationships. No peace.
The great divide begins in relationship when I think that what I think is the way you should think.
Hence, I am beginning to realise how many things I am not required to have an opinion on.
I read something recently that hit me.
Judging a person’s predicament in the absence of compassion amounts to little more than judgment.
And being respectful never goes out of style.
Those who follow this blog, know how I feel about the importance of treating each other with compassion and respect.
Love never fails.
I found watching this video displays an interesting respect of a different sort taking place between the model, the artist and the stone.
Embracing cows is more than a cute wellness trend. With immense mental health benefits, the practice has growing global appeal. If you can’t find a human to hug, perhaps hugging a cow is in the cards. The Dutch practice “koe knuffelen” (literally “cow hugging”), the practice is centred on the inherent healing properties of a good human-to-animal snuggle. Fun story here.
Shirley and I would like to thank Katherine MacLaine and her husband Andrew for this beautiful video, called The Colours of New Glasgow. The buildings with the red roofs are where our business take place as well as our Gardens of Hope Respite Cottage. Enjoy.
Musically, this week I have been all around the world and back. I landed on Canadian Jazz pianist Diana Krall - Live in Paris. Enjoy.
Taking Care of Business..food gifts in good taste.
Last week, I mentioned our exciting new personalized gift boxes and I can tell you it is such a hoot. The photos that are being made into labels and added to the boxes is so much fun. We have had photos of children, families, pets, and friends and combinations of being turned into beautiful labels. Take a peek here.
We have been selling and blending full leaf tea since in 1988 and people are learning our quality of such is top shelf. We created a wonderful gift tea sampler package. It has proven to be very popular since introducing it a few weeks ago. Take a peek here. And brand new last night we gave birth to The Holiday Tin Trio... 3x 100 gram / 3.5oz tins filled with Christmas Tea, Organic Hot Chocolate, and Cranberry Maple Tea. Take a peek here.
That is all for now, I will sign off by wishing you much peace and have a wonderful weekend.
Take care and stay safe.
With love from Prince Edward Island.
Sincerely,
Bruce & Millie
ps. Don't forget your morning smile!
I was in the McDonald’s drive-through this morning and the young lady behind me leaned on her horn because I was taking too long to place my order.
“Take the high road,” I thought to myself. So when I got to the first window I paid for her order along with my own.
The cashier must have told her what I'd done because as we moved up she leaned out her window and waved to me and mouthed "Thank you.", obviously embarrassed that I had repaid her rudeness with kindness.
When I got to the second window I showed them both receipts and took her food too.
Now she has to go back to the end of the line start all over.
Don't honk your horn at old people.
(this was a joke)
Comments
Kenneth Culp said:
We retired and bought a motor home and have traveled in all 48 states in the USA. We have been all over New Brunswick and PEI, We have met wonderful People in all these places. We met people in Maine and N.Y. that we have developed wonderful relationships that we call our family. We thank God that we met these people. It has been very healthy for us. We love PEI, your business, the Respite house and the Gardens gardens, so beautiful. Take good care. Ken and Rose Mary USA.
November 04, 2020
murdock morrison said:
Wow – I guess we left our lovely cottage in time as we knew it was getting colder and time to leave as we too would have seen the white cover like you did. Great theme – relationships and compassion – so important in developing a caring peoples especially for our children. Enjoyed all of your references and will click on them later today. Will miss God’s place but so happy that we had 4 + months of joy in his hands. Murdock and Connie
November 02, 2020
Jennifer Porter said:
Thank you Bruce. Your Blog is an inspiration. Your words – “The great divide begins in relationship when I think that what I think is the way you should think.” These words resonate deep within me as I feel so often, these days, drawn to “blast the oppressors”, in our midst, whomever or however we perceive those to be! You provide us all with food for thought, with hope and inspiration. Again, Thank you.
November 01, 2020
Susan B said:
Thank you for this wonderful blog. I loved the video and look forward to visiting again. It’s November and I needed something to lift my spirits and this certainly did on a dark and cool Sunday afternoon !! I’m going through all the Preserve products and compiling my Christmas list :)
Have a great week.
PS Loved the morning smile
November 01, 2020
Julia Richardson said:
Thank you for adding peace to my morning. I especially enjoyed the video of New Glasglow. We are blessed by this beautiful land of ours and by those who appreciate it.
November 01, 2020
Tom Garbarini said:
Thank you adding Diana Krall this week. I forgot how wonderful she is. The video brought back so many wonderful memories that my late wife and I had back in the day. Keep up the good work.
November 01, 2020
Susan E-J said:
Another thoughtful – and thought provoking – Blog this weekend, Bruce… uplifting quotes, music, and visuals as always! (btw – the video of ‘The Colours of New Glasgow’ was beautiful, but it made me cry too :( We miss being able to visit “our” Island very much! Post-pandemic, we’ll be back…..
During these challenging times everywhere, your Saturday visits “from PEI” lift the spirits in so many ways. Thank you!
Susan.
October 31, 2020
Jack & Lillian Paul said:
Thank you Bruce for another “uplifting” story on this very cool Sat afternoon. Having spent my early years on a farm….my brothers & I made pets of all the animals including the cows. Like so many others these days we miss our social contacts….Zoom is good but not like a personal contact. Thank you also for the PEI video….the colours this year seem brighter and even more beautiful than other years.
October 31, 2020
Marlene Boakes said:
I like your morning smile bit!!!!!! The raspberry cocktail looks really great….we need something like that now and then in this crazy world. Miss coming to the Island.
October 31, 2020
Linda said:
I enjoyed the Cow Hugging story. I didn’t know it was a real thing. We grew up with a really sweet Jersey cow. My younger brother was found sleeping against the side of the cow. Both were very contented. lol.
October 31, 2020
Nan C Loyd said:
I’m still chuckling at the ending of the heartwarming (ha!) McDonalds story. Just sent it to family. All agree, best surprise ending ever! You made so many good points in this post. So needed in the time we are living in. It’s like some normal people have lost their minds. We need more kindness, mercy and (in some cases) simply walking away. Keep up the great posts.
October 31, 2020
Lyndal Joseph said:
This really gave me a lift. The tapestry of color in New Glasgow, along with the music were a blam for the soul. Always enjoy your blogs and musical selections.
October 31, 2020
Valarie LaBore said:
You mentioned being so isolated and losing contact with people. Lately I’m noticing some of my friends have started mailing out (mailing, not emailing) cards more, like for I miss you, Happy Birthday, and recently Happy Halloween. This touched me so much, I went out and bought a bunch of Happy Thanksgiving (US Thanksgiving) cards and will be mailing those out in a couple weeks. This seems to be a side effect of isolation, but a good one I think.
Val
October 31, 2020
Sharon Kalich said:
Yes, you are right about the angst…whether we like it or not it creates more stress in our lives. Unless we truly live in isolation. The hugs are what I miss the most about the pandemic. However the video is correct in it’s caveat re cows. I grew up on a farm. I learned first hand about it when I went into the pasture one day and a cow charged me…..I have never run so fast in my life! Like any animal they can be unpredictable. For some reason we called it “the reindeer”. I would never take a small child out in the pasture.
I finished “The Library Book”…a very interesting read that I am going to recommend to my librarian cousin if he hasn’t read it already. Thank You again.
October 31, 2020
Jean Weiss said:
wonderful blog, as always. You lift my spirits. I just loved the video of New Glasgow. Fall is my favorite season. The colors and light evoke a feeling of peace and I finished up with a real laugh. Thank you!
October 31, 2020
Verna Reitmeier said:
I wish I knew someone who has a cow! :) As a child I used to wander through my grandpa’s cow pasture and watch the cows chew their cud for hours. Relaxing!
Thank you for all your encouraging words!
October 31, 2020
judi karnis said:
thank you for including me in these emails. your blog and everything else lifts my spirits every time. God Bless
October 31, 2020
Susan W. said:
Thanks for another inspiring blog, Bruce! You hit the nail on the head with your comment about relationships fracturing over people demanding that others think the way they think. I was raised to respect everyone equally, but there is turmoil swirling all around me down here in the U.S. It has made me hug my cuddly English springer spaniel all the harder. No cows available near me although I’d like to try hugging one someday! Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
October 31, 2020
Marlene Breitenbach said:
Always appreciate your thoughts. I love the stone carver video and tried to see where I might find more…not on YouTube??
October 31, 2020
Suzy said:
Love your blog! I especially enjoyed the ending….we so need to laugh!
October 31, 2020
Sue Skeffington said:
The fall truly does provide a beautiful quilt of natural colors! Thank you!
October 31, 2020