Blog 4 Peace

Today we are joining bloggers around the world to Blog For Peace.  This year's theme is words are powerful. This is very true. Words are often the start of misunderstanding and hatred. While it feels overwhelming, we can all do a few simple things to bring peace to our families and communities.

Before saying anything, take a deep breathe and THINK:

If it isn't - DON'T say it.  Sometimes we may need to say unkind things, it may be necessary, but we can do so in a respectful way. 

More importantly, let's all try and say at least one kind thing to another person every day. 

Let's be more like our dogs - see the good in everyone, and greet everyone with an open heart.  We do have the power to change the world. 

Friday Funday - Halloween Outtakes

Lady keeps talking about the force - maybe the force can make these things off my head . . . . 

Travel Thursday - Home To Scotland

On August 9th, we and one of our 2 bags boarded this plane from Copenhagen to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here we spent the most wonderful week with the most gracious hostess, Yamini. 

We spent our first afternoon purchasing the supplies we needed (missing items from the missing bag) and spending time with Yamini and her father, who house we stayed in the city.

On the 10th, Yamini took us for a drive to Galashiels, to visit the genealogical society there. 2 very kind women helped me do some research into one branch of my family, the Gibsons. We answered a few of my Dad's, the family genealogist, questions and helped generate a whole bunch more, which is always the case when doing family research.

After a lovely lunch, where I was introduced to a new favourite, which I have eaten many times since, a jacket potato with coleslaw, we headed to Greenlaw.

Short story: Thomas Gibson was the shoemaker in Greenlaw. His 5 sons, including the second youngest Robert, all moved to Canada in and around 1850. They set up near a town called Wroxeter, Ontario. This is where my great-grandmother was born and raised, and is now in the cemetery there (with some of the original 5).

Here are a few pictures from this visit:

The street the family lived on, likely one of these were their home

The stone on the right is Thomas Gibson, the stone beside it has his mother and father and stone on the left is her family. I had a moment standing there, 151 years after his death thinking, he could have never imagined that so many years later, his multiple great-granddaughter, from Canada would be standing there. 

Me in my emergency sweater as it was one of the items in the missing bag and a much needed one in Scotland!

Our drive back to the city took us through a ruin at Soutra.

My dogs may not have been able to be there, but they were the reason we were there so their flats traveled with us. 

The countryside was beautiful. I understand economically why the Gibsons (and many other branches of my family) left Scotland, but I can't imagine why they would have left the rolling hills. Scotland is a country I could live in for sure!

Next week, we will share more of our time with the wonderful Yamini!

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Halloween!

Getting Ready For The Big Day

At the time of the preparation of this post, this year's costumes have not arrived. Our paws are crossed that they will get lost in the mail. (They were expected to arrive on Monday).  In the meantime, here is a flash back to last years embarrassment. 

Mischief Monday - Weather!

We did not get the 10 cm they had been calling for, but yesterday morning we woke up to a fairly wintery world (which was mostly gone by sun down, thank goodness, we are NOT ready for it to stick). 

There is a lot to sniff because of . . . . .

The wild turkeys! They also leave a lot of yummy treats in our yard!

For days, there has been a group of about 12, the peeps call the pose, hanging around. 

Taken earlier in the week outside the Lady's office window.  They like the seed the squirrels throw. 

Even with all the good sniffs, our Phod still took some time to play with Precious, who will be hibernating once the real snow falls! 

No Tricks Just Treats

Today we join our very generous pals Rosy, Arty and Jakey in a No Tricks Just Treats blog hop. Every year, our pals pick the weekend before Halloween to raise money for shelters/rescues. They are donating $1 for every blog that joins the hop and 50 cents for every comment on their blog Friday-Sunday, so make sure you go over and comment! A few moments of your time can help animals in need.

Lady reminds us all the time that we are the luckies ones with loving homes. We would agree it isn't too bad. 

Here are some things Lady has done in the past few months to help animals in need (at shelters and other ways):

• Make monetary donations when buying food or when sadly a friend has been called to the bridge
• Give our gently used things to an organization that fosters animals for women fleeing domestic abuse
• Visit the cat cafe and play with the cats awaiting forever homes. 
• Support a local pet shop where you can adopt rescued cats (and currently they are fostering animals who have been displaced by the tornados that happened the end of September).

They aren't big things but we all know that little things add up.

Thanks to our pals for once again organizing this.