The Noble Warrender

Our Kindness Elves, Merry and Pepper inspired us with a note:  "Bring some kindness by leaving wishing pennies at the fountain" 💦Make a wish!💦 💦 May their wishes come true! 💦 *If you'd like to get in on the action, visit the Kindness Elves  website . I'm not affiliated with them or getting paid for my post. I just love this wonderful idea of spreading kindness!

Why do you travel? To get away. To spend time with friends or family. To see new places, meet new people, and learn about another culture besides your own. Yes, all that and, of course, to try new foods! With all the monthly subscription boxes out there, this one caught my eye. It's the Universal Yums  box and each month, we receive a box filled with snacks from another country. To feed the travel bug, we can try goodies from around the world regularly!  This month's box was a combination of several items from Czechoslovakia, Colombia, Germany, Australia, Jordan, Korea, and England. Look at all these goodies! Czechoslovakia - Garlic Straznicke Bramburky (chips) Colombia - Brevas con Arequipe (figs with sugary filling) Germany - Golden Flake Dill Pickle Chips Australia - Hillier's Mini Christmas Puddings Jordan - Jabri Baklava Korea - Yugwa Candy (rice and honey) England - Mince Pie Candy (meat and fruit candy) Also includ...

The New England Holocaust Memorial was dedicated in 1995 and stands quietly just past Quincy Market. I'd been in that area a dozen times and didn't see this down the street, so when I looked up places not to miss in Boston and the memorial was listed, I added this important stop. I would suggest visiting the website to read more about the memorial, but in short, it was built in remembrance of local Boston Holocaust survivors and of World War II itself. The memorial is rightfully placed along the Freedom Trail of Boston. As you approach the six pillars, you will see this: "To remember their suffering is to recognize the danger and evil that are possible whenever one group persecutes another. As you walk this Freedom Trail, pause here to reflect on the consequences of a world in which there is no freedom—a world in which basic human rights are not protected. And know that wherever prejudice, discrimination, and victimization are tolerated, evil like the H...

Never in a million years did I think I'd write a post about whisky or tobacco. I don't drink much alcohol, but if I do... meh... it's whisky (preferably Glengoyne) or a cold pint of Guinness. That's about it. I don't smoke, but I can appreciate the relaxing experience of a good pipe or cigar. If you like whisky and/or tobacco, and (BONUS!) if your name is Jeffrey, we've discovered a place just for you! Jeffrey St Whisky & Tobacco shop* is located in the heart of Edinburgh Scotland on, you guessed it, Jeffrey St, just off the Royal Mile .  They carry their own label, which you can sample. 👍 So much tobacco!  Notice the warning labels. If you're wondering where your whisky comes from, here's a map to help. Fancy Fancy!! *If you'd like to check in with the shop, here's a link to their website.

Merry and Pepper are here again, reminding us of the importance of kindness! If you're not familiar with the Kindness Elves, they are similar to the popular Elf on a Shelf in that they show up near the holidays and help us get into the spirit of the season.  They arrive comfortably packed into their wee house. I love the little Mail Box in front; it really opens for notes of encouragement or congratulations on a kindness act completed.  If you read the back of the box you'll see: "Hello! We are the Kindness Elves. We are tiny, magical friends who have been sent to children to share the joy that comes from showing kindness to others! We love nothing more than to help other people, notice good things that happen and do as many lovely things as we possibly can.  "It doesn't matter how small we are, our kindness can cause wonderful things to happen to people around us. We hope you will let us stay with you for a while and we can become...

In my opinion, there's not a bad month to visit Scotland. Having said that, we've only experienced April, May, and now October so our opinions could be wrong. Maybe a cold highland winter will change my mind but I doubt it. One of my favorite places is usually high on everyone's list - Stirling Castle. It's been around since the 1100s and has seen a lot of action. Mary Queen of Scots was coronated there in the 1500s, battles were fought there, Robert Burns (poet, farmer, author of "Auld Lang Syne"), scratched a window at Stirling with his famous Stirling Words: Here Stewarts once in triumph reigned And laws for Scotlands weal ordained But unroofed their Palace stands Their scepters fallen to other hands Fallen indeed and to the earth Whence grovelling reptiles take their birth The injured Stewart line is gone A race outlandish fill their throne An idiot race, to honor lost Who know them best despise them most The castle ceased be...

If an actual local yarn shop (LYS) named Knit World exists, I would be shocked BUT I would gladly tip one of my knitted souvenir hats to them. 😉 My husband started calling all yarn shops 'knit world' while patiently waiting for me to work through my 'knitter's block' at a LYS in San Francisco years ago. The term stuck and became half-joke and half-adventure in finding the next one. As I travel, I always look to take home a souvenir of yarn from a LYS, because let's face it, it's the best souvenir - easy to pack it, can't break it, and whatever you create from it is memorable to the place you found it. Our recent vacation took us to the Isle of Skye where I found my most remote Knit World to date - Isle of Skye Crafts at Over the Rainbow in Portree.  You can find the store's Facebook page by clicking here .  Added to my yarn stash: Sirdar Imagination Moonriver 4 Blend:100% Acrylic  Ball weight:100g  Yardage:174...