Pepper you have helped to make my day 🤩

I just received an email from Animals Australia saying that they feel they are the closest ever in history to working with the govt to stop the heinously cruel live export of sheep, and then i read your post! Two wonderful things to read today.

Thank you Pepper and everyone here for sharing the love and inspiration for a kinder, more compassionate, better world ❤❤❤

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar and all;

Birdy: Thank you so much for your earlier post. It was absolutely beautiful and encouraging.

Your childhood sounds very rough and I bet there was a lot of inner turmoil. It must have been really difficult at times to want to be who you felt who were (are) but that wonderful person was (is?) at odds with your family’s beliefs and values. That would hurt considerably.

How brave of you to stay true to the person you. That’s very courageous but definitely not easy. Well done :)

Yes, I hear you on reaching out to the local and immediate. Excellent points.

That being said, I also feel some people can have a broader focus too. I think it’s down to what is feasible for each of us; some of us can aspire to helping out at the local level whereas others can target a wider audience e.g. a policy maker can probably have a more far reaching influence when it comes to policies that are related to the environment. You know, a team effort in a way :)

Thank you so much for your most recent post too, and I’m very happy to hear the Animals Australia news. It made me smile. Wonderful! xoxo

Chrissystar and all:

I wanted to share something...

I was gifted a really interesting book by a friend yesterday.

It’s quite an unexpected mash of topics: psychology and climate change. Initially, that probably sounds like it makes no sense to combine the 2 in a book. But if you dig a little deeper, there’s actually a lot of sense...

What the book addresses is why climate change is such a contentious issues from a psychological perspective, how we can all contribute in actionable and positive ways plus policy implications.

It’s called “What we think about when we try not to think about global warming: toward a new psychology of climate action” by Per Espen Stoknes who is a psychologist.

I think it’s so important, with any issue, to understand where the opposition stems from. I feel if people understand it better, we can then hopefully find improved ways to raise an issue and encourage more people to make positive changes to help the environment. I’ve only just started reading it though...

Pepper xoxo

Hi Birdy

just read ur thread re transportation of sheep. This should not be happening ever, it’s just so bad, those poor sheep. It’s was good to see u got some sort of reply hopefully it’s all good

just want to thank you for ur involvement. I do hope u get more good news

take care

chrissy1

Pepper ❤ and everyone 😊

Thank you so much Pepper for passing on reference to that book. I have looked it up and it sounds excellent, and it reminds me of the approach taken by an author/ educator/animal rights advocate in Belgium called Tobias Leenaert, whose blog "The Vegan Strategist" I subscribe to. He is all for a pragmatic, friendly approach to activism and advocacy, whether it be climate change, social justice, animal rights. His approach is, meet people where they are at (mentally/emotionally) and gently communicate, rather than bombastically preach. Sounds very much like Stoknes' approach.

The book is not at my local library, i just checked, but I'm going to try get my hands on a copy. Thanks again 😊.

Chrissy1:

Thank you so very much for your encouraging post and your care 😊. I have just finished emailing my local federal MP as her party, headed by our PM has called the campaign to save these innocent and precious sheep from live export "reckless" and "emotional". Fingers crossed enough people speak up about this barbaric practice.

Thanks again Chrissy1, take care.

Thanks Chrissystar and everyone here, keep sharing the love 😊

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar (wonderful thread creator), Birdy and all;

🌻 Birdy: Good on you for emailing your local federal MP. I admire your dedication and proactive stance :) Let’s hope the live export stops soon...

Thank you and you’re welcome :) I quickly looked up The Vegan Strategist over the weekend. It looks promising although I haven’t had time to properly go through the website (yet). Plan to though...

Yes, I’m with you on how an approach that focuses more on open communication (as opposed to guilt tripping or preaching) tends to be more effective. I feel most people generally don’t respond well to guilt trips or being made to feel bad, in fact, it just worsens matters because then they might emotionally shut down (become apathetic) or become defensive.

Always inspiring to hear from you ❤️

Pepper xoxo

Hi Chrissystar, Birdy and all,

Chrissystar: if you’re around, feel free to chime in. This thread was your creation after all :)

Anyway, sometimes I like to come here because this is one of the threads where I feel most “at home.” Like I’m conversing with people who “get it.” Sighs.

Sometimes, I visit this thread to be reminded of who I am.

Thanks for letting me vent. Feel a little bit less alone.

Pepper xoxo

Hi Chrissystar, Pepper and all 😊

Pepper❤ I know just what you mean, me too, I come in here and read back ... it feels lovely.

I think I owe you a reply, I'm not sure, I'll read back and see.

Just felt like saying "hi" and "me too" and send love ❤

🌻birdy

Hi 🌻 Birdy, Chrissystar and all;

Oh, you’re going to make me cry. Not a bad thing. I’m just being emotional lol.

I don’t think you “owe” me anything but you’re very kind hearted to want to read back :)

The “hi” and “me too” was what got the tears starting. Thank you so much ❤️

Sending love and light,

Pepper xoxo

Hello Pepper, Chrissystar and all, (very grateful for this thread Chrissystar)

Pepper❤ it's ok my friend, you can get teary, I will hold your hand and be here to listen or just be. I get teary and emotional on pretty much a daily basis these days ... it does feel good to be around those who "get it".

I meant to reply before that of course you are so right that there are some who can have a much broader impact on change, e.g. policymakers etc. And those changes would not occur unless there are individuals who stand up for what they believe in, and enact their truth in their everyday lives. As they say:

One to change a few. A few to change many. Many to change the world. Starts with one ...

My brain's a bit frizzled (one too many wineys last night, 🍷🍷🍷whoopsadaisy, suffering today) so not much more to say, but wanted to say thanks for being here. xo

Everyone here: keep sharing the love, we can make the world a better place. Let's be the change we wish to see in the world 🌞

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar and all,

Chrissystar: as the thread creator, feel free to jump right in with comments if you feel like it :) Everyone else too...chime in if you feel like it :)

Birdy: Oh, our wonderfully compassionate friend... I must admit that I’m entirely unsurprised by that comment. I take it that a part of it is because you feel so deeply for the plight of others and the state of the world. Don’t worry, I’m not prying...you don’t need to explain. Sending you a warm hug ❤️

I agree with you about change. Everyone theoretically can play a part in bringing about environmental (or other) change.

I can relate to your wine drinking. Me and my drinks sighs...I hope you’re okay.

I want to thank you (plus everyone else on this thread) for being here too.

Pepper xoxo

Dear Pepper, Chrissystar and all 😊

Chrissystar thanks so much for starting this thread. I'm totally camped out here, it feels like my home 😊

Pepper, yes, i think you understand my heart. There was a period of time that others here may relate to, where, if I woke in the middle of the night, I would start crying because here I was in my warm bed, comfortable, and I knew that evil things were being perpetrated, particularly on animals, at that very moment, and there was zero effect I could have.

Unfortunately, I often wonder if the answer to my problems and the world's problems lie at the bottom of my wine bottle. I never know for sure, but most times I think it's worth at least checking 😉 very bad habit, but often I feel so hopeless and lose the plot just a lil a bit.

Now: Here is a quote for us all here today, from Vegan Of Old, Mahatma Gandhi:

In a gentle way you can shake the world.

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar and all,

Chrissystar: I hope you’re doing okay and that your adoption research has been helpful as I know you were looking into adoption before. Also, please feel free to chime in at any point as this is your thread :) No pressure but we’re here if you want to chat or would like support.

🌻Birdy: you sound so sad. I know you’ve been through a lot lately. A lot of loss on top of everything else. I feel for you, our beautiful friend...

I feel you’re one of those people who carries the weight of the world in her eyes and heart. Compassion can be such a double edged sword...you obviously feel very deeply for animals, the environment and others, and that compassion can break your own heart sometimes.

It’s okay, I know how it is with alcohol as I turn to it too. Sighs. I’m saying that I understand...

A heartfelt thank you, that’s a gorgeous quote. To me, that quote rings true of your life’s work and mission.

Pepper xoxo

Hello Chrissystar, Pepper and everyone here 😊

Chrissystar I hope you are doing well and enjoying growing things and finding some awesome vegan recipes to tantalize your tastebuds!

If anyone here is interested in cutting down on animal ingredients, I have found it helpful to subscribe to a few blogs that send out recipes regularly, they can be really inspiring, e.g.. one is by Sam Turnbull I think it's called "it doesn't taste like chicken" and another called Keepin' It Kind ... can be a good source of inspo for yumny food, another is "hot for food".

Pepper Thank you for your always lovely words and encouragement and support. I thought I glimpsed the answer to a few problems at the bottom of the bottle again last night ... yeah,nah I was mistaken. Again! You're right, I am pretty darn sad, I think you are too at the moment, my friend. I'd love to be able to give you a big hug. Anyway, it's nice to know we're not alone. You can always talk to me. xoxo

This is kinda off-topic and kinda on-topic, but I just felt like sharing this here for some reason, hope that's ok Chrissystar. So, I was emptying the dishwasher yesterday morning, and I had left the dishwasher door ajar for 10 minutes prior to taking the dishes out. In that time, a little mouse had climbed in and be ran underneath the bottom drawer of dishes ... I screamed because he scared the heck out of me. But after I calmed down, I got the torch and looked inside, he was (oh my gosh, so cute and tiny) sitting in the back corner of the dishwasher, trembling. I started crying, trying to send him the vibes that I won't hurt you little guy, but he was so frightened!! I've never seen a little mouse trembling in fear, it broke my heart!! And now I have a problem because I couldn't catch him and he is now under the dishwasher behind the cabinetry. I just want him to go outside and have a lovely time. Can't be much fun under there?

❤ Have a peaceful and lovely day everybody ❤

Love and light to all

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar and all,

Chrissystar: hope you’re doing okay. No pressure to respond if you’re not feeling up to it but just know, we are thinking of you :)

🌻 Birdy: It’s a great idea for you to share those tips. I feel some people reading might take it on board :)

Oh thank you, that was beautiful. Sending you a hug too...

Sighs, I know all about drinking to cope. I think I’ve said before about how some public personality once said she drank because it made her pain temporarily go away except then she would feel worse afterwards as alcohol is a depressant at the end of the day. Yet many of us (including me) still do it. Sometimes some of us we will resort to anything that might temporarily mask the sadness and pain...

Oh poor little mouse. I suppose it’s fair to say you were both frightened at some point. He sounds like he must have been absolutely terrified, and you being your compassionate self must have absolutely ached for him. Hopefully he ventures out from under the dishwasher and you can help him go outside.

Sending you and your lovely partner well wishes today :)

Love,

Pepper xoxo

Hi Chrissystar, Pepper and all,

Chrissystar, I found a 4kg sweet potato hiding in the veg patch a few days ago ... whoopsadaisy, that one got away from me a bit! Hope you are doing well with your veg/fruit/herb growing.

Pepper, thank you for your very kind and understanding words, the story of mousy was probably totally off topic, but what struck me was his absolute vulnerability ... this little creature, living his little life (annoyingly in my kitchen), then all of a sudden he is at my mercy and it made me think of all the animals that must tremble in fear when their lives are taken ... the trembling of this little tiny creature ... It just made me think of all the sentient beings in fear at the mercy if human hands every minute of every day .... It was very confronting, as odd as that sounds.

Have you been reading your book? I haven't got my hands on it yet, but it's on my to-do list.

Re: the wine ... I keep wanting to numb the pain in my mind/heart with alcohol, but the next day I am like: please take better care of yourself (to myself) ... if you keep doing this to your body, what good can you do in the world? But the cycle continues ... ah man, I dont know. Life just hurts sometimes doesn't it? Don't know if you can relate to that ...

Sending you love and light this evening ❤

Everyone here: ❤ keep the love alive, the compassion, the kindness. It will make the world a better place.

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar, Birdy and all;

Chrissystar: Sending kind thoughts to you :)

🌻 Birdy: I get what you’re saying. Us humans often hold the power when it comes to the fate of animals, both small and large alike. As tiny as your little dishwasher mouse or as large as an elephant. Us humans are often the biggest threat to so many animals...

I started reading it but I haven’t finished yet. It’s quite interesting and it’s an easy read...

I can empathise with the alcohol. Yes, I completely agree that sometimes life just hurts.

Although admittedly I’ve somehow gone completely emotionally numb since about 10 or 11pm last night (give or take), which is fabulous as far as I’m concerned. If I could spend the rest of my life feeling as “comfortably numb” as now then I would be pretty content.

Usually I have to drink to achieve this numb state but none required this time; my mind/heart have just emotionally shut down if its own accord. At the moment, I’m still pretty numb...not complaining though. I’m quite happy in my cocoon of comfortable indifference.

love and light as you like to say

Pepper xoxo

Hi Pepper,

Maybe your subconscious is giving you a rest from the emotional turmoil ... maybe your mind and heart needs a break from feeling so intensely, and is letting you off the hook for a bit so that you will be ready and rested for when the emotions return. I think I understand it, I think that happens on occasion to me as well.

Just go with it, enjoy the calm tranquility ... ride this part for what it is xo

Wishing you and everyone here a day of peace.

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar (and all), sending kind thoughts your way :)

Thank you lovely 🌻Birdy, yes, it’s a nice little emotional “break.” How are you doing, my friend?

Pepper xoxo

Pepper, I hope you have a lovely "holiday", i imagine you in a bubble of sunshine having cocktails on the sand with waves gently lapping at your feet ... the emotional storm rages outside the bubble, but you are just relaxing in there for now. 🍸🍹 Enjoy!

I am feeling pretty crapola just at the moment. I guess I am just going with it ... accepting it for what it is, but trying here and there to lift myself out of it, even momentarily. I won't go on about me, but thank you for asking me Pepper❤, and I will try to bring this back on topic, Chrissystar!! ...

The weekend (mother's day) was excruciating ... for us it revolved around a bunch of people who have zero awareness of any of the stuff we talk about here, (eg, on this thread and others) and zero care factor of anything besides themselves, or that brings them convenience or comfort, no awareness or self-awareness ... blurgh, I don't know. A further drain on my faith in humanity - and these are the people bringing more and more people into the world! By the way if anyone is interested in a good read on self-awareness, i read a great piece yesterday by Mark Manson, called "Why you suck at self awareness". It's a quick read, and you may laugh out loud a few times, I did. If you read it, the people i am talking about are totally on Level One (maybe even below).

Sorry to be sounding so negative everybody, I just am feeling very weighed down for some reason.

I will come back and i promise my next post will be more positive.

Peace to everyone ❤

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar, birdy and all,

🌻 birdy: Thanks, somehow this cocktail island you speak of sounds much better than my current reality. Lol.

A warm hug from me. I must admit that I’m not surprised you’re struggling as I know a little about some of your recent losses plus maybe there’s other stuff going on. Don’t worry, I’m not prying. Share only what you wish too ❤️

Mhmm...this “Why you suck at self awareness” sounds intriguing. I must look it up!

Yes, I agree it can feel very frustrating and disheartening at times. But I feel this is slowly (as in snail’s pace) changing.

On another note, I do worry about how a lot of it is “greenwashing” where some otherwise (very) wasteful corporations suddenly introduce a “sustainable” line to look like they care about the environment. But upon closer inspection, you realise they have really done absolutely nothing much to help the environment and it’s a PR tactic.

It’s not all bad, I suppose. You do see more new businesses popping up that do genuinely have more of an environmental conscience. I think it’s a reflection of the times as well as growing consumer demand where more people care about supporting businesses with sustainable practices.

That being said, there is still a long way to go.

Oh, I’m vegetarian btw (have been for a few years); I’ve never quite made the transition to vegan. Maybe in good time....

Pepper xoxo

Hi Chrissystar, Pepper and all,

Oops I think I need to clarify, when I was talking about mother's day, I was talking about the actual people that my partner and I had to spend the day with ... I wasn't making any statements about anybody else ... just to clarify!!

Pepper, you are so right about some corporate moves to seem green ... another hidden issue is where our superannuation is invested. Many super funds don't even have an ethical/sustainable option, as we recently found out: my partner had to join a certain fund because she had a new employer who "forces" their employees to join a particular fund. This fund had no "green" option for investment! In this day and age I find that ridiculous. Thankfully her employment agreement was altered this month to allow employees to choose their own super fund.

Pepper I am so happy you've been vegetarian for years, good for you. Maybe I can challenge you to a vegan recipe a week until I convert you!! Kidding, but you know where to come if you want some inspo! I never thought it would be easy to give up cheese, but I have two words for you : Nutritional Yeast (AKA savoury yeast flakes). It rocks every cheezey vegan recipe

i think you will enjoy the Self Awareness read, I think he estimates it at a 23 minute read, and I can pretty much guarantee some lolling 😊

🌻birdy

Me again!! 🤩🤩🤩

The Mark Manson article is actually called "The 3 levels of self awareness" if you are interested. The other title I mentioned is what he called it originally I think, or the audio-version of the same article if you feel like listening to it instead I'm not sure. I'm pretty confused.

Hi Chrissystar, Birdy and all,

Lol! I read the Mark Manson article and got a few guffaws. It was interesting how he commented on how he felt (some) people stagnated at “level 2” of self awareness and that there can be a fine line between self awareness and naval gazing that turns a non-problem into a “problem.” Ah, he made me laugh...

It’s okay, I get what you meant. Don’t worry, I know you were only talking about your own family and personal situation :)

That’s a great point. Yes, I suppose maybe organisations do it because it’s easier for them to put all their employees’ super into the same super fund rather than giving their employees options. I’m happy to hear they changed their super policy so your partner can now opt for a green super fund.

Lol. I’m about as skeptical as they come when it comes to “greenwashing” especially when it involves established businesses who have a long history of the complete opposite of being “green.” That being said, I know this is gradually changing and a lot of it is driven by growing consumer demand.

Sometimes I do feel there is so much potential for a large business to use being “green” to their own profit making advantage (which is the angle I would use if I were trying to convince an organisation to become more “green”). If they are smart and know how to cleverly market their sustainable practices (provided they are legitimately sustainable), they could put themselves in a unique position (and to their own benefit too)...also maybe then other large businesses will follow suit. Maybe one day more sustainable practices will become the “norm.” I mean, cars seatbelts weren’t always the norm...and look at where we are today (thank goodness too!)

Anyway, I feel climate change, monoculture, etc can definitely affect people’s mental health. Look at this whole thread! Lol.

possibly as time passes, who knows, maybe climate change and depression will start popping up as it’s very own whole online forum (or whatever exists) in about 20 years time. Granted, that’s also a very disturbing thought...

Always good to talk, lovely 🌻 birdy

Pepper xoxo

Dear Chrissystar, Pepper and everyone 😊

Pepper, I knew you would enjoy that read! I think he's pretty right about a lot of people getting stuck on the navel-gazey spiral of doom (it's just turtles from here down), and don't manage to move on to the self-acceptance stage. I think i vaccilate. i think that when I'm deep in my depression, I am stuck in the spiral of doom sometimes. Makes sense I guess.

What I found interesting also was his suggestion about sometimes just asking "what" we're feeling, rather than "why" so one can cut to the chase about our feelings without peeling that onion layer by layer. Not saying this would necessarily work all the time, but it sounds like a way to short-circuit unhelpful thinking.

It's cool to read deep and meaningful stuff whilst simuktaneously having a good guffaw dontcha think?

You are so right about the corporate smartness (smartness?? 🤔 ..) ... now I've lost my choochoo train of thought ... um: it is a shrewd move at this point for corporations to hop on (what they would see as the) green bandwagon, because that is deffo where the growth will be from now on because honestly the planet will not survive long if things don't change. I don't think I am making sense. I think the brain is on low battery this morning. But here is an illustration, so going back to the super fund example, within my super fund, I have chosen to invest in the ethical options, so my super is invested in green energy infrastructure, no fossil-fuels, carefully vetted companies that do not test on animals etc etc etc and this option outperformed every other option within my industry super fund last financial year. Things are changing my friend.

How are you feeling? (Or not feeling?) I hope you are treating yourself gently Pepper xo

Wishing everyone here a day of kindness and calm.

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar, Birdy and all,

Chrissystar and all: please feel free to chime in any time :) I would be happy to hear from you and anyone else too.

🌻 birdy: “...it’s all turtles from down here.” I remember that. Lol!

Yes, I completely agree with you that sometimes when we are feeling depressed, understandably we embark on the doom spiral. I can be like that too so I definitely relate...

I feel peeling the onion layers has its place but I’m with you that past a certain point, it can start becoming unhelpful. I feel Mark Manson wasn’t necessarily talking about mental illness in his article; I think maybe he was referring more to “general” overindulgent naval gazing being unproductive. What do you think?

Yes, he was rather witty with it all! Makes you think but it’s accessible reading too.

I’m very happy to hear how well your green super fund performed. That is fantastic news and it does give us hope that change is in the air. I feel, with time, more and more people (and therefore corporations) will care increasingly about climate change because it affects everyone.

Even minus the psychological impact of being worried and fearful about the state of our world, as Pammy mentioned before (it was either here or on another thread), as the physical environment changes, it impacts upon our physical wellbeing, which in turn, affects our mental health. It’s all interconnected...

I’m okay. Zoning in and out of numbness. Lol. It’s a funny state to be in. Thanks so much for being such a caring friend ❤️

How are you doing? You sounded pretty tired in your post.

Waves to all readers...

Pepper xoxo

Dear C hrissystar, Pepper and everyone here 😊

Pepper ❤ i am glad you are okay, zoning in and out can be alright ... I say just go with it, sometimes we just need a bit of a break from our emotions and the turmoil they can drag with them. I just hope you're riding it and being gentle with yourself.

I agree with you, I think Mark Manson was not talking about mental illness, but more a general perspective. I do find articles like that helpful though in applying it to my own crap, my own dysfunctional thinking... it can occasionally give me a fresh perspective and snap out if it a lil bit.

I am ok, I am tired, but I just generally seem tired at the moment. I think it's from not taking enough care of myself, e.g. too many wineys, not enough zzz's that kind of thing. We have a friend coming to stay for the weekend, so I've been cooking and cleaning which feels nice to be in a clean house with the smell of awesomeness around, I am currently making a vegan kahlua/baileys on the stove and it smells divine - very homely. Wish I could pour you one! xo

Eeveryone who wants one here is a homemade vegan Baileys ☕

Good news everybody: you may have heard, that the Vic government has now banned the set-and-forget yabby nets on private land (they're already illegal in public waterways) ... many platypuses (platypi?) have been drowned by becoming caught in these nets, and they are now on the endangered list. So what the Vic gov has done is a small but good step forward.

Please everyone feel free to join in the convo whenever 😊

🌞love and light to all of you🌞

🌻birdy

Hi Chrissystar, 🌻 birdy and all,

No, I hadn’t heard so thank you for sharing the fantastic news :)

That is wonderful for the platypuses. Apparently, and I had to check this just now, the plural is usually either platypuses or platypus or even platipodes. I certainly didn’t know that before! Lol.

Hopefully you get more sleep and rest then, and that your visiting friend didn’t exhaust you too much. Your homemade vegan baileys sounds divine. Granted, almost anything with alcohol in it has my “name” on it. Lol

Thank you, yes, just going with it might indeed be for the best for now :)

Love and warmth to you, lovely birdy, and all...

Pepper xoxo

Hello Everyone,

I just saw the words animal cruelty, and wanted to share something with you all that is very important to me..

I live in Central Western NSW, we've not had rain for nearly 12 months now..I live in a tiny rural village surrounded by hundreds of acres of grazing land.. If I take 14 steps from my front door I'm standing in a grazing paddock for cows... Unfortunately there are no cows there now..It homed over 100 cows, they were my go to when in BP downer..I miss them a lot...The cows have been moved somewhere, I don't know where, I only hope the owner loved them enough to move them to an area where they have food to eat and water to drink...A lot of farmers have had to sell them cheaply, or they will starve..The cost to buy food weekly for the cows, sheep etc runs into thousands of dollars a week...

Another sad part about this drought..The beautiful kangaroos are coming down from the hills in search of food..Kangaroos are a truely magestic creature....It's so sad when you drive from my home to the next town, or anywhere around here..Too many are not making it a cross the road...I get heartbroken when I see this...Plus the farmers are culling (for a better word)..the kangaroos , I can be sitting on my lounge then my doggies run to me jump on my lap shaking, then I hear the bang..

My dogs can hear, what is happening, they know, they are terrified..Animals I believe do know what's going on, they are smart, animals have feelings like we do....

Im probably not on topic atm, but I really needed to get this out there..

Warm and caring hugs xx🤗

Grandy....

Dear Chrissystar, Pepper, Grandy and all ❤

Grandy, i am so glad you came here to vent your empathy and sadness about what is happening to the precious animals near you. It would be heart breaking to have seen the pastures dry up and leave the gentle cows with nothing to graze on, and then to have them moved (hopefully) to greener pastures, you must miss there beautiful and gentle presence. I'm not surprised that they brought you comfort during your bipolar downs ... there is not an aggressive bone in their body, they are the very essence of Calm and Gentle.

Your little furbuddies definitely would be terrified when they hear those shots, and come to you in fear and for comfort. I agree with you that all animals have thoughts and feelings, they feel fear and terror just like we do. And they are at our mercy. The darlings.

You were not off topic at all Grandy. It's lovely to have you join in the conversation 🐄🐶

Pepper ❤ your vegan baileys awaits you. It was the best one I've made so far. It takes five mins on the stove and involves coconut milk, brown sugar, espresso and whiskey if you're interested. It was nice with our friend visiting. We lit a fire on the back deck and ate and drank and looked up at the milky way ... I made vegan spinach/cheeze gozlemes ... heaven! Did you have a nice time i think you were catching up with friends and going to an art thing? Hope you had a lovely time. Are you still feeling a bit numb? Hope you are going gently with yourself.

Wishing everyone here a day of kindness and peace 🌞

🌻birdy

Hello everybody,

I have just received an extremely disappointing email saying that the leaders of our country have decided it's ok to continue with the live export trade, even going into the summer months in the middle east (where most of the live export goes).

If you would like to speak up about this horrific situation, Animals Australia has a petition on their website.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

🌻birdy