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DANCERS ON AVENIDA JUAREZ CELEBRATING THE TWELVE DAYS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE |
At
65 degrees farenheit at 7 in the morning, Mexicans in Puerto Vallarta comment on
the cold weather. Some wear wood caps,
fleeces and sweaters. I´ve even seen
women and girls in boots. Last year at a
midnight mass at the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I was surprised to hear the congregation sing “I´m
Dreaming of a White Christmas” in Spanish.
The only white we will see here are snowy clouds in full bloom and powdery
beaches.
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UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ON THE MALECÓN |
Many
of us living here full or part-time are accustomed to cold days and experience
the small joy of seeing our breath as we breathe out heavily.
Fires crackle in fireplaces, people drink hot chocolate, hot cider and
hot toddies. The scent of pines
surrounds us and we bundle up and cozy up.
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CANDLELIT "PILGRIMAGE" SINGING THEIR WAY TO THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE |
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CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE |
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YOUNG "PILGRIM" |
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FOOD STAND NEXT TO THE PROCESSIONS |
There
are many beautiful Christmas hymns. “Ave Maria” is grand. “Silent Night” is tender
and sublime. "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" is jubilant. The lyrics in all the hymns
speak of hope, joy, wonder and love.
“I´m
Dreaming of a White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin in 1942. Its innocent lyrics were in stark contrast to
the lives of soldiers fighting overseas.
“I´ll be Home for Christmas” was recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby with lyrics from
the point of view of a soldier writing home to a family waiting for his
return. So many didn´t.

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HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
Surrounded
by palm trees and the "wild and sweet" chimes of church bells in Puerto Vallarta, my Christmas wish
is that all nations and people will work for peace.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” - Nelson Mandela
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” - Nelson Mandela
Our
team is far to the south in the state of Oaxaca and will return shortly before
Christmas Day. Clinics will start up
again the first week of January. 

DONATIONS: Kaylee Prentiss - $50 USD
Wanda
Taylor - $200 USD
Kim
Edwards - $50 USD
Don
and Mel Ronlund- 2,000 pesos ($153 USD)
Jennifer
Fullen - $100 USD (Jennifer has set up a monthly credit card donation for this amount).
Lucy´s
CuCu Cabana (great shop on Basilio Badillo in Puerto Vallarta) 1,000 pesos from the donation box
$8,486 USD MORE TO GO TO MEET THE ANONYMOUS $10,000 MATCHING GIFT.
Geoffrey Semour
noted that his "$160 donation to the clinics represented $100 in honour of
Sandra Essex, who introduced me to you and your work, and who continues to
transport crates and leashes and blankets on her trips from Toronto; and $60
in honour of Candy Magowan who relentlessly collects leashes and crates and
blankets and things for onward delivery to you.”

“Today another
box of kittens was dumped on the Isla Cuale. The average is about 2-3
kittens per week. Some of course die of exposure If they are too young,
or are killed by dogs as there are many dogs allowed to walk without a leash on
the island.”
RESCUED AND NEEDS HOME: Four-week old female tabby kitten rescued by Elias Manassé. He is leaving for Puebla in one week and can´t keep this kitten. Contact: elias_menasse@hotmail.com
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RESCUED KITTEN NEEDS HOME GATITA RESCATADA NECESITA HOGAR |
NEED
RESCUING: Thousands of cats and dogs
living on the streets.
The dozens of cats and dogs at the Acopio,
the no-kill pound. The Centro de Acopio
is open Monday-Saturday from 8 AM-2 PM. Telephone number is 293-3690.
For shelters, and they are all full, please check PEACEAnimals website.
Website also contains information on recommended vets, adoptions, etc. www.peaceanimals.org
RESCUED AND IN FOSTER HOME: "Lucas," the large black and white dog living on the streets since his owners died. Angeles took him to Dr. Peña´s clinic, where he
was diagnosed with anaplasma and erlichia. He is under treatment and will be ready for adoption in four weeks.
ADOPTED: "Oso," the large white Golden Retriever mix rescued by Barbara Drucker and her husband Louis Drake. NOBARS found a great home for a great dog in outside Vancouver.
.At a special pet event organized by Jhovanee Monge at Plaza Caracol, a small black adult female dog sat in front of a husband and wife and their two children. I watched as her eyes met the man´s eyes. They gazed gazed at each other until the father averted his look, telling me that he already had two dogs and a cat. The dog silently and motionless continued to look at him. The man bent over and scratched the dog´s back. Moments later his wife affectionately tugged on the dog´s ear. The dog stood on her hind legs to lick the teenage son´s face. The family all looked at each other and laughed and then walked off with this lucky young street dog. She had been fostered for four months by a gentle man who had brought her to the event, along with two very young puppies he had rescued.
Four of the five abandoned kittens rescued by Griss Guitierrez. The fifth is in a foster home.
NEEDS FOSTER HOME: The black mama dog from the Acopio and her young puppies. They are registered to NOBARS rescue and will fly to Canada in less than two months. Please contact: robin.nobars@gmail.com
RESCUED AND IN FOSTER HOME: "Lucas," the large black and white dog living on the streets since his owners died. Angeles took him to Dr. Peña´s clinic, where he
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"LUCAS" RESCUED AND NOW IN FOSTER HOME. HE NEEDS A PERMAMENT HOME. RESCATADO Y EN CASA PUENTE. NECESITA HOGAR. |
ADOPTED: "Oso," the large white Golden Retriever mix rescued by Barbara Drucker and her husband Louis Drake. NOBARS found a great home for a great dog in outside Vancouver.
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"OSO" WITH HIS NEW OWNER IN VANCOUVER. "OSO" RESCATADO DE LA CALLE CU SU NUEVA DUEÑA EN CANADÁ |
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UNA PERRA RESCATADA DE LA CALLE ADOPTADA EN PLAZA CARACÓL |
Four of the five abandoned kittens rescued by Griss Guitierrez. The fifth is in a foster home.
NEEDS FOSTER HOME: The black mama dog from the Acopio and her young puppies. They are registered to NOBARS rescue and will fly to Canada in less than two months. Please contact: robin.nobars@gmail.com
TRAVELING
COMPANIONS TO EDMONTON, CALGARY AND VANCOUVER, CANADA NEEDED FOR RESCUE
DOGS. ALL ANIMAL EXPENSES PAID FOR. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
SHOW UP AT THE AIRPORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME.
COLINA
FREE CLINIC- Normally open every Sunday from 9 AM-2 PM 491 V.
Carranza in the Romantic Zone. Surgeries limited to 15 cats and
dogs. Arrive early! Contact: cez@rogers.com
PEACEANIMALS
CLINICS: Schedule to be announced last
week of December.
CLINICS
NEED FUNDING! PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING NOW! WE HAVE A $10,000 MATCHING
GIFT TO MEET!!!
COST
FOR ONE SURGERY WEEK CLINIC IS $1,500 USD.
Thank
you for your interest and support.
Gretchen
www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com
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www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com
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A los 18 grados a las 7 de la
mañana , los mexicanos en Puerto Vallarta comentan sobre el tiempo frío. Unas personas se ponen gorras
de lana, polares y suéteres . Incluso he visto a unas
mujeres y niñas en botas. El
año pasado en una misa de medianoche en la iglesia de Nuestra Señora de
Guadalupe , me sorprendió escuchar a la congregación cantando " Estoy
Soñando con una Navidad Blanca” en
español . El
único blanco que veremos aquí son de las nubes en floración nubes y la arena en
las playas.
Muchos de nosotros que vivimos aquí “full” or “part-time” estamos acostumbrados a los días fríos y la experiencia de un pequeño placer de ver nuestra respiración. Los incendios en chimeneas crepitan , la gente bebe chocolate caliente , sidra caliente y ponche caliente . El aroma de los pinos que nos rodea y nos hacemos “cosy.”
A pesar de la diversión de los doce días de nuestra Señora de Guadalupe… el canto y el baile … las peregrinaciones con velas en la calle cerrada que conduce a la iglesia , la Navidad no se siente absolutamente como la Navidad para mí en los semi -tropicales . Y así, para entrar en el espíritu, escucho en mi tocadiscos los himnos y villancicios de Navidad todo el mes de diciembre. Todos tratan de la esperanza, la alegría, la paz, el asombro y el amor.
Muchos de nosotros que vivimos aquí “full” or “part-time” estamos acostumbrados a los días fríos y la experiencia de un pequeño placer de ver nuestra respiración. Los incendios en chimeneas crepitan , la gente bebe chocolate caliente , sidra caliente y ponche caliente . El aroma de los pinos que nos rodea y nos hacemos “cosy.”
A pesar de la diversión de los doce días de nuestra Señora de Guadalupe… el canto y el baile … las peregrinaciones con velas en la calle cerrada que conduce a la iglesia , la Navidad no se siente absolutamente como la Navidad para mí en los semi -tropicales . Y así, para entrar en el espíritu, escucho en mi tocadiscos los himnos y villancicios de Navidad todo el mes de diciembre. Todos tratan de la esperanza, la alegría, la paz, el asombro y el amor.
Rodeada de palmeras y las campanadas exuberantes de las iglesias en Puerto Vallarta,
mi deseo de Navidad es que todas las naciones y la gente van a trabajar por la paz.
Nuestro equipo está mucho más al sur en el estado de Oaxaca y regresará un poco antes del día de Navidad. Las clínicas de PEACEanimals comenzarán de nuevo la primera semana de enero.
El gran héroe del Africa Sud que murió esta semana, Nelson Mandela, escribió estas palabras:
"Nadie nace odiando a otra persona por el color de su piel o su origen, o su religión. La gente debe aprender a odiar, y si ellos pueden aprender a odiar, se les puede enseñar a amar, porque el amor viene más naturalmente al corazón humano que al contrario. "
Nuestro equipo está mucho más al sur en el estado de Oaxaca y regresará un poco antes del día de Navidad. Las clínicas de PEACEanimals comenzarán de nuevo la primera semana de enero.
El gran héroe del Africa Sud que murió esta semana, Nelson Mandela, escribió estas palabras:
"Nadie nace odiando a otra persona por el color de su piel o su origen, o su religión. La gente debe aprender a odiar, y si ellos pueden aprender a odiar, se les puede enseñar a amar, porque el amor viene más naturalmente al corazón humano que al contrario. "
DONACIÓNES: Se vean arriba en la parte inglés.
ADOPCIÓNES: Se vean arriba en la parte inglés.
GATITOS Y LA ISLA
CUALE: Del Shannon Beston, que alimenta a los felinos todos los días y con frecuencia encuentra hogares para los gatitos
descartados:
"Hoy otra caja de gatitos fue tirado en la Isla Cuale. El promedio es de alrededor de 2-3 gatitos por semana. Algunos, por supuesto, mueren de exposición si son demasiado jóvenes, o están matados por los perros, ya que hay muchos perros que los permiten caminar sin correa en la isla. "
"Hoy otra caja de gatitos fue tirado en la Isla Cuale. El promedio es de alrededor de 2-3 gatitos por semana. Algunos, por supuesto, mueren de exposición si son demasiado jóvenes, o están matados por los perros, ya que hay muchos perros que los permiten caminar sin correa en la isla. "
POR FAVOR, CONSIDERE DONAR A NUESTRAS CLÍNICAS.
Gracias por su interés y apoyo.
FELIZ NAVIDAD,
Gretchen
www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com
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