Living … One day at a time.

Hello, good morning.

Another “dry” morning outside.

I hear there might be some moisture coming our way.

I sure wish and hope that it stays away at least until after Halloween.

Always nice for the TRICK & TREATERS to have warm dry weather and also for the homes.

Everytime we open the door …..

I love seeing all of the neighborhood children coming around.

Some of the costumes are full of thoughtful consideration.

Cannot wait.

I am going to be HARRY POTTER.

At this time I have a similar hair style/cut so why not.

Well Monday morning again.

So happy that I was the first one to wake up this morning at 4:15 a.m.

We did go downstairs and then hit the sofa for a few extra zzz’s.

 

Today is FEDERAL ELECTION DAY in CANADA.

I feel every election whether provincial or federal there are no clear choices.

So what do you do?

Pick the lesser of the evil so to speak?

If it was the party only it may not be so difficult.

But these leaders are not proper leaders in my opinion.

How could we have one of them representing us on a daily basis on the world stage?

Well I guess one of them already has been.

Not sure he has done such a great job.

Now lots of folks would disagree with me and that is okay.

After all we live in a Democracy and I have the right to my opinion.

Anyway I have today to make up my mind.

I have thought about not voting but really that is not an option.

I feel that voting is a privilege that has been fought long and hard to obtain.

So not voting is not an option.

 

Well I guess it is almost time to hit the trail.

Back to work.

Alvin and I had a great weekend.

We saw our girl.

I even went shopping.

We had wonderful walks.

Alvin and I had our photos taken to put in with our Christmas cards.

We visited with Teddy and his Mom.

Even did some work in between all of the socializing, shopping and walking.

So blessed.

 

Please treat every living creature you come upon this day and every day.

With kindness and respect.

That is the way we should all be treated.

Not an option in my book.

Everyone deserves kindness and respect.

They do.

 

Happy Monday.

Watch over us all.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

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Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning, partial overcast sky this morning.

I can see the sun on the horizon.

We had some rain last night.

A bit on the slippery side out there this morning or at least it was on the deck and the grass.

Well Alvin and I had a great Saturday.

His sister/my daughter arrived after dropping her car off to be winterized at their dealership.

We consumed “massive” amounts of pancakes (not really but it sounded good).

My friend had given me a can of maple syrup from Quebec so it was opened to use.

MMM, so good.

Happy Anniversary gift and card for my kids.I d

After breakfast, we decided it was a good opportunity to go and photograph me and Alvin for our Christmas photos.

We always take them in the fall.

Earlier in the morning I decided might be a good idea to shower and wash my hair and put on some makeup.

Paid off.

So after a few minutes of figuring out what would be good to wear and careful not to be similar to last years colours; we were off.

Jeans and a purple sweater and tank top.

Alvin wore his usual “black and white tux.”

Always so formal that guy.

We spent less time than usual snapping a few photos and for the first time using her iPhone camera.

I was happy with my hair until there was a breeze and then it was out the window.

We/I sat on rocks by the water (not that close), on the little bridge and standing.

At the end of slightly more than 30 minutes; we had some shots that were worthy of our “10th Year Photo.”

Cannot believe ten years already.

The shortest photo shoot and with a phone camera.

Who would have ever thought …. not having to lug a big camera around.

Nice for my daughter.

 

After returning home after the photo shoot, my son-in-law called an UBER for us (cause he has the APP).

I quickly changed into something less dressy.

Gave Mr. Alvin a treat.

Shortly thereafter we were on our way.

My daughter had heard about this Thrift Outlet store which is on the premise as the Recycle place.

All the items whether household or clothing or books whatever are purchased by weight.

We found a few things but it was so busy …. I am no longer happy in crowds.

After leaving there we went to the Thrift Store not far away.

It is new and looks like a Winner’s type store.

In fact, set up much the same.

Everything looks like new or close.

Needless to say we, mainly me found several items that I ended up purchasing.

Some items to hang on the wall, some small Christmas tins to put gifts in as wrapping and PJ’s.

I washed the clothing items right away …. love the pj’s.

Also found a white handmade blanket which will be washed this morning.

It is so pretty, no stains and perfect.

 

Returned home, sorted the purchases and my daughter was on her way.

I decided we would go for another walk as it was so beautiful out.

We had a great walk.

After returning home made supper and cleaned up.

I did another couple loads of laundry.

Today is finishing the laundry, hair cut and bath for the boy and baking of chocolate chip cookies for the 5th Avenue Jewelry party next Saturday evening.

It is finally light out so one can see everything clearly.

Have to decide if I will rake the leaves for the 4th time …. my tree is bare.

 

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Thus far our weekend has been amazing.

Happy Sunday to you.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

Happy Saturday.

We were up early and then hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s cause that is how we roll.

At 7:46 a.m. the sun is just beginning to pierce the horizon and the sky is begin to lighten.

I love sunrise.

Alvin just let out a huge sigh as he lays on his blue blanket beside me.

Always close and evidently not pleased at the moment.

What a guy.

Last night as we were leaving the house for our walk …. some friends were walking by.

Jack (little doggie friend) and his Mom.

So we joined them for our walk and enjoyed their company.

 

Today is a very special Saturday.

Today two of my most favourite people on the planet celebrate their 11th Wedding Anniversary.

I remember their wedding as though it were yesterday.

The day was similar in temperature perhaps a bit cooler.

There was sunshine and blue sky.

I remember standing behind them as they stated their wedding vows.

Barely holding back the tears and smiling at the same time.

Then they were married.

 

Their wedding photos were taken down in the River Valley a short walk from where they were married.

The trees were bare, stripped of their leaves from the wind and weather.

Steps, so many steps leading down to the valley.

Not great for high heels …..

As the photographer (a school mate of the bride) snapped photos; I thought how much it reminded me of a scene from days of old.

The forest …. the trees, the darkness in the valley …..

Anyway it was very cool and a day to remember.

 

Happy Anniversary to my darling daughter and sweet son-in-law.

May the years ahead treat you with kindness and respect.

May you have good health, great joy, much love and laughter.

May abundance be with you.

May you celebrate with love each day of your lives.

Dreaming always and realizing those dreams.

Have a great day my loves.

 

Some flowers for the day.

With Love, Forever and Always,

Alvin

Aspen

Milo

Mom

 

 

Now time to get this show on the road as my darling daughter will be joining me

this morning for a pancake breakfast.

Time to shower and get laundry on and make those pannie cakes.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello and a good Friday morning to ALL.

Well it is the last day of the work week for me.

Excited as tomorrow my daughter is coming for a pancake breakfast and visit.

We are both excited.

Always wonderful to have her in the house.

 

Last night Alvin and I had a great walk.

We are enjoying these warm days.

Stopped in at Teddy’s house and had a visit with them.

I helped Teddy’s Mom with a project involving her bird feeders in the backyard.

I think that would be a great idea ….

To have a bird feeder out front.

Humphrey’s Mom has a bird feeder on her front tree.

I love watching the small birds.

I really don’t mind the magpies although they make it difficult for the smaller birds.

But they play an important role in the grand scheme of things as do we all.

 

What are your plans for the weekend?

Cleaning?

Relaxing?

Going to a movie?

Raking the lawn?

Baking?

Pancake breakfast?

Couch potato?

Walking?

 

So many things that one can and should and would do.

Can you guess which of the items are not in my plans for the weekend?

Did you guess?

Going to a movie?

Then you would be correct.

No plans for a movie.

But one never knows what can come up.

 

Well it is getting late.

We kind of hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s.

I hope that you have a wonderfully safe and good Friday.

Be in good health, surrounded by laughter and be in joy.

Happy Friday.

 

Treat each person and creature you meet the way that you would like to be treated.

With kindness and respect, of course.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

Another beautiful double digit day on the way.

Yesterday was gorgeous at  +15 degrees celsius.

Bright sunshine – just perfect.

 

After work once Alvin was done outside and with supper; we went for a walk.

I took my equipment with me and by that I mean a large black garbage bag and disposable gloves.

A couple of days ago or three now there was a bag of garbage strewn over a small area just inside our park; close to the trees by the water.

For two days we walked by and it was there each time.

This time I was not going to be one of the ones to go by and either think “who would do that” or just totally ignore the trash.

Not me, cannot do that.

It meant taking and using a big garbage bag and a pair of disposable gloves but my neighbourhood is important to me.

Not only did we clean that up but I filled to the brim two of Alvin’s poopy bags with small trash.

I will never understand how people can walk by and not pick it up.

Anyway, happy to report that once again the park is clean.

I noticed a few pieces of trash alongside the sidewalk closer to my house but I had run out of bags by the time I got home.

Does that not figure?

Anyway another job for this evening’s walk.

I am going to start carrying a plastic grocery bag (if I have any as I use recycled bags).

Life in the fast lane.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk.

I was so proud of my little rockstar as he stayed out of the garbage as I was picking it up.

You see I was holding him on his leash with one hand and picking up and holding the garbage bag with the other.

I managed.

After I raked all of the leaves on the weekend and cleaned the inbetween part with the stones; everyone else’s leaves had blown all over the yard.

So last night for the third time the front lawn was raked.

Humphrey was over (had picked him up after our walk) and the boys watched me through the living room window.

I also submitted some NORWEX orders.

It was a busy night but felt good to get some chores done.

The one thing that I didn’t do was the exercises …

I have been doing some stretching exercises for the past couple of days.

Makes a difference.

Will be doing them tonight.

 

Oh, we met Rosie’s Dad last night.

In the early morning I met Rosie and her Mom while waiting for my ride to arrive.

I must say that Rosie is a lucky pup.

They both think the world of her, too.

Another successful RESCUE story.

I hope to hear many more.

 

Oh, our Humphrey boy.

He is just so cute.

Well time to fly here.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

 

 

Remember to fill your life with kindness and respect.

One small act of kindness can change someone’s life.

I guarantee it will change yours as well.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time

Good Morning,

We had some rain overnight.

Yesterday or at least in the late afternoon we had a strong COLD wind.

As I was walking home from the bus, I was grateful that I had a warm coat and gloves.

Alvin and I went for our usual walk only it was not so usual.

We got as far as the “poop bag station.”

He had a poop turned to look at me and headed for home.

Okay, perhaps he was cold even though I had put his winter jacket on him.

So we had a short walk.

That might be part of the reason that he was up at 2:00 a.m. and then a few times after that until we were up to stay up at 5:09 a.m.

ARGH.

Definitely need COFFEE this morning.

I also am thinking that the later we go to bed the later he sleeps.

Or it seems that way.

We were in bed before 9:00 last night and five hour later we were up.

I guess we will go to bed later tonight.

I will get this figured out.

We have only been together for almost ten years …..

Relationships always require work …. no matter who or the type.

Work.

I guess everything we do requires work of some sort.

Ah.

 

Just thinking as I glance about my newly renovated (painted) office at all my photos, cards and books ….  how much I love this space.

The bulletin boards that my daughter made me for Christmas a few years back are finally up and filled with photos, ticket stubs, letters and poems.

My bookcases are filled with the books that I love …. each area special.

Books for children in one case with Minnie Mouse and a Bunny sitting atop.

Collectible magazines of Princess Diana and the Royal Family and some of my favourite people.

My purses hang on a rack on the door.

I have bios, self-help, and fiction.

All sorts of different topics and story lines.

I do love to read.

Right now I am reading Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming.”

I feel good in this room.

Best choice of paint colour ever.

I am so grateful to my friend for matching the paint to my handmade curtains “with absolute perfection.”

 

Well it is almost time to hit the road.

Alvin is laying on his blue blanket.

Touching my foot as he is never far from me when I am at home.

For his sake, I wished that I was able to be home with him all day, every day.

This would be a great time to come into lots of money.

Mmm, a million dollars.

That would be nice.

A gal can dream.

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

Living your life always with kindness and respect.

Always.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Morning All,

Woke to another brown ground morning.

The white stuff will come soon enough.

Despite the wind and rain mixed with snow yesterday afternoon and into the evening we missed another attempt by Mother Nature.

Another attempt to bring snow to us.

We are so grateful to have another day without the white stuff.

I love FALL or Autumn.

Surprisingly enough there are still quite a few trees with leaves.

 

TODAY is a very special day.

Today is the 4th Birthday of my eldest grandpup “Miss Aspen.”

She joined our family Christmas of 2016.

Milo joined our family this day in 2016 when he was just a baby.

 

Aspen is such a kind and gentle soul.

She has brought a calmness to our family.

She is elegant and energetic.

We just love her.

Happy Happy Birthday to our Dear Aspen.

Hugs and Kisses from Grandma and Alvin

At Grandma’s house – her favourite spot

First Christmas at our House above photo

Aspen at her home (photo below)

 

Wishing you a great day.

 

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Time to leave for work.

 

ALways, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Wow, welcome to Monday and the actual calendar date of Thanksgiving.

We celebrate yesterday with our family.

The wind is blowing and the sky is grey.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

I was chatting with my friend G yesterday morning.

Catching up.

She mentioned about going to COSTCO, so I asked her to keep any eye out for casual, around the house, sweatpants.

G said that she would.

She texted me from COSTCO as she found sweatpants for $14.99.

G picked me up two pair one charcoal grey and one black.

I must say they are the most comfortable pants that I have had in a long time.

Wished I could wear them to work.

Will be great for walking with Alvin.

My other pants will be tossed with a small ceremony.

They served me well.

So appreciated them but the holes can no longer be sewn, time for them to go.

These dear old pants are over 10 years old.

Wore them everyday.

YAY, thank you my friend for the new pants.

 

 

My four charges from yesterday.

The kids had to make a trip to COSTCO so dropped pups off.

Miss Aspen, Baby Milo, Master Teddy and Rockstar Alvin

How I managed to get them all looking to the camera was an achievement.

Oh my babies.

Thanksgiving

I forgot to take a photo when the food was served but the buns that my friend made were under the tee towel.

The turkey platter was filled with desserts.

One would think we were feeding twenty people, nope just three of us.

I provided my friend’s homemade apple pie and I bought a pumpkin pie (cut into wedges).

The kids brought some cake that one of their friends had made.

So we were surrounded by loving hands.

We had a great time.

Well we went to bed late and got up at 5:00 and then back to the sofa for a few hours.

So it is now after 9:00 a.m. ……

Guess it will be a quiet day.

I might have to work on the photos.

Just noticed that the total of photos I have on the computer is now over 33,000 and almost 1,000 videos.

ARGH.

OR may be a project during Christmas holidays.

 

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, Welcome to Sunday the 13th day of October, 2019.

We had rain overnight but now the sky is beginning to clear.

Last year at Thanksgiving it was raining and I believe it turned to snow.

Argh, I surely don’t like to say that word before Halloween.

It would be so wonderful if it would remain “brown” until November.

 

Change of plans, Alvin’s friend Teddy is arriving this morning instead of for a sleepover.

He should arrive in 30 minutes or so.

Yesterday we had Humphrey over for a bit.

We enjoyed a beautiful walk but were sad to leave Humphrey here at home.

I decided to take my phone so that I could snap some photos and am happy that I did.

My family are planning to come for supper.

We are always happy to have them over.

 

Keeping this short this morning.

But I wanted to share some photos of our walk late yesterday afternoon.

It was so lovely.

I also raked the front lawn as it was covered with a thick blanket of leaves.

Also cleaned out the middle area that has stones as it was covered in leaves as well.

So many leaves.  I filled two big black garbage bags.

Alvin and Humphrey watched from the living room as I cleaned away.

 

Here are some of the shots from our walk yesterday.

In the park not too far from our house.

Alvin sniffing away.

The fountain still running.

Leaves covering most of the trees but so many different colours.

So beautiful.

 

 

One cute story to share from near the beginning of our walk yesterday.

We had just arrived at the park when a car slowed down and pulled over.

I realized it was some neighbours.

Mom and three small boys.

The boys were screaming with delight at the sight of Alvin.

The older boy was out of his seatbelt and trying to get his head out of the window.

Mom and I were trying to speak to each other but all I heard her say was “I can’t hear anything but ALVIN.”

The boys were all screaming his name.

It was at that exact second that I came to realize something.

“Alvin is a ROCK STAR.”

Everyone loves him.

Everyone knows his name.

The kids get so excited to see him and even some adults.

So I have a ROCK STAR living in the house.

Doesn’t get better than that ….

Unless he had the finances of a Rock Star …. but I am happy that he is so loved and adored.

Makes me proud.

Now I also realize something …. he does have that mindset of a celebrity.

 

 

Okay almost time for Teddy to arrive.

Time to get that coffee perking.

I need a cup.

 

Happy Sunday and if you are celebrating Thanksgiving on this day …..

Well Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Enjoy your day.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, good morning.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton.

The sun is shining and as I look out of my office window at home, I can see the sun shining through the golden leaves of a neighbour’s tree to the south.

So beautiful.

This is our Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend.

I am thankful for all of the things in my life.

Even the “cold sore” that seems to have landed on my upper lip.

I have so much to be thankful for.

Even the messy stuff is all good.

Every bit of life good or bad is to be thankful for.

My life is certainly not perfection and I sometimes might choose to see life through rose coloured glasses but …

It is my life ….

I am surrounded by the best people and while they are fantastic even those relationships are sometimes not 100% rosey.

But that is life.

Right?

Perfection is sloppy.

Perfection is messy.

Perfection is your perfect.

Different for everyone.

We had a great night with Humphrey over for a visit.

I am always amazed at how well they get on.

The first moment he arrives …. Alvin runs to the door and they touch noses.

I guess that is their way of saying hello.

If one goes outside they both go outside.

If one comes in most times they both come in.

Tonight Teddy comes for a sleepover.

He will spend Sunday with us.

Tomorrow my daughter, son-in-law and grand pups comes for our Thanksgiving meal.

Life is good.

 

Well time to get that life is good thing going …. there is laundry to do and coffee to drink.

Time to change from pj’s into day time clothes.

 

With kindness and respect I shall live my life.

Remembering how blessed I am.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Happy Thanksgiving …