Good Morning ALL. Can you believe it? The very last day and down to last hours of 2020. 2020 came in with all of the promise and hope that a New Year could bring and is leaving us with thoughts of promise and hope that 2021 will bring. So we will start and end with the same dreams for the New Year although the in between could never have been predicted. This year has been the same and different for so many of us. I cannot compare my year to that of my friend who lives down the street and works in the healthcare field. We both have had much different experiences this past year. She has faced all of the stresses and anxieties that came with COVID19 and the Pandemic as she continued to work. Me on the other hand, when our employer announced that we would be closing our doors to the public on March 16, 2020, and start the process of having staff work from home, I had mixed feelings but mostly I was overjoyed. On March 19, 2020 I was sent home with my coworkers with a laptop and whatever supplies we required to work from home. Later that afternoon I was set up and March 20, 2020 I was working from home. In the beginning there were definitely some stressful times but over the last nine months I have smoothed out the kinks and working from home has certainly been a godsend. Of course, there are moments of stress, but that is inevitable, as my job can most certainly be stressful at times. But I no longer have to spend a minimum of 1.5 hours travelling to and from work. There are no worries about leaving a senior dog, my Alvin home alone for such a long period of time. We have figured out a few things over time and one being that we will need to go to the office for one day per month as we have some large print jobs where the documents need to be prepared to be mailed. I can handle one day each month. Of course, this may change over time. My friend down the street lost her beloved pup Abi in February and in July brought baby Bailey home. Having a puppy at any time is a lot of work and with the stresses of working during a pandemic has been difficult for our friend. We have kept in touch with porch / sidewalk visits, texts and video chats. We live only a few doors apart and yet our lives that were so similar are so different this year. She was not able to spend Christmas with her sister and brother-in-law who are expecting early in the New YEAR nor her parents. Her parents are in her sister’s pod as she is expecting. I on the other hand was so blessed to be able to spend Christmas with my daughter and son-in-law and pups. In January my friend will be hosting a “virtual baby shower” for her sister. So many firsts this year. This is a reminder that I must check out the registry and chose a gift for the new baby. I always love to buy books for little ones, cannot go wrong with books.
I am grateful that we have the technology to see family and friends. This is the time to use this technology so that no one is alone. Take a few minutes and reach out to family and friends. We are blessed to have the technology to physically see each other.
So as we wrap up this YEAR, I have mixed feelings. I would say for the most part I have positive feelings. Working from home was always a dream, a thought that I had but never thought would come to fruition. I missed spending time with my sister and brothers in August. My daughter and I did not take our annual girls road trip in August. Since March, I have mainly seen my friends from the doorway although we did have a few visits. Our girls Annual Christmas party was done virtually. I never thought that I would not enter a store for several months. From March until August, all of my groceries were picked up by my friends and my daughter. I have since that time been to the store a grand total of 6 times, been to the vet numerous times, to Shoppers once to mail Christmas cards and parcels on November 20, and to the Optometrist twice since August. I will say that the handful of times that I have entered a grocery store have been anxiety ridden for me. For the past month or so I have not been to the grocery store although I was to the Bone & Biscuit on December 11th, to pick up gifts for the fur babies including Alvin. I have been to the office three times, twice in September and once in November. Most of my time has been spent at home or going for walks. Thankfully we are able to go outside. As the time passes, I think that the only way that we can stop this virus is to follow the protocols set out by the Health Care Professionals and Government Leaders. While it is not ideal as we are social creatures, it is imperative to follow the rules. Wear masks when in public, wash your hands, stay home when you can and social distance. I will say that trips to the Vet are different now. The last time Alvin went I was not allowed to be with him, I sat with my mask on in one of the exam rooms while they took him to the back exam room. The Optometrist was definitely different. Two visits one for the exam and the other to pick up frames. They as the Vet only book one appointment per hour. Better to be safe.
Perhaps if we would have taken more precautions sooner and taken this more seriously – we would be in a better place, I don’t know. Going forward we must do what is right for everyone. This is not the time to be selfish. We do want to see our family and friends in the New Year.
The sun is up although it appears to be cloudy. This is the last day of 2020. I hope that 2021 brings us hope and promise. I know that it will take months and likely most of this next year before the vast population can be vaccinated and at this point we do not know if that is the complete answer or not but I remain positive that the scientists will figure it out and we will end 2021 in a better place. To all of those folks who lost loved ones this year, I keep you in my heart and hope that your memories will help to bring you comfort. To all those families who lost beloved pets, I keep you in my heart and hope that memories of them will bring you comfort.
May the New Year be filled with hope and promise. May you find your way through this next year with faith, hope and grace. Continue to be kind and respectful and compassionate to all others. We need each other even more now than ever.
Thank you for taking your precious time to read my words, this post. I appreciate your time.
So from our home to yours, Alvin and I want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year.
Good Morning All. How are you this fine Wednesday? Alvin and I are doing great. Cannot believe that 2020 is almost over. Most people are so over 2020 that they cannot wait for it to end. Me and Alvin had an interesting year and mainly on the positive side. I am so grateful to be working from home, to be employed and that we are in good health. Actually the good health is number #1 on the gratitude list.
Well I finally figured out how to work this new fangle wordpress photo stuff. Here are some photos from the month or so.
Most of the photos are self explanatory but some may require further explanation. The third photo. Kelly Ripa’s glasses (on my new large screen television set). I fell in love with these glasses and when I went to pick out my new glasses, I wanted something similar to these ones and I found them. Not quite as big as hers but pretty close. Happy about that.
The fridge filled with baking and on the table. This year I made up over 20 boxes of my homemade: sugar cookies, unbaked chocolate macaroons, chocolate chip, raisin gingerbread cookies and fudge and delivered them to friends in the neighbourhood, and to my daughter (she picked them up). There are photos of presents on the kitchen cupboard and that is because as I have mentioned Mr. Alvin has decided to open his presents ahead of time. So anything for him or for his friends stayed on the counter until they were delivered. The photo of Alvin with the orangutan is not the best photo of the boy but it gives you an idea of how he felt about this gift (which luckily was for Aspen and Milo ). I have a photo of him with the orangutan wrapped about him, not sure where it is but he was scared of the furry guy. Photos of my grandpups Aspen and Milo just relaxing. The Elephant necklace from Fifth Avenue Jewelry (FAC) – my most favourite piece of jewelry. I have been wearing it lots. So pretty.
Christmas Project 2020 – a gift for my daughter. I created this gift by using one of her baby bonnet’s and some antique brooches. Creating a bouquet of flowers on the bonnet with a bee close by. My daughter loves bees so the bee pin had to be included. It turned out great and looks so good displayed in a shadow box.
Christmas Tree 2020
Sunrise
Kelly Ripa’s glasses
Baking
More Baking
Christmas presents
My new television
Miss Aspen Xmas 2020
Milo Xmas 2020
Alvin Xmas 2020
Alvin’s new winter coat
My fav new necklace
Wrapping Xmas presents
Wrapping xmas 2020
Christmas Project 2020
Close up of our tree
More of our tree
and more
Yesterday I took down the Christmas tree and most of the decorations on the main floor. I did not bring up all of the ornaments that are up for most of the year as I just like the almost bare look for now. I would like to bring in the New YEAR in a simple easy uncluttered manner. The basement has to be reorganized now and that will be my project for today. I also have to run (will walk) to the Vet and pick up food for Mr. Alvin. Cannot run out of that. We will go for another walk. Yesterday while out on our walk we bumped into our friend Malena and her dog Rio. She is staying with her parents for awhile. We of course chatted while social distancing.
I hope that you have an awesome day. Time to head for the shower. Then have breakfast. I think that when I go back to work, I am going to start eating earlier in the morning again instead of waiting until 10:00 a.m.
Be safe, take some time for yourself. Be kind, respectful and show compassion to all others.
Good Morning ALL. The sun is shining and I can imagine birds singing. The sky is clear. I can see a bird flying in the distance. Well here we are Tuesday, December 29, 2020. How are you doing this morning? I am doing well. I must admit that even though we were up at 4:10 a.m. we hit the sofa after that until quite late. Something in me, just wanted to lay there, I did really sleep in until after 9:00 a.m. but rather I laid there looking at our Christmas Tree. I had made the decision last night to take down the tree today. There is something about the stillness of the morning and the unlit Christmas Tree that is so wonderful. A vision to behold. So many of my ornaments can tell a story. Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look. Just one of those lazy, pondering kind of mornings. Then I am “mad” at myself for not getting up and getting things done earlier. I cannot please myself. LOL.
Yesterday I went and picked out frames. It was definitely different from the past when I would go and have my eyes checked and then pick out my frames and then be on my way. This time I had the eye exam on December 11, 2020 and then on December 28, 2020 went back to pick out frames. There was lots of hand sanitizer involved, social distancing and mask wearing happening. I pointed to several pairs of frames and “Kelsea” grabbed them and once I had a tray full we went back and sat down. She gave me a mirror and I tried each one on. She advised to have two piles, one that I liked and the other that I did not like, so that is what we did. It was easy at first once I tried the frames on. The front of the office is all windows so it was very bright. The brightness really made me look pale even though I had put on my makeup. I narrowed it down to a few and then snapped photos to send to my daughter who was “waiting” to see my choices and to help me make the decision. In the end, it was down to two and we both liked one pair more than the other and Kelsea thought the same. It is nice to have photos of your choices as it used to be you picked out frame and then waited until they came in before you really remembered what they looked like. Technology is a good thing for sure. I will say that after looking at them later although I am happy with my choice there are three that I really did like. Oh well. I chose the ones that reminded me of a pair of glasses that Kelly Ripa wore on Live with Kelly & Ryan. Anyway it is done. They are paid for and I just have to wait for them to arrive. Kelsea said it would take about three weeks at the latest. Everything is taking just a bit longer than preCovid. I am happy that I was able to get this done before the end of the year.
Well it is now 10:00 a.m. – can you believe it. I guess we should be going to bed at our usual time, I forgot to say that we were up later last night watching of all things ….. Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. There are so many that I did not see or did not watch in its’ entirety. Oh well, I guess this is a week off and time to just do what I can do or not. Just turned my head to see the sun shining so brightly that the snow on the garage roof appears to be a massive lot of diamonds. So beautiful.
Yesterday morning on Live with Kelly & Ryan …… the Story of the Day was about this family from Calgary, Alberta. The Williams Family who make reindeer lawn / outside ornaments and then give the money to homeless shelters. The City of Calgary is just south about 2.5 hours of where I live in the City of Edmonton, Alberta. So excited to see Canadians making “the news” for good work.
I hope that you are doing well on this Tuesday. Mr. Alvin is ready to go back downstairs. I will get some photos uploaded to WordPress for tomorrow. Or is it downloaded?
Enjoy this Tuesday, December 29, 2020. Be well. Be safe. We shall all continue to live with kindness, respect and compassion.
I am grateful this day to have some time off from work with pay. I am grateful to live in a beautiful country. I am grateful to live with my best buddy Alvin. I am grateful for good food, good friends and family. Life is good. May 2021 be even better. I am grateful that so many folks are reading my posts. I am overjoyed.
Good Morning ALL. Well we sure seem to be sleeping in although we are up earlier and then keep hitting the “snooze button” and returning to the sofa. The sky is most pretty this morning as the sun rises. It is filled with ribbons of blue and pinks and yellows. No visible wind. Looks like another beautiful day. Alvin and I went for a great walk yesterday afternoon. Not quite melting weather but single digits below zero, which cannot complain about this time of year. Today I am going to try on frames for my new glasses. I am excited and nervous as it will be much different than usual. They make appointments to do this, I am not sure exactly how much time I will have to pick them out as I forgot to ask that question when I had my eyes checked and realized that you had to make another appointment. Oh well, I will soon find out. My appointment is for 1:00 p.m. – I might see if I am able to text photos of me in the frame to show my daughter for advice. I am not sure how they have this all set up. I can see the sun starting to brighten up the eastern horizon. How rude of me, I forgot to ask how you are doing? Are you back to work or are you enjoying some extra well deserved time off? I am enjoying the later as our office closes for the time between Christmas and New Year’s. I have decided that I am going to take down the decorations and tree starting tomorrow as it takes a couple of days or so to do this. Big job. I want to have some days before I go back to work that are relaxing. Oh, who am I kidding? For the first time in my life, I am ready to have everything down and ready to bring in the New Year. I have taken down the Christmas decorations or at least started on New Year’s Eve but I cannot remember the last time that I had everything down and put away before New Year’s Eve ….. I don’t think it has ever happened. Perhaps some of my family and friends will remember? Anyway, I think that as this has been such a tangled, unbelievable, no word description of a year that I am going to start the NEW YEAR doing something different. Why not. I may give Mr. Alvin a haircut on the weekend. He needs more food so I will be making a trip to the Vet with on my way home from picking out frames or else will pop over there tomorrow. Likely tomorrow.
Wishing our neighbour and Humphrey’s and Bogart’s Momma a very Happy Birthday. She is feeling under the weather so wishing her a speedy recovery.
Nice to see the sun shine early in the day.
To my daughter and son-in-law as I do not remember who gave me which book, I started reading one of them last night and using my new magnetic bookmark (such a great invention). The book is good. Do not remember the title. Yesterday I wrote in my Christmas Card book – all of the lovely and thoughtful gifts that I received for Christmas 2020. Definitely spoiled this year.
I also went through the freezer and packed up a large container with baking – texted first – then delivered to a family who lives two doors down. I thought what Mom of four has time for much baking and I had so much and I certainly do not need any more. We had a quick visit with me on the sidewalk and her on the porch.
I hear a plane go in for a landing but the airport is 25 minutes away OR perhaps it is a big big truck on the highway. Not sure which but loud. LOL.
Well time to go and get changed and cleaned up. Perhaps I will put on some makeup today as I am going out. Might be a good thing when trying on frames.
Wishing you all a great Monday, December 28, 2020. The New Year is right around the corner and I have a feeling that although it may start off slow meaning we are not going to be rid of this virus as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Actually more than a feeling. My wish for the New Year is for people to listen to the Health Care Professionals. Wear Masks. Social Distance. Stay home. Wash your hands. If you think about it and I know that there were families out there that got together for the holidays not heeding the restrictions set out by the Government / advice by Health Professionals that the new cases are going to once again rise. Was it worth it? I will never understand the reasons why some people may think that it was a necessity to get together for Christmas. I would rather be alone and have another Christmas to celebrate than get together and then have someone die or me.
Sometimes we have to say something.
2021 is going to start quiet. We are going to listen. Christmas 2021 will be spectacular.
Well time to get this show on the road. Argh, almost 9:30. Where does the time go?
Good Morning All. How are you? Someone I managed to miss writing this blog post yesterday. We slept in a bit after being up earlier, then the kids were up and we were visiting, having breakfast, then packing up their things and then they were gone. The morning was gone and then we were alone and it was early afternoon. Boxing Day used to be the day where I would pop out and pick up Christmas cards and wrapping paper for next Christmas. We did not leave the house except to the back yard. After the family left, I did laundry, put things away and did more dishes. We also had FACETIME with one of our friends down the block. She lives alone with her puppy Bailey. She only briefly saw her parents as they dropped of Christmas Dinner and her sister who is expecting could only visit from a distance outside. Very different from mine which actually did not change from other years. We chatted for almost two hours. While Alvin snuggled beside me on the sofa and just rested. I think that he was plum tuckered out. We had a great Christmas. Weather was amazing and we had a one hour walk all of us on Christmas Day. The sun shone and it was beautiful. Yesterday and today are overcast. Temperature not cold compared to other years. I spoke to my family on Christmas. Texted friends. We had baked chicken breasts, whipped potatoes and gravy, vegetables, cranberries, dressing (stovetop stuffing) and for dessert key lime pie and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. My daughter and I had the pie and my son-in-law was too full for dessert. So they took the ice cream sandwiches home with them. I gave them the lion’s share of the baking that was occupying my fridge and freezer. Not that any one of us really needs more “sugar” but I definitely do not. In fact, I may freeze the small container that I left in the fridge. I am tossing about freezing the chocolates that I received as well. Never thought that I would be saying this but I am “sugared out.” Too much. I feel like a large sugar cube. Now that Christmas is over and I was going to visit with some folks this week but the restrictions are on and I am following the rules. I want this VIRUS gone. It will only be gone if we follow the rules. So this week, I am going to stay home except for going to pick out my new glass frames tomorrow (they have massive protocols in place at my Optometrist’s office and Alvin will need food, so there will be a trip to the Vet likely on Wednesday. Will have to check and see what hours they are open. That is other than some walking. No visits from or visit friends. But that is okay. I want to do my part. What did you get for Christmas? I was spoiled by everyone this year. I received every kind of chocolate you can think of, baking, pj’s, two pair comfy pants, lots of beautiful scented items from my favourite store, Bath & BodyWorks, candles, a pretty top, a hand held blender with so many attachments (something new to learn), books, about ten different kind of hand creams (I think we all had them on the brain as we used so much as a result of washing our hands so often), towel for my stove, and I know I am missing items as that is why I am going to sit down and write down everything I received. After a few days ….. I don’t seem to remember everything. Alvin was spoiled and loved his toys and treats and his new leash.
My daughter helped me figure out why I could not upload photos to the computer. Remember when I decided to use my photo library as my screensaver, I guess it was too much and prevented me from uploading/downloading from phone to computer. So nice to have my photos from my phone to my computer once again.
Well cannot believe we are now two days past Christmas. Time flies. I am needing a shower. Then will get this day started. We were up early as usually about 3:30 and then again at 5:00 and then back to the sofa until 8:30. I needed that extra sleep.
I hope that Santa was good to you and that you were able to celebrate Christmas even though it may have been different.
Wishing you a great day. Hopefully you can relax on this Sunday. Take a breath. No cooking (I have enough food for several days with no cooking). I will be chatting with a dear friend a bit later.
We will continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion.
With the different format on WordPress I will figure out again how to post some photos but that will be later.
Good Morning ALL. Happy Christmas one and all. The air is warm outside. The house is quiet as my fingers clack away on the keyboard. Alvin is stretched out on the carpet in the hallway just outside the office door. My daughter, son-in-law and pups are snoozing in “the master suite” (okay perhaps not what you would consider to be a master suite but for me a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom, is pretty master, lol). What a glorious Christmas we are having. The family arrived in the later part of the afternoon on Christmas Eve, that would have been yesterday. We make some snacks, ate some snacks and ate more snacks and more snacks and then decided to open gifts. We always have enough food to feed about 20 people and there are three of us. Likely we should have gone for a walk but it is Christmas and who thinks of exercise when there are presents under the tree and food all over the place. Even before we sat down to open gifts, actually not long after the kids and grandpups arrived – we heard some rustling in the living room. We were busy snacking in the kitchen. Amanda went into the living room and there was the Alvin getting a headstart opening his gifts. He had found one of his gifts that was way back under the tree, without causing disarray to the other gifts or knocking over the tree – he pulled the gift back out onto the middle of the living room and was beginning to tear apart the tissue paper that covered his gift. How he knew that was his gift we will never know. My son-in-law joked that perhaps he knew how to read. What a guy. After we had some goodies, we settled in to watch the Christmas movie “ELF” which is another little story. Steven wanted to watch the movie which I happen to have on DVD in my massive Christmas movie collection. When the kids gave me the new television just before Christmas – we decided to disconnect the DVD player and put it in the basement. We would have had to hook it up which is not a big deal when the light bulb came on and I checked my PVR recordings and voile, I had recorded it. So no need to bring up the DVD player. We chatted and watched the movie. Drank coffee and eggnog. Throughout the movie, someone was whining so much. Not loud but clearly not happy. When the movie was over and we started preparing to open gifts, guess who was the first one to the tree? Three guesses and the first two don’t count. Mr. Alvin. He was so excited. I think with all of the gift opening that we have been doing and the parcels from our friend Val, he is beginning to put two and two together. He definitely understood about the gifts. I will note that he has been going to tree over the past few weeks once I wrapped gifts and we remember when he pulled my son-in-law’s stocking from under the tree and started to open his gifts. Note to self for next year. I made sure that I safely tucked all gifts with food related items and the stockings in a basket in the basement landing until time to open. We certainly were entertained by Alvin. He was frustrated with me at times. What can you do? He, me, we were all super spoiled. The perfect year to be spoiled. I received clothes, books, special pens, several items from my favourite store “Bath & Bodyworks”, chocolates and more chocolates and more chocolates, a hand held blender with more gadgets than I know what to do with and more. Definitely crazy spoiled. My son-in-law received from my daughter one of those projectors for indoors so we did some star gazing for part of the evening. A great night. Merry Christmas.
Well time to head back downstairs and have some coffee. I am going to call my sister and chat. It is beginning to get light outside. Hopefully the sun will shine. We definitely need a walk or two, today.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope that Santa was good to you. Not sure that me and Alvin deserved all the lovely gifts that we received but we are grateful to all those folks who showered us with them this year. We are grateful to have all of you in our lives. Truly, we are blessed.
Have an awesome day. Be safe, go for a walk. We will continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion for all.
Good Morning ALL. Merry Christmas Eve. We made it. So excited to see my family later today. Alvin and I were blessed to have his buddies Teddy and Kobi over for a visit yesterday. They kept him company while I worked. It was a win/win. They are so cute and we love them very much. Miss Kobi follows Alvin everywhere he goes whether inside the house or outside. Teddy and Alvin are happy to see each other and just be in the same space with no need to be close. They have a great relationship. Life is about relationships and friends for sure. Both Alvin and I are so blessed to have so many dear and wonderful friends. Friends are family and family are friends. We are blessed all the way round.
I just want to wish each and every one of you, the most special Christmas.
I hope that you are safe and in good health.
Alvin would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read his Momma’s stories.
I totally agree with that statement, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I hope this day brings you joy and comfort.
I hope that you are able to enjoy each and every moment.
Continuing to live each day with kindness, respect and compassion.
Good Morning ALL. Well we did it, only one sleep to go until Christmas Eve Day. I am so excited. The plan is on for my kids to come for Christmas. There was a possibility that they may not but it has been confirmed they are coming. Alvin and I are over the moon. Our pod will grow by four, my daughter, son-in-law and the grandpups Aspen and Milo. We are happy. Today is my late start and I am happy to report that the two of us that are not on vacation have managed to keep the mail current to this point and hopefully the phones will remain quiet today so that we are able to do this for our coworkers. What a great Christmas gift that would be. I am hopeful. Also today Alvin’s BF Teddy and his little sister Kobi are coming to spend the day. I told Alvin last night and I would like to think he understood that they were coming this morning. He will be over the moon to have one last visit with his buddies before Christmas break. Christmas break will be quiet as we will remain on strict restrictions. The only visitors in the house we are allowed will be our POD which is my daughter, son-in-law and grandpups. I am pleased that we are allowed to have someone although I have said this before – I would be okay with just Alvin for some time. If that time alone meant that the virus would disappear hopefully forever. We would still see people when they dropped off food and stuff and can always video chat. There are ways not to be completely alone if you choose. Back to Christmas. Are you ready? Food in the fridge and pantry? Baking done? Gifts wrapped? Movies selected and games? I am quite certain that you are. I am except for changing the bedding on our bed as the kids will have the master bedroom, changing out the towels with Christmas towels in all three bathrooms, one last clean of the bathrooms and then prepare the food for us to snack on tomorrow night. Well less than one hour before the pups arrive. I need a cup of coffee. We went for a walk but only went just inside the park yesterday as the wind was cold. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be warm, I believe. We won’t get out today as the pups will be here and I cannot walk all three at the same time and I am not sure that I want to leave anyone behind while I walk the others separately (gifts under the tree). But we will get exercise with the pups here anyway. I work until 7:00 p.m. tonight. Last night I made a pan of chili not a big pot. It was delightful. Just scaled it back. I wanted to mention that I noticed the number of “followers” is now over 900. So exciting. Maybe by the 2021 I will have 1000 people reading or at least signed up to read this blog. Makes me over the moon happy. When I was a small child I did not dream of this …. although I think think that in the future we would be able to see people’s faces when we spoke to them on the phone. That would have been in the early 60’s. I guess I can see the future. LOL.
Well everyone time to head on downstairs. Put on the coffee to perk. The sky cleared yesterday and I was happy to see the moon last night from my deck.
Be safe, continue to live your live showing kindness, respect and compassion to all. Truly it is the only way for us to live our lives.
Always, Carol & Alvin
YAY, it is almost here. I feel like I am 8 again. Best Christmas EVER is coming. So excited. So excited.
Good Morning ALL. Only two more sleeps until Christmas Eve and the fun begins. WE are all going to have some fun. Play some games, sing some songs, watch our favourite Christmas movies, eat delicious food and snacks and enjoy our time together. Whether we are alone or together with family and friends we can enjoy this time. I am blessed as I have Mr. Alvin to keep me company and he certainly enjoys some good food. The playing games might be a bit difficult but we could always play with his toys. He loves his new toy from his friend and pal down the street Miss Bailey. The point is, we all know that this Christmas is not going to be the same for a multitude of different reasons. Christmas will come and go much the same as most years. It is up to us how we handle each moment of this time.
This morning the white stuff is falling from the sky. The sky was overcast last night so we missed seeing the Conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. I was so looking forward to the possibility of seeing that rare point in time. In fact this has been the first time in 400 years that it has been close enough to see with the naked eye. How cool is that? Luckily it was not cloudy everywhere and others have shared those rare photos. Very exciting. “THE GREAT CONJUNCTION” it has been dubbed. Next time it will be 2080 before the planets align so closely again.
Yesterday my last tea order arrived at noon out of the blue. No email advising that it was even shipped but I will not complain as I am happy that my customers/friends will have their orders for Christmas as some were gifts.
Looks like shovelling will be in my future. Time to go and pick up those “packages” that Mr. Alvin so kindly leaves behind for me in the backyard. I am grateful that we had a nice walk yesterday. Hopefully the snow is at a minimum so we can walk at lunchtime today.
I hope that you are having the best Tuesday (ooops, I almost said Wednesday). It is a good day. We definitely will have a White Christmas. Take care and be in good health. If we only can live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion – what a wonderful world this would be.
Have an awesome Tuesday Everyone.
Time to get that coffee ready and get this day going. We are down to two out of seven from our immediate team. Lots of mail came in yesterday for myself and another team member who is on Christmas vacation. I am doing my best to ensure most or all of the mail is done before Christmas. Maybe today the phones will be quiet. Fingers crossed.
Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this morning? I hope that you are well and happy at this time and always. We are now at three sleeps/days until Christmas Eve Day which is Thursday. Wow. Fast Approaching. The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere (where I live) is marked by the winter solstice which happens today. Today is the shortest day of the year. After today the daylight hours will increase. YAY. So how are the Christmas plans coming along? Are you celebrating things with a “COVID19 TWIST.” I have heard friends say that they are having lasagne for Christmas dinner instead of turkey. There will be changes and of course not likely the change that you want to celebrate Christmas but you know it is for one year. If your family and friends are in good health – then we have something to celebrate whether you can physically be with them or not. We have to “suck it up” and just be grateful that we can actually celebrate this year. So many families will be missing family members this year whether it was due to the virus or not. We can do this. Do something different with your “pod” – the people that are in your household. Eat differently – play different games. Maybe stay in your pj’s until just before you have your dinner/supper. Get out the phones/laptops/computers and put in a video call to the Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, friends and everyone you can think of. Most folks have the technology these days to video chat so take advantage of that and if they only have a phone/phone – then call them minus the video chat. This should be the year that we are reaching out to our family and friends and tell them how much they means to us and how grateful we are that they are alive and doing well. This is the year. We will endure.
Yesterday I iced the Sugar Cookies that I baked on Friday night and made the last cookie delivery. I see that a request has come in for Teddy and Kobi to spend Wednesday with us as Mom & Dad are going to the farm for the day. That is my late shift day to work so that will be perfect. I will have time to play with the pups before starting work at 11:00 a.m. ….. will be a fun day.
We also had a glorious walk yesterday afternoon. Even though the wind was strong it was surprisingly warm.
Still pitch dark out there ….. I am not sure what time the sun will rise today. It will rise.
We had a sidewalk / porch visit with Bailey’s Mom late yesterday afternoon. Bailey was out walking with her Grandpa. We exchanged gifts. It was lovely.
I am happy that I am ready for Christmas minus “hanging the stockings” and cooking Christmas dinner and some snacks for Christmas Eve.
Well Mr. Alvin is getting restless and it is almost time to start work. I must get that pot of coffee perking. The aroma always sends me over the edge. One of my fav smells is coffee perking.
I wish you well, may your day be filled with goodness, light and joy.
We will continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion.
My New Life @ 51 