Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! I hope that this post finds you doing well. We are doing well although I do admit that I like being able to sleep later in the mornings but I am up and almost ready. Alvin has had his breakfast and been outside to do his business, okay, I shall say it “to p&p.” Our weather has been absolutely gorgeous. I sure am grateful for these above zero temperatures. I can hear a dog outside to the south barking. I hope that they let the poor guy into the house. Why do people leave their poor dogs outside? Those are not great human beings. I cannot imagine doing that. I feel badly if I let Alvin outside and run into the basement for something quick. He always beats me to the door and then starts barking. Most times, the majority of the time, I go outside with him, especially since he is getting older.

I had a great idea this morning. While thinking of Alvin, I realized that my daughter does not have the phone numbers of my friends that help with Alvin. She does have the phone numbers of my friends Gillian and Signe or at least the group chat. So what would happen if something happened to me, who would she contact. So I took a screenshot of some of my contacts, the ones that are looking after Alvin today and tomorrow while I head out to the office. This is something that we likely do not think about – the exchange of contact information. I plan tonight to make a list of all of my close friends and their phone numbers and give to my daughter. Should anything happen to her, she will have the information at easy access. I also sent her my Manager’s cell number. Organized and prepared are good things. You should always give the person that would be looking after your affairs and finances, any information that is required to access those records. My daughter has most of my info but I need to make a list and give it to her. Should something ever happen to me, I do not wish her to be stressing over account numbers, banking info etc. in the midst of grieving. We should all be prepared. It is important.

I watered some of my plants upstairs this morning. They are doing well. My African Violet is blooming with the most exquisite deep rich purple flowers. I am blessed to be surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. Not only do they help the air quality but they are beautiful. Do you talk to your plants? I do, I touch their leaves and chat away to them. Sounds a bit strange but I do not have any humans in the house. So Mr. Alvin and the Plants are my sounding boards and with whom I chat about things, about them, about life. It would be odd never to talk to Alvin. I hope that he likes the sound of my voice. Likely thinks I talk too much, lol.

Today and tomorrow I am off to the office. I am so grateful that I have a ride to work with a coworker and that I have friends to watch over Alvin.

Only this weekend and next until I have my “baking weekend” followed by two Christmas parties, two Saturdays in a row. Busy December. This weekend I will double check my list of ingredients to ensure that I have everything that I need. Always good to be prepared even for baking weekends!

I hope that you have a great Wednesday, I almost put down Tuesday. Yikes. I am feeling much better, thank goodness. If I am able to sleep, I always feel better. Sleep heals.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Welcome December 2020

Good Morning ALL. Well it is Thursday morning December 3, 2020. Another gorgeous day on its’ way to us living here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This day is forecasted to be +5 degrees celsius. Our normal temperature is -4 for this time of year. We are to have about another week of these temperatures. I will say that when we were out for our noon day walk that Alvin and I wanted to keep on walking – well I did anyway. There were a couple of times that he wanted to turn around and head for home – not quite sure why but I was able to convince him to keep on trucking. The air was so warm and soothing as it touched my face. The sun was shining brightly in the perfect blue sky. I am so grateful for these days. So grateful.

What is on your “plate” for today. Well another workday for me. Tonight I will almost finish my Christmas project which is very exciting for me. Just about there. I also have to double check my recipes and ensure that I know what I am going to bake and that I have the right amount of ingredients. I know that I have more than enough flour and sugar and butter. More than enough. Somehow in the beginning it seemed like a good idea to buy 10 kgs of flour and I think it is the same in sugar and four pounds of butter. The butter might be more close but the flour and sugar will keep. If anyone needs a cup or five of them, I will have some for that. You never know. I did work on the Christmas project last night. I had to use this strong glue so opening the windows and then I placed the project under the fan for the stove (which had it sitting on top of the stove). Yikes. Not a nice smell and not good for one to breathe in – that is why I opened the windows and turned on the fan.

How are you doing these days? Are you okay? I know that this year or almost year has been so off the charts strange for everyone. Strange is putting it lightly of course. People are either working from home, laid off and receiving government relief benefits or out on the front lines working through this pandemic. For the majority of people having to remain at home and away from large groups of family and friends or even travelling has been difficult. Although I will say there are people travelling and that scares the “crap” out of me. What will they bring back with them? Travelling should be ban until this is over unless you are in the military or some health care professionals. Allowing folks to travelling especially out of the country is absolutely ludicrous at this time. How can you ban people from getting together with family at Christmas and allow families to travel outside of Canada. Does not make sense to me? I do agree that we have to buckle down and stop the crazy increase of this virus and if that means wearing a mask and social distancing until who knows when, well this girl is in. What will happen if we do not adhere to the new “rules.” I do not even want to go there.

I am sorry for the dark message so early in the morning but sometimes I just have to get things off my chest.

Okay how about Christmas? Do you have your tree up? I have heard that tree sales are up and that most people already have their trees up and decorated much earlier than normal. I have also heard that flour and sugar and other baking items are beginning to fly off the shelves. So I guess that I am not the only one that is baking. Isn’t it funny that no matter what I am talking about it all comes back to that darn virus. Anyway. I am excited to get some serious Christmas baking done this weekend. Sugar cookies, fudge, chocolate chip cookies, unbaked chocolate macaroons, raisin cookies and who knows what else. Will depend on time and energy and supplies. I even have some delightful boxes to place the baked goods in to deliver to friends and family. So excited. Thanks to my “personal shopper” and you know who you are. I am the most blessed person on the planet. I know this to be for certain.

Well time to head on downstairs. Put on the coffee and get to work.

If we all continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion – what a wonderful world this will be.

Always, Carol & Alvin