2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this smoky cloudy morning? My thoughts are going to the people and all the animals living in the areas affected by the wildfires/fires. I cannot imagine. Here in Edmonton it is smoky and yesterday I had to close the windows as the smell of smoke was begin to affect my breathing. I am praying for rain for BC with no wind or lightning.

Does it not always seem to happen that when things all go wrong it is all at once.

My venting ….. as Alvin is barking downstairs and I decided to write this post on my computer upstairs just for a change to feel somewhat normal. Although our lives are not normal at the moment.

So yesterday I had been wearing two very delicate gold bracelets and noticed one was missing. I searched high and low but it is gone. Somewhere in the house or outside. I have a feeling it fell off outside and went down in between the cracks on the deck.

I ran to the mailbox to pick up the mail which I have not done in a long time. There was a package for me. I was so excited. When I opened the package, I found the earrings that I had ordered from Fifth Avenue that had been on backorder. I gingerly unwrapped them to find that the posts were bent on the ends and the backs were on so tight that I barely got one off. Definitely cannot wear them. Damaged before even the opportunity to wear them. Makes me so sad and a little mad.

Going back to the a/c servicing that was supposed to be on Wednesday that we had patiently waited for and then did not show up. When I called the company yesterday morning, I found out that the person I spoke with when they were late showing up – had cancelled the appointment and scheduled it for Saturday when they come to check out the hot water tank. The hot water tank was positioned in a way that blocks off access to the sump pump.

Alvin barking and whining downstairs.

It is not often if at all that I spend my whole post with negative thoughts. I apologize but I just had to get them out. Just seems that everything is going to hell in a handbasket.

Then Alvin has surgery next Friday.

Too much and I am feeling a bit frazzled.

Please forgive this venting as I am well aware in a better state of mind that I am very blessed. I live in a great house/home, I have a yard, I am employed, I am in good health, I have incredible family and friends and so much more. But sometimes life gets the better of us and I am afraid I am at that point. Deep breaths, I know.

I have a headache from the smoke and from someone’s barking. I know he just has anxiety from me not being in his sight but …… oh, I wish.

Okay, I have to go now.

I will be back tomorrow and I will be in a better frame of mind, I promise.

Trying to life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, love and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Tuesday morning? We are HOT. Just back from a walk. Even though there is a bit of a breeze, I was perspiring, okay sweating, lol, by the time we got home. Phone says it is 23 degrees celsius. Upstairs in the office it is warm so this will be short. We are managing to get through this heat wave. Walks early in the morning and I guess tomorrow will have to be even earlier. Fans going all of the time. Even went to the basement to hang out last night. I really need to get it organized down there …..

Watering last night ….. I sprinklered Alvin a bit but he was not impressed. I on the other hand.

The heat wave is going to continue until into next week. Wednesday and Thursday at the warmest 37 and 38. Saturday is going to be 26 celsius. That will feel like it is freezing. YAY. We got this.

Wet towels covering Alvin for sleeping and during the day off and on. Lots of water as we have to stay hydrated.

I even slept with a wet towel covering my chest last night. We both slept well considering and I am grateful for electric fans. One thing I actually have central air conditioning. It needs to be serviced. I guess that is going to the top of the list to get done sooner than later. Poor Alvin – because his Momma …… Can only do what you can do. As the sweat drops down my face. I felt fresh and cool earlier. ARGH.

OBSERVATIONS on our Walk:

There was a slight breeze and it felt so cool.

The was a bush that was moving like crazy and at first I thought ….. how can that be when the trees right beside it were not moving. Then I realized there were birds fluttering around in the bush. LOL.

Some people do not like to talk in the morning.

Alvin really nice to sniff every blade of grass and every everything.

The roses smell amazing and I was grateful that I was able to smell them.

Okay, I really have to go. Too hot to be upstairs.

Stay cool and hydrated.

Please do not walk your dogs in the heat and by no means take them in the car. Because we all know that you will stop somewhere and think I will only be 5 minutes and they will be okay. That never happens. Also your children. No stopping and leaving any living breathing creature in the car.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this beautiful bright sunny Wednesday morning? I hope that it is sunny and gorgeous wherever you are at this moment. After this post, Alvin and I are heading out for a walk. There is a heat warning out for the City of Edmonton for today so I want to ensure that we get a walk in now as we will not be able to walk later. Just out of the shower and feeling refreshed so perfect time to go. So grateful that I gave Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath on the weekend. We will take water as per usual on our walk. Yesterday we borrowed my neighbour’s car to go to Alvin’s vet appointment so I was able to pick up his food as well. Saved me an extra trip. His ears are back to normal, yay.

I cannot believe that it is +18 degrees celsius already so it will be warm. I opened the windows to let in any cool air there is at this time and then will close them and the blinds. I am grateful to have some very good fans to help cool us down. It is at these times that I “almost” wished that I had the a/c serviced but that will happen in time. We are also getting the shingles done and am just waiting for the company owner to get back to us with the schedule.

Wishing that everyone is safe and doing well. I am grateful each and every day for all of the many blessings that the Universe has bestowed upon me. So grateful. I hear someone whistling. Sounds like Sonja whistling at the cats who are likely outside enjoying the morning.

We will continue to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love and gratitude for each other and for every living being we encounter this day and each day.

Thank you for reading this post. You make my heart sing. Have an awesome day. Time to get out for that walk.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

• 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 22nd day of June, 2018.

HOT temperatures blasted our City for the past few days.

Thankfully it has been cool to walk in the morning.

 

Thankfully during the night we had some rain and it has cooled things down outside a bit and there are crashes of thunder happening now.

Looks like more rain.

We opted for no walk this morning as with the rain comes mosquitos as that was apparent in the back yard.

We will go for a walk tonight.

 

Cute story from yesterday morning.

AS you know I caught the bus to work.

On the way to the office I stopped by a nearby 7-11 to see if they had bus tickets.

They had tickets on hand,  so I decided to also grab a cup of coffee.

I almost pulled out a row of cups for the cool drinks with my bag, how funny.

Just call me “Grace.”

After I decided on which blend of coffee, I poured the size that I wanted and gingerly carried the cup to the other side to grab a wrap to put around the hot container.

There had been a young man on the same side pouring his coffee so that is why I went to the other side for the wrap.

After I slipped the piece of cardboard onto the cup, I looked for the lids.

Did not see lids?

So I asked this very handsome young man “Excuse me, do you know where the lids are hiding?”

He smiled and replied “Over here” and as he carefully grabbed one he said “Oh, I am sorry if I got germs on it.”

I replied “No worries, a few germs don’t hurt you.”

He laughed.

We carried on a conversation about germs until we reached the counter.

He got there first and started his transaction and then told the cashier that he would pay for my coffee.

I blushed and said “thank you but I am getting bus tickets so that is okay, but thank you for making my day.”

We went back and forth for a few more seconds before he was on his way.

Polite young man.

He had said that someone recently had out of the blue paid for his coffee and he was surprised by a stranger’s generosity.

Nice to see such kindness.

He made my day for sure.

I will continue to speak to strangers and ask questions about coffee lids.

 

Yesterday the power went off in the late morning at morning and with it the A/C.

So home we were sent.

I was signing leases when the power first went out and managed to finish them.

Thankfully one of the higher ups gave me a ride home so that I would not have to wait for the bus.

 

With this heat one’s energy seems to drain quickly.

Alvin and I had a long nap yesterday afternoon by the fan.

 

Teddy, our little four-legged friend arrived last night and will stay with us until Saturday.

So grateful that Alvin has company.

 

So important during the summer heat to keep hydrated.

Keep animals and children and seniors and YOU out of hot vehicles and hydrated.

If you think going for a walk is nice when it is HOT – your small children and DOGS do not.

They can get very sick or every DIE from being OVER HEATED ….. heat exhaustion/heat stroke are real.

Another real situation is the burning of a dog’s pads on their paws.

 

A few years back we found a lost dog wondering by our house on a hot, hot day – we managed to secure the poor one and bring into my back yard.

I had Alvin and also my daughter and two pups visiting with other family members.

Back yard was a good choice in the shade to check the doggie.

This poor dog was in bad shape.

We had no idea how long she had been outside in the heat without food or WATER.

We gave the doggie some water, slowly and found when checking that the pads on the bottom of her paws, were raw from the HOT PAVEMENT.

We took this dog to the EMERGENCY VET Clinic for treatment.

 

PLEASE be aware that when you are walking your dogs on these incredibly hot days whether on the sidewalk or pavement that it is BURNING HOT.

How would you like to be forced to walk in your bare feet on scorching hot sidewalks and pavement, you know that you would not.

Be KIND.

So please either take your dogs for a walk early in the morning before it becomes too hot.

Walking in the early morning is so relaxing and enjoyable.

Always have water with you regardless.

Keep everyone as cool as possible.

BASEMENTS are a good place to relax in the heat.

 

Have a great Friday and enjoy summer.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family.  Keep cool and safe and hydrated.

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 1st day of May, 2018.

First day of May …..

The sky is overcast here in Edmonton.

Looks like rain.

Cool in the house and that is taking a bit of getting used to.

Last night after a cool start to the day was BEAUTIFUL.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk.

We bumped into friends/neighbours – always nice to see everyone.

 

Alvin is lying on his blue blanket by my chair in the office.

He looks so cute curled up …. black and white on blue …..

On cool mornings I would love to stay under the blanket curled up on the sofa with Alvin.

But alas must work …. if one wants to pay the mortgage and eat.

Oh well,

 

Oh, Alvin news.

I checked with his Doctor’s office last night as I had to stop there and pick up food for the boy.

They said likely he got the idea from Teddy about soft food …. he liked just having to lap it up …. no chewing OR he may have scratched his mouth on a chew treat OR it may be a bad tooth.

Said I could try the hard food once again and if he did not eat – try not feeding him for a couple of days.

Dogs unlike cats apparently will not let themselves starve.

I did not really love that idea so much.

When I got home, I tried his regular food and at first …. no …. he turned and looked at me and I said “Alvin, eat your supper.”

Guess what – he began to eat his food.

After a few bites – I switched it out with a bowl of softened food that I had in the fridge (in case).

This morning – he easily ate his breakfast with no coaxing.

Oh, my boy.

He certainly had me worried.

 

Brr, I am cold.

The a/c seems to be working in overdrive at work.

I was glad to have a sweater on yesterday.

 

Well life goes on.

Almost time for the carpool to arrive for pick up.

I am grateful for car rides these days.

The bus is okay but great to have a ride in a car.

 

Have an awesome May 1st.

WOW, May 1st.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister and all my girl friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to the 31st day of May, 2017.

The last day of May of this 2017.

It is to be a hot one here in Edmonton with temperatures rising to 30 degrees celsius.

Guess it is a good thing that I turned on the A/C for Mr. Alvin…….

Thankfully we have A/C.

I always like to check my past blog posts to see what the weather was and what we were doing on that same date last year or perhaps the previous one.

Here is the last day of May from 2016:

 

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 31st and last day of May, 2016.

It was an interesting month.

This morning is bright and sunny …… the rain of yesterday is gone.

We are appreciating the moisture as it was badly needed.

Today marks the birthday of my friend “G” …… Happy Birthday G, me and Alvin wish you a great day.

We are celebrating her birthday with our coffee group on Saturday.

 

I do have a cute story to share.

Last night when Alvin and I were on the homeward stretch of our walk we could see up ahead our black/white cat friend.

I had forgot his name.

There were cars zooming by on the street.

Then I noticed this young man coming up behind the cat.

I knew the cat would likely dart out onto the street because of Alvin.

I held Alvin back and hoped that he remained quiet.

Out of the blue this young man knelt down beside the cat to keep the cat from darting out onto the street.

I was so relieved that the cat would allow him to pick him up (sometimes they do not when they are strangers).

Then he noticed us and picked up the cat.

When we were within speaking distance, I gratefully thanked the young man for saving this cat.

I knew this cat.

He lives in one of the big houses by the lake and usually he is prowling about in the trees and grassy area by the water but not this time.

I told the young man about the cat.

He carried him to the next block and then let him go toward home.

What a thoughtful and considerate young man.

I am so grateful for him and his compassion for this cat that he did not know.

It was funny when we were close and Alvin wanted to say hi, the cat hissed.

I guess cat was grateful for not sure of Alvin’s intentions.

Alvin loves cats because he was surrounded by them in his foster home and we have had/have cats close to home.

This was a happy good story to end my day.

I was so relieved and grateful.

 

Well here we go almost time to leave for the bus and work once again.

Where does the time go?

I hope that you have a great day.

Take a peek around and I am certain that you will have your own nice story to share.

 

Special Hello to:  all those folks young and old who help animals, thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 24th day of May, 2017.

Well quite the difference this morning.

Yesterday was sunny and HOT – 28 degrees celsius.

This morning WINDY and raining and has cooled off.

Last night when I arrived home from work I found the house quite warm so I turned on the A/C.

Poor little Alvin.

We even put off our walk until later in the evening.

 

On the way to the park we stopped at our friends house to see how Presley was doing and of course, the family.

They lost their beloved Lola this passed Saturday to an unleashed dog.

Please be responsible and if taking your pup for a walk – put a leash on him or her.

No reason to be out and about and not paying attention to your doggie.

If you have them outside for a walk and fresh air in a public place – on a leash and actually spend time with them.

Now due to this irresponsible person this pit bull will either have a very poor qualify of life due to the restraints placed on him or may have no life at all.

Breaks my heart.

Such unnecessary damage done ….

I want to add one more note here ….. I notice so many folks out walking with their dogs with their heads bent down gazing at that rectangular screen.

They have no idea who is coming or going.

They have no idea if their doggie eats something they should not.

Pay attention.

 

Well time to leave for work.

I will  be taking my umbrella but with this wind not sure if it will do much good.

Thankfully it is not raining at this moment.

Perhaps I will make it to the bus stop without having to use the umbrellie.

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Be kind and responsible.

 

Special Hello to: You.

Always, Carol & Alvin