Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Last night on November 5th, 2020 we had rain and once the sun went down and the temperature dipped the rain froze making decks, sidewalks and streets icy. I found this out when I went outside to the deck with Alvin before bed. Thankfully I did not fall but it sure was slippery.

I am nervous to check the news to see if there was any change overnight. Likely not as most of the media outlets said it would be later Friday. I can only imagine what the Americans are thinking and feeling at this moment.

Well so happy that today is Friday. I slept in and am rushing about to be ready to start work on time. I had the most unusual dream last night. For some reason I was still living in my apartment back in Regina. A family member had been sick so I had gone to stay with them and while I was gone some other “family” and friends moved into my apartment. I am not sure how long I was away but I remember coming home to my apartment with everything changed. Nothing was the same. In fact, after a short time I realized that they had thrown out all of my personal effects, every photo, every letter, every book, every piece of everything that was once mine. With not thought to ask me. I was livid to say the least. It did not end well for the squatters. Funny because I do remember that two people had permission to stay there while I was gone but there were more than two people upon my return. Food for thought.

I have to run as I need to plug in my coffee as I desperately need it this morning. I will be thinking about this dream for awhile and the possible meaning behind it. Hoping for some more details.

Wishing you the best Friday. Remember, we must continue to live our life with kindness and respect and love. We will have those moments that are less than perfect but we have the power to change those moment, to react in a positive manner. To always do better.

I/We shall remain, As Always, Carol & Alvin

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Thursday, July 20, 2017 and it is the 21st day until my 60th Birthday.

Time is a skipping along.

When I think back over my life thus far I am both happy and sad but mainly overjoyed.

I have really nothing to complain about for my life.

Of course, there have been some incredible lows but without them how would you ever appreciate the highs.

We all deal with losing loved ones well before their time, and I have had more than my share.

But it makes you realize that time is precious and you must live your life; whatever that means for you.

I am quite content with spending quiet time in my home with Alvin – in my house.

Putzing in my yard ….. growing flowers ……

Yes, really, I own my own house.

“I am a homeowner.”

Those are words I only dreamed of saying and to be honest a part of me never really believed would happen.

It was only when I made the decision to retire from a career of 30 years that I realized that it was even a possibility.

I knew it meant if things worked out that I would only semi-retire or take time off and then would go back to work.

I only wish that I was independently wealthy and that would solve so much but at this point in time, I am not quite there.

Have to leave that door open for possibilities.

Because after all anything is possible.

I will leave you with that for today …..

 

P.S.

One thing I wished that I had the house when my daughter was young instead of her growing up in an apartment.

She spent the first 22 years minus 18 months in an apartment.

Perhaps then she could have had a puppy – something she always wanted so badly.

But in adulthood has adopted four …. she made up for lost time.

I guess things always have a way of turning out ….. if you want them to ….

 

Always, Carol

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday, the 2nd day of August, 2016.

Special Happy Anniversary to my nephew “T” and his wife “S” ….. 8 years already married.

Wishing you both a great day and many many more wonderful years together.

It is bright and sunny with a nice breeze.

Perfect for a walk to pick up food for Mr. Alvin.

He is out and we will go for a nice walk there for starters.

Boo hoo, I had planned to get up earlier and go for a 7:00 a.m. walk but I read too late and then feel back asleep on the sofa and had these bizarre dreams.

The kind of dreams that you have after you have eaten too much, you know those ones.

Alvin and I were living with a nice family ….. cannot remember who.

We had decided to move out not sure why.

I got us an apartment and it was downtown. Not sure why.

Then when it was almost time to move, I could not find the address and did not know what the apartment looked like.

But we had to move because I made the rent already.

It was really strange.

It was weird that I would not know where the apartment was or what it looked like ……

All the time was thinking we can always move back.

The stories that our subconscious mind come up with.

Kind of freaky for sure.

Oh well …. it is over now and I do not remember anymore.

This cutie pie is patiently waiting for his Momma.

He is not outside but waiting outside the office door.

I just love this photo.

He loves to sit on the patio furniture and  most especially when I am right beside him.

Yesterday my daughter and Elton came for a visit ….. no hot water at their house so she had a refreshing shower here.

Later in the day I did the SKYPE thing with my sister and great niece.

A lovely day all around.

Okay time to shower quick and get this show on the road.

I hope that you have an amazing day.

Happy vacation to me and perhaps to others at this time.

Maybe you are just finished your vacation.

I hope that you are all having the most amazing summer ever.

Happy Tuesday.

Special Hello to:  my sister …. thanks for the chat last night.

Always, Carol

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 17th day of April, 2015.

Well there is a quietness over our household that marks us being alone.

My daughter, son-in-law and grand-puppies moved into their brand new house yesterday.

It is going to take awhile for me and Alvin to get used to the stillness.

We will have to make some noise.

When my daughter and son-in-law came to pick up Elton and Penny after the movers were done …. they helped me move my bed back into the master bedroom.

It seemed so strange but yet so familiar to be back in that room.

Alvin hopped right up on the bed but then took a long time to settle down.

I think he could smell Elton and Penny’s scent left behind in the room.

Even this morning I know that he misses most especially Miss Penny.

They got to be such good buddies over the past months.

So this weekend I am going to give myself a break and simply get used to being alone in the house.

Do some laundry ….. do a bit of cleaning but the most of the weekend I will spend with Alvin …… giving him extra attention.

WOW, even in the office without the bed it echoes.

Funny how a piece of furniture can make such a difference.

Well I need a shower and then to get on with this day.

Funny now without the kids here and no second job it seems unbearably quiet …. I know that we will get back into our routine and that will be sooner than later for sure as it is back to work at the office on Monday.

I am grateful for all of my many blessings.

To have my own home after almost three decades of living in an apartment.

I am grateful to be in great health.

I am grateful to be surrounded by good neighbours and friends.

So here we go, me and Alvin on another adventure.

With the sun shining and a hefty breeze we will start this new chapter.

I thank you for staying with us.

Have an awesome Friday.

Special Hello to:  family and friends …. all those folks beginning a new chapter in their lives.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 10th day of March, 2014.

Clocks turned back Saturday night / Sunday morning so my body still feels in limbo.

So grateful that Mr. Alvin seems to have adjusted this time more easily as he did not “attempt” to get by before the alarm went off.

Our weather is springlike with warm temperatures melting the snow.

Spring is on the way.

Hurray ….. so happy for that.

I was just thinking if I turned back the clock ten years where would I be?  What would I be doing?

So that would be March 10, 2004.

Well I would be in my apartment back in Regina.

It would be two days until my daughter’s 24th birthday.

It would be her second year living away from home. (She moved here to Edmonton).

I would be wanting to see her.

I would be working for the Insurance Company.

Likely yearning for spring.

It is funny when you think back how much you really do not remember in the moment.

I have kept a journal for years so I can look back  and find out what my days were like and how I was feeling.

So zip forward ten years to present time.

I retired from the Insurance Company after almost thirty years and moved to Edmonton.

Now I am living back in the same city as my daughter (so happy for that).

I am living in my very first house (very different from living in an apartment).

I have a dog.

I now work two jobs.

So very different from ten years ago.

I do know one thing for sure and that is that life is meant to be lived and changing things up every so often is a good thing.

Sometimes I think living in an apartment with no responsibilities and working at a job that I was super comfortable in, would be nice.

Then again, having my own house, living close to my daughter and having Alvin, and my dog is fantastic.

Perhaps working two jobs ….. I might change that …… who knows.

FORWARD TEN YEARS …. no idea what changes might be …… have to think on that ….

I hope that you have a great week.

Wish me luck in the mouse catching department.

Today is the day ……

Special Hello to: family – I have the best.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 29th day of October, 2013.

Well third last day of October and two days closer to Halloween.

Have you figured out your costume for the big day?

I spend most of the evening going through my rag tag items trying to put together a suitable costume.

I have a few ideas.

Definitely do not want to copy something from last year or the year before …. always good to have something new.

I do enjoy dressing up and even more importantly I enjoy greeting the treaters at my door.

When I lived in the apartment we did not have many kids that would come with the exception of family and close friends.

So this is all new and fun.

This year I am going to put up the “Alvin gate” so that he can stay in the kitchen instead of on his leash with me at the door.

Way too hard to hold him and hand out candy.

He gets so excited.

Only two more sleeps until the big day.

Special Hello to: my fellow lovers of Halloween.

Always, Carol and Alvin