Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! Here we are at Saturday, October 22, 2022. Our weather has been great and we are very grateful. Last night we were up a few times. It was about 10:00 p.m. when we crawled into bed and I read for a few minutes before turning out the lights. I heard Alvin moving about just after 1:00 a.m., he wanted to go downstairs, so down we went and then outside. The early morning air was cool but not cold. Back into the house and to the sofa to finish out our Friday night sleep. Mr. Alvin was up once again at 4:15 a.m., once again I donned my sweater and puffy vest over my pj’s, slid my sock covered feet into my outdoor shoes and requested Siri to turn on the flashlight as we headed outside. I was surprised to see wet snow coming down. The snow rain mix melted as it touched upon the ground. We both were a bit wet before we were back into the warm dry house. He pooped and peed each time. Thank goodness we have a comfy sofa as we were back there again. I felt too early to feed him breakfast at 4:15 a.m. I guess it was about 6:45 a.m. when we were up once again, this time, breakfast time. Back outside. Same result. So happy it had stopped with the wet snow. There was no trace that we had had snow. For all those people lucky enough to remain sleeping – you would have no idea, it even happened. Truthfully it did, lol. After the third time outside in less than 8 hours, I decided it was too early for me to thrust my tired body up for the day so once again we found ourselves snuggling under our “red” blanket. I think the red blanket was a purchase from Bath & Body Works many years ago when I first was employed at the store at West Edmonton Mall. I miss that store. The smells, the customers, the staff …..

Okay, so now it is the weekend. I have to finish the laundry. Washed clothing yesterday. Towels and bedding on the list today. Clean the bathroom and floors. Have a shower. Go for a walk. The sky is overcast and I hope for some “dry time” for us to head outdoors. We had a great walk yesterday. While walking, a woman was behind us and Alvin of course, stopped and wanted to wait until we were close to each other. She smiled and said that he was a cute dog in her strong Scottish accent. Oh, how I love that accent. We ended up walking together. Chatted about many things. Her dog, her grandchildren, my return to work, how Alvin was making out with that change and so much more. We were past Pauline’s house when we came to the crook in the path, she turned left and we turned right. I had been thinking that Teddy and Kobi were at the house with Auntie Janine as their parents were off to the mountains for a wedding. A few minutes later, we found ourselves, walking up their driveway and up the front steps with me ringing the doorbell. Kobi was first to the door, well actually she was up on the stool and looking out of the window. I could see her excitement to see us. I called out to Janine that it was us. A couple of minutes later the door opened. Teddy and Kobi gave us a lovely greeting and then we were in the house. I was grateful to Janine for the visit after we just “dropped in” but I had no idea really that we were going there. But we did. Janine is Iris’s sister. We met several years ago and have become friends. She lives in a small town in Saskatchewan about four hours away from Edmonton. It was nice to have a visit with her and the pups. Then we were on our way and back to get some work done. I had been afraid that I left the coffee perk plugged in but breathed a sigh of relief to see it was unplugged when we arrived home.

I am still trying to figure out what we should do about Alvin’s ears. The idea of surgery actually frightens me due to his age and because it is his ears. The vet even said that she has not performed this particular surgery in quite some time and will need to refresh herself with the procedure. Not very reassuring but I guess that happens. I do not know what to do. Yesterday I was doing some research in the hopes it may help me make a decision and I found that pumpkin actually contributes to yeast infections. So perhaps his having pumpkin daily to help with his pooping, is actually causing more yeast infections. I do not know. Perhaps the vet did not even know this. I had been giving it twice a day with his food. His Doctor said a tablespoon daily so I broke it up into twice with his breakfast and supper.

I watched a great movie on Netflix last night. It was called “The School of Good and Evil.” Figured should be watching some Halloween movies, not that it was particularly about Halloween but it fit into the genre. Tonight I am invited to Signe’s house along with Gillian to watch a Halloween movie. Signe’s daughter Madeline will come and stay with Alvin (she volunteered, how nice). It was not very long ago and she was actually scared of him. She had, had a bad encounter with another neighbour’s dog, well actually her Mom did but she witnessed it. Anyway, all is well now. I am happy about that.

Time to get the floor cleaned upstairs. I have moved plants around as my spider plants need some more sunlight, more than what they were getting in my bedroom. Changed the bedding and put out clean towels in each upstairs bathroom. I need to have a shower as well and want to do that after I clean the floor and then downstairs to have COFFEE and get some other items checked off that drat “TO DO LIST.” I have a parcel almost ready to go taking advantage of the “free mailing Tuesdays” in October.

I just heard Mr. Alvin groan so I better get this show on the road.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: please keep us in good health, please help our employers increase our time working from home and also please bring prices down. thank you.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Welcome to Sunday, April 10, 2022. I hope that this finds you well. We were up early and then back to the sofa until later. Seems funny that we were up and about at 6:00 a.m. yesterday morning and much later up to stay up this morning. I am not feeling guilty that is for sure. Sometimes you just need to do what feels right in the moment. At those moments one was getting up early and the other was not. It is WINDY. I am not sure what makes it so WINDY in certain places over others. But now that it is almost dried up out front and in the backyard I would most certainly love it to be calm. Yesterday we didn’t go for a walk because it was so windy – you could not walk without eating dust and getting dirt in your eyes. Then thinking about poor Alvin who was even closer to the ground. Thankfully last week we walked twice each day. It was windy then but not as bad as yesterday. Unfortunately by the wind the wind subsided it was after 8:00 p.m. and starting to get dark and we will not walk then. It is bright and sunny this morning. Hopefully by mid afternoon and I get all of my chores done it will be good for a walk. Fingers crossed. Keeping that in mind, calm and enjoyable for a walk, calm and enjoyable for a walk, calm and enjoyable for a walk …..

We had a good day yesterday. I even repotted some plants. I had to say goodbye to my poinsettia plants. They were kind of spindly and not doing super great. I find it hard to throw out living things like plants. They were alive and I mourn their loss. But I needed to do that. I had some other plants that had outgrown their pots so they were repotted. Cleaned up my plants and they all look so good. Getting ready for spring. Once the temperatures are consistently warm and do not freeze overnight – I shall take out my geraniums and put them on the deck. I am still trying to get things sorted out with getting flowers and vegetables. It is too late to start anything from seed so I shall have to see what plants I can buy that have been started and that would mean getting to a nursery. Hopefully that will happen when the time is right. I would love to have a few vegetables and herbs on the deck. With my grandpups coming to stay for a week coming this Wednesday and now that the backyard is pretty much free from ice, I want to rake up the many leaves that have blown from elsewhere. I spent so much time raking last fall and only to have so many leaves from other neighbour’s yards that did not rake. This coming up week is not to be too warm, in fact, the temperatures appear to be just over the minus celsius mark. Not much fun but at least it is dry. I will be going for many walks with the three pups. I can only walk Aspen by herself and then take Alvin and Milo together. Another reason for taking vacation days. Plus I really need a break from the chaos, I call my job. I was also thinking that I may move my workstation back downstairs and perhaps I may do that today. Will see how things go. Lots to do.

I did get lots of things accomplished yesterday with the exception of cleaning so that is on the plate for today. Now it is late and I need to pop into the shower although likely would be better to wait until tomorrow. Will have to think about that …… or maybe before bed.

I need that hit of caffeine this morning for sure. Coffee is ready but not plugged in just yet as I wasn’t sure how long before I was ready to drink some and don’t like it to sit for too long. Always better to drink freshly brewed coffee.

You know the more I toss around moving the workstation back downstairs for tomorrow, the more I like it. Time will tell.

Okay, time to get going here. There be floors to clean and bathrooms and more.

Happy Sunday Everyone.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. we had a change of venue for coffee as one of the girls woke up with a bad cold yesterday morning. My other friend then asked me over. It was nice to have a visit with at least one of the girls.

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this Sunday morning? Both Al and I are fine and happy to have had a great night sleep. Bed in good time and up at 3:45 which is great and then I managed to coax him to stay on the sofa until later and that ended up being 6:20 a.m.. Of course, he had his breakfast then and we headed back to the sofa because why in the world would someone get up at 6:20 on a Sunday morning when they did not have to? Why? I suppose to enjoy the quietness of the early morning. But not this gal. I had done all the chores that I had planned and even a couple of more things yesterday so today will be chilling and we might have a visit from my daughter/Alvin’s sister. She mentioned about coming by today. That would be great. We love our visits. Yesterday was great. First thing after breakfast yesterday morning I gave Mr. Alvin a haircut. For some unknown reason it went faster and I was done his hair cut in 1.5 hours (a new record) and then gave him a bath.

I used my new Bissell Crosswave to clean the main floor and the upstairs including the area rug in my bedroom and the carpet/rug in the hallway. One thing it not easy to do steps with, just saying. Next time I will be cleaning the carpet in the basement family room. I might have to borrow a hand held cleaner from someone to do the steps. I did them but not as well as I would have liked to. After doing a couple loads of laundry and as the weather seemed to be nice, I decided to go for a walk with Mr. Alvin. We were just at the park entrance when I noticed in the distance a dog and his owner that we have have got to know over the winter/spring. I had not seem them in a while so we started to walk toward them which happens to be the more direct route to Master Teddy’s house. Well Alvin caught on to my oversight and after we humans chatted for a minute or two we were on our way to Teddy’s house. Alvin literally dragged me there. I was thinking all the way that I had work to do at home and that I don’t like to just drop in but we did. He did drag me there making the turn onto their street and right up the driveway. I rang the doorbell and he was just going to bark when our friend opened the door with a happy greeting for these friends who always show up unplanned. She is the most gracious person on the planet for unexpected visitors. I apologized as I always do and I meant the apologies. I love visiting with them and like to advise when we are coming which I do when it is planned but Alvin always has other ideas. So into the house we went. I had tea while Alvin “visited” which for him is checking to see if there is any food left out. Teddy and Kobi are always happy to see us as well. My friend’s husband came downstairs to say hello. We always practice social distancing and be careful in these covid times. I do not see many folks in person. Any visits these days are all done with social distancing and being mindful. I have friends that are my age and some that are younger. We all are cognizant of the restrictions and of being careful during these times for each other. Once back home, I grabbed the rake from the garage and a bag for the leaves and went out to rake the front lawn. Yes, I had done this a couple of weeks ago but it really needed it again. The last time it was windy and two hours later it snowed. I just read on the weather report that we are to have snow showers. ARGH. After the front was done, I cleaned out the basement window well. It was filled with leaves. Not to the top of course but there again was a heavy bed of leaves. I had pulled out the garbage that had blown in there the last time I raked but decided this was a good time to dig out the leaves. Actually some had been there obviously for awhile as they were composting. I had taken my handy dandy garbage picker upper from the front porch through the house with the rake and then out to the back where I opened the gate. I grabbed the bag of leaves that I had raked from the front and had thrown over the back gate, opening the gate; I went to work pulling out dark clumps of dead leaves until I had it pretty much down to the rocks that line the window well. Then I took the almost full bag of leaves inside the gate, closed the gate and went to work raking the backyard again. I have raked the back several times and the grass is beginning to turn green. Finally have all the leaves picked up. I hope that no more blow in back there from other neighbours yards. I don’t even have a tree in my backyard. Anyway all raked and looks great for that “snow shower.” Once done with the yard work, I gave Mr. Alvin his supper and then headed to the basement to start some more laundry. After that, I cleaned the toilets and did some dusting before deciding to order pizza from my favorite pizza place “Royal Pizza.” I decided that while it is expensive compared to picking up groceries that may last longer – it was a well deserved treat. So that is what I did. I also chopped some vegetables which is my favourite thing to have with pizza. I cleaned and chopped some carrots, red peppers, broccoli and cauliflower. Supper was divine. So good. After supper and cleanup and back and forth doing laundry. I decided to watch a movie or two. After watching some familiar ones I decided to watch a recent movie, one that was nominated for an Academy Award tonight and that was “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” I definitely see why Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman were nominated for awards. I hope that they both win. That was my Saturday night.

I am sitting at the computer with my charcoal mask on (multi-tasking) while Mr. Alvin is sitting in the hallway just staring at me. Not sure if he is checking out the charcoal mask or if he is trying to get my attention. Anyway time to get this mask off and get dressed and get this day really going.

Wishing you a great day. Also something to mention. While we were chatting at our friend’s house yesterday – I mentioned about having the furnace vents etc cleaned and he said that he was going to as well but would do so in the fall just before winter. He said if you clean them in the spring before the summer (when there is dust/dirt flying) they will just get dirty again. It has been a long time since I had this done but I will wait. The furnace will be off as soon as it warms up so I will wait. What great advice. I never thought of the dust/dirt of summer. Going point. Just wanted to share.

Continuing on this path we call life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Have an awesome Sunday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning All. Well the sun is up, er should I say, that sunrise has happened but sky is overcast so not shining. Alvin and I were up at oh my gosh at 3:58 a.m., followed by 6:45 a.m. and then 8:30 a.m. Likely not the best way to begin one’s day up and down but that seems to be the way we do it for the most part. Mr. Alvin is sitting beside my desk and me as I type/key these words, now he has moved to the hallway. I am happy that today is Saturday. Weekends are always busy with housework, walks, the odd coffee visit with friends and working on craft projects and writing. Always writing. I love to write. This is so much fun for me as I usually do not plan what I am going to write ahead of time ….. just go wherever my fingers and thoughts take me. It is a good way to do some writing projects. Keeps me thinking for sure. Sometimes I must admit …. my posts may be a bit on the silly side but I hope that something interests you and that maybe, just maybe I bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. After all, we all need to smile and be joyful and just enjoy life. Tomorrow I have the pleasure of having coffee with my two “younger” friends who keep me up to date on things and make me laugh more than cry. I love them so much.

This new wordpress set up has me playing with things a little bit and figuring out more as I go. I am not one to be too adventurous when it comes to computer things but every once in awhile, I take that risk, that chance and see what happens. Sometimes things work and other times not. Alvin is giving me those big brown eye …. “oh, come on, look” that he does. What a guy …. not too spoiled is he. Just let out a whimper or whine. Yup. But what can you do.

So what is on your list for today? I have to clean bathrooms, er my favorite thing in the world, not. Laundry and some other cleaning. Alvin and I will go for a walk. That kind of Saturday thing. WORK. We work all week at our jobs and then work on the weekend for ourselves. Not complaining as I am very grateful to have a job in this pandemic. Life has definitely taken on an interesting theme with being at home all of the time. Work and work. Office work and Home work, not to be confused with school work. LOL. Anyway, at the end of the day …. a sense of humour is a must. It is the one thing other than good health that will get us out of this and to the other side. We have to listen to the health professionals as well. Absolutely. I stay home most of the time. In fact, last night Teddy’s Mom was going to the grocery store and she picked up my groceries for me. I am truly blessed and getting terribly spoiled. How is it that I just write up my list, text it to my friend and voila, they are delivered. The Universe is definitely watching over me. Teddy’s Mom Iris is so nice and such a good person. I have so many friends Signe, Gillian, the Cruz girls, Sonja, Michelle and my daughter that pick up groceries for me, I am truly blessed. I have only gone to the grocery store or out since March a total of six times. Monday I will be going to the Post Office at Shoppers to mail a couple of parcels and Christmas cards. I also have to work at the office on Monday. I do get out. Although I do love being at home ….. it is wearing just a tad thin after being home for almost one year ….. but thankfully I am able to go out just enough to keep my sanity level at “normal.”

Well I guess Mr. Alvin has been patient long enough. I hope that you are smiling now. I wish you such a wonderful happy productive relaxing day. Perhaps some good excitement. Don’t forget to get outside. Go for a walk. Nothing like fresh air.

Happy Saturday All.

Continuing to live my life with kindness and respect, love and laughter.

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone,

Welcome to a sunshiny Sunday Morning.

I am invited to one of my friend’s house well actually to her driveway for us to have coffee and a visit.

It might be a tad on the cool side to be sitting outside drinking coffee but we shall see.

Depends on the breeze and it appears to be windy.

Actually at one point last night during the night it was gusting so much it woke me up.

Crazy.

I will just dress warmly.

Warm sweats, sock and shoes with sweater and jacket with hood.

Perhaps take my mini gloves as well.

Curious as to what the temperature is to be at 10:00 a.m. – I checked and without the wind +9 celsius and with the windchill +6.

Not too bad but not great to be sitting outside.

I miss my girls.

We have not had a proper visit since I do not know when.

Well for sure since we were told to practice the social distancing.

So it has been awhile.

I have seen the girls as they pick up and drop off groceries.

But together not.

 

I gave Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath yesterday morning/afternoon.

Finally was able to trim his front paws somewhat.

He fusses so much making it almost impossible and tries my patience to the 9th degree.

I managed to maintain patience and he looks good.

I think this is the first time in a long time that I can actually see his nails on his front paws.

Likely needing a trim.

I would have thought two walks each day except for yesterday would be helping.

Definitely have to take a closer look and determine just how long they actually are getting to be.

I just was so happy to get the fur/hair trimmed that I did not really measure or study the length to any detail.

Oh my boy.

I think that this is the first time since March 19th that I have been out without Alvin.

For us that is a long time.

No complaints though either way.

I am enjoying this time at home with my boy.

Our date to return to work is scheduled for June 30th, 2020 and with Alvin in mind, I hope that it stays that way.

 

Well I managed to get the front lawn raked (not a big time consumer), did all of the laundry and gave Alvin a haircut and bath.

In between did some tidying up and vacuuming.

I will have to quickly clean the bathrooms today as somehow they got forgotten.

With only me and Alvin …. and yes, only me using them, they do not get really dirty.

I have three bathrooms.

Oh, I did clean the tub after Alvin’s bath, does that count?

Okay, sure why not.

Why does it seem that I should have done more?

Why?

 

I am so grateful for this to be Sunday.

I do love the weekends.

 

Oh, yesterday afternoon I video chatted with my daughter.

We had many a giggle.

I miss seeing her on a regular basis so video chatting is the next best thing.

After seeing some of the recent artwork that she has displayed in her office and around their home, it gave me ideas for hanging some in my house.

I also still would like to paint the largest wall in the living room, the same green as the office.

It may be bright but I think it would go with everything and give us some extra cheer.

Food for thought.

I have lots of that colour so might as well use it.

Perhaps even in the basement.

I think it would be nice to have one or two walls on every floor in that colour.

Is that called colour blocking.

Laughing aloud.

My wind is wondering to silly places.

We have to go there sometimes.

I can hear the wind howling which is definitely not a great sign for visiting on a driveway.

Winter coat?

 

We are managing to survive with the heat turned off.

Some mornings it has been as low as 64 degrees fahrenheit.

I just googled to see what the conversion is and it is 17.8 degrees celsius.

Which is what our outside temperatures have been the past week or so give or take.

Why does it feel so cool in the house then?

Anyway, the heat is staying off.

I even covered Alvin with a blanket last night in bed as with his new haircut I thought he may be cold.

 

Well I guess time to hit the shower.

Perhaps will be a bit on the warm side …..

I hope that you are enjoying your weekend thus far.

Remembering to get some exercise while practising social distancing.

Remembering to get lots of rest and to hydrate.

Remembering to eat lots of fruit and veggies.

But most of all and this is not usually on any of the lists that go around.

LAUGH.

Laugh until you think you will pee your pants.

Laughter is what gets us all through any tough and trying times.

We will prevail.

 

Happy Sunday.

I am going for a nice warm shower.

 

With kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

What a windy, rainy Thursday morning.

The rain appears to have set in for some time.

There is absolutely no sign of Mr. Sunshine anywhere.

No crack, no peep, no nothing.

Only grey ….. only grey….. as far as one can see.

It feels like a day when one should be curled up on the sofa under one’s most favourite blanket next to one’s favourite four-legged buddy.

Mr. Alvin, in my case.

Perhaps sipping on a mug of coffee or hot chocolate.

Maybe reading a nice book.

An actual book.

Just relaxing, enjoying life.

JOLT …. shaking head ….. blinking quickly ….. ARGH ….

 

Reality sits in and now I am dressed for work ….

No coffee, no blanket, no curling up with me Alvin.

Just doing the things that I always do on those mornings where I go to work.

Which seems like always.

Oh well ….

Ride will be here in a few minutes.

 

So grateful that we managed to get our walk in last night before the storm.

 

I am grateful to have a job – do not get me wrong.

The job …. the getting up in the morning …. allows me the luxury of having this house.

Our beautiful home.

Next to family and friends including all of our four-legged family and friends …. my house brings me so much joy.

I am most grateful…..

Even cleaning three bathrooms ….. is wonderful.

 

Well almost time to head downstairs one last time for this morning.

See if Mr. would like to go outside one last time before I leave.

It is raining …. so likely not.

Note to self …. fill Alvin’s water dish with fresh water (downstairs one).

 

I love my life.

My family

My friends.

My grand-pups, all of our fur friends.

Me Alvin.

My home.

My yard.

My life.

My job.

I am so blessed.

Thank you.

 

Kindness and Respect are always the way to go.

Sometimes I know you may think being kind and respectful is too much work or not worth it.

But trust me …

Always better to kind with respect.

Always.

Yes, Always.

 

Happy, Happy Thursday.

I guess I will be going out in the rain, too.

So grateful to have a ride and from work.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 17th day of October, 2015.

The sun is coming up and to the south from my office view the sky is almost a variegated peach.

So very soft and pretty.

I just am seeing now that the neighbour building the garage behind me now has his garage door and window in place.

WOW, it is almost done.

The house is so quiet this morning without me Alvin.

I sure miss the little guy.

Last night after work my daughter stopped by to pick him up.

As she was by herself (so her pups had someone at home) we had supper together.

Nothing like a grilled two kind of cheese sandwich and a hearty lentil soup with added peas.

We had a chat and caught up.

After supper the three of us went for a walk.

Once the house was clear I went to work with the exception of my neighbour stopping by to pick up another catalogue I spent until 12:30 last night preparing the house for the Open House today.

Laundry done, floors washed, bathrooms cleaned, table set up with teas, tea cups and such, and some of our jewellery (as one of my friends wants to pick up some earrings), balloons blown up.

There were so many little odds and ends but they are all done.

I always like to just get up and have breakfast and have a shower and be ready.

There will be a trip outside to tie some balloons to the tree and to the porch (already have some up inside the house).

Business cards out …..

Samples ….. catalogues ….. order forms.  CHECK.

DONE.

Well wish me luck …. it will be a great day between the Steeped Tea Open House and going out with my friends this evening.

Alvin will be having fun with his sister and family (there will be children as my son-in-law’s niece and nephew are also coming for a sleepover).

So on this great Saturday I wish you time with family and friends, time to work on your TO DO LIST items, time to relax and to have fun.

Happy Saturday.

Special Hello to: all my fellow tea drinkers ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 18th day of July, 2015.

It is a bright sunny breezy morning here in Edmonton.

I always appreciate the weekends and being at home.

Sure sometimes I am not fond of having to clean the bathrooms …. but I am at home.

When you go from having two jobs and working seven days a week …. having the weeknights and weekends free ….

Well it is amazing …..

I love sitting here writing on my blog with the window open listening to the children a couple doors down as they play in their back yard.

I love snuggling with Alvin every chance I get ….

I love watering my flowers and taking in their beautiful fragrances.

I love going for walks after supper with Alvin and enjoying our neighbourhood and each other.

I do actually love to clean and today is a cleaning day……

I love doing laundry and listening to my favourite songs.

I love dancing with Alvin and he “tolerates.”

I love thinking and planning what I am going to do ….. writing up a TO DO LIST.

So many things to do and now I do have the time.

There is time to relax.

There is time to write.

There is time to entertain.

There is time to visit my friends.

There is time to go for walks.

There is time to live my life.

But always at the end of the day I am very grateful to have had the second job when I needed it.

I worked with great people and most days had fun working.

Of course, there is always that one customer that would “sink your ship” but then there would be several that would make you feel like a million dollars.

So worth it and really every person should have to work retail.

All in all, I have a pretty amazing life.

I have my own house ….. which ten years ago I would not have thought possible.

I have a dog ….. never would have thought that would happen.

I lived for six years within walking distance to my kids (the last year under the same roof).

Some days there might be a small dark cloud that follows me around the house ( I do not mean Alvin ) but I try to let that be for a short time only.

Most of the time I feel that I have rainbows shining over me …..

My pot of gold is my life …… me Alvin … my daughter…. all my family, friends …….

Well it is time to go quickly to a neighbour’s garage sale as I said that I would and then come get Mr. Alvin and walk to the Vet to pick up food for our Miss Penny (who is visiting tomorrow with her Momma).

THEN WORK …….. but I will enjoy it ….. blast the music and in between it all dance with Mr. Alvin.

Special Hello to: all those folks who feel like there are dark clouds over head ….. you can change it …. bring on the rainbows.. your life is your life ….. make it what you want it to be.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday, December 23rd, 2012 …… guess what …. only “1” sleep until Christmas Eve.

Are you excited?  I am excited.

I am always excited to spend quality time with my daughter, son-in-law and their dogs Elton and Penny.

This year we will also be joined by Sir Casey …. he belongs to friends.

So we will have four dogs in my house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ….. it will be just like having children about….

I just have to share something with you all …… do you remember when I mentioned about going to work yesterday and that it was deemed “Super Saturday” ….. and that I would smile, be happy etc.?

Well the first customer I went to greet as I started my shift … walked toward me and asked me if “she could give me a hug”?

Can you imagine that a total stranger …. on the third last busiest shopping day before Christmas.

I was so grateful and knew right then and there that the day was going to be great and it totally was amazing.

Some other customers that I knew popped in and it was great being able to wish them a Merry Christmas.

A very successful day by my counts.

Alvin had a great day at his sister’s house and even got to go on a walk….

Well today looks like it will be busy ( I slept in extra this morning ) and I truly need that cup of coffee to start my day.

It is still snowing here in Edmonton and has been since yesterday.  I think it might have stopped for a bit yesterday afternoon.

I did shovel part of the deck so that Alvin did not get lost in all the snow.

Last night and earlier this morning when he went out the snow was passed the top of his legs and it is fluffy so it just went flying as he walked onto the deck.

So my “to do” list for today looks something like this: from this point go put on coffee after writing blog, start first of four loads of laundry, give Alvin a bath before clean floors and trim his coat, vacuum, dust, clean t.v., clean all three bathrooms, shovel front of house, rest of the deck and driveway which is out back etc.  ( I wrote up my list before coming upstairs and it is long but I will get things done ).  Tomorrow will be preparing food in the morning and then shower after lunch and relax.  Other than the meal cooking on Christmas Day I will be having fun.

Anyway, I had better get this show on the road …..

I hope that you have a great day and no matter what …. just smile and enjoy.

I believe that any day I get out of bed and am breathing is a good day.  It can only get better from there…..

Have a great day.

Special Hello to:  all of your company this holiday season ……

 

Always, Carol and Alvin