2021

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are, Saturday morning. What are your plans for this weekend? Maybe you are raking your yard for the last time before winter? Maybe you do not get snow and are just changing up the outside ornaments with Christmas fast approaching? Are you putting up your Christmas Tree yet? When do you put it up? I like to put it up early and enjoy it for as long as possible. Christmas brings me joy. I love the tree, the decorations, the colours of Christmas (the ones we have come to realize as “traditional” ….. the red, the greens, silver and white. I love RED. I do love the overall feelings of love and giving during the holiday season. Some people like to show this with an abundance of gifts. We all do things a bit differently. I think if we are all doing what makes up happy, that no one is being disrespected in the scheme of things and not being hurt or anything of that nature ….. then why not. Although I will say that these days with the state of the “climate” and the overwhelming amount of items that are in our landfills, on the ground, in our oceans and forests and ditches and everywhere ….. that perhaps we need to cut back. Really at the end of the day, most people are happy to be in each other’s company and have a good meal. Splurge on the meal. I know with COVID that we are still not able to have massive amounts of people on our homes during the holidays but celebrate it well with the people that are in our household. Play games, sing, watch your favourite Christmas movies and just talk and of course eat. We all are taken in by the advertisements on television, popping up on social media, in our news feeds and in our emails and in flyers. The thing is most of the advertising is done by the big box stores because they can afford to advertise and the “mom and pop stores or small businesses” cannot so they spread the word mainly by word of mouth. I have for many years either made some of my gifts to others, bought locally from friends and neighbours that have made things or supported their direct sales businesses. I have also cut back the amount of gifts that I give. These days the vast majority of gifts I give to friends and neighbours is homemade boxes/tins of baking. Everyone loves to have a sweet treat and not everyone has the time, the money or likes to do it. I like to do it. As you know my daughter helped me erect the Christmas tree on Thursday after work. Last night I spent a considerable amount of time stringing the lights onto the tree. I will say that is the most “unfun” thing about Christmas for me. I harken back to a time when I bought the tree and it was prelit. Oh, how I miss those years. Just take the tree out of the box, set it up and fluff it. Then decorate. So easy and way more fun. Oh well. Everything cannot be dancing around the room fun, I suppose. Mr. Alvin had me up extra early for a Saturday which is not bad. I have already stripped my bed and gathered all of the laundry. So I am off to a great start. The sun is rising and the sky looks so pretty.

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. At lunch break I walked over to the Vet to pick up food for Mr. Alvin. Good thing I did not leave for this morning and they are closed on Saturdays once again due to staffing shortages. After work Alvin and I went for a walk. We got just into the park and he turned to go home. I tried to coax him to keep going and a few times it was back and forth but eventually I lost the “battle” so back home we went. It was so gorgeous outside that I just wanted to walk but he did not. Alvin is the boss when we are walking. I cannot tell if something is bothering him with his leg or paws or something else so he drives the distance always.

Well I suppose it is time to get this show on the road. Get dressed and get that coffee brewing. I am grateful that I hauled up all of the storage containers with the Christmas decorations last night and took downstairs the remaining “non Christmas” ornaments and decorations from the main floor. Up and down those basement stairs what a work out. There is laundry to do in between the decorating today and we will go for a nice walk. Hopefully we will have another beautiful day weatherwise and that Mr. Alvin is in the mood for a nice long walk.

Enjoy your Saturday!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Thursday Morning.

What a beautiful sunrise this morning.

The sky was painted beautiful by Mother Nature as only she can.

The sun was in rising on the horizon.

Various shades of firy pinks and oranges splashed above the sun on the horizon to meet the blue morning sky.

What a beautiful canvas!

What a great way to begin one’s day.

I am feeling so grateful and blessed this morning.

That was the sky out of my bedroom window which faces north and of course that was the view to my right which is to the east.

Now it has been perhaps one hour since I snapped those photos that the sky to the south from my office window is not the same.

The trees are swaying in the breeze and above the sky is beginning to grow dark with deep blue clouds.

What a gorgeous mix of Mother Nature this morning.

Absolutely breathtaking.

I will say it once again, a great way to begin the day.

 

Last night on our second walk of the day we came across two neighbours out for a stroll.

They have always taken a shine to Alvin ever since the beginning, since I first adopted him back in 2010.

At that point in time they had a dog named Rosie.

So last night when they spotted us – I had to show Alvin where they were as we were on different paths.

As soon as he saw them, over he ran.

They both bent over and gave him so many pats with love.

I was blown away by a comment ….

He said “How old again is Alvin.”

I said that he would be 12 years old in January.

Remarking how spry and puppy like he was and that one would never know his real age.

I have to agree.

For the most part Alvin does not show his age.

He does not have any grey and is in good health.

For sure he has had a couple of things or so in the past year.

But bouts of diarrhea is not necessarily age related.

He pulled/strained a muscle in his neck.

Not age related.

So everything could happen at any age.

I am over the moon grateful that he is in good health and hope that he will continue for many years to come.

We have his regular nail trim (spa treatment, haha) and bum thing this morning.

I will also have the vet clean his ears as he makes it difficult for me to do a good job.

I have tried, believe me.

After looking at how furry his paws were – I have been sneaking in trims whenever I can.

Half scissors will travel.

As soon as he falls to sleep on the sofa or wherever, I jump into action.

Well trying not to jump so to speak as he is a light sleeper.

I have managed to get some of the excess fur off his paws so that the vet can more easily trim them.

 

Well I guess it is time to grab that coffee and start looking to get ready to start work.

I have a few minutes, no rush.

Likely one more time to go outside.

The coffee is smelling extra good this morning.

I cannot believe that today is August 27th, 2020.

Where has the time gone?

Time flies when you are having a good time!

Or so they used to say.

 

I wish for you good health, great joy, much love and laughter with all sorts of abundance.

May your Thursday be a happy one.

May you be surrounded with positive energy.

With kindness and respect,

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S.  you know August 27th means?  Fall is right around the corner.  Doing a little happy dancing ……

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 2nd day of March, 2019.

WOW, the sun is up and shining brightly and it is not quite 8:00 a.m.

Now temperature, well that is not so bright and shiny.

It is COLD, not exactly what the overnight, early morning windchill temperature is but I know that it is cold.

Alvin wasted no time outside doing his morning routine, none at all.

Oh well, by Monday it is starting to warm up.

Perhaps SPRING is truly around the corner.

Hopefully it is a short corner.

Really, a small one would be nice.

 

We had a lovely visit with Teddy and Aunt J last night.

I love the way Alvin and Teddy are so excited to see each other.

Almost like hugging each other.

So great to watch.

Truly they are Best Friends.

Aunt J made these incredible “cheesy scalloped potatoes” that were so amazing.

So, so good.

They were a new recipe to her.

Well done Aunt J, well done.

We had a great visit …. took our time eating and visiting.

It was nice after a long week.

They left early as Teddy likes to go to bed early and his parents were arriving home in the wee hours of the morning.

I cleaned up and then we relaxed and watched a bit of t.v. before retiring at 9:00 p.m.

Alvin was up early this morning and luckily I was able to get him to hit the sofa for some additional zzz’s.

Now we are up.

Changed bedding, writing this post and then laundry and breakfast.

Lots of things to do but it is Saturday.

Good to be up early.

 

I just wanted to mention that today is the funeral service for our friend Judy who passed away suddenly.

She was a true life force.

I worked with her for about 25 years before I retired in 2008.

I still cannot believe that she is gone.

Way too young.

My thoughts are with the family and all of her friends today and always.

Will be missed, will be missed.

 

Special Hello to:  the newest Angel.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of February, 2019.

The sky is clear and the sun is rising.

It is beautiful looking out the window.

Outside it is cold.

So dilemma, walk or not walk.

I will be giving Mr. Alvin a hair cut and bath in a little while.

So afterward I won’t take him for a walk not with a fresh hair cut and bath.

Will check the temperature before making a decision.

 

We had a great weekend thus far.

I did not realize just how many people I know have birthdays on February 23, 2019.

My sister, my sister from another mother, neighbour and friend down the street, a co-worker from SGI and I think that I am missing someone.

Popular day for birthdays.

Yesterday we cleaned the house, er actually I cleaned the house.

Mr. Alvin is a great Supervisor.

He follows me from room to room to ensure that I do it right.

After supper, I even whipped up a triple batch of RAISIN COOKIES.

They are so full of yummy raisins.

I love raisins.

We did start our Saturday with messaging my sister for her extra special day, followed by changing bed, hauling laundry to basement, preparing coffee and then going to the Vet

to have Mr. Alvin’s stitches removed from his eye area.

He was not too happy about the whole thing but then again if someone was coming at your eye with scissors, you might squirm and cry, too.

But they are out.

Dr. K said the incision has healed well.

They remarked too on how well he comes out of surgery, and wants to go home right away.

Oh, I started a tea order and will submit it shortly.

So few things to do before the OSCAR programming begins.

They have the RED CARPET and the PRE RED CARPET.

WOW, crazy hey.

The OSCARS or the ACADEMY AWARD program actually starts at 6:00 p.m. – Edmonton time but the “fashion stuff” starts at 2:30 or 3:00 p.m.

Oh, we love our MOVIE STARTS.

I sure hope that BLACK PANTHER wins for best picture.

I have seen that movie about five times, no six (including twice yesterday).

LOVE that movie.

 

Well I suppose it is time to get this show on the road considering I have been up for over one hour and most of the time has been spent on the computer.

Time flies when you are sitting in front of this magic box.

Doesn’t it?

 

I hope that wherever you are and whatever you are doing that you are in good health, warm and safe and surrounded by love.

Happy Sunday.

 

Special Hello to: ALL those folks who take the time to read these posts / my blog.  I am eternally grateful.  Still working on reaching one million readers/followers , have a bit to go.  LOL.

Always, Carol & Alvin