Good Morning! How are you this morning? I had a fair sleep last night. So excited that today is Friday. Wishing a dear friend Terry, Happy Birthday on this March 17th, 2023. Also HAPPY ST. PATRICK’s DAY. Part of my ancestors is Irish, so I feel akin to this day. Did you know that St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland, of course you did. Did you know that he was kidnapped and enslaved but eventually escaped. He returned to the Emerald Island where he furthered “Christianity” and it is believe that he died on March 17th. The reason why we celebrate him on this day. I just like the idea of celebrating the Irish (we should celebrate everyone). I wear green because it makes me feel alive and happy. Kelly Green is my shade of green. Happy St. Patrick’s Day for any reason, we should celebrate something everyday whether it is for being able to get out of bed in the morning or because spring is close by, Whatever you are grateful for – celebrate.
I am grateful for walks after work. Last night I ran into Allie and Bailey. Bailey saw me from a distance and literally dragged Allie to me. We had a great visit and walk together. We also bumped into Janet with Eddie and Bruno. Wonderful having friends.
I am celebrating my Alvin who remains close to my heart (forever) and always in my thoughts. I know this sounds off but I carry his urn around the house with me. If I go to bed, he comes upstairs with me and when I go back down, I take him down. So he is with me. I miss him, I will always miss him. Last night I received a text from his best friend Teddy’s Mom saying that they are in the city and would like to visit. I am happy to see them but sad. I know that seeing Teddy and his little sister Kobi would have been amazing. He will be with us in spirit and I am sure that they will feel him with us.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day (Green is my favourite colour and well Alvin, my beautiful Angel).
Have a wonderful day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning ALL! Well this year has not got off to the start that I may have anticipated. Last night we had another set back. I managed to get two out of the three doses of Mr. Alvin’s newest medication which is a liquid to line his tummy to hopefully help him with digestion and aid in bowel movements. The last dose was scheduled for 10:30 last night. I started the process about 10:16 p.m. in hopes that it would not take so long and that we could get to bed in a reasonable time. 10:30 is already very late for us. Anyway, things did not go well. Long story short it was 30 minutes later and I had only managed to get maybe 1/4 of the medicine into him. He had got away from me (we were on the sofa) and was hiding under the kitchen table, I was able to get him out but by this time his anxiety level was over the top and perhaps I should have just left it and we should have gone to bed without the medicine. But I did not and he ran upstairs before I could get to him. The lights were not on in the stairway except for the garland from Christmas (thankfully that was still up). All of a sudden I heard him cry and knew that something was very wrong. I got to him as soon as I could and found him in the bedroom. I can only assume that he had problems getting up the second three steps to the upstairs landing. Perhaps missed landed but he definitely hurt his hind leg(s). Might be the one he had surgery on in July of 2021. I am praying to whomever will listen to me that this is not the case. Surgery again would not be pretty. He seems to be walking but is mood has changed. So different and that is what leads me to believe he may be in pain. I left him downstairs with the baby gate up so that he could not follow me. He has not barked and is quiet. Unlike him. So I will keep an eye on him and see what the day brings. Please keep my boy in your thoughts and prayers with good positive energy coming his way. Thank you.
I need to get back downstairs but just wanted to give a quick note about our last few hours. We did have an okay sleep until 3:45 ……… also he has not pooped only peed. Whether that is good or not, I have no idea at this point. Perhaps the medicine is finally firming things up and then it will be good. Hopefully his leg is okay as well.
Have a good day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning All! How are you this Wednesday morning? I am grateful to be working from home today. We had a small amount of snow last night, actually I think before I went to bed. So the once cleared sidewalk now has a light sheet not even a blanket covering.
Last night right after I arrived home from work, I set my backpack and work things inside the house, locked the house and then carried on for a walk. It was so nice last night that I thought it would be a great idea to get out for some fresh air and exercise. On the way home, I stopped by the mailbox and picked up the mail. Inside were some Christmas cards from family and friends. I was doing an internal happy dance as I love to receive Christmas cards in the mail. I love to receive them period but most especially in the mail. Once inside the house, I took off my boots, set down the mail and carried on to the garage where I brought in the garbage bin as yesterday was trash pickup. Back in the house, I had a few things to do before supper so got them out of the way. Then supper (leftovers from Saturday’s Christmas party) went into the oven to warm. Once supper was done, I sat down on the sofa and munched away at my delicious supper. Missing my boy thought, it is way too quiet in the house and I have no one to snuggle with and not having him to go to bed with or to wake up to, seems very odd. My daughter sends pictures and videos often and he is definitely thriving in his new temporary surroundings. I think he is loving having two friends (Aspen and Milo) with him all the time and of course, his sister and brother-in-law. No stairs. New toys. Someone home all of the time. Good setup. One more week from Saturday and he will be back home. It was a good idea as I believe that we both needed a break but I will be SO EXCITED to have him home.
After supper, I did the dishes and turned on the dishwasher to wash the load that had been accumulating over the past couple of days. Then I just relaxed and watched some t.v. Quiet evening.
Countdown to Christmas: 10 days until Christmas Eve (and Alvin comes home with Aspen and Milo while the kids go to St. Albert for Steven’s family’s Christmas.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing great. Up at 5:15, (well up at 3:00 as both of us had to “go”) for the day. Alvin has had his breakfast and I have made our bed and had a shower. Now time to be creative! I love having the opportunity to write this post every day or most days. This post, this blog is meant to be light and fun although there are days when it can be very dark. Everyone has days where it is difficult to keep that bright light and positive energy and mindset shining. Today is a bright light kind of day. I hope that it is for you as well. There is a full moon. I am not sure how many folks out there have the belief that a full moon can play with people’s behaviors but I tend to lend toward “yes.” When you work with the public – you can definitely see it. The sky was beautiful clear with the moon up front and centre and stars scattered about. Happy Wednesday!
Last night I made the “Hamburger Quiche” for supper minus the ground beef and using the YVES Mexican blend “meatless meat.” It was a nice reminder of home, I mean Regina. Edmonton is home but Saskatchewan will always be my “home, home.” I was born and raised there until my early teenage years and spent most of my adult life in Saskatchewan, so it is home. Back to supper. The Quiche was good and I had peas for a vegetable. I usually do not have ketchup in the house or even use it but I bought the smallest bottle that I could as you just have to have it with this dish. Not sure why.
I was nervous when I opened the front door last night and Alvin was not there. Two second later he bounded down the up stairs. My heart deflated as I realized that I had not put up the baby gate to keep him downstairs when I am not at home. I had forgot. I think that our bed is one of his happy places as he can look out of the window as he no longer can get up on the chairs in the living room. A few years ago I would not have thought twice about preventing him from going upstairs but now in his golden years, I do not want him to slip and or fall and injury himself. Whew. Thank goodness he is okay. I will remember today. I will.
We had a good evening after supper and dishes were done. It was close to 7:30 when I sat down with a cup of tea. That is one thing about working at the office – the commute. Honestly I do not like it. We lose two hours each day commuting. That is two hours that I missing with my Alvin. I do enjoy the conversation with Michelle, my coworker and carpool driver. But I would much rather be at home. I can tell you when we were outside at 3:00 a.m. and I went to take a breath of air and my lungs hurt from the extremely cold air this morning, I just wanted to go back into the house and curl up under the blanket with Alvin. Which we did because it was 3:00 a.m., lol. You know what I mean.
Today and tomorrow at the office and then the long weekend. Remembrance Day, November 11th.
Have a wonderful day everyone! I hope that you are able to “shine brightly” on this day!
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: couple of things to do and we will even have some cuddle time before I leave at 7:00. We are leaving earlier because of the snow and ice on some of the streets.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this gorgeous Friday morning? Alvin and I are well. Just finished having a most refreshing shower, Alvin has had his breakfast and gone outside to do his business and I am writing this post before we head outside for our morning walk. I can hear the hum of traffic on the highway which is a short distance away. The sun is starting to shine with all its’ brilliance, there is a breeze (thankfully) and the sky is a smoky blue colour. I am congested so I am not sure if that is smoke blowing in from fires somewhere? Might be. The house was 75 degrees when I looked at the thermostat and then dropped to 74 at that moment when I was standing there. Never had that happen before. I will take 74 but hopefully we can capture the coolness the way that we did yesterday. Will have to close the blinds and windows before we head downstairs.
Cute story but rather frightening too. Last night I was dreaming. The only things that I remember was that some kind of animal with long sharp horns was coming toward me and I was asking for help. Apparently my first attempts were feeble and quite low as nothing happened but then I shouted in a scared voice at the top of my lungs “help me” and it was not a dream as Alvin literally bolted up from his spot where he had been fast asleep. I scared him so badly that he would not settle down for a good 15 minutes. I had the windows open and luckily no one heard me. Perhaps everyone had their fans on, too. Anyway, I think I know where that dream was hatched from “The Big Bang Theory” as the episode that I was watching before bed was when Sheldon and Raj were in the tunnel at the University and Raj was babbling on about something or other when Sheldon noticed some four legged furry creatures standing on a ledge behind Raj’s head. He screamed and ran up the ladder throwing down the hatch leaving Raj all alone with the you know what. I cannot even say the word. Anyway, pretty sure that did it for me.
We are back to normal now. I did a few things this morning as my brother and his partner Todd are coming to visit us. I cannot wait. They should be here about 2:00 pm or so. We have decided to have a cold supper of sorts with buns, egg salad, veggies, pickles and cold cuts etc and with fruit and macaroons for dessert. I am also excited that my daughter Amanda will be joining us and wished that my son-in-law and grandpups could also be here.
Well time to head downstairs and get on our walk. I will be posting my blog later tomorrow after the company heads out but I will be here.
I hope that you have a great Friday. I can feel the fan blowing from the hallway and the breeze coming in through the office window.
Oh, almost forgot that one of my friends and neighbours down the street joined me and Alvin on the front porch during my lunch break yesterday. She also gave me a belated birthday gift which was a lovely book and a card. This birthday just keeps on giving. I so so grateful. Love books and reading them.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning All, i hope this finds you well. i had to resort to writing my daily post via my phone due to timing and circumstances. what a night and morning thus far. we had a quiet semi productive Saturday until about 8pm. one of our friends and her daughter came to the door just before I was planning to go for a walk with Alvin. She explained how she had seen a little chihuahua dog go by on the sidewalk with no human. After that people were out looking for him. They went walking and looking and I got Alvin and we went out as well. do many people were out and he was not found. I walked at different times with each of the owners. They were devastated especially one of the young men. I felt do bad. At 10:00 it was getting dark and I had to get home as I had dropped Al at home after a short walk. Signs are up in the neighbourhood, I hope they find the little guy.
So this morning we were up earlier for trip outside and then one hour later for Alvin to eat. Following we hit the sofa for extra zzz’s. we didn’t get up until after 9:00. I thought we should go for a walk before it gets hot.
I got washed and dressed and him ready and on our way. A friend was outside so we stopped to chat for few minutes before continuing on our way. We were almost at the park when Alvin managed to get tinfoil into his mouth. i managed to get it out but I was upset with myself for not picking it up on a previous walk. We continued to walk meeting a woman out with her dog. The dog was gigantic, we chatted for awhile. Dog’s name is Grizzly, appropriate for his size. The pup was just one year old. Owner said pup was very gentle as was noted when he laid down to be at Alvin’s level. I had to come upstairs and go onto the computer as I was having slowdowns on the phone.
Once home I turned on the fans to cool off the house, my neighbour Sonja had asked to use our washer and dryer as they are renovating the basement and cannot use their machines at this time. Just after she left, Alvin wanted a treat so I gave him some of his wet food and then set about to make some coffee as it was after 10:30 by this time (and now it is almost noon) when I turned and noticed that there was a pile of vomit by the fireplace on the floor. I almost started to cry. I have no idea if he actually did manage to swallow a small piece of the foil or if it was the heat or what. I am praying that it was just an one off and that this is not a repeat of last week or an underlying issue. My heart is in my stomach. I have a headache from the stress of it all. On the way back from the park, I stopped and picked up every last little piece of that damn foil and all the time wishing that people wouldn’t throw stuff on the ground and that people would clean up the garbage from their lawns. I also picked up a ice treat wrapped and stick close to our house. Man, people make me mad. What is wrong with people?
Anyway, I need to have something to eat and relax. Get away from this head space. Between the missing pup and Alvin, I am ready to pull the covers up over my head and stay in bed permanently.
Likely not the best thing to do. I will recover as long as Mr. Alvin is okay. Hoping that the little dog is also found in good health. Maybe a good samaritan found him.
Well I have to go. It has been a very trying last few hours. Alvin seems to be okay. I am going to keep positive thoughts and hopefully the Universe will hear them.
I hope that you are having a good day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: Well 16 sleeps till 65. Maybe time to get lost in a movie while drinking coffee.
Good Morning ALL! Welcome to Monday June 13, 2022. Happy Birthday to my dear friend Pauline, grandmother to grandpup “Georgie.” We wish you a wonderful day. Yesterday we were all dozing on the sofa (me, Alvin and Georgie) when there was a knock at the front door. We all jumped up. The dogs were barking as we all ran to the door to find Pauline there with two trays of pansies in her hands. I had scooped up Georgie before answering the door so that he did not get free and perhaps run away. That would not have been good. George wriggled to get free and get to Pauline. He clearly miss his Grandma. Finally Pauline was able to get into the house. Here they being her daughter (George’s Mum) and Pauline decided to get me some flowers to plant in my garden as an extra thank you for keeping care of George. I was paid as well. Not that I asked, they insisted and I gratefully accepted. So sweet. Anyway we had a visit for a few minutes and I heard of some “Jasper stories” before she and George were on their way back home. I of course, helped carry his food, his bed and dishes to the truck as it would have been too much for one person to carry. Last night it was very quiet without George. He followed me wherever I went. Mr. Alvin must have been tuckered out as he slept without moving for a good two hours after my supper. He did not move when I ran upstairs to put clean sheets on the guest bed as Amanda is coming over the night, today. So great to have company.
Just after I planted the pansies, well not afterward it started to rain. Perfect timing. I ended up putting them in with some existing plants as I had not overfilled any of my pots. The pots look great. Very grateful for the additional flowers.
I also broke down some of the boxes in the garage last night. Just a few left. Some of them are hard to do so will wait until this evening and ask my daughter to help.
The sky is overcast this morning although there have been moments of sunshine and there was a pretty sunrise earlier in between the dark rain clouds. I think the forecast is for rain for most of the week.
Well time to fly. I hope that you have a great Monday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities (and coffee, I want to add).
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. 57 days to my 65th Birthday. I even had an opportunity to help a neighbor and friend after I saw Pauline and George off, I saw a neighbor out moving a load of rocks from her lawn to the space beneath her living room window at the front of the house. So I happily went over and helped her.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are doing well this Wednesday morning. Alvin and I are better now. Shortly after I went to bed, I felt extremely nauseous and I could smell the aroma remaining in the air from supper. I had made up a box of falafels along with caramelized onions, quinoa and fresh broccoli. Mixed all together. I should have realized that it was far too much “fried” if you will but I thought that the quinoa and broccoli would be a good mix. I know now that I cannot eat “fried foods.” Onions done in a dish but with the falafels was too much. Anyway, I did get up and was very sick and afterward felt 100% but got a great way to go to sleep. Not that I want to throw away food but I cannot even stand the remaining smell that remains so I will have to toss the remainder. Lesson learned. The next few meals will be bland for sure. Toast, perhaps and raw vegetables. Anyway. I am sad as I was thinking that the falafels would have been so yummy which they were in the beginning.
We woke up around 4:00 a.m. to another layer of fresh snow. It was lightly snowing when we went to bed and must have carried on throughout the night. The sky is that soft gray blue colour and there is a breeze. I swept off the deck when we were outside a few minutes ago. I am so thankful that we managed to score two walks yesterday. One at lunch break and the other after work.
Not much new and I cannot think of some extra pearls of wisdom this morning. I am longing for a swig of coffee as the aroma of the coffee slowly overtakes last night’s supper.
I cannot believe it is Wednesday already.
I wish you an awesome day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. one thought, age and fried are two words that definitely do not go well together.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are well this Thursday morning. Wow, the time is flying. I had to click on the SNOOZE button three times this morning so I am running late. Why oh why? I went to bed in good time. Perhaps all Alvin’s early mornings and then this morning he did not settle down. He does not appear to be in pain or anything – just restless. But I guess we are all feeling a bit of that right now. I don’t know where you live or what your weather is up to at this very moment but our weather is yucky. That is the best word that I can think of at this point as I write this post with Alvin whining in the background because he wants a drink of water but he won’t get up off his little bed and go unless I am right with him. I guess I had better go for a moment. ARGH.
Okay, I am back and he is watered. OH my goodness. I guess we both have our quirks as we age.
Looking out the window there is another blanket of fresh snow covering cars, the deck, rooftops and any crevice it can get into. I do love the snow. Just not so much of it. The sky is a grey colour with no sign of a sunrise or COLOR in sight. Not the best way to start the day. You know what the best way to start one’s day is: WAKING UP AND PLACING YOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR. Really does anything much matter after that? If you can get your butt out of the bed in the morning, then life is good. Yes, sure, would I love to see a bright and colourful sunrise, you bet I would. But I am really grateful to be alive and to be able to get myself out of bed in the morning.
Well my friends, this will be short. I hope that you enjoy your first coffee or tea or whatever your morning beverage of choice is. I hope that you were able to get out of bed on your own or even if with help. I hope that you are well and surviving this thing we call life. This is it after all.
Have a wonderful day. Friday EVE. How did that happen?
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. I forgot to turn off this computer yesterday. Not sure how that happened. Anyway!! LOL.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Wow, December 30, 2021. Well we slept in but really what does it matter? We are not going anywhere or doing anything special. The sky is clear and the sun is up. The pups are both in the office with me. I caught Cookie a couple of minutes ago carrying something downstairs. It was a Fifth Avenue Jewelry box. One that once held a piece of jewelry but was stored on a moveable cart in the guest room. Perhaps to be used another day. Well Miss Cookie had it in her mouth and was about to make a quick getaway down the stairs. She definitely is getting more brave and confident and inquisitive with each day she spends with us. I am most grateful to have Mr. Alvin as he is more concerned to be right beside me than to be checking things out in other rooms. He never really has inquisitive. He has always been happy to be with me. No matter where I am or what I am doing. So as we go into the New Year we, me and Alvin are with another being who likes to look and sniff and see what everything is. Maybe it is because our home is relatively new to her and not to us. I am not sure but whatever it is I am happy that it is the way it is in this moment. She is lying on her belly scratching at the door. She does not like the door being closed. But she will need to learn patience. After this post, I am going to have a shower so yet again another door will be closed. I do not trust her not to get into things if I am out of the room for more than a couple of minutes. She jumps as though she is flying. What a character she is!
Little Miss Cookie “Monster”Her fav chair and pillow
She loves to lick me and Alvin. She was just licking Alvin’s face and he put his paw up as if to say “enough.” She is lying by the door on her side and Alvin is whining, for what reason I do not know. Perhaps he is bored being in the office with the door closed. Not an usual scene for us.
I just paid Alvin’s pet license online. Thank goodness for technology.
Alvin & CookieCookie napping with Rudolph
Well the troops are getting restless and I need a shower. I think today will be a pancake day. Time to use up milk and eggs. I always buy too much at Christmas. Even with the extra company we still did not go through as much as I bought grocery wise. Which is okay as I do not need to go to the grocery store any time soon. Except for bananas. We always need bananas. Alvin and I love bananas. I would love one right now.
I forgot to mention that when we went to bed last night. Cookie was playing. Alvin was laying down quietly but she was jumping and rolling and did a backflip right off the bed. Thankfully she landed on the area rug. I couldn’t look at first as I thought for certain she had injured herself. But within a couple of seconds she was back up and fooling around. Whew!!
I wished that I could show you a video of Alvin and Cookie playing together. Chasing one another. Once in awhile they stop and she licks his face. I haven’t seen that much energy coming out of Mr. Alvin in a long time. Clearly they are enjoying each other’s company.
I had pulled the spare bedroom door closed and heard a scratching but it was not Cookie opening the door – it was the Alvin. OMG.
My New Life @ 51 