The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! A bit later than I usually write but then again it is the weekend! It is Saturday morning. Alvin and I have a good sleep. I hope that you are doing well. Any big plans for the weekend? Are you perhaps going garage saling? Shopping? Staying home to clean? Well I am setting up for the garage sale next weekend. No shopping as I was grocery shopping last weekend and we have lots of food in the house. Next shopping will be to pick up Alvin’s wet food in the cans. The sky is overcast this morning but it is mild, I would almost say humid outside. At least when I was hauling things up from the basement and from upstairs to down and then out to the garage.

Last night before bed which was later than usual, we were outside in the rain. The rain was just coming down lightly and was most enjoyable. The air was warm. I snapped the following photos.

Okay, so I have a thing for my solar moon. I always attempt to take night shots and they usually do not turn out very well. Not the case last night. I even caught the light crossing, can you see it. My friend Signe gave me the solar ornament last year for my birthday and I was able to find it a beautiful home. Several weeks ago when I was trimming our tree out front, I kept some of the branches and placed them into an empty plant pot on the deck. Filling the top with stones and some brick so that the branches were secure. I think it adds to the ambiance. Also yesterday I moved most of my plants to the shelter of the house or garage. Poor things were getting super saturated.

Today despite the late start we will organize the items for the garage sale next weekend. Do some laundry. I already changed the bedding on our bed, emptied the dishwasher and dried the dishes from last night and put them all way. So at least I have done something, lol. Mr. Alvin is sawing logs outside the office. Just heard some noises coming from neighbours. That almost never happens.

I have the office and bedroom windows open a crack and am being serenaded by a crow with its’ “caw, caw, caw.

I hear it better now, they are hammering something. Definitely time to get this weekend going.

I hope that you are well. My sister is living in a heat wave and one of my brother’s has a state of emergency issued for the rising water in their city. We are just hoping for a bit of sunshine and easing up on the rain.

Time to go and get laundry started and have some coffee.

WIshing you are a great day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: 52 days until that 65th Birthday of mine.

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? I am doing great. Off to a little wobbly, well rather later than planned start but all is good. I have showered and am writing my post now and one of the girls will be here in less than a hour. She is bringing a couple of small heaters as we are having a birthday party in my garage. Thankfully the temperature is warming up but having the party at 10:00 a.m. …. it is likely still going to be cold. I wore a long sleeved top and a cardigan and sweatpants that are toasty warm. Not sure if to wear my bigger coat or my other one. Both are warm but one covers more of my legs. Boots ….. Also I will be putting a sweater on Mr. Alvin, his sweater of course, not one of mine, (you are silly, lol). All depends on how you write words as to the understanding, right? I have everything packed up and ready to be hauled out to the party area. Last night after work I moved and rearranged things in the garage so each of us are more than six feet apart so we can be mask free so we can drink our beverage (coffee and tea) and eat the birthday cupcakes. Each person has a comfy chair with a nice cushion. I am taking out blankets as well. Also we each have a side table of sorts. One is a table, one is a wooden bench and the other which I am using is a rubbermaid container with a piece of cut drywall as a topper (as it is flat). I am taking a cloth to cover the table. Decided to use the river rock top bistro table as I was unable to easily get to the other bigger patio table. I think it will be perfect. A birthday banner will be hung this morning as I thought the tape would come off in the cold. I have a few decorations that will go onto the table and voile we are done. Ready to party. I will put on the coffee so it is ready when Gillian arrives. I said her name. Sometimes I mention friends and family by name and sometimes not. The birthday girl is Signe. Her actual birthday is tomorrow. The sky appears to be clear. I think this is going to be a great party. It surely is. Also the extra gift for the girls that was being commissioned and did not make it for Christmas has arrived. So both girls will have gifts today. How wonderful is that. I am so excited. Alvin had lots of gifts last Sunday and me, well everyday and all the time that I spend on this earth with my Alvin, family and friends is all the gift I need.

I did want to mention something that I believe has become so important this past year and will remain important now and into the future. That is PATIENCE. We have all had to learn and be patient this last year. It is not a trait that comes naturally to human beings or at least not in my experience. It does come more easily to some than to others but it is most important these days. We have had to change our daily lives completely in 2020 and even into 2021 whether working from home, changed work hours, having no job, wearing a mask whenever you are outside in public, teaching your children from home, either having personally experienced the COVID 19 virus first hand or having a family member or a friend have the virus and of course, the worse possible – having someone pass away. There is no one on this planet that has not been affected in some way, shape or form. You may be one of the millions of folks who work in healthcare, with seniors, in schools, in stores, restaurants, fire department, police, utility companies and the list goes on and on of those that are out everyday no matter what. Also to all of the small businesses who have either had to close their doors or somehow have managed to keep afloat. Everyone, everyday has had to have patience. Whether you are at home or at work …. we all need patience. I tell myself (quite often, actually) and others to stop, take a deep breath and then go forward. We can do this. Patience will always serve us well in every situation for the present and into the future. Some things are beyond our control but patience is something we can control if we work on it. I know that for sure. Deep breath, patience all. We got this. We have learned valuable lessons as human beings or at least I hope so and although there may be many days that are marred with doubt and despair we will get to the other side. It will be different. I do not believe that things will ever go back to the way they were or at least some part of me, hopes that is the case. We hopefully will have learned for the future, for our children’s futures and their children.

So time to go and put the finishing touches on this birthday party. Mr. Alvin looks like me may have to go outside as it look like his eyes are watering …. he is fussing. He even asked me nice. How can you ignore that.

Be well, take cake. Breath and have patience.

Oh, I get to pick up my new glasses today, so excited. We might also get a walk in later this afternoon.

Life is good.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and learning patience, always.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, it is Wednesday half way through my first whole week of vacation.

The sun is shining and there is a breeze.

We were pooped this morning and even though we were up at 5:00, we laid back down on the sofa until 7:00 – Alvin had his breakfast and then back down until

9:00 a.m.

Now the guilt has arrived as it always does when one sleeps in …. should have been up doing things as I have a list a mile a long.

Oh, no I don’t because I did not write the list as yet.

My Sister arrives on Saturday and we are taking a couple of trips next weeks so there are tasks and chores that need to get done.

Not sure why sometimes I procrastinate but sometimes I do.

For some reason I do better when the deadline is close by.

But this time I am going to do better.

I will.

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Yesterday was a fantastic day.

Weather was perfect.

My friend picked me up and we drove to the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.

This was my birthday gift and what a gift it was.

The garden in a forest.

240 acres with 80 acres of cultivated gardens, indoor showhouses, and 160 acres of natural areas including wetlands, woods, fens and meadows.

This is the gardens 60th Anniversary having been established in 1959.

The newest area is the Aga Khan Garden (2018).

Made possible through a $25 million gift from the Aga Khan back in 2009.

This garden is the only one of its kind on this continent.

When you arrive at the gardens the green takes your breath away and you feel a peace hover over your body.

The sky was overcast and when we first arrived it was cool but not cold.

Perfect for taking photos.

It was until we were eating a later lunch that the sun came out.

By that time we were at the Japanese Gardens and that was one area that I had already seen.

The whole area is absolutely breathtaking.

The AGA KHAN gardens were amazing.

I took almost 500 photos yesterday and ran the phone battery down to 1%.

That was a first for me.

There will be no way that I can show you every photo that I took but I will show you some for sure.

If you google AGA KHAN you can read all about this fascinating man.

Very interesting.

Edmonton is so lucky.

This pool “the woodland bagh” reflects the forest canopy and sky in its still waters and is the first introduction to water in the AKGA.

The Amphitheatre built in an existing woodland bowl, taking advantage of the natural acoustics.

You can see the Talar – the upper terrace with the bright orange canopies which were selected to contrast the surrounding dark greenery.

The Chowk – lower terrace with fountain wall

The fountain at the centre of the Talar acts as the heart of the AKGA

This is the top of the fountain.

Pathway – stepping stones across the fountain.

Well it has taken me over 1.5 hours to get this far ….

So perhaps some photos will share another day.

It was an extra special day …. just walking and spending time with my friend.

The flowers were so beautiful and I have likely about 300 photos of flowers from the day.

Lunch was enjoyable and at the end after we checked out the butterfly enclosure we had an ice cream cone.

Great day.

Happy to get home to Alvin but happy to have had this day.

 

Kindness and Respect are all around us ….

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Need coffee ……. tomorrow morning …. not sleeping in …… argh.

 

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Monday, July 31st, 2017 and it is the 10th day until my 60th Birthday.

 

Favourite Birthday Gift EVER:  ……

I am so blessed to say this is very difficult to say.

If I had to choose just one I would say that it was photograph(s) my daughter took capturing the pink blossoms of a cherry tree in their yard.  Instead of having the photo(s) framed in traditional frame(s), she had

them cut into different size rectangles making a collage of gallery wrapped photos.  They fit in a corner wall in my kitchen and I can see the beautiful blossoms all year long.

 

Sorry I started looking through 28,000 + photos to find one of this gorgeous artwork and could not find one.

So I will take some photos later and post them for you all to see.

 

I am so proud of my daughter who is one of the most talented photographers.

 

Getting closer to that day …… honestly I am a bit nervous.

 

Always, Carol

 

 

 

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Sunday, July 30th, 2017 and it is the 11th day until my 60th Birthday.

Only one more Sunday until my 60th Birthday.

That is just crazy.

I seem to remember when it was 60 days ….

Time flies.

 

Question:  Do you know someone that shares your birthdate?

I have a 1st cousin that was born on my 10th birthday.

That was an incredible birthday present or I thought so.

I also know a couple of others who share this date this me.

 

Question:  Favourite birthday gift ever?

I will have to get back to you on that …..

 

Always, Carol