It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning,

 

This morning comes with news from last night of the passing of a little fur baby friend of ours.

His name was Casey.

Just a little guy but such an endearing soul.

He always had a soft spot in our hearts.

He was very much a quiet little guy but his presence was felt by us all.

Occasionally there was a little bark.

Casey endured some health issues over the years.

Thankfully he is now free of discomfort and pain.

We always enjoyed having him in our house for a visit.

Our family will miss him very much.

 

Casey with Alvin

Casey will join our Angels Penny and Elton.

They will be resting on the lush green grass in a meadow just for them.

Under a bright blue sky.

Perhaps some pretty flowers and some trees for shade.

Perhaps with a little breeze.

With stations of cool water and doggie treats galore.

They will never want or need for anything.

They will forever be in each other’s company.

Rest Peacefully, we shall miss you little buddy.

Forever in our hearts and minds.

A little piece of my heart has gone with you.

 

Forever yours,

Carol & Alvin

 

I want to add to this post that we always thought of little Casey as a part of our family.

We were always happy to see him and missed him when he wasn’t there.

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Thursday Morning!

Another beautiful bright sunshiny day.

I am becoming more infatuated with clouds.

Noticing them more and more.

On our way home from our walk after work the clouds were so beautiful.

There was a shelf of them hanging down and above only blue sky.

I am not sure what the technical term is but they just sat there.

Just like a floating shelf.

Almost like they could hold an object or hide an object.

Beautiful and perfect.

This morning they are wispy and appear to be touching the blueness of the sky.

Clouds ….. mmmm

 

We had a great day with the pups.

Kobi did amazing.

She pretty much stayed upstairs with me and Alvin while I was working.

Teddy laid downstairs on Alvin’s bed in the living room.

She is so full of energy.

Kobi did her best to be close to Alvin.

He was not thrilled when she nudged him to play.

Sounded like a grumpy old man.

Reminded me of someone I know.

Not really grumpy but does not like to let on that he is not.

I did snap some photos and will post them another time.

Later on in the early evening – Humphrey from next door, joined us.

Truly was a day filled with friends.

 

This is an odd morning for our household.

Mr. Alvin has his annual teeth cleaning.

No food after 10:00 p.m.

No water after Midnight.

So I made sure to give him a little biscuit at 9:00 p.m.

I tried valiantly to coax him to drink some water at bedtime but to no avail.

He has been good this morning.

When we first got up and went downstairs, I asked him if he wanted to go outside and no.

He stopped by the pantry where his food is kept.

I explained that “this morning you go to see Jenn and Dr. K to get your teeth cleaned”

I only wished that he understood.

But when I said “still night time” and laid down on the sofa, he jumped up and laid down right beside me.

I tried to lay down as long as possible so that it would be easier for him.

We “slept” until almost 7:30 p.m.

Now I have things to do.

Part of which is this post and then a shower before we leave for his appointment.

His appointment is at 9:30 a.m. which is when they open.

Dr. K will arrive between 10:00-10:15 and then between 10:30-11:00 they will give him the anesthetic which takes about 20-30 minutes to take.

Then comes the teeth cleaning.

Jenn said he would be ready to come home about 2:30 p.m.

Knowing Mr. Alvin it will be much earlier.

But time will tell.

I will pick him up whenever he is ready to come home.

He also needs more food, his glucosamine chews, perhaps some wet food as a treat, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and a new toothbrush.

It is a big day.

 

Well time to go and hit the shower.

I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Living with kindness and respect for all.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

Welcome to a bright, blue sky, breezy morning here in Edmonton.

We seem to having a lot more wind here than we did when I moved here over ten years ago.

The garbage truck just went by ….. stopping and starting as they do along their route.

Geese honking and other birds chirping away.

Our window is open in the office so we are hearing all of the sounds that our neighbourhood is making as it slowly comes to life.

Not many people up and out.

So many of our neighbours are working from home.

I do know some of my neighbours that are slowly beginning to go back to their places of employment.

I love this time of day.

Perfection.

If I had my poop in a group or ducks in a row, I would have been organized earlier and sat out on the deck and drank a cup of coffee all the time enjoying the morning.

But alas did not happen.

Oh well, next best thing, window open, coffee in a travel mug and will enjoy as I start to work.

I have my coffee up here and ready to go.

I have been dragging my keister the past few mornings likely due to my watching how much I stand and such.

But anyway that is okay.

Perhaps on Saturday morning …… read my book on the deck and drink some coffee.

Alvin loves to lie on the deck and enjoy the sun until it gets too hot.

 

Did you plant flowers this year?

What kinds?

Are they doing okay?

Flowering?

 

Thanks to my darling daughter I have impatiens, petunias and marigolds.

Most of my perennials are up and some are even flowering.

I cannot believe that one day my ferns in the front flower bed were barely a spot of green and already they are several inches tall.

Before I know it they will be reaching for the sky …… over two feet tall.

They grow so fast.

The irises and others are up.

Unfortunately I don’t remember all the names of the shrubs and plants I have in the back and front gardens.

Oh and lilies.

Love the lilies.

The recent rain has definitely helped plants and the grass and trees grow, bud and bloom.

The grass is this most beautiful green, I guess kelly green.

So, so pretty.

The dandelions dot most lawns and they were in full glory a week or so ago.

Then they go to seed.

I hope that the bees got to them before they were sprayed or went to seed.

I feel so bad for Mother Nature and then Man happens.

 

Well time for coffee and get signed onto work computer.

 

Wishing you the most grand of Tuesdays.

Filled with some laughter, even on a Tuesday you must have a giggle or three, oh come maybe four giggles.

Our life is way to serious.

We must laugh along the way.

If we all live in kindness and with respect.

Even if we slip or have a moment, we all do.

Climb back up and live again in kindness and with respect.

 

Happy Tuesday.

With kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

Happy Saturday.

We were up early and then hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s cause that is how we roll.

At 7:46 a.m. the sun is just beginning to pierce the horizon and the sky is begin to lighten.

I love sunrise.

Alvin just let out a huge sigh as he lays on his blue blanket beside me.

Always close and evidently not pleased at the moment.

What a guy.

Last night as we were leaving the house for our walk …. some friends were walking by.

Jack (little doggie friend) and his Mom.

So we joined them for our walk and enjoyed their company.

 

Today is a very special Saturday.

Today two of my most favourite people on the planet celebrate their 11th Wedding Anniversary.

I remember their wedding as though it were yesterday.

The day was similar in temperature perhaps a bit cooler.

There was sunshine and blue sky.

I remember standing behind them as they stated their wedding vows.

Barely holding back the tears and smiling at the same time.

Then they were married.

 

Their wedding photos were taken down in the River Valley a short walk from where they were married.

The trees were bare, stripped of their leaves from the wind and weather.

Steps, so many steps leading down to the valley.

Not great for high heels …..

As the photographer (a school mate of the bride) snapped photos; I thought how much it reminded me of a scene from days of old.

The forest …. the trees, the darkness in the valley …..

Anyway it was very cool and a day to remember.

 

Happy Anniversary to my darling daughter and sweet son-in-law.

May the years ahead treat you with kindness and respect.

May you have good health, great joy, much love and laughter.

May abundance be with you.

May you celebrate with love each day of your lives.

Dreaming always and realizing those dreams.

Have a great day my loves.

 

Some flowers for the day.

With Love, Forever and Always,

Alvin

Aspen

Milo

Mom

 

 

Now time to get this show on the road as my darling daughter will be joining me

this morning for a pancake breakfast.

Time to shower and get laundry on and make those pannie cakes.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 8th day of April, 2019.

I can see whispers of clear morning sky to the East as the SUN begins to rise.

I love sunrises.

So beautiful the way the sky changes from the deep dark night to the bright morning light.

The sky appears to be a canvas of brush strokes that have been smeared until there were light undertones.

If I look under the semi closed blind on my office window I can see that more of the night sky has begun to change.

Nature is so glorious.

Happy Monday morning.

 

Well here we are starting a new week.

Alvin and I enjoyed our weekend.

As you know Master Teddy slept over Friday night and went home late Saturday afternoon.

We walked on our own and also with Humphrey the Cat and his Mom.

I would not call it a walk as much as it was a sniff fest for Humphrey.

He looked so cute with his harness and leash.

Even children smiled and said “Oh, wow a cat on a leash.”

Humphrey has a good Momma.

Some folks just let their cats roam without a thought.

In this day and age that is not wise.

We had fun.

Going out with Humphrey is starting to give Alvin some patience, starting anyway.

Humphrey has a couple of favourite bushes that he loves to stop and explore.

Alvin just waits outside with the Moms.

Likely a good idea.

Humphrey seems to navigate the rose bushes but methinks that Mr. Alvin might end up covered with thorns.

Tonight Humphrey will be coming over as his Mom has her dance class.

 

This morning as I was sitting down at the computer and before I placed Mr. Alvin’s blue blanket on the floor beside me.

Alvin “whined.”

His way of telling me that he wants/needs the blanket.

I guess he figures when I sit down – down goes the blanket.

Sorry, buddy.

I am not fast enough.

 

Well almost time to go downstairs and grab the lunch etc.

I love that no boots, big mitts/gloves, heavy coat and scarf are required to go outside.

Just shoes and a light jacket.

YAY, SPRING.

I am so grateful that we have different seasons.

I also noticed in my little garden in the backyard that some of the plants are already up and green.

So happy about that.

 

I hope that you have a wonderful Monday.

Go outside, smell the fresh air and maybe go for a walk.

Enjoy NATURE.

Always a good way to start, take a break or end the day.

Maybe you are retired and can do all three.

I have started to go for a walk on my morning coffee break.

Feels so good.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are retired …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of March, 2019.

Now officially more than halfway into the third month of 2019.

The sun is shining brightly to the east and soon it shall fill the entire sky.

Warm temperatures forecasted for the weekend.

I took Monday as a vacation day to have an extra long weekend.

Just sneezing and keeping positive thoughts of feeling well.

My neighbour is feeling so much better and I am grateful.

Last night I shovelled a path across the snowbank from my house to my neighbours.

The sidewalks are a mess of ice and water.

Alvin has his regular vet appointment this morning.

Thankfully we will have a ride this morning.

The streets and sidewalks are so full of icy ruts and in a few hours will be melting and mixed with water.

ARGH.

I love spring but could take less of the ice part.

I also am going to pick up some groceries after Alvin’s appointment.

Making a fruit pizza for my daughter’s birthday party tomorrow.

Love fruit pizza ….. not something one would make every weekend but it is a great treat.

 

A NEW DECADE …..

I was thinking over the past few days about what it has been like to be a single woman in her 60’s.

Crazy that I can say ’60’s” ….. when did that happen?

In August I will turn 62.

The years, the decades have blurred together to bring me to this place.

I am more than grateful to be in good health, to be surrounded by loving family and friends, to have my own home, to be employed.

I am grateful to be learning every day from Mr. Alvin who really has taught me so much.

I am grateful to live in a wonderful community filled with so many wonderful people of all ages.

There is something to be said about being in your sixties.

I have reached a point where I am comfortable in my own skin.

Now there are days when I look at my body and wish that a couple of things were different.

The tummy area for sure.

Those things can change with a bit more exercise.

I look in the mirror and I am happy with the face that smiles back at me.

There is no moaning and groaning about droopy eye lids or wrinkles.

Every decade things change.

Part of getting older is just that …. things change.

Your body changes.

Your mindset changes.

Your sense of worth and desires changes.

You just keep changing.

No longer do I worry on a moment to moment basis about what others think.

I of course, do care about what others think but it no longer defines me.

It no longer is the driving force in my thoughts and actions.

All in all, I love being in my sixties.

 

Well looks like I must hit the shower as Mr. Alvin has his appointment in a little while.

The blue sky and sunshine out of my window makes me happy.

Happy Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks out there who are in their sixties …. you rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 21st day of October, 2018

Well it is another beautiful morning looking out of the office window.

The sky is a glorious powder blue with that big yellow ball shining ever so brightly.

There appears to be no breeze or wind blowing.

 

I wanted to show you photos of my snapdragons.

The first one was a few weeks ago on September 18, 2018  when I was putting away deck furniture and cleaning out flower pots.

The snapdragons were doing so well that I left them out on the deck.

The second photo was taken on September 22, 2018 after the snow had fallen.

Still holding their own with the weight of the wet snow.

Since that time they have been snowed on, rained on, and made it through freezing temperatures.

 

 

 

The photos below were all taken with the last 30 minutes or so this morning.

Despite the snow and the freezing temperatures they are still green and blooming.

Those mighty little flowers.

 

 

Yesterday I raked the leaves that covered our front lawn.

A couple of weeks ago I raked all of the leaves that had fallen from my tree but since that time and with the wind yesterday our front was covered once again.

So I raked and filled another three garbage bags.

As it was still windy there are now more leaves to rake.

Not as many as before but they have managed to find a resting place on the front lawn.

Oh well, as I told my other neighbour …. raking is good exercise.

 

Food for thought ….. it is the little things in life …. those moments …. like the pure enjoyment of the snapdragons that have survived the elements and are blooming away like it never happened.

That in itself gives me strength.

Gives me the notion that perhaps I can do whatever needs to be done.

Why not?

Right.

 

Well I hope that you have an awesome day.

We were up today in good time.

Lots to do as my friend and neighbour “N” is coming to help me fix the two boards on my fence and to help me make a trap door on the deck to reach the dryer vent.

Now it is only accessible by a door on the side of the deck and crawling underneath.

ARGH.

I am so lucky.

Also going to have my friend show me how to fix the leg on one of my kitchen chairs that has loosened.

So it will be a project day.

Finishing up some laundry before he arrives just after lunch.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister who I am so proud of and who always makes me laugh.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 28th day of June, 2018.

A beautiful morning with blue sky and sunshine.

There is a breeze which is keeping the temperature cool.

Perfection.

 

My last work day for the week going into an extra long weekend for me.

So excited.

Tonight I am going with two of my girl friends to a PAINT NIGHT.

Can hardly wait to try out my “painting skills.”

Or rather I should say to see if I have any “painting skills.”

It is one thing doing something abstract.

Time will tell.

I will take a photo and share my work with you.

It is a reminder for me to pick up some paint and get this room, my office painted.

I want to rearrange and redo things in here.

 

We are coming into the CANADA DAY weekend.

People will be travelling to OTTAWA this weekend to be in the nation’s capital for the festivities.

There will be music and fireworks and more.

I have never been to Ottawa and have only watched it from the comfort of my living room.

 

I am excited to be at home with Alvin.

The plan is to clean up my email, save photos outside of my hard drive and purge.

Somehow I find it hard to delete anything.

So I do not require ten shots of the same person.

I do not need a photo that is not in focus.

Time to get serious and get things done.

The other night I had a call from a charity organization who will be in the neighbourhood next weekend needing clothing and household goods.

Another reason to go through things.

Lots to do with gardening in between and walks with Alvin.

 

Have you ever been asleep and woke up speaking?

This morning we were up at 4:30 a.m. and because I have this bit of a scratchy throat I decided that we would not walk this morning.

After Alvin had his breakfast and had been outside, we hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s.

Just as the timer when off I woke up and was talking.

The only things that I remember was my Mom and sister were there.

I think we may have been shopping.

Anyway we were going to sit down at a table and my sister had been telling me she wanted to sit “there.”

Wherever there was, I am not sure.

I was telling her “sure, go ahead.”

So there must have been some history ….. but I do not remember ever having a thing about sitting in a certain spot.

Anyway I woke up and the dream fell away.

I was happy that both my Mom and my sister were there.

I do not remember having a dream with them for many years.

It is also funny at how quickly one can fall asleep and start to dream.

This is the timeline.

We laid down on the sofa at 4:40 a.m. and I set the timer for 5:20.

I woke up at one point and looked at my watch and it was 5:00, so sometime in twenty minutes I fell asleep and started to dream.

WOW.

 

Well almost time to hit the road.

I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, I was dreaming of you.  We may have been shopping???

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 23rd day of May, 2018.

I started to key/type Tuesday the 22nd day of May, 2018 before I realized that it was mid week already.

WOW, when Monday is a stat holiday and you take Tuesday as a vacation day, the week really goes by quickly.

Yesterday we went for a walk bright and early (for us) before it got too warm.

Chatted with my sister a couple of times via FB messenger, which was nice.

We really had a quiet day and enjoyed my last day of vacation.

Back to work today.

But what a short week.

Can only imagine what it would be like to be home all of the time, retired.

Getting up when you chose to.

Taking on whatever projects you wanted to as money and time were not an object.

Does everything always boil down to time and or money?

Most of the time unfortunately it does.

But the choices we make bring us to the places of arrival.

The bright blue sky of a few minutes ago on the north side of the house has diminished somewhat due to some cloud cover at the south side of the house.

What a difference a few feet can make.

I have the windows open and you can hear the roar of vehicles on the nearby highway as folks travel to and from work.

Today is to be plus 30 degrees celsius.

 

So on this Wednesday I am going to continue to dream.

I dream of the day when I will retire.

Sleeping in if I wish.

Taking on whatever projects I wish as I will have more time.

But not to lose sight of today and making the most of each second, minute and hour.

 

Well here it is almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you all had a great long weekend.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 18th day of May, 2018.

The sun is shining very brightly this morning and the sky is the palest of blues.

There appears to be no breeze as the trees are standing still south of my office window.

I am so grateful to have five days in a row off from work.

Five days at home with Mr. Alvin.

This morning he has his regular Doctor appointment to trim his nails and stuff.

Later this morning my daughter and I are going flower shopping.

We will go to the same greenhouse/nursery that we have in prior years.

It is only a short drive from my house.

Family operated business and it is always good to support local.

They have a great selection of flowers, plants, and anything you may wish to have for your garden and yard.

So excited to have flowers ….

My perennials are coming up nicely in the front flower bed …. the ferns are in first place according to height.

The back flower bed is a bit behind the front but it is tucked in the corner so it takes longer for the plants to come back.

So much to do on this extra long weekend.

But for now …. time for breakfast …..

Keeping this short today …

Excited for tomorrow …. the Royal Wedding and we will be up extra early …. well not really as Mr. Alvin has us up usually before 4:00 a.m. ….

But early for a Saturday.

 

Happy Friday Everyone.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU

Always, Carol & Alvin