Thought for the day …….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of May, 2015.

It is overcast and very windy.

We did however receive some rain overnight which is great.

Perhaps it will rain over the course of the day and that would be wonderful as it is so needed.

Well I had the best start to the long weekend.

Yesterday started off with bootcamp.

This one was very engaging ….

Found out “all of the arms work” really engaging when I went to dry my hair after a nice warm shower.

I could barely lift my arms …… arg ….

This morning they feel great …. not tired ….. they feel strong.  YAY.

My friend “S” and I went shopping/ running errands after bootcamp.

First stop was the VET to pick up food for Alvin and some treats for him.

Our second stop was Home Depot to pick up some more flowers.

OMG, I could have bought every single flower there.

I picked up a ready made pot filled with pinks and white flowers.

Impatiens and I think begonias to plant for the front porch.

Petunias, and some others that I am not certain of their names.

Have to read the labels.

Also small basket of purple pansies.

So pretty.

I LOVE FLOWERS.

I LOVE LOVE FLOWERS.

They make me so happy.

The colours.

There was one tiny white flower that filled the air with the most amazing fragrance.

I made sure that I picked up some of them.

I decided to plant them (was hoping today) later.

Later might be tomorrow.

They are carefully sitting in the garage by the window.

Will check them later to see if they need a drink of water.

After our stop at Home Depot we went to Costco.

Now that store on a Friday was “busy” …..

People were doing silly driving parking things.

Well of course when you go to Costco …. do you ever stick to the list?  NOPE. Never.

After all doesn’t everyone need a ten pound bag of carrots ….

Apparently me and Alvin did …..

One last stop before home.

Save-On for the winning lotto tickets.

P.S. the one item that I really should have picked up was new house phones because apparently mine are not working …. just filled with static when someone calls ….. I did find out that they can hear me quite fine……..

It was wonderful to spend time with my friend “S” ….. we laughed and chatted and laughed.

Great time.

Now on this quiet Saturday ….

The only sounds in the house are the clock tick tock ing in the bathroom, the sound of the keys as I type these words and the wind as it blows through the upper vents.

Friday was great …… exercise, shopping, walk with Alvin and then being at home.

So on this quiet lovely Saturday morning I hope that you too are enjoying your day.

I love being in my home ….. just puttering …. doing laundry ….. sipping on a cup of coffee ….. just being.

I did think however after yet another bootcamp that I had better get out my yoga equipment and get stretching.

It is amazing as you get older how inflexible you become if you do not work at it.

So I am going to ……

I want to be the most healthy almost 58 year old woman…..

So time to go and get at it.

Remember to take time for yourself. ….

If you like flowers….. go to and pick up some to plant or a ready made pot.

If you do not have the extra money to buy flowers today then just go and spend some time at one of the retail garden stores.

Smell them and take in all of the amazing colours.

This experience will uplift and bring you to a great place.

Well I hear the laundry calling and another cup of coffee …. perhaps I will drink it while it is “hot.”

Have a wonderful Saturday …..

Special Hello to: my daughter and family …. we miss you guys.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 15th day of May, 2015.

It is the long weekend here in Canada, and I also have today off.

So what do you think a person would be doing on their vacation day?

I thought a great way to get me started ,and because I missed a couple of classes is to go to BOOTCAMP.

The sky is overcast and it is windy.

The temperature in the house is 65 degrees …. but by the end of BOOTCAMP, I shall be nice and warm.

I did find my core …..

Now what?

It does require some work … oh, what am I saying …. it requires a lot of work.

I still have not got my head wrapped around fitting in yoga and some other exercises.

Once I get these into a regular routine with walking, life will be great.

But until then I shall do the best that I can.

I just keep telling myself that I am in great shape.

Always a work in progress.

This is one of those weekends where I have a TO DO LIST but I am going to what happens ….

Perhaps I shall clean the windows or maybe I will read my new book.

Perhaps I shall power wash the deck or maybe I will take an extra walk with Mr. Alvin.

Actually I decided that part of this weekend would be his ….. bath …. more playtime.

He needs some extra attention….. my little guy.

Well time to get ready for bootcamp.

Put on the lightest, coolest clothing that I own.

By coolest, I mean light weight.

Definitely not COOL …… if you know what I mean.

Oh well.

Grab the water bottle, yoga mat and TOWEL.

A girl always needs a little towel to wipe her brow!

Special Hello to: my sister …. we have to sKYPE this weekend.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 13th day of May, 2015.

The sun is coming up with promises of a lovely day.

Well last night was “bootcamp”  …… my mind keeps saying you are young and “can do this” and my body says “wait a minute.”

We did circuits ….. OMG.

Oh the YING and YANG of it.

But I survived and I will admit, yes being honest here.

There were a couple of exercises okay maybe three that I modified as I did not feel that I could pull them off just yet.

But the thing is …. I am trying.

I want to get back into shape ….. have a toned tummy.

I want to know that I have a core and it is doing what it is supposed to do.

Not to find out after doing a class filled with exercises for the core that I pulled a stomach muscle(s) and had a hard time getting in and out of bed.

So lesson learned I do the class at my pace but building it up every time I go.

One of these days I will be able to do what the 30 somethings are doing.

I will continue to walk every night with Alvin and on the weekends double time.

I am going to start doing yoga on a regular basis as I have found that I am not very flexible.

Well it is time to finish getting ready for work but I just wanted to let you know that it is never too late to get your body into shape.

It will take time and patience and hard work but we can do it.

I want to have a flater tummy …… bye bye love handles.

They are not very “lovely” to me.

Time to fly.

Have a great day.

Remember walk when you can ….. do some squats ….. something but get moving.

We sit way too much ….. I know that I do.

Special Hello to: my fellow bloggers ….. you rock.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 15th day of April, 2015.

It is a glorious morning here in Edmonton …. sun is shining and I am on vacation for the rest of the week.

Today is the day that my daughter and son-in-law receive the keys to their brand new house.

The house … their home that they had a hand in designing.

So excited for them.

This morning was the second last morning with the trio of pups gathered beside me as I sat at the kitchen table sharing a banana with them.

As we shared the banana I told them this would be our second last morning of sharing a banana at Grandma’s house before they were once again living in their own home.

Kind of sad but happy as well.

I will miss this time we shared in the mornings.

Alvin will be sad not to have them here every day ….

The key hand over is this afternoon so once it has been done the kids will come and pick us up so that we can all go and see the new house.

I am so happy for them and EXCITED to see the new house.

Photos are great but not the same.

 

Last night was week two of the bootcamp that I have been attending with my friend “G.”

It was great.

I found that I have a “CORE” and it was on fire last night.

The first week I do not remember so much “core” work but last night we did.

At one point I could feel the muscles pulling and straining and the pain that followed.

It was a great workout.

So for the next few days I am going to work on my core ….. walking is not enough, clearly.

It was great finding my core and now I must keep it.

We tend to forget just how important our midsection is for our overall health.

 

Well time for a shower and then help my daughter with the last of the packing.

An exciting day and a sad one, too.

I will miss having them here but it is time for me and Alvin to resume our lives together.

At least now I am only working one job which gives me more flexibility with living my life.

I know that sounds silly but really when you are working six or seven days a week …. there is no time for relaxation and doing the things you need and want to do.

 

Well time for a shower and a cup of coffee.

I am grateful to be at home for a few days.

So nice.

I wish you a great Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: family and friends.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 11th day of April, 2015.

I wish you a Happy and Wonderful Saturday.

I am so HAPPY to be at home.

Alvin and I have a jammed pack full day ahead of us beginning with a trip to the Vet.

We go once every 6 weeks together to the Vet where he has his “paw” i cure, ears checked and something I believe to be personal and not to share.

I will also pick up his food and also some toothpaste ( oral hygiene is good for everyone ).

Once I get home and gather my “trash picking” gear I will head out and start the cleanup over at the walk through path between the busy street and our neighbourhood.

At that point hopefully the sun is out or at least just overcast and no wet stuff.

I will clean for a bit and then come home to do laundry.

Some paperwork I will finish up and by then it will likely be suppertime so supper, walk with Alvin and then ……………………

MOVIE NIGHT.

I am so excited to be at home on a Saturday night to watch a movie early on …….

No plans for tomorrow ….. how about relaxing ….. I am up for that.

Practice some yoga …. strengthen my core a bit before Tuesday’s bootcamp.

Well time to get our gear ready for going to the Vet.

Alvin likes going there ……

Usually when we leave the house all I have to say is we are going to see Jenn and he automatically knows which direction to take (to the right).

I am so excited for this day as I sip on a cup of coffee.

Great to be at home.

Also my daughter and I put out the patio furniture last night ….. so much better to look at than bare deck …..

I have the music on downstairs and my song is on …..

HAPPY …… that is truly my song.

I feel so wonderful from the tip of my head to the soles of my feet, I feel happy.

Happiness is for sure my truth.

I feel giddy … I am so happy.

So great to have a life once again.

YAY……

I wish you the best day ever.

I hope that Happiness is (your) the truth, and thank you Pharrell Williams for that line.

So great.

Special Hello to: all those folks who work multiple jobs …. I wish you one great job so that you can have some time to yourself ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 9th day of April, 2015.

Well it is just after 6:30 a.m. and the skies are lightening as the sun begins to rise in the sky.

I love this time of morning in my mind even though my body usually takes much longer to appreciate this time of day.

What can you do?

Keep trying until you get it 100%, I suppose.

Well our weather here in Edmonton has been great.

Yesterday was gorgeous.

Today the same.

We girls have been taking the pups for a nice walk each night.

I will admit that I am a bit stiff after Tuesday’s “bootcamp.”

But that is to be expected as it was months ago since I went to try it for the first time.

This time I signed up ….

Every Tuesday for eight weeks.

I want to strengthen my core.

It definitely needs some work.

Strong core …. strong body and mind.

Well almost the weekend.

I am so excited to have my first full weekend.

Will be home Friday night right after work.

Saturday I already have planned.

Alvin has an appointment with Dr. Karen …. just routine stuff.

No worries …. he is in great health.

Followed by some “paperwork” and picking up the trash in the neighbourhood after lunch.

There is one walkway between our neighbourhood and a busy street that is absolutely deplorable.

I have been walking by it every night for the past week and time it is …..

To get my garbage bags and my picker and get to work.

I want to have a pristine neighbourhood.

Clean and pretty …..

No paper blowing around.

No cigarette butts laying all over.

CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN.

So that no puppies accidentally eat something they should not.

It will take me some time but I will do it.

Well it is almost time to leave for the office ……. this is the fourth last ride with the kids before they move into their new house.

By the way, they had their walk through yesterday and they loved it.

Only small things were found ….. like painting.

So that is great.

I hope that you have a great day.

I will be back tomorrow.

Special Hello to: my family and friends back in Regina.

Always, Carol and Alvin