A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are okay. Alvin still has diarrhea but it is less and definitely less blood. Sorry for the descriptive language this early in the day. But all in all it seems better than he was on Tuesday. He certainly loves the chicken more than the rice. It has been a bit of a challenge to get his medications into him but so far only missed one pill that ended up too mushy in his rice that he wouldn’t eat. They are intelligent creatures and likely his sense of smell is way better than mine or most humans. Yesterday worked out okay with me working from home. I was able to take him out whenever he needed to go as once he asks, he needs to get outside now.

I am grateful that the weather has been mild. Certainly has helped the middle of the night trips outside with the Alvin. I would go no matter what but has helped make it more bearable.

So grateful for all my family and friends who have reached out to check on his status. Thank you.

I am grateful that today is Friday and it is almost the weekend.

I am grateful that Amanda is coming for a sleepover. We are both always over the moon to see her.

I am grateful that I have a job where I can work from home.

Oh, Val, I am wearing my new green sweater this morning. So yesterday the doorbell rings and there, stands this guy with a huge box. As he hands it to me, he says, “it is a heavy one.” I said “thank you” and he was on his way. I quickly put the box down and went back to work. On my break I opened it up to find so many goodies (Christmas box) from our friend Val, who spoils us rotten. There was biscotti (my absolutely favourite), some dill pickle biscuits (had one with supper, so good), apple tarts, chocolate muffins, homemade treats for Alvin and other baking for me. There was also the most perfect GREEN sweater for the Momma, “me.” I am wearing the sweater now and it is the perfect weight and I LOVE the colour. There was also some Epicure items in my gift. Also in the box was my Epicure order and my daughter’s. There was a lot of things in that box. Filled my counter. I let Alvin open his gift but he found it a bit difficult this time around so I lent a helping hand and then he was in ….. I know he wasn’t supposed to have anything but what is on his “bland diet” but he was whining and crying and so excited, that I gave him one treat. I broke it into three pieces and he happily gobbled it down. We are over the moon grateful to have this amazing human in our lives. She treats me and Alvin like “rock stars” no better than that….. we are truly blessed. Thanks Val. We love our treats and I cannot wait to taste some of the baked goods tonight with Amanda.

Well it is almost time to head downstairs and get to work. Get that coffee plugged in.

Have an awesome Friday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning All,

A beautiful clear morning sky as I glance out of my office window.

As you may have noticed I took a two day break from writing this blog post.

I was inspired by a fellow blogger who had taken some time off during the holidays.

So I am back.

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is New Year’s Eve.

With today being the second last day of 2019 and of this decade.

WOW, crazy hey.

I have more photos to share (well that is no surprise).

When I was uploading them from my phone to the computer this morning, I saw unbelievable numbers.

I have 34,529 photos and 778 videos on my hard drive.

I guess that I had better start deleting some of them.

I find it difficult sometimes to go through them and delete the duplicate photos and the shots that are not in focus and such.

Somehow it makes me feel as though I am deleting my life.

Does that sound strange?

Or familiar to you?

But I have 3611 photos on my phone and 96 videos.

Now they are all downloaded/uploaded to my computer.

So why don’t I simply delete them?

I am trying.

Likely a good idea before I download/upload them to the computer to go through them.

But sometimes it is a timing issue as well.

But that is something that in this new era, new decade of 2020, that I must work on.

 

We just heard a sound and went to the bedroom window to investigate.

Our neighbours had some car problems so the tow truck was out to pick up their car and one of the owners.

I decided to video the car being loaded.

Very cool and took less than 10 minutes from beginning to end.

I hope very strongly that the repair bill is a small one.

 

I guess that I can get easily sidetracked, oh well.

It is my third last day of vacation and that is okay.

 

I have some photos of the past few days that I would like to share.

Why not I have 39,015 photos and videos to share.

Well perhaps not all of them.

These photos do not include the ones that I have from pre computer / digital age.

I have over 10,000 of printed photos.

But when you think of the difference in time ….. now it cost a lot of money to buy the film and then have them processed.

Also there were times that several photos did not turn out and those ones I did not have a problem discarding.

Somehow the on-line / digital ones are more difficult for me to dispose of  ….. but I will get better.

 

I guess it is “my life” in photos.

Alvin lost his spot on his blue blanket and Humphrey was quick to lay down.

The next photos were crazy beautiful shadows on the living room wall yesterday morning.

Just gorgeous.

 

Our last day with Humphrey – his Mama arrived home late last night.

Shot of my office …. just loved the sunlight shining on my books and stuff.

My last gift from my kids …. the one that was left behind.

I love it …. “even says SUGAR COOKIES.”

That is why my daughter bought it for me.

Table setting for my cousins who came for a visit and dinner last night.

We had a blast.

We always do.

 

Well I guess it is time to fly.

Getting late already.

We made a walking date for this afternoon with Teddy, his little sister and his Mom.

 

Time for some coffee, methinks.

 

I hope that you are having a great day whether at home or at work.

We are so blessed to have these extra days off during the holidays.

I have to make a list of things that I would like to finish before heading back to work.

It was nice to visit with my neighbours and friends and my cousins.

They were all on my list ….

Even had surprise visit from my daughter.

 

Happy Monday …. yes, it is Monday.

Oh, I am so confused.

Have to set some kind of alarm so that I do not forget to be ready for work on Thursday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 16th day of December, 2016.

Only 8 sleeps till Christmas Eve.

Time if flying by.

Yesterday Baby Milo and friend Casey spent the day with Mr. Alvin.

My kids set up a puppy cam and until I got home they did pretty well.

They make quite the trio.

One baby, one middle aged and one senior senior.

All guys ….. yikes.

 

Yesterday I received a surprise email from my friend “V” back in Regina.

She instructed me to check my mailbox after work.

Which I did and what did I find but a huge parcel.

It was heavy …..

Addressed to both me and Alvin.

Lucky boy.

When I walked into the house I had all three babies to distract me so I did not get to opening the parcel until about 1/2 hour later.

Alvin was so excited and kept jumping up as I unwrapped the box.

One parcel had his name on it and he seemed to know.

So I gave it to him and he partially unwrapped it but before baby Milo got into the paper I helped open it.

She gave him a toy and some treats ( I opened the bag and quietly gave him one so that the others did not see).

Casey has bad allergies and cannot have anything other than his food.

Also as of late he seems to be having a problem eating his food (the kids had mentioned that he didn’t eat in the morning).

I remembered from Alvin’s dental visit that they said to add some slightly warm water and let the food sit for a minute or so and then it will soften.

Voile, it worked.

Casey ate it all.

Well I have to run …. getting behind here.

Lots to say but not enough time.

Have a wonderful day.

I will be back tomorrow.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” – always so thoughtful.

Always, Carol and Alvin

P.S. I got lots of good yummy treats to eat.

Thought for the Day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 16th day of November, 2015.

Wow, is it really the 16th of November.

The wind is really howling this morning.

The vents are just a flapping.

Pretty noisy inside the house.

I had a really good weekend despite the creature who seems to have eluded us.

One sighting last Wednesday, Remembrance Day at 5:00 p.m.

Nothing that would indicate it is in the house.

Oh how I wish that it were so.

That perhaps it decided with all of the screaming, lights and action that perhaps it would move on.

I am trying to erase the stories that have settled into my brain.

I did move the chair from near the bay window in the kitchen back into the living room so that it no longer blocks the “plug in that emits sound.”

Traps set one in the basement and one in the pantry.

I am so proud of myself …. I have managed to check them both.

Mind you I do not have to get close.

Okay enough about this ……

 

Alvin kept me company yesterday while I logged each piece of jewellery that we are taking to the craft show.

I still have a few of the newer necklaces that I made to price.

There is a list of things that need to be packed other than jewellery so I will work on that box this week.

I am excited for the craft sale to see what others are making – only one other jewellery table that day.

Should be fun.

Any opportunity I have to spend precious time with my daughter I am all in.

 

Another Monday, I am excited.

Always good to be alive and celebrate another day.

Mondays are good as is each and every day of the week.

Start fresh …. first day of my work week.

 

Tomorrow night I am attending a Brownie Cookie Sale with my friend “S” and her daughter “M.”

It costs $1.00 for admission and then $4.00 for one dozen cookies.

You take a container or can purchase one there for $1.00 and then pick out your cookies.

I believe you can pick them one by one.

They also serve coffee and tea …. how fun is that.

I am very excited for the outing.

My only thing is coming home and leaving Alvin shortly afterward.

I guess it is not that I do this very often …. not at all.

So he will be okay.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

Happy Monday to you all.

Special Hello to: all of the Mothers who have daughters in Brownie’s …. very cool.

Always, Carol and Alvin