The New YEAR 2022

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.

Welcome December 2020

Good Morning ALL. Welcome to Tuesday, December 1, 2020. December has arrived in my neighborhood with almost gale force winds or at least it feels that way. It is garbage day today and so there have been boxes from recycling blowing down the street last night and today in a steady flow. My decorative Christmas Tree on the front porch has blown over but I have decided to leave it for now as it will likely blow over again.

I am so excited for December, 2020. A time to perhaps take our minds off what is going on in the world for just a moment. Some happiness perhaps. Not to dwell on what we cannot have or do but what we have and can do.

This post is going to be very short as I had to do some other things this morning and the time got away on me, I am sorry for that.

Wishing you a great start to December.

Remember if you are purchasing gifts – support local. Buy from a friend who is selling jewelry made in Canada (Fifth Avenue Collection) or maybe some hand made items from a friend down the street. Support local as much as possible.

Living my life with kindness and respect and compassion for all.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 25th day of March, 2017.

It is gloomy out this morning and was difficult to get out of bed this morning.

Likely due in part to me falling asleep on the sofa early in the evening and then between Alvin and I waking up at odd hours throughout the night.

Oh well, such as life.

We are good …..

I was hoping that the sun would be shining.

Sunshine always energizes me.

Overcast makes me sleepy.

So it is the weekend.

Time to get some things done around the house like laundry again.

Seems like I just did laundry and here we are again.

 

It is also that time of year to start the neighbourhood garbage pickup.

Every night as of late on my walk home from the bus (because it is in the daylight) I see so much trash on the ground.

Honestly it does make me mad and disappointed.

Either today or tomorrow I will go and do some outdoor cleaning.

But it does bring me joy to have a clean neighbourhood.

I do wish that people would take notice and perhaps pick things up instead of dropping them on the ground.

Part of the garbage problem is the way people pack their recycling.

A good portion of the trash is paper and boxes.

For some reason people tend to think tossing paper and small boxes on top of each other or in a open container is a good thing.

NOT so much.

WIND.

We have wind here.

 

Okay I am done my rant.

Sorry for this.

Time to get this show on the road.

SHOWER.

I need a shower.

Warm me up and wake me up.

 

Happy Saturday.

Have fun today.

Alvin and I will get out for a walk at some point and that is always fun.

 

Special Hello to:  all my fellow bloggers.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 3rd day of November, 2016.

Lovely morning.

Only a light frost more of a mist on the cars which is a great sign.

Yesterday was beautiful and today the forecast is for +15 celsius – amazing for this time of year.

These extra blessed summer/early fall type days are so appreciated as they just make our winter shorter.

YAY, us.

Last night on our way to the park we waved to our friends and ended up visiting.

One dinner party for Christmas invitation done – check.

Later I called one of my other friends and invited her.

There are three of us that take turns hosting dinner.

Now to plan the menu.

I love the planning.

My turn and I thought we should do it for Christmas.

Appears that November and December will be busy and that is good.

Enjoying good company is never a bad thing.

Tonight after our walk while supper is cooking the Halloween decorations will all come down.

I started but they all get put away tonight as da-da-da tomorrow night the ChRiStmAs TrEE goes up.

My friend “G” is going to help me assemble the tree as my daughter is otherwise engaged for the next while.

She is such a busy girl and although it was a little thing we had been doing together since I moved to Edmonton – sometimes

things do not always go according to plan and you know what – I have learned not to fret and am now okay with things changing.

Now I would not say that I love a mad amount of change(s) but some is okay.

At the office there is always change and I guess that has helped me get over my fears.

Perhaps not so much fear but losing control.

Anyway.

So excited to get that tree out of the boxes and decorated.

So happy ….

Move things around …. decorate the front of the house while the weather is nice.

Decorate the inside of the house.

These always take a few days to complete but the main focus is the TrEE …… cannot have Christmas without the tree.

Started putting together ideas for Christmas gifts.

Thinking about baking.

Our Christmas photo done – check

Duplicate photo, Christmas cards and letters to do.

Well almost time to hit the road for work.

Thank goodness Alvin slept until almost 4:30 this morning ….. YAY.

I am not sure how many 3:00 a.m. mornings I could handle.

Have a great day.

Special Hello to: my sister and family and friends back home …

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 23rd day of November, 2015.

Another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

I think I shall wear my shoes today.

Might as well take advantage of dry streets and sidewalks and the warm temperatures.

Another great Sunday was had by me and Mr. Alvin.

We did laundry, mostly me but he had good instructions.

We labelled and priced the last of the jewellery and packed it for the craft sale.

We put together some tea samples to take to work today.

We put the new jewellery in bags ready for transport to the office to show the girls.

We put away the ornaments that were just set on top of boxes and the table downstairs.

We decorated the upstairs bannister for Christmas.

Let’s see there were more things but it was so nice to get so much accomplished.

There was even time for the odd break here and there.

Mr. Alvin is a very good help mainly in the supervisory area.

But we all need some supervision from time to time and I tend to drift sometimes.

Both of us enjoyed our walk …. so beautiful out yesterday afternoon.

Time to go to work ….

Another Monday.

Hard to believe that one week from tomorrow is December 1st.

I hope that you had an awesome weekend.

Did you listen to music?

One little story….on our walk yesterday.

We were on our way home when we noticed one of our neighbours out putting up a reindeer and sled with the help of his young son.

I was smiling as the young boy had shorts on and a winter coat.

Alvin of course wanted to go and say hello.

The Dad and I chatted.

Dad said so nice to have this good weather for decorating outside.

I agreed.

Then a young girl came out …. Alvin was in his glory.

The kids were trying to help.

Trying is good.

Well time to go.

Have a GREAT day.

Special Hello to: all those Dads who decorate with the kiddies’ help ….

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 29th day of January, 2015.

How are you this morning?

Another weekend about to arrive.

What are your plans?

Mine are pretty much the same from week to week.

I have a list of things to do on Saturday my day off for the week.

The list can range from laundry which is always on the top to running out to take Alvin to the Vet to have his pedicure to coffee with my girl friends to making jewellery to cleaning.

It is a varied list for the most part from week to week.

NICE.

I am very blessed and even though sometimes my “EGO” gets in the way ( I do not like when it rears it’s ugly head as I always go over and over the situation and give myself heck ).

I guess most people have a moment or three.

I try very hard every day to be polite, helpful and kind and not to let my feelings which are my EGO take over a situation.

Because it usually means I let a comment or situation be personal and most times they are not.

Last night I let some comments get my EGO and I regret a couple of things that I said and not that they were particularly mean or low-spirited but I felt regretful for letting the words leave my mouth.

You know what I mean.

I believe that most people let it happen from time to time.

Sometimes it is just that we take things personally when they are not meant to be .

Anyway …. that is my “thought” for this Friday.

Try to … I will be a better, more thoughtful, kind and generous person today.

Thank you for reading and I love your comments.

Special Hello to: all my fellow bloggers ….. great job.

Always, Carol and Alvin

P.S: this thought has always ran through my mind ….. who are the people who get to design the “facial tissues boxes” ….. the KLEENEX boxes and such.  They always do such an awesome job.  Now I want my kleenex boxes to match my decor.  I would love to design these boxes.  I think this would be one of the best jobs on the planet and you never hear about it.

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday, the 6th day of July, 2013.

Well yesterday was the garage sale.

I guess by all accounts it was a success.

We sold and gave away lots.

Made a few dollars, and that was good.

Garage sales are always interesting.

You meet all kinds of people.

Our neighbourhood and city is now filled with people from every corner of the planet.

Most people come and say hello and then speak their languages between themselves.

So you never know what they are saying …..

We had a ton of free stuff and that was a big hit.

Also most people barter.

I guess I am not a haggler as I wouldn’t think of bartering down a price.

Part of that process kind of bothers me.

Even when they had boxes and bags of free (good stuff) they still wanted the priced items for less.

Oh well, I have decided after four years of hosting a garage sale or two each summer that I am hanging up my “GARAGE SALE” sign.

Whenever I have things that I do not require they will go to Good Will.

Also I do not buy or request anything “ornamental” as I do not need anything.

I did meet some wonderful people that live close by and that is always good.

Meeting people from all over the world gives me ideas to use in my stories.

Well time to go and get some work done.

Have a great day.

Special Hello to: all those people who have garage sales …..

Always, Carol and Alvin