Good Morning! There is a cool breeze wafting in through the open windows. When the alarm went off I got up and opened the office window and went downstairs and opened the living room and kitchen windows. The house is filling up with the coolness of the morning air. Today is supposed to be +29 but I think it may surpass that number. The sky is a brilliant blue and the sun is up and shining upon everything it reaches. I am grateful that I can work from home most of this week. YAY.
Yesterday morning I was up in good time but not as earlier as Saturday. I had a real lazy Mother’s Day Sunday. There was even a nap in the afternoon and that is likely the reason that I could not fall to sleep last night. It was a long night. After supper I walked with Alejandro, Eddie & Bruno. Bruno seems a bit better than he was a few days ago. His Mom comes home on Wednesday night, late. Both the pups will be happy to see their Momma.
I tried my air fryer out last night making french fries. Lesson learned better to do one potato at a time. They did crisp up or at least most of them did but some did not. It was easy to do. Will have to try something else. I will have to make some of that yummy rice pudding with my handy dandy Tupperware pressure cooker. I have two small appliances that I can use in this heat. Not a good time to be turning on the oven.
This will be short as I did not set up my workspace last night and am feeling that I need some COFFEE this morning. I also need to take some of my plants outside. Will try and find a place that will not be in the burning sun. Likely will end up moving them about throughout the course of the day. My deck faces south and there is no cover from the heat of the day. My daughter is going to bring me an umbrella which will help with some shade.
I hope that you keep cool on this Monday. Be safe.
Wishing and praying that moisture extinguishes the wildfires. Keep the animals and humans all safe.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning. Happy Mother’s Day to All the Moms out there. Mother’s Day celebrates all those humans that care, look after and love another living being. If you have children or if you have a pup or a cat or a fish or a bird we celebrate you. I think it is important to celebrate all those people that keep another living breathing being safe, cared for and loved. Happy Mother’s Day.
Yesterday I was lucky to have my daughter, son-in-law and grand-pups Aspen & Milo visit me. We also had a special guest Miss Breeze who is a black lab and will be spending a few days with my kiddos while her parents are away. She is such a sweet doggie and I fell in love with her. We had take out for supper. The kids had ordered some Vietnamese dishes and picked them up on their way over. The food was so yummy. For dessert my son-in-law had his favourite chocolate chip cookies (I baked them) and we gals had a Key Lime Pie from M&M’s (obviously not baked by me, lol). We even had time for a game of Sequence. My family gave me an air fryer (see photo) and I gave my daughter a bag full of Mary Kay products. What girl does not like makeup!
I did snap a couple of photos of Humphrey & Bogart from my earlier visit to them in the afternoon. Their Dad came home early so that ended my responsibilities. Miss Aspen sure loves her spot by the living room window. I made sure that I had set it all up for her before their arrival.
Last night after the kids left for home, I say outside and had some coffee while the sun set. What a beautiful evening. This morning the air is cool with the office window open.
Today will be a quiet day. I will go for a walk with my friends Alejandro, Eddie & Bruno. I hope that Bruno is doing better. Might be later than 6 p.m. if it is too hot then.
Last night I realized that I would like to learn some languages. Perhaps not to be fluent but to be able to converse with someone and to understand. I am thinking Spanish (I already know some words) and Arabic. Perhaps I could do this when I retire.
Time to head downstairs and make some coffee. I wish you all a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Have a great Sunday. Be safe!
I hope that the wildfires are burning out, stopping. I wish moisture to fall upon them and stop further damage. I hope all life is safe and unharmed.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning ALL! We had a good sleep. Lights out at 10:00, first time up was 3:00 a.m. (we both had to pee, lol). It was so nice out at that time, the sky was clear and you could see so many stars. Beautiful. We hit the sofa and the next time up was almost 7:30, then up to feed Mr. Alvin. At that time the sky was overcast and dark. We slowly started the “get up” process after that 7:30. I am finding it hard to get up when it is dark and when I do not have to worry about going anywhere, like work. I have a list of chores to do today but the most important thing is to get through to the bank regarding my mortgage renewal. Still hoping that I have the winning lotto ticket from last night. ONE MILLION DOLLARS would be perfect and I would be mortgage free and RETIRED. Oh, I can see it all in my head, in my mind. It would be great. Get up in the morning when we wanted to or at least not have to worry about going anywhere early in the day. I would be here for Mr. Alvin. We could walk whenever. I would have more time to write, to go through and organize my photos on the computer. Perhaps make some jewelry. Just more time for myself. Oh, that would be wonderful. Mortgage FREE, that is a dream of mine. It is probably a dream for most people. Especially these days with the ever increasing costs of utilities, food and mostly everything. Keep dreaming, we have to hold onto HOPE and DREAMS!
This morning when we were laying on the bed, Alvin was dozing and I was looking out of the window, actually not long ago. I watched as the few remaining small red leaves on my neighbours’ tree danced in the breeze. They were doing this little hula dance. Behind that tree and in between the dancing leaves, I could see a gold light as the sunrise lit up the leaves on some very tall trees. I was surprised by the amount of leaves still on those trees. So beautiful. Now there is daylight but the sky is overcast. I have to check to see what the temperature will be for today.
Yesterday, I used my brand new SHARK vacuum and it is amazing. Picked up the dust and hair, was light and easy to handle and most importantly easy to put together and to clean. I love my new vacuum. Best purchase award. Besides vacuuming the floor, I actually put on the attachment and cleaned the blinds or at least if there was dust on them. I still need to wash them but the day got away on me. We went for a walk mid afternoon and walked to our friend Pauline’s. At her back gate, Mr. Alvin started to bark before I could call out as I could see her kitchen window open. She happen to look out and to see us and invited us in for a visit. We had a great chat with a cup of tea. The conversation was at lightning speed as we covered all of our news, questions and the lot. Pauline’s husband was on his way home from a hunting trip up north and some of her family were also coming over for supper. So we did not have much time. We were home at 4:30. The walk was most enjoyable. I only had a sweater on over top of my tee shirt and jeans and was very comfortable. Once home I fed Mr. Alvin, turned on the dryer to finish the load and one last load of laundry. I decided to call the bank and see if I could get the mortgage process started but spent several minutes on hold. I tried a second time and still waited. So I decided that I would call them this morning. So have to get this day going. Already it is after 9:00 a.m. It would be so nice to be more of a morning person and able to get up easier. Oh well.
Fingers crossed when I check my lotto ticket – that I have a large windfall winning ticket. Oh, that would be wonderful. Can you imagine winning the lotto? I sure can.
I hope that you have a great Sunday. One more day remaining in October, where did the time go? I work from home tomorrow which is great with it being Halloween and all. I will be set up when the kids start coming around. I have leftovers for supper as well, so that will be great.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: I am so grateful that Alvin and I are in good health. I am grateful that we have a good life. I am grateful for our home, our amazing family and great friends, to have a source of income, to see, to hear, to taste and smell, to touch and to be me. Life is GREAT!
Good Morning ALL! How are you? Alvin and I are doing well. Up and at it at 6:00 a.m. for the third day in a row. Which is good for me. The noise from the highway is so loud, usually it is a hum but today it seems more loud. Not sure why. The sky is that beautiful hue when we transition from night to morning just as the sun is rising. Oh, how I remember when the sun was coming up at what seemed like 4:00 a.m., wasn’t that only last week, lol. There is a breeze this morning which is nice. I have a fan blowing from the hallway by the office door and the window is open with the breeze coming in on my right. Surrounded by coolness, love it. We are in for another hot day, then a bit cooler tomorrow and then warming up again for the weekend. At least summer seems to be holding on for awhile longer. I have said before how much I love the autumn/fall weather and just feel of it all. We can have very comfortable temperatures during that time. Here’s hoping that fall lasts until Christmas. I would love that so much.
Well another day of closing all the windows and the blinds. Mr. Alvin does not really seem to like that as he likes to look out of the window. Poor guy.
There is not too much new in our daily lives and not anything that anyone would be interested in reading about that is for sure. We are carrying on and the main plan is to keep cool during this blast of heat. We are grateful to have cooler temperatures overnight so that one can leave the windows open which nicely cools down the house. Then turn on the fans which makes a huge difference. I am grateful to have the fans. I am grateful that today is August 31, 2022. I am grateful that both Alvin and I are in good health. I am grateful to be alive.
I was watering my flowers last night and noticing how much they have changed in even the last week or so. I think they are tired of the extreme heat. The geraniums are doing pretty good and I want to transplant and winter them in the house again. Actually they started in the house. I love them but there are so many. Note to self, find out methods of wintering that do not require them being transplanted and in my kitchen. I have so many plants and am running out of space. Last year the plants were so huge that they blocked out a lot of light coming in through the kitchen window or at least at the level I am at when I am working at the kitchen table. I will check.
Do you notice when it is hot that you find it difficult to concentrate and have energy? Feel sleepy? I noticed that I really have to focus on whatever I am doing. I have been tired with this heat and not a lot of energy. Most days I have to force myself to get up and do things.
Time to head downstairs and go for our walk. Perhaps we will see Jaime and Sadie. Oh, how I love that Sadie, pup. She is so sweet.
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Yes, I will be needing that coffee this morning. LOL.
Happy Day, okay. Everything will work out. I have faith.
Good Morning ALL! What a wonderfully cool Monday morning this is. The sun is starting to rise, the sky is a pale blue as the night leaves for morning with pale orange hue on the horizon away from the sun. Beautiful. The house is cool this morning and I even forgot to open our bedroom window last night. How did that happen? I even got up just before I turned the lights out to turn off the fan which I had briefly turned on at the lowest setting. I have closed the bedroom windows and blinds except for the office one for now. I will close them once I am done writing this post. Monday morning here we come. I am so happy that Mr. Alvin slept until almost 4:30 and then he woke up at 5:57 (still beat the alarm). So we have been up for a few extra minutes. Today is shower so I need a bit more time and we are still walking in the mornings due to the heat at lunch time and after work. Yesterday when we went for a walk in the mid morning, it was so beautiful out that we just kept walking and before I knew it we had walked our whole “old” route. This time it took us 45 minutes. Alvin is slowing down. We used to do it in 25-30 minutes. But I figure 45 minutes of fresh air, sniffing in that beautiful air, checking out the grass, the trees, the flowers and just being together is great. I am happy that he is still able to walk. I am so proud of Mr. Alvin. We bumped into an older gentleman with his dog, a girl, I do not remember her name now but Alvin liked her. She was 9 years old, I think the man said. Anyway, Alvin took a shine to her and she was timid but did not seem to mind the attention. The love fest carried on for a few minutes before we both went on our way. So nice. Whoa, the sun is coming up and reflecting off of the neighbours garage, looking oh so pretty. I am glad that we are up and getting things done.
A good weekend and I am so grateful that the temperatures were less hot. Way less hot. Yesterday I spent some time cleaning out some of the flower pots where most of the flowers had already passed on. I also did some rearranging and cleaning of the garage preparing for putting the patio/deck furniture away. Won’t be for a bit but not too far off, I would think. I have already prepared the front flower bed except to trim back the perennials that remain. There are three of them. I was going to clean the blinds on the main floor and that did not happen. Just putzed. It was a wonderful day.
Off the subject, I have had this computer (new) in 2009. It is a 2009 model. So it has served me well. The computer can no longer accept updates so it remains behind. I have an Apple iMac. I have been researching to find out which would be the best one to get and am shocked by the results of my searches. I found that the Shopping Channel had some on sale and you can pay for them by interest free monthly payment which would be ideal for me. Upon some research between myself and my daughter (whom I could not do anything technical without), found that the newer Catalina operating system will not be supported after this year. So I do not know if this means that there would be no more updates. Who wants to buy a computer that is basically obsolete before you even pay for it? The new ones that were made in 2022 are thousands of dollars. I love Apple products but seriously do we need to charge so much. Aren’t the Apple people rich enough. How about making things a bit more affordable. You have the “customer base.” Anyway, I have some serious thinking to do before I spend any money. More research and time. I hope this old gal can work for some more time. She has done pretty darn good. Fingers crossed.
Well time to head back downstairs and go for a walk with the boy. Alvin is resting on his bed in the office here beside me.
I hope that you have an awesome day. Cannot believe that the long weekend in September is only a few days away. September, FALL ……. I love fall.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and …….
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: I am so grateful to be working from home ….. I love that we can go for a walk and come home and then I can plug in the coffee pot and then start work. I love that I can drink home brewed coffee all morning long if I chose.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are doing great. See we made it to the weekend. I am excited as tonight I am hosting a get together with a couple of friends. We are doing potluck so it will be interesting to see what the girls bring. I am contributing egg salad, salmon, buns, carrot sticks, dill pickles, fruit sangria iced tea, peach pie and vanilla ice cream. I was going to “cook” some things and then thought against it with the heat in the house. Who wants to be sweating while they are making food. Not me. So that is what I am putting out. Truly it would be a meal in itself. But I am hosting so I wanted it to be extra nice.
We are heading out for a walk in a few minutes. I can feel the sweet coolness of the breeze wafting in through the open office window and the quick strong coolness coming from the fan blowing in the hall.
I think because it is Friday and almost the end of August, that I will share some flower pictures. Flowers of mine and of friends from this summer. We all need more beauty in our lives and what better than from nature herself.
from Lucy’s gardenOur Happy PlaceAnd a Pelican on the water
Happy Friday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! I trust that you are well and enjoying the weekend. The sky is a brilliant blue, the sun is shining and there is the most refreshing breeze wafting through my office window as I type these words. Alvin is laying on his belly on the hallway carpet, waiting for me. Another glorious weekend. Everything from walks to visits to video chat and in between some work got done. Yesterday morning we started out the day with a walk and I was happy that we were able to do what I refer to as a full one / normal one, then there was some laundry, coffee, breakfast, more laundry, cleaning and laundry. Our friend sent us an email inviting us for a visit as she missed us in the morning. We were just in process of getting Alvin’s harness ready to put on when there was a loud knock at the door, I was not expecting anyone so I carefully opened the door, to our surprise on the other side of the door was Pauline and Georgie. They had decided to walk over and pick us up so we could walk together. She also gave me a very thoughtful thank you card with the most beautiful floral design on the front. I thanked her and set it on the counter and continued getting us ready to go. A few minutes later we were out the door, I picked up Alvin and carried him down the steps as I have been doing as of late. Helping to keep him from injuring his knees. We walked and chatted and even saw neighbours outside along the way. When we arrived at the park Pauline suggested that we go the back way through the grass (which recently had been cut) the opposite side of the park which does not have a sidewalk. It was nice as the grass was wet and cool. We took a shortcut through the trees between the second and third pond which had us walking on some stones to come out near her house. My flip flops were wet and I was almost going to take them off to cross the stones as I thought more safe in bare feet but decided to go slow and most of the stones had more flat tops and rounded. It only took us a minute or so to cross. The pups got a bit wet as there was water up near the stones/rocks. Next thing we were through their gate and in the backyard where I removed Alvin’s leash and a minute later decided to take off his harness as it was warm outside. He was happy. Pauline grabbed a couple of cushions for the chairs that sit under the deck on the patio out of the sun. Then she was in the house to get our refreshments. While she was in the house Georgie jumped up on my lap while Alvin paced the patio sniffing and what not. We had iced tea and banana bread. She also brought out some photos of their Ontario trip to show me. Sometime during the visit I had lifted Mr. Alvin up on a third empty chair which was in between us, and he relaxed while we chatted. Georgie on Pauline’s lap. It was about 5:00 p.m. when Pauline noticed that the sky to the west was beginning to get some very ominous clouds developing and suggested that we may want to go home before the rain. I took a quick look and decided that we best be going and grabbed Alvin’s harness and his water bottle and put on his leash and said our goodbyes and were on our way. We were coming by Lucy’s house and she was outside doing yard work, we quickly said hello and pointed to the sky and advised that we had to get home before the storm hit. A little while later we saw a neighbour walking her two yellow labs and pointed out the storm. We hightailed it home. Just about home and saw our neighbour who recently had surgery out front speaking with her neighbour. We stopped briefly to say hello before going the last couple of minutes to our house. I think we were home not even 10 minutes when it began to rain. The storm was not like Thursday night and I was very happy about that. After that I fed Mr. Alvin his supper, turned on the last load of laundry and the dryer. I got my supper in the oven and then texted my sister. We ended up having a video chat via messenger as my cell phone cuts in and out and one cannot have a very good conversation that way. I am chalking it up to dead zones in the house which appear to be increasing over time. I plan to call Telus who is our provider in the area and see what can be done. Just seems like there has not been time to do so. If it were a matter of calling and speaking to someone right away that would be one thing but it is always a long wait and then I would be cutting in and out. I will perhaps try and contact them on-line. I had a great chat with my sister and had a late supper at 7:30 p.m. I cannot remember the last time that I ate that late but it happens. We were out and about and enjoying life. Who cares, right. Most important things we had great walks, good exercise, good company and visits with family and friends! Last night was quiet. I watched a movie followed by bed. That was our Saturday.
Today my daughter Amanda and one of my grandpups, the little one named Mi-Mi or Milo is coming for a visit and will spend the night. She will go to the office from here and then pick up Mi-Mi after work. We have lots to do this afternoon and evening.
Time to fly and have a shower. I brought up all of the laundry that had been drying and put it all away. I dry most of my clothes on racks. They last longer that way.
Have a wonderful Sunday. Enjoy the morning, maybe even get out for a walk.
We might get out after my shower or wait for the others.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: now 30 days till turn 65. The card was beautiful with a gift inside for looking after her garden while they were away. I called her to thank her for her generosity and that it was not necessary but she insisted. Smells like weed outside, not the garden variety – coming in through my open window. Smells like skunk ….. lol
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. The sky is blue and the sun is shining and there is a slight breeze. Does not get better than that! Yesterday was a beautiful day. We had a little shower but not too much. Our plants, flowers, gardens, crops, lawns and trees just need some sunshine at this time. So nice to be having some this morning.
How was your Sunday? We were busy. Well I was busy! Mr. Alvin was busy having me wait on him. But I do not mind. We enjoyed a walk but had to cut it not too much shorter as it started to rain. I did some cleaning, baked a banana/pumpkin/orange loaf with chocolate chips, took photos of the items in the garage sale and lots of other odds and ends. It was a full, good day.
Hard to believe that I had a three day weekend and that it is over already. Where does the time go?
Also tomorrow is the first day of summer, Tuesday, June 21st, 2022. I will change the wreath on our front door and put up our wreath with the roses on it.
Not much new here. Oh, I have been dreaming like a huge amount. Something is going on within my brain. Seems like one ends and another begins. I don’t remember too many details but I know that there are many of them and they are different from one another.
I love looking out the window and seeing the green leaves on the trees swaying in the breeze. The trees are pretty much full now and look so great. I love the colour green. I think it is my favourite colour. Although I do like other colours.
Well I have to go shortly here and do a couple of things before I start work.
Plug in the coffee pot to perk for one thing (I can taste the coffee in my mind). Put out the bags of bottles to be picked up.
Looks like we will have a good walk at noon. I think I am going to have to get mobile earlier so that we can walk in the morning. There is nothing like that morning coolness, not cold, just perfection. Sometimes by noon it is too warm for Mr. Alvin to be out walking. Today should be okay.
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.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: only 50 days until my 65th Birthday. Cannot believe it. Still.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this Tuesday morning? We are HOT. Just back from a walk. Even though there is a bit of a breeze, I was perspiring, okay sweating, lol, by the time we got home. Phone says it is 23 degrees celsius. Upstairs in the office it is warm so this will be short. We are managing to get through this heat wave. Walks early in the morning and I guess tomorrow will have to be even earlier. Fans going all of the time. Even went to the basement to hang out last night. I really need to get it organized down there …..
Watering last night ….. I sprinklered Alvin a bit but he was not impressed. I on the other hand.
The heat wave is going to continue until into next week. Wednesday and Thursday at the warmest 37 and 38. Saturday is going to be 26 celsius. That will feel like it is freezing. YAY. We got this.
Wet towels covering Alvin for sleeping and during the day off and on. Lots of water as we have to stay hydrated.
I even slept with a wet towel covering my chest last night. We both slept well considering and I am grateful for electric fans. One thing I actually have central air conditioning. It needs to be serviced. I guess that is going to the top of the list to get done sooner than later. Poor Alvin – because his Momma …… Can only do what you can do. As the sweat drops down my face. I felt fresh and cool earlier. ARGH.
OBSERVATIONS on our Walk:
There was a slight breeze and it felt so cool.
The was a bush that was moving like crazy and at first I thought ….. how can that be when the trees right beside it were not moving. Then I realized there were birds fluttering around in the bush. LOL.
Some people do not like to talk in the morning.
Alvin really nice to sniff every blade of grass and every everything.
The roses smell amazing and I was grateful that I was able to smell them.
Okay, I really have to go. Too hot to be upstairs.
Stay cool and hydrated.
Please do not walk your dogs in the heat and by no means take them in the car. Because we all know that you will stop somewhere and think I will only be 5 minutes and they will be okay. That never happens. Also your children. No stopping and leaving any living breathing creature in the car.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, understanding and gratitude.
Good Morning ALL! How are you doing today? We are good. Can you believe that it is Friday again? WOW. Time definitely passes more quickly with each passing day. Just means that we have to make the most of each one. That is definitely a reminder to myself. The sun was shining earlier but there appear to be a bit of cloud in the southern sky this morning. We did not get much rain mostly cloud cover the past few days. That is sad for sure. It is pretty dry out there. There is a breeze this morning. The forecast is for +20 degrees celsius today. How about that! I looked at the long range forecast and it appears that we have + double digits ahead, hip hip hooray! I booked this afternoon off as vacation as Mr. Alvin has a 3 p.m. vet appointment. So I am going to enjoy that time off from work with Mr. Alvin. We can walk at noon and then again later.
I think that I am going to post some photos. It is so great to have access to such beautiful photos. Also, I had better download photos from my camera so that I can share some of those with all of you.
Alvin is needing my attention so this will be quick.
My New Life @ 51 