2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? Alvin and I are up and getting things done. Today we are celebrating Alvin’s 12th birthday with a birthday party. Amanda, Steven, Aspen and Milo are coming this afternoon. Also Alvin’s best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi will be joining us. Alvin turned his head when I mentioned their names this morning. We are almost ready. I will go and shovel the driveway and clean off the deck and the front sidewalk in a little while. I don’t want to do it too soon just in case it snows some more. The sky is overcast so there would be more snow. Gifts are wrapped. Good Bags decorated and filled. I baked vanilla cupcakes from scratch yesterday. They turned out good. I had to taste one as I had not made this recipe before. I will say that they are a substantial cupcake, not fluffy but not dry so that is good. Will keep on the hunt for a good vanilla cake/cupcake recipe. The pasta salad is prepared. I must remember to remove the garlic bread from the freezer so that it can thaw (it will be put in the oven, so I guess that doesn’t matter so much). I am chopping a few things like avocado, tomatoes, cucumber and green pepper in separate bowls for those who would like to add it to the salad. I do not wish it to become mushy. Oh, one quick mop of the main floor as I noticed a couple of paw prints that appeared out of nowhere. I wonder whose those could be? I wonder. LOL. Oh, I must not forget the birthday cake and frozen yogurt for Alvin and his guests which has to be kept frozen (will take it out shortly before they eat).

Oh, last night I watched the last remaining shows of the first season of BRIDGERTON. I like the speed of the show, as they move it along quickly. I was going to mention some details about the show and then deleted them. As, I thought that perhaps you may not have watched them as yet OR you are just starting. I was happy with the ending though. Very happy.

A reminder to everyone out there. Do not forget to change the filters on your furnace on a regular basis. The filters that I use are required to be changed every two-three months and also have your the vents/ducts on your furnace and dryer cleaned on a regular basis as well, which is every two years. I am overdue and am going to make an appointment to have it cleaned in early spring. Really important and it is something that we quite often either put off or forget about – mainly due in part to the cost and time. But it is very important.

Yesterday was the first day of much dipped temperatures and they will continue over the next week. Dig out your extra warm winter coat, boots and mitts and scarves and hats.

Well looks like I had better head to the shower and get ready followed by breakfast and some coffee. Shovelling, quick steam mop of the main floor and finally chopping some vegetables for the salad.

Then the guests will begin to arrive.

I wish you a Happy and wonderful Sunday.

We will continue to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin, the birthday boy.

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing today? Well it is an overcast rather dull looking day out there. Alvin and I were outside in the backyard a little while ago chatting with Bogart who was sitting atop of the railing on their deck trying to figure out a way to get over to us. Alvin was on the ground at the fence trying to figure out a way to get through the fence. Apparently we have pets that would like to visit. If it were possible we would put a door in the fence for them to visit but then Bogart might want to visit other neighbors and that would not work. Sonja and I were thinking about doing the “pet door” in our adjoining fence before Bogart came into our lives and it would have worked for Humphrey and Alvin. That would have been noteworthy for sure as how many have “pet doors” in their fences.

Last night as the first new snowflakes were fluttering down from the night time sky; I noticed how delicate and fluffy they were as they floated by me while I was standing inside at the back door looking out the window. So beautiful, each one so different. With the appearance of a tiny pillow, a little puffy throw that would nicely cover a small bee or other such insect. So very pretty. There was only a fine layer of fresh snow on the ground and covering the deck when we got up this morning. Now it is coming down with a bit more thickness than last night. I see shovelling in my future. Well there was a tad of it earlier but there will be more. Love fresh snow. So pretty.

One thing that I forgot to do and should do when I am finished this post and before the roof is covered in snow and perhaps it already is, is to gaze up from the deck and see if I lost shingles in that last huge windstorm that we had the other night. One of my girlfriends told me that another neighbour actually lost part of their roof whether she meant shingles, I forgot to confirm. Anyway shingles lost for sure, I know.

Well it is is the weekend. I have much on my TO DO LIST as I prepare for Mr. Alvin’s 12th Birthday party tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. I will be baking some cupcakes, vanilla today for the human guests. All three of us. I will also prepare a package to send home with Teddy and Kobi for their Mom & Dad to enjoy as they cannot join us. I will recheck the restrictions as I know some had been loosened a bit. We are taking the precautions as we do not wish to get the virus nor do we want to spread should I be one of those humans that is asystematic. For lunch for the humans just a simple pasta salad with lots of veg and chicken and then instead of a baguette, the next best thing …. garlic bread in baguette form. I have both a CHICKEN CAKE from Bone and Biscuit for the pups to enjoy plus some yogurt cups that I want to check out for them. I have little treat bags to do up for the guests. Regular laundry and cleaning and stuff.

Time to get this show on the road. Oh, almost forgot that I am going to watch the 6th episode of BRIDGERTON next. What a show. Even made this old gal, blush a bit. Good thing that Mr. Alvin was not watching, he would have turned away in spots for sure. LOL.

We wish you a wonderful Saturday. Remember to take some time just for you.

We will continue to live with kindness, respect, compassion and I am adding patience (mainly for me and Alvin).

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing today? Alvin and I are well and happy that today is Friday. I am excited for his birthday party on Sunday. He will enjoy seeing his best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi as well as our family. We are having a wee bit of snow this morning. Just a few flurries. Nice to have some white snow. We have so many leaves in the backyard and where they are flying in from I do not know, but they are all over. I guess with those gale force winds that we have been experiencing – they could be blowing in. Can you imagine seeing a cloud of leaves blowing in from miles away? That would be a sight. Yesterday I picked up as many as I was able. So I am hoping for a bit of snow to cover them and freeze them in place for now. Spring clean up is going to be “so much fun.” Oh well that is a few months away. ARGH.

Last night after finding nothing on television to watch and I so wanted to just watch a show, I decided to go to NETFLIX and watch BRIDGERTON. Mainly I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and I can now see why. I watched two episodes before I had to stop to go to bed. I am now addicted. The story is good plus the costumes are amazing. Can only imagine the thousands of dollars spent on dreaming up and creating those dresses. I would highly recommend the show. It is both funny and sad and has some drama, of course. Shonda Rhimes has done it again. The show is based on the novels by Julia Quinn set in the competitive world of Regency era London’s Ton during the season, when debutantes are presented at court. Created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes. Two thumbs up. Narrated by Julie Andrews. The acting is really good, as well. I am really enjoying it. One of my favourite eras. Check it out.

I also have to get back to NETFLIX and continue to watch another favourite of my STAR TREK DISCOVERY. I had started to watch it from the beginning as I missed some of the new episodes so thought why not?

Another good thing about NETFLIX is no commercials.

Well it is time to get this day going. We are going to have a busy weekend as tomorrow will be setting up for the party. Simple but elegant will be the day. I noticed that Mr. Alvin may need a touch up hair trim. Another task to add to my TO DO LIST for tomorrow.

I hope that you have a wonderful Friday. Remember to take some time for you as you deserve it.

As we continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion. I should perhaps add patience as there are some days I really need to work on that.

Always, Carol & Alvin