The Next Chapter

Good Morning and Happy Easter 2023. Day three of four day long weekend for me. How are you on this Sunday? Do you have plans to go somewhere or perhaps you are somewhere? Is someone cooking an Easter feast? Company or just for You? Or perhaps you are like me and just spending the weekend doing spring cleaning. The weekend did not start out the way that I had planned or has it continued the way the I was hoping that it would but it is unfurling as it should. All things happen for a reason. The upstairs washing of the walls, blinds, fans, light fixtures and all of that is taking a bit longer than planned. Yesterday I completed my bathroom and bedroom and I did empty the office closet. There was also a load of laundry down in between. Today the plan is to wash the office closet and reorganize, also wash as much of the office walls as I am able to – reason is I have the wall size bulletin boards hanging up and if I take them down, they will be ruined as they are not hanging on hooks. I also would like to take down all of the items on the boards and put up some new things. There are Christmas Cards and others to go through. Books to decide on what to keep. This is the room where it is more going through things than actually cleaning. Although one could say that going through things is cleaning of sorts. Just not with a bucket of water, lol. Anyway, I will finish off the upstairs today. I am making Chili in my handy dandy Tupperware pressure cooker. I realize that I have far too many “things” for one person and I am going to go through each room and be “frugal” on what I keep. I keep things based on emotions. Like keeping cards. I used to have every card that ever was given to me since an adult until in the 1990’s and then I downsized to a couple of storage containers. Christmases, Birthdays, Thank you and on and on. Life. Movie tickets. Concert tickets. You see what I mean. Time to get tough. Keeping a few things only will be hard but must be done. Another sunny day ahead.

Yesterday was a tough day emotionally for me thinking of my Alvin. He would have been trying to find a place to lay down to be near me as I cleaned. We would have gone for a walk as it was so beautiful out. I just miss him. So many memories…….

Happy Easter Everyone!

Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

Photo by Tim Gouw on Pexels.com

Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com

I just spent a few minutes trying to upload some photos from my photo library to this post with no luck. Time to get going as I have a full day ahead of me and it is already after 8:30 a.m.

I hope that the Easter Bunny made it to your home with some chocolatey treats and maybe a new outfit or something that you need.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday.

I look forward to taking a walk down memory lane in between washing and cleaning!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel).

Living … One day at a time

Good Morning …. New Year’s Eve Day.

Woke up earlier to being congested with a headache.

Went back to bed twice.

Mr. Alvin really wants me to get up so I am up.

Still not feeling great but will just get on with it.

The sky is partially overcast with blue cloud cover and the sun peeking through in spots.

I have things that I had planned to do today but now off to a late start.

Oh well, nothing that cannot wait.

It is the last day of 2019.

Tomorrow is a NEW YEAR and a new DECADE.

How exciting.

 

Well I do apologize for this being a short post as Mr. Alvin would like to go downstairs.

Perhaps he has to go outside.

I should get dressed as still in pjs.

It is almost 11:00 a.m.

ARGH.

But what can you do.

REST is best.

Not too difficult to change bedding and throw some laundry in the washing machine.

Just little jobs.

Perhaps having a shower would decongest me.

 

Well 2019 as every other year has seen good and bad.

There will always be births and deaths, it is life.

Work has been work.

Temporarily in a new space but our old building is now renovated and we move back shortly.

Met new people in the neighbourhood.

Enjoyed company of family and new and old friends.

Was able to go on another great road trip in the summer with my daughter.

My sister drove to visit and joined us girls on our annual road trip.

Finally had my office painted after several years of discussing and loving it.

Hung up the bulletin boards that my daughter made for me two years ago for Christmas.

The office is now a happy space

Alvin’s best friend has a new little sister.

My sister adopted a new four legged friend named RAIN.

I remain selling STEEPED TEA and NORWEX.

Summer of 2019 was wet and cool.

Christmas of 2019 was mild.

All in all it has been a good year.

I look forward to this new one starting tomorrow.

Will rest today so that I can start the new one in a good place.

 

Well time to get this day going.

I think that Mr. Alvin has to go outside.

 

Happy New Year’s Eve.

I hope that you have a great day.

Whether you go out on the town or just stay at home.

Happy New Year’s Eve.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time

Good Morning,

We had some rain overnight.

Yesterday or at least in the late afternoon we had a strong COLD wind.

As I was walking home from the bus, I was grateful that I had a warm coat and gloves.

Alvin and I went for our usual walk only it was not so usual.

We got as far as the “poop bag station.”

He had a poop turned to look at me and headed for home.

Okay, perhaps he was cold even though I had put his winter jacket on him.

So we had a short walk.

That might be part of the reason that he was up at 2:00 a.m. and then a few times after that until we were up to stay up at 5:09 a.m.

ARGH.

Definitely need COFFEE this morning.

I also am thinking that the later we go to bed the later he sleeps.

Or it seems that way.

We were in bed before 9:00 last night and five hour later we were up.

I guess we will go to bed later tonight.

I will get this figured out.

We have only been together for almost ten years …..

Relationships always require work …. no matter who or the type.

Work.

I guess everything we do requires work of some sort.

Ah.

 

Just thinking as I glance about my newly renovated (painted) office at all my photos, cards and books ….  how much I love this space.

The bulletin boards that my daughter made me for Christmas a few years back are finally up and filled with photos, ticket stubs, letters and poems.

My bookcases are filled with the books that I love …. each area special.

Books for children in one case with Minnie Mouse and a Bunny sitting atop.

Collectible magazines of Princess Diana and the Royal Family and some of my favourite people.

My purses hang on a rack on the door.

I have bios, self-help, and fiction.

All sorts of different topics and story lines.

I do love to read.

Right now I am reading Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming.”

I feel good in this room.

Best choice of paint colour ever.

I am so grateful to my friend for matching the paint to my handmade curtains “with absolute perfection.”

 

Well it is almost time to hit the road.

Alvin is laying on his blue blanket.

Touching my foot as he is never far from me when I am at home.

For his sake, I wished that I was able to be home with him all day, every day.

This would be a great time to come into lots of money.

Mmm, a million dollars.

That would be nice.

A gal can dream.

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

Living your life always with kindness and respect.

Always.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, good morning.

The sky was bright blue a few hours ago but has started to fill with rain clouds.

Yesterday was a brilliant day filled with lots of beautiful sunshine.

Everyone in my neighbour was out walking throughout the day.

You could hear the children playing outside through the open windows.

Alvin and I enjoyed a walk but waited until after supper.

I finally finished hanging up photos and memorabilia on my bulletin boards.

So nice to have that done.

Now the last part to be done in this room is the closet but it will likely wait.

I haven’t quite decided on how I want it to be so will wait for now.

Yesterday washed the bedding for the spare room for my sister’s arrival on Saturday.

Also changed the bedroom around for something new.

Hung a couple of pictures/paintings on the wall and a scarf over the centre of the blind for a little extra something.

Vacuumed and washed the floor as well.

I think it looks great.

Today will finish the upstairs.

Bathrooms and rest of the floors including the office.

Then the upstairs is done.

There needs to be a trip to the grocery store for a few items.

A few loads of laundry ….. my bedding and more clothes.

Not only am preparing for my sister’s arrival but for our road trips next week.

We will be home and then gone, home and then gone.

The following Tuesday after that will be back to work.

I am enjoying this time at home.

Our summer in Edmonton has been well not summer-like.

Most days have been overcast and rain.

But on those days where the sun has been shining …. we are so happy.

I will say that even on the cloudy days …. life is good.

Right.

Although some days the temperatures have been downright “cool” …. it has been refreshing.

Last night when it was nice …. warm and sunny …. the mosquitoes were out in full force.

But that is summer.

Sometimes it is warm and sometimes it is not.

I am so grateful that there has been moisture and less watering.

I am so grateful for the sun when it shines.

I am grateful for vacation.

I am grateful for green instead of white.

 

Well only TWO more SLEEPS till my beautiful sister arrives.

So I had better get this show on the road.

A few things left to do.

 

If we treat ourselves with kindness and respect – it will transfer to others.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Flowers from last year.

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Oh my gosh the sun was shining every so brightly.

I snapped these photos from my bedroom window.

Just a few minutes ago.

Then I had barely left the room when I noticed the sky was darkening.

So now the sky out of my bedroom window looks like this:

To the south or out of my office window, it is much darker than to the north.

We will be going for a walk as soon as I am done this post.

Just in case.

We do not wish to miss our walks.

 

Today is the 57th birthday of my brother J.

WOW, seems like only yesterday he was 6 and then a teenager and then 50.

We texted as he is on an acreage and was about to go haying for the day.

Wishing them good weather.

 

Yesterday one of my friends hosted my birthday party.

I took the cupcakes and she had some lovely fresh fruit including cherries.

HEAVEN.

and Coffee, of course.

We laughed and caught up.

They spoiled me with birthday cards, the recent book that Michelle Obama penned, a toasty warm pullover for when I walk Mr. Alvin, a bright coloured tunic, shower gel from Bath & Body Works

and a beautiful scarf filled with hues of blues, pinks, black on white.

I am one lucky girl.

Happy Birthday sign on the door at my friend’s house – there were lots of other decorations.

Photos of gifts from my house …. wow ….

The above photo are treats from another friend who popped by night before last on my birthday.

I feel so incredibly blessed not for the gifts (which are so thoughtful) but to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

Thank you.

Very grateful.

 

Also hung the bulletin boards in the office yesterday after the birthday party and a walk with Alvin and Teddy.

I have not taken photos as yet but I will and post them later.

Can hardly wait to display some photos and cards and other little items.

Looks so great.

 

Well time to fly.

The wind is getting up.

We want to walk before it rains.

Cannot believe these temperatures.

Pretty cool.

Oh well.

 

 

Have an awesome Sunday.

 

A kind heart and respectful nature – that’s all you really need.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Oh, me oh my, it is only me and Alvin.

The house does feel strangely quiet.

Yesterday we had Humphrey and Teddy.

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 22nd day of April, 2019.

The sky is slightly overcast this morning as the sun rises in the sky.

Forecast is for above 17 degrees celsius today.

Yesterday was glorious.

We were up in good time yesterday morning and spoke to my daughter via the telephone followed by a call from my friend P to go for a walk with her and her grand pup Georgie.

Just when I was sipping my coffee we received another phone call from our friend V in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The phone rang off the “wall” so to speak yesterday morning.

So great to chat to the girls.

Alvin and I met P and Georgie at the entrance to the nearby park and then continued for a nice long walk.

Just a few minutes into the walk we noticed a bright white flock above us filling the sky.

I was distracted by a larger dog and was paying more attention to Alvin and the dog than the birds.

P told me quick look it is a flock of SWANS.

She had heard on a news report that there were swans in our area.

This is not their normal flight route.

A historical flight change for sure.

The sky was white with the huge number of swans.

In all my years I have never seen a swan flying overhead.

How cool is that?

We continues about our walk and enjoyed everything that nature had to offer us.

Everyone was out walking their pups yesterday.

One hour later we returned home.

We, well I spent the day taking apart the office.

Everything down from the walls, packed up the closet and filled two garbage bags.

There are still a number of items and boxes to take to the basement for storage.

Once the room is clean except for the computer desk and chair; I will begin to prepare for painting.

Then at some point – there will be new paint in my office and I will finally hang my bulletin boards that my daughter made me for Christmas a few years ago (3 actually).

Sometimes it takes a while to get things done.

ARGH.

I also pressure washed the deck yesterday early afternoon.

Alvin and I even went for another walk late afternoon – early evening – 30 minutes.

Lots of exercise for us.

Was so great to get it all cleaned and now ready to put out the patio/deck furniture.

I might just put out a few things for now.

Another successful day.

Today will be shower for me after this post, then make pancakes, put on another load of laundry, COFFEE, take boxes and items to the basement and give Mr. Alvin a bath.

I am hoping to trim his front paws and legs a bit more before the bath.

I am excited to have today plus tomorrow off from work.

Feeling like I am accomplishing so much this weekend.

The weather has been great for walks.

Perhaps our daughter/sister might pop by today for a visit.

I will make pancakes and perhaps that will bring her here this morning.

Well time to hop into the shower.

Already changed our bedding.

All fresh for clean human and dog tonight.

We will be freshly clean as well.

 

I am so grateful to have this beautiful house.

I am so grateful for my daughter and her family.

I am so grateful for my sister and brothers.

I am so grateful for all our family.

Young and old.

I am grateful to have had this extra long weekend to get some tasks/chores accomplished; to have had extra walks and to have had some wonderful relaxation time.

Feeling pretty great.

 

Big celebration today is EARTH DAY.

Please be kind to our Earth this day and everyday.

Pick up trash.

Don’t destroy our Environment.

Turn off unnecessary lights.

Plant a tree.

We can all work together and make a difference.

Celebrate this beautiful planet we call EARTH.

Happy Earth Day.

Be kind to our precious EARTH.

Happy Earth Day.

 

 

Have an awesome Monday.

So much to celebrate today.

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 31st day of December, 2017.

Happy New Year’s EVE Day.

The sky is a pale blue with hues of pale orange on the horizon.

Here we are again on the very last day of a year, this one being 2017.

Hopefully the last day of this deep freeze before heading into milder temperatures.

I have been reading over my blogs from previous years.

The blog from this day last year and from 2015.

It is funny how days can be so different from one year to the next.

Last year on December 31st Alvin went to his sisters for a sleepover and the year before we awoke to fire sirens (two doors down).

With my blog I try not to plan too  much ahead and just see where my thoughts and fingers guide me.

Today my mind is all over the place.

I am listening to the music that I put on my iPOD yesterday via the awesome setup that my kids gave me for Christmas.

I transferred “37” songs from iTUNES …. my favourites.

They range from Adele to Elvis, One Direction to Journey, Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond to PINK.

Pharrell to Tina, Elton to Ed and Lady Gaga to Steppenwolf and Blue Suede.

I love listening to music.

Note to self:  I think I will listen to more music in 2018 and DANCE more.

Last night after I transferred this tunes to the iPOD I spent a long time just singing and grooving (dancing) to the music with Alvin looking on.

He likely figured that I had lost my mind OR worse was going to pick him up and make him dance with me.

 

This was the second Christmas that we participated in all gifts home made or reused from things that we had around the house.

I made out like a bandit.

My daughter made me two huge bulletin boards, they gave me the iPOD player with great speakers (awesome sound) and an ADVENT calendar that reminds me of the one on NATIONAL LAMPOON’s  

CHRISTMAS VACATION and it even plays music.

The only ones that were not a part of this were the pups.

My grand-pups did not listen and got me a lovely WHISK (which their Grandma needed).

How can you be a cook or baker with no whisk.

Not sure how it happened.

I used to have a couple of them.

The family arrived on Christmas EVE night and stayed until Boxing Day.

It was a glorious couple of days.

We ate, played games and ate more.

Always wonderful to be surrounded by your loved ones.

 

As this year winds to an end, I am reminded by all of the great times that we saw in 2017.

January saw another new SPRING/SUMMER CATALOGUE for STEEPED TEA.

I remain a consultant although not quite as active as previous years.

I do enjoy the tea and the other products as do several of my co-workers and friends.

February saw us, me and Alvin become debt free.

No consumer debt.

I guess mortgages are not considered to be debt as I still have one of those.

Alvin and I continue to walk as much as possible although the latter part of this year did slow us down a bit.

I write as much as possible.

 

Likely the best part of this year was the time surrounding my 60th Birthday.

My friend “V” from back in Regina sent me a BIRTHDAY PARCEL to end all BIRTHDAY PARCELS ….

Everything from jewellery to a deep dish apple pie.

I am so lucky.

I was so blessed to have my sister come for a whole TEN DAY visit.

On my actual birthday my daughter, sister and I went to FORT EDMONTON PARK and partook in HIGH TEA.

We spent the day walking around taking in the sights.

We went on the rides …. the swings and the carousel.

My youngest brother came for FOUR DAYS and part of it was spent with our other brother at his home in rural Alberta.

While visiting our brother in the country we visited with another nephew and his family.

We also visited with our nephew “J” ….. who continues to heal.

I commissioned one of my co-workers to bake my 60th Birthday cake, a carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

I can still taste it.  OMG it was heavenly.

My eldest nephew and family also surprised us with a visit.

Friends that moved to Quebec came for a visit.

So many wonderful surprises.

I am so grateful for all of the gifts, birthday wishes and visits this year.

I still cannot believe that I am 60 years old.

 

The year just seemed to come and go.

We were lucky to be in good health and to be surrounded by great friends and family.

Both CANADA and I celebrated milestone birthdays.

Happy 150th Birthday to our beloved country.

 

One of our neighbours across the street and down a couple of houses had a fire.

That happened at the end of June and it is December and they are still not back in their home.

It was a duplex so affected two households.

Reminder to be careful and aware.

 

I wrote the next couple of paragraphs last New Year’s Eve and it seems to be fitting to be used once again.  I feel the same way.

The week after Christmas leading up to New Year’s Eve is filled with thinking back on the year, perhaps making resolutions for the year ahead, and making plans for bringing in the New Year.

My wish for 2018 is that you take a look over your life, and take note of what is really important.

Spending time with your family whether two-legged or four or both is so important.

If you are unable to physically see them the technology is there to video chat via SKYPE, and other formats.

Do things with your family and friends instead of buying their joy.

Go on that walk instead of watching television.

Put down that cell phone and spend TIME with them.

Have dinner together and be with your family.

Simplify your life.

Spend less on stuff.

Spend more on doing things.

Create memories that will last a lifetime.

Your children will not remember that video game in 50 years but they will remember those long walks you took together.

They will remember sledding.

They will remember roasting marshmallows around the bonfire.

They will remember the time you spent together.

Which is the best legacy you can give them.

 

Simplify your life.

 

Wishing you and your family the most wonderful New Year, 2018.

May you find joy in the little things.

May you find continued good health.

May your lives be filled with abundance.

May you continue to grow and to learn.

May you spread kindness to all creatures.

May you love and respect yourself, and all others.

Happy New Year.

 

PHOTOS from 2017

April 2017

 

EDMONTON ZOO (May) – our office went for a visit and barbecue.  My daughter was my date.

June 2017 – Alvin and Carol’s GREAT ADVENTURE.

 

 

JULY 2017 – Flowers and YARD

 

 

 

OCTOBER 2017 – garden project

HALLOWEEN 2017

FALL TREAT PARCEL from our Friend “V”

THE CAKE marking the BIG 60.

CHRISTMAS Decorations of 2017

Some of the baking …. the infamous SUGAR COOKIES

Aspen and Milo my beautiful grand pups.

Cutest photo of 2017.

Well it would seem like I could write and gather photos until the cows come home.

So I had better stop now.

If I missed mentioning you, please know this, you are in my heart and soul for all time.

I wish you and your family the most glorious 2018.

Remember to laugh and have fun.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who participated in my 2017, I am most grateful to each and every one of you.

Always, Carol & Alvin