Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! Well it is finally vacation time. I was 26 minutes into my vacation time before I had my out of office voice messages changed (yes, we have to change in two places) and email. 4:26 p.m. started the vacation. I am over the moon that I have some days off now. My neighbours are going away for a few days so I am looking after Humphrey and Bogart. After work, I went over to get any new instructions and of course, went home with a bag full of food as she did not not it to go bad. I never turn down food. So my fridge is packed to the rafters. I have lots of fresh produce to eat over the new few days. Prior to the that, I headed down the street to other friends who were having a garage sale. They were open for business when we walked by on our lunchtime break and I had picked out a few items including the most beautiful hand painted vase (see photos). I said that I would come by after work and pick the items up without Mr. Alvin and take another peek at all the special treasures that they had for sale. I think that it is good to support your friends and neighbours. They showed up for my garage sale. So after work I walked over and picked up my items, took another look round and had a little visit before returning home to a hungry Mr. Alvin. He was happy to see me both times upon my return home. The sun is forecasted to shine all day with a daytime high of 23 degrees celsius which is perfection. I was just eating the last bite of my supper last night when I happen to see out the window our friend Pauline walking down the front sidewalk with a bouquet of flowers. I went to the door just as she was about to knock. We had a lovely little visit and she gave me the most exquisite bouquet of flowers from her garden. This morning at 11:00 a.m. we are going for a walk and to catch up as they had been away for a few days and then they will be gone and I will be gone. I love my friends. I am so blessed to have such kind and thoughtful friends. We also made a plan to go for a day to celebrate my birthday. That day will be August 15th my last day of vacation. Perfect plan. We are going to take their boat and go close to where my kids live and spend some time on the water. I have not been on a boat for over a decade so this will be fantastic. I cannot wait. Just have to find someone to watch over the Alvin.

Well it is time to head downstairs and get some things done before we go for a walk. We are having company tonight (Alvin’s best friend Teddy, his little sister and Aunt J) after supper. I am keeping it a secret from Mr. Alvin. In between I will be checking in on Humphrey and Bogart and Cynder. Oh and there by laundry to do as well.

Busy day.

I hope that you have a great Saturday.

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

My beautiful bouquet from different angles. The vase from the garage sale.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: 3 sleeps till I turn into a 65 year old woman. At 6:20 a.m. on August 9th. Wow, I don’t feel that old.

Last Half 2022

Good Morning ALL! I hope this finds you well. We had another good sleep although for some reason I still keep clicking on the “snooze” button, perhaps it is more of a habit than anything, I do not know OR perhaps it because of the rain and no sunshine. I had a glimmer of hope last night when the rain stopped and the clouds began to part and I could see sunshine and blue sky but alas that did not last. Even this morning I was sure somewhere between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. – I saw the sun. But looking out of the office window right now the sky is grey. Yuck. I would love some sunshine.

I think that I am going to share some cute puppy photos today. Perhaps that will bring some sunshine, smiles to our faces:

Being Goofy

Georgie

Al & Cookie

Alvin & Kobi

Handsome Guy

Three Amigos

BFF Teddy with Alvin

Aspen & Milo

Bogart

Humphrey

Angels Elton & Penny

Angel Casey

New sweater

Cuteness

Kobi and Milo

Humphrey

Elton & Penny

Penny

My Grand-puppies Penny and Elton

Temporary bedroom 2014

I just had to add some photos of Alvin’s friends Humphrey and Bogart, the cats next door.

Hope these will bring a smile to your face. Maybe even clear the rain clouds. My poor flowers are praying for sunshine.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: 34 days till 65

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this Thursday, January 27, 2022? Alvin and I are well. Dark outside at this time but cannot wait until the sunrise. They are so beautiful. Sometimes filled with shades of pinks and purples other times yellows and oranges. No matter the colour palette – they are so gorgeous. There is something about a sunrise that just brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. I should have downloaded/uploaded the photos that I snapped the other morning with my phone. So pretty.

Well Mr. Alvin has started something as of the past few weeks and that is sometimes he will not drink from his water dish/bowl without me beside him and actually touching him. He barks if I am in another room forcing me to stay with him while he drinks. I am not sure what has got into him. He can see, I am sure of that. But his anxiety level seems to have increased. I will continue to be patient with him and help him through his senior years. Just like he helps me. He has medication for anxiety but I do not want to give him pills all the time because he seems calm most of the time. Anyway, something to monitor. Keeping him happy, relaxed but most of all healthy during these times is paramount. We, I need him to be in good health.

Yesterday a small fleet of small caterpillars with blades were out moving the snow around. They did not have the trucks out hauling away the snow. I am not sure if the City is planning on doing that or not. Should check the City Website and see. A City of Edmonton vehicle was parked out front on the street yesterday and she was checking out the neighbour who parked their truck on their lawn. She spoke to someone on the phone and took some photos and left. It was later when the cats showed up in the neighbourhood moving snow around. One of the drivers got out of his machine and went to their door and spoke to them. The Mrs. came out and moved the truck off the lawn. They pushed all of the excess snow onto their lawn. They have a massive amount of snow on their lawn. Hopefully it melts and does not flood their basement in the spring. Thankfully most of us are up sloping down to the street. So we should be okay. Anyway they can now park on the street. I was wondering if they are going to do that with all of the snow? That would be a mess. Time will tell. There were some of the big graders out here yesterday as well. In all of the almost thirteen years since I moved here, I have never seen that many graders/cats out for this length of time.

Well that is my news for now. I am looking forward to that first cup of coffee this morning. I can smell the aroma floating up from the kitchen and it tickles my nose and warms my heart and soul. I love, love, love COFFEE. Did I say that I loved coffee, lol? Yup, I do.

Have a wonderful day. If you love coffee, I hope that you are able to have a cup or the beverage of your choice. Something that would be a good way to start the day. Be safe and kind to yourself and to others.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. yesterday I helped my neighbour give Mr. Bogart his pain meds and medicine. Not an easy thing to do with a big cat. He weighs I think she said “17” pounds. He had to have surgery to put in shunts as he was playing too hard with his brother and was injured. Yikes. Wishing Bogart a speedy recovery.

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this beautiful bright sunny Wednesday morning? I hope that it is sunny and gorgeous wherever you are at this moment. After this post, Alvin and I are heading out for a walk. There is a heat warning out for the City of Edmonton for today so I want to ensure that we get a walk in now as we will not be able to walk later. Just out of the shower and feeling refreshed so perfect time to go. So grateful that I gave Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath on the weekend. We will take water as per usual on our walk. Yesterday we borrowed my neighbour’s car to go to Alvin’s vet appointment so I was able to pick up his food as well. Saved me an extra trip. His ears are back to normal, yay.

I cannot believe that it is +18 degrees celsius already so it will be warm. I opened the windows to let in any cool air there is at this time and then will close them and the blinds. I am grateful to have some very good fans to help cool us down. It is at these times that I “almost” wished that I had the a/c serviced but that will happen in time. We are also getting the shingles done and am just waiting for the company owner to get back to us with the schedule.

Wishing that everyone is safe and doing well. I am grateful each and every day for all of the many blessings that the Universe has bestowed upon me. So grateful. I hear someone whistling. Sounds like Sonja whistling at the cats who are likely outside enjoying the morning.

We will continue to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love and gratitude for each other and for every living being we encounter this day and each day.

Thank you for reading this post. You make my heart sing. Have an awesome day. Time to get out for that walk.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

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2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this morning? We are doing great. Bed about 10:00 p.m., first time up at 4:00 a.m. and then again at almost 6:00 a.m. – feeling rested this morning. I hope that you had a good sleep as well. The sun is shining brightly this morning and I feel that it is going to be an awesome day. Today we get an estimate to replace our shingles. It will be a relief to have them replaced as they are in poor condition despite the age of them. They were not a good quality and were not properly affixed to the roof. Most of the folks in our neighbourhood have or are replacing them. Yesterday my kids changed their cell phone provider, one of those “visits” to the door kind of thing and then because something had to be done with my phone in person, my kids had to make an “emergency” trip to my house. They brought the pups. It was great to see them all. What a whirlwind of an evening. After supper I went for groceries as well. All is fixed now and the fridge is full once again. Wow, fruits and vegetables are sure expensive these days. Also a gal from work who placed a tea order a while back is coming for an outside visit and to pick up her tea. We will be walking after work as the shingle estimator is coming at noon. I am so happy to see the sun shining so brightly. My flowers are looking so pretty this morning. A warm day on the way, about +24 degrees celsius.

Now that was a paragraph jammed packed full of a mix of things. No rhyme or reason, just the way things spill out of my brain.

We are watching Cynder, Humphrey and Bogart this weekend while their Momma is taking a weekend trip. She deserves a break as she has been working so hard. I am excited to spend time with them. Might even bring the cats to our house.

Also before I forget. The night before last, I was having a craving for something sweet. So what happened next? I baked some cookies. No chocolate chips? Nope. I made using my base chocolate chip cookie recipe a new cookie blend. I made the most delectable cookies with “raisins and coconut.” Just happen to have lots of those sweet items on hand so that is what I used. The different chew between the raisins and the coconut” made them ultra chewy and mmmm good.

Time to get this show on the road. Get the coffee brewing (premade earlier this morning).

Wishing you a wonderful day. May you laugh and have so much joy this Thursday.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, gratitude always.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE.

I think that pictures speak a thousand words. Our family and friends are so important to our well being.

Our friends and family come in all sizes and packages and from everywhere.

On this day and always surround yourself with the ones you love.

Relish those relationships.

Grow those relationships.

Respect those relationships.

Show patience and be compassionate with those relationships.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

You are important to us all.

Have an awesome Day.

My Alvin …..

Cuteness

Teddy and Kobi

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  Milo and Aspen

Humphrey & Alvin

We are surrounded by love.

We hope you are as well.

Have a great day.

Living with Kindness, Respect, Compassion and Patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

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• 

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Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 11th day of March, 2019.

Yesterday was so WARM with no breeze.

I decided yesterday to take Mr. Alvin to our friend’s birthday celebration.

The cats and Alvin did well.

He kept his distance.

Cricket knows Alvin but Casey has only joined their household last October (2018) and she wasn’t quite sure.

Both are used to dogs but everyone knows that sometimes there can be moments.

Casey did take a swipe at Alvin but he was not close and he retreated to the safety of his Mom’s legs.

Funny how that works.

Poor Alvin had wanted to say hello but Casey was not having any of it.

He pretty much stayed beside me the whole time except when our friend opened the fridge as he knows she keeps the treats in there.

We had a great visit and was interesting watching two cats and a dog navigate their time together.

After the visit we headed home where I quickly changed into boots, coat (had light jacket on) and mitts and of course grabbed some “poop bags.”

Our friend J had left the party when we did and by the time I stopped in and got changed she was outside with Jazmin.

She had not planned to go for a walk but when she got home Jazmin gave her the sign that she wanted to walk.

Miss Jazmin is I believe 14 years old and has a heart condition.

Somedays she just doesn’t want to go.

Yesterday she was excited to go and she tried and mostly kept up with Mr. Alvin.

They get along so well.

I was so happy to see her out and enjoying the warm day.

We had a great walk.

Perfect end to a perfect day.

 

I think that Mr. Alvin is beginning to dream “CATS.”

We were surrounded by CATS this weekend.

AND Miss Jazmin, who is a doggie.

We missed seeing Master Teddy this weekend.

 

Well back to work today.

We had a great day.

Quiet and relaxing and FUN.

 

I hope that you all had a great Sunday.

I hope that if you are in the “time changing zones” that getting up this morning did not hurt too much!!

Wishing you a wonderful Monday.

 

Listening to dogs barking in the distance.

One sounded big.

 

Happy Monday.

Special Hello to:  everyone who READS, whether it be this blog or another, a book or a magazine or a newspaper.  JUST READ.  Read to your children and grandchildren, too.

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 4th day of January, 2019.

Dark out as it is early.

Snow mixed with rain last night.

Cooling off a bit today.

Still crazy weather for January.

 

Alvin joins me in the office – laying on his blue blanket.

I feel that all is right with the world when he is near me.

Where he wants to be and where I want him to be.

Close by.

I so wished that I could take him with me to work.

Definitely would be a morale boost for certain.

He is such a good guy.

I am so happy that he has a best friend in Teddy.

Those guys …. always so excited to see each other.

Bringing each other a toy.

Truly, I have not given this much thought if any before this moment but I think that the creatures that we take into our homes – actually mimic us to a large degree.

Alvin loves company; as do I.

He is always happy when company comes over; as am I.

He loves to sniff around on our walks; as do I taking in the scents and smells of each season.

He loves to relax and snuggle next to me; as do I snuggles are best with him.

He does not like to ride in cars and I do not mind.

He is an loving, excitable, anxious creature and I wear my heart on my sleeve so definitely similar.

Perhaps when we take a look at ourselves when we work on improvements – there is even more reason to make changes as they impact our pets.

Food for thought.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

 

Oh, once again, I love my new eyebrow wax.

I mentioned it yesterday in my post.

It is the best.

ACTI-LABS.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who share their homes with a dog(s) or cat(s) or another small creature.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 16th day of September, 2018.

Day two of snowing.

Earlier this morning about 5:00 a.m. it was raining and since about 7:00 a.m. it has turned from rain to wet snow to just snow.

The pavement and sidewalks as they hold the heat are just wet.

The rooftops, grass and my deck are starting to once again look like winter.

ARGH, it is way too early to have snow.

Seems like only yesterday that it was winter.

I do love WINTER but would prefer that it started in like December or even mid to late November, but before mid September.

Well that is just crazy.

Mother Nature must be really holding a grudge this year or perhaps it is of our own doing.

Oh perhaps a bit of both.

 

At the end of the day I am grateful that we are having a bit of snow and not the flooding from the hurricanes to the south eastern areas of the United States.

Everyday people are posting photos of animals that are stranded due to the flood waters.

I understand that sometimes you have to just grab and run but why would you leave a poor dog tied to a tree or to a post in the yard.

I would understand if you had a cat and it ran away and you could not grab it but …..

I will never understand leaving them behind, I will never understand stranding them.

Any living creatures that are in your household are your responsibility.

We have to be good beings and do the right thing.

The one photo that will haunt me forever is one of a dog tied to a tree and all you can see is his head and those eyes.

I only hope that whoever took the photo rescued that poor dog.

 

I do know that there are a great many good people out there who risk their own lives to help all others whether two-legged or four.

They will always hold a special place in my heart.

They are the folks that we should all aspire to be.

 

This morning is coffee date with my two young friends.

I always enjoy spending time with them.

It has been awhile as they were busy over August.

Lot to catch up on.

I baked chocolate chip cookies with an extra special treat SMARTIES.

We will have some strawberries and gold fish crackers.

I know kind of an odd mix but it is just something to nibble on.

 

Well time to go as there is laundry to put away.

Get the coffee ready to turn on.

Finish the dishes that are in the sink, waiting patiently for me.

 

Also, I had to take one of my beloved sunflowers out of the garden as yesterday it broke off and was laying on the ground.

So sad.

First year that I have had sunflowers.

They were so tall and were starting to have those amazing yellow flowers and heads filled with seeds.

Maybe next year.

Will get some earlier.

 

I hope that you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Oh, I rented from my cable company “BOOK CLUB” and watched last night after supper.

IT was so FUNNY.  Almost peed my pants, funny.

OH and I made the most delectable supper with quinoa, roasted chicken, homemade peanut sauce and chopped green onions, celery, carrots, and broccoli.

So good.

 

Okay, I am going now …… sometimes I just babble.

I know.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who made this crazy beautiful birthday cake for her Mom’s special day.  It was amazing.  She is so talented.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and  Welcome to Thursday the 31st day of August, 2017.

Last day of this wonderful month.

Yesterday did not reach the temperatures that were forecasted which was wonderful.

However; this was not the case in other parts of Alberta and Canada.

Hot and dry – little or not rain.

We were blessed to have some moisture this summer.

It would seem that there is so much extreme with the moisture.

Either none or too too much.

We are thinking of our neighbours to the south affected by Hurricane Harvey.

May you receive the assistance that you need.

To all those that have lost family members whether two or four-legged, our hearts go out to you.

We are grateful to the men and women who have volunteered to help out those in need.

Also to all those whose job it is to help in crisis situations, thank you.

We see reports on the news and on social media of rescues and are grateful.

It will be a long way to rebuild your homes, communities and lives but you will do it.

Take care on this Thursday.

May you be warm and dry and have clean water to drink.

 

Special Hello to: my family all over the world including Houston, Texas.

Always, Carol & Alvin