Last Half 2022 – December 1, 2022

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are with Christmas fast approaching. How are things with you? Do you celebrate Christmas with all the bell & gifts or do you have a more faith based traditions. Perhaps somewhere in between. We all have our own way of celebrating the holidays – this season. I do like giving gifts, I love the decorations, the smells, baking and most of all spending time with friends and family. Oh and the tree, of course. I must admit that I spoiled Mr. Alvin this year, I don’t remember if I mentioned this perhaps I did, but here we go again. I bought him a Christmas sweater, an actual Christmas sweater, his first one. I also got him a new colourful fancy harness and a cute toy. I figure going into his 14th year that we should do it up big. I cannot wait for him to open his gifts. He loves opening presents, so this will be fun.

I guess we are in official countdown – 23 sleeps till Christmas Eve and 24 sleeps till Christmas Day.

This weekend is baking time. I am most excited to get into that rhythm …. hauling out the supplies, the recipes. Mixing and scooping and cutting out shapes (I do round for my sugar cookies). The smell of cookies wafting throughout the house. We are going to have fun. Alvin will not be too happy as I will be busy running around the kitchen but I will be home with him and that is what matters most.

Yesterday is was stormy. The roads were icy and the visibility was down. We were sent home about 3:00 p.m. so that we would miss the rush hour traffic and to ensure that we got home okay. I called my daughter as she has a long drive to let her know about the status of the roads and she was able to leave work early as well. Our drive was okay but my daughter reported that the roads were not good. I am so happy that we all got home safe and sound. After I got home, I hooked up my laptop and worked for awhile longer before feeding Mr. Alvin who was ready for supper when I opened the door. After he ate, I went shovelling. Shovelled the front including the neighbours, then part of the deck and the driveway before starting my supper. I threw together an odd combo that turned out to be yummy. I roasted/baked chickpeas with frozen brussel sprouts, caramelized an onion, chopped up some fresh celery, a red bell pepper, some grape tomatoes and then mixed all together. It was very yummy. I added some chili jelly on top. Supper was most enjoyable considering I had no idea what to eat when I got home.

Well the clock is ticking away and I must get back downstairs and finish getting things ready to go to the office. The storm died down and it stopped snowing. Thank goodness.

Happy Thursday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. hey Val, you were correct, I found a little poopette on top of the bed this morning. Pretty sure something else did not put it there. I am most relieved. Must be an age thing, lol. My poor boy.

2021

Good Morning ALL! Welcome to the last day of 2021, Friday, December 31st. 2021 was not much different from 2020 in that it was filled with financial hardship, heartbreak, sadness, stress and a longing for good things to come. The new year is on our doorstep and is filled with possibilities. I was reading my daughter’s Instagram post yesterday. She posted one of her latest creations a collage celebrating “possibilities.” She wrote: “To Possibilities. Ah the possibilities of a new year, a clean slate on which to dream. Do you set intentions or resolutions or choose a word to live by for the year? Or are you like me and sorta run around in all the possibilities, making a creative mess but having fun along the way (I might try the word “focus” this year)? I wish you all a 2022 filled with good health, love, creativity and all those delicious possibilities.”

What will our thoughts, our intentions, our resolutions be for the New YEAR? Do we remain focused and diligent during the New YEAR OR do those resolutions fall by the wayside a few weeks in? We mean well but sometimes we make unrealistic goals and resolutions.

My daughter’s post gave me the idea that maybe if we set out intentions, our resolutions if you will by a word or a handful of words that have great meaning and direction for us, that perhaps we will remain focused and keep them for the days of the coming year.

What are you words? What is your MANTRA? Do you have one?

I have been closing this post for months with the following: Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding and gratitude. I am going to add two words possibilities and focus.

My new mantra for 2022:

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

Write your words, say your words aloud, make them a part of your day, an important part of your life and they will become your every day, your life.

I wish for the New YEAR to bring you and your family good health, a sense of renewal, but most of all, I hope the New YEAR brings you possibilities. We, you, me and the world need possibilities now, more than ever.

Happy New YEAR to my family and friends and to all of you who take your precious time to read this post each and every day. I so appreciate each one of you. May your lives be filled with good health, great joy, much love and laughter and abundance and a clean slate on which to dream.

A special thank you to my daughter for her words who inspired this post and who gives me inspiration every day of my life. You are my dream, you are my possibility and I love you very much.

Thank you to Mr. Alvin who in a few short weeks will turn 13. My constant companion and who brings me joy and laughter and stories. I love you buddy!

So on that note, HAPPY NEW YEAR. The best is yet to come. 2022. A year filled with possibilities, of dreams yet to be realized.

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

Always, Carol, Alvin and Cookie

P.S. I think that we are going to miss the Cookie Monster. She is lovingly nicknamed CM for her boisterous, active nature. She is a good girl. Just super busy. LOL. H

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Where anything is possible!!

Photo by Anna-Louise on Pexels.com

Photo by Sebastian Hietsch on Pexels.com

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this Monday morning? I hope that you had an awesome weekend. Both Alvin and I are well. We are a bit sleep deprived or at least I am. Not sure what is up with the boy but we went to bed at our usual time, then up at 2:30, then 4:14, then basically every half hour until I finally stayed up at 6:30 a.m. I hope that he is okay. He does not appear to be in pain. Perhaps he had too much sleep. When I go out in a bit to pick up the poop, that might tell a different story. I should have gone out with him earlier to check. But I was so tired that I just could not. I guess that does not make me a very good pack leader or momma. I will keep an eye on him today and see if anything is out of norm with him. He is giving me that look and perhaps his eyes do not look their usual selves. Oh, how I hope and pray that he is okay. We cannot go through anything major. Now as it was cooler and windy we did not go for a walk so perhaps that is bothering him. I honestly do not know. Will just tryin to keep positive energy going to Mr. Alvin.

Yesterday five people celebrated birthdays that I personally know. Two were relatives and two live nearby. How cool is that?

The sky is clear this morning as the sun rises. The temperature is to be in single plus temperatures for today, I believe unless the forecast changed which is entirely possible. The next two weeks are going to be all over the place with respect to weather with even some snow flurries a possibility. Yikes. Oh well, Mother Nature will get this out of her system before settling into the summer weather. I have noticed that the bunnies are more and more brown with each sighting. We saw a robin on the weekend. That is always a good sign.

Well I have to go downstairs, sorry for another short post. I will leave with you with some beautiful photos.

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  Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

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  Photo by Chevanon Photography on Pexels.com

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  Photo by Poodles 2Doodles on Pexels.com

Continuing to life this life with Kindness, Respect, Compassion and Patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Welcome to December 2020

Good Morning ALL. How are you on this “8th sleep/day until Christmas Eve Day?” I am doing well. Finally finished wrapping the gifts last night. Now that is not to say that I overbought or anything but just took a bit longer to get things done. For no real reason. But I am happy and I know that Mr. Alvin is happy to know that his grumpy Momma is done. For some reason last night I was “short” in the patience department, I don’t know why. Work is going well, I am ready for Christmas, all my bills are paid, I saw my daughter on Sunday and I have chatted with friends …. but for some reason I was a bit grumpy. Oh, now I remember it was because Mr. Alvin was being a whiny pants and I was trying to wrap a gift. I did not have a box for the gift and I really wanted to put it in a box. Anyway, we both survived. NO one was harmed. Speaking of Mr. Whiny pants …. someone is giving me that look, he may have to go outside. So this is going to be a short one. I hope that you are doing okay and that all is well in your preparations for the holidays that is for those who celebrate. We all have our own traditions and non-traditions. We are unique individuals so why not. We need to remember that always and forever. We made it out for a walk at noon yesterday was great and then I shovelled my front walk and both my neighbours on each side of us.

Okay, I had better go as I think he may have to go outside and go poop. I know what it is like to have to go the bathroom NOW.

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday. May you be surrounded with love and respect and compassion. May you continue to spread love, respect and compassion to all others.

Happy Wednesday.

Mr. Alvin, I am coming, my little buddy.

P.S. he loves to sniff the gifts. I was afraid that he was going to open one of his sister’s gifts last night. I think it is the tissue paper ….

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

Well it is raining once again here in Edmonton.

We had a beautiful day yesterday.

Sunshine but incredibly windy.

Now it is not so windy and raining.

Everything is in a great state of green.

 

Over the past several months we have all been so much incredible change and so much flux, happening almost daily.

Some folks have lost their jobs.

Others are gladly retaining their jobs but working from home.

Some families have lost family member or members due to this virus.

Some folks have been waiting to have surgeries that have been cancelled or delayed.

Families with children are coping with on-line and at home schooling.

People have had their incomes reduced.

Seniors not able to easily access food and medicines.

All folks having to go through a real ordeal just to put food on their tables.

Then there are all the folks who must go to work each day …. the front line workers.

Such a range of jobs that takes these folks away from their families into a great uncertainty each and every day.

The long hours, little sleep, not a decent meal.

Our normal celebrations with large crowds have been cancelled.

Vacations different.

So much change.

Change that literally touched each and every person on this planet in one way or another.

I know that I have missed so many different situations and if I had more time, I could likely add to this but I am one of the lucky ones.

I have a job.

I have a job that allows me to work from home.

I can be with my Alvin, my pup who is getting older and each week, month and year is precious.

So I very much appreciate this situation.

It was a transition for sure but now that I have things figured out – it is great.

 

I guess my point in all of this is – we do not know what others are feeling or going through at this time.

We must be patient.

We must be kind and respectful.

We must listen.

We must do whatever it takes for us all to be safe.

If that means wearing a mask, then wear the mask.

If that means keeping six feet apart, then keep the distance.

We all need to be good global citizens.

In this situation, at this time, we, each and every one of us can make a difference.

To do whatever it takes.

 

I wish you all a great day.

Living my life with kindness and respect and gratitude.

So much gratitude to my fellow human beings.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning it is officially the second half of this NEW YEAR.

July 1st, 2020.

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends and family.

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians.

Here is Edmonton it is raining and overcast and cool.

Not a great day for outdoor Canada Day celebrations.

As the pools of water are growing as is the mud where there is no pavement.

The grass cannot get any more green.

The trees have had as much water as they need.

The vegetable gardens and flower gardens are more than well watered.

We are reaching the point of too much.

Or at least it would seem that way.

Perhaps not quite that as yet but with the rain continuing to come down it certainly does feel that way.

 

My get and go got up and left.

Alvin is not having much fun in this cool damp weather.

I picked him up his pain meds on Monday and he is on his third one.

He can have one once every 24 hours.

I can tell he is not a happy boy.

We did not get out for a walk yesterday at all.

I think we both are missing our walks.

Also does not look like a walk is in the cards for today.

We have seen our friends and others out for walks but Mr. Alvin is prone to ear infections – yeast.

His ears cannot get wet.

So inside we shall stay until the sun shines.

We are hoping it is sooner than the weather forecast indicates.

 

I am also thinking of turning on the furnace as perhaps some warm air might help Mr.Alvin.

Somehow having the furnace running on July 1st – seems very wrong.

But I guess for a couple of days would be okay.

Perhaps it will give us both that bit of get up and go although Alvin doesn’t seem to have a problem with that.

His is physical whereas mine is mental.

So I will quickly hop in the shower and get clean, not really dirty.

From what?

Just freshen up and my hair …. it would love a shampoo for sure.

Then I will turn on the heat and we will get this day going.

Definitely off to a slow start.

But that is okay.

Nowhere to go and sometimes it is okay to just go slow.

Although last night I was thinking about all of the things I used to do and should be doing.

Making jewelry.

Working with my new watercolours.

Writing that book.

Going through my craft room and getting things in more order.

Figuring out what I really want to do with that space.

There are a million things that I should/would/could be doing.

But at this moment just hoping into the shower is enough.

One foot in front of the other and soon I will crossing the floor.

That is what I always tell Mr. Alvin when he hesitates at a doorway.

 

So Happy Canada Day.

I am grateful that we are in good health for the most part.

I am grateful that we have a home and are safe.

I am grateful that I have choices.

I am grateful for wonderful family and friends.

I am grateful to be employed.

I am grateful for this wonderful country I/We call home.

I am grateful for the trees and the mostly clean air.

I am grateful for bears and seals.

I am grateful for each coast and everything in between.

I am grateful for my fellow Canadians.

Thank you for this great life.

 

Heading for the shower.

Better get this day going.

 

Some flowers to celebrate Canada Day.

 

Living our lives daily and forever with kindness and respect.

I/We, shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Did anyone notice that I forgot to add my sign off yesterday?

Yikes, not good.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 24th day of February, 2016.

Appears to be another beautiful day weather wise.

Alvin and I sure enjoyed our walk last night to the park.

The ice is melting and it is easier and much less dangerous to be out walking the past few days.

So happy about that.

Spring is on the way ……

I did notice a couple of bunnies out and about yesterday morning on my walk to the bus stop AND wait for it …… drum roll please.

THEY ARE STARTING TO TURN BROWN.

That is always a great sign.

Spring is on the way …..

 

February sure seems to be a month for birthdays.

I seem to know a great many people celebrating birthdays this month.

Happy Birthday Everyone.

 

I kind of twisted the muscles in my neck when I was going to bed last night.

Wouldn’t you know it.

Anyway it was difficult to get comfortable and certainly is a bit painful this morning.

Unfortunately I do not have anything to take …. I did find one bottle with one tablet ….. but the bottle had an expiry date of 2014 …..

Not sure if the one tablet was that old but did not wish to take a chance.

Oh well ….. hopefully throughout the day it will work it’s way out.

It is truly funny/sad/strange how easy it is to hurt one’s body with no malice intended.

Age …. likely …… probably ….. maybe not.

Oh well ……. I will just suck it up and get on with the day ….

 

I hope that you enjoy this Wednesday …. middle of the week.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks out there celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, finding a job, finishing school ….. anything that makes you feel happy.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 5th day of July, 2014.

I hope that everyone in North America had a great week of celebrations.

We celebrate Canada Day on Tuesday, July 1st and on July 4th our friends and neighbours to the south, the United States celebrated their birthday.

A full week.  Eating.  Fireworks.  YAY.

There were a great many of our fellow North Americans that have been caught in flooding due to the enormous never ending rainfall, also forest fires, hurricanes and tornadoes.

We hope that they are all safe and receiving help where needed.

Last night or actually earlier this morning we had quite the light show.

I am reminded of the power of Mother Nature.

One moment it was still – the next what seemed like torrential downpour.

Then it ended.

Then the thunder and the lightning.

A couple of times it was so sudden that I jumped up in bed.

I wonder how Alvin did ….. he is at his sister’s house.

It is overcast here this morning and windy.

Well time to get the laundry going, start moving things to the garage for the garage sale next weekend.

I am preparing the house for my daughter and son-in-law and my two grand-puppies who will be living with me and Alvin while their new home is being built.

It is a great time to donate, recycle, sell and give away items no longer needed.

I am so excited.

I have most of the upstairs done.

Just have to rearrange the basement and the garage somewhat.

Also string the bracelets for the wedding jewellery as next Saturday we are having a “jewellery fitting.”

I love the sound of those words.

I have heard of dress fitting but never jewellery fitting.

Sounds appropriate.

On this somewhat dreary but exciting day nonetheless, I hope you are happy and safe.

Take Care.

Special Hello to: my sister …… we have to talk …… and catch up.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 2nd day of July, 2014.

Another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

I had a great long weekend and trust you did as well.

Alvin and I are settling into our new bedroom.

The store was slow with a few bursts of customers.

So I would like to think that people were out enjoying the beautiful day and all of the Canada Day celebrations.

I love watching Alvin as he looks out of our bedroom window.

He can now stand on the bed and look out.

So sometimes he rest his “chin” on the window ledge.

Sometimes he jumps up on his hind legs and rests his front paws on the window ledge.

He definitely likes to see what is going on in the neighbourhood.

He is my neighbourhood “watch dog.”

Nothing gets by him.

Looks like neighbours are back home from the long weekend.

I see trailers back in their spots.

So on this beautiful Wednesday morning, I am so grateful for Alvin, all of my family and friends.

Grateful for the sunshine.

I wish you all a happy day.

Take care.

Special Hello to: Hi sister ….. guess we are playing tag…… I worked yesterday …… talk to you soon…

Always, Carol and Alvin