The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. The sunrise seems to be faint in the distance but I can see very light colours of orange and pink. That is a good sign. The night sky has diminished and the lighter blue of the morning has taken over. It is windy this morning. As I look out of my office window, I see mostly dirty snow banks what is left of them and bare ground. The windrows of snow that line the front public sidewalk have decreased in size by more than three-quarters. Those that remain are dirty as they are filled with sand and gravel that once covered the ice on the streets. It does not look pretty but yet there is some likeable about the scene. Perhaps it is because we know that the renewal of spring lies just ahead with the buds on the trees and the green blades of grass that peer out from the snow on the lawns, the first perennials start to bloom (tulips). It is perfection. So I shall be patient with the somewhat drab appearance of nature at this moment. Drab but still beautiful. We will be happy that to have no snow and ice. It will be great to be able to go for a walk and not have to worry about ice and snow and outerwear. Yesterday we walked twice once again for a total of 50 minutes. I am starting to feel less of the winter me and more of the spring me. Does that make sense? I think we are somewhat different over the different seasons. Makes sense, somehow. Just like a child at Christmas waiting for Santa to make an appearance. I am grateful to live in Canada where we have four distinct seasons. One of them is much longer than the rest but we have different ones all the same.

Can you believe that it is Thursday, March 31, 2022 already? April tomorrow.

Speaking of March 31st, today is the birthday of an longtime friend of mine, I have known her since the early 1980’s. Happy Birthday Polly. Alvin and I wish you a great day and may your days ahead be filled with much love, laughter, good health and abundance.

I don’t have much to say this morning. Sometimes when the sun is not shining I feel quiet with not many words to share. Not that I am not thinking but my mind is more quiet than usual. Perhaps the clouds or less than bright sky is Mother Nature’s way of having us slow down, be quiet onto ourselves. Just a thought.

Time for coffee and then to work.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am grateful for you, me and the world.

2021

Good Morning All! How are you this morning? It is Thursday, December 9, 2021. There are 15 sleeps till Christmas Eve, 15 sleeps till Santa arrives. Are you excited? I am. I am a 6 year old girl locked up in the body of a 64 year old woman. I believe that says it all. When I was a little girl, I remember being so excited and wondering if Santa got my letter or was listening to me when I said aloud what treasures I would like under the tree. At my real age, I honestly do not remember specific gifts other than a watch which I was both excited and disappointed in receiving. I wanted something a bit more exciting and not so practical. I think that I was about 11, maybe 12. I remember my sister and I getting dolls. There was a horrible year when we girls received these toy machine guns complete with the rat-a-tat noise. I was mortified. We had three younger brothers and I do not remember what they received for Christmas that year but guns for girls. Can you imagine buying your young daughter a toy machine gun for Christmas. I am not sure what I told my friends when they asked what I received for Christmas. Why anyone would think that making toy guns for children was a good idea whether in the 1960’s or at any time is beyond me. But back then, it was as it is still today, all about the money, the sales. Whatever they can advertise whether it is good for children or not, they do. I will say that when I had my daughter, I made quite certain that she had age appropriate gifts and things that she actually wanted. But it was likely my Dad that bought the gifts and he did not think about what the girls would like or the boys but rather whatever he could easily find.

Thankfully yesterday, I was able to get some ice melt from my neighbour and I was able to clear most of the ice from my sidewalk and I also put some ice melt down for them and cleared some of the ice from their walk as well. It is still warm out but I am concerned that even though I scraped away the ice once it melted, the sidewalk was still wet and maybe have a very thin layer of ice on it this morning. I have a friend who is dropping off something this morning and I sure hope that the sidewalk is okay. I wished that I would have shovelled a path through the snow on our front lawn for people wanting to come up to the house. I will keep an eye out for her. What a crazy December. I guess we had thunder and lightning the other night before we had the rain. I can honestly say that I do not ever remember having thunder and lightning in December. But apparently it happened, I missed it. Oh darn, that would be one for the memory books. Anyway, be safe out there all you folks that have to drive to work or to school or for anything, really and on the sidewalks, put on those ice grips or something it is scary icy in places.

Well time to head on downstairs. Alvin did not go outside after his breakfast at 5:00 a.m. nor did he want to go out when I came upstairs. He must have to go.

Take care and be safe.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. thank you Gillian for picking up a few things from Costco for me. I cannot wait to try the new bread and now we have popcorn for awhile. Nice treat to have with all of the sweets.

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Wow, we had the most beautiful sun drenched Thursday.

So happy that Alvin and I were able to enjoy it with a walk and the mowing of our backyard.

Happy Friday the 13th.

I believe it is going to be a great day.

My youngest brother was born on Friday the 13th in January many moons ago.

 

As the past couple of weeks have ALL about my boy, I thought that I would share a poem that I wrote to him on our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of being together.

 

ALVIN,

You came into my life almost a year ago ..

You were small, needy and unwell..

You made me feel anxious and sad,

Helpless and mad.

But then one day … the veil lifted.

I fell in love with YOU.

Loving your dog is unlike the love you have for a child, friend or sibling.

It is unconditional.

No strings attached.

No arguments or compliments

The view is one-sided

Or perhaps it is not.

But the feelings are felt.

It is true and inspiring.

You have taught me patience.

To be more loving.

You came into my life late one night.

Almost one year ago.

An idea not conceived thoroughly

But yet ….. it was …

You are where you are supposed to be.

Lucky ME.

I am blessed to have you in my life.

We are joined at the hip (sometimes at the foot) LOL.

But nonetheless we are joined.

I love you Alvin.

You bring me great joy.

Continual amazement.

I know that you understand me.

Each word ….. even when you tilt your head to the side.

I know you know….

Thank you so much…..

Love

Always, Your “Mom”

This KISS, this KISS (please stop, Mom you are embarrassing me!!)

 

Written on our first Anniversary together … January 19, 2011.

 

 

WIth kindness and respect the days are happier.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

A bright sunny morning filled with beautiful blue sky.

Father’s Day today.

 

 

FATHER’S DAY

There are so many Fathers on this beautiful planet of ours.

Fathers in every city, town, village and rural community.

Some came by it naturally, biologically and others did not.

There are Fathers who teach their children good manners.

There are Fathers who play with their children.

There are Fathers who work far too hard with no time to give.

There are Fathers who never learned how to parent.

There are Fathers who came into the situation and treated those children with kindness and respect.

There are all kinds of Fathers on this planet.

Some Fathers play good role models to their nieces and nephews and friend’s children.

Some Fathers never had children but have four-legged babies.

There are all kinds out there.

We celebrate them all.

 

I have known a great many Dads of all types over my lifetime.

Some very good and others not.

We cannot say with all certainty as to why someone is not a good parent.

After all we cannot read their minds.

There are many reasons.

But some “Dads” take to it naturally and some do not.

Today,

On this day, we celebrate Fathers, Dads …..

For their contributions to our lives.

No matter what they gave or took away from us …. those contributions made us who we are today.

For this we, I celebrate them.

 

Happy Fathers Day ……

 

 

Written by CY Lewis on this June 16, 2019

Edmonton, Alberta

with Mr. Alvin at my side……

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 13th day of May, 2018.

The sky is bright filled with the morning sunlight and there is a breeze.

Coolness filled the bedroom this morning.

Grateful for that on a day that will be very warm.

************************

Happy Mother’s Day.

We all play a role in Mother’s Day.

You may have given birth to a child.

You may have adopted a child.

You may have adopted or rescued a pup or a cat or a bird or a squirrel.

You may have given refuge to another human being.

It does not matter how or who you have given mothering to but it matters that you do.

To all those Mothers out there.

Happy Mother’s Day.

You arise early so that you can make breakfast for your charges.

You walk and talk with them.

You love them and comfort them.

You hope that they will be in good health.

You hope that they will be kind and good to themselves and to others.

You hope that their life will be abundant.

Above all else … you have faith.

So on this one day a year that is specially marked for us to celebrate our Mothers.

Let us do so.

Be creative.

Walk with them, talk with them, spend time with them.

Mothers do not WISH for you to bring them fancy jewellery, huge bouquets of flowers or dinners at a fancy restaurant.

They just want YOU.

Happy Mother’s Day.

To all the Mothers out there, the others that I know and the ones that I do not know.

You are precious.

There could not be life without you.

Happy Mother’s Day.

With Love….

 

 

Written by Carol Lewis on Sunday, May 13, 2018

 

 

Special Hello to:  MOMS, Happy Mother’s Day.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 15th day of April, 2018.

Overcast this morning but not cold outside.

I have a pool of water taking up most of the green space in the back yard.

It is waiting for the ground to thaw and for warmer temperatures to carry it out to the storm drain.

Gotta love spring.

At the other end of the water is a snowbank.

Poor Alvin …. no where to go.

Thankfully there remains some snow on the deck for those early morning bathroom breaks and at night.

Slowly the snow is melting.

When I look down our street it still looks like winter.

On the side that faces north there remains about two or so feet of snow on the front yards and on the side that faces south, NONE.

 

I was listening to a program on television reporting about the melting permafrost in the Northern part of Canada.

Slowly land is disappearing and falling away.

Anything buried in the permafrost over time since perhaps the beginning of time is thawing.

Scary thought.

Bacteria, dust and mold.

All once frozen is thawing.

Anthrax from a once frozen animal has made a child deathly ill.

 

I am not quite certain how I went from spring to the melting permafrost in our North.

Point being our climate – our environment is changing.

We see it in many ways all around the world.

If you think that picking up that piece of styrofoam laying on the front lawn Or that flicking your cigarette butt into the storm drain DOES NOT MATTER,

You are sadly mistaken.

Our oceans are filled with garbage.

Microscopic plastic fibres are finding their way into the drinking water.

Marine life are eating what they think is food.

We are eating that marine life.

 

Something to think about.

It is not something we can ignore any longer.

 

Special Hello to:   all residents of the planet Earth.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 31st day of January, 2017.

Wow, the last day of the month.

I am back …. was down with a “bug” yesterday but am feeling AWESOME today.

Sure was windy yesterday.

Woke up this morning to a nice thick layer of snow.

It was still snowing at 5:00 and at 5:30 when I was out shovelling.

Had to shovel a path for Mr. Alvin ….. so he would go “poop.”

***********************************

Today feels like the day to see how I started this BLOG …. my very first blog.

How have things changed …. well that will be tomorrow.

This is written on April 5, 2010 ….. wow.

I managed to write most days since that time.

Which is a huge accomplishment.

Here is how it all began:

 

Hi Everyone,

I want to share my “world” with you.  Writing has always played a major role in my life in one way, shape or form.  My dream is to be a published writer, a creator of works to share with the world.  This is my beginning.  My New Life @ 51 will start going back almost two years.  It was just after I turned “51” that I decided to retire after near thirty years with the same company, and  move to a new city in a new province.  Lots of surprises and gifts along the way.  Being “50” something is a bit different from “30” something especially in this day and age.

My life has always been near chaos to some degree.  I decided it was time while I was still young enough to make some monumental changes, to just go for it.  Needless to say my decisions caused much speculation amongst my family and friends. Playing a major role in my motivation was having my only child, my daughter living hundreds of miles away.  We only saw each other a couple of times each year.  She moved in August of 2002 to further her education, and this was the summer of 2008.  We missed each other terribly,  and I missed so many birthdays and just days.  Well, it was time to make some changes!

They say that timing is everything but I think you make your own.  Timing that is. Staying positive, and being optimistic are important tools to living your life.  They certainly have helped me during the past year and a half.

I hope that you will enjoy my “BLOG” and that perhaps I can help to inspire you to make changes, and try something new.  It doesn’t matter how big or how small a change is but spreading your wings is a good thing.  Learning something new keeps your brain alive and functioning. Keeps you young.   Also I want to share some of the things that I have learned during my almost “53” years on this good old planet Earth.  Maybe a recipe for my favourite cookies (everyone rants and raves over) or how to entertain a two year old.  Just the stuff of life.

If you follow my adventure on this BLOG, I promise to entertain you, educate and inspire and above all, make you LAUGH. Laughter is so important in our lives, and we should all laugh more often.  Belly laugh…… till your eyes fill with “water” !!

Anyway, here goes …………  🙂

 

***************************************************************************

Special Hello to: all those folks who took the time out of their busy schedules to read my works.  I am so thankful for your time.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 10th day of September, 2016.

The sun is shining amidst some deep blue rain clouds.

I hope that the sun wins out.

The forecast is for a nice day.

Last night Alvin and I enjoyed a beautiful walk in our neighbourhood.

The leaves are turning away from summer green to fall yellows and oranges and reds.

Mostly yellows at this time.

Alvin is waiting patiently for us so that we can go downstairs.

Of course, he forgets that we were up much earlier than now for his breakfast.

This morning decided to work backwards by having a shower, changing bedding and doing my blog before having breakfast, writing in my gratitude journal and having coffee.

I like to check back from time to time and see what I wrote over the years and I found something that is good advice if you will and a little bit funny.

From September 2010:

P.S.  Every day take a few minutes and just be grateful.  Pick up a notebook and it doesn’t have to be fancy. Then every morning before you go out into the world or if you are at home before you start doing your thing – write down all of the things you are grateful for or at least five.  Trust me, you feel better and it starts the tone for your day.  Suddenly that drive to work is more relaxing, the little one tugging on your pants (child or dog) doesn’t make you crazy, waiting in the line-up for your first cup of coffee doesn’t phase you out in the least and you just plain feel better.  Being grateful and loving just make the world a better place.  Also, remember to thank the girl that just made your first cup of coffee, and  to thank the young man that held the door open for you.

Back to 2016,

Have a brilliant Saturday.

We have quiet plans to do laundry, go for walks and do some tea stuff.

Happy Saturday.

Special Hello to: all of my dear friends and family ….. I think of you all the time.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 28th day of July, 2016.

It is a gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

The sunrise is the most brilliant delicious red with orange and yellow hues.

In contrast to the south there are deep blue rain clouds filling the sky.

Earlier I saw a bolt of lightning light up the early morning sky.

I quickly grabbed my tablet to get a couple of photos of this amazing morning sky.

It has been hot with temperatures of high 20’s celsius but the ringer is the humidity ….

With the humidity it feels like in the 30’s …. hot and muggy.

Along with the weather of course we have had many a thunderstorm filled with manic rain showers, thunder and lightning.

Yesterday afternoon at work about 2:00 p.m. it was raining in buckets.

I was hoping it would stop before I was off work as getting soaked on your walk to the bus is only a bit fun.

Yes, I said it …. the child in me, does not mind.

After work is okay to be wet ….

I carry an umbrella with me but sometimes it does not matter.

I remember years ago on my way to work I did not have an umbrella and was soaked completely through and with the air conditioning in the building it literally took me all day to dry out.

Not a comfortable way to spend the day.

The sun is shining so brilliantly now that the blue sky to the south is almost sparkling and with another bolt of lightning.

What a beautiful sky this morning.

Well time once again to leave for work.

I wish that I had the time to show my photos but they do not capture the true beauty of this morning’s sky.

Close your eyes and use your imagination and you will see what I see.

Have a wonderful day.

Happy Weather er, I mean Thursday.

Special Hello to: all those folks who love weather.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 26th day of March, 2016.

Can you believe it?

We are on day 26 of March 2016.

Wow, this year is certainly zipping along.

It sure seems that the years are evaporating ….. good thing or not??

I guess we are so busy that time flies ….

No regrets …..

It is just a fact of life.

Nature.

Time.

 

I remember as a young girl thinking it would take so long for school to start after summer holidays.

I remember as a young girl thinking it was forever until Christmas.

It is because as a child you are focused in the present.

As a child you live in the now.

Children do not dwell on the past or the future.

Of course, we thought of past events or future ones.

But by in large our thoughts were focused in the present.

Once you get older you think about what you should/would have done and what you could be doing.

It is not thought based on today or the present.

Most adults live partially in the past and in the future.

It just seems to be that way.

Life …….

 

So on this Saturday …. I am preparing for a Steeped Tea party at my house right after lunch.

I am excited as it is some of my co-workers coming over.

It will be nice to share some tea with them.

I told Alvin that we were going to have company today and his little tail started a wagging.

 

Yesterday his sister brought him home.

My grand-puppy Elton came with her and we had a wonderful visit.

Sharing photos and videos of our Penny.

She was shocked that I had over 28,000 photos/videos on my computer.

She was so happy to see some videos that I had of the puppies.

When you lose a loved one photos and videos bring back happy memories.

To see that one in happier times is good therapy …. good to help with the grieving process.

So when someone says you take a lot of photos and videos …. just tell them you are preparing a life journal for your loved ones.

 

So as we cherish the past, are happy to be living today and look forward to tomorrow ….. remember to do what you can today ….. live a life with no regrets.

Tell your family and friends that you love them and that they are important.

Take that photo, that video clip.

 

Have a wonderful Saturday.

Thank you for reading my blog.

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends all over the world.

Always, Carol and Alvin