Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning ALL. OH my goodness! we were up at 4:13 and yes, the boy had an early breakfast and then back to the sofa for some more sleep. I woke up just before 7:00 and decided as it was still dark and I wasn’t ready to get up for the day, we laid down and then it was 7:30 and we came upstairs, then we laid down on the bed and I just looked out the window thinking about things and looking at the street lamp. All of a sudden it was much lighter out and I came into the office where I had turned on the computer when we first came upstairs and it was 8:48 a.m. WOW, time flies. Guess I should have stayed up at 7:30 as this post would have been done, a load of laundry would be washed and in the dryer and a second load would have been in the washer, I would have had the coffee on, the bedding would have been changed and I would be starting to eat breakfast. WOW, how can that happen. There is something about it being dark and the weekend that keeps me from wanting to get up and at it. I don’t have this problem during the work week but then again I know that I must get up and work. I guess that is the difference. Likely I am not alone in this but I wished that I would have stayed up. Oh well, it is done. Now to get this day cracking.

Another gorgeous sunrise. I do love when the horizon seems to be filled with hues of pink and orange. So pretty.

Alvin is sitting in the hallway just looking at me and likely wondering why?

We had a great Friday. Alvin’s bestie Teddy and his little sister Kobi spent the day with us from 8 to 5. Kobi is such a little character. Still very much a puppy and so full of energy. Alvin and Teddy well they do have their moments but mostly they are happy to just hang out. Thankfully it was nice outside as she wanted to go outside and just investigate the snowbanks in the backyard. So cute. Despite the interruptions I managed to get lots of work down. Also our parcel came from our good friend in Regina. Chalked full of delicious treats and this very cool cookbook, actually more than a cookbook. I am going to give you all the name as the author and chef is going to give a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book to help support the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. How wonderful is that. The book is “One Loaf at a Time” by CJ KATZ and on the other side “One Bowl at a Time” ….. virtually two books in one. There are stories of the Pandemic and how it affected CJ and her family, the province of Saskatchewan and Canada and the world Photos of the folks who graciously gave their recipes for this worthy cause. She even mentioned the “toilet paper” hoarding, the shortages of flour and sugar and other baking ingredients as those of us who were at home started baking and cooking. Some people had nothing much to do with having to stay at home, so they learned to cook and to bake. Have you heard the term “the COVID 15” which relates to the weight gain over the past few months which I think may have been early on and is likely more more. I heard that phrase somewhere and not note that I have not read that in the book thus far. She mentions how retail placed arrows on the store floors to try and move people in the same direction and keeping them 6 feet or 2 metres apart. This is a great book. The photos of the food are so good that they make you want to start grabbing the ingredients from your cupboard/pantry and start baking/cooking. I am so proud of my friend as she has a recipe in the book as well. They are friends, how cool. In addition to this great book I received a “cinnamon bun loaf”, some little muffins for Alvin which he shared some of which Teddy and Kobi, butter tarts, apple tarts, shortbread, moonpies (I think they are called), and more. There are packages of different kind of cookies and other sweet treats and some goldfish crackers that I have never seen before and more. Totally spoiled we are. One quick story. You know that Mr. Alvin is a master gift opener. If not, he is. I placed his wrapped gift (which was the muffins) on the floor. Of course, Teddy and Kobi, most especially Kobi circled nearby as he very deftly with his nose and mouth and holding the gift with his paw opened it. I took the video and once he got it mostly open, I grabbed it quickly before he accidentally ate the plastic that the muffins were in. So cute. I am so grateful to be blessed with the most generous friend(s) on the planet.

Well I guess it is getting way late here and Mr. Alvin is not changing the bedding nor is he gathering the towels for the laundry nor is he putting on the coffee for his Momma. He is leaving it all up to me. What a great guy!

I hope that you are doing great. We are getting close to DECEMBER now. Only couple more days now. YAY. Next weekend I will start and finish the Christmas baking. Pretty sure I have all of the ingredients that I require as the pantry and cupboards are jammed packed full of items.

Have a great Saturday.

Enjoy your morning coffee, tea or juice. Go for a nice walk. Don’t forget to do something nice for someone. There is not a better feeling than to help someone in need. That way you will have more energy and feel so much better about things. Show some gratitude. It works. Believe me, it works.

Alvin and I will continue to live our lives showing kindness and respect and compassion for all. We might be having a “sidewalk” visit today with our friends Ali and Bailey down the street. Bailey is no longer that little puppy. She is getting big. We see her sometimes out walking with her Grandpa.

Happy Saturday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to January 1st, 2020.

I was thinking that I have to come up with a new “title” for my morning posts and all I can think of at this time is “It is a NEW YEAR.”

Can be subject to change.

Alvin and I stayed up until after midnight.

Some of our neighbours (not real close by) were setting off fireworks which for second time gave Mr. Alvin a start.

Actually just before bed, I opened the back door to let him out to the backyard and there was a loud bang which startled both of us.

I was kind of happy that I had slept a bit longer yesterday as I normally do not stay awake / up until after midnight.

Actually we even on most weekends are in bed no later than 10:00 p.m.

Last night we both brought in the New YEAR, 2020.

I wanted to be awake for that first second of the New YEAR.

It was great to hear Bryan Adams sing.

These are the photos that I took on December 31st, 2019.

One of our neighbours and friends stopped by to give Mr. Alvin a Christmas gift.

Is he not the luckiest boy/dog on the planet?

He opened it like a pro.

My photos that I put together for our NEW YEAR WISHES on social media (ok, just facebook).

Fireworks in Edmonton at the Legislative Buildings …. I snapped the photos from the comfort of my home (via television).

Today is the first day of our New YEAR, a new decade.

Perhaps a time for new beginnings.

 

Happy New YEAR Everyone.

Me and Alvin are just going to hang out together on this beautiful day.

We were already outside and it is beautiful so a great day for a walk.

Perhaps a longer walk if Mr. Alvin is up for one.

Back to work tomorrow so will get my clothes together and make a lunch.

 

Wishing you all the most glorious New Year.

The best of all things for 2020.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. now when to take down the Christmas decorations, I cannot decide (but not today) and time to start planning Mr.Alvin’s 11th birthday party.

Also this is going to be a pancake breakfast kind of first day of the New Year.

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 18th day of November, 2018.

Our buddy Teddy left for home with his Mama yesterday morning so the house is SO quiet with only me and Mr. Alvin.

My plans for the day changed when one of my friends called to invite me to go with her to a neighbouring city “St. Albert” to the Enjoy Centre which is a greenhouse/nursery/retail space

where a large “Craft Sale” was being held.

All the vendors had made their wares.

There were all mediums of art: painting on regular canvases, ceramics, woodworking, stained glass and glass art, illustrator/graphic designers, doll makers, coffee brewers, jewellery of every possible

description, things for your pets, fudge and different types of candy, dried mushrooms, condiments, pie maker (not ordinary pies), and so much more.

We came across the paintings, Art by Monk.  She is a famous West Coast Artist and her work was amazing.

My friend and I were speaking to one of her agents and did not even realize that she was on the other side of the display, painting.

I saw a painting of a FOX that was incredible and had the nicest frame on it, as well.

So many things.

I was on visual overload.

I was so excited to come across the same artist “Mackenzie Jones” that my daughter and I bought rings from in a store in Canmore on our girls road trip this past summer.

Love our rings and I wear mine everyday.

Our second trip and each time I have bought a ring made locally and I wear them daily.

A fond reminder of our Mother/Daughter time together.

Needless to say in between the time Teddy left and I went on the craft trip, not much was done so today I have lots to do.

I did go for a short walk with Mr. Alvin in between the craft trip and the Christmas party.

 

Our “friends” Christmas party that was slated for December 1, 2018 was moved up as one of the girls is leaving for down east next week with her daughter and husband and

will not be here for the party.

We had it last night.

So much fun.

The girls provided the snacks and refreshments and told me only to bring myself as there was very short notice about the change in plans.

Even though I had just ate supper, it was not very long when I caved and had some goodies.

ARGH, it begins.

With no car not so easy to pop out and pick up items and no time to bake the “Oreo Cheesecakes” that was I going to bring.

We laughed and caught up in our news.

Some selfie shots were made but ended up only getting odd head shots of the three of us.

A time to laugh for sure.

Alvin stayed home and slept.

The gal that hosted the party gave us all a gift which we were not doing but she is a bad girl and doesn’t listen.

I received a bottle of “Vanilla Bean Noel” foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works, a necklace of Christmas lights and light up and some peanut butter/chocolate Reese pieces.

So excited about the necklace as I will wear it to work.

We love our necklaces.

Best present ever.

 

She also picked me up some hand soaps from Bath & Body Works when they were at West Edmonton Mall yesterday morning to see Santa (with her daughter).

The mall was crazy busy and I was grateful she ran the errand for me.

The hand soaps were on for a really, really good price.

On the way home last night it was snowing.

It was still snowing a bit at 5:30 when we first got up this morning but had stopped when we got up to stay up about 8:15 a.m.

I was pleasantly surprised when I looked out the window to see the front walk shovelled.

Must have been my neighbour to the west …. so nice.

Earlier I thought I hear some noise out front but did not pay attention as we were snoozing on the sofa from 5:30 to 8:15 a.m.

Well time to get this day going.

I popped the first of four loads of laundry into the washing machine.

Coffee has been made so need coffee.

Such a great Saturday.

I seldom go out and almost never TWICE in the same day.

 

Lots to do today submit a Steeped Tea order, clean bathrooms, do some laundry, walk with Alvin and more.

Happy Sunday.

I hope that you were able to spend time outside of your home.

Another warmer day on the way.

YAY.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are artistic and make things.  You rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin