The Next Chapter

Good Morning. The sky is overcast this morning and as I have not opened the window to breathe in the air, I do not know whether it is from possible rain clouds or from the smoke of wildfires. Yesterday they lifted the evacuation notices and four Alberta communities went home. Some of these communities remain on alert. The Alberta Fire Lead said that even though they are on alert much work has been done by the army and firefighters to separate the communities from the spread of fire. Fingers crossed. Hopefully more rain is on the way to us and to the areas affected by the wildfires.

Thursday today. The week just zipped by. I have some photos to share from our walk last night. Poor Bruno even though he mustered enough energy to walk with many rest stops even is not doing well and there is not good news on the horizon. Oh, Bruno, I have fallen in love with you! Eddie and Bruno are such wonderful dogs.

Bruno treat time

Eddie & Bruno

Bruno

Bruno

Bruno

Eddie

Eddie, Me & Bruno

Eddie & the light

Bruno and Eddie

Eddie

Bruno

Bruno

In the Park

Bruno

Walking

Bruno

Bruno

Bruno

I am so happy that I have been able to reconnect and get to know both Eddie & Bruno and their lovely parents in these last weeks. Our time together will be cherished by me forever. Their Poppy was showing me photos on his phone last night during out walk and these boys are so photogenic. I only wished that I was a better photographer. Most days we have no idea where our life is going to take us and I am grateful that I have been able to spend my evenings with these handsome boys and their parents. My life is good. I am so grateful that we had another evening of clear blue and sunny skies.

Time to head downstairs. Have a wonderful day.

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.

Last Days 2022 – December 29th

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I would say that I am okay, we are okay. Not sure why but Mr. Alvin was up basically every two hours last night. He did have to pee when we first were up at 12:30, then at 2:30 (just up), then 3:00 (gave him his glucosamine chew), then I don’t remember if it was 4:00 or 5:00 then it was 6:15; needless to say we were not up to stay up until 9:15 a.m. I hope that we get our schedule worked out before next week. Working with such disruptive sleep is not much fun and I can say that from experience. Fingers crossed.

We had a quiet day. My daughter ordered a new iMac from Costco for me. It is to be delivered on next Tuesday. I also placed an order to Ricki’s for some new items. There is no way on this planet that I would pay their ticketed prices so with a massive sale; it was the perfect time to pick up a few things. I am very excited to have a new computer. This computer has served me well. She has been here with me for the past 13 years, I purchased her the summer after I moved to Edmonton. The poor girl is no longer able to take updates but that is okay. She is able to do what I need for the most part. A new computer is a huge deal. This will be my third iMac or is it the 4th? Oh my, now I am not sure. I do think it is the third one though. LOL.

Alvin and I went for a short walk yesterday. I had planned to walk at least to the park but not Alvin. So grateful for this nice weather. There appears to be clear skies developing on the horizon. Sunshine would be wonderful as it has been cloudy here for the past few days. I did some shovelling yesterday. Yes, I also went and paid for my eyeglasses and they should be here in a couple of weeks which is about the same time as I go back for another eye pressure test. Hopefully it has gone back to normal. I was reading that coffee is not good for high eye pressure. I also went to Shoppers and cashed in my “winning” lotto tickets/scratch tickets from Christmas for the grand total of $44.00 and a freeplay on the Lotto 649. YAY, me.

In a little while, I will give Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath.

Christmas Eve 2022 hanging out with Alvin, Aspen and Mi-Mi (aren’t they adorable). Alvin was snooping under the tree looking for his gifts to open.

Alvin looking for his presents

I will post more Christmas photos tomorrow.

We hope that you have a great Thursday. Tonight, I am invited to a neighbours home for a visit.

Fingers crossed that Alvin’s haircut goes well.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Hello, I cannot say that it is a good morning. I am terrified to go back downstairs and start this day. Last night while I was cooking supper, I heard a noise from the kitchen. The noise was the lid from Alvin’s wet food tin falling onto something, which I had left by the sink with some dirty dishes. I had put some water in the sink and was going to do dishes after I ate. Both Alvin and Cookie were with me in the living room. My heart sank, I knew what it would be. I stood up and walked around the sofa and to the end of the kitchen counter and on the other side of the sink I saw the creature that I fear the most, bigger than a spider and faster, a mouse. I can barely type those words. My throat is dry as I am so scared to go back downstairs to start this day. Poor Alvin. Anyway, when I saw the mouse, I grabbed my phone from the charger and ran to the door, screaming as I ran to the farthest point from him/her. It took me a few seconds or perhaps even a minute to actually text my neighbour Jessica, and all I could type was HELP followed by the word Mouse. I believe that I was hyperventilating. It felt like my throat was dry and I was crying and screaming. The poor dogs were frozen in positions on the sofa. After I texted Jessica, I texted another friend quickly as I know that she is not afraid of these creatures but I also knew that she has a sore back. It wasn’t long before I heard I heard a noise on the porch, so I scooped up Cookie so that she would not run outside. I surely did not need something else wrong. My neighbour came into the house and immediately went into the kitchen, the mouse was still on the counter. It ended up behind the stove but when she moved the stove, it was gone. It did not appear that there was any place for it to go. Somewhere in between all of this my friend and her daughter arrived. It may have been before the stove was moved, I don’t really remember. I was beside me. My friend had brought a mousetrap with her and the girls were trying to set it behind the stove. But after several tries it would not work. Someone googled to find what could be done in interim. Apparently they do not like tin foil, I did not know that. My neighbour had stuffed tin foil around the entrance points by the stove and counter and floor. I knew that they do not like bounce sheets or dryer sheets and I have them all over the furnace room, well not all over. In a few spots. Anyway, after several minutes of not seeing the mouse, my friend and her daughter went home and my neighbour suggested that she go to Walmart and pick up some traps and other supplies. I feared to be alone but it was the best thing to do. I had the pups there. Also Cookie’s family were on their way home. What a mess. My dinner had been cooking in the oven. So it was on the kitchen table but my appetite was not there but I did have a couple of carrots and roasted potatoes. I held Cookie while the girls were there and she was shaking. I can only imagine that I scared her half to death. Alvin just kept staring at me. It was not long before my neighbour was back. She pulled out the stove, set two traps, just like that and pushed the stove back. At this time, I have no idea if the mouse was caught or not. I cannot move the stove. I will need help. I had to take a day off work as I am so petrified to be downstairs. Anyway, my neighbour stayed for a few hours. We threw away some items from my counter that I could not easily clean and sanitized the rest. We washed, well she washed dishes and I dried. We did a load in the dishwasher. Bless her heart, my neighbour accidentally put the coffee perk in the water before I noticed, it is electric and cannot be submerged in water. How could I be mad? She was in autopilot mode trying to keep my spirits up and help. The pot actually needed to be replaced. Anyway, Cookie’s family got home and picked her up just before 11:00 p.m. and shortly after that we came upstairs to my safe place. Alvin is whining now so I must go. He likely has to pee. He has been so good. My neighbour is going to bring me coffee and stay for a bit while I figure out what to do. I still have to take down Christmas decorations. What a mess! Well not a mess, I feel like a mess. It would not have been so bad if the creature had not been on the counter, that freaked me out bigtime. Note to self, never leave the lid from his food uncleaned on the counter. It was not there long but enough time.

Breathe. Oh and I spent some time on the phone with my daughter while my neighbour was at Walmart. Oh, I am surrounded by strong women. I am so grateful. I wished that I could have the essence of CAT in the house so that they would stay away.

I am going to text Jessica and she will bring over some coffee. I definitely need coffee. I will put my winter boots back on, they give me a false sense of security but a security nonetheless. I put them on right away last night when this all started. I had to take the bag of garbage out to the garage and then they were covered in snow so I had to put on slippers. Not quite as good.

What a night. I pray and hope that it is gone forever and never to return.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS I am thinking that I may set up my workstation in my office for the rest of the week. Not sure if I can work in the kitchen at this point. I am even afraid to open cupboard doors and drawers. All the things we washed are cleaned and sitting on the kitchen table.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well today would be Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

Today is EARTH DAY.

It is overcast here in Edmonton.

Yesterday started out gloomy but ended up bright, sunny and +18 degrees celsius.

I am starting work a bit later today as I was requested to attend a meeting before my later shift schedule began.

So we slept in.

Actually surprise to end all surprises, Mr. Alvin slept in until 6:23 a.m.

I think that may have been the latest in years.

Usually he is up anywhere between 3:30 and 4:45 a.m.

It was nice.

 

I have been thinking about this EARTH DAY.

Listening to the reports on the weather channel of how different the environment whether on land or water is reacting to the COVID-19.

Meaning that with no humans on the beaches and in areas where they normally snorquel by the thousands daily, marine life has returned.

They even found algae where there has been none for decades.

You hear of clear skies in other countries where there is massive manufacturing done when those factories were closed due to the virus.

Just so many wonderful stories.

 

I am sad and disappointed that we have to have a worldwide pandemic in order for the environment to do better and in some cases thrive.

Tells us something.

I guess it will be up to us to listen and to take action.

Definitely less manufacturing.

Perhaps this is the time we need to think about all those trinkets and baubles and such.

Are these things that we actually need to live our lives?

No.

Most of us have houses filled with things that we do not use in our daily lives.

They are ornamental.

There to look good.

Not in our homes and lives to ensure that we live a happy, healthy life.

Not necessary.

With the ever increasing population on this planet, it is something we definitely should think about.

There needs to be less manufacturing.

Food for thought.

 

On this Earth Day, well actually yesterday, I turned off the heat in my house.

It was quite cool in here this morning but I just put on socks and long sleeves and long pants.

There is always a sweater should I need another layer.

The snow has almost melted in the front and back yards.

I have some plants in my back raised flower/shrub bed that are green.

There are blades of green grass in our yards.

On this Earth Day it takes on a whole new meaning.

See what happens when we step back and stay home.

I know that we cannot all continue this indefinitely but we have helped the environment in ways that we do not even realize.

Please ensure that you turn off lights when you are not in the room.

If you do not need the heat, turn off the heat at the thermostat (not the furnace – because that is a whole other story).

Walk more and drive your car less.

Use glass instead of plastic.

We can do this …..

 

I hope that you are all safe, healthy and enjoying some laughter along the way.

Be kind and respectful to all including yourself.

Have an awesome EARTH DAY.

 

Living with kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. my Hello Fresh BOX arrived yesterday and I am excited to try my first meal tonight.

I will keep you posted as to the quality of the ingredients etc.

Still waiting for my STEEPED TEA order to arrive.  Says in TRANSIT and was supposed to be delivered Monday, then yesterday.

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning World.

Welcome to Sunday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The SUN is SHINING brightly.

I can imagine the birds singing as I sit here clacking away on the keyboard.

My trusty companion Alvin is laying on his blue blanket on the floor beside my chair.

The sky is the purest of the palest of blues that I have seen in a while.

YAY, I love Sundays.

The coffee is perking away and I am energized by the aroma as it wafts throughout the house.

Life is good.

 

Last night I was invited to attend a “paint night” with my young friends.

We had a hoot.

The painting is not actually painting in what we traditionally know it to be ….

but rather with this little plastic stick of sorts you pick up a bead that has a round head and flat bottom and lay it onto the picture.

It reminds me of paint by numbers but the picture is sticky and you attach beads.

The pictures are pre numbered of course and they are small beads.

All of our paintings were different views of the sunrise and sunset.

Morning, daytime and evening.

I cannot wait to finish mine.

Definitely longer than a one evening project.

I only did about a 1/4 and then stopped to just concentrate on visiting with my friends.

But so much fun.

We chattered away catching up on our our news and the world’s.

All three of us brought some goodies to share.

There was the taco dip and chips, veggie and fruit tray and dip, “energy bites,” goldfish and breton crackers, and this crazy yummy chocolate pudding with whipped cream and graham cracker

crumb dessert.

We had coffee and wine.

I am so grateful to have these gals as my friends.

We support and love each other.

They have young families so I am kind of like the Grandma or an older Aunt.

I have seen their children grow over the last almost ten years.

They were really just babies when I moved here and met them.

The laughter that emanates from the room when we are together is crazy.

I love these ladies.

 

Well time to head back downstairs and have some of that glorious coffee.

Just relax for a bit before changing and getting on with the day.

I have towels in the dryer to bring up and put away.

I would like to go through and put in order my papers for taxes (yup, I did not put things in good order like I was going to at the start of the year).

Go for a walk later if the temperature is okay.

 

Yesterday morning we hopped quickly over to the vet to pick up some food for Mr. Alvin.

He has enough for maybe a week but sometimes hard to gage and I did not want to run out part way through the week.

Mmm, what else.

Get ready for work.

I know that I had a couple of other things on my list ….. wipe out the oven.

 

I hope that you had an awesome Saturday night with family and or friends.

Perhaps you spent the evening watching your favourite movies cuddling with your puppy dog.

Maybe you played cards or a board game with your kids.

Whatever it was …..

 

Have an awesome Sunday.

Life is good.

Be kind and respectful to one another.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Hello My Beautiful Sister ……

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 27th day of March, 2018.

The air feels a bit cooler this morning.

It is dark now.

ONCE I get outside I will be able to tell if clear skies are on the agenda for today or if cloudy ones.

What a great weekend.

Alvin and I enjoyed an even longer walk yesterday.

So grateful that the weather is improving.

It feels like a bright yellow day is on the way.

Daffodils are perfection.

So intricate and delicate.

Beautiful.

Last night I heard a goose honk as it flew by.

Have not heard that sound for what seems like forever.

I can hardly wait to see fluffy baby geese, goslings.

Like the ones that we saw last spring.

Time flies by.

Of course, guess what time once again …. time to go and catch the bus to work.

I wish you a wonderful Monday.

Happy Day.

Full of bright, sunny skies.

Special Hello to: my sister.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 14th day of June, 2017.

Overcast now and was raining earlier.

I was “putting on the face” a few minutes ago and hear these voices and then they broke into song.

I realized that it was Sir Elton John and James Corden.

You see last night before I went to bed I had been watching a couple of the Karaoke Carpool with James Corden and his Special Guests.

I always turn on the computer before I start getting ready so that I can just sit down and write my blog without having to wait for the computer to start up.

Anyway nothing like hearing “Your Song” first thing in the morning.

Great way to start the day and I am grateful.

I will say this James Corden is my new favourite guy.

He is funny, smart, can sing, is compassionate and caring.

If you have not watched his Carpool Karaoke Videos – you must.

He has interviewed and sung with some of the greats:  Adele, Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder,Ed Sheeran, Lady GAGA, and the list goes on …….

Anyway it is getting onto time to leave for work.

I was so happy to hear some music before leaving the house as usual it is quiet except for the odd thud as Alvin jumps off the bed onto the rug below or the odd bark …..

Happy Dancing …… I am Happy Dancing.

Have an Awesome Wednesday.

Even though the skies are grey – they are clear to me.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: my friends back in Regina …… always thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Special Hello to:

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 3rd day of July, 2016.

Earlier there was thunder and lightning followed by a rain shower.

The skies cleared and the sun shone and now a little while later it is cloudy once again.

Our weather can change so quickly over a few hours time.

It remains quite warm despite the changes.

 

Yesterday I was happy to get the “family room” in the basement cleaned out.

Filled some boxes with things to remove from the house, items that I no longer need, want or use.

That is what I am on the trail to do is to remove every item from my house that I no longer need, want or use.

If I do not use things on a regular basis other than Christmas decorations and of course winter coats, boots and the like – then they are going.

I am selling, giving to charity or recycling depending on the item.

I no longer feel the need to fill each nook and cranny with “stuff” with “things.”

As I get older I want less and less stuff surrounding me.

I crave to have bare spare and to only have what I love surrounding me.

So today I am going to work on my office space.

Go through papers and stuff.

My office is pretty good but there are a few things that need to go.

 

Maybe today is the day that you reflect on what is truly important.

Maybe you do love, wear and need 100 pairs of shoes.

Maybe you do love, watch and need 200 movies.

Maybe you would like to share those shoes with others who would love, wear and need them just as much as you.

Maybe you would like to share those movies with others who would love, wear and need them just as much as you.

See my point.

It is a personal thing for sure.

But not only am I thinking of me but also our dear planet.

The more we buy.

The less our planet has.

Think of it that way.

We consume well beyond our needs.

Do you need that next pair of sandals that takes your total to over 100 pair of shoes?

Likely you never wear most of them.

Needing and wanting are two different things.

Perhaps if we take baby steps.

For every item you bring into your home you remove one.

Less is more.

It is more freeing.

Try it.

 

Well time to go.

I hope that you will ponder how much you consume.

How much you buy.

Thank you.

 

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

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 19th day of September, 2015.

It is a warm, bright sunny morning here in Edmonton.

WOW, it is the weekend and I am so happy.

Mr. Alvin has his regular monthly pedicure / other checks appointment this morning.

When I mentioned the receptionist name “J” he jumped up and gave me a kiss.

Safe to say that he loves this girl.

It is so funny he is always excited to go and see “J” and the other girls that work at the Clinic but when he is having his nails done he is not so happy.

At least I do not have to carry him there ….. now that would be something.

After I write this blog it will be time to get ready and go.

After I get home I am going to make me a pot of coffee and set down and write up my TO DO LIST.

There are items that must get done over the next few weeks plus the routine items such as laundry and cleaning.

Did you have a good week?

I hope so.

It was good at the office ….. busy as per usual.

I like to be busy but it is always nice if one can be “caught up.”

It has never happened since I started at the office.

It is the nature of the beast so to speak that one always has an inflow of work.

Never to be “caught up.”

Well one of the things on my list is to clean out the closet in this office.

I have kind of stashed things in there since the kids moved in April.

Well that is not entirely true.

It has always been my gift closet, craft storage, odds and ends storage.

But it is time to go through it and see what is needed and what is not.

Last weekend I cleaned out the guest closet and it looks great.

One closet at a time.

Closets are always interesting.

We always seem to put things behind doors just in case we might need them.

Eventually the doors barely close and you have to make some decisions.

Otherwise you become a hoarder or sorts.

I am not making light of this issue for sure.

So many of us ….. keep things thinking we might need them at some point.

Part of this comes from not wanting to do without.

Part comes from perhaps laziness.

Part comes from history …. depressions ….. wars….

There are all sorts of reasons.

But for me, it is the thought I might use it.

I have found that since I turned 50, I do find it easier to “toss” and “give” things away when I am not using them.

There is something freeing about it actually.

Well I had better go and get ready to start this day.

I have a bit of a headache … maybe because I have not had coffee yet.

But it will have to wait until we return from the Vet.

That is usually a quick visit …. so I won’t have to wait too long.

I wish you a Happy Saturday.

I wish you great pride in whatever you accomplish or not.

I wish you time to relax.

I wish you to be surrounded by love and laughter.

Special Hello to: my friend “M” who brings back fond memories.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 12th day of September, 2015.

The sun is up and the sky is clear and there is a breeze.

YAY for Saturday.

In just over one hour my friends “G” and “S” are coming for coffee and a visit.

I miss them as we have not had a regular coffee visit together for a while.

Summer is busy for families.

Following their visit my daughter is coming for a visit, too.

What a great day.

Mr. Alvin is pacing the floor as he is excited for all of our company.

Wouldn’t it be nice if that is all a person had to do was to visit with family and friends.

Just entertain.

Entertain only.

I would love that ….

I definitely could have been the wife of a big CEO, and spent my time entertaining and doing charity work.

Well maybe not all of the time but I do love the though of entertaining.

Visiting …. chatting …. the planning and the execution.

What are the things that you love to do?

I have been thinking of that a lot as of late.

After you reach and past the age of “55” and now I am 58, you do spend time thinking about all the things you would like to be doing.

There has to be a way, right.

Yell up at the Universe … show me the way.

Something like that …..

Well slowly but surely I will get there.

I am doing some of the things that I love but only in small parcels …. that has to change.

I will find a way.

I will.

Well time for a shower and prepare for my, our company.

I hope that you have an awesome Saturday.

Remember do the things that you love / are passionate about and then find a way to make money doing them.

Special Hello to: my friends “V” and “M” who are doing the things they love.

Always, Carol and Alvin