Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 21st day of February, 2016.

Today was my Grandma Stella’s Birthday.

She passed away at 97 years of age back in 1998.

 

I love this time of day because other than the warm air being pushed by the furnace fan, and the clicking of the keys as I make these words, they are the only sounds I hear.

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Alvin made a full recovery.

Guess he just had an upset tummy.

We enjoyed a walk yesterday after laundry was done and just before his supper.

It was a bit cooler with the odd snowflake falling out of the sky.

 

I also planned a birthday supper for one of my friends as she turns 70 on the 23rd which also happens to be my sister’s birthday.

The birthday supper that I am hosting will be Saturday, February 27th, 2016.

I decided on carrot for the birthday cake with a slight twist no cream cheese icing but my special icing instead.

It will be homemade vegetarian spaghetti sauce with pasta and PARM cheese, peas for the veggie and oregano infused biscuits.

Should be good.

 

The sky is slightly cloudy with those morning clouds but I can see the sun coming up.

Oh, I am so excited for spring.

Supposed to be on the plus side today for temperatures and low plus side for the next few days.

 

Well I suppose I should get this show on the road ….. I need to rinse my hair it feels yucky ……

Today will be a mix of things.

I think today is bath day for the boy ….. he needs his ears cleaned and some TLC.

So as soon as I gather up the laundry drying in the basement and empty the dishwasher and have some breakfast and coffee ….. BATH TIME, BUDDY.

Not one of his favourite things but doing earlier might be better.

 

Well I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Happy Sunday to you.

 

Special Hello to: all those February born babies …. I seem to know so many.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 11th day of October, 2015.

The wind has been howling since the wee hours of the morning (all night) along with some rain.

I always find it scary/interesting when it appears that the clouds are moving over head.

I am just on my way to have coffee with one of my girl friends.

YAY ….

I will admit (but not to everyone) that now being at the halfway point of my four days off that I have not accomplished anywhere near what was on my list.

In fact, I did tear up the list and write another one.

There has been time spent with Alvin ….. we went on a nice long walk yesterday after the Scentsy party …. it was gorgeous …. over 25 degrees Celsius …. SO NICE.

So decision has been made ….. have the list and do what you can …. plus take time to play with Alvin and also time to relax.

One important item for today after the coffee date I am going to go through my upstairs office and get this room back in order.

That is a for sure item.

We can crank up the music and just go at it …… toss what we do not need.

I must admit I had not been to a Scentsy party and I really enjoyed the scents.

Almost felt like I was cheating on Bath & Body Works …..

Is that not sad.

There has to be a good mix for everyone, right.

I did have a great Saturday ….. after our walk ….. Mr. Alvin had a bath …. now he is looking extra cute.

 

At bedtime I have been reading “How to See YOURSELF as You Really Are” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  

These few lines I thought were important to share to everyone at this time:

“Each religion works to lessen suffering and contribute to the world; conversion is not the point.  I do not think about converting others to Buddhism or merely furthering the Buddhist cause.  Instead, I try to think of how I as a Buddhist can contribute to the happiness of all living beings.”

This really does say it all …… no matter what your religion, trying to convert others to it, is not the point, all that truly matters is that we all contribute in our own way

to the happiness of all living beings. (not just humans).

Perhaps if we spent less time trying to make each other like ourselves and more time working on happiness we would be in a better place.

Just wanted to share on this Thanksgiving weekend.

 

Have a great Sunday.

I am off to have a cup of coffee and share in conversation and laughter as we do.

Special Hello to: my sister and her family, to my brother and his friends, to my brother and his family and to YOU ….. Happy Sunday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 11th day of September, 2014.

I think it is appropriate on this particular Thursday to be an inspiration to yourself and to others.

Recently my daughter posted a pearl of wisdom from a very famous American poet, Miss Maya Angelou.

It goes like this:

“TRY TO BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEONE’S CLOUD.

I think that today we should all try extra hard to be rainbows.

Shine brightly and show others that you care.

Most importantly be your own rainbow.

If you are not a rainbow in your own life ….. it is pretty hard to be one for someone else.

My motto for today and going forward will be “trying to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

That would make a great tattoo or words of inspiration lettered out on your kitchen wall…..

Place that sticky note up to remind you.

So have a Happy Thursday.

To all my neighbours to the south on this day remember all of the great memories you had with your loved ones.

Take care.

We are thinking of you all.

Special Hello to: our neighbours to the south.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Story Line by Line – November 30, 2013

Chapter Four:

November 1, 2013

Oh, how I loved that dress, and my mind flashes back to the junior high school dance where I first wore that beautiful pink and then I see my favourite books floating in mid air and my best friend “Dee” is there.

November 2, 2013

Alvin is staying very close as we begin to take in this enormous space, and our nervous energies feed each other, and I think of Alice in Wonderland, and  what shall our next move be as a bright purple balloon drifts by.

November 3, 2013

It is absolutely amazing the dress, my friend, balloons, family, old boyfriends, my house, Christmas, all of the things that I have loved during my life are appearing as Alvin and I make our way through it all.

November 4, 2013

I realize throughout all of the memories that my “four” are no longer walking with us and have disappeared.

November 5, 2013

“Where did they go?” I mutter aloud as if I half expect Alvin to answer and yet I know that we are “down the rabbit hole and things are about to get very interesting.”

November 6, 2013

What do I do – what can I do – nothing makes any sense – why would they do this – am I a guinea pig of sorts – are they watching us – who are they – are the questions that flood my mind as we just walk not knowing what will happen next.

November 7, 2013

As we walk further into this new world, I begin to notice that we in fact are not alone.

November 8, 2013

I do not see anyone but I can feel “eyes” watching us as we go deeper into this place, and then out of no where the thought of “YOU ARE NOT ALONE” comes to my mind; like something out of a movie.

November 9, 2013

Carefully I look about not wanting to miss a single thing, and carefully monitoring my thoughts with hopes that I can find out my location without disturbing my “hosts” when in the distance I see a dim light.

November 10, 2013

As I approach the location of the light it becomes brighter and brighter with only about 50 footsteps away I can begin to see what lies ahead of us.

November 11, 2013

Could I ever have imagined this in my wildest dreams, I think not, as the images begin to sharpen and come into focus.

November 12, 2013

I stop, we stop, and I rub my eyes in disbelief as I look ahead and see what appears to be a glass wall with images of ….. ME.

November 13, 2013

There, only a few feet in front of us are ME at different ages, different stages of my life with some I recognize, and other versions are new to me.

November 14, 2013

I am shaking in disbelief and wonder at what is ahead of me; am I dreaming?

November 15, 2013

Alvin has been quiet for awhile just sniffing around the space when suddenly he yanks hard on the leash pulling me off balance knocking me to the ground.

 November 16, 2013

As I lay there collecting my senses, Alvin rushes back to me tail wagging and licks my face; I giggle, looking up completely stunned, I see myself.

November 17, 2013

Wow, is that really me I think to myself and then utter a soft “Hello”  as the other “me” smiles back at me…… 

November 18, 2013

“Please tell me where I am,”  I say to her, and as I utter the words, she tells me without speaking that I am wherever I want to be.

November 19, 2013

Okay, I think let me give this a try as my mind unleashes the imagination that has been locked up as of late and before I could say anything we are curled up on a oversized leather sofa in front of a fireplace looking out of an enormous window to a breathtaking view of the mountains which are covered with snow; my heart leaps with excitement.

November 20, 2013

I had this dream when I won the lottery, and our family spent Christmas in this huge log cabin celebrating and being together it was amazing … oh, I feel so good.

 November 21, 2013

Happiness, I feel an overwhelming sense of pure joy as I continue to take in my surroundings but then boom I come to my “senses” and wonder where is everyone?

November 22, 2013

Almost as quickly as that thought occurred  …. out of the corner of my eye I see my nephews James, Henry and Blake walking toward me, and there in front of me is my daughter; “Oh my god” I squeal with delight as I run to her, and squeeze her tight.

November 23, 2013

 “I have missed you, my darling” I whisper in my daughter’s ear and she says “Me, too Mom.” and as I stand back to take this all in – Alvin jumps up on his “sister.”

November 24, 2013

Alvin gives her a kiss as she leans over to him; “this seems real, isn’t it,”  I think to myself as I watch in silence.

November 25, 2013

As Alvin and I both relax and bask in these moments of such serenity and peace; I am so grateful for this time whether it is real or not, and I will find out where this place is….

November 26, 2013

My mind seems to go to the oddest of places but then again why wouldn’t it with all that has happened to us and when will it end?

November 27, 2013

I have no answers, and I seem to be feeling more and more confused as I try seemingly in vain to figure out how to get home, or am I home and just having a bad dream?

November 28, 2013

Just as I am thinking of dreams there appears in front of us a huge bed covered with the fluffiest white blanket and pillows; it is then that I realize for as long as this journey has taken us we have not slept and I am tired, so must Alvin be,  and we shall sleep.

November 29, 2013

Alvin seems to be thinking the same as me, for just as I am about to bend over and pick him up  …. he takes a step back and jumps up onto the bed …. he walks over to the pillows and lays down …  I pull the blankets back and pull him close to me……. we snuggle underneath the blankets …… my eyes suddenly become so heavy as sleep overtakes my fatigued body.

November 30, 2013

Mm, this feels so wonderful …… I am so relaxed…… there is a warmness that touches every part of my body and I feel like I am floating on a cloud …..  wishing this would last forever ….

 

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, the 20th day of June, 2013.

Well it is almost the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year.

Whew.

 

I must share an early morning experience…… so please indulge me and close your eyes …… aaa

Whoops I guess you need to have your eyes open to read ….. sorry I keep forgetting that I am not there to narrate…..

 

Beautiful morning – partially cloud covered sky with the sun a ball of yellow and orange and red coming up in the east.

Alvin and I are out and about enjoying our morning walk.

A cool breeze carries the fragrance of the roses that line the entrance to the park where we have been walking everyday.

We both stop by the roses ….. me to breathe in that intoxicating fragrance and Alvin

“to water them.”

Yikes….now that changed the whole tranquil relaxing setting ….. hello…. Mr. Alvin, “REALLY” ….. as I giggle.

He is only doing what comes natural, and I am quite certain that the poor roses are quite used to that extra watering.

I am so grateful that we can enjoy the walk along with the roses ….. the flowers are HUGE this year. .

Due in part to the rain, I am sure.

So many buds ready to burst open for us to enjoy …..

They are the most gorgeous pink and I am certain that my Grandma Stella would have loved them.

Thank you …… I hope that you have a great day.

Remember to stop and smell the roses ……

 

Special Hello to:  YOU ALL …..

 

Always, Carol and Alvin ……  “Mr. Alvin” ….. whoops I forgot ……. LOL….