Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Welcome to the weekend.

So excited.

We had a huge rainstorm with booming thunder and lots of light up the sky lightning.

Woke us up.

Alvin wanted to go outside.

So just as it started to hail …. Ma in her summer nightie and coat ran out in the hail to move her flowers.

I only have four pots this year in the backyard and I did not want them to get flatten.

Ended up that the hail was quite small … about pea sized and appears that did not do much damage.

The puddles are still visible this morning as I look out the window of my office.

One of the neighbours does not have an actual paved driveway so obviously the dirt will puddle.

After work my daughter and I went to COSTCO.

I don’t mind checking things out.

She is happy that now her Ma has a cell …. she cannot lose me.

Sometimes we use to lose each other and then it could take a long time to locate the other.

After arriving at home, we split some items and my daughter left for home.

I put the groceries away and then made a beautiful salad for supper.

One of our friends called to invite us for for a visit in their backyard.

They live down the street and have the nicest backyard.

First photos Alvin was patiently waiting for my friend’s husband to come out to the backyard.

He loves him so much.

I will say that most of the time Alvin was either laying on the swing between us girls or rolling around in the grass.

I tried to play frisbee with him although once or twice he tried to pick it up ….. he did not quite get it.

I guess you cannot always teach old dogs new tricks.

He did run around like a crazy pup when I pretended to be a monster (like we do on the deck at home).

He ran back and forth and had a blast.

The grass is so lush and beautiful.

 

Well I guess we need to end this post as Teddy will be here shortly.

I still have to put in the first load of laundry.

I had planned to do laundry last night but then received the invite.

We were happy to be invited out so we grabbed the opportunity.

Then breakfast and coffee.

Always need that cup of coffee.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

This afternoon my grand pups arrive.

They will stay with us while their parents attend a wedding in the City.

 

So happy to be spending the day with the pups.

I will take Alvin and Teddy for a walk before the others arrive.

Not able to take all four.

 

Remember Kindness and Respect will bring you the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin & soon Teddy …..

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 6th day of December, 2018.

Well I guess we had better start the countdown.

Right!

18 Sleeps until Christmas Eve Day

That means 19 sleeps until Christmas morning.

YAY …..

I have been a pretty good girl this year so I think that Santa will swing by our place.

Now I cannot be so sure of Mr. Alvin.

“Alvin, have you been a good boy this year?”

Nothing, no sound.

I will take that as a resounding “Yes.”

That means the jolly old elf will be stopping by.

I will have some of my world famous, okay Western Canada famous SUGAR COOKIES ready for him to snack on, along with a glass of “milk.”

Can hardly wait.

I could set up a camera and take some photos of his arrival?

Surprise, Santa.

 

Well today is payday, a dental checkup and mail Christmas cards day and work, of course.

A short work day as I have a visit to the dentist in between it all.

 

Well the carpool is coming early again today and then tomorrow.

So better sign off and get downstairs.

Cannot go outside without a coat and boots and stuff.

I saw a recreational vehicle with a snow blade on it go by.

It actually looked like a supped up golf cart with a blade to push snow on the front.

He was steaming down the road.

Wondering where he was going?

Our roads are a mess.

It will likely be awhile before the City plows them.

 

Keep warm and stay safe.

Be kind to others and to yourself.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ….. hope you are warm, my darling sis.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 20th day of April, 2018.

Another beautiful day in the forecast.

Alvin and I are so enjoying our walks.

Soon the sidewalks will be dry and then our walks will be perfection.

 

Here is something that I noticed last week and kept forgetting to post.

Last week while riding on the bus I noticed a sign that had a most unforgettable message:

VAMPIRE FACE-LIFT

COMING SOON

Wow, I wonder what that is all about.

It was on a sign at the street side of a strip mall parking lot.

Kind of creepy, scary and curious, all at the same time.

Sometimes you never know what you will see on a sign.

Perhaps I should GOOGLE that phrase and see what I get.

OR maybe not.

 

Well today is Friday.

I am hoping that it will be a quiet, productive day unlike yesterday.

I love the morning sky.

 

Tonight after work it is repair the downspout.

Oh, I have something else to share.

Yesterday my direct line rang at work.

I looked at the number and it so of looked familiar and then not.

But not many people have that number so I quickly picked it up.

It was my friend who is vacationing in Florida with her daughter and parents.

They were at NASA.

When she had mentioned that she was going to NASA, well I had to ask if there was any way that she could pick me up a tee shirt (which I would gladly pay for ).

She said “yes, of course.”

She just is that kind of friend.

So she was calling from NASA.

I could not believe it.

So excited to have her calling from NASA and for the tee shirt.

I was so excited that I immediately sent her a note on Facebook, the only thing being that I spelled NASSUA ( the other one ).

So funny ….. I could not believe it.

 

Well here we are almost time for me to finish getting ready.

So happy that I can now wear shoes and not boots to work.

Light jacket instead of big heavy coat and scarf.

I wear mini gloves in the morning to protect my hands not because it is cold.

The air is cool in the morning and my hands still are splitting from the coolness.

Will be happy when it is warm all day long.

 

Have an awesome day.

I hope that someone calls you long distance from a cool place.

I am still smiling.

 

Special Hello to: my friends who are having a blast in Florida.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 27th day of November, 2017.

Well we have a bit of snow ….. the sticky stuff …… now covering the ice.

At least this should make our walking a bit more safe.

Alvin needs to go for a walk tonight.

We will do it.

 

Update on the clothes dryer saga.

This is the third week without one.

I have been air drying my clothes, which works fine.

Thankfully I have a closet full of towels and bedding so that is okay.

I will have a ton of towels and bedding to wash and dry once the dryer is working again.

I helped my friend with the dryer.

Found out that it was not of the fuses as he had thought.

So we ended up taking the drum out of the dryer and VOILE it was the heating element.

We could tell as you could see that the coil had broke apart in one spot.

Apparently that is what should happen.

My friend is going to find me a heating element.

Luckily this is something he will be able to fix.

I guess if we can take it apart we can put it back together.

Learning lots.

Not that I want to do it by myself next time but I know what to check and what to watch out for ……

Interesting.

 

I mailed all of my Christmas cards that were to be mailed yesterday but ONE …. it was the ONE that has to go out of the country.

The Post Office did not open until noon and I could not hang around that long so will have to get that done sometime this week.

Also got groceries …. I was surprised to see how busy both stores were ……. drugstore and grocery store.

Done for another week.

 

Well almost time to get my things on and head out for the bus.

Debating on which coat to wear and am grateful that I am able to have that debate.

 

Take care if you are in the middle of winter where you live …… drive carefully ….. whether walking or driving or riding a bike …. take your time…… those extra two seconds could save your life and they

will not get you to your destination noticeably sooner.

Happy Monday.

 

Special Hello: to friends …. we are grateful to have you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 7th day of November, 2017.

Well I guess whether we like it or not WINTER is here early or earlier than some years and definitely earlier than last year.

By summer we will have forgotten about the exact date that winter arrived but we will remember if there was a lot of snow and if it were cold.

Those things we never forgot but yet we do.

Anyone living in a climate that is cold for more than half of the year ….. has to either love winter or forgets the magnitude of the cold.

Likely that is part of the reason why the population of Canada has remained many times smaller than the United States.

Their Northern States that border with Canada also share the winter but not always to the same degree of cold.

I do not mind the winter ….. after all Christmas comes in the winter…..

As long as you have a warm winter coat, boots, scarf and mitts you will do okay.

Whenever you are outside in the winter ….. frostbite is always something to watch out for …… especially with the children.

I even watch Mr. Alvin as he likes to bury his chew treats in the back yard and sometimes loses track of time.

That could be dangerous if you are not keeping track of the time yourself.

Dogs do lost track of time …… something to keep in mind.

Children lost track of time …… something to keep in mind.

We are responsible for these little ones so always keep them in your mind in the winter.

Pets do not belong outside for long periods of time…… ….

Well looks like it is almost time for me to don my coat, boots, scarf and mitts and head out to the bus.

Have an awesome Tuesday.

Stay warm and dry.

Have a fun day.

Special Hello to:  Remember to be mindful.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 20th day of October, 2017.

Well the long weekend, Thanksgiving weekend is now over.

Back to work, back to the office.

Yesterday was nice ….. warmer than I thought it was going to be.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk.

He was sniffing and I was leaf watching.

The remaining leaves on the trees are incredibly beautiful.

Our tree out front has a handful of yellow leaves still hanging on for dear life.

Even though we have had strong winds the past few days they have managed to remain on the tree.

How strong they are …..

 

I am grateful that I was able to spend this beautiful weekend with my family.

Last year it was snowy and icy and my son-in-law was sick.

This year everyone was well and the roads were dry.

So grateful for our time together.

 

Well here we go …. almost time to grab my coat, put on my shoes and better throw my umbrella into my purse as it may rain today.

Have a wonderful Tuesday (almost said Monday).

Happy Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to:   Good Morning my Sister …… talk to you one day soon …… SKYPE???

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 2nd day of October, 2017.

Well we are in October.

Rained and very windy overnight continuing this morning.

The only difference …… SNOW ……. sticking to the decks, roofs and vehicles.

Debating as to what coat to wear as am umbrella is not going to work this morning and I would like to stay relatively dry on my walk to and from the bus.

I had a great COFFEE visit with my girl friends which included a Birthday party for one of the girl’s Moms.

Followed by a visit from my girl.

It was a great day all round and we even were able to get a walk in before the rain came down.

Perfect SUNDAY.

 

Now back to work.

It was a most productive weekend.

YAY, me and Alvin.

 

Cannot believe this coming up weekend is Thanksgiving already …..

Also I decorated for Halloween in the house but did not get the things up outside due to the wind.

Will try later this week.

 

Time to go and find a proper jacket (basement closet) for this weather.

Not really winter but need something more RAIN/SNOW proof.

Have an awesome Monday.

 

Special Hello to: everyone …… keep safe.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 22nd day of June, 2017.

The second official day of summer.

Our longest day yesterday and it was hard to sleep as it was still bright outside when we went to bed at 9:00 p.m.

Later in the evening the weather changed.

Wind got stronger and it started to rain.

This morning the skies are GREY and it is very windy.

Not looking forward for the walk to the bus.

Thankfully I have shoes, a coat and an umbrella (although the umbrellie is not going to be much help with this wind).

 

Question?

Do you have a hard time keeping quiet during meetings or talks at work?

I confess that I do.

Sometimes I just want to lighten the mood and end up saying something self-deprecating.

That is one thing that I have a problem with ….. have to learn to sit still and listen only.

Working on it but almost 60 years into this life and I still cannot sit quiet during a whole meeting.

I will get this ….. there is always time to just listen and not make a remark or comment.

In other situations I can sit quiet …. why not meetings???

Anyway …. time to get the coat and shoes and stuff ready for my walk to the bus.

Appears not to be raining for now so that is great.

 

Happy Thursday.

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who is always crazy busy. I am so proud to call her my friend because she is so wonderful.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 21st day of April, 2017.

The sky is beginning to lighten but it appears to be somewhat overcast.

Yesterday was absolutely a dream ….. 15 degrees celsius.

Me and Alvin had the most glorious walk ….. we walked for over 40 minutes and it was great.

A bit of water here and there but mostly dry.

Alvin was a bit muddy upon our return home.

 

Speaking of returning home – I believe my sister should be home now.

So excited to hear about their trip.

 

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I asked Mr. Alvin the question that most Mommas ask their babies?

“What are you going to do today?”

I said to him perhaps you are going to write a book.

That would be most ambitious of you, Mr. Alvin.

You could write about your life with your Momma.

This is what he said:

His reply was “a strong look at me.”

Well I am not sure what that meant.

I figured he has lots of time on his paws and four of them ……

So we shall see when I arrive home.

I have a pen and notebook by the bed just in case.

 

Well here we go again – time to grab my lunch, put on my shoes (not boots) and coat and grab the umbrellie ….. just in case and go catch the BUS.

Have an awesome Friday everyone.

Remember try to catch a laugh or a giggle when you can …… life is way too serious without some fun.

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 24th day of March, 2017.

YAY, it is Friday.

I have often been thinking as of late that somehow the weekdays seem to evaporate as quickly as the weekends.

 

Mr. Alvin was just standing in the doorway to the office and starring at me and “doing that quick little whining thing that he does.”

He does that when he is nervous about something.

Whining isn’t quite what the sound is … more of a nervous bit of a noise.

Anyway he has this thing for the laminate flooring that is all over my house except for the stairs and landing.

For some reason during the past year or so he fidgets and fusses when he has to cross the floor.

Or at least when he stops to think about it.

Anyway I coaxed him to come in and now he is sitting under my computer desk on the bit of rug for the chair.

He most days sits outside the office while I write my blog.

Today he wants to be near me.

Oh, me Alvin.

Gotta love my boy.

 

Well our weather has been warming up …. single digits on the plus side.

Most of the snow and ice has melted.

I have been debating all night and morning thus far about whether to wear boots or shoes.

I have decided to wear my winter boots today.

Either would work.

So happy that the sidewalks are almost clear.

 

Another thing likely on my TO DO LIST this weekend is picking up the trash on the walkway that I take coming home from work and also the rest of the neighbourhood.

This year seems worse than last.

So many pieces of cardboard, disposable cups from nearby fast food restaurants and coffee shops ( I will not name them at this time ).

Not the business fault.

If people would start by securing their recycling at garbage time, that would help immensely.

Also STOP throwing their empty coffee and cold drink cups on the ground when they are finished with them.

Such a pity.

Beautiful neighbourhood littered with CRAP.

Does make me mad.

Oh well, it is great exercise for me although it is an hour or so away from me Alvin, which makes me sad.

People do not think of that of course ….. silly people.

 

Time to fly …. gotta get on my BOOTS not shoes and coat and head to the bus stop.

Have an awesome Friday.

Please ensure that you are placing your trash in the appropriate garbage container.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: YOU …. Happy Friday.

Always, Carol and Alvin