A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! I, we had a pretty good sleep. Up a couple of times but all in all, not bad. Always helps matters when I am able to work from home. A person could even have a nap on lunch break if one was tired, right? We are experiencing a cold snap. I guess more like winter than the previous few weeks. A mix of weather is good, I think. Do you ever wonder if it is a cold or allergies that you have? Just a random question that popped into my mind. Sorry, lol.

This is good news, Alvin’s poop seems to be getting closer to normal the past couple of days. I am so relieved. This morning or on my lunch break to call his Doctor and give her an update. I started to mix in more of his food and give him some of his hard food as a snack. Seems to be going okay thus far. Fingers crossed.

Sometimes you just need to see some cuteness …… photo time…… Alvin and family and friends and some flowers ……..

A proper Gentleman

A great way to start the week with photos of Alvin and his family and friends. They are all like family. Special shout out to Sir Elton and Miss Penny who passed away in 2016. We miss you guys. We love to be surrounded by all the joy that these beings bring us. Always love in my heart and a smile on my face. Cuteness abound. Thank you Sir Elton, Miss Penny, Aspen, Milo, Humphrey, Bogart, Teddy, Kobi, Bailey, Cookie and Duck…..

Have a wonderful Monday. Great way to begin the week.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – December

Good Morning ALL! How are you this cold Monday morning? I am doing well. Up and dressed and all of that. Today is an office today. Although I am not looking forward to going outside and would rather be tucked under the warm blankets still in bed, it is okay. I am always grateful for the days that I work from home. With a 5 second commute from upstairs to downstairs, more in bed under the covers keeping toasty warm time, lunch break in my own home, drinking my own perked coffee, after work turn off the computer at the end of my work day and I am home. More time at home doing the things I love especially in the evenings. The work/life balance is perfection. We spend so much time over our lifetimes working and away from home. I get it, I understand, we need to work to earn a living to live our lives. Money does not grow on trees, well it kind of does, or at least paper comes from trees although perhaps our money is not made totally from paper anymore. Anyway you get the picture. So I am grateful, grateful that when Mr. Alvin comes home, I will be home. Thankfully I am on Christmas break until January 3, 2023. Perhaps the New Year will have me working from home more, I love being at home. Home is my happy place with the lime green painted office walls to the plants in the kitchen window, I love my house, my home.

Countdown to Christmas: today is Monday, December 19th, 2022 and that brings us to “5” more sleeps till Christmas Eve. 5 more sleeps until I have my family under the same roof for a time. 5 more sleeps until Alvin comes home. 5 more sleeps until we open our gifts. 5 more sleeps until we continue to eat lots more goodies. 5 more sleeps!

Oh, we are almost at the shortest day of the year which is Wednesday, December 21st. We will go to work and come home in darkness. Then the days will start to get longer once again. I hope that the sun will start to shine more. We all need that brightness to fill our daytime.

Well it looks like I have to finish this post and head downstairs to finish getting ready for work. Throw my snack/breakfast/lunch into my backpack.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Yesterday was a nice day. I did a bit of work and I almost forgot that I had a little furry visitor. Cookie’s Dad reached out to see if she could stay with me while they went to a movie as they were celebrating their son’s birthday. Of course, I said “absolutely.” Miss Cookie came to stay with me. She was looking for Alvin and for her family as she kept jumping up on the chair and looking out of the window. We had some play time, she ate a bit of Alvin’s food and we just hung out. Cookie is an energetic little dog. Her Mom picked her up about 8:15 and we had a little visit. My friend has been working at her new job a lot as of late. An unexpected delight! I had a great Sunday. Bit of work, company and some downtime. Perfection!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Definitely need coffee at the office this morning. Something HOT.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and finally we are in the last two or three days of this bone chilling cold snap.

Cars, trucks, buildings, houses, animals, humans; none of us have totally warmed us since this all started.

The roads are frozen so hard.

Icy intersections are many.

We are so blessed that our power has remained flowing and that is due to the harding crews in the power stations/offices.

We are truly grateful.

 

We will be so happy to get out walking once again.

My clothes are beginning to feel tight and not because I am eating more but because I am not walking.

We all need fresh air.

The kind that does not freeze your lungs when you open you mouth.

I am grateful that Alvin and I have a beautiful warm home during any temperature.

 

Today is the last day in our temporary location and Monday we will be back in our “old digs.”

Newly renovated.

A new day.

 

I think it is time for some colourful flower photos.

Flowers for planting from a few years back

I hope that you have a safe, warm and wonderful Friday.

Kindness and Compassion should be our way of life.

Always a good reminder in case we stray.

Some situations …. some times, we forget.

 

Happy Friday

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well I hear we are finally in the last few days of this “cold snap.”

Both Alvin and I will be happy to be able to resume our walking.

 

How are you today?

I am well.

Do you reflect at bedtime and in the early morning hours conversations that you had the previous day?

I do, most of those conversations are from work.

I always think “why did I say those words?”

I tend to be an emotional conversationalist.

I take things personally when I should not.

Now that is not every conversation that I am emotional or take things personally all of the time.

Just sometimes.

Not emotional that I suddenly burst out in tears or yell and scream.

Not always filled with my opinions.

Not that, but I could do better.

I think that by putting my concerns in writing I can see what is in front of me and hopefully will help me.

I am by nature a kind, generous person OR at least I believe that I am.

But perhaps others do not see me this way.

So I am repeating to myself on a regular basis starting today the following mantra:

“I am kind and professional.”

Perhaps this way I can keep my personal opinions and emotions out of the equation.

Please do not think that I wish to be cold and unemotional either, that is not the case.

I am always trying to do better.

Sometimes it is all in phrasing.

If someone on the other end of the phone is being difficult and emotional; it is not always easy to bring that down.

I always do better face to face.

Phoning is not my favourite way to have a conversation (my family and friends will attest to that).

Anyway, the cards are on the table.

I am going to be better.

Not a resolution.

This is a promise.

Always better not to fuel the flames.

 

Well time to head out and play find the poop from earlier this morning.

When we were first up at 2:30 … it was snowing.

I like a challenge.

Do I really?

Mmm, not so much.

Not all the time, anyway.

Sense of humour, trying.

I love my Alvin so it is all good.

 

I hope that on this Thursday that you are well.

That life is treating you kindly.

That you are treating life with kindness.

See it works both ways.

I know that for sure.

 

Be safe and stay warm.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to the DEEP FREEZE.

ARGH, cold temperatures for the next week.

On the plus side our winter has been relatively mild until this cold snap.

Should we be complaining?

Likely not.

But will we?

Likely yes.

 

My carpool decided to take today off from work.

Usually this would mean that I would be taking the bus.

Lucky for me, my neighbour is giving me a ride to work.

I am on my own going home.

One way is okay.

 

Well this has placed a damper on our walks for the next days.

Usually Alvin likes to mull around outside when he is out doing his business or just hanging out.

Not now.

He does his business and runs back to the house.

Not much coaxing which is fine by me.

No offer of a treat to come inside.

Likely best for the waistline.

So we are playing more ….. Alvin is playing more if truth be told.

 

Tonight down comes the Christmas tree and then I will spend part/most of the weekend taking down the decorations.

Thankfully I only have a couple of items outside.

The wreath on the door and a small tree on the porch.

The wreath I can quickly grab despite the cold but the tree can remain on the porch until the temperature warms up.

It will be good to get back to the normal decorations although it does seem bare in the house for a few days.

But sometimes BARE is good.

Actually I have so  much Christmas ….. it looks like a store.

The rest of the year is much more low-key.

So that is good.

 

I was thinking of something as I was going to bed and of course, did not write it down.

A topic to write about this morning.

Note to self: when a great idea comes to your mind – WRITE IT DOWN, you silly girl.

 

I am also going back and forth between glasses this morning.

I have two pair.

One is older but as my prescription did not change, I can continue to wear them.

One pair has plastic frames, and the other are wire/metal.

The metal/wire frames sometimes bother by my ears.

But they have a slightly bigger lens and I like that.

I have to decide before wearing them for more than a minute or two otherwise will have a headache.

Small decision.

Will check out in the mirror and then decide.

 

What is new with you?

Did you set out with New Year Resolutions?

I did not, really.

I just try to do better than I did the year before in all aspects of my life.

Body, mind and soul.

 

Well almost time to head off downstairs.

On poop patrol.

Now those brown packages freeze before they hit the ground.

Easy to pick up.

 

I hope that on this cold Friday that you are warm and safe.

I wish that rain would extinguish ALL of the fires in Australia without massive flooding.

I wish that there would be PEACE in the Middle East and around the world.

I hope that everyone has a good day.

Yes, everyone.

Remember to breathe.

Go to the bathroom and fake yell if you need that release.

Shake it off.

Put one foot in front of the other!

Soon you will be walking out the door or opening doors to better things.

 

Happy Friday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 13th day of February, 2019.

Well another COLD morning out there.

You can smell the COLD, that sharpness that burns the nose when you breathe in.

A reminder to us all to ensure that our babies, our children, our pets and ourselves are dressed appropriately for this weather.

 

So on this day …. how about some photos….

They always make me feel better …..

We are in a cold snap that is breaking 20 + years records…..

So here we go….

Jewellery made by me for a wedding a few years ago.

 

Gotta love the colours the reflection made.

Alvin loves flowers.

Finding a place to showcase this piece…

Summer of 2009, my first summer here in Edmonton

Love blue skies.

Deck complete, what a beautiful sight. Now for the flowers…. FUN. 2010

Cookies, anyone?

More cards …..

This is what happens when you make things!!

More Easter Crafts

Soaking up the sun ….

Christmas Sugar Cookies, anyone ….

Biscotti, how I love thee.

Coffee, KONO coffee from Hawaii.

So good.

I hope that you enjoyed a break from the everyday ….

Flowers, puppies, nature, cookies, books and bling ….

Doesn’t get better than that.

 

Happy Wednesday Everyone.

Stay warm….

 

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of January, 2018.

Brr, it is a COLD one here in Edmonton and most part of the WESTERN CANADIAN PROVINCES.

We seem to be having one week with warm temperatures and then the next bitterly COLD ones.

I am grateful for the break in between this COLD SNAP.

It is funny, no I mean strange that when it is cold all you think about is eating and sleeping.

Bundled up, warm sweater, blankets and next to your significant other or in my case snuggling with Alvin.

He does generate a lot of heat.

On these cold mornings it is hard for him to go outside.

I always wait right by the door to let him back into the house the moment that he is done his business.

There is no taking your time on these mornings and days.

I feel bad for him.

Just keeping warm.

I will be laying layers onto my regular warm clothing today.

Bringing out the big boots.

I just want to sleep …… snuggle up with Alvin under a warm blanket and sleep.

That is the cold weather talking.

Argh, have to leave the house.

Oh well, that is life.

My choice.

To all those folks living in a “deep freeze” please be aware of how you are dressed, your children are dressed, and DO NOT LEAVE your PETS outside.

Make sure as in the heat you keep hydrated.

Well almost time to go and start the layering process.

Need to do this when you are walking and catching a bus.

 

Happy Wednesday.

The next few days are all about the weather and keeping warm.

Take care.

Be safe.

If you are driving – make sure that you have emergency items in your vehicle.

 

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

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

Well the forecast is for a cold snap.

We are well below seasonal temperatures for March.

Not great news but it is March and one month closer to spring.

Officially spring in a couple of weeks or so.

 

This morning while getting ready for work I was thinking about “dreams.”

Not the dreams you have while you are sleeping but the ones you have when you are young for your future.

I always wanted to be a nurse, published writer, mother to four children (two boys and two girls) and to be married.

The white picket fence with the beautiful two- storey house – the dream.

I could see us all going on family vacations.

I could see my children further their education, get married and have babies.

I could see “us” being retired and living the life of riley.

So what went wrong or what changed.

Nothing is ever really wrong – we just take a different path.

One thing changes and everything changes.

 

So I am not a nurse, I do write a bit, I am a mother to one amazing daughter and one puppy named Alvin and I am single.

My daughter did further her education and went for her dream at that time (which I am grateful for), she is married and I have grand-pups.

Perhaps that is where the number four came from as they have had/have two boys and two girls.

I do not have a white picket fence but my house is a beautiful two-storey half duplex.

There has been the occasional family vacation.

Retirement is a long way off.

Different direction – different dreams.

 

The reality is you never know what life will bring to you.

Or where life will take you.

 

Even if you are super positive and live a life of doing kind and wonderful things the reality is you never know.

All you can do is live your life and work towards those dreams/goals.

Live each moment and day to the best.

 

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Special Hello to: my daughter who teaches me things daily.

Always, Carol and Alvin