Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL (it is just barely morning). What a great last almost 24 hours we have had. There is something about having your brother, his husband and your daughter and your pup in the house at the same time. We laughed and cried as we shared news and talked about “the old days.” Some of us remembered things a bit differently but it was all good. Just after the boys arrived, my brother and I left the house to go to the grocery store. Likely not a great idea for Mr. Alvin as he was left with my brother-in-law who is a lovely human being but Alvin really didn’t know him. Todd said that he tried to get him to go outside with him but did not work instead he sat on one of his beds and looked out the living room window waiting my return. Clearly no separation anxieties here, lol. I get it – for most of the time he sees only me and he had not met Todd before and to be honest, I never really thought about it. Note to self. Do not leave the house right away after bringing someone new inside. It is funny not funny ha-ha that Todd has never been to my house here in Edmonton and I moved here in 2009. My brother has been here several times over the years. My poor Todd is awaiting double hip replacement so it was not easy going up and down stairs but he does not let that get in his way. He is a real trooper. Good mindset about his whole ordeal. He will be 54 in a few days. Hopefully after waiting for over two years, the surgery will happen soon. It breaks my heart when you know someone who has been waiting to have surgery and in constant pain. So it seems to be the standard thought process to give you drugs that you may or may not become addicted to help with the pain instead of doing the surgery right away. Drugs that over time damage and destroy your muscle/joints and whatever else. So why not do the surgery sooner than later. I wonder what the real reason is? We also realized that my brother and Alvin are on the same pain medication – just a different dosage. We had a real giggle over that.

I was so happy that my daughter decided to stay and visit. We had a cold supper if you will which was great. After supper and the sun went lower in the sky we sat outside on the back deck. It was wonderful listening to the laughter coming from my house. It has been awhile since I have had that many people enjoying the deck and each other’s company. I am so grateful that they took the time and came out of their way to come from Calgary to Edmonton before heading to Regina with final destination Winnipeg – then the lake. I remember to a few days ago when we were out at my daughter’s. I love the laid back lifestyle. So much fun.

Well it is almost time to head downstairs and get the laundry going and set up the fans and close all the blinds before it gets too hot in the house.

I am grateful to the Universe for bringing some of my family together for a great evening. I drank a bit and even had a few puffs of a cigarette (my brother-in-law smokes). I was a bad girl but sometimes you just have to be “bad.” We had good food, laughed, cried, shared stories, took pictures and just enjoyed being together. Does not get better than that.

We made a pact that next summer for us to get together again but we will make sure that our sister and other brother will be there, too.

Well I should go. Get things back to normal and do laundry. Always laundry.

Have a wonderful Saturday. Oh, I have to check my lottery ticket from last night -that would be a perfect end to a wonderful time. Especially if it were enough to share with family and friends.

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

I do love to entertain. This morning I made buns with two kinds of toppings, some cut up raw veggies and a container of unbaked chocolate macaroons. That was my gift to the boys – the macaroons. A request made by them. We celebrated my birthday and Todd’s which is coming up last night. Now they will have a good snack to have on their trip.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. we had some rain earlier this morning.

Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! How are you this gorgeous Friday morning? Alvin and I are well. Just finished having a most refreshing shower, Alvin has had his breakfast and gone outside to do his business and I am writing this post before we head outside for our morning walk. I can hear the hum of traffic on the highway which is a short distance away. The sun is starting to shine with all its’ brilliance, there is a breeze (thankfully) and the sky is a smoky blue colour. I am congested so I am not sure if that is smoke blowing in from fires somewhere? Might be. The house was 75 degrees when I looked at the thermostat and then dropped to 74 at that moment when I was standing there. Never had that happen before. I will take 74 but hopefully we can capture the coolness the way that we did yesterday. Will have to close the blinds and windows before we head downstairs.

Cute story but rather frightening too. Last night I was dreaming. The only things that I remember was that some kind of animal with long sharp horns was coming toward me and I was asking for help. Apparently my first attempts were feeble and quite low as nothing happened but then I shouted in a scared voice at the top of my lungs “help me” and it was not a dream as Alvin literally bolted up from his spot where he had been fast asleep. I scared him so badly that he would not settle down for a good 15 minutes. I had the windows open and luckily no one heard me. Perhaps everyone had their fans on, too. Anyway, I think I know where that dream was hatched from “The Big Bang Theory” as the episode that I was watching before bed was when Sheldon and Raj were in the tunnel at the University and Raj was babbling on about something or other when Sheldon noticed some four legged furry creatures standing on a ledge behind Raj’s head. He screamed and ran up the ladder throwing down the hatch leaving Raj all alone with the you know what. I cannot even say the word. Anyway, pretty sure that did it for me.

We are back to normal now. I did a few things this morning as my brother and his partner Todd are coming to visit us. I cannot wait. They should be here about 2:00 pm or so. We have decided to have a cold supper of sorts with buns, egg salad, veggies, pickles and cold cuts etc and with fruit and macaroons for dessert. I am also excited that my daughter Amanda will be joining us and wished that my son-in-law and grandpups could also be here.

Well time to head downstairs and get on our walk. I will be posting my blog later tomorrow after the company heads out but I will be here.

I hope that you have a great Friday. I can feel the fan blowing from the hallway and the breeze coming in through the office window.

Oh, almost forgot that one of my friends and neighbours down the street joined me and Alvin on the front porch during my lunch break yesterday. She also gave me a belated birthday gift which was a lovely book and a card. This birthday just keeps on giving. I so so grateful. Love books and reading them.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Today is to be 31 degrees celsius.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 25th day of May, 2017.

It is a BREEZY one here in Edmonton with clear blue skies.

The sun is SHINING.

Makes me happy.

 

Yesterday it rained all day and was so WINDY.

I was soaked through and through by the time I arrived home to find my summer door wreath laying face down on the porch.

Thankfully it did not blow away but it was soaked through and through.

Have you ever seen silk/artificial flowers WET?

Not me.

But this morning they are dry again …..

Also when I arrived home I found that the electricity was out.

Not certain how long it had been out and I could tell that Alvin was a bit “freaked.”

So outside he went quickly to do his thing.

I gave him his supper while I ran upstairs to get out of my wet clothes and into something WARM.

When I got back downstairs, Mr. Alvin had not eaten as yet.

STRANGE (he loves to eat).

I ended up hand feeding him his supper.

But at that point I had nothing to do ….. because it was raining and overcast it was actually quite dark in the house.

So we just cuddled on the sofa debating what to do.

I decided to get things ready for today just in case the power did not come on before it was totally dark in the house.

So had clothes ready and stuff.

Also not knowing how long it would take the power to come on I decided that I would only open the fridge twice.

Once to grab my leftover quinoa dish that I had made on the weekend and decided it was better to have something cold than nothing at all.

The second time I opened the fridge was to grab the Black Cherry Greek Yogurt (which by the way I am in love with).

I do not remember the brand but it was so good.

It was thankfully on sale as it is the most expensive one in the store (of course).

Poor Alvin ….. I caved and gave him a treat of a bit of yogurt off my finger.

Just a little.

We just sat and looked out the window.

We were lucky the only things damaged in the wind were some of my flowers from the front flower bed and the wreath which has fully recovered.

Finally I lit a candle ( had one left from my Bath & Body Works Days ).

It gave off a warm glow or at least felt like it.

Just as we were getting settled I heard a noise …. the power was finally on.

It was just over 1.5 hours.

Which seemed like an eternity but a good one.

It was refreshing to just sit there with only Alvin and my thoughts for company.

No sounds other than the wind blowing outside and our breathing inside.

Well time to get this show on the road.

I was grateful when the power came on so that I could have a cup of hot tea.

I did drink some hot water from the kitchen tap but it was not really the same.

 

Happy Thursday.

Be safe.

Be kind.

Have fun.

 

Special Hello to: all those lovers of life …. rock on.

Always, Carol & Alvin