2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this Thursday morning? Well our weather can certainly change from one day to the next. Yesterday people were out in short-sleeves and capris and today we need long pants and a warm jacket, perhaps even a lighter winter coat. ARGH. Just so that you have some context weather wise. Our temperatures yesterday in Edmonton were +18 degrees celsius which is close to 65 degrees fahrenheit. Today at the warmest will be +3 celsius, which you can see is clearly much different. Right now our temperatures are in the minus single digits. But this is April and really anything can happen. We could have +25 temperatures or minus temperatures. I do not recall having double digit minus temperatures in April but could have happened in the past. Anyway it is Thursday. Just going back to Wednesday for a bit. Alvin and I had a wonderful walk at noon and even had a quick chat with our friend Pauline who mentioned that perhaps we could walk together later. After I was finished work which was about 4:15 p.m., Alvin and I headed out. Oh, I almost forgot to mention about Micah’s birthday lawn decorations. His parents had rented lawn birthday decorations for his 11th birthday. It was pretty cool for sure. There was a Happy Birthday Micah spelled out. A birthday cake blow up with candles and what appeared to be a cell phone? Not sure and I forgot to ask. We saw all three boys including the birthday boy and his Mom outside when we were starting our walk at noon. It was nice to have a visit with them. The boys are always so excited to see Mr.Alvin and him, them. Back to after work. We swung by and picked up Pauline. We cut across the lawn leading up from the public sidewalk in the park to their yard (Alvin always leads the way). He was so excited. We stood at their back gate for a few moments before I called out to Pauline. There was no response. So I thought we would just wait for a few minutes before carrying when Mr. Alvin started to bark and I swear that he was calling out Pauline, Pauline where are you? Wanna walk? A couple of minutes later, she came out on their balcony and said can you wait a minute as she was talking with one of her children. Of course, we waited. I opened the gate and we waited in the backyard. Alvin of course, kept going up to the back door and looking for our friend. We had a wonderful walk chatting and each taking a turn “venting.” Always good to get things off one’s chest. I had mentioned before I was feeling a bit out of sorts about a recent situation but decided to put a positive spin on things and now things are better. So much better. Really if something is eating at you, just make the decision to look at it differently, in a positive way. Life is way too short to be upset or wasting valuable time sweating over non-life threatening situations, really it is. After I changed my mindset, I have been feeling really happy with no anxiety. It is all about the choices we make. How we react to something can make or break you, honestly.

Also yesterday, someone near and dear to my heart is Queen Elizabeth. No, I have never met her and no, I am not related but I wanted to wish her a Happy 95th Birthday yesterday in my post and I clear forgot. Lots of birthdays lately. I am sending belated Birthday Wishes to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her 95th Birthday. She has always been a beacon of grace and leadership to a great many people. I admire her for her quiet and elegant way. I cannot imagine how she must be feeling with the recent loss of her beloved husband and best friend of over 73 years. I imagine that she will continue as she always has ….. Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth. Wishing you a great many more healthy years ahead. I hope that you have some days of laughter, soon. Take Care.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thursday.

Continuing to live this life in kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? Alvin and I are up and getting things done. Today we are celebrating Alvin’s 12th birthday with a birthday party. Amanda, Steven, Aspen and Milo are coming this afternoon. Also Alvin’s best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi will be joining us. Alvin turned his head when I mentioned their names this morning. We are almost ready. I will go and shovel the driveway and clean off the deck and the front sidewalk in a little while. I don’t want to do it too soon just in case it snows some more. The sky is overcast so there would be more snow. Gifts are wrapped. Good Bags decorated and filled. I baked vanilla cupcakes from scratch yesterday. They turned out good. I had to taste one as I had not made this recipe before. I will say that they are a substantial cupcake, not fluffy but not dry so that is good. Will keep on the hunt for a good vanilla cake/cupcake recipe. The pasta salad is prepared. I must remember to remove the garlic bread from the freezer so that it can thaw (it will be put in the oven, so I guess that doesn’t matter so much). I am chopping a few things like avocado, tomatoes, cucumber and green pepper in separate bowls for those who would like to add it to the salad. I do not wish it to become mushy. Oh, one quick mop of the main floor as I noticed a couple of paw prints that appeared out of nowhere. I wonder whose those could be? I wonder. LOL. Oh, I must not forget the birthday cake and frozen yogurt for Alvin and his guests which has to be kept frozen (will take it out shortly before they eat).

Oh, last night I watched the last remaining shows of the first season of BRIDGERTON. I like the speed of the show, as they move it along quickly. I was going to mention some details about the show and then deleted them. As, I thought that perhaps you may not have watched them as yet OR you are just starting. I was happy with the ending though. Very happy.

A reminder to everyone out there. Do not forget to change the filters on your furnace on a regular basis. The filters that I use are required to be changed every two-three months and also have your the vents/ducts on your furnace and dryer cleaned on a regular basis as well, which is every two years. I am overdue and am going to make an appointment to have it cleaned in early spring. Really important and it is something that we quite often either put off or forget about – mainly due in part to the cost and time. But it is very important.

Yesterday was the first day of much dipped temperatures and they will continue over the next week. Dig out your extra warm winter coat, boots and mitts and scarves and hats.

Well looks like I had better head to the shower and get ready followed by breakfast and some coffee. Shovelling, quick steam mop of the main floor and finally chopping some vegetables for the salad.

Then the guests will begin to arrive.

I wish you a Happy and wonderful Sunday.

We will continue to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin, the birthday boy.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a much cooler morning.

Last night we had some snow.

Nice to have a fresh layer covering the ground.

Unfortunately it will cover the ice so be careful out there.

I am so glad that I removed the majority of ice from in front of my house and my neighbour.

There is the runoff that I could not keep up to …. for that you would have to be out 24/7 and that is not possible.

Suppose to be Zero this week so I will keep chipping away and it will keep melting and the runoff will collect.

That is what happens when the storm drain is in front of your house.

It drains from both sides not just my yard.

I am grateful that my backyard is on an incline as it drains nicely and the only time it is annoying or a problem is when it melts during the winter.

That freeze/thaw thing is most definitely a pain.

But that is okay.

 

Yesterday was a good day.

Alvin and I hosted our friend S’s birthday party and we had a blast.

The crackers, boursin cheese and grapes plus birthday chocolate cupcakes with my special icing and decorate with purple tiny beads (edible) were a smash.

We laughed and almost cried.

I love these girls they are the best.

 

The rest of the day I finished some laundry, some cleaning, preparing for today and then we watched a movie.

It was great to have some down time.

Too icy outside for me and Alvin to walk so we spent some time in the backyard.

A car was turning off the side street to the north of our house when one of my neighbours was coming home on the main street and hit them.

The driver of the car was upset and said why didn’t you stop.

My question is why didn’t you?

She was supposed to yield to the main street.

Luckily they, my neighbours were going very slow about 8 miles per hour so damage was not major.

They were only seconds from home, like three.

I had been in the living room watching a movie but decided to run upstairs to check and see if the photos downloaded (which they had not) and missed the accident.

Luckily no one was hurt and both parties had insurance.

It is very icy, most especially in the residential areas.

Our streets are always extremely icy this time of year.

Basically all winter long.

 

I even turned the channel in time to see the halftime show of the Super Bowl.

Entertainment was great.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.

The ladies have moves.

Shakira does a mean “belly dance.”

I wish that I could do that …..

Good exercise for the core.

 

Well it is almost time to head downstairs.

We are parking in a different spot which means walking for both of us, so my ride is picking me up about ten or so minutes early.

 

I wish you a wonderful day.

Filled with kindness and respect.

Lots of laughter.

If we cannot laugh – life is pretty dull.

 

Happy Monday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. will try downloading those photos tonight.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 17th day of January, 2019.

Lightly snowing outside and has been throughout most of yesterday and last night.

Surprisingly not much has accumulated.

YAY, light snow is easy to shovel.

Temperatures are slowly going down over the next few days but single digits once again on Sunday.

Just in time for Mr. Alvin’s Birthday celebration.

Last night we hand delivered Alvin’s best friend’s party invitation and also invited him for a sleepover Saturday.

He will be at our house for the day on Saturday and I thought it would be nice to have him sleepover.

Teddy’s Mom & Dad were so thrilled by the invitation.

They told me that this was his first invitation.

You will notice a blue light surrounding the guitar …. it was just the flash on the camera.

But worked out perfectly …. looks so cool.

Teddy was so excited to see us last night.

Once I had removed our coats and outerwear; I stepped over by their sofa and was talking about the party, the sleepover – Teddy jumped up on the sofa and onto the arm of the

chair and started to give me so many kisses.

I guess he was excited to have the invitation as well.

I know it will be fun.

Now just to get some Birthday cookies and party favours.

This is going to be fun.

Alvin’s first actual celebration.

I cannot believe that he is ten.

Most days he does not act his age but then again neither do I.

Guess that is what keeps us young.

Well almost time to fly.

Went to bed in good time but Alvin had to get up at 3:00 a.m. to go outside and that threw me out of whack.

The routine – that is.

 

Happy Thursday.

Pay day and that is always a good thing.

Have an awesome day.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who have four-legged family members ….. treat them well.

Always, Carol & Alvin