Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! What a wonderful morning! We were up at 4:30 to go outside and then back to the sofa until 6:30, I cannot believe that Mr. Alvin slept until 6:30. Then we were up at he had his breakfast and then outside for a few minutes before returning inside. The sky was slightly overcast at that point and the air was cool and refreshing. I could have laid on the deck and just been so comfortable. Once inside the house we “hit” the sofa for some more zzz’s because it is Saturday and I was still tired. Next thing I know it was 8:30 so up we got. The sky still overcast with rain in the forecast for this afternoon, I thought that I would just get dressed and we would head out for a walk. So upstairs, I went to get dressed and afterward happened to look out the window and the pavement was dark, say “what?” Well shortly after that it really started to rain and now it is pouring as the rain bounces off the roof of the garage. We desperately needed some moisture but I worry and wonder about the farmers and their crops. Now the sky is that foreboding gray which makes it appear that the rain is here to stay. So much for getting out for a walk this morning or perhaps it will just stop as quickly as it started. I am concerned about Mr. Alvin as he did not poop since last night and it is not fun going out in pouring rain. I guess we will figure it out as usual, grab that trusty umbrella and hope for the best. It is windy outside. I certainly do not wish to be Alberta’s version of Mary Poppins, lol. Now that would be a sight. Feels like the time for a cup of hot coffee and relaxing. Will be nice to be able to do some cleaning and things with the temperature decreasing in the house. I think that someone is squeaking so likely has to go downstairs so this will be quick.

Last night only one of my friends was able to attend the potluck as the other had fallen ill. I hope that she is feeling better today. We, two had a good time. Way too much food but lots of leftovers so no cooking this weekend or even Monday so that makes me happy. Next week is forecasted to be hot again. So not really looking forward to that. One more thing about the potluck, I should have been clear that I was bringing supper items and not just dessert and beverage. For next time, lol.

Okay, sorry we have to go.

I wish you sunshine and rainbows. Beautiful walks with a friend or your pup.

Happy Day.

I can hear thunder in the distance.

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

Life is what you make it.

Today is wonderful and I am so happy for the rain. It is still raining.

I guess I should check the main floor windows especially the kitchen one as it opens out.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: We are what we want to be. If you slip off that place, then pick yourself back up and try again to be where and what you want to be. We are responsible for what we put out into the universe.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

The NEW Year 2022

Good Morning ALL! Well a bit later start to the day than planned but you know what it is the weekend and I can make my own schedule. When there is no significant other and no children who require most of your time – you can almost do what you would like, I say almost, because I have Mr. Alvin to consider. He does always come first but after that, my time is my own. So as long as I get up with him at 4:00 ish so that he can go outside and pee, then get up when he wants to eat which is anywhere from 5:00 – 6:30 a.m. – I am set. So this morning I was dreaming so I coaxed him to stay on the sofa a bit longer. It was so wonderful just laying there once I was awake – not having to go anywhere or do anything specific. Now it is getting onto mid morning or so. I already have picked up his little brown packages from the remaining snow banks on the deck, put on the coffee, changed the bedding, gathered the laundry and got dressed. Now for this post. I do not have a funny story nor do I have words of wisdom this morning. Just words. Hopefully something might make you smile or give you that final boost for the day.

Last night just as I turned off the computer at 4:00 p.m. (yes I stopped working on time), I heard a small knock upon the door and realized that my daughter had already arrived. I was hoping to be downstairs when she arrived but I was not. She is my pride and joy and it was great to see her. I did have a few less than stellar moments during her visit when I was kind of “venting” about goodness knows what. I have never claimed to be perfect that is for sure. We did have some light moments. We talked about so many things during her visit. I love when she visits. She is such an amazing, loving, kind hearted, good soul. I aim to be like her. Perhaps our roles are reversed. Then she was leaving for home.

We had a quiet evening. Oh, she left me some leftovers from a lunch which were spectacular. It was a vegan ginger beef in a sauce with green peppers and carrots. So good. I made some quinoa and green peas to go along with it. Best supper. I could have eaten a barrel full of that vegan ginger beef. I would like to know what they used in their “vegan ginger beef.” Anyway, it was so good. I got the name of the restaurant from my daughter but it is on my phone which is downstairs. Tonight I will have two prep made meals that my neighbour gave me. They smell amazing. Cannot wait. So excited – no cooking this weekend. Always nice to have food that was made by someone else. Wonderful change. I miss when the kids were living here. We took turns cooking.

Well time to head back downstairs and have that first cup of coffee and put in the first load of laundry. Once the temperature warms up I plan to dig out the back grass area so that Mr. Alvin can once again go down there. The snow on the deck is melting fast. Too bad the ice on the sidewalk and the ice and snow chunks would not move faster. With any luck perhaps the temperatures will remain warm during the day and we will soon be snow and ice free. I long to go for walks with Mr. Alvin where we are not worried about staying upright.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning ALL, yay it is Friday.

Alvin and I enjoyed a full walk last night after work.

He didn’t stop or walk slowly.

I could tell that he was enjoying each and every step.

Sniffing and walking.

Walking and sniffing.

 

Just transferred the money to the gal that is baking my birthday treats.

Those treats are a delectable carrot cake with cream cheese icing and cupcakes.

The cupcakes are one dozen vanilla with key lime icing and the other twelve are chocolate with salted caramel icing.

I can hardly wait to bite into these sweet amazing treats.

My friend is one of the best bakers, I know.

I have met up with a few of them over the years.

My paternal Grandmother was one of those women who could bake the socks off anyone.

She made the best jelly rolls, angel food cakes, orange chiffon cakes, cookies and homemade bread.

I can taste them now.

All the gloriousness (I guess that is a word).

The jam in the jelly roll.

The thin layer of icing on the cakes.

The smell of the bread baking in the oven.

That was a long time ago and I can recall those smells.

It is funny how much food plays a role in our lives.

We have to eat to maintain health and energy and to live.

But food has become over the centuries so much more.

We eat when we are happy.

We eat when we are sad.

We eat to celebrate.

We eat when someone dies.

We eat, eat and eat.

Christmas cookies.

Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

Easter bread.

The list goes on and on.

We have channels all about food.

The industry is crazy.

There are bake offs and cook offs and grilling championships.

The list is a mile long.

Every celebrity that can cooks has their own television show.

We blog about food.

We have YouTube videos about cooking and baking.

We put photos on Instagram.

FOOD, food, and more FOOD.

Sweet and Savoury.

 

Well with all that goodness now instilled in your brain, I have to go to work.

I baked a coffee cake …. second one with this new recipe that I found in one of my favourite recipe books.

The night before I baked a few dozen peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

For an outing this evening.

I am still a bit nervous as this is my first larger than 3 people gathering.

But I am prepared.

I made separate packages of the cookies and will come up with something for the cake using cupcake holders.

 

With kindness and respect, we live our lives.

I/We, shall remain,

As Always, Carol & her Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and WELCOME to Friday ….

Not an ordinary Friday.

But the Friday before a long weekend.

The Friday before we celebrate THANKSGIVING.

One of my most favourite times of year.

The weather …. the people …. the FOOD.

Who does not like PUMPKIN?

Pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin cookies.

Pumpkin cake.

Pumpkin Lattes.

Pumpkin tea.

Pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkins carved for Halloween.

Another fun time of the year.

There is always the contest for the largest PUMPKIN.

Charlie Brown and the gang.

Leaves turning such a vast variety of colours.

Leaves laying on the sidewalks and lawns.

Walking through the leaves …. crunching them.

The smell of the air.

Birds leaving for the winter.

 

We call the day THANKSGIVING but really we should be thankful all year round.

I am so grateful to have good health.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by the most wonderful people on the planet.

They are all family.

I am so grateful to Alvin in my life.

Although there are times that he drives me a little crazy and I’m quite certain that I do the same to him.

I love the little guy.

I am so grateful to have this beautiful house that we can call home.

I am so grateful to live in this great Country.

Life may not be perfect in all eyes.

But it is perfect for me.

 

Life is filled with many rainbows.

They come and go.

Latch on and have the time of your life.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

I am so excited to have this weekend.

Teddy is coming for a sleepover on Saturday.

My kids and grandpups are coming for supper on Sunday.

 

I wish and hope that you have a life filled with great joy, good health,

much laughter and abundance.

Happy Friday.

Respectfully and filled with kindness just for you.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 30th day of November, 2018.

The last day of November, 2018.

Tomorrow is December 1st, 2018 and ONLY 24 Days till Christmas.

 

How do you celebrate Christmas?

 

Do you travel to a warm climate?

Perhaps you lay on a beach and have seafood for Christmas dinner.

That would be nice.

 

Do you go to your parents?

Perhaps they live hundreds of miles away.

Do you fly or drive or take a train?

Turkey or Ham?  Both.

 

Do you go to your in-laws?

Perhaps they live just down the street.

Do you take dessert?

 

Do you stay at home?

Perhaps family and friends come to your home.

You like to cook and to entertain.

Your family and friends like your cooking and love when you entertain.

 

Wherever you are, wherever you go.

I wish you a safe, health, happy, joyful Christmas.

I believe that we should keep the joy in our hearts and give to ourselves and to our fellow “humans” and to all living creatures ALL year long.

If we are joyful ….. we will do good things.

Keep the Christmas spirit all year long.

 

This weekend I am going to finish up Christmas cards.

Some will be mailed and others hand delivered.

It is a tradition that I will do forever.

 

Well almost time to go.

We had some freezing snow pellets either late last night or earlier this morning.

They were on the deck when we awoke earlier.

 

I hope that you have an awesome Friday.

Celebrate the greatness that November was and that December will be.

Happy Day.

 

Special Hello: to all those people who keep the Christmas spirit alive all year long.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60.

Today is Monday June 26, 2017 and it is the 45 day until my 60th Birthday.

Okay now what after the 60 favourite things list.

I was thinking about a BUCKET LIST.

What is with all of these lists anyway?

Well truthfully, this would not be a surprise to people who know me as I am famous for writing lists, TO DO LISTS and such.

I like to write things down.

I have often thought a BUCKET LIST would be nice but perhaps today I will do it in reverse.

Not the things that I want to do in the future but some of the things that I have done over the years.

Okay so this is going to be another 60 things list ….. but things that I have done not necessarily favourite things but things that I have done/accomplished, okay.

Because going backwards can be tricky with the counting process I am just going to start at number 1.

 

Here are the next 12 items:

25.  Attended all different schools from Grades 9 to Grade 12 in three different Canadian provinces.

26.  Sold through direct sales:  AMWAY, Fashion Two-Twenty make-up, Tupperware twice in two different provinces and Steeped Tea.

27.  Wrote Eulogies for four different family members and gave three of them.

28.  Started to write poetry at age eight years.

29.  Jobs have done over the years: Babysitting, Berry picker,  Executive Assistant (summer job), Keypunch operator, Bank Teller,  Claims Dispatch Clerk, Mapping Clerk, Reinsurance Underwriter, small town Ladies Clothing Shop, Customer Service Clerk at Retail store with largest sales at West Edmonton Mall, House Cleaning, File Clerk and Housing Clerk.

30.  Wrote Groom’s speech for my friend to give at her brother’s wedding.

31.  Broke handle off new shovel while digging out dead cedar tree from my back garden area two years ago.  Still do not believe that one.

32.  Grateful to have attended concerts for two of my favourite entertainers:  Celine Dion and Sir Elton John.

33.  Good at making meals from virtually nothing.  I love challenging myself to using everything in my pantry and fridge.

34.  Love making up new recipes.

36.   Grew up on the farm and helped with everything from stacking bales when haying, to housework, to looking after siblings, to cooking, gardening and other chores all before age 14.

37.   After moving from the farm in Saskatchewan to British Columbia …. my Mom, Sister and I spent that first summer picking berries.  Hard work but definitely had payoff.

 

Sure is a test of the memory banks.

Always, Carol

Good Afternoon and today is Sunday the 9th day of August, 2015 and my 58th Birthday.

Well I found out this morning that I will not have internet or television until Friday when they come to make a service call.

Technology is a wonderful thing until you do not have it.

I am over at my neighbour’s on her computer so that I could write my blog.

It breaks my heart not to write for a whole week …..

It has been a great birthday …… two birthday cakes ….. balloons ….. lots of presents.

We celebrated yesterday ….. in the morning with two of my friends and at supper with my kids.

Got to have coffee with friends and cake, go shopping to IKEA and get the desks that I want for my office at home followed by supper brought to me by my daughter and son-in-law along with yet another birthday cake and more gifts.

I feel truly spoiled and so blessed.

A great day.

Oh, I cannot forget the joint birthday party I had last Friday with my siblings and nephew.

I had wanted to share photos …. I only have access to the ones previously shared.

I am one lucky lady.

Here are some of my passions and loves ……

Sisters

Me and my Manda

My brother whose birthday is August 11th …..

Jeff and Five of Five (Tyler, Cindy, Carol & John) – 1992

AKA: Conehead

Casey, Elton and Alvin …. just missing Miss Penny.

My Mom, nephew Troy and Amanda ….. memories

One of my favourites…1980’s

Flowers

My Grand-puppies Penny and Elton

Christmas at my house

One of my favourite things to do ….. bake sugar cookies.

Jewellery …. ours

My version of taco salad …. salad … and all the fixings.
Another passion of mine.

Love dragonflies … they visit my house.

Me and my sister …. the good old days. I am on the left holding a dolly

FLOWERS FOR FRIENDS

First snowman me and my sister made since we were kids ….. (2009)

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 3rd day of February, 2015.

Warming up.

Not sure if spring is 6 weeks away or 6 months away…. just kidding.

I am sure it will come when Mother Nature thinks it is time!

This morning I am reminded that one should always surround themselves with the things that they love.

If you love the colour turquoise then paint a couple of walls in your bedroom and or living room that particular shade.

If you love photography …. have a hallway filled with family photos or ones from your travels.

If you love baking then make some extra cookies and deliver them to an elderly neighbour or working single parent.

If you love to cook then once again make something extra and deliver to someone who works multiple jobs …. someone that would really appreciate a home-cooked meal.

If you love to write ….. send off a newsy letter to a loved one who lives far away.

Perhaps you love to be around children, and have none ….. then offer to help watch family/friend’s children so the parent(s) can go out.

If you love to walk then check with a neighbour who owns a dog who may need help getting their beloved that extra exercise.

There are so many things that one can do …. to help by doing things and surrounding ourselves with things that you love.

If you love to clean then volunteer to help the elderly or go out and pick up the trash in your neighbour.

If you have extra time … shovel some sidewalks ….

So many things ….. so much love.

Just be the person you love to be without worrying about what others think.

Surround yourself with things you love.

Live your life doing what you love to do.

Have the best day ever.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who is one of the best people I know.

Always, Carol and  Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 22nd day of July, 2014.

Another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

I love that we have a bit of coolness to the air before the sun warms everything.

There is a nice breeze.

Deep breath.

Feels so nice, as I imagine if I were outside standing on the deck drinking it the glory of the early morning.

Even though I am not really a morning person …… I love the feel of the morning.

If I could just convince my body that 5:00 is a good thing.

Perhaps if I give it the talk on a regular basis I could change things.

I shall do that.

Well one more sleep until our home of two increases to six.

I am excited.

Not sure about Alvin ….. guess we will find out.

It will be interesting to see Elton and Penny’s reactions when they find out they are not going “home” ….. kind of sad for them.

But they will have their Mom and Dad here so that will help.

It is a good thing for Alvin to have the company everyday.

Change is always good.

I am excited to have someone to cook for  ……. always nice.

Well time to go and finish getting ready for work.

I wish you all a great day filled with love and laughter and warmth.

Special Hello to: Hello friends all over the world.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….. December 18, 2013

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 18th day of December, 2013.

WOW, one week today is Christmas Day.

I hope that this finds you well and up for the next week of last minute shopping, wrapping of gifts, a tad more baking and COOKING.

I guess sweeping the floors and cleaning the bathrooms might be in order as well.

Have to have the house right and proper for company.

You know …… bright and shining.

Clean …. clean ….. clean.

I love my house and any chance to show it off …..

With all my Christmas decorations it is so pretty …. if I do say so myself.

Oh, great idea …… if you have not done so already ….. MAKE A LIST.

You know how Santa makes a list and checks it twice.

You can make a couple of lists.

One for shopping and one for tasks.

Shopping would be like food items and last minute gifts (don’t forget to make something – doesn’t always have to be store bought).

Tasks like dusting, changing bedding in the guest room … last minute laundry.

One big thing and for years I have always forgot to do this.

It would seem that when I make my last grocery stop I always make up the list for the items we need for Christmas Eve and Day but I forget one MAJOR THING …..

WHAT DO YOU EAT AFTER CHRISTMAS?

Not everyone wants to eat leftovers for the next week.

So I do try to make sure that I have other items in the house for something different.

Happy Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all my fellow sisters of the world, REJOICE …. YOU ROCK.

Always, Carol and Alvin