Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 1st day of March, 2019.

Well here we are two months into 2019.

The coldest winter for Alberta and most of Canada in decades.

Some areas not only the coldest but broke records for snowfall.

We have a fair amount of snow here in Edmonton but have not broke any records.

Temperature records, yes we have broke a few.

We have been walking whenever there is a reprieve from the bitter cold.

Both Alvin are not 20 something anymore so I am careful walking and being out in the winter months.

I can certainly tell this winter as there are bulges where there were none.

This winter we have missed so many walks.

We have had so many cloudy days.

This all plays a role in less energy and no motivation.

So I once again started to have MATCHA with my oatmeal in the morning.

It has been a week and I am starting to notice that my energy levels are up.

On the days when we can walk I am the most happiest.

I have to / I need to start doing some indoor exercises.

There is space.

I need the motivation.

Looking at my midsection after a shower.

ARGH, what the h— ??

That should be motivation enough.

How is it that one day out of the blue or perhaps more than one day …..

You go from having a bit of a tummy to more???

Okay now that I have admitted this ….. this should give me the MOTIVATION to do something about it.

I am.

Thank you for listening to me.

This is what happens when it is COLD for long periods of time in WESTERN CANADA in the WINTER months.

ARGH.

I want my CORE to be back.

The core needs to be in a functioning capacity.

I no longer have a CORE.

Where oh where, is my CORE.

I am sad.

But I can bring the CORE back.

Alvin is doing much better than me.

Likely because he does not have any REFINED SUGAR.

His sweets are banana and blueberries and some carrots.

So almost time to head downstairs as my ride will be here to pick me up in a few minutes.

One last chance for The Alvin to go outside before I leave for the day.

 

Looking forward to tonight as Teddy and his Aunt J are coming for supper.

She is bringing some scalloped potatoes and I am doing the remainder of supper.

Not 100% decided on the rest but have some strong ideas.

 

Happy Friday.

It is the weekend.

Time to relax and unwind.

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Food is just too hard to resist.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “W” …. thank you for reading my blog and for the email.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 11th day of February, 2016.

We have SNOW.

It started snowing over night and is still snowing.

There is a pure white blanket covering roof tops, cars, lawns, roadways and streets.

Anything sitting outside is covered.

YAY …. actually I am happy for the snow because it means that Alvin and I can walk tonight with no fear of salt getting at his paws.

There has been so much ice again this year that people have resorted to using heavy duty SALT.

Being the consciousness Momma that I am ….. we have elected to walk irregularly but Mr. Alvin does get exercise and fresh air in our back yard.

He loves to run and jump on the three levels of our deck.

So this keeps him moderately active and gives him some fresh air.

I am going to see if I can find socks/boots that would fit him but he is so fussy about his paws that I would be shocked if he would leave them on.

That is part of the reason that I have not done so thus far.

I guess such as life …. we do the best that we can do given the situation.

Once again, I am pleased as punch that there is a new blanket of snow covering the ice/salt/sand.

What a combination…..

Another good reason for excitement … the weekend coming up is a three day one.

Monday is a Canadian Statutory Holiday celebrating “Families” named of course, Family Day.

So it will be nice to spend the weekend with my Alvin and my kids if they are able to make it over.

Coffee and visits with friends who are like family.

Those are the best ones.

Well almost time to get out into the snow.

I was debating about shovelling the deck before I leave for work and out front and then I thought …. it is still snowing so might as well wait.

Good exercise tonight …. walking and shovelling …… gotta work on my core, that is for sure.

I hope that you have an awesome Thursday …..

Take care.

Thanks for reading my blog.

I appreciate your time.

Special Hello to: You, after all without you there would no Me …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 29th day of October, 2015.

WOW, only today, tomorrow and Saturday and then it is November.

We have had a beautiful October ….. great fall/autumn.

I am looking forward to our tree decorating event on Sunday.

My daughter is coming ….. hip hip hooray.

So excited …… love when we decorate together.

Well it is Thursday.

Hopefully quiet day at the office …..

Alvin and I enjoyed yet another beautiful walk last night.

I put together my costume for Halloween (we can dress up for work and even have a contest for best costume).

I do love Halloween and it looks like the weather is going to hold.

The kiddies will love that as will the parents.

Perhaps not bundled to the core.

So great seeing what kinds of costumes are big and the imaginations of parents and their kids.

So excited.

I am pooped …. been a hectic week at work.

Thankfully today should be less so …..

Alvin and this new treats ….. he carries it around …. then he hides it ….. then finds it and in some cases “digs it out” …… he even will bury it in behind the cushions on the sofa and under his blanket on his chair.

He is so darn cute……. I do love me Alvin…….

Well almost time to don that “winter” jacket and head off to the bus.

I hope that you have an amazing Thursday.

No matter what the situation always show your kindness and be respectful.

Happy Thursday.

Special Hello: my sister ….. when are we SKYPING ….. every second Sunday????  I am showing my age….where is a sticky note when you need one?  Whoops right in right of me …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 15th day of May, 2015.

It is the long weekend here in Canada, and I also have today off.

So what do you think a person would be doing on their vacation day?

I thought a great way to get me started ,and because I missed a couple of classes is to go to BOOTCAMP.

The sky is overcast and it is windy.

The temperature in the house is 65 degrees …. but by the end of BOOTCAMP, I shall be nice and warm.

I did find my core …..

Now what?

It does require some work … oh, what am I saying …. it requires a lot of work.

I still have not got my head wrapped around fitting in yoga and some other exercises.

Once I get these into a regular routine with walking, life will be great.

But until then I shall do the best that I can.

I just keep telling myself that I am in great shape.

Always a work in progress.

This is one of those weekends where I have a TO DO LIST but I am going to what happens ….

Perhaps I shall clean the windows or maybe I will read my new book.

Perhaps I shall power wash the deck or maybe I will take an extra walk with Mr. Alvin.

Actually I decided that part of this weekend would be his ….. bath …. more playtime.

He needs some extra attention….. my little guy.

Well time to get ready for bootcamp.

Put on the lightest, coolest clothing that I own.

By coolest, I mean light weight.

Definitely not COOL …… if you know what I mean.

Oh well.

Grab the water bottle, yoga mat and TOWEL.

A girl always needs a little towel to wipe her brow!

Special Hello to: my sister …. we have to sKYPE this weekend.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 13th day of May, 2015.

The sun is coming up with promises of a lovely day.

Well last night was “bootcamp”  …… my mind keeps saying you are young and “can do this” and my body says “wait a minute.”

We did circuits ….. OMG.

Oh the YING and YANG of it.

But I survived and I will admit, yes being honest here.

There were a couple of exercises okay maybe three that I modified as I did not feel that I could pull them off just yet.

But the thing is …. I am trying.

I want to get back into shape ….. have a toned tummy.

I want to know that I have a core and it is doing what it is supposed to do.

Not to find out after doing a class filled with exercises for the core that I pulled a stomach muscle(s) and had a hard time getting in and out of bed.

So lesson learned I do the class at my pace but building it up every time I go.

One of these days I will be able to do what the 30 somethings are doing.

I will continue to walk every night with Alvin and on the weekends double time.

I am going to start doing yoga on a regular basis as I have found that I am not very flexible.

Well it is time to finish getting ready for work but I just wanted to let you know that it is never too late to get your body into shape.

It will take time and patience and hard work but we can do it.

I want to have a flater tummy …… bye bye love handles.

They are not very “lovely” to me.

Time to fly.

Have a great day.

Remember walk when you can ….. do some squats ….. something but get moving.

We sit way too much ….. I know that I do.

Special Hello to: my fellow bloggers ….. you rock.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 15th day of April, 2015.

It is a glorious morning here in Edmonton …. sun is shining and I am on vacation for the rest of the week.

Today is the day that my daughter and son-in-law receive the keys to their brand new house.

The house … their home that they had a hand in designing.

So excited for them.

This morning was the second last morning with the trio of pups gathered beside me as I sat at the kitchen table sharing a banana with them.

As we shared the banana I told them this would be our second last morning of sharing a banana at Grandma’s house before they were once again living in their own home.

Kind of sad but happy as well.

I will miss this time we shared in the mornings.

Alvin will be sad not to have them here every day ….

The key hand over is this afternoon so once it has been done the kids will come and pick us up so that we can all go and see the new house.

I am so happy for them and EXCITED to see the new house.

Photos are great but not the same.

 

Last night was week two of the bootcamp that I have been attending with my friend “G.”

It was great.

I found that I have a “CORE” and it was on fire last night.

The first week I do not remember so much “core” work but last night we did.

At one point I could feel the muscles pulling and straining and the pain that followed.

It was a great workout.

So for the next few days I am going to work on my core ….. walking is not enough, clearly.

It was great finding my core and now I must keep it.

We tend to forget just how important our midsection is for our overall health.

 

Well time for a shower and then help my daughter with the last of the packing.

An exciting day and a sad one, too.

I will miss having them here but it is time for me and Alvin to resume our lives together.

At least now I am only working one job which gives me more flexibility with living my life.

I know that sounds silly but really when you are working six or seven days a week …. there is no time for relaxation and doing the things you need and want to do.

 

Well time for a shower and a cup of coffee.

I am grateful to be at home for a few days.

So nice.

I wish you a great Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: family and friends.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 9th day of April, 2015.

Well it is just after 6:30 a.m. and the skies are lightening as the sun begins to rise in the sky.

I love this time of morning in my mind even though my body usually takes much longer to appreciate this time of day.

What can you do?

Keep trying until you get it 100%, I suppose.

Well our weather here in Edmonton has been great.

Yesterday was gorgeous.

Today the same.

We girls have been taking the pups for a nice walk each night.

I will admit that I am a bit stiff after Tuesday’s “bootcamp.”

But that is to be expected as it was months ago since I went to try it for the first time.

This time I signed up ….

Every Tuesday for eight weeks.

I want to strengthen my core.

It definitely needs some work.

Strong core …. strong body and mind.

Well almost the weekend.

I am so excited to have my first full weekend.

Will be home Friday night right after work.

Saturday I already have planned.

Alvin has an appointment with Dr. Karen …. just routine stuff.

No worries …. he is in great health.

Followed by some “paperwork” and picking up the trash in the neighbourhood after lunch.

There is one walkway between our neighbourhood and a busy street that is absolutely deplorable.

I have been walking by it every night for the past week and time it is …..

To get my garbage bags and my picker and get to work.

I want to have a pristine neighbourhood.

Clean and pretty …..

No paper blowing around.

No cigarette butts laying all over.

CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN.

So that no puppies accidentally eat something they should not.

It will take me some time but I will do it.

Well it is almost time to leave for the office ……. this is the fourth last ride with the kids before they move into their new house.

By the way, they had their walk through yesterday and they loved it.

Only small things were found ….. like painting.

So that is great.

I hope that you have a great day.

I will be back tomorrow.

Special Hello to: my family and friends back in Regina.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 8th day of April, 2015.

Well I will admit that I am running a couple of minutes behind so this will be short.

Starting to get used to the new schedule.

Thought better try it before the kids move to their new house.

I will be leaving the house at 6:10 so that I can catch the bus and hopefully arrive at the office before 7:30 a.m.

This will be for a short time.

Then I will be able to leave about 6:30 a.m. for the office.

Which doesn’t seem like much but early in the morning 20 minutes, is 20 minutes.

Last night I signed up with my friend “G” for boot camp.

Every Tuesday night for eight weeks.

I knew that I was out of shape but it makes you realize just how “inactive” we really are in our day to day lives.

I feel good this morning other than tired …..

Perhaps tomorrow will be the telling story.

I break my time down into segments in the morning.

That way I know what needs to be done and how much time I have ….. seems to work.

The kids are home today as they go for the final walk through in their brand new house.

I am beyond excited to see the finished product.

Hopefully I can make it over before they get moved in ….. like to see it while it is empty.

Well I had better hop to it here.

I hope that you have an amazing Wednesday.

Remember to try something new ….. mine is the boot camp.

I did go once but never signed up for the class.

I am looking forward to finally getting my core back to it’s original glory.

Or at least have a core that works.

Special Hello to: my sister ….. I miss you.

Always, Carol and Alvin