The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! What a beautiful morning. We slept until 4:15 and then back to sleep until 6:07 and then well, I fell into a sleep where I was dreaming all sorts of things until 8:30 a.m. I guess I needed the sleep. I have an exciting day ahead. So excited. But first back to yesterday. So it was a warm sunny day. Alvin and I went for a walk at noon. We have started walking to our friend’s house which is about halfway and then turning around and heading home. It takes us about the same amount of time. Mr. Alvin seems to be slowing down and truly smelling the “roses” or in his case each “blade of grass.” He is definitely in the moment and does not want to be rushed. So in order not to be rushed and worry about getting back to work late, we only walk part way. I have found that I am enjoying the walk more this way. We saw the geese in the distance yesterday with their “babies” who by the way are no longer babies. They are getting so big. Sooo cute. The trees and grass are so green. The dandelions have made a yellow blanket across most of the grass near the water and trees in our park. The houses with yards that back onto the park are trying desperately to keep the grass near their homes and their lawns free of the little yellow flowers. If the dandelions stayed in flower and did not go to seed so quickly it may be a different story but alas they do not and people are not happy. I love the little yellow flowers but not so much when they are ready to sail away and seed the world. I had a productive day at work. When it was almost 4:00 p.m. – I received a phone call from my neighbour – advising that she was not going to need her car after all – I could borrow it if I wanted to. So I changed my grocery shopping back to Thursday after work. Once I was finished work which was a few minutes after 4:00 p.m., I made sure that Alvin had a drink of water and went “pee.” Gathered my list and bags and purse, of course and was on my way. The store was definitely more busy than I thought but everything seemed to go quickly. When I was finished picking up and paying for my groceries, I noticed that the Lotto Max Jackpot was up to $70 million again so I decided to pick up a ticket. I waited for a Cashier as they were all busy at the grocery tills. It was only a few minutes before I had the nicest young person. She was so polite and friendly. While she was getting my tickets and I was paying she told me that recently she had two men who had won some money. One had one $800 and one $25,000 – both had said if they won they would be back. Well they came back to “collect” and were kind of rude to her. She said that maybe she had brought them luck and one said no, he bought the ticket? the other said he bought a car. I told her I will be back and I will give her something. I understand the $800 winner but the $25,000? Why could they have not bought her a coffee at the very least. Would have been kind. Oh well, I don’t know their situations and perhaps they could not or even maybe did not want to share their winnings.

Well I have to get the show on the road. My friend Pauline is picking me up at 12:30. We are heading the Bird sanctuary which is across the road from the Botanical gardens where we hope to see a garden filled with lilacs. The scent is supposed to be enchanting. I cannot wait. This will be my first time to the Bird sanctuary and third or so to the Botanical gardens. Cannot think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

In the meantime, I need to get my photos downloaded from my phone to the computer and that could take a bit of time and then delete more from my phone so that I do not run out of memory when I am snapping photos and make sure my phone is 100% charged. Also the shower and get ready time.

Last night at the store I picked up three wave petunias and planted them last night. I cannot wait for them to be grow and bloom. So pretty.

I hope that you have a great Friday. Enjoy the weather.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am so grateful for wonderful friends and neighbours. I helped Sonja with an unwanted house guest last night. A wasp had come into her house. She is terrified of them. I am not. I am however allergic to their sting as I had a bad experience as a teenager and have tried to keep my distance since I was stung. Anyway, I sprayed some water on it to confuse it before I apologized for having to take its’ life and then swept it up in a paper towel. I do not have to tell you the rest. I do not like taking a life even a bug.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

Welcome to a bright, blue sky, breezy morning here in Edmonton.

We seem to having a lot more wind here than we did when I moved here over ten years ago.

The garbage truck just went by ….. stopping and starting as they do along their route.

Geese honking and other birds chirping away.

Our window is open in the office so we are hearing all of the sounds that our neighbourhood is making as it slowly comes to life.

Not many people up and out.

So many of our neighbours are working from home.

I do know some of my neighbours that are slowly beginning to go back to their places of employment.

I love this time of day.

Perfection.

If I had my poop in a group or ducks in a row, I would have been organized earlier and sat out on the deck and drank a cup of coffee all the time enjoying the morning.

But alas did not happen.

Oh well, next best thing, window open, coffee in a travel mug and will enjoy as I start to work.

I have my coffee up here and ready to go.

I have been dragging my keister the past few mornings likely due to my watching how much I stand and such.

But anyway that is okay.

Perhaps on Saturday morning …… read my book on the deck and drink some coffee.

Alvin loves to lie on the deck and enjoy the sun until it gets too hot.

 

Did you plant flowers this year?

What kinds?

Are they doing okay?

Flowering?

 

Thanks to my darling daughter I have impatiens, petunias and marigolds.

Most of my perennials are up and some are even flowering.

I cannot believe that one day my ferns in the front flower bed were barely a spot of green and already they are several inches tall.

Before I know it they will be reaching for the sky …… over two feet tall.

They grow so fast.

The irises and others are up.

Unfortunately I don’t remember all the names of the shrubs and plants I have in the back and front gardens.

Oh and lilies.

Love the lilies.

The recent rain has definitely helped plants and the grass and trees grow, bud and bloom.

The grass is this most beautiful green, I guess kelly green.

So, so pretty.

The dandelions dot most lawns and they were in full glory a week or so ago.

Then they go to seed.

I hope that the bees got to them before they were sprayed or went to seed.

I feel so bad for Mother Nature and then Man happens.

 

Well time for coffee and get signed onto work computer.

 

Wishing you the most grand of Tuesdays.

Filled with some laughter, even on a Tuesday you must have a giggle or three, oh come maybe four giggles.

Our life is way to serious.

We must laugh along the way.

If we all live in kindness and with respect.

Even if we slip or have a moment, we all do.

Climb back up and live again in kindness and with respect.

 

Happy Tuesday.

With kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a Rainy THURSDAY morning.

The sky is gray and it has been raining since before 2:30 a.m.

Likely the thought crossed your mind, how did I know that?

Well because Mr. Alvin was up at 12:17, 2:30, 4:22, 4:52 and then up to stay at 6:19 a.m.

He has breakfast at 4:22 a.m.

Alvin does not like going out in the rain so going to the bathroom for him is always interesting when it is raining.

I have been taking my heavy family size umbrella out each time we go outside so that he feels he has some protection from the rain.

It does help him and also that I am out there, as well.

The boy has not pooped since Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

So safe to say that the pills are working but when is he going to poop.

He is trying to tell me something so perhaps he wants to go out yet again.

We were just out but I had better go and see.

Will return.

Back again.

I am quite certain that if any of our neighbours were outside and saw this huge umbrella moving about on my deck and then on the grass just above the fenceline, they would laugh.

They would most certainly have a giggle if they could heard my words of encouragement to Alvin “please go poop, Alvin.”

So not again.

I think that he wants to go but his bum is sore and he is reluctant.

If he does not go by this afternoon, I might call the vet to check.

I am glad for both of our sakes that the diarrhea has ended.

Life is so funny.

Never did I think that on May 20, 2020 that I would be working from home and able to be with Alvin 24/7.

So happy that I am with him when he truly needs me.

Last time he was sick, which was last September one week after I returned to work after three weeks of vacation only to be gone another week.

This time I am here already so have only had to take small amount of time …. last Friday a couple of hours and Monday morning.

He is laying on his little bed that I made for him in the office.

He usually stays put there while I write my post and then when I am working he lays on the rug in the hallway.

Yesterday he actually left me and laid on his favourite chair in the living room.

Oh, my boy.

I think today will be up and down while he figures out when / how to go.

He is likely nervous.

 

My neighbour fertilized the lawn so perhaps it will be a nice lush green for a change.

Although I am not a fan of putting something on the lawn to kill the weeds, I may have to this year.

My neighbour longs for green grass and mine has some weeds.

Even though it is kept cut it does not look very nice.

I am hoping that can get something that is not harmful to the environment but will rid the lawn of the unwanted weeds.

Our back area by the garage is filled with yellow flowers …. dandelions.

At least it is some colour and most of all, good for bees.

Not everyone in the back lane area looks after that space so it is difficult to do so.

 

Well the clock says I need to get signed on for work.

I got my coffee when we were coming back upstairs.

So ready to go.

 

I hope that you have a lovely Thursday.

Keep Mr. Alvin with positive thoughts.

I hope he is better soon.

So we can walk again and live our regular ordinary wonderful lives.

 

Remember with Kindness and Respect is the only way to live our lives.

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 9th day of June, 2017.

YAY, it is almost the weekend.

Looking forward to seeing my girls (my daughter & Miss Aspen) tomorrow.

The sky is blanketed in dark blue clouds to the south as I look out of my office window.

A few moments ago in my bedroom which faces north the sun was shining and the sky was clear blue.

Funny how that works.

Seems like for some reason I am running late once again.

No particular reason but alas I am.

Do you sometimes have this problem or situation?

Not really a problem, I guess.

Just timing.

Last night after a long day between work and the bus ride home, we just had a quiet night at home.

Alvin and I enjoyed some quiet time in the back yard.

I mowed the grass and dug out some dandelions from Alvin’s little area.

The dandelions seem to come out of nowhere.

It was nice to sip on a cup of tea on the deck.

I must do that more …..

I hope that you have a glorious weekend.

I have been thinking about the things we say, I say and have come up with the following mantra:

I will think for a longer time before I speak.

 

There is more but I see by my watch that I have to go.

Have a great day.

 

Special Hello to: you and you and you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 3rd day of June, 2017.

It was bright and sunny with a bit of a breeze this morning and now the sky seems to be filled with scattered clouds.

So we shall see.

Yesterday was a rainy day until about supper time.

Alvin and I managed to get a walk in after supper and the evening remained beautiful.

Mr. Alvin is about to have a haircut and bath as soon as I am done here.

My first job is to give him a haircut, bath and clean his ears and double check to ensure he has no TICKS.

I have been checking after each walk but have to make doubly sure.

The front lawn, back lawn and by the garage are filled with those beautiful little yellow flowers er, weeds, we call “dandelions.”

So I have to figure out some way of getting rid of them that does not call for poisons that are bad for animals, the environment and wallet.

There is no way to dig them out.

They just got crazy after this last round of rain.

So lots to to do.

I will keep busy this weekend.

 

Hopefully tomorrow Alvin and I can walk over the one of the parks north of us and check out the baby geese.

I see them every morning on the bus ride to work.

I would like to get some photos of them.

WISH me luck.

But that is for tomorrow.

I would like to go first thing tomorrow morning if it is sunny …..

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

Food for thought:  Stay within your budget and keep old friends close.

 

Happy Saturday Everyone.

Special Hello to: my family and friends ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

Another use for Vinegar !

I heard the other day on one of the morning shows that if you have dandelions and, you cannot or do not eat them (by the way they make a great salad) – spray them with vinegar.  It is definitely worth a try.  I have not as yet tried this so I cannot say for sure if it works.  But if you need to rid your lawn of these “yellow flowers” give it a try.  Safe for pets, children and the environment.

Thought for the day

Keeping the weeds at bay:

If you spend just ten minutes each day in your yard pulling out those pesky weeds and of course, those pretty yellow flowers (aka: dandelions) you will save the strain on your back, and have more time to just ENJOY life and your yard.

Have a great summer !!!