2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? Alvin and I are doing well. The sun is rising and the wind is blowing. Actually the trees out of my office window are dancing away in the wind. We had a nice walk yesterday but only went half way. I always let Alvin decide how far or almost always. Sometimes I can convince him when he has changed directions for home before we have gone for our full walk and sometimes not. Yesterday was one of those days.

Yesterday in the morning I had a lovely video chat with my friend Gillian. It was so nice to catch up. She always has good stories and information. I always learn something new. Yesterday was no exception. Also, she has offered to give us a ride to the vet tomorrow and that way I won’t have to “attempt” to stop him from peeing on the walk as they would like him to have a full bladder for the ultrasound. So grateful to have a friend nearby.

Also I caved and watched the NETFLIX series “FIREFLY LANE” and it was so good. The storyline reminds me of part of my youth which is odd as we grew up in totally different decades but then again it reminds us all that it does matter what the fashions are or the music; we are all human and our personality traits have not changed. The human story remains the same decade after decade after decade. I was always hopeful that things would change but not so much. I got to the end of episode 8 and had to call it quits; as I work today, actually in a few minutes. Definitely worth watching.

We both had a good sleep last night ….. only up once at 3:47 and then at 5:40 a.m. (of course, we did not stay up at that time).

Oh, my phone did not hold the charge from last night. Not sure what to do now. I will have to seek out assistance after work as won’t be able to reach anyone before then. I did get a quick text out to my daughter so that she knows. I am assuming that cell phones have batteries and even with recharging just like cameras they eventually have to be replaced? ARGH.

Wishing you a safe and happy Monday.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience. Always, working on patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of March, 2019.

Now officially more than halfway into the third month of 2019.

The sun is shining brightly to the east and soon it shall fill the entire sky.

Warm temperatures forecasted for the weekend.

I took Monday as a vacation day to have an extra long weekend.

Just sneezing and keeping positive thoughts of feeling well.

My neighbour is feeling so much better and I am grateful.

Last night I shovelled a path across the snowbank from my house to my neighbours.

The sidewalks are a mess of ice and water.

Alvin has his regular vet appointment this morning.

Thankfully we will have a ride this morning.

The streets and sidewalks are so full of icy ruts and in a few hours will be melting and mixed with water.

ARGH.

I love spring but could take less of the ice part.

I also am going to pick up some groceries after Alvin’s appointment.

Making a fruit pizza for my daughter’s birthday party tomorrow.

Love fruit pizza ….. not something one would make every weekend but it is a great treat.

 

A NEW DECADE …..

I was thinking over the past few days about what it has been like to be a single woman in her 60’s.

Crazy that I can say ’60’s” ….. when did that happen?

In August I will turn 62.

The years, the decades have blurred together to bring me to this place.

I am more than grateful to be in good health, to be surrounded by loving family and friends, to have my own home, to be employed.

I am grateful to be learning every day from Mr. Alvin who really has taught me so much.

I am grateful to live in a wonderful community filled with so many wonderful people of all ages.

There is something to be said about being in your sixties.

I have reached a point where I am comfortable in my own skin.

Now there are days when I look at my body and wish that a couple of things were different.

The tummy area for sure.

Those things can change with a bit more exercise.

I look in the mirror and I am happy with the face that smiles back at me.

There is no moaning and groaning about droopy eye lids or wrinkles.

Every decade things change.

Part of getting older is just that …. things change.

Your body changes.

Your mindset changes.

Your sense of worth and desires changes.

You just keep changing.

No longer do I worry on a moment to moment basis about what others think.

I of course, do care about what others think but it no longer defines me.

It no longer is the driving force in my thoughts and actions.

All in all, I love being in my sixties.

 

Well looks like I must hit the shower as Mr. Alvin has his appointment in a little while.

The blue sky and sunshine out of my window makes me happy.

Happy Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks out there who are in their sixties …. you rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 26th day of October 2018.

The house is extra quiet this morning without our little friend Teddy.

He brings joy to our house.

Alvin misses him, I know as he is following me extra close this morning.

Guess it is just you and me for now.

Me and You, You and Me, Mr. Alvin.

Oh my boy.

 

Last night after arriving home to two excited pups.

I tried to let them go outside but both them ran to find a chew treat to take with them.

Teddy grabbed a toy first and shook it about and then finally after a few minutes grabbed a chew treat and out he went.

I cannot imagine how it must feel to not pee for that many hours.

In my defence, if there is such a thing, I had left pee pads out.

One in the kitchen and one in the front entranceway.

After eating and changing and some time to say hello, we went for a walk.

We walked Teddy home.

It was light jacket weather and oh, so beautiful.

So enjoyed the past few walks as the weather has been perfect.

The boys walked along side by side like two brothers OR father and son.

They have the same colouring so often times before close inspection folks believe they are related.

They bring a joy to my heart and settle me right down after my day.

Thank you my furry bundles of joy.

Thank you.

 

When we arrived at Teddy’s home, his Momma and Papa invited us in for tea.

Well me for tea and well Alvin straight to Teddy’s food dish.

Made short work of that….. what a guy.

Followed by treats.

Not quite sure where he puts all that food.

We had tea and a wonderful visit.

 

Well thankfully it is Friday.

I love Fridays and the weekends.

Time to do things around the house and spend time with Alvin and sometimes family and friends.

I love putzing about the house and yard.

I am ever so grateful that I am able to live here in this home and have a yard.

My heart is full with family, friends, Alvin, this house, this life.

I have enough YING and YANG to keep me going for several decades.

The perfect balance between home and work life.

Although I would love to find a way to make a living by writing.

Just have to do it.

Sometimes we are our own worst roadblocks.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you have an awesome Friday.

Take some time for you – always take some time for you.

If you are not in a good place you are not able to be in good places with others.

 

Special Hello to: my youngest brother who is starting to awaken a new dream, you can do it.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 13th day of June, 2016.

It is a beautiful, bright, blue sky morning here in Edmonton.

On a sad note, my neighbours are moving into their new house today and I shall have new neighbours.

On a happy note, (I love to get the sad out of the way first) ….

On a happy note, yesterday I spoke to my friend “M” on the telephone, actually heard her voice.

Sounds just like she did over twenty years ago.

Elton is coming to spend the day with Alvin so that is nice.

He spent a few hours with us yesterday.

Last night it just happened that a few of us neighbours met up on the front porch to chat about our years together.

Funny how fast time passes.

I have lived here seven years ….. hard to believe.

It will be different without S & M next door …. they have been great neighbours and friends.

 

Funny that no matter where life takes you …. your friends, your true friends will always be there.

Sometimes you do not see each other for decades and then life brings you back together.

It is as though no time has elapsed.

I am grateful for that.

 

Well I had better get this show on the road.

My ride will be here early this morning.

I want to be ready to go.

 

Have an awesome day and you never know where the day will take you.

Surprise.

 

Special Hello to:  my friends “M” and “W” ….. one known since before my daughter was born and the other worked with for decades.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

 

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 27th day of March, 2016.

It is a bright and sunny morning here in Edmonton.

Happy Easter Everyone.

After our early morning rise so that Mr. Alvin can eat and go outside; we went back to bed.

I fell back asleep, and then a bit later woke up and just laid there ….. thinking about life and people.

Today feels like a day more than others filled with Love.

We do not say it enough.

I wrote this poem many decades ago and it is for you …..

To all my friend and family ……

Have a great, great day …….

May you be surrounded by loved ones and great memories.

I LOVE YOU

There is something on my mind

That I want to say

I’ve thought it a million times

And showed it in many ways

And as my mind drifts

To some far island shore

I stop and think

How lucky I am

It’s you that I adore.

But still I find it hard to say

But yet it’s very true

In itself it’s so simple .

It is only – I LOVE YOU !

Written by Carol Lewis (1976)

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends all over the world ….. Alvin and I would like to wish you a very special Sunday …. Easter Sunday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 12th day of December, 2015.

Alvin and I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to a fresh blanket of snow covering the deck and ground outside.

Last night when I arrived home from work to find that after snowing almost all day the sidewalks had been CLEANED.

I saw two young boys with shovels standing proudly by my neighbour’s house.

I found out later that they have been going from door to door to see if anyone would like their sidewalks shovelled for wait for it ….. “$3.00.”

Cannot imagine any children these days doing manual labour and only asking for $3.00.

I was duly impressed to say the least.

After chatting about them with my neighbour who invited them to shovel our walks after each snowfall; Mr. Alvin and I came across them on our walk .. they were just down the street.

I thanked them for shovelling and we spoke for a few minutes …. they even wished me a “Merry Christmas.” (first, before I had a chance)

Where did these boys come from?

Surely it could not be from the planet Earth.

I have not seen boys of that age so well mannered in decades.

They have brought back my sense of hope that we have a chance to fix all that is wrong with the world.

Now that might seem like a lot from two young boys that shovelled my sidewalk but I think we are on the right track.

We have hope ….

Hope is always a good thing for the future.

Without hope there is no future.

Now I forgot to ask them what they were going to spend their hard earned dollars on but that is a conversation for the next snowfall.

I will still have shovelling to do ….. the deck …. the driveway out back.

In fact, guess who was shovelling in her p.j.’s early this morning about 5:00 a.m. …… yes, it was ME.

Nothing like throwing on your winter coat and boots and mitts and shovelling at 5:00 a.m. while the Mr. Alvin does his business.

Okay time to get this show on the road.  It is 8:14 a.m.

We were up at 7:30 a.m. and I have gathered the laundry; stripped the bedding to be laundry …. put on fresh sheets and blankets.

Paid some bills on-line and worked out my budget for December and have now almost completed my blog post for today.

Then get dressed and make coffee to be delivered to my neighbour.

She is on her own like me so we do things for each other …. neighbourly ….. right.

The neighbours in the other half of my duplex have been away as his Mother passed away out of town.

Then it will be laundry and stuff while I wait for the call from my daughter.

She will call from her Doctor’s office just when she gets there and then I will don the coat and boots and grab my purse and head on over to the grocery store.

Grab some butter, potatoes and fruit … my daughter will pick me up and then we will stop at the Vet’s for food and toothpaste for Mr. Alvin.

WHEW breathe …..

Then HOME to make JEWELLERY for the afternoon……

and visit with my darling daughter so excited …..

Have an awesome day ……

Special Hello to: my sister ….yes tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

Always, Carol and Alvin