Last Half 2022

Good Morning ALL! We had a good sleep last night although we went to bed quite late for us at almost 11:00 p.m. I had texted my daughter earlier in the day to find out that she had packed her bag for a sleepover and was coming over after work. We had discussed her coming to help me set up the Christmas Tree but had not confirmed. I totally forgot and what a great surprise on a Friday. Work is going well, I am caught up in mail and was able to return all the calls before signing off last night which was great. After work I decided to sign into my RBC account and see if the mortgage renewal documents had updated for me to sign. Not there! I was mortified as that meant just one thing. Yes, I would have to call the 1-800 number to seek assistance. ARGH. Dreaded that but I wanted to get it signed, sealed and delivered so that I had the interest rate locked before the next increase. I spoke to a pleasant representative and for some reason the document had not uploaded to my account. He told me my options were to send me an email with the document to sign or to go to the branch and have them print the documents for me to sign and they would upload to my account. I told him that was not an option for me. I told him that I could not get to the branch which was not totally the truth but I so badly wanted to complete this transaction online, without having to walk over to the branch. With the sidewalks freshly snow covered and icy, just not something I wanted to do. Also the person from the night before told me that sending such sensitive documents to your personal email is not a good thing to do. Besides should a multi-billion dollar business have the tech support to ensure that when they told you something that could be completed online, that you should be able to do this? I mean really. So disappointing and made me want to call and lodge a complaint. Even the night before I had to speak to two people in order to renew my mortgage and to be able to access my account. I was dumbfounded to learn that the tech support went from a script and did not even have access to a model of the screens that I was looking at, I mean really, so disappointing. Not the tech’s fault but come on RBC, step up to the plate, it is 2022. Give your staff the tools to do their job. Your process is not working. Back to last night, the rep (he) said that he could upload the document by a secure email and send to me. So that is what we did. He told me that it would take about ten minutes or so to do. I waited “semi patiently” for more than ten minutes on the other end of the phone, on speaker while Mr. Alvin waiting in the hallway for his supper. Finally he came back and said that he had good news. I am not sure how this happened but the interest rate was actually lower that what I had negotiated the night before which in turn brought down my bi-weekly payment amount. SCORE. Immediately I felt better. He sent me an access code via my cell phone to enter into the email that he had sent to me. This rep stayed on the line until I entered the code and went over the document to confirm everything was correct before signing the renewal. So nice. I will say this – RBC has amazing customer support. They just need the “tools” to make their jobs easier. So with that, I was able to put the dreaded “mortgage renewal” to bed and not have to worry about doing it or how much I was going to have to pay. Definitely bi-weekly is the route to go as it saved me a lot of money from the previous monthly payment amount. After we were done, I raced downstairs to feed Mr. Alvin. I had taken a couple of minutes before the phone call and packed up my workstation. My daughter had taken some earned time and left work early to go and run some errands. I ended up with time to get some things done and to order pizza for our supper. Everything worked out perfectly. YAY.

Last night we ate pizza and put up the Christmas Tree. I did not decorate it and will do that today. I did however, set up most of the other decorations and will put the finishing touches on all of that over the course of today.

We woke up at 4:00 a.m., Mr. Alvin and I to blowing snow. I checked the weather forecast and we are to have snow until about 3:00 p.m.

Alvin is downstairs curled up on the sofa with his sister watching YouTube videos while I write this post. I made coffee before coming upstairs to write this post so I am enjoying the odd sip here and there while I write. Also I have decided to order a new computer. I was looking over the new iMac 24 and it seems like the right fit for me. It is time. This girl has been good to me but I need something new. I need a computer that when I type the words it actually keeps up to my fingers, to do all of the updates, so that I can hold my phone up to the computer and it will automatically upload my photos from the phone to the computer. It is time. Next purchase.

Time to get going and get dressed and finish decorating and also do some laundry. I am grateful to have my beautiful daughter with me and Alvin. Looks like perhaps after Alvin’s appointment on the 21st that he may go and stay with them for a bit. Still thinking about it. Amanda thinks he will be okay and her Momma on the other hand thinks it may be too much for them. We all know how the Alvin is, lol.

Have a great day.

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

Always, Carol, Alvin & Amanda.

PS: love having my babies with me. Just need Steven, Aspen and Milo to complete the picture.

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing today? A bright sunny morning here in Edmonton. We had frost overnight. Last night I had a get together with my friends at Signe’s house. Signe’s daughter had offered to come and stay with Alvin while I was at her house. So grateful that he had company after a long week for him. We had so much fun, always laughter and good conversation. After coming home, I spent the next hour or so chatting with Maddie. She is so grown up and hard to believe she was just a toddler when I first met her and now she is in grade 9. Time flies. I cannot remember the last time that I had such a long talk with a teenager. We were sitting on the sofa when Alvin moved from his spot beside me, walked over, and snuggled up beside Maddie. It was so cute. He really likes Maddie. I could see that Alvin was getting tired as his head kept bobbing up and down. I think it was almost 11:30 when she went home and we started getting ready for bed. What a great evening for both Alvin and me!

Today is going to be quiet. It is already getting late so this will be short for today. I am finding that I cannot quite formulate what I would like to say. Still feeling a bit tired. Definitely need some coffee.

Tomorrow is back to the office for the next three days and I am grateful that I have someone to check in on Alvin.

I hope that you have a great day.

I was thinking that it is less than two weeks until I start decorating for Christmas. Now that is exciting for me. Just thinking about how to do some things a bit differently using the same decorations.

Alvin just did some stretches and I think he wants to go downstairs.

I apologize for the disconnected thoughts this morning but I am really feeling a bit dozy. Time to get that pot of coffee on and perking.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: feeling very grateful for my friends!

2021

Good Morning ALL! Wishing you all a wonderful Monday, December 6, 2021. Today also happens to be the birthday of a cousin of mine, Happy Birthday Janice. Wishing you a wonderful day and may all your days ahead be happy and bright.

Yesterday was the SUGAR COOKIE baking day. I made 18 dozen of them. They turned out perfect. Now today as I took as a vacation day is ICING / Decorating them day. I think that I should have time to wrap them and also perhaps to wrap some Christmas presents. We shall see how the day evolves. I am actually hoping that the temperature is a bit warmer today so that we can get out for a walk – even if it is a short one – something is better than nothing.

The last FB Live for the FIFTH AVENUE Jewelry MEGAPARTY was yesterday. It was fun. Worked out perfectly that I was almost finished baking the cookies for batch #2 at the time. After the Live, we took a supper break and then after supper I whipped up the third batch of cookies. We even had a bit of time to snuggle on the sofa, me and Alvin that is, lol.

Well I am going to make this a short one this morning so that I can get this show on the road. Tomorrow is a work day and I don’t want to be up late tonight.

I hope that you are well and enjoying this Day thus far.

I cannot believe that it is December 6, 2021. Where does the time go?

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Remember the time Janice that we tried to crawl out of my basement bedroom window when we were teenagers? What a time we had. Cannot help but to smile thinking of it …….

2021

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are, Saturday morning. What are your plans for this weekend? Maybe you are raking your yard for the last time before winter? Maybe you do not get snow and are just changing up the outside ornaments with Christmas fast approaching? Are you putting up your Christmas Tree yet? When do you put it up? I like to put it up early and enjoy it for as long as possible. Christmas brings me joy. I love the tree, the decorations, the colours of Christmas (the ones we have come to realize as “traditional” ….. the red, the greens, silver and white. I love RED. I do love the overall feelings of love and giving during the holiday season. Some people like to show this with an abundance of gifts. We all do things a bit differently. I think if we are all doing what makes up happy, that no one is being disrespected in the scheme of things and not being hurt or anything of that nature ….. then why not. Although I will say that these days with the state of the “climate” and the overwhelming amount of items that are in our landfills, on the ground, in our oceans and forests and ditches and everywhere ….. that perhaps we need to cut back. Really at the end of the day, most people are happy to be in each other’s company and have a good meal. Splurge on the meal. I know with COVID that we are still not able to have massive amounts of people on our homes during the holidays but celebrate it well with the people that are in our household. Play games, sing, watch your favourite Christmas movies and just talk and of course eat. We all are taken in by the advertisements on television, popping up on social media, in our news feeds and in our emails and in flyers. The thing is most of the advertising is done by the big box stores because they can afford to advertise and the “mom and pop stores or small businesses” cannot so they spread the word mainly by word of mouth. I have for many years either made some of my gifts to others, bought locally from friends and neighbours that have made things or supported their direct sales businesses. I have also cut back the amount of gifts that I give. These days the vast majority of gifts I give to friends and neighbours is homemade boxes/tins of baking. Everyone loves to have a sweet treat and not everyone has the time, the money or likes to do it. I like to do it. As you know my daughter helped me erect the Christmas tree on Thursday after work. Last night I spent a considerable amount of time stringing the lights onto the tree. I will say that is the most “unfun” thing about Christmas for me. I harken back to a time when I bought the tree and it was prelit. Oh, how I miss those years. Just take the tree out of the box, set it up and fluff it. Then decorate. So easy and way more fun. Oh well. Everything cannot be dancing around the room fun, I suppose. Mr. Alvin had me up extra early for a Saturday which is not bad. I have already stripped my bed and gathered all of the laundry. So I am off to a great start. The sun is rising and the sky looks so pretty.

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. At lunch break I walked over to the Vet to pick up food for Mr. Alvin. Good thing I did not leave for this morning and they are closed on Saturdays once again due to staffing shortages. After work Alvin and I went for a walk. We got just into the park and he turned to go home. I tried to coax him to keep going and a few times it was back and forth but eventually I lost the “battle” so back home we went. It was so gorgeous outside that I just wanted to walk but he did not. Alvin is the boss when we are walking. I cannot tell if something is bothering him with his leg or paws or something else so he drives the distance always.

Well I suppose it is time to get this show on the road. Get dressed and get that coffee brewing. I am grateful that I hauled up all of the storage containers with the Christmas decorations last night and took downstairs the remaining “non Christmas” ornaments and decorations from the main floor. Up and down those basement stairs what a work out. There is laundry to do in between the decorating today and we will go for a nice walk. Hopefully we will have another beautiful day weatherwise and that Mr. Alvin is in the mood for a nice long walk.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Continuing to live with respect, kindness, compassion, patience, understanding, love, laughter and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Welcome to Friday morning. Do you believe in Angels? So I have my photo library running as my screensaver and desktop. When I turned on my computer and then went about brushing my teeth etc. while things loaded, I came back and sat down to go into WORDPRESS and the first photo that appeared on my screen was a photo of my Mother pregnant with my youngest brother and then a photo of my second youngest brother. Both my Mother and second youngest Brother have passed away. They both passed away many years ago. My eyes opened so wide when I saw them. Perhaps they showed up just to let me know that I/We are going to be okay but whatever the reason, I am feeling pretty great at this moment in time. Grateful that I have so many beautiful photographs of my Mom and my Brother. Ones that I have out and can see each and everyday of my life. What a good way to begin one’s day.

Great to wake up and see no additional snow on the ground. Actually I should say that I am grateful to wake up period. That is always a good start to any day. I am grateful for my life despite some hiccups along the way. Let’s face things honestly ….. no one has the perfect life. There are always going to be times when life seems to be throwing balls of crap in our direction. Most times we are directing that said crap in our direction whether we acknowledge it or not. If we think that life is great, that we are grateful for each breath, for each day, for our homes and our families, for our jobs, for everything ….. and really mean it ….. then life will and is pretty great. Not to say that there are not problems/issues/situations that arise but you can get through them by showing gratitude. State it and get over it. Somedays work drives me crazy but on the other hand I am over the moon grateful that I am employed and that I can work from home. I am grateful that I earn a decent salary and can afford to live in this house, our home. More positive than negative. I guess we can always look at the pros and cons in any situation. If we are honest.

Well it is getting on here and I have to get that coffee perking. I prepared the coffee and it is ready to be plugged in. Love the smell of coffee perking.

I am excited for another weekend. So excited that next weekend is Halloween and Christmas decorating. So excited. Possibly should get out and pick up some fresh produce. Our stock is getting low.

We wish you a good, no a great day. May you be surround with love and laughter, support and compassion, kindness and respect.

I/We remain, As Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: have to investigate the memory with my phone and photos and all of that so that I can share some recent photos. I miss sharing them with you.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning All,

It is mid morning on this Saturday morning half way through the month of October, 2020. The sky is pretty with a cool pale blue lined streaked with long thin white clouds. There is a bit of a breeze. Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees but there are some that are holding on for dear life. Lawns are covered with frozen yellow, orange, red and green leaves and clumps of snow. Pretty to the eye and crunchy to the feet. I do not expect that we will have warm temperatures again before spring – just a feeling. But I am not a meteorologist and would love to be wrong. Oh well, it is mid October after all. I do note that looking out of my office window there are some trees that still are covered in golden leaves. I am always amazed by the difference between the front and back sides of my house. Happens with weather as well. Sometimes it can be raining in the front and not in the back and a few times we had hail in the back and not in the front. Weather.

14 sleeps until Halloween and 15 sleeps until the Christmas tree goes up. I am excited for both. Have you decided if you are going to dress up in a costume for Halloween even if you stay at home? Our employer is having a virtual costume contest. I am undecided at the moment. Definitely easier to do without having to go out for sure. Time will tell. I can always throw together something at the last minute. Halloween being on a Saturday is cool as well. I am also thinking that with Sunday being my putting the Christmas tree and decorating the house that perhaps I may take a vacation day on Monday to put the finishing touches on things. Most times I can get the majority done in one day especially when that day falls on the weekend and definitely not if it falls on a weekday. So excited. It is these things that we look forward to and that give us good feelings. I will say for this year – it is more important than ever to be doing things that give us joy and provide good cheer. I could sit on the floor or on the sofa or stand in the kitchen in the dark and watch the lights on the Christmas tree forever. Speaking off Christmas tree lights – this will be another year where I will have to place all of the lights on the tree by hand. My once prelit tree is no longer. I believe it was last year that I manually removed each one from the tree and then manually hung strings of lights. Removing them took many many hours of work. It was not much fun but in the end I was happy to have done so. As much as it is nice to have a prelit tree, I don’t think I would do it again. Now that may not even be possible …. perhaps they all come prelit, I do not know. Time is zipping along and soon the house will be donned in its’ Christmas apparel for me to enjoy and all to see.

I guess there is no point in leaving light jackets and sandals in the closet. Time to take those items and pack them in the basement closet. Time to wash and freshen up winter coats, scarfs, mittens and bring up the boots. Also to switch up my clothes closet. That is a job for today. Along with laundry, some cleaning of floors, dusting and bathrooms. I have a couple of parcels that need to be mailed on the remaining Tuesdays in October in order to use the free shipping that Canada Post provides for people with small businesses. I have some craft projects in the works so time to get things moving along with them. Time to start thinking about the calendar and the days left and what needs to be done. What am I getting for Christmas for my daughter and son-in-law and a few others? Soon it will be time to address and write letters for Christmas cards to be mailed. This year there will be fewer than other years. Or at least at this moment. I also have to think about baking. What sweet treats will I make this year. I also give them out to friends and neighbours – so make that list as well. I see a lot of lists happening here. Bring it on, I say, bring it on, lol.

Well the time is evaporating here. I will admit that even though we were first up at 5:00 a.m. – the sofa called us to lay down and it was so toasty warm and delightful just snuggling with my Alvin that we did not get until almost 9:00 a.m. Most of the time I dreamed away but some of the time I was just enjoying life in foggy thought. I had a great dream. Only remembering bits and pieces but there was a cute, good guy, cause would you dream of other, a trip to a warm climate with friends, there was a thing about money and he helped me with a credit card. This will make sense to some people including me.

Okay time to hit the shower and wash off the night and get this day going. Get those closets changed up. Wash some coats and clothes. Tomorrow the girls are coming for coffee and a visit. I love when we can get together. Oh, almost forgot that last night after work, me and Alvin headed out for a walk. I found his winter jacket (I need a sweater that fits him) and I put on a light jacket on top of my long sleeved sweater and off we went. When we were on the halfway point which happens to be his best friend Teddy’s house, he made a beeline across the driveway and up the front porch steps before I had a chance to reign him in. I asked him to announce himself but all he did was sniff at the door, I could hear the pups in the house and rang the doorbell. Iris came to the door with Kobie in tow and Teddy coming towards Alvin. Iris is one of those people that always makes you feel like a million billion dollars. She is always so happy that you dropped in unannounced. Truly. So we went in for a short visit. She asked if I would like a cookie as she just made some and you know me when would I ever ever turn down an offer of a cookie! Never. To my big surprise they were the unbaked chocolate macaroons that my Mom used to make and that I make for family and friends (one of our favourites). I graciously took one. It was so good. She had baked them for her brother who lives and teaches English halfway around the world. My friend was so excited to tell me all about the cookie story. I loved to listen. The cookie was so yummy and I was hungry so I asked politely for another and made my friend so happy. She was super pleased that I loved them and that they tasted so good. Makes me want to make some. They are a family favourite of ours, as well. No bake cookies. They call them chocolate clusters and we call them unbaked chocolate macaroons. Many names for these delectable treats. Both Alvin and I had treats. Lucky us and a great visit before leaving for home.

Well time to get this show on the road. Take care and be safe on this day and always. If we remember to all live our lives with love, kindness and respect for all – what a great world this would be. Little things matter. They do.

I/We shall remain,

As always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and it is the first day of time change for Alberta.

We turned the clocks back by one hour this morning.

Nice too have it bright at an earlier hour for sure.

Happy November.

 

Well time to share yesterday.

As I realized Friday evening when my daughter I erected the Christmas tree and turned on the lights that they would have to be replaced.

Last year I had “YouTube” to see what suggestions others had regarding this subject.

There was really nothing that I had not thought of so I grabbed my trusty tin/metal snips in the morning and set to work.

In between was working on the laundry.

I had checked the weather to see what the day would bring and there was rain in the afternoon forecast so I set the timer for one hour and at noon,

we headed out for a walk.

It was actually quite nice.

Upon arriving back at home I checked on the laundry once again before setting back to snipping the lights from the tree.

I worked on the lights for a total of over 7 hours between morning and afternoon.

You never really appreciate how much “lights” there are on a prelit Christmas tree but there are a great many.

It was a painstaking process.

Snipping the little holders and in some cases the electrical cords.

Yes, they were unplugged.

My hands were cut and my arms scratched.

I wore a sweater but then got hot so off and on.

I had to stand on the ladder to do the top and found my ankles and feet sore after a time.

My back was throbbing at the end of it all.

I am most grateful that it is done.

Poor Alvin was whining throughout the time.

He was verbalizing how I felt.

Once done, I stopped to have supper and of course before I ate, Mr. Alvin had his supper.

After supper and cleaning up, I spent a couple of hours putting on a couple of strings of lights and the decorations.

Once sitting back and relaxing having a cup of tea, I realized something was missing from the tree.

My box of ANGELS and berries and such.

I was too pooped to go and find the container.

Located it this morning and will finish that later today.

In about one hour I am going to have coffee with the young ones.

My young friends.

So enjoy catching up with them.

Well that was my weekend.

It was a test of patience which I failed miserably.

As Mr. Alvin can attest to ….

Well failed miserably is likely a tad to strong as I did have time where I just settled into the work listening to Christmas movies.

Life.

I am happy that my tree is up and mostly decorated.

Looks pretty good.

 

Sometimes it is the little things that can test your patience.

Yup, the little things.

Time to get this show on the road.

I have laundry to put away.

Then time to get out of pj’s and go out for coffee.

Am looking forward to the break.

 

Have an awesome Sunday.

Sending you much kindness and respect for your day.

 

Always, Carol & Al

I

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 10th day of March, 2018.

Today is the birthday of my son-in-law’s brother, Happy Birthday “D.”

The sun is shining and it is a great day thus far.

Alvin slept from 10:30 until 4:15 a.m. (not bad).

Feeling more rested.

So excited to see the sun shining.

A day where the sun is shining in the early morning is a GREAT day.

 

We are preparing for my daughter’s birthday.

My daughter and her husband and the grand-pups are coming over.

We have to do some light cleaning and tidying up.

Laundry of course, cause it is Saturday.

I am making supper – my daughter’s favourite and my son-in-law is bringing cupcakes.

All bases are covered.

 

I am reminded by the book that I am reading that sometimes we, people in general spend too much time on the past and forget about today and tomorrow.

I am not saying that the past is not important and does not require some attention but not so much that it deters us from today and tomorrow.

I know that without yesterday there would be no todays or tomorrows.

But let us celebrate today so that we set the stage for a great tomorrow.

 

Have an awesome Saturday, March 10th, 2018.

May the sun be shining softly upon you as you carry on with your day.

Play some music and do a happy dance, just because you can.

Be happy …..

 

Special Hello to: all those celebrating birthdays ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 3rd day of December, 2017.

The sun is shining brightly this morning.

Lots to do again today.

Yesterday I baked over 14 dozen SUGAR COOKIES and decorated.

One major bake down only two more items to bake.

My daughter brought Mr. Alvin home yesterday around lunchtime and stayed until late afternoon.

It was so nice to have her here and she helped me with the Sugar Cookies.

We make a great team and I am thankful for her every day of the year.

 

Looks like today I will have a clothes dryer that is functioning once again.

It has been over three weeks now and will be nice to have it working.

So many thanks to my friend “N” for researching parts, taking it apart and all running around getting parts.

I am so grateful.

 

I think before our friend arrives, Mr. Alvin and I will take a walk and deliver more Christmas cards.

I still have a bunch to deliver in the neighbourhood.

 

Oh, Mr. Alvin looks like he wants to play as he is pretending his chew treat is a hockey puck and pushing it around the floor with his paws.

He has a great imagination and would make a good forward.

Maybe the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Team could use a fast little guy like him.

 

Well my friends if I could figure out how to move my photos from FB to this blog … I would show you my cookies.

Let me try.

Finally I figured it out.

Time to go and get some fresh air.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

Special Hello to: to my sister ….. perhaps we can SKYPE later this week or on the weekend?  Missing you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 5th day of November, 2017.

Well we turned our clocks back last night or some may be turning them this morning.

We went to bed quite early last night about 9:30 p.m.

I was whipped as Mr. Alvin had been up extremely early Saturday morning and then we were busy throughout the day.

Anyway I was wide awake at 5:00 a.m. but decided to hold off for a bit and then fell back asleep until 6:30 a.m.

I have not been up this early on a Sunday for awhile.

We both had breakfast, Alvin of course had his around 4:00 a.m., I set off the smoke alarm again with my toaster, put away the laundry that had been drying, am washing a load of towels and finished drying another

load of towels so it feels like I have accomplished something and it is still early.

My old neighbour is coming for coffee at 9:00 a.m. so I will definitely be ready.

Just have to grind some coffee beans for an extra fresh cup of coffee.

I baked a pumpkin spice cake last night for a treat with coffee.

Yesterday after my daughter went home and our unplanned “shopping” trip to the REUSE Centre – Alvin and I went for a walk.

I spent the afternoon doing laundry and decorating the house.

It looks great.

So I will have a quiet day after the coffee date.

Perhaps make my list of things that I have to do over the next weeks until Christmas.

Setting a time-line always helps me to get things done.

 

Well I hope that you are all great …..

Remember to take some time to relax.

 

Happy Sunday.

Special Hello: all those dreamers ….. keep dreaming ….

Always, Carol & Alvin