The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! I hope that this finds you all well. Happy Good Friday! We four are doing well. Mr. Alvin was shaking his head a lot in the wee hours of the morning but has not done as of late. He has also been licking his paws so I am thinking he has pain in his paws and that would explain the shaking and scratching. I gave him a pain pill earlier and will keep an eye on him. I will check his ears shortly and see if they appear to be inflamed. Guess what we got last night. Three guesses and the first four do not count, lol.

I am invited to a friend’s for an early dinner at 3:00 p.m. Not sure why but I have been fussing and stewing about going. I am so grateful for the invite but am having a hard time not trying to come up with an excuse not to go. Perhaps because I am comfortable at home and with the pups. I do not like leaving them alone but I do need to have some human contact. Funny how life goes. Perhaps a bit of depression? Also I think because I have been so busy and rundown from work, I am exhausted. All my energy is going to walking with the pups and looking after them. I am not complaining, just stating what seem to be the facts. Another morning up early and then back to lay down and then up rather late. I guess I need to STOP beating myself up. So what if we slept in. I am not hurting anyone. The pups are well looked after. I will take them for a walk before I leave for dinner. I will come home to feed them supper. I don’t need to stay late. Gray skies do not help. It seems still outside and is not cold. I was out with the pups earlier.

I was trying to upload some photos for you to see and it is not happening. I will have to delete some photos.

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When you are unable to post your own photos!

Time to head downstairs and have coffee.

We are okay here at my house.

Wishing you a great “Good Friday.”

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

Always, Carol, Alvin, Aspen and Milo

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Welcome to Wednesday, the 26th of January 2022. How are you today? Both Alvin and I are great.

Today is the BELL Let’s Talk Day. Today we destigmatizing mental health and raise funds.

The subject is no longer taboo. Finally!

For as long as humans have walked the Earth – we have stayed as far away from “mental health” conversation as possible. We shunned people with mental health issues and even worse.

Every family is touched by issues surrounding the brain.

Some may be small and barely noticeable to anyone including the person affected and others are noticeable a mile away. We are all affected by mental illness to some degree.

Although I used to think that I did not have any mental health issues but I was wrong. I like so many other human beings suffer from occasional bouts of depression which may be in varying degrees. Mine is “seasonal depression” and this is more common than one would think. This does not happen all of the time but mainly during long periods of overcast skies and blustery days. I just feel “blue” and not my usual bubbly self. So during these days I make sure that I surround myself with things that bring me joy and light. It helps.

Seeking professional help is important and surrounding yourself with positive influences is important as well.

You are important as is every other person on this planet. If you are not sure if you have depression or not, talk to a professional. They can help.

Everyone needs to “talk” to someone at some point in their lives. We cannot survive without talking – communicating our inner thoughts.

Have a great day and take care.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? I just realized that we are now in single digits until Christmas EVE, yes, only NINE sleeps. Don’t panic, there is still lots of time to get things done. Okay, take a deep breath, this is my 64th Christmas, I got this. I have had plenty of practice over the years. LOL. OH, my goodness what came over me. Sheer panic for a nanosecond. I am okay now. Besides, the Cards are mailed, the baking and cards are all delivered except for one. Most of the gift including stocking stuffers are bought, wrapped and under the tree. Except for one item because I am pretty sure that someone might sniff it out and open it up, not because it is for him but because there is something sweet in it and he definitely cannot have what lies inside. I think we all can guess what that is.

Thankfully the skies cleared yesterday and the snow stopped as it seemed as though I would be shovelling forever. It is nice to have some snow on the sidewalks even though we have shovelled ours. Not everyone can or does get out and shovel. Next week will be the shortest day and then each day will get longer and longer. So excited for that. There is something about waking up in the dark and then it being dark when you stop work. Mixes up and plays havoc with my sleep and I am quite certain it does with many others, as well.

This coming Sunday, we will have our little four-legged visitor COOKIE coming to stay with us for two weeks. I cannot wait. It will be great to have another little one in the house. At Christmas there will be Aspen and Mi-Mi, too. As many, four-leggeds as two. We will each have a pup to snuggle with. I cannot wait.

Well I guess I should sign off for now. I would like to wish you all a great day. If you are feeling a bit on the low side, take some time away from what you are doing and if you need to speak to someone, do it. There is nothing wrong with doing so. We all suffer from time to time from some type of depression, especially at this time of year. Ask for help. Please. Reach out.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am going to enjoy my coffee on this second morning of using my Golden Girls “ROSE” mug. I love it.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 26th day of January, 2017.

Does not appear to be foggy outside, so that is good for drivers this morning.

Forecasting 0 degrees for Edmonton today, +1 for tomorrow and +5 degrees celsius for Saturday.

Plus temperatures in January in Edmonton – well that is just crazy.

We are loving this mild weather for sure.

It makes going for walks more enjoyable and allows us to go for walks.

It makes walking to and from the bus actually nice.

A far cry from normal temperatures for this time of year.

So nice and I am so grateful for this wonderful reprieve from “winter.”

 

So Thursday already ….. another week almost over.

It has been an odd one….

You would almost think that there has been a full moon.

But this time … it is just the time of year.

Not much sunlight and despite the warmer temperatures it is still winter.

I think most of us feel some degree of depression at this time of year.

If you feel yourself slipping into  that place …. go talk to someone.

Talk to a professional ….. always best to seek someone who understands.

Maybe it is a simple as taking a vacation to a tropical destination …..

So many people with varying degrees of depression and other mental illnesses sometimes do not realize or understand that they need help.

Also for far too long those suffering have been afraid or embarrassed to come forward because of the stigma attached to depression and other forms of mental illness.

You are important and if you are not well, seek help.

I can tell you that when the sun does not shine, I can feel the dip in my well being.

I feel less joyful.

I feel less “sunny” and more “foggy.”

I feel less social.

The list could go on.

Take care of yourself.

Ask the questions.

Find the answers.

 

Have a wonderful Thursday.

Special Hello to: my sister ….. time to SKYPE?????

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 10th day of January, 2016.

A welcome sign this morning the sun is actually rising and the sky is somewhat clear this morning.

This winter the sky has been overcast so much that we miss seeing the sun shine.

With not having the sun shine it is actually depressing.

I know many people suffer from a type of depression when the sun does not shine from the lack of light.

Today we are good.

 

Yesterday was an awesome day my baby, my darling, my daughter came for a visit and surprised me and Alvin by bringing both Elton and Miss Penny along.

Our dear Penny is not the same energetic bouncy vocal girl she once was but that is what a serious disease will do to one.

Mr. Elton is in pretty good health other than his hearing and that makes for some interesting moments.

He cannot hear us and thinks we cannot hear him.

There are some things about getting old that I am not looking forward to …..

It was so great to have them all here with us and we ENJOYED IT SO MUCH.

The walls are still smiling and the air remains full of song this morning.

I made pancakes for we girls and afterwards we made jewellery.

Well actually my daughter made jewellery and I practiced making flowers.

I came up with the idea kind of in a day dream about making petals …. flowers.

Then ladies can place a drop of an essential oil on the flower ….. and it will be like having flowers with you.

Obviously you cannot just start making “flowers” to be used so it will take some practice.

I did make two and they look pretty good for the first time.

My daughter left me some clay so that I can practice.

I can tell you it is so relaxing and FUN.

In between our fun … I took a run (borrowed her car) to the grocery store.

It was a great day.

I felt like a million dollars with my family here with us.

I even managed to slip in a couple of loads of laundry throughout the day and early evening.

Alvin and I curled up on the sofa and watched a couple of movies that I had recorded and had the most relaxing evening.

The best Saturday ……

 

So on this Sunday there will be more laundry in my future.

I also want to call some folks and see about booking a tea party or two and secure some orders.

So phone calls also in my future.

So happy to see the sun shine.

The temperature is supposed to warm up so I can go for a walk with Mr. Alvin.

It has been a couple of very cold days so we did not go.

He did go in the back yard to bury his chew treat from time to time and take a run about.

 

I hope that you have a lovely Sunday ….. filled with a bit of work and relaxation time and above all LAUGHTER.

Happy Sunday.

Time for toast and coffee and perhaps banana to share with Mr. Alvin …. he is waiting.

Also share coffee with my neighbour ….. she buys the beans, I grind them and make coffee for us …. I make her a special one …. am I not the luckiest person.

I believe most days.

 

Special Hello to: everyone who reads my blog, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Always, Carol and Alvin