The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am well, Alvin is okay. I have to stop all together giving him any kind of human food, he gets very bad gas which at the end of the day is not good for his tummy. I am sorry that he won’t be able to enjoy his favs. Since his surgery I have drastically cut back on what he gets and only for the most part the three items plus bell peppers that his vet said were okay for him. But now I think it doesn’t matter. He can only have his own food. So his food will be his treats. The sky is overcast this morning and we had a bit of rain earlier. This week’s forecast is for reasonably warm temperatures but with showers here and there. Hard to tell but looks like it is raining at this moment.

Alvin and I had a good weekend except for the nights. Days were good. Over the course of the weekend I was able to either sell or give away a great many items that have been taking up valuable real estate in my garage. Now the garage is beginning to look bare which is great. I only want to keep items that are being used and not odds and ends of things. We are almost there.

Yesterday I went to the ECO Station which was way different than I imagined. Kind of disappointing I might add. There were what appear to be empty train cars with the end off that were lined up with signs and you put your items in each of them accordingly. There was a building or two and a big pile of dirt. Not sure if the dirt is to be taken or people dropping off dirt. I think to pick up as the dirt looked very black and rich. So happy to be rid of those items.

Oh, today is 64 days to my 65th Birthday. I wonder if I will be able to remember, so I just wrote it down. I still do not believe that I will be 65 years old in August. Where has the time gone? What have I really accomplished, what have I really done? Where have I travelled? Good questions with somewhat complicated answers. I shall endeavour to answer them over the next 64 days.

Well it is time to head downstairs. Plug in the coffee. Work in a little bit.

Thank you for reading my posts. I really appreciate your time.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am grateful to be alive and for my partner in crime, most days, lol. I found a video last night on FB from the first night that I met Mr. Alvin. I had forgot that it existed. WOW.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 15th day of April, 2019.

Well it seems to be calm outside this morning.

The exact opposite of yesterday.

The sky is clearing as the sun rises in the east.

Alvin is on his blue blanket as he rests while I write this post for my blog.

We had a busy but wonderful weekend.

We socialized, had some exercise, ate well, did some work around the house and yard, and even did some volunteer work.

Humphrey was with us on Saturday for most of the day.

My young girl friends came for coffee after Al’s Doctor/Vet visit on Saturday morning.

I raked, did laundry, made a big pot of chilli and tidied up around the house.

We had some wonderful walks including one with our friend S and Luna, the young labrador (lab).

Yesterday my daughter came for a visit and pancake breakfast.

We had a great time catching up with all of our news.

After the big breakfast and visit – I geared up to pick up trash in the neighbourhood.

I made sure to have extra disposable gloves, two big garbage bags, mini gloves and a coat with a hood and a scarf.

Once outside I decided to tie my hood up with the scarf which worked for a few minutes before the wind blew around my hood and took it down.

The wind was cold and so strong that most of the time I had to pick up trash a few times before getting it into the bag.

There were moments when I thought that I might be air borne.

Sometimes picking it up with my hand that was covered with the disposable glove.

I was almost home when I turned to see this whirlwind of dirt heading right for me.

Luckily I was able to turn and miss the face-on brunt of the impact.

Over the course of this walk one man even crossed the street to say “You are my hero for picking up trash.”

That was nice.

When almost at home I hear my name from one of my friends who was visiting at another friend’s house.

She said she did not realize it was me at first.

The wind had my hair all blown wild and crazy.

Between the scarf and my hair, I was unrecognizable.

I chatted for a moment before carrying one.

One thing to mention ….. my friend’s dog Jazmine was there and she took one look at me and turned away.

I even called out her name but she would have nothing to do with me.

Ah, I must have looked scary.

One more story.

Sometimes people drive me crazy.

I was coming around the bend toward home and this young couple crossed the street ahead of me heading to their vehicle, a truck.

When the girl got into the truck some fast food wrappers blew out.

I was right there and picked them up.

She saw this and said nothing.

How rude.

Anyway my hood is clean now except for the leaves and whatever trash blew in from elsewhere.

It was a productive weekend and Sunday.

YAY, me.

 

Well almost time to leave for work as my ride is coming early today.

I hope that you all have an awesome Monday.

Please remember that your trash is not for someone else to pick up.

Your trash is not to fill the oceans and kill the marine life.

Your trash is not meant to fill the yard of your neighbour.

Your trash is not meant to blow around parks and forests for the wildlife to eat and then slowly die.

You need to look around and be mindful.

Stop buying all those items with the multiple layers of plastic.

If we stop buying and start complaining then manufacturers will make changes.

We only have one planet.

Time to change.

This is the change that needs to happen.

Not just a change in government a change in how we live our lives.

I challenge you one and all.

What will you do?

 

Special Hello to: my friend V who was a busy girl this weekend and always (time to rest?).

Always, Caro & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 29th day of October, 2018.

Well as October draws to an end our thoughts are for Wednesday, Halloween.

Both Alvin and I love to see the kiddies from the neighbourhood and beyond drop by in their costumes.

There is always a good mixture and lots of imagination as well.

I will have to make sure that I have a quick supper on Wednesday so that I will be ready when they start to arrive.

Also my carpool took the day off so I will be catching the bus and won’t arrive at home until about 5:15 p.m.

Everything else is ready.

Decorations up. Check.

Treats ready.  Check.

 

Yesterday I pulled the SNAPDRAGONS from their earthy home.

I pulled the pockets of seeds from the stems and placed them into a ZIPLOC bag.

In the spring, I will spread them into some of my flower pots.

Also I trimmed as I was not able to pull the two “grass” like plants that were remaining.

This was a reminder that I need to have my garden scissors all sharpened.

I wanted to keep them as they were still green and so pretty but figured that they may not survive the winter in the garage.

Now we are completely done and ready for the next season.

Not mentioning which one.

I think we all know without saying a word.

The deck now looks pretty bare.

I did leave the three of the pots against the fence by the garage as they are so heavy for me to carry into the garage but I may change my mind.

The dirt was fresh this spring so I did not want to empty them.

The bistro table and chairs remains outside but I really think it belongs in the garage.

Table weighs a ton but I can pop the chairs into the garage.

We enjoyed a walk after the cleanup and before the rain.

Humphrey was even out for a walk.

His Mom has a harness.

He likes to walk on the grass.

He needed a reprieve from his week of dread.

Poor little guy.

His Mom said that folks were staring at them.

A cat with three legs, harness and leash and a cone around his neck.

Poor Humphrey.

 

Well here we are almost time to leave for work.

I am taking part of my Halloween costume to work today so that I do not have to drag it onto the bus on Wednesday.

Did I tell you who I am going to be?

Lucy Van Pelt from Charlie Brown.

I made a stand out of a cardboard box for her “medical advice” along with a jar for the change.

Need to find a tin can, though.

That would be perfect.

 

Okay time to fly.

Happy Monday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister …. thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 19th day of June, 2017.

A bright and sunny day to start the work week.

There was a brief storm last night but it passed over most quickly.

We had a great weekend.

Time for work and for play.

Likely did not listen to enough music, though.

We walked …. played in the dirt …… got wet in the rain.

The We, being me and Alvin.

So for this week I forecast: sunny skies and a world full of KIND people.

How wonderful would that be?

If we, everyone was KIND it would be a better place.

Let us strive to be KIND.

Spread the KINDNESS.

Well time to go …. the time to leave the house comes fast each day.

Have an awesome Monday.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Happy Monday.

Special Hello to:  my sister …… getting closer.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 20th day of May, 2017.

Well I have now been up for a bit and I must say not as long as Mr. Alvin would have liked ….

He was trying to get me up since 7:00 a.m. and before …..

We were up at 4:30 for his breakfast and visit outdoors.

I wanted to stay in bed but not him.

He had the right idea.

Note to self:  get thee back end up earlier …..

This morning is absolutely gorgeous.

My neighbour called when I was still deciding whether or not to get up off the sofa so that was the deciding factor.

Have had coffee with my neighbour, a visit and breakfast.

Now time to get down to things.

I have a list of things that I want to do most of being outdoors.

In our back yard I have a small raised corner “shrub/flower” bed that needs to be semi deconstructed.

I want to wash the rocks that are on top, clean up the shrubs as some do not appear to have made the winter, remove the rocks, the black cloth and top up the soil; oh and pull out the roses which are not doing well.

Now I do not have the soil so I will only get the rocks prepared for now.

The bed just needs some TLC as it has been seven years since it was built.

The sky is blue and the sun is shining so I can bring out the cushions for the patio furniture.

Pull up the umbrella on the bistro table ….. time to have coffee on the deck once again.

Anyway lots to do.

I have some flowers that my friends gave me that are in the house waiting patiently to be potted.

I think it is safe to plant them …… if it gets cold at night I will take the pot into the garage.

Anyway …. I love this time of year …… putzing in the yard in the dirt.

Always great to get your hands dirty.

I can hardly wait for my trip to buy flowers for my pots.

Happy Saturday.

For all you Canadians out there “Happy Long Weekend” as it is the Victoria Day weekend.

Alvin is ready to get going.

It will be nice for him to spend time with me outside.

We can work and play in between.

Have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family.

Always, Carol & Alvin

The garden that I am speaking about is the one beside/behind the railing .

Now there are shrubs much bigger but that is from the first summer, first built summer of 2010.

WOW, seems like yesterday but now 7 years ago.

Thought for the day …….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 20th day of June, 2015.

It is a bright sunny gorgeous morning here in Edmonton and I am so excited.

The deck has been washed, flowers watered, grass trimmed, raked, tree had a manicure – check.

I even took the branches from the tree and placed them in a big container I had on the deck that had some dirt in it along with some solar lights and watered it well.

This morning the branches continue to look amazing and are a welcome addition to my deck.  Love them.

The floors inside have been washed, bathrooms done – check.

Baking and more baking done – check.

Dusting and whatever else I could think of has been done – check.

Just writing my blog and then time to get this Momma all cleaned up – check.

With time for COFFEE, of course …..

It has been a long time since I have really entertained.

I love having different kinds of parties.

My first “tea-par-TEA.”

Just less than two hours till the consultant arrives and then party guests.

We had rain yesterday late in the day and overnight ….. the grass and trees are so nice and green.

Thank you Mother Nature for giving some extra colour to my yard.

YAY ……

I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful house and have such a gorgeous yard.

Thank you so much.

My first house and I am so proud to be a homeowner.

It has now been over six years and I love it as much as I did on the first day that I unlocked the door with my own key and walked through the door.

Well I am so excited ….. better get going and get showered and dolled up.

What a great day.

Following the tea-parTEA, I am going with my daughter to a GALA that Shoppers DrugMart has been hosting for years.

We used to go for many a year and then missed a few and now we are back…..

This is a great Saturday.

Later on me and Alvin are going for a nice long walk around the big lake north of us.

I hope that you have an amazing Saturday.

Take care …..

Be kind to yourself …. do something nice for YOU.

YOU deserve it.

If you are good to yourself – you will be good to others.

Special Hello to:  all those folks out there who are hosting a tea-parTEA today …. enjoy.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of June, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton …. sun coming up with a bit of cloud cover.

Mid week.

We had a strange night …..

About 8 p.m. or so I just felt so tired and actually fell asleep for about 40 minutes on the sofa.

It was after that ….. that I decided might as well go to bed.

So we were in bed before nine which is rare.

Of course, Mr. Alvin did not settle down right away and he was also up bright and early.

After having my shower this morning …. Mr. Alvin treated himself to licking some of the coconut oil from my legs.

What a silly dog….. it was funny trying to keep my legs away from him.

Perhaps I will start giving him a bit everyday and then he will leave my legs alone.

I have been giving him these chews from the Vet.

He really likes, understatement, really loves them.

He wonders about the house hiding them and last night ….. he decided he was going to bury one in the back yard.

I found this out when he brought it back in the house at one point and it was covered in dirt.

YUCK.

So as any good Momma would do …. I wanted to wash it.

Only thing was …. he thought that I wanted it … wanted it….. and growled at me.

Can you imagine?

Growling at the “Mom.”

Finally after tricking him with some of Elton’s dog food that was left behind and we used as treats (because Elton has allergies and by the way, Elton is my grand-puppy).

Anyway he dropped the chew and I grabbed it up with my other hand.

Washed it up and that was that.

He is a funny guy, Mr. Alvin.

He always makes me smile.

I hope that you have an amazing Wednesday.

Thank you for reading my blog ……

Special Hello to: all those folks out there who have a special “Alvin” in their lives …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of May, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton, sun shining and a cool breeze masking the heat.

Yesterday felt like a July day ….. HOT.

Weather is a funny thing not funny ha ha but strange.

This morning is what I deem as perfection.

It is warm but the breeze keeps it comfortable to be out and about.

Great for walking.

But alas, Mr. Alvin is on his sleepover at his sister’s house.

His first one at their new place.

I am excited to hear all about it.

While he was away and the reason for his sleepover the furnace was cleaned.

Two of the nicest young men did the job.

Funny though they both told me different sizes for the furnace filter ( I already know which one ).

Perhaps it was the hot day that messed with their memory.

Once they left I got busy …. it was close to 4 p.m. but better late than ever.

I dug out three shrubs from the front “flower bed” ……

It took some work and at one point I was thinking it would have been nice to have had some help.

But I kept at it and got them out.

Got most of the dirt from the roots and then as the shrubs lay on the lawn …..

Now what?

One was quite heavy and with branches how am I going to dispose of them.

Aha, I thought ….. get those big stretchy black garbage bags …..

I managed to squeeze each one into their own bag.

Then lugged them to the back …. up the steps and onto the deck and up more steps and into the garage.

It took me almost one hour to get the shrubs out but I must tell you, I felt like a million dollars.

I did it all by myself …… I am strong and not reliant on someone else.

It was a good thing.

Then after that I raked and moved the dirt around in the now naked flower bed.

Also the neighbour behind is building a huge garage and has a big pile of top soil so I decided to ask him if I would be able to use some to top up my front flower bed.  He kindly said “yes.”

Then I had to find something to put the dirt into …. I found a ten gallon pail in my garage.

Now let me you a pail full of dirt is not light.

But I hauled five of them from his yard across the back alley into my garage down both sets of steps on my deck across the path between me and my neighbour’s to the front flower bed.

What a great workout.

I do believe that going to bootcamp helped me to complete this task.

I definitely could feel my core and arms doing what they were supposed to ….

Here are some photos:  furnace cleaners and the flower bed ….. forgot to take before photos !!

Was so grateful to have my kids shovels and garden tools to use….

Now all I need is a couple of bags of potting soil to top it up and then some flowers.

YAY ….. I did it.

Well time for breakfast and coffee…

Happy Sunday and always remember “do not sell yourself short.”

You are stronger than you think.

You are better than you think.

You are more resourceful than you think.

You can do anything.

Special Hello to: all the single women in the world……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 29th day of March, 2015.

WOW, only two days left in March.

This morning the sun is shining ever so brightly.

The sky is clear.

The air has a slight coolness.

Happy Spring.

Just a few more days until April ….

Closer and closer to when I can go and get flowers.

Still over one month away but getting there.

Picking out flowers is probably one of my most favourite things to do.

Over the past few years it has been a spring – early summer ritual for me and my daughter.

The colours and the fragrances are so delightful.

It takes us hours to go through our neighbourhood greenhouse.

We have been going to a privately owned nursery for the past few years.

I believe in supporting our locals as much as possible.

The big box stores all have flowers and lots of times for better pricing.

I still like to support the local nurseries and greenhouses.

Mmm, this summer I will be home week nights and weekends so I will have lots to time to fuss over my flowers.

I think this may be the year that I remove the remaining shrubs in the front bed.

They always go wild on me and I think it might be nice to have some perennials out front.

Needs to be some that like to face north that is the only thing.

It is a huge bed so lots to fill and I will likely needs some dirt to top it up.

But time will tell.

Now I have time to do it all.

Dreaming of sitting on the deck under the umbrella reading a book, admiring my flowers and sipping on a cup of coffee.

Alvin will be laying in the shade or even in the sun for a bit close by.

Oo summer …. YAY.

Well time to go and catch up with my daughter before getting ready to go to the store.

This will be my third last shift.

I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday.

Special Hello to: all those people who love to plant flowers.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Evening and Welcome to Monday the 23rd day of March, 2015.

Sorry …. what a morning …..

I decided to go back to sleep for a few extra minutes.

Then my kids both were sick so had to make other arrangements for the ride to work.

My daughter said I could take the car but I decided not today.

So I called my neighbour.

We both work downtown.

The first time the call went to voicemail.

The second time she answered and said she had been running late and had wanted to be gone already ….

Lucky for me I had ten minutes before she was going to leave so I brushed my teeth, put on my eyebrows, got dressed, rushed downstairs, grabbed my lunch, grabbed my boots, purse, bag and coat … locked the door and was gone (in less than ten minutes).  WHEW.

I got to work by 6:50 a.m.

Anyway … I felt bad as I was not able to write my morning blog.

“Forgive me” …….

After rushing …. sometimes that can jinx your day but I actually had a very productive awesome day.

When I got home I made a quick trip to the grocery store.

NOTE TO SELF:  EAT SOMETHING BEFORE YOU GO GROCERY SHOPPING.

Argh …. spent way too much ….. reminder for next time.

My veggie burger is in the oven so I thought this would be the perfect time to send you all a little note.

Better late than never, I suppose.

Also, talk about mucky out there ….. melting snow …… mud ….. dirt …..gravel…..

I sure hope that you guys had an awesome day.

Well time to go and get the trimming ready for my burger ….. the bun, avocado, mustard, cheese …. my mouth is watering.

Have a great evening.

Special Hello to: my new friend “Lisa” …. thank you so much for reading my blog.

Always, Carol and Alvin