The Next Chapter

Good Morning. The morning sky is slightly overcast. How are you this morning? I am well. Just going to sneeze. ARGH, holding it which I know that I best not do. Okay, was only a little one, lol.

Last night after work I went for an extra long walk about 45 minutes which was great. I desperately needed to clear my mind from all things “work.” I know that these days a great many people have issues with or at work. Unfortunately seems to be the norm. I am trying to keep a positive attitude throughout but sometimes I fail and walk to the dark side. That is why getting out in nature and breathing that fresh air is not only good for your body, it is good for your heart and soul and brain. Decompressing, I texted my neighbour as I had to drop off the oven element to be sent back to Amazon as I did not use it in the end. So grateful to have a stove that works.

Yesterday at noon, I walked to the neighbourhood mall where I picked up our new office lotto tickets. I sure hope that our tickets were lucky and that we won a huge amount of money. Nothing like a lotto win to boost the moral of everyone. Also at the mall, I had previously noted that they had a M & M’s shop and I was eager to go and check it out. We used to have one close by in our neighbourhood and I had one in the mall close to my apartment back in Regina. I am not a huge fan of “processed” food but they have a few items that I love and for a treat occasionally, why not? So I picked up some “quiches” and I had one of them for supper last night. They also had a display of kitchen items by the checkout which included some fibre made pot cleaners and I picked up two. I first came to know these handy dandy little items when one of my friends gave me one as part of my Christmas present. So now I have four. Lucky me.

Cookie will be coming over this evening after I return from dress shopping with my friend Gillian. We are going after work to West Edmonton Mall. I have not been shopping for anything “fun” in a long, long time. Usually groceries or “oven elements” so this is exciting. Also my grand pups will be hanging out at Grandma’s house as of today for a bit. Not that this is a secret so I guess I can say, my son-in-law and his coworkers are going on strike. I do not even like to say that word. Scary. I hope that the employer agrees to their terms and it does not last long. Unfortunately these days, income increases are extremely small like 1% or nothing. The cost of living is like 8-10%. Seems like everything from food to utilities have increased hugely. So as always, the big corporations continue to make huge profits while their employees have to decide what they can afford to feed their family this week and what activities, if any their children can partake in, very sad. I am grateful that the pups can stay here and not have to be alone at their home which is one hour away. My son-in-law will be out for part of the day so they will not be alone for long and I leave later and home early due to my short commute, which I love. Anyway, I am excited to have a house full for the next bit. Cookie will be with me until the last Saturday in April, I believe the 29th. Last night Cookie and her Dad came over for a visit to discuss the handover plan. She was sporting a hair cut and I mean hair cut. Very short but it had been very long and poor Cookie, I would say is hyperactive. She is this bright light that never turns off. I love her and will be nice to have a pup sleeping over.

Okay time to sign off for this day. This morning we are outside at the site checking a list of things. Should be fun. Hopefully it will warm up a bit.

Have a wonderful day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel).

A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! My first actual day of vacation. The sky is overcast and it is windy. We were up and down a few times last night and slept in this morning. Alvin would not eat his food. I just gave him his wet food with nothing else hoping that he would eat but he did not. Last night he ate his biscuits and a few small pieces of carrots so I know that it is not his teeth that are bothering him. If I gave him chicken he would eat it. I am thankful that we have an appointment with his Doctor this afternoon and hopefully we can get this sorted out. If I am able to collect a stool sample, I will take it with me. You cannot take it too much in advance so if he does not have one closer to this afternoon, I will collect one tomorrow morning and whisk it over to the vet. Better day but can tomorrow. My daughter reminded me how much her pups do not like their new food. I guess he will eat when he is hungry provided there is nothing else stopping him from doing so. I suppose if he ate carrots (not on his food list but I had to see if he would easily eat them) and biscuits which are the okay for him to have, they are a hypoallergenic treat. He ate the bits of chicken I gave him with his pills tucked inside. The tramadol must have a strong odour as it took a few tries because he kept eating the chicken and spitting out the pill. Thankfully it stayed intact until he consumed it. What a last few days! I was so sure that things were on the upswing. His poop is getting better but unfortunately at the end of the last one there was blood again. That is our update.

Considering he has not eaten much in the last couple of days, yesterday we went for a walk, he kept on walking and before we knew it were had walked our old usual route. The air was warm and the sun was shining so maybe he felt energized. As we approached his BF Teddy’s house his gait quickened and then we were there and he started to walk up their driveway. I had to stop him as they are not at home. He has not forgot his old friend. I sure wished that they would come home so that the pups could get together. Not that I think that Alvin is going anywhere at the moment but I think that seeing Teddy would do him the world of good. He has not seen him in months and I am sure that he misses him. This is the second time that he has walked to Teddy’s house in recent times. The last time he did not even go into the park he just walked straight down our street to his house.

Later this afternoon, our girl is coming over after her dental appointment (that is a good reminder that I have to get my appointment made soon, I just find it hard to think of anything but Alvin and work at this moment, which is not good I suppose). Amanda plans to sleep over tonight, I believe which will be nice.

Well I should go and have a quick shower. Alvin sounds like he is sneezing / coughing. My poor little guy. I wished that he was all better.

Have a wonderful Monday. Fingers crossed for Mr. Alvin’s appointment, please. Positive thoughts.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. so grateful that I am on vacation for this week and next. Dreaming that retirement will be close.

A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! Another bright sunny blue sky morning out there. Cold. Very cold. We went to bed quite early last night and I guess we had a pretty good sleep as far as our sleeps usually go. I just did not want to get up and get going this morning at all. Laying on the sofa cuddling next to Alvin under our red cozy blanket was all I wanted to do. But it was Alvin that made me get up and get going this morning. Perhaps a shower after writing this post will get me going and my hair feels like it has not been washed in a month which is not true. But anyway!

We had a good day yesterday. I cleaned, did laundry, made some bagels, some soup and roasted some turkey breasts and made an apple crisp. Supper was soup, a bagel and some apple crisp. YUM. I used some of the Epicure packets that my friend Val gave me for the soup and the bagels and spice for the turkey breasts. Very good. I topped the soup with avocado which I will need to use tonight but I will have some turkey with supper as well. Nothing like hot soup on a cold winter’s day.

I realized this morning just how long Mr. Alvin’s nails are getting and that would be due to not many walks. Will have to check the calendar and see when he had them trimmed last. I know it was in January. Also I need to see when the 30 days is up for the treatment that he had for his right ear. Both ears will need to be cleaned. I could give him a hair cut and a bath but I think I will wait and hopefully by next weekend his poop will be normal with no blood. I was so happy to see that his first poop in a long time was actually firm. He pooped more than once and by the last bit there was blood. But I think things are going in the right direction. Tomorrow and Tuesday I work from home so I will need to call and give an updated report to his Vet. They called on Friday while I was on the way home from work and had my phone turned off so did not see the call in time to call back before they closed.

Oh, my did I ever dream last night and this morning. Some good and some well not so …..

Time to hit the shower and then go and make some coffee. We will have a quiet morning and then this afternoon put the laundry away that is drying in the basement. Perhaps I will be able to put away the Christmas decorations as well as they are sitting out in the basement family room. As I will be down there for awhile, I will need to take Alvin with me and just want to ensure that he will be okay for a bit so that I don’t have to carry him up and down and down and up much.

I hope that you are doing well. With all that is going on between Alvin and work, I have not kept in good contact with my family and some friends at a distance and even close by. Just not enough time in a time. But I am thinking of you all and please forgive me for not reaching out more often.

Oh, I transplanted some slips from a plant yesterday. They had such long roots. I am sure that they will be enjoying the dirt. This particular plant is so beautiful and has the prettiest little flowers. I just do not recall the name.

Have a wonderful Sunday. Keep warm and stay safe. You are in my thoughts!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

From Christmas ……. me Alvin, Aspen at the window and Milo and Alvin watching her from the sofa.

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Monday morning? We are back to normal. Yesterday after we went downstairs in the morning, after the blog was written, Mr. Alvin started to shake and pant. This continued for most of the day. He did not even rush or bark for his food. At his breakfast he ate it with no problem. That was at 6:00 a.m. It was about 10:00 a.m. that our day changed. Out of the blue. It was so odd. I am not sure if it was a combination of the heat from the day, perhaps the arthritis in his legs/paws, I do not know. But I am over the moon happy that this morning he was right in there to eat his breakfast. He has one more day of antibiotics remaining. Fingers crossed and prayers going out that he remains in good health. We were up at 1:21 a.m. and then again at 3:00 a.m. but at that time we were sleeping on the sofa, so I managed to coax him to lay back down which he did after having a drink of water. My boy.

The moon has been full for the past few days. So big and bright in the morning and night sky. We will head out for a walk in a little bit. Tomorrow is back to the office for another day. I have been thinking about how much our work/life balance is going to change with the return to the office. Back to heading off to bed between 8:30-9:00 a.m. and up to stay at 5:00 a.m. AND returning home around 5:30 a.m. I am so grateful that I had these extra precious hours and days at home with Alvin for the past almost three years. Also just to be home and enjoying my home as well. Another new norm is rising. Are we up for yet another “new?” Not sure but for now it will be.

Life is so interesting when you sit back and look back all all the years and everything that has happened. Most of us “find ourselves doing something new” each and every day of our lives. Some folks seem to hunker down and stay unchanged for most of their days. Perhaps it is all in the mindset. Our thoughts become things. I must practise this more. I do find that my thoughts are not consistent about the things that I want and that is due in part to the life beat going on around me. Pretty hard to say that you love working from home and then have to return to work the next week. Still have to make plans for Alvin’s care and getting ready for work each day. I do struggle with this. How can I have my “thoughts become things” when my life is upside down or feels like it anyway? Hopefully I will figure it out soon. Also our actions play a role as well. They go hand in hand!

I miss the early morning sunrises and the late sunsets.

It would be wonderful to wake up in the morning and just be retired, with no mortgage, lots of money to live on comfortably and be home permanently with Mr. Alvin. That is my dream. Wake up on our own timetable. I think Mr. Alvin would have us up early for his breakfast but then we could head back to bed to wake up when my body wanted me to get up. That would be wonderful. We could walk anytime. We could stay up late or go to bed early. We could do whatever we wanted to do during the day. I could work in the garden in the mornings when it was hot. I would have all day to write, to scan photos, to go through all of the photos on my computer, to do so much. Just like a never ending vacation. That is my dream. Everyday would be a new adventure!

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

We are going to head out for a walk.

Dream, dream, dream. Thank you. I am grateful for my dreams.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Saturday Morning ALL! Well it is bright and early. I hope this finds you well. First Alvin had me up at 4:30 to go outside for a pee and for his glucosamine chew then back to the sofa we went. Next we woke up just before 6:00 a.m. to see flashing lights out front of our house, I jumped up and there was a first responder vehicle down the street from us. I gave Alvin his breakfast and went out to the backyard with him as it was just beginning to get light. Dark clouds lining the sky and WIND, was thinking we may blow away, lol. Back in the house, I watched out front at the flashing lights. Then the lights stopped flashing and I realized it was an ambulance as the attendants opened the side of the ambulance and then got in and left the scene. At that point, I thought that we would lay back down on the sofa for some more zzz’s because really who needs to get up at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday with no good reason. Well that lasted for about one minute and then I decided to just get up. I am wide awake. So I put on some coffee, dried the dishes that were in the sink and put them away, changing the bedding on our bed, am doing this post now and then I am going to do some other things before going to Gillian’s for coffee at 10:00 a.m. Kind of cool to be up and already checked off some things off my list at this time of the morning. The dark blue clouds are beginning to dissipate and I can just barely catch the sunrise. I will say that the wind is drying things up and perhaps I brought this on myself as I wanted so desperately for the backyard space to be dry for Alvin and after my tumble last Sunday. By the way, I am fully recovered. I am so grateful for that.

I can smell the coffee downstairs waiting patiently for me to go down and grab a mug. I am really excited to be up and about this early. It has been awhile since I stayed up at 6:00 on a weekend. Funny thing is I didn’t even turn the lights out until after 11:00 p.m. last night.

Sometimes we do not realize the direction we are going until we are on our way. I guess that is the case for this Saturday.

I was reading some affirmations from my SECRET SUPER APP and earlier I happen to see: Your thoughts become things and you just have to keep thinking those thoughts and “that thing will become your reality.” After all, that is how I moved to Edmonton and bought this house. I am not sure that it would have happened had I not been filling my head with thoughts of owning my own house in Edmonton near my daughter. I remember while in Regina – checking Real Estate ads in Edmonton. Thinking I could afford this house and I could afford that house. I put the wheels in motion and what happened, I got a house near my daughter and son-in-law. So I know it works. I just have to start thinking that one thought of what I want and keep going toward it. I know it will happen.

Well I should go for now. I hope that you have an awesome Saturday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. there are always possibilities if we focus on gratitude.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning All! How are you this morning? I am writing this with one finger while lying down on my sofa at 530 on this Saturday morning.

We were to bed later and happily up at 5 this morning. I always open one set of blinds in the livIng room.

@&!:()), pretty much my thoughts, see photos😂

Back yard and front. I am thinking that Mother Nature looked down and saw that Alvin’s loo on the deck was fast disappearing and decided to help OR she has a dark sense of humour.

i had to go out with Alvin so put on my coat and shoes and armed with a poop bag opened the back door grabbed the shovel.

So what do you do at 5 am when you are wide awake?

Most of the time turn over and go back to sleep, not today. Shovelled and picked up poop.

We had almost no snow left. I am wondering if Mother Nature heard me say that Al’s bathroom was disappearing! Not sure.

Oh well, on the plus side it feels warmer out now than when we went to bed.

i texted photos earlier to my friend Val in Regina, my daughter and my friends Gillian & Signe who live nearby with the caption ”Up at 5, wide awake and nothing better to do” with enough exciTement for one morning and back to bed. Trouble was/is, I’m not sleepy.

So maybe now that i have written this post, I can lay back down because apparently I was dreaming and thought it was spring and most of the snow had melted. 😂

Trying to understand, be patient, be kind in thoughts, respect that it is March, have compassion with Mother Nature, remembering that I love snow, laugh that Alvin is sleeping while I am writing this post, grateful it is the weeKend while focusing on completing this post with the possibility of falling to sleep and waking up to bare ground!

Always, Carol&Alvin

PS Al got up, did some sniffing and back laying down. I have confused him😂

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! I hope that this finds you well. What a gloriously bright and beautiful Thursday morning it is. Not sure what happened to me but I slept in, through the alarm without even a snooze. We were up at 3:30 for Alvin to go outside and take his glucosamine chew and then at 5:15 for his breakfast and then bake to the sofa. I started to dream and I guess the dreams overtook the alarm. Whatever the dream was it kept me coming back for more. I was dreaming the first two times that I got up and went right back into the dream each time. Unfortunately I have no idea what the dream was about. I was involved and someone else, who I don’t know. I think a man. Figures that I would sleep in because of a man! The man of my dreams! Well that is just too funny. Happy Thursday morning.

So this will be short as I am truly running late. I don’t remember the last time that I slept through an alarm but happy that I woke up and then thought it feels too bright to be early. So I checked my phone and it was 7:14 a.m. and I jumped up off the sofa. I guess I will need to make sure that we get to bed on time, we were up a bit later than usual and then I read until after 10:00 p.m. LOL.

I hope that you have a good day.

Continuing to send good thoughts and energy to the people of Ukraine and to the people of Russia. Support is what they / what we all need.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. still smiling about sleeping in because I was dreaming of some mysterious man, although I believe that I knew him.

2021

DREAMS

Last night I dreamed of,

packing for a trip,

checking to ensure the money in place,

securing a ride to the airport,

buying some last minute clothes,

for the first tropical trip of my life,

I was excited and nervous,

I remember there were two others going that I knew,

we were all excited,

then it was the time to leave for the airport,

my ride was there,

it was the people that I was going on the trip with,

for some reason, the topic of passport came up,

I stopped dead in my tracks, dropping my luggage,

I couldn’t breathe,

they asked what was wrong,

I replied, I forgot to renew my passport,

it was too late, I would have to stay at home,

there was no way with the state of the world,

that I would be allowed to travel,

without that precious document called a passport,

I had my vaccinations and the Covid-19 Immunization Record,

the bar code

but I had forgotten somehow to renew my passport,

how is that even possible,

never came up in conversation,

I do not know,

well I guess my first tropical trip,

is a no go,

will have to wait once again,

I will have to apply and have it done as they are good for 10 years,

the passport that is,

It was a hard goodbye as they left the house,

then I remember going somewhere with someone else,

we were a distance from my home,

when I remembered I had forgot my suitcase,

what a dream,

what a dream when you dream a dream,

of white sands and tropical breezes,

One day, it will happen,

I will travel to some far off tropical place,

Perhaps Hawaii, I would love that.

Talk about confusion in that dream,

I was wondering why,

Then I remembered I had watched a show,

on t.v. last night about memory,

it sparked the madness I called a dream,

There it was,

Good Morning,

thank goodness I am awake now!

Written by CY Lewis on Saturday, November 20, 2021

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You never know what you will think of when you are asleep. I had that strange dream just a few hours ago. With Alvin at my side and despite his many attempts to get me to stay up. Each time I fell back to asleep I would continue with that dream. WOW.

I hope that you have an amazing Saturday. Oh, just looked out the window and the sun is shining and it is SNOWING. Oh no, not more snow. I guess on the upside the temperature is warmer with the moisture. So we can walk later. This weekend is laundry and Christmas cards and letter writing. I will have them finished by the end of tomorrow. Ready to mail next payday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Tuesday morning? Alvin and I are well. We had a pretty good sleep from about 9:30 – 4:00 and then it was up a few times before I actually hauled my bottom off the sofa a few minutes ago. Today, I work the late shift so start work at 11:00 a.m. and work until 7:00 p.m. The best part of this shift is starting late and taking my 45 minute break at 3:00 p.m. as the temperature is usually perfect mid afternoon. It is a very broken up shift and I spend from 4-7 p.m. on the phone, ugh. Oh well. It is an gorgeous morning. The sun is now up and shining every so brightly in the most glorious bright blue morning sky. Guess what? The tea order arrived yesterday afternoon – one day early. I was pleasantly and happily surprised.

Alvin was trying for at least a hour or so to get me up and I just wanted to lay there snuggled under the blanket on the sofa. I love just laying still with my thoughts wandering here and there and then sometimes dozing off and waking up mid dream or mid thought. What a great way to begin a day. Gently with no mad rush to begin the day. He is giving me some kind of look from the hallway. Not quite sure what the look means but he is giving me a stare. Oh my boy, I love you.

I was thinking about planting flowers. The tulip bulbs went in on the weekend and I wonder how long before they break through the earth? Or will they? Hard to know. The bulbs seemed to be okay but honestly I know nothing about tulips except they are my daughter’s favourite flower and I love them, too. Oh well, time will tell. In a month or so, the weather should be settled and past the threat of freezing temperatures overnight so that I can put my geranium plants outside along with the lily who has spent the winter in our basement. My friend Pauline gave me a starter plant to add to the lily pot as it will climb over the edge framing the beautiful lily. I think it may be warm enough today to bring up the lily and let her have some time in the warm rays of the sunshine. I am shocked at the size of the lily …. I did not think that it would grow over the winter but it did. I am grateful. Before I start work I am going to bring up the lily and place her on the deck in the sunshine. Also Pauline mentioned about planting her in a deeper pot so I will have to check out my pots and see. I am concerned about moving her as whatever my friend had in the soil surely suited the lily. Food for thought, I guess.

Well I suppose I should head into the bedroom and go and have a refreshing shower. It is time. I need to empty the dishwasher, grind some coffee, pick up early morning poop from backyard, and do a few other things plus have breakfast before starting work at 11:00 a.m. (lots of time).

I, We wish you a wonderful April 20th, 2021.

I cannot wait to have flowers planted and on the deck and the furniture out. First have to pressure wash the deck and I want to wait until this last threat of winter has passed. So a week or two. Also I am excited to get the fence painted this summer ….. it certainly needs some love and attention.

• 

• 

  My Flowers

• 

Continuing to live with Kindness, Respect, Compassion and Patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning ALL. How are you all this morning? Alvin and I are well. I want to send out Happy Wishes to my niece on her 36th birthday. Hopefully I got the year right. I cannot believe she is all grown up. Time flies and our babies are no longer are babies but yet they are! Have a wonderful day “D” on your special day. Woke up this morning to more snow. Looks like this is going to be the year of the SNOWBANKS. Alvin just sneezed. Lots of shovelling. Yesterday I shovelled the driveway after our walk at noon. When your garage is detached from your house …. it is the old adage you always see what is in front of your nose but forget to look behind. Definitely is in this case. I will have to shovel at noon or after work today. Always good to keep everything shovelled. SNOW and more SNOW. Alvin is enjoying all of the snow on the deck. I left some for him to sniff around in as he likes to bury his head in the snow so to speak. He does actually bury some of his chew treats in the snow. Then spends the winter looking for them. In and out. He loves it and that is all that matters. Just like a little one with a wooden spoon and pot. Simple is always better.

Well I guess today is Wednesday already. Midweek. I am slowly putting together my craft project and hopefully it will be near completion this weekend as after that there will be baking happening in the kitchen and I don’t want to haul everything back and forth to the basement, Christmas project that is. I must make some decisions soon. I have one last obstacle, if you will before I can make it to the finish line. But I will figure it out. Just waiting for that inspiration to hit and it will. Hopefully not in the middle of the night, lol.

Not much else new in our lives at the moment. I must say thank you to my friends and my daughter who have collectively picked up my Christmas baking ingredients so that I did not have to go to the stores. I only have a few items left and then I am ready next weekend, not this weekend but next to start the CHRISTMAS BAKING. Just what we all need after this year is more treats but maybe we do. Anyway I am baking and that is all there is to it. Everyone needs a treat, right!

Time to get on downstairs and make that coffee. I kind of slept in this morning. One of my ears is plugged (happens more often in the wintertime and it is a thing for me) so I was sleeping on my side and didn’t hear the alarm at first. Anyway, all is good.

I hope you are having a good day and have a great Wednesday. We will continue living our lives with kindness and respect for all.

Thank you so much for reading my daily post. I do so appreciate your time. When I first starting writing many years ago now, I had dreamed of having 1 million people reading my blog posts. Now I may not have a million reading but those of you that do, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If we do not have dreams and stay positive – then not likely things will happen close to the way you would like. Anyway, I am grateful to you. Thank you.

With kindness and respect and gratitude,

Always, Carol & Alvin