It is a NEW YEAR.

Well folks we made it through another week.

This weekend marks the end of February 2020 and the beginning of a new month March 2020.

March is an extra special month for me as it is the birthday of my daughter.

Also is the birthdate of my Dad’s only sister, my Aunt, son-in-law’s brother, friend’s children, sister-in-law, niece in-law and some of my most dearest friends.

A busy month to be sure.

Which reminds me that I forgot to pop a card and letter into the mail for my Aunt.

I will do that this weekend and even though it may be late ….. always better to send than not to.

She is of the generation that cards and letters were important.

The largest way of communication next to the telephone.

Long before the days of email, texts and video chats and social media.

I have a good stock of miscellaneous cards as I still love to send them from time to time.

 

Last night on our walk …. oh, it was so beautiful.

We bumped into the gal that delivers our flyers down the street at the houses near the park.

We stopped for a chat.

The chat carried on for several minutes when all of a sudden I saw out of the corner of my eye and then did a quick spin …

To see by Alvin and me, this chocolate lab pup off leash.

There was a family coming down the sidewalk and I called out to them.

They explained as they got to us that this pup had just joined them.

He/She walked beside them the whole way.

Now as they were on a busy street they were concerned.

No one happened to have an extra leash.

As we were near the house of a friend, I ran up the walk to see if she could help us out with a leash.

She has two small dogs.

But no one was home.

Quick thinking, I thought of tying some poop bags together but that didn’t seem like a great idea, no one had a scarf (I would have given up my scarf, for sure) but I did have

my Bath & Body Works lanyard on my keys.

So I removed the lanyard and it worked perfectly as the pup did have a collar with a ring for hooking leashes.

We hooked up the lanyard and I asked if they were able to take the pup and contact the appropriate authorities and they said of course.

The pup seemed perfectly happy to be with them.

Alvin did okay with the pup considering there was no leash on the pup and hard to hold him/her.

There was a bit of growling on Alvin’s part but the pup was so good natured it did not last.

I hope, pray and wish that they found the pup’s home or the authorities did.

Such a beautiful pup.

There was no one out looking during the time we were out.

I am not certain where exactly the dog joined them.

Best of luck to you little one.

I should have carried my phone but did not have the appropriate place and my hands were full.

 

Well almost time to leave here.

My neighbour is feeling better and will give me a ride to work this morning.

Yesterday funny story.

I left home a few minutes earlier than what I normally would to catch a bus and when walking by my friend’s house, she was backing out.

She saw me and gave me a ride to the bus stop.

That helped greatly … no dodging ice …. yay, me.

I caught the earlier bus and was to work before 7:30 a.m. ( I do not start till 8 but like to be there early).

 

Well time to fly.

I hope that you have an awesome, amazing, wonderful day.

Isn’t the morning sky beautiful?

Getting more light everyday.

Take Care.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Treating the world with kindness and respect.

Trying …..

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and today is Sunday, December 22, 2019.

Only a few more sleeps now.

A busy next few days lay in store for me and Mr. Alvin.

Humphrey has already joined us for the day and will return home only to sleep.

When I went to pick him up …. and mentioned “Would you like to go and see Alvin?”

He ran to the door and to me so that I could pick him up to carry him to my house.

Alvin is laying on his blue blanket next to me, moaning and groaning as he wants to be downstairs.

Plans changed and Teddy and Kobi only came with their Mom for a short visit last night.

There had been lots of snow so they did not go out of town.

But they are going today for the day.

So Kobi and Teddy will be arriving in less than one hour.

Also coffee with the girls changed venue and will be at my house.

So Alvin has his friends and I have mine.

I have to cut this short as I want to have some breakfast and perhaps make a couple of couple of coffee before the girls arrive.

Some laundry to take to the basement to be done later.

I just realized that I have not downloaded photos from my phone to the computer in quite some time, so I will share some of those photos now.

Sorry change of plans.

The puppies came 40 minutes early.

Kobi is with me and Alvin has been barking non stop since we came upstairs.

Only able to share these photos from last night.

 

Have an awesome day.

 

Always, Carol, Alvin, Humphrey, Teddy and Kobi

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Friday, July 21, 2017 and it is the 20th day until my 60th Birthday.

A lifetime is captured in our memories and in the memories of others.

If we are lucky those memories will be mainly positive but there will be the less than stellar moments along the way.

It is up to us to stand tall and remain with a full and happy heart.

Time is of the essence this morning as I have to leave extra early to help with the pancake breakfast at the office.

So have to make this short.

I hope that when you take note of all those days behind you that you do with an open mind.

 

Always, Carol

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 14th day of July, 2017.

We had a lovely thunder and lightning storm last night.

Sunny skies this morning.

The first crack of thunder almost sent me flying…..certainly startled me…

The wind blew over my tomato plant but after the storm I managed to rig up a more substantial “post” for Mr. T to lean on.

The sky cleared and there was a lovely breeze as we went to bed which was great because earlier with the humidity it was 32 degrees celsius.

Thankfully it is Friday and our office closes early.

I am so grateful for that ….. great way to end the work week.

I took my own advice and what a difference in the day …..

Sometimes it may be hard to hear “not so glowing things about yourself” but sometimes it is just the kick in the pants you need to get back on track.

I am a great person.

I know that I am compassionate, kind, generous, loyal, intelligent and likely a slew of adjectives but you see the point.

We all get caught in that trap sometimes.

The negative blues ….

Woe is me…..

Blaming it on others…..

We all do it…..

Perhaps more or less than others…..

So give yourself a kick in the pants and change your life.

Start walking through that door with a new attitude.

Love yourself and be kind to the planet, to others, to every creature …..

We all have our “things” …. the baggage ….. we all have gone through CRAP……I have…..you have, too.

Happy Friday …..

Special Hello to:  YOU and ME.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 13th day of June, 2017.

How are you today?

I am great ……

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk with our friends and then visits with ours on the way home.

The skies are overcast this morning but I can see a bit of clear skies to the far south.

Forecast is for rain today and a bit cooler on the temperature side.

Mr. Alvin decided to get up about 11:00 p.m. and walk about the back yard last night.

I of course, had to get up with him although I watched from the back door window.

What a guy and then was ready to get up bright and early.

Safe to say that I am running just a tad late this morning.

Do your pups and kids get up at odd hours and such?

Somedays …..

Oh well, I can doze on the bus so that is good.

The sky almost appears to be a purple colour ….. quite pretty, actually.

Well I am definitely just babbling here as my mind is downstairs with me putting on my jacket and shoes.

So guess should fly ….. have an awesome Tuesday.

Remember to always take time for YOU.

You are important and without you there would be no me.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to: YOU, my friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 4th day of November, 2016.

What ….. November 4th.

Well Halloween decorations are all down and in storage containers.

Yesterday was amazing …. the wind was actually warm.

Felt like a summer day.

Tomorrow is to be +15 celsius.

WOW.

Last year on this date:

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 4th day of November, 2015.

Well no additional moisture overnight …. that is a good thing.

We had the most glorious huge wet snowflakes yesterday …

I was standing right in the middle of them waiting to catch a bus to an appointment.

I wanted to stick out my tongue and let them land but decided against it.

You know people around …..

Almost one week into November, can you believe it?

In just a few shorts weeks it will be …… CHRISTMAS!

I just have to snag my neighbour so that we can decorate outside and a few finishing touches inside and I am finished with the decorations.

Next step: print our photos and start writing our Christmas letter and Christmas cards.

I like to have them mailed before December 1st, 2015.

Most especially the overseas ones ….. best to have them done by mid November.

Sounds like Alvin and I will be spending Christmas with the kids and grand-puppies at the new house.

Exciting.

I am so excited.

This weekend my Daughter and I will be preparing for the craft sale at one of the hospitals here in Edmonton.

I guess they are always busy …. can only imagine the traffic at a hospital ….

It will be fun.

Lots of exciting … fun events coming up.

I am grateful to have fun things to do so that it offsets the not so pleasant things we all have to do.

Actually I am pretty blessed in my life and am grateful.

We all have speed bumps along the way ….. as long as we try to be kind and respectful and are grateful we will get through each one.

Well almost time to place the finishing touches on getting ready for work.

I hope that you all have the most wonderful day ever.

May laughter be the backdrop for your day.

May kindness and joy be the centre pieces.

Happy Wednesday All.

******************************************

Mr. Alvin had the Momma up again extra early.

So I am running late here.

Time to leave for the bus.

Happy Friday.

This post from last year really is a good one for me to read ……. being grateful and such.

A good reminder.

Special Hello to: YOU ALL

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 20th day of August, 2016.

The sun was coming up a little bit ago but now the sky is filling in with possible rain clouds.

Yesterday after returning home from work, we did our normal routine only it was one hour early as we are dismissed one hour early from work on Fridays during the summer.

I was really hungry so decided to have supper early.

I had some homemade chilli topped with cheddar cheese and lots of raw vegetables (Alvin’s favourites) and for dessert some of my birthday cake from last weekend.

When supper was finished, I cleaned up.

Then decided to sip on tea and watch a bit of television – something I have not done much of as of late.

Somewhere around 6:30, I became so tired that I could not keep my eyes open so I laid down on the sofa.

Alvin curled up beside me.

The next thing I know I wake up and it is dark.

Oh, my poor Alvin – no walk.

It was too late and I do not like to walk in the dark anymore.

Too many things have happened later in the evening.

I apologized to Alvin, poor guy.

Instead we went onto the deck for a bit so he could enjoy the cool night air.

Then went to bed.

So before it gets hot or rains we are going for a walk.

I owe him a wonderful walk.

So this will be short this morning.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Saturday.

We are going for a nice refreshing relatively early morning walk.

It is just 8:00 a.m.

Special Hello to: YOU, have a wonderful day.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 1st day of June, 2016.

Can you believe it?

Today is June 1st, 2016.

Only a few weeks until the official first day of summer and the longest day of the year.

In the summer in Edmonton it is light until almost 11:00 p.m.

Somedays it is difficult to go to bed when the sun is still up.

But you get used to it.

 

Last night we had a wonderful walk.

We left the house at 5:20 and arrived home at 6:45 p.m.

Stopping to visit along the way.

So it was a later supper for me.

My friend “P” who has the beautiful English garden gave me more plants.

After we got home I ate quickly and went to digging.

I had to dig up some grass along the sidewalk out front of the house (not by the street but straight down from the steps).

I would like to make an unusual little garden out front ….

When I get a battery for my camera I will take some photos.

I have some more finishing work to do on it but it was getting late last night and I was tired.

 

Clear sunny skies on this first day of June.

YAY …..

Time to put the finishing touches on the readiness for work.

Yikes.

You know what I mean.

 

Well time to fly ….. I must work on keeping Alvin in bed and not getting up so early.

We hit the sofa and I think that is worse than staying up.

But somehow staying up at 4:40 a.m. – is not very appealing at that time of day.

 

Going now.

Have the most wonderful day.

I am grateful to live in this beautiful house, to have great family and friends, to have Alvin and to be me.

 

Special Hello to: family and friends

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of January, 2016.

It was raining here in Edmonton yesterday afternoon and well into the evening.

I would have thought with the warmth on my walk home from the bus stop that the sidewalks would have been okay but they were not.

They were so icy ….. so I walked on the street.

It was a slow careful walk home.

My sidewalk which was free from snow was covered with ice and I had to creep up the side walking partially in the snow that covers the lawn …. just to stay upright.

Needless to say I am not really looking forward to the walk to the bus this morning.

Careful and slow.

That will be the name of the game.

I will be leaving home a few minutes early ……

 

Also Mr. Alvin was wide awake this morning and ready to get up.

I am not quite sure what was with him and I only managed to keep him in bed until 4:40 a.m. ….. yikes.

Funny how that last few minutes in bed means so much ….

Anyway we were up and now I am almost ready at not even 6:00 a.m. …… YAY for ME.

 

My tea order arrived yesterday.

So all sorted …. I need to get it delivered.

All of the orders except for one go to my office.

So I will get it there …. just like the Post Man through rain or snow of fear of sleet …. something like that.

I think a sense of humour will be high on the list this morning.

 

Something tells me that I should have bought through ice cleat things …. you strap them to your boots.

Oh well ….. I will walk on “water” this morning ….. ER, I mean ICE.

What an odd January …. should be minus something not plus.

Not complaining just concerned.

 

Well here we go again another month almost finish never to appear again.

It is funny I barely remember last January and that was only one year ago.

Does that happen to you?

The time seems to evaporate and only extreme good and bad seem to remain in our memory.

 

Well I guess I might as well get this show on the road.

I am nervous … I will admit.

But I will get there ….. the bus will arrive and I will be at work.

 

Special Hello to:  all my friends and family and people of Edmonton tread carefully this morning.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 1st of November, 2015.

We had a great Halloween.

85 children came to our door.

There were gypsies, Luigi and Mario, princesses, puppies, ghosts, cats and so many more.

Really great costumes.

Alvin was so good.

I had him on his red leash which is shorter, and he was so excited to see some of our neighbours and, of course some new people.

Near the end of the evening …. he was laying on the sofa and when the door bell rang and I said “stay” …. he actually stayed.

Totally surprised me.

Just looked at the kids from the sofa.

I believe he truly was pooped.

He was happy to see so many of our friends.

The costumes did not freak him out at all.

Well in a few minutes after I finish here …. it will be outside to take down the Halloween decorations and place them into the garage.

Then take down in the house and start bringing up the Christmas stuff from the basement.

I am so excited. ….. in fact when Alvin got up (which he thought 3 was 4 …. which is odd because he has been waking up a hour early for the past week) I wanted to stay up and start the process.

My daughter is coming over to help with the Christmas Tree ……. we will have hot chocolate and a special treat …. watch a Christmas movie …… so much fun.

The sky is overcast (it rained last night from about 7:30 onward) …..

Some of the kids managed to get out before it started ….

I guess it did not pour just drizzling.

Okay I am so excited …. please excuse me I have to go and get the Halloween stuff down so that I can bring up the Christmas stuff.

OMG ….. so excited.

I will be able to sit on my sofa this evening with the tree lights on ……

My favourite thing.

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: all my friends out there who like to put up their Christmas trees on November 1st ……

Always, Carol and Alvin