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.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Well it was not quite the sleep that I anticipated we would have but that is okay. I stayed up much later than usual for me, watching The Royal Party celebrating the Platinum or 70th Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth. The line-up was surprising but wonderful to watch. I did wish that Sir Elton John would have been there in person. Having Diana Ross end the show was great. She does not look 78 years of age and still sings like an angel. I wish Queen Elizabeth many more happy healthy years. 96 years in itself is quite an accomplishment but to be working for 70 or more of those years, is quite another thing. Congratulations. My paternal grandmother lived to be 97 years of age but was not the Queen with all that involves. She was in a nursing home by age 92. How blessed the Royals are to have such a woman to head their family and to still be so active especially in mind and body.

Despite going to bed after 11:30, Mr. Alvin was up at 3:30 and would have been up sooner if I had not coaxed him to stay in bed longer. Oh well, we did catch some zzz’s from 6:00 till 8:30 a.m. Isn’t it funny, that sleep is always the main or close to it, topic for my posts. It drives the day and sometimes my driving is not great, I will say. (not driving a car, lol). Yesterday we were off to a slow start but enjoyed a full walk leaving the house about noon. Then I worked on laundry and cleaning/sorting through things in the garage. I posted a few large items on our community Facebook pages. One item already got picked up. This morning one of my friends and neighbours and I are going to the ECO Station to drop off some items. I have never been and am excited to see the setup.

Oh, I realized that not counting today it is 65 days until my 65th birthday. How funny is that?

This will be a quiet day, I think. A bit of this and bit of that. We will go for a walk a bit later.

Time to head downstairs and have some coffee and then breakfast before we are off to the ECO Station.

I hope that you have an amazing Sunday. It is cloudy and windy here in Edmonton at the moment. That’s okay. I do wish for sunshine and a bit of heat so that my plants and flowers may grow along with everyone’s.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Tuesday morning? We are well, doing very well. Alvin is sleeping better than he has in awhile. Now that doesn’t mean that one or both of us aren’t up “once during the night” to do something but then we go back to sleep. We had a pretty good sleep. I hear the rumblings of the garbage trucks out and about. I filled my big garbage bin with the trash that I picked up in the neighbourhood two weekends ago. So I will definitely have my own to put out in two weeks.

The sky is overcast this morning and we had a good rain last night about 8:30 p.m. which included THUNDER. First thunder of this season. Nothing like the crack of thunder. There is a breeze this morning and it is cool out. Yesterday was so nice outside. We walked at lunchtime – the whole walk – well done Mr. Alvin. Instead of walking after work, I opted to wait and go after supper and cleanup was done. So after work I decided to flip the patio furniture about. I put the table and four chairs from the upper deck nearest to the garage onto the deck closest to the house just off from the bay window of the kitchen. It looks great there. Perhaps I will use it more. I do need an umbrella or two as they shredded and are waiting to go to the ECO Station. I placed the bistro table by the back door which is great when I have to haul in groceries etc. via the garage or someone comes over, there is a place to set something down instead of on the deck, which would have been okay, too. The wicker loveseat, coffee table and two chairs are back in the centre part of the deck. I can hardly wait to plant my flowers and fill in the gaps. I also took some of the branches that I had pruned from our front tree and placed them into a tall planter that I have on the deck. I have had this planter forever and it has deteriorated over the years making it almost impossible to move (it is heavy as well) without having a mess. I will try at some point, just not ready for it to go. It still looks okay – just looks old. It is made out of a ceramic something or other. Anyway, with a couple of ornaments on the tables it looks good for now.

When we were out for out walk after supper, we saw these two young guys. They both had their shirts off and walking looking at their phones. An accident looking to happen. What struck me the most was this. One of the boys was wearing the pants that hit below the hips while his underwear was almost completely showing above his pants. I watched in wonder and awe, thinking how can you possibly keep those pants from falling down? Maybe they are velcroed together? The boys wearing these pants all seem to have that same gait, that same kind of slow, side shuffle. Hard to explain. I am sure that all of you have seen this before and know exactly what I mean. Oh to be a teenager again with the whacky styles and trends. Whoever had this idea? Why? Really, lol, why?

I was disappointed that we did not see the baby goslings on our walks yesterday. They are out there in all their cuteness. So darling these little birds.

Coffee will taste great this morning. I turned the heat off a few days ago but now thinking I should have it on but I will keep wearing a sweater and put on something heavier if I need to. Might as well save on heating costs if I can. I have socks on as well. LOL.

Mr. Alvin is snuggled on the rug.

It looks like the sky is clearing on the horizon so that is good news. I hope that the sun shines.

To my friend Val who is hosting an “Epicure Tasting Event” today, I hope that you have fun and it is highly successful.

I heard the news that SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) in Regina, Saskatchewan has their first female President. Congratulations!

Have an awesome Tuesday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Sunday Morning.

Partially overcast windy morning.

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous.

There was some wind as seems to be the new norm here in Edmonton.

Yesterday was a busy day for me and Alvin.

I left some tasks to be completed today (smart on my part, right?).

Between laundry, cleaning bathroom fans, toilets, sinks, changing light bulbs, vacuuming, dusting, washing down the deck, putting out all the patio furniture, cleaning out the garage and going for a

walk – that was enough for one day.

It felt great to get so much accomplished.

I even got to have some visits with friends along the way.

First of all, my friend G brought me some eggs and helped with change some light bulbs.

The upstairs fixture in the hallway needed bulbs.

I was able to get one of the bulbs changed but the second bulb would not come out.

So when the phone rang and I checked the message a few minutes later to find that she wanted to bring the eggs over.

I texted right away and described my dilemma, she came to help.

I noticed last night when I turned the switch on that light comes on a split second later than the other lights on that same switch.

ARGH, that is not right.

When Alvin and I took a late walk we saw our friends N & I out in the yard.

N was power washing the driveway and I was putzing in the garden.

Then after several minutes we continued on our way.

I am glad that I took some water for Alvin as he did get thirsty along the way.

Just down the street from these friends other friends were out cleaning the garage.

Seems like everyone was cleaning out the garage yesterday.

I know why.

So we stopped and visited.

They had a bunch of things to recycle and would have been for a garage sale, but garage sales are cancelled this summer.

I also heard that our Eco Station is closed so not recycling.

That is not good.

This family is a couple just slightly older than me who have three grown children.

The two daughters are adults and are not married.

The sisters live in a condo not far away.

They come to visit often.

The family also has a dog named RIO.

Alvin and Rio are friends.

They are the most delightful family.

Immigrated to Canada when the children were young.

I don’t remember which country but they speak Spanish.

Cannot remember if South American country or Latin/Central America, but not Mexico.

They are caring and thoughtful.

After a nice visit we continued on our walk.

On our way home they gave us a bag of treats/food that they had bought for Rio who is fussy.

Well everyone that knows Mr. Alvin knows, that he is not (not fussy).

He enjoyed some new food for supper.

After returning home we had supper, did dishes and finished up the laundry.

I think I might have a couple of loads left.

Today I will wash the floors with my steam mop and make the energy bites.

I found some stamps so I want to write a few letters over the next few days.

 

Well time to get going another semi late start.

But why not, I say.

It is nice not having to answer to anyone other than Mr. Alvin.

That sounds like of harsh.

I can do most things in my own time and at my own pace.

I think that I am going to put the cushions from the patio set back into the garage as it looks like rain.

Also the patio set that sits on the third level needs a new umbrella.

I think that I am going to put that umbrella in the garage.

It has been windy and the bottom of the umbrella is torn.

If I have company to sit under it, I can always bring it back out.

Just looks like it is going to be another windy day.

 

I wish you a great day.

Make certain that during these times that you listen to instructions given by your federal and local health agencies.

Do the social distancing – it is important.

I have a funny feeling that when the flu season hits this fall we may have some more serious problems.

Just a feeling.

Work from home if you can.

Eat probably and rest.

Make sure that you hydrate.

Wash your hands often.

Be careful and be smart.

This is affecting folks worldwide.

You are not alone.

If we think our economy is failing.

We are not alone.

This has affected every economy globally.

Personally I feel that the leaders of every country should be working on a global plan for the economic survival of this planet.

We cannot afford to leave anyone or any country behind.

We need to work together globally.

So we can get through to the other side of this pandemic.

 

Time for breakfast and COFFEE.

I love that first cup of coffee in the morning.

With kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin