It is a NEW YEAR.

Well Good Morning All,

It is windy, overcast and warm here in Edmonton.

This morning I am hosting the birthday party for one of my younger friends.

I was hoping to have the party on the deck but it appears that I will have to wait until the last minute due to the skies and wind.

Perhaps we shall have coffee on the deck and grab our snacks from the house and just take them outside.

Time will tell.

There is a few minutes less than 2 hours till start time.

There will be four of us ladies as the birthday girl is bringing her Mother.

I have not seen her for awhile so it will be nice to catch up.

I have already prepped our snack which is a fruit tray of strawberries, blueberries and watermelon.

Actually three bowls filled with the delectable fruits.

The bowls are tupperware and so colourful.

I thought if we were outside, with lids would keep bugs out more easily.

All taste so yummy as I had to try them while I was getting them washed and prepped.

It has been a bit since I had watermelon and it is ripe.

The watermelon as well as the berries are from COSTCO.

Will be sending watermelon home with the girls as it is just at the perfect eating stage and will not last for long.

I am hoping that it is okay this morning after I cut up half of the large melon early last evening.

We are also having a strawberry shortcake from COSTCO.

It looks so good.

Nice and light and yummy.

We will have coffee as our liquid refreshment.

One of the girls not the birthday girl is very fussy about her drink so she always brings along her tea bag.

I have tried to convert her to Steeped Tea over the last five years but to no avail other than she loves our Sangria teas in ginger ale.

Well help from my daughter yesterday we gave Alvin one of his best hair cuts ever.

With her help the hair cut was done in just a bit over one hour and then the bath took a handful of minutes compared to the usual 3+ hours by myself.

He looks so handsome.

Perhaps I should have snapped a photo, cannot believe that I forgot.

She also helped with a few other chores around the house.

I feel like I did not get much housework done like washing the floors and dusting.

The floor honestly look okay and dusting …. well there are not many dust bunnies hanging around.

With my injured foot, I have been trying to be a good girl and stay off it here and there.

As my son-in-law said yesterday when he came to pick up my daughter …. “it looks like it” ….. meaning not really.

It is hard to keep me down especially when I have company company.

The bruises were definitely more prominent yesterday as the day progressed and even this morning.

My baby toe and the next one are badly bruised with the little one taking the brunt of the injury.

The top almost half of my foot from my toes upward is bruised.

Definitely looks worse than it feels.

I really have not had much pain but I am blessed as I have a high tolerance.

Which I suppose can also be a problem.

Anyway, other than taking it slow up and down the stairs and I am good.

I elevate the foot when I am sitting down.

Icing it from time to time.

 

Alvin for some unknown reason, decided to be up multiple times during the night from about 11:00 p.m. onward.

We were up to stay up just before 7:30 a.m. so I feel a bit on the tired side.

Perhaps an afternoon nap will be in store for us later.

He is napping now.

 

Well I suppose that I should hit the shower and get dressed.

I want to have a cup of coffee before the girls arrive.

Make sure that I have things ready although I will say that having my friends over is less stressful.

We are pretty laid back when it comes to our get togethers.

I have the gift wrapped and the card written up.

Cake and goodies are ready.

Just have to make the coffee and decide on where I am going to set up.

I actually wrote on the “new section of the fence” in chalk “Happy Birthday ….. ” and drew some flowers (my version of a flower).

I have a birthday banner and I will hang it after my shower.

So wherever we are you will know it is a birthday.

Long gone are the days of balloons and streamers.

I do not like balloons and do not use them anymore.

Bad for animals and for the environment.

 

Okay time to fly here.

It is almost 8:30 and I have a short list of things that I would like to do before the guests arrive.

 

I hope that you have an awesome Sunday.

Living with kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

As Always Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Happy Friday Everyone!

The sun is rising and is more subtle color wise and vibrancy wise.

But beautiful all the same.

Happy today is Friday.

Today is also the day that I work the late shift.

Once every couple of weeks or so the staff or some of the staff are assigned to work from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m.

It is from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (our office closes at 4:00 p.m. and that is when we have the phones answered by a security company).

So today some of us staff are manny the calls from the public from 4-7 p.m.

Being on the phones is my least favourite part of my job.

Now that we are using our cell phones it is a bit more challenging as at the office I had a headset which made speaking and using the computer easier.

Oh well, I am grateful to have a job and being paid.

I am grateful to have NO commute and to be at home with Alvin.

This is time with him that I would not have had, had I been working at the office.

So grateful for our time together.

I am not certain what the temperature is at the moment.

Perhaps we will have time before I start work at 11:00 a.m. to go for a walk.

Time will tell.

We have five minutes less than three hours.

My daughter brought a chair for me yesterday.

It is way more comfortable than my current one.

That should make my days of sitting easier.

When we went for a walk after work my lower back was giving me a lot of pain so I think that I had better start doing some stretches.

It was a bit brisk but a very enjoyable walk.

Odd how the pain went away when I got home and was not walking.

Definitely not getting as much exercise as in a regular day.

Even at the office I would get up multiple times during the day to pick up letters from the printer.

So have to be careful.

I am going to start including stretches and other exercises into my days.

Likely a good idea for all of us who are sitting most of our days.

I then sit in the evening as well.

So happy to have had some time with my daughter.

Mr. Alvin is resting on his bed beside me in the office.

I will say that it is not nearly as bright out this morning and I think that they did forecast snow for today.

I will check the temperature and I think we may sneak out for a walk in a little bit.

A walk before I sit all day would be a great idea.

 

I know that so many of us are staying home and practicing the social distancing but how many folks are not.

Please unless you absolutely have to go out …. stay home.

I think of all my friends who are in Healthcare, work in grocery stores, fire fighters, police, custodians, and all those jobs that provide essentials to our well being.

So grateful for them all.

Please be safe.

The sooner everyone listens and pays attention to what our health care and government leaders are instructing us to do, the sooner the VIRUS will be gone.

Take care.

 

Well time to get dressed and have some breakfast.

Check the weather.

Clean up the poop.

Yes, someone has to watch after Mr. Alvin.

I have to do some shovelling but will see how much time I have …..

 

Be safe.

Live your lives in kindness and with respect.

We got this.

You got this.

 

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and YAY today is Saturday.

It is bright outside but only due to the recent snowfall.

Sky is overcast but the sun is trying to punch through the clouds.

Alvin and his best friend Teddy are laying together side by side on the blue blanket.

What a joyous sight.

Once the photos stop downloading I will snap a couple of photos for my next post.

If there is time before they move.

Last night after work and we were done with Alvin eating etc., we went for a nice walk.

Once home I called Aunt J and she brought Master Teddy right over.

The boys were so excited to see each other.

Me, too.

Seems like forever since they have been here to visit.

Aunt J did not stay but to have a quick visit by the door.

I could tell in her eyes that she was exhausted.

It has been a horrible last couple of weeks for her with puppy KOBI and that terrible parasite.

I know that Teddy missed her last night but soon was okay just to settle in with his best friend.

 

Not long after Teddy arrived last night and moments before I was going to eat my supper, there was a knock at the door.

I opened the door to see one of the little boys from a couple of doors down the street.

He handed me a Valentines Card, a heart shaped red lollipop and two boxes of smarties.

One of the boxes of smarties had only red and pink smarties inside.

What a nice treat for after supper.

He is the most kind and generous of little boys.

He is quiet, sweet and so helpful.

He is the one that always wants to help.

He is polite and compassionate and has manners.

Can you imagine a little boy of “7” bringing a Valentine and treats to your door?

I am not 7 either.

He would not have been prompted by his parents either.

His parents did a great job with him.

 

The pups last night at bedtime.

Teddy was playing a game with the blanket.

This morning he was playing under the blanket (hide and seek) but the camera was downloading / uploading photos to the computer so I was unable to take photos.

Alvin was watching him.

Then he joined them.

Love these little guys.

I had a great evening.

 

My day was mixed.

I had planned to go for lunch with one of my clients.

We did but long story short it was not great ….. the coffee shop we went to had closed (how I had forgot, I will never know).

She with her walker.

Normally was not even a five minute walk but with her walker and recent injury, it took about 20 minutes or so.

My poor friend, I don’t know what I was thinking.

We ended up going to the 7-11 which had a little counter set up.

It was okay but not what I had imagined.

I felt terrible.

Not sure what I was thinking.

The Starbucks would have been closer even though we had to cross more streets and I guess there were a couple of small restaurants close to it.

Next time, I will have my poop in a group.

Also she slept in and did not hear when I phoned her at 10:00 a.m.

She missed the DATS bus when it arrived and caught a taxi which cost her a small fortune.

I called DATS (Disabled Adult Transit System, I think) from the 7-11 but they said would be a two hour wait but at first refused to pick her up.

I kept at them but finally the woman said two hours.

Way too long in the downtown 7-11 which had lots of people coming and going.

I could not leave her there by herself for two hours and I could not wait.

So I called a taxi.

I offered to pay but she said she could pay for it.

Unfortunately it was a costly lunch for her.

I paid for lunch although she wanted to ….

I had a little gift for her and remembered to give it to her when she was in the taxi.

Thankfully the taxi came within ten minutes of calling them.

I was thirty minutes late for work but my boss was forgiving.

It was nice to see my client but not what I imagined that it would be.

She in her grace said not to worry.

She was just happy to have a visit with me.

How lucky, how blessed am I.

Between this client, the little boy from a few doors down and the pups.

I am feeling so special.

 

Well time to get going.

Breakfast is late for me.

Pups ate earlier.

Alvin ate really early just before 5 a.m. and Teddy ate about thirty minutes ago.

I just would like a cup of coffee.

That will happen once I get the first load of laundry into the washer.

I am going to work on the photo project.

Going through my photos and deleting the duplicates etc.

Also I am going through my photo boxes and doing the same.

More the out of focus photos.

For some reason I have a problem throwing them away or deleting them.

So we will have a busy day.

In between we shall go for a walk.

Hopefully the sun will shine.

 

Wishing you an awesome Saturday.

With Kindness and Respect.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Teddy.

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and today would be Thursday.

November 21st, 2019.

Can you believe it?

I am trying to make the best use of my time but I will admit that some days it just gets by me.

I guess we all have those days.

I felt like a bad Mom as Alvin missed walks two days in a row.

Tuesday there wasn’t enough time before the Snowflake Tea and Cookie Sale and it was raining/snowing.

Oh, my daughter picked me up from work.

I love our rides and time together.

We have the best conversations.

COSTCO wasn’t too busy.

Last night by the time we got home from Costco and I had supper it was too late and Humphrey was over.

I did not want to leave him shortly after he arrived for the evening.

Oh well, we will be going this evening.

He did spend a lot of time outside last night so am thinking that Alvin is trying to tell me something.

I do get it.

 

Again I tried to download the photos from Tuesday but for some reason I am running into technical difficulties.

Always tomorrow.

ARGH.

What is it with me and technology.

Some things work all of the time and others it seems to be hit and miss.

Oh well.

LIFE, right?

 

Well here it is time to head back downstairs.

No pearls of wisdom today.

No great stories.

Just a 62 year old woman trying to make the best of each day and sometimes failing miserably.

Just me and my Alvin ….

Please don’t get me wrong …. I do have a pretty great life all things considered.

There are just moments within some days that I would like to crawl under a rock until I can breathe again.

Okay enough with the self pity, here.

 

Happy Thursday.

I am happy today is Thursday.

 

I will live my life with kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, good morning.

It is a rainy overcast gloomy morning.

Well at least after we, I settled down last night we had a good sleep.

I wasn’t feeling well last night …..

We were up at 5:00 a.m. or actually a few moments before the alarm went off.

I gave Alvin 1/4 of his chicken and rice as I have been doing since last Sunday.

He has now finished one of his three pills and is taking two medications plus the imodium.

So update.

Last time he had action was on the way to the Vet mid Friday afternoon.

This morning he has had gas and clearly is uncomfortable.

We have been in and out since 5:00 a.m.

I am at a loss.

First diarrhea for days on end and now appears that he is constipated.

My poor boy.

I think that he is finally at the end of his rope.

I am not sure how much more of this that either of us can take.

In and out, up and down.

We are still waiting for the last test results to come in early this week.

I am hoping that he poops today ….. cannot imagine my work will be impressed if I take yet another day.

But on the other hand how can I leave him alone in this condition.

Thankfully I have vacation days.

 

Last night after dark we were on the deck …. on of our five million times.

I snapped a couple of photos of Mr. Alvin …

 

In the first photo he was just staring about ….

Second photo he just jumped up onto the deck sofa ….

Well all I can do is try to keep positive thoughts that today will be the day.

He will have his last chicken later this morning so I will have to go to the store.

ARGH, not looking forward to that but I must.

 

I just keeping thinking “please poop.”

I do know that it is not within his control.

He would like to go as much as I want him to, actually I am quite certain he would like to go more.

Poor guy.

 

 

Living in kindness and respect in every moment is all that we can do.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, from a raining morning here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Yup, it is raining.

Kind of disappointing that it has started to rain so early in the day.

But oh well, guess that is what Mother Nature wants to do and there is not much we can do to change it.

As I glanced out the bedroom window this morning into the darkness of the early morning the leaves appeared black on the trees.

I always have thought that was so cool.

They appear to be disguised early for Halloween OR maybe it is a trick.

 

Last night Alvin and I enjoyed the last walk with Teddy and his Aunt J.

His parents will return home tomorrow and then Aunt J will go back to her home in Saskatchewan.

When we arrived at their house last night she had a small brown lunch bag that she placed into the mailbox while we went for our walk.

She gave Mr. Alvin a bag with some treats of cooked liver, chopped into small pieces and a special cookie from the nearby Bone & Biscuit store.

There are no words to say just how excited he was when we got home and he realized there were treats in the bag.

After supper I worked on my third batch of crab apples – cooking up for applesauce.

Unfortunately I did not snap photos of Alvin and his treats, I took some quick video so that I could share with Teddy’s Aunt J.

Below:

1st batch of applesauce, pot holds the second batch and last photo is the sink half full of apples that I chopped for the third batch of applesauce.

Now I have three huge batches of applesauce in the fridge waiting for me to place in smaller containers to freeze.

Although it was a lot of standing – so rewarding.

On a cold winter’s night I will enjoy some applesauce … remembering how it came to be.

Thank you to my brother J for the apples.

My dessert last night (above) was applesauce with greek yogurt.

NOTE:  chopped crab apples and boiled in lemon juice and water.

So yummy.

 

Well here we go again.

Time to leave for work.

Last night was GREAT.

Hope yours was as well.

 

 

We need more kindness and respect in the world.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Beautiful Sunday morning.

Alvin and I were up early and just came back from a walk.

As we walked around the ponds in the park, I for a moment closed my eyes.

I could feel the cool breeze lightly dancing on my face.

I could hear the boom of the water from the fountain as it rushed up and then down.

I could hear the chirping of birds as they enjoyed the early morning.

I could smell the roses ….. the fragrance from heaven.

What a glorious walk.

Made me dream of walks like this everyday.

 

It wasn’t until we were away from the water that I noticed in the field (houses back onto) in the park …. a bunch of birds were flying about.

As I looked more closely I saw this big bag of garbage in the field.

A small flock of sea gulls, crows and magpies were ripping through the bag scattering garbage all over the field.

What a nice sight for those folks to awake to.

As we walked around on the sidewalk I noticed some garbage outside of that area …. a smaller bag …. so I grabbed a poop bag and squeezed it in..

ARGH.

From beauty to not.

All within a few moments.

As we keeping motoring on …. water bottle, garbage and Alvin, in tow.

I noticed as we came out of the park – another garbage bag ripped open littering the street.

Not sure why folks would put their trash out several days before the garbagemen arrive.

OH well.

I did pick up what I could …..

I did my small part.

 

On a lighter note.

These photos tell the story.

Alvin had his supper before these photos up insisted upon having some veg.

So I gave him this big head of broccoli.

He was sitting at the back door looking at me with the broccoli in his mouth.

By the time I could grab my phone/camera ….. these were the best shots I could get.

I only wished that you could have seen him at first …. looked like a green soother in his mouth.

That is my boy …..  silly.

 

My grand pups did not spend the afternoon/evening with us after all.

Their parents thought less stress for Miss Aspen to stay at home.

She needs to have GRAVOL to travel.

Poor girl.

Alvin does not love car rides either.

I get it.

We did have an unexpected visit from the kids after the ceremony.

The ceremony was held close by at the DEVONIAN GARDENS.

Teddy did join us for the day.

We had fun.

We had a walk just after he arrived before the heat of the day set in.

Quiet evening…..

Watched a movie.

 

Well the girls are coming for coffee this morning.

We had better have breakfast here …. I got sidetracked putting away some things in my office.

 

Have an awesome Sunday.

Looks like another hot one on the way.

 

Remember KINDNESS and RESPECT make for better todays and tomorrows.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 15th day of January, 2019.

Another pretty nice today temperature wise but not as beautiful as yesterday.

Alvin and I soaked in every minute of our walk before supper last night.

Taking into account that not quite at the half way point, Mr. Alvin whined to go home.

I told him firmly “that we needed to walk” and eventually he carried on.

Although he did try about three times to get me to turn around.

I stood my ground.

Most times, I cave and let him lead.

Last night it was just so perfect for walking that we needed to go.

We never know what the next evening will bring.

If it is really COLD, SNOWING or ICY …. we stay home.

A bit of snow is okay but Alvin is just getting over an ear infection and do not want him to get his ears wet.

SNOW inside and not dried will give him an yeast infection.

Anyway we completed our walk and I was happy.

 

After supper, Humphrey the Cat came to spend the evening with us.

His Mom was going to dance classes.

She wants him to get used to being somewhere else other than home.

Also to get more used to Alvin.

Being outside together or with both of us here for a few minutes is one thing but with Humphrey’s Mom not here and just us, well that could be something totally different.

So Humphrey arrived about 6:30 p.m.

I made sure that I had had supper and tidied up so that I could keep an eye on the boys.

Different than two dogs.

I do not wish Humphrey to take a swipe at Alvin with his sharp claws.

Even has never given any indication but at the end of the day they are animals and just one sniff out of place could cause harm.

So Humphrey checked out upstairs.

He walked around the main floor.

Looked out the window.

Laid on the mat by the front door.

Stretched on Alvin’s bed (floor).

He liked going upstairs and I found that he was clawing at the carpet so eventually I blocked off the upstairs.

Cannot have the carpet pulled apart.

I did find one strand of carpet, oh well.

He laid on the big brown chair.

I laid a blanket down so he could snuggle.

He wanted up on the sofa beside me and eventually did so.

I had Mr. Alvin on one side and him on the other.

Alvin pretty much was anxious for a good part of the evening.

When Alvin went outside – Humphrey wanted to go outside.

When the boys were surrounding me on the sofa, I had been on the tablet.

Humphrey is used to his Momma’s iPad so he was watching things.

Eventually I set it in front of him and just put the front screen saver on …. he placed his paws on the screen.

He so intently watched what was going on.

It was so cute.

At one point I managed to snap some photos on the tablet’s camera.

Will have to add them to the computer at some point.

Humphrey is a cute boy.

Near the end of the evening Humphrey jumped up on Mr. Alvin’s most favourite chair and I thought that Alvin was going to have coronary.

He did not run over but he was very anxious.

Poor boy.

I did catch a photo of Humphrey in the brown chair and Alvin in his chair directly across from one another.

Alvin was looking out the window.

It was a different kind of evening for us but interesting.

Alvin did growl once or twice.

Well it is almost time to go.

I was up late and tried to squeeze as many minutes on the sofa as I could.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day.

 

Special Hello to: all my friends who have cats and dogs.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 27th day of July, 2018.

We made it through another week and a lovely weekend ahead.

The sky is overcast with that hazy pink smoky grey and on the other side of my house you can see the sun shining.

Funny how a direction can change things.

My carpool is not running again today as she had to make another trip to the hospital with her son.

Keeping them in thoughts and prayers.

 

Alvin decided for some reason unknown to me to get up at 3:00 p.m.

Perhaps it was due to his over eating last night.

After work and after Alvin was looked after, I checked my messages on FB.

I found one from the Momma of Master Teddy inviting us over for supper.

So I sent a message back stating we would love to come if it was not too late.

I called her as well but no answer.

A little while later the phone rang … it was our friend and she had been out for a walk with Teddy.

So supper was a go.

After completing a few small tasks we went on our walk and as they live on our route we stopped there for a visit and supper.

We had a great time.

She has a beautiful home and yard.

The evening zipped by and it was after 8:00 p.m. when we left … continuing our walk home.

Alvin got into Teddy’s food as Teddy’s food dish is always out and he just eats as he is hungry.

I could never do that with me Alvin – he would just eat it all at one time.

It was a great Thursday night.

I do not often go out during the week and seldom for supper.

It was a great treat and most appreciated.

Always so nice when someone else cooks.

She is a great cook.

We had salmon (it was so good).

 

Well my friends …. that was our evening.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by wonderful people.

I know sometimes work drives me crazy but I can come home to me Alvin, who even when he gets me up in the middle of the night, he is my light.

Tonight my daughter is picking me up after work and we are making a run to COSTCO.

Need a few things before the company arrives next week.

 

I wish you a wonderful Friday and that you are surrounded by love and light.

Happy Friday.

 

Special Hello to: my daughter, thank you for being you and for helping your Momma….

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 25th day of February, 2018.

Sky is overcast this morning but warming up.

Yesterday over the course of the day it had warmed up.

I went out and finished canvassing for the Heart & Stroke Fund.

Unfortunately I did not obtain any monies from my assigned route.

My daughter has kindly made a donation and I will as well.

I guess two donations are better than nothing.

Have to rethink doing this next year.

Perhaps they could give me another route in my neighbourhood.

It was good exercise.

 

Well we girls had a great night last night.

Good food and good conversation.

The movie was actually very good.

Fifty Shades Freed.

I gather the first two movies in the trilogy were a bit more “exposed” but this one had a good story.

I did not see the first two movies but this one I enjoyed.

The evening was great.

 

Just received a phone call from the girl (my daughter) and she was up earlier than originally planned and is gathering Alvin’s stuff and will be leaving shortly.

She is bringing baby Milo with her.

So will have to cut this short.

 

Also I woke up with a cold, stuffy and my left ear is plugged.

ARGH.

I use my left ear on the phone.

Oh well …… with all of the folks coughing and sneezing on the bus and not covering their faces it is no wonder.

 

I hope that you all had a great weekend thus far.

I am excited to see my daughter, baby Milo and to have Mr. Alvin back home.

I surely missed him.

 

Special Hello to all those celebrating a birthday today.

Always, Carol & Alvin