Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! As the month is winding down it is time to reflect on what has been. October was a good month with warm days, some rain, leaves turning colour, meeting old and new friends on our walks, spending time with friends and family, enjoying those days that we can work from home and just breathing in the breath of life. Wow, today is October 28, 2022. Almost Halloween! I am working from home so have decided this year not to dress up. One of the few times that I have not dressed up on Halloween and that may change. I would not dress up until later in the day if I changed my mind. Yesterday at lunchtime, I decided to walk over and pick up Alvin’s two cases of canned food that was specially ordered in for him. Firstly, I stopped at the convenience store close to the vet clinic and cashed in my lotto tickets (won $2.00 yay) and picked up some tickets for tonight and tomorrow. I love money. I called the vet to let them know that I was outside as this has been the protocol for quite some time as they leave the front door locked so they can monitor the amount of people in the clinic at any one time. Makes it safe for the staff. “B” opened the door and greeted me, once inside she grabbed Alvin’s food for me while I picked up a bag of the treats that he is allowed. Do not want to run out of them, lol. The girls were concerned about me carrying two cases home but I reassured them that I had brought with me two bags and could carry one in each hand. I would be okay. Just then I heard a voice and out from the back came Dr. Karen with her coat on and purse across her body “saying that I can give you a ride home.” I was very grateful and of course took her up on the offer. I said goodbye to the girls and made an appointment for Alvin before I left for 30 days from his last appointment for his ears. If he needs to go back soon for his nails etc., then I will take him. On the way home we talked about Halloween. Dr. K mentioned about how they decorated the house (outside) and I was blown away when she told me they usually have over 300-400 kids/people come to see the house and for treats. WOW. She does not live far from me but I was not quite sure exactly the location. Karen said “we can just take a quick trip over and then you can see the house.” Well it is definitely within walking distance for us. Her house was done up to the ten’s. OMG. So well done and they were only 2/3 completed. Very impressive. I told her that we would pop by after work on Monday as I work from home. It will still be light and before the kids come over. She said that she would have something for Mr. Alvin. Then she took me home. I hope that the weather holds for Halloween. It rained sometime after the first time we were out last night and there remain some dark rain clouds in the sky. Fingers crossed for nice weather for the kiddos and parents on Monday.

I took today off and I am so glad that I did, as we enjoying some extra cuddles on the sofa before getting up to start this Friday. One of my friends needs some help trimming her tree and needs my ladder and tree trimming tool so we will do that a bit later when it warms up although it is not cold outside now. My daughter is stopping by after work and a trip to COSTCO to have supper with us. I have planned to have some roasted root vegetables, a salad with raspberries and biscotti for dessert. Almost time to head in the shower and then get this day going. We will have time for a walk this afternoon. I have a few other items on my to do list for today and this weekend. Next weekend the decorations for Christmas begins so I want to clean the blinds and wash the baseboards this weekend, some extra cleaning.

We were outside a little while ago when I noticed that a piece of my neighbours’ siding was loose and blowing in the wind. I ran back into the house and grabbed my phone to take a photo and send it to them. I would not want them to open their patio door just as the siding fell down. It could injure someone and also if they can rescue that piece and with a ladder, move it back into place, then they will not have to buy a new piece. Siding may be hard to find and in this colour.

I hope that you have a great Friday. Enjoy.

Off to have a nice warm shower and then have coffee before getting down to business.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. Alvin is snoozing outside the office door as I click click away on the keyboard writing this post. I am so grateful that we had such an beautiful fall thus far.

Even though the wind is howling and sounding like it is blowing things away, the air outside is warm. Fingers crossed for another warm day. Yesterday was beautiful. 20’s for October is amazing. Makes me want to do a happy happy dance. My friend Pauline came over and looked after Mr. Alvin. They even went for a walk to the park. Good to know that if I am not at home, he will walk when someone tries to take him outside. After work, I so wanted to go for another walk (went for a walk at work) but someone had other ideas so it was very short lived.

Did I tell you that I was having monitor problems which have now been rectified? Did you know that the port can actually break? You learn something new everyday. Thanks to my friend and coworkers’ husband who works in IT for fixing the problem. I truly learn something new each day. So I am happy to have the monitor working again. I could work with just the laptop but much easier with a second screen/monitor.

I took tomorrow off and have a full day planned between vet visit etc.

The wind howling made me think that I should change out my closets and bring up my winter wear. I don’t think we will have many sandal/flip flop days ahead. Would be nice but not likely!

I am looking forward to a cup of coffee this morning.

My friend Val said that a surprise package is being delivered today. I can hardly wait. Did not tell Mr. Alvin as he would get overly excited and anxious. He loves opening packages. That makes me happy.

Well it is time to head back downstairs. Plug in the coffee perk. Get this day going. I am up early as it is only 6:28 but that is okay. I have lots to do so might as well get an early start. One more trip outside.

Have an awesome Thursday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Autumn Wednesday morning? We are doing much better this morning. Yesterday was another gorgeous fall day. We enjoyed a walk later in the afternoon.

Oh Happy Day, today is the 14th Wedding Anniversary of my daughter and son-in-law. Alvin and I wish you a wonderful Anniversary. Congratulations on 14 years married. We love you both.

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Poem time.

LEAVES

Sitting with my Alvin on the sofa,

Looking out the living room window.

Our view of the world.

On a bright fall day.

Watching the leaves from our tree,

They move slightly upon the branch

A little dance, from side to side.

A slight breeze disturbs the dance,

The breeze carrying them down, down, down.

Fluttering softly to the ground.

Their home since spring, early summer.

Their colours changing from vibrant green to fall gold,

as the season continues.

Their life now over, they will give back to next spring,

from their bed upon the ground,

nestled in between blades of grass.

Oh you beautiful leaves,

Thank you!

Written by CLewis Oct 18/19, 2022

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

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL. Back to work Tuesday.

We had a great weekend. I accomplished most of the things that were on my TO DO LIST, we went for walks, relaxed, drank coffee, gave the boy a hair trim and a bath but not ready to go to work. I was thinking this morning about going to the office in the winter. What a dreadful thought!

Did you have a big meal for Thanksgiving? Alvin and I had a quiet time together. I baked sweet potatoes & brussel sprouts with onion, stove top stuffing and cranberries with pumpkin pie for dessert and it was yummy.

I could see my breath last night when we were outside before bed. The moon was shining so brightly the Harvest – Hunter’s moon, full as full can be.

I am always amazed by the different trees and how some can still be green and others almost void of leaves. For example: my tree has lost almost all its’ leaves and Sonja’s next door, her tree is still green and has all of its’ leaves. How can that be? Every year it is the same. Lucky for us, I suppose that the trees lose their leaves in stages. That way we can enjoy the colour change longer.

So the patio furniture remains on the deck. Definitely will be putting away this coming weekend and cleaning out the remaining three pots.

I was watching a recorded episode of THE VOICE last night. WOW, there are some great singers this year but whenever I watch I have that same thought. Just when you think they could not possibly find anyone else to top the previous season, they do. The mix of judges is great this year. John, Gwen, Camila and Blake. I like having Gwen and Blake on together and John. Great chemistry. Just getting to know Camila. I do love her voice.

It was difficult to get up this morning. We did do the start getting ready for bed at 9:30 last night but somehow Mr. Alvin was up at 3:00 or so, then I kept hitting the snooze button at 5:45 until we finally got up at 6:30. That is not going to happen tomorrow as after today I am in the office. I guess will have to find that sweet spot for going to bed. Where is it? I was so sure that I had found it but apparently not. Mr. Alvin is only consistent in that he is not consistent when it comes to sleeping. ARGH.

Today is another drawing of $70 million lotto MAX, I would love to win that jackpot. Financial freedom is what most of us long for, hope for, pray for – need. No mortgage and the ability to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done, instead of waiting. Today is the day that all my dreams come true or at least start. Not having to go to the office in the winter would be a huge win. Please, let it be me.

Well it looks like the night sky is beginning to lighten and the sun will shine in a bit.

Plug in that coffee pot and enjoy a big mug.

I hope that you have a great Tuesday (almost said Monday, lol).

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: Mr. Alvin had loose poop this morning, oh no!

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! Looks like another beautiful fall / autumn day on the way, perhaps it is already here. Everything is great at this very moment in my world. Alvin is/was napping outside the office door but he heard something and his head has perked up while my daughter is catching some final zzz’s before getting up to start her day. Life is great. I have both my “kids” here with me. Alvin and Amanda. The lights of my life. I should include my son-in-law and my grandpups as well in that “lights of my life” statement as they are definitely included. Last night we had Pad Thai for supper (my first attempt) and apple crisp for dessert. Supper was great. We had tried to take Mr. Alvin for a walk when we first got home from work and almost had to drag him to the park. He just did not want to walk. But we did get to the park. When he does not want to go – he is very firm about his decision. I thought after missing his noon walk that he would have loved to go but not the case. I am so grateful that Amanda was able to sleepover. Nice having her here with us.

Yesterday on the way home from work I was able to stop and pick up spare house keys so that whomever is watching Alvin has their own key and then I do not have to run about the neighbourhood picking up and dropping off keys. Much easier. Also, if someone ended up being sick or unable to watch Alvin at the last moment, then I would just have to call the phone list to see who could come over instead. A good plan. We also stopped and picked up lottery tickets and I may very well at this exact moment be a multi-millionaire. That changes everything. I would instantly retire, pay off the mortgage and just enjoy the rest of Alvin’s days and do the things on my bucket list like: publishing a book. I would also love to visit the East Coast of Canada and the Northern Territories, perhaps go to the United Kingdom (Ireland, Scotland and England), Italy and Greece and back home to Regina. Not all at once but I would definitely do this. I have always wanted to go to a tropical place so I would have to decide on which place: Hawaii, Bahamas? After that was all done, I was be more than happy to stay home or at least keep the travel to within Canada. Of course, who would not like to go on an African Safari or visit the Amazon in South America or the vast expanse of Australia. But I am being realistic in my choices. Besides I am not too keep to travel too far from home.

Well it is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I celebrate and give thanks for my life. I am grateful that my little buddy Alvin is doing well healthwise at this moment. I am grateful to be surrounded by loving, kind and supportive family, friends and neighbours. I am grateful to be in good health. I am grateful to live in this beautiful home with a nice yard. I am grateful that I can see and hear and have the ability to smile. I am grateful that I can dance and sing and enjoy life. I am grateful for walks with Alvin and with friends. I am grateful for quiet moments and loud ones. I am grateful that I am living my life to the best of my ability and beyond. Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian Family & Friends. May you be of good health and surrounded by love and kindness and respect. Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Always, Carol, Alvin & Amanda

PS: there will be raking in my future with some laundry and putting away patio furniture!

I just realized that I do not have a pumpkin pie, oh no!

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Well it is dark out and not even that early as is just after 7:00 a.m. I guess we are into the beginning of that time of year when we get up in the dark and leave work in the dark. Thankfully we are not at the later part of that statement just yet. The shortest day is in December, 2022 – so a bit of time away. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous – actually the whole weekend was wonderful. This week is going to be nice except for Wednesday is supposed to be 11+ celsius which is cool compared to 20’s as of late. I am so grateful for this beautiful fall weather. Enjoying the leaves raining down and seeing the kiddos crunching on them as they walk across the lawns. I am one of those kiddos. Love to walk on the leaves. When I rake the leaves, I am going to spread some of them on my back flower bed. One of my friends gave me that idea so that they insulate and protect the plants. Great idea. Might be fun removing them in the spring but will worry about that later.

I suppose this coming up weekend being Thanksgiving might be a good time to put away the patio furniture. Clean out the remaining flower pots. I have three and they are on the front porch. The impatiens might be done by then but not sure about the pot. Time will tell. I am glad that I decided to bring a good bunch of my plants into the house. Some are wintering in the basement and others are on the main floor and upstairs. All three floors have plants. Nothing like having green and flowers blooming in the deepest part of winter. When it is storming outside and there are flowers blooming – makes me feel happy. Flowers will do that.

Well tomorrow afternoon is Alvin’s regular vet appointment so I took the afternoon off. Wednesday through Friday it is off to the office. Found out yesterday on FB that one of our coworkers has COVID. ARGH. I have decided that whenever I am away from my desk that I will wear a mask and not get within close proximity to anyone. Better to be safe. Reminds me that I must go and get that fourth shot. I will phone and see if I can get in on the weekend. Maybe Saturday.

Yesterday I baked 2.5 dozen Apple Cinnamon muffins with some pumpkin and a loaf. Not sure why but I decided to double the recipe (NEVER DOUBLE A MUFFIN RECIPE) and then the consistency was out of whack so I added some pumpkin puree. They turned out great but would have been easier and less messy had I stuck to the recipe and made one batch at a time. I also chopped about 20 cups of apples for the freezer and have about 100 to go. Seriously might be close to that. I have two super big bowls full of apples to get chopped up. So everyday after work – I plan to chop some apples and then finish on the weekend. Will be so nice to have them in the winter time for some muffins or an apple crisp or even a pie. Mmmmm good.

I decided not to give Mr. Alvin a bath but did manage to trim his paws, just a little bit.

Well time to head back downstairs and put on the coffee. I really need coffee this morning. Last night we went for a walk after supper just before 7:00 and met up with Cookie and her Dad so we walked together. Went further than we have been for awhile. Nice to have company and someone to chat with other than Alvin. He usually never replies, lol.

I hope that you have a great Monday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: my friend Gillian popped by in the early afternoon to drop off the coffee and freezer bags that she picked up from Costco for me. Coffee has now increased from $11.99 to $18.99. Time to cut back on the coffee, methinks. We had a nice visit and she liked the freshly baked muffins. I gave her some of the chopped apples for a crisp or muffins. People will be revisiting their monthly budgets.

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Today is the last day of September, 2022. Wow, how did that happen. We had a reasonably good sleep. Up late but Alvin slept till almost 4:30 and then up again at 6:30 and then a couple of hours later. The first time we were up we felt a few rain drops on our skin as we made our way back to the house and then at 6:30 the ground was wet. The sky remains overcast with the sun peeking through in spots.

Today is a day off from work as we remember and reconcile our Canadian history with our Indigenous peoples. A good place to start and build on a better future for all of our peoples. Each being is important and should be treated with respect and compassion. You never know what is going on with anyone until you walk a mile in their shoes or get to know and to understand them. We all have history.

Today is a day to reflect and of reflection.

Front Porch

Tree trimmed

View of tree from inside

The sky from our deck

a few days ago

I was able to upload a few photos. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of my fall wreath from the front door. This will be the weekend to finish off the fall cleanup. Our tree after my daughter and I trimmed it last Saturday, not even one week ago. This morning the tree is almost all yellow. Will have to have more photos. Mr. Alvin could not wait for me and came upstairs. I was not fast enough. Lately I have been trying to carry him up and down the stairs more often. The photos of the sky and the clouds were taken from our back deck in the morning, if I remember correctly sometime this last week.

Time to head downstairs and have another mug of coffee. Today will be a quiet one for us, perhaps a walk a bit later if it is not raining. I am so grateful to have my own home and to be with Mr. Alvin in his twilight years. We have been together since he was almost one year old. So much history.

Have a wonderful day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL – Fall is upon us as the leaves turn colour and the air begins to crisp. Although this week our temperatures are anything but normal as they are into the mid 20’s.

There is something warm and inviting about fall.

A time to take a breath after the excitement of summer.

Preparing for the next season.

Who shall remain nameless.

In the meantime, we have:

FALL

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Soon the leaves will be an array of colour.

I cannot wait.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! What a first few days of FALL we are having here in Edmonton on our street. I hope that you are doing great on this bright sunny Saturday morning. Yesterday at the office, I was there. I caught a ride with one of my coworkers and we have a plan to carpool for our future rides to the office. After work my daughter picked me up, we stopped at the store and then home. Mr. Alvin was well looked after as my neighbor Sonja had popped in several times during the day ensuring he was fed, watered and went outside. She even gave him supper so that I could go to the store on my way home from work. I am beyond grateful to her for always helping us. She takes such good care of Mr. Alvin. Oh, and a pleasant surprise from my daughter when she announced that she may sleepover and she did! So great waking up with that human in the house.

When we arrived home from the store and as we were bringing the groceries and things in from the car one of our friends Ali and her pup Bailey were walking by on the opposite side of the street. Bailey spotted us and immediately started to squeal. I motioned for them to come over and as we brought things into the house – we had a visit. We love our Bailey and she gives some of the best kisses. Another gal was walking her dogs Eddy and Bruno who are labs and big but friendly. Bailey got excited again. She has just got to know them and loves the boys. Then they were all gone and we started to put things away.

We decided to pick up something from the store for supper, something already cooked from the deli. So supper was sushi and potato wedges and for dessert, Saskatoon ice-cream. A very unlikely combination I will admit but good all the same. That is what happens when you pick up food from the grocery stores.

After supper we got ready to go for a walk. Other neighbours were out walking and had just picked up their mail so we chatted with them as we walked. We did not even get to their house and Mr. Alvin stopped and turned around heading for home. I tried to change his mind but he wanted to go home. We were not home very long and it started to rain. There had been some clouds in the sky but nothing in the forecast. Perhaps he could tell something was coming. Oh, our weather forecaster Mr. Alvin.

For the evening we decided to watch a movie and watched “LIGHTYEAR” and oh my goodness, if you have not seen it, you must. It had a bit of everything, good storyline, great characters, love story, heroes, sad, happy, incredibly funny and more. Highly recommend it.

Well time to get the coffee on as we both are coffee drinkers.

Amanda is going to stay and help me with a few tasks before heading out. She is planning to go to COSTCO, yup, COSTCO on a Saturday. She needs gas so she will decide when she gets there whether it is worth going into the store, too.

I hope that you have a great day. I am over the moon happy ……

So great to have my girl here. Mr. Alvin opened the door to her room this morning at 3:00 a.m., I guess just checking to make sure she was still here. He loves her so much. They love each other.

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

Always, Carol, Alvin and Amanda.

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. I am going to the office today but my neighbor and friend Sonja will come and check in on Mr. Alvin during the day. I am eternally grateful to have such great friends and neighbors.

I want to share a poem with you that I wrote as I started Grade 12 in the fall of 1974. Wow, that seems like an eternity ago. It was 48 years ago. YIKES. I am getting on in years, lol.

One FALL

To Windthorst I came late in the fall,

With great expectations – or so I recall.

I looked forward to seeing new faces in class,

And taking the subjects I knew I should pass.

……

My impressions are fixed now, it currently seems,

That totally false was each of these dreams.

With all the boys, I’d thought it’d be heaven,

But it hasn’t work out: so back to Glenavon.

……

The girls are prettier than I’d thought they would be;

Though none but a fool would prefer them to me!

(My vanity comes from the pressures of rhyme –

You know that I’m modest all of the time)!

…..

My rhyme is near finished, my brain power low,

My thoughts have diminished, and so I shall go.

Life, bring excitement! Life, bring romance!

Life, bring me something! Windthorst last chance!

….

Written as I entered Grade Twelve in Windthorst, Saskatchewan. Grandma sold the farm in the summer/fall of 1974 and we moved to the village of Windthorst.

Carol Mills in the year of 1974

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

I found something else that I wrote for the school paper that same year.

Looks at our mascot!

He is depressed.

‘Cause we’ve just had exams and

Are not at our best.

……….

Life bring excitement

Life brings change

Life brings cold and arthritic pain.

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

Well I can see that I was not in the most positive of states and that I was into boys.

Things have changed over the years, I am more positive and boys well men, I can take them or leave them. So much to do. Relationships!

Have a wonderful Friday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: to add some of my dearest girl friends are those I met in High School and my best friend of all time, I have know since we were toddler days. That is a long time. Shout out to Deanna and Carolyn.