Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 12th day of August, 2018.

The sky is overcast and it has been RAINING off and on since last night.

Oh, we are grateful for the rain.

I hope that RAIN comes to those areas affected by the forest fires everywhere.

It seems as though the vast majority of the WESTERN COAST of NORTH AMERICA is on fire.

My heart goes out to the folks, my soul hurts for the animals and wildlife that have not been able to escape the fiery inferno.

 

It seems like only yesterday that my house was filled with family.

It seems like only yesterday that my daughter and I were setting out on our trip, my birthday adventure, our mini vacation.

It seems like only yesterday that I celebrated my 60th birthday and now I am 61.  “How did that happen?”

Time flies.

 

Both Alvin and I are feeling lazy today.

He has not even ate breakfast (likely because he had lots to eat last night).

Teddy was with us from Friday morning until late yesterday afternoon.

 

One of my co-workers who happens to be this amazing baker – dropped off my BIRTHDAY CARROT CAKE in the morning.

IT IS GORGEOUS.

 

Yesterday afternoon one of my dear friends came to share my birthday cake.

We had a great visit.

She brought me a sweet pea bouquet from her garden as well as a bag of apples and some other gifts.

She has quite the green thumb.

I see an apple crisp in my future.

Teddy’s Mom brought me apples from her garden a few days ago.

Lots of apples.

In the evening our friends “A” and “J” and Jazmine (pup) from just a few doors down.

One from one way and J&J from the other way.

One friend brought me a beautiful AFRICAN VIOLET plant ( I see a theme rising here).

Candles were another theme.

We had wine, coffee, water and CAKE.

Just the birthday cake.

This is the most glorious CARROT CAKE.

This year it is a layer cake and is so delectable.

I could eat it morning, noon and night.

Then I would not be able to get into my clothes.

So much visiting with dear friends last night.

 

I have received emails, messages on FB, cards, people coming to see me, phone calls – feeling so loved.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by the BEST PEOPLE on the planet.

 

Well time to go and check on Humphrey and Cinder, our charges.

Their Momma comes home today.

 

I feel like toast and coffee ……

 

I am working on my vacation story in my head and will have it done soon.

So much to tell you.

 

Laughter is the best medicine and I am grateful for the laughter that my family and friends share with me.

Life whether long or short must be enjoyed to the fullest.

 

Time to go and check on Sir Humphrey and Miss Cinder.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU, thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 14th day of May, 2018.

Another gorgeous warm (hot) day on the way.

Alvin and I had a wonderful weekend.

We accomplished most of our items on the TO DO LIST.

Okay, perhaps it was “I” accomplished most of the items on the TO DO LIST.

But Alvin gives me great support as he is with me every step of the way.

With the exception of the trash pick up yesterday morning.

I was pleasantly surprised to fill only 1/2 of a bag and my arm was grateful.

I would love to have him along but cannot seem to figure out how to hold a leash, a large garbage bag and one of those pickers.

Two many things, too much room for error or accidents.

Alvin stayed at home relaxing when I went to finish up my self-determined trash route.

It feels good to get it finished before the street sweepers arrive.

I do not like when bits of garbage get swept down the storm drain.

Anyway it is done and just will maintain.

 

Yesterday was Mother’s Day.

My daughter came over for a pancake breakfast.

We had a great visit as we always do.

She located her most recent iPod which is a step or three up from the one that I have.

As she said she had it when she purchased her first flip phone.

The new old iPod will give me access to the internet and FB to send messages if there is WiFi.

So that will be nice.

Almost like having a cell phone.

She took me to the grocery store while she went to the drugstore.

I picked up mainly fruits and veggies.

Lots of folks picking up bouquets of flowers in the store.

After all, it was Mother’s Day.

What Mother does not enjoy flowers.

Only the ones with floral allergies.

Snicker, snicker.

After my daughter dropped me off and visited for bit, she was gone back home once again.

Time always flies when she comes to see us.

The rest of the day was great ….. watched a couple of shows that I had recorded ….. made oatmeal for a few days ….. made lunch for work today.

Had supper.

My neighbour gave me a lavender plant.

Will be re potting it tonight.

It is beautiful.

We waited until a bit later to go for a walk.

Saw two of our friends and stopped for a short visit and of course, Alvin received a treat.

Perfect day …. some work and some play.

 

Well here we go again.

Time to put the finishing touches on before leaving for work.

Alvin looks so cute with his black and white fur laying on a baby blue blanket.

Gotta love that guy and of course, I do.

 

Have a wonderful day.

I hope that you can make all of our dreams come true.

I wish you great health and joy.

Happy Monday.

 

Special Hello to: all you puppy lovers out there …. thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 13th day of February, 2018.

Well it is actually warm outside this morning – hovering around the minus 3 degrees celsius.

Forecast for this afternoon plus 3 degrees celsius.

We are having a heat wave – a tropical heat wave.

YAY, we are excited, I am excited.

Can you tell?

Doing a little happy dance while sitting down at the computer.

 

Last night my daughter picked me up from work and we went to COSTCO.

YIKES, that is always an experience.

So many people …. some actually surprised me with manners …. which is always nice.

I love our rides together as we have some of our best conversations travelling together.

 

I have noticed with myself and with others that it seems to be getting more difficult to maintain, retain, be positive and happy.

Between social media and regular news and the interactions with others in general.

Well it is no wonder that people are suffering from increased mental illnesses.

The anguish, the depression.

We are constantly bombarded with a huge amount of negativity.

I understand how people feel the need on social media to state their thoughts and feelings.

But sometimes it is too much.

Actually there have been many times that I strongly consider not going on FB.

I mainly use it to keep in touch with my friends and family and for my Steeped Tea business.

We have to find a way to be more positive and kind.

 

Well it is time for me to finish getting ready to leave for work.

I am excited for our walk tonight.

I am certain that Mr. Alvin is as well but I cannot tell him now.

Have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are trying …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 22nd day of October, 2017.

The sun is up and there are dark blue clouds covering most of the sky to the south.

The air is crisp, cool and still.

My bathroom fan and light are on awaiting my presence to enjoy a morning shower.

Alvin is relaxing in the hallway waiting for me as he does not like to be in the office.

Perhaps it is because of the floor (laminate).

He prefers to lay on something soft, I cannot blame him for that.

I captured the cutest photos (on my tablet) of him this morning.

We have already been up a couple of times much earlier than now and settled on the sofa as somehow the thought of staying up at 4:30 or 6:20 on Sunday does not interest me much.

So when it was time to get up, I got off the sofa and he continued to lay on our rectangular pillow.

Oh, so cute.  His head on the pillow and his body sprawled out on the sofa.

He stretched and starred at me.

Grabbing the tablet and took some photos.

The camera would have been easier but it was upstairs and the chances of him remaining on the sofa where pretty much NIL.

I will have to figure out how to get those photos off the tablet and onto the computer.

Previously I have posted them to FB.

I will post them on my blog.

These photos will pretty much guarantee a smile to your face.

Well I hear that shower fan telling me I am ready to move around the wet air, the steam.

Light saying you are using unnecessary electricity, yes, I know.

Anyway have the most awesome day.

I am working on projects for Christmas.

Pretty much all the big jobs were done yesterday so today can be a fun day.

Walk and project day …. fun projects …. making stuff.

 

Happy Sunday.

See you tomorrow.

Enjoy your day.

 

Special Hello to: my Friends and Family all over the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 18th day of May, 2017.

Clear blue skies and sun rise.

Great start to this Thursday.

 

Last night I noticed a post on FB asking if you agreed or disagreed to teachers placing student’s cell phones in a central location until class was over.

My stance is absolutely put them away.

There is nothing that they need to be seeing or doing while in class getting their education.

Nothing on social media or email or the world wide web that should keep them from learning about the environment, science, our planet, social and health and so on.

I know that most people, adults and young ones of all ages are reluctant to give up their phones, it is as if they were an extra appendage.

Perhaps in the future we will have a built in device to communicate with ….. who knows but for now they are hand held.

But in the meantime ….

In class no and at work no.

If there is an emergency it can be dealt with the same way they have been for many years ….. phone the principal or the employer.

Or using these devices on your breaks whether at work or at school.

 

Why we feel the need for instant gratification is beyond me.

Just my opinion.

I do think that they serve a great purpose but with some restraint, please people.

Everyone on the bus has their cell phones out either surfing on the internet or talking to someone.

Some people do listen to music …. which is okay ……

People walking down the sidewalk with their heads bent over with full attention to that little screen.

People thinking that they can drive and walk and text …. well that is just …… I will not say the word(s).

 

Personally I do not have a cell phone.

Yes, I am almost 60 and no cell.

I have a land line.

Old school.

I do not wish to be in constant contact.

I have voice mail so that people can leave message if they call and I am unavailable.

I have email on my computer.

Not that perhaps someday I will obtain one but for now it is a luxury that I do not need.

 

I do think that our “social ness” is slowly slipping away.

Not enough face to face conversation.

Manners are almost a thing of the past.

Some folks cannot even have a family supper without every member sitting at the table checking their phones.

Something seriously wrong with that picture.

How important do we think we are anyway?

How important is it to reply to every little message or post?

What is it with selfies anyway?

I guess coming from someone who has taken photos at every event her whole life with no photos of herself or at least not many.

Perhaps it is not totally a bad thing.

 

Anyway food for thought.

Perhaps at the dinner table phones should be left in the bedrooms.

Out at a restaurant leave them turned off in your purse or pocket.

We waited before and we can wait again.

The world did not come crashing to an end because you did not post that selfie of you eating a tomato or liking a photo someone posted.

 

Well time to go to work.

Another day.

Happy day …. sunshine….temperature warming up.

I still have not turned on the heat.

Good or bad …… it is a little nippy in the house.

Happy Thursday.

 

Special Hello to: all those cell phone users ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 23rd day of December, 2016.

“1” more SLEEP till Christmas EVE.

Can you believe it?

Are you ready?

Is your heart beating a bit faster than usual?

Are you excited?

Are you nervous?

Are you sure?

I am all of those things.

I will profess I am a self-proclaimed CHRISTMAS “nut.”

I love the turkey, the baking, the Christmas pudding, the cranberries, the lights, whipped potatoes and gravy, singing of Christmas Carols, the music, the movies, the company, the, the, the ………………

I love everything about the holiday season although when it comes to gifts I have simmered down.

Mainly because I no longer have small children.

So I gift baking.

A tray of goodies here and a tray of goodies there.

Even recycling, reusing making something new for someone.

Christmas is really about sharing ….. sharing your heart with those around you.

Give from the heart and you will not be sorry.

I was able to sleep in this  morning as we have a Family Christmas Party/Breakfast at the office.

Getting close to the time to leave but I still have some time.

Enough time to write, catch up on FB and share a banana with Mr. Alvin.

He loves to have some banana every morning with his Momma.

Likely more about the banana than me, but I like to think it is about me and the banana.

I noticed earlier this morning (yup Mr. Alvin wide awake earlier than normal and wanting to get up) that we have a skiff of fresh snow.

So looking forward to Christmas with my family, new and old and to time away from the office, time to charge the old battery, to visit with friends and to relax.

On this day before Christmas Eve I hope that you are enjoying this time and not stressing too much.

No matter what it will always be perfect.

Perfection can always be a bit on the less than side, after all.

Happy Thursday.

Special Hello to: my family and friends, new and old.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 8th day of August, 2016.

Today is the birthday of two special people in my life.

Happy Birthday to “S” who is married to my nephew and she turns 40 today.

We wish you a great day.

Happy Birthday to “K” who is a co-worker and friend.

We wish you a great day.

August is a big birthday month for family and friends.

I know so many people who have birthdays this month.

In case I missed your birthday – Happy Birthday.

 

Well I am “sort of up” as I am working today and tomorrow.

I know it seems odd to be on vacation for a week and then back for two days and then off the rest of the week.

But that is the way it just worked out.

Nice to work a short week although getting up this morning was a bit of a nightmare as I did not sleep at all last night.

Note to self: do not look at FB before bed.

I saw something that brought me to tears.

The human race never ceases to disappoint me that is all I will say.

Never again will I refer to “MANKIND” as mankind because we are anything but.

I need to get the visual out of my head as I get ready to go to work.

But it is not out of my heart and I do plan to speak up.

 

 

The sun is coming up and the sky looks clear .

A good day ahead weather wise.

The deck does not appear to be wet so no rain overnight.

 

Well time to go downstairs and have breakfast.

The house is quiet as Mr. Alvin is away visiting his sister.

Oh, I just caught a glimpse of the sun rays bouncing off the neighbour’s garage.

 

I hope that you will be a good citizen of the world in all that you do.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: the birthday girls …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 3rd day of October, 2015.

It is overcast and windy here in Edmonton.

Just a few minutes ago my cousin left for home.

We had a wonderful evening.

Short but so great.

I was reminded over the course of the evening and this morning on how much I miss our conversations.

She is such a well read and good thinking person.

With common sense and logic.

I have always valued our talks and have learned so much from her.

Sometimes in our everyday lives we forget the importance of good conversations.

You know the proper exchange of information and opinion.

No one being right.

No one being wrong.

Just good talk ….

There are no words to express how much I needed that conversation at this point in my life.

In today’s world we read what is posted on multi-media, and then react.

Sometimes it is a positive experience and sometimes, less than.

I like the back and forth ….. the “Ying” and “Yang” of conversation.

Now, I know as I love to write that we express in words both our feelings and opinions otherwise there would not be books.

But somehow the art of conversation seems to have gone by the wayside.

Or at least to what I have noticed.

So many people have cell phones and are busy checking info on the internet, posting on FB and such.

To talk face to face or hold a conversation has become “old school.”

Much like letter writing……

Okay I am definitely showing my age.

I just wanted to share my recent experience and to remind us all about how important it is to just talk.

So maybe on this Saturday you go and see your Grandmother or your Dad or a neighbour ….. have a cup of tea or coffee and just chat ….. about the world, about your flowers, about conversation.

Thank you cousin for bringing me some good information and breathing some fresh ideas into my conversation, and helping me to remember …. we are all humans living on this planet and all we want is to LIVE.

Sometimes a visit is so much more than just a visit.

This was the case.

I am so grateful to my cousin “J” …..

I feel my old self again …… by the way the play was well done, and having a late supper (after the play) and chatting till 2 a.m. priceless.  By the way it was super cool to be at the opening night for the 50th Anniversary of the Citadel.

Thank you.

On a fun note:  Alvin went for a sleepover to his sister’s house …… oh, how I miss my boy…..he, as does his sister, brings me great joy and appreciation for life.

Happy Saturday ……. Enjoy.

Special Hello: to my cousin “J” …. safe trip home and thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 15th day of August, 2015.

It is overcast here in Edmonton and the deck remains wet from the rain, overnight.

We could use some moisture so it is all good.

At least here in the city.

Farmers well that will be another story.

I am so excited to be back and as always it was something so simple.

Doesn’t it just figure.

Something I could have done myself …. something I did do myself.

When plugging the computer and equipment back in I plugged it into the wrong “jack.”

Can you imagine?

The young man “Abdul” was very sweet and did not make me feel “stupid.”

I did write a few lines on FB yesterday just after I was “live” again after one week.

The troubleshooters for our cable/communications company are in a country on the other side of the world from us.

They do not know the setups (this was from the tech that came to my house).

These people just read from a script so not their fault.

He said they do not usually mention the “jack” in the script ….

If they had – I would have tried putting it in the other jack.

It is very sad that it is always about the money.

Companies having to make more and more money.

Anyway I am very grateful to have television once again and the internet.

So on with life.

I found during the week …. the house to be quiet.

So we listened to more music.

Spent more time outside.

Watched movies on DVD.

Snuggled more.

I think it was a good thing at the end of the day.

I did miss writing my blog, watching my recorded shows and going on FB.

But it was a good thing all in all.

Today I am hosting my second “Steeped Tea” party and am so excited to announce that I am now a Consultant for Steeped Tea.

I love the product and look forward to learning more as time goes on.

Well I have a bunch of things to do before my guests start arriving and thank goodness my “leader” will be leading the party and I will be watching and learning.

I had a wonderful Friday …. my daughter and grand-pups spent the day and slept over.

She helped me put together the second desk for my office and it looks great.

I will post some photos once I get the room in order (not today).

We walked with the pups in the rain.

I won a big prize at our company barbecue on Wednesday.

It was all about popcorn (hot air popcorn maker, ceramic popcorn container, popcorn to pop and Chicago mix popcorn, liquorice, M&Ms and two movies).

The popcorn tasted so yummy as we watched a movie.

Well I had better get this show on the road.

So good to be back.

I hope that you are all well and enjoying your Saturday.

Take Care.

Special Hello to: all of my friends and family who sent me wonderful Birthday wishes … it was a wonderful day.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 1st day of September, 2014 and Labour Day.

It is quiet here in the house as Elton and Penny remain on the sofa while Alvin joined me upstairs to get dressed and to write my blog.

I had planned to have a quiet day but alas once I started writing out a TO DO LIST things have changed.

I guess we can always find things to do ….

Who knows perhaps that will change, too.

Maybe I will just do the necessary things like take the puppies for a walk.

We went after work last night …. two before supper and one afterwards.

I took them separately and that worked out much better.

They enjoyed the walk and so did I.

The most well behaved one was Miss Penny …. she gets the gold star (if I was handing them out).

It was enjoyable.

 

The sky is overcast and it is breezy.

Yesterday was sunny and breezy.

When the sun was out it was warm but when those clouds roll in it was cool.

Funny how quickly things change as soon as we hit August and now September.

This is my favourite time of year.

It won’t be long and the leaves will begin to turn colour.

The days are already much shorter.

I love the smell of the air …. that crispness ….

Warm but that cool thread to the air.

ODE TO FALL …..

 

So on this Monday I hope that you are well.

Perhaps spending the day with your loved ones.

Maybe you are getting the kids ready to go back to school or maybe you are getting ready to go back to school.

Maybe you are just getting home from being on vacation.

Maybe you are home just doing some chores around the house.

Take care.

 

Special Hello to: my friend back in Regina “V” who nominated me on FB to take the Grateful Challenge.

( I do write in my journal every single day …. minimum of ten things that I am grateful for )

I think it is a good practice.

Always, Carol and Alvin