2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Wow, December 30, 2021. Well we slept in but really what does it matter? We are not going anywhere or doing anything special. The sky is clear and the sun is up. The pups are both in the office with me. I caught Cookie a couple of minutes ago carrying something downstairs. It was a Fifth Avenue Jewelry box. One that once held a piece of jewelry but was stored on a moveable cart in the guest room. Perhaps to be used another day. Well Miss Cookie had it in her mouth and was about to make a quick getaway down the stairs. She definitely is getting more brave and confident and inquisitive with each day she spends with us. I am most grateful to have Mr. Alvin as he is more concerned to be right beside me than to be checking things out in other rooms. He never really has inquisitive. He has always been happy to be with me. No matter where I am or what I am doing. So as we go into the New Year we, me and Alvin are with another being who likes to look and sniff and see what everything is. Maybe it is because our home is relatively new to her and not to us. I am not sure but whatever it is I am happy that it is the way it is in this moment. She is lying on her belly scratching at the door. She does not like the door being closed. But she will need to learn patience. After this post, I am going to have a shower so yet again another door will be closed. I do not trust her not to get into things if I am out of the room for more than a couple of minutes. She jumps as though she is flying. What a character she is!

Little Miss Cookie “Monster”

Her fav chair and pillow

She loves to lick me and Alvin. She was just licking Alvin’s face and he put his paw up as if to say “enough.” She is lying by the door on her side and Alvin is whining, for what reason I do not know. Perhaps he is bored being in the office with the door closed. Not an usual scene for us.

I just paid Alvin’s pet license online. Thank goodness for technology.

Alvin & Cookie

Cookie napping with Rudolph

Well the troops are getting restless and I need a shower. I think today will be a pancake day. Time to use up milk and eggs. I always buy too much at Christmas. Even with the extra company we still did not go through as much as I bought grocery wise. Which is okay as I do not need to go to the grocery store any time soon. Except for bananas. We always need bananas. Alvin and I love bananas. I would love one right now.

I forgot to mention that when we went to bed last night. Cookie was playing. Alvin was laying down quietly but she was jumping and rolling and did a backflip right off the bed. Thankfully she landed on the area rug. I couldn’t look at first as I thought for certain she had injured herself. But within a couple of seconds she was back up and fooling around. Whew!!

I wished that I could show you a video of Alvin and Cookie playing together. Chasing one another. Once in awhile they stop and she licks his face. I haven’t seen that much energy coming out of Mr. Alvin in a long time. Clearly they are enjoying each other’s company.

I had pulled the spare bedroom door closed and heard a scratching but it was not Cookie opening the door – it was the Alvin. OMG.

Sometimes there is fireworks!!

Photo by Damir Mijailovic on Pexels.com

Wishing you a great day. I hope that you are able to laugh and are in good health and have plenty to eat.

Continuing to live each day with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding and gratitude.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Cookie (Monster).

P.S. I renewed Alvin’s pet license this morning. I had forgot that I did it online last year. So easy to do.

2021

Happy New Year. Good Morning ALL. We were up late and up early and after sleeping on the sofa for awhile, I decided to go back and lay on our bed. I opened the blinds and gazed out at the morning sky. The sky was divided into ribbons of gray and pink as the sun began to rise. Slowly over time the gray turned to blue and the pink turned to orange and to yellow. So beautiful. It has been a long time since I actually just was still and watched the sky for any length of time. I think that even though it is now 10 a.m. and I am basically just getting up – it was a great way to start the New Year. 2021 is a New Year so why not start doing something that you would not normally do. So I did.

New Year’s Eve – Alvin and I had a quiet evening. We each had our own supper (I threw together a roasted chickpea salad with caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers)and afterwards I cleaned up. Then I watched the CTV’s viewing of a James Bond movie “Spectre.” Oh, I enjoyed a “mug” of baileys over ice. After the movie it was 10:00 p.m. with not being close to the NEW YEAR, I watched a bit of Hoda & Jenna’s New Year Special and Ryan Seacrest’s Special and caught a performance by Billy Porter which was great. Every once in awhile I would hear fireworks going off somewhere in the neighbourhood. Over the evening I sent texts to family and friends as I had posted a message on FB. At 10:45 p.m. we started making our way upstairs, turning the television off, Alvin going outside one last time before bed, lights off and then teeth brushing, face washing, pjs on and bed. I ended up reading for a little while listening to fireworks. I am not certain what time I finally fell to sleep but safe to say it was likely midnight somewhere.

Things I learned during 2020:

1. technology
2. that I actually liked being alone with myself and Alvin
3. loved spending more time with Alvin
4. more grateful
5. I liked not having to go shopping
6. taking time to appreciate life, health, people, environment, nature and climate
7. appreciate time at home
8. that I love working from home
9. learning what is truly important
10. sweating small stuff is better than having to sweat the big stuff
11. wearing lipstick when at home not wearing a mask makes you feel good
12. wearing sparkly ball earrings gives you a lift
13. learning new meanings for words such as: POD
14. not to be afraid, continue to follow the rules
15. walks at lunchtime with Alvin were not only good exercise but a good way to break up the work day
16. that my kitchen is a better place for me to work than my office upstairs, which is my creative space

Well it is a New Year, a new Day and time to get this one going. Time to get dressed, make coffee, eat some breakfast, go for a walk, give Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath and do some laundry.

I hope that you had a great night last night.

This is going to be a great New YEAR, 2021. We must be patient when it comes to COVID19 as we truly know that it is not going to disappear overnight, I know that we all wished that it would. Just follow the rules set out by the Health Professionals and Government. We will get through this, one day at a time. We will be better people, better friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, coworkers as a result. Work together. Be strong. We got this.

Happy Friday, January 1st, 2021. YAY.

The sun is shining so bright. I just know it is going to be a great year.

We will continue to live with kindness, respect and compassion for all.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a now rainy Thursday, July 2nd, 2020.

I booked today and tomorrow off as vacation so that I would have an extra long long weekend.

Last night we went to bed at our regular time or close.

I read my book, I am really enjoying this book.

“The DEATH of Mrs. WESTAWAY” by Ruth Ware.

This book is difficult to put down and last night knowing that I did not have to get up early – well I read late.

As I read the Canada Day fireworks were going off in the near distance.

They seem to go off for hours and I felt like I read for hours.

After I turned off the lights to go to sleep, I could not settle down.

When Alvin woke up at 4:30 – it felt so early.

Up we got and he had his glucosamine chew followed by breakfast.

Outside.

Then back to the sofa.

I/We were up about 6:30 a.m. and back outside.

No rain at that time.

Back in the house the sofa was calling my name and I just could not resist.

So back to the sofa.

I woke up at 7:30 and should have stayed up and was thinking “it is not raining – we should walk.”

But the sofa kept calling my name.

So I played this back and forth game until 8:35 a.m. – how horrible.

Now it is raining and we missed our opportunity to go for a walk.

The forecast is for some sunshine this afternoon so we will make sure that we go then.

I can only blame that sofa for calling out my name, NOT.

Oh well, I guess it is a day off and all is well.

Not worth whining about it as it is what it is.

Somedays you just have to have some extra sleep, right!

 

Perhaps some sunshine will perk me up and fill me with some energy.

Hopefully the sun will shine this afternoon.

 

Yesterday the sun did come out from behind those rain clouds.

The sky was amazing.

Huge dark blue rain clouds in parts of the sky and closer to us there were these white clouds that seemed to part to display pure blue bright sky.

Like a gate opening.

I could literally watch the sky for hours.

The way the clouds move and stay still.

Movement and stillness.

The colours.

So beautiful.

 

I found the start of a story that I had written almost ten years ago on my 53rd birthday.

The story is about Alvin and how my road led to him.

I cannot believe that I am going to be 63 next month.

Ten years has passed in the blink of an eye.

Life always seems to get in the way.

Seriously, I need to finish this ……

So I am going to transfer what I have written into the computer as it is way easier to type than to write for hours.

After a few minutes my writing / printing is not legible so typing is the best way to go.

 

Well I guess it is almost 9:30 a.m. and I don’t wish to be drinking coffee too far into the afternoon.

Time to get this day going.

Coffee and some breakfast.

Some writing (typing) today and walking and exercise.

I need to listen to Alvin more ……

I was thinking we could have had an nice early morning walk in ….. argh, okay, enough.

Okay this might be an interesting day.

 

Living with kindness and respect starts with oneself.

I/We, shall remain

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to January 1st, 2020.

I was thinking that I have to come up with a new “title” for my morning posts and all I can think of at this time is “It is a NEW YEAR.”

Can be subject to change.

Alvin and I stayed up until after midnight.

Some of our neighbours (not real close by) were setting off fireworks which for second time gave Mr. Alvin a start.

Actually just before bed, I opened the back door to let him out to the backyard and there was a loud bang which startled both of us.

I was kind of happy that I had slept a bit longer yesterday as I normally do not stay awake / up until after midnight.

Actually we even on most weekends are in bed no later than 10:00 p.m.

Last night we both brought in the New YEAR, 2020.

I wanted to be awake for that first second of the New YEAR.

It was great to hear Bryan Adams sing.

These are the photos that I took on December 31st, 2019.

One of our neighbours and friends stopped by to give Mr. Alvin a Christmas gift.

Is he not the luckiest boy/dog on the planet?

He opened it like a pro.

My photos that I put together for our NEW YEAR WISHES on social media (ok, just facebook).

Fireworks in Edmonton at the Legislative Buildings …. I snapped the photos from the comfort of my home (via television).

Today is the first day of our New YEAR, a new decade.

Perhaps a time for new beginnings.

 

Happy New YEAR Everyone.

Me and Alvin are just going to hang out together on this beautiful day.

We were already outside and it is beautiful so a great day for a walk.

Perhaps a longer walk if Mr. Alvin is up for one.

Back to work tomorrow so will get my clothes together and make a lunch.

 

Wishing you all the most glorious New Year.

The best of all things for 2020.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. now when to take down the Christmas decorations, I cannot decide (but not today) and time to start planning Mr.Alvin’s 11th birthday party.

Also this is going to be a pancake breakfast kind of first day of the New Year.

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 30th day of June, 2018.

The very last day of June, 2018.

It is a very gorgeous morning with the sun shining on full tilt and there is a slight breeze.

This will make our walk in a few minutes absolute perfection.

 

Master Teddy slept over last night.

I wished that I had a camera with me at this moment as both Alvin and Teddy are laying on the little blue blanket beside me on the floor.

So very cute.

Last night it was a long night between the boys trying to find their most comfortable spot on the bed and the FIREWORKS.

I think they got the night wrong.

It was almost laughable as Teddy would lay on the “other pillow” beside me and then Alvin had to be next to me on the other side.

Only thing – there was no room as generally I lay almost near the edge – only leaving enough room to roll to the other side at some point.

They were back and forth.

One would move by my legs on one side and the other would go to the opposite side same spot.

This carried on virtually all night.

Until Alvin decided it was time to get out of bed at 4:09 a.m.

I know that time exactly as I looked at the alarm clock.

Teddy was still sleeping beside me on the pillow.

Funny to watch them – not funny getting not much sleep.

 

They are funny to watch at breakfast at well.

Alvin wants to eat Teddy’s food and Teddy eats Alvin’s.

Teddy is not much of a breakfast eater so just made sure that he ate something.

After breakfast and going outside which Teddy did not “want” to pee.

That always scares me.

We headed back to the sofa for some zzz’s.

Let’s face it … I needed some more of those little guys.

Alvin laid in his usual spot and Teddy jumped up on the sofa and laid on me.

I was laying on my side up against the back of the sofa and that is where is got all comfy cosy.

There was no movement for me for the next few hours.

Up about 7:30 ….. I moved without thinking and Teddy slid to the sofa without even waking up.

Once again we went outside.

Nothing from Teddy, still scaring me.

Upstairs so that I could take a shower.

I wanted both of them with me.

Alvin gets separation anxiety when he is not in the same room as me when I am at home.

I had placed a “puppy pee pad” in the room last night – just in case.

While I was drying off – Teddy used the pee pad – thankfully it was there.

I figured it would be a good idea to have them both in the office while I was writing my post.

I brought in a clean pee pad – just in case.

Better to be prepared than the opposite.

I have been on the opposite side and it is not pretty.

These boys are so cute.

They both want to be right next to me.

Nice to be wanted.

Well time for us to go for a walk.

It will be perfect with the breeze.

Before it gets busy outside.

 

Something else to note.

Teddy has a bit of an ear infection and is taking some ear drops.

He was quite the trooper, no flinching, no fussing.

I wished that Alvin would take a page from him.

 

Have a wonderful Saturday.

I am going to enjoy my day with the boys.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks watching some puppy friends …. enjoy the time.  Watch them and learn.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Teddy.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 28th day of June, 2018.

A beautiful morning with blue sky and sunshine.

There is a breeze which is keeping the temperature cool.

Perfection.

 

My last work day for the week going into an extra long weekend for me.

So excited.

Tonight I am going with two of my girl friends to a PAINT NIGHT.

Can hardly wait to try out my “painting skills.”

Or rather I should say to see if I have any “painting skills.”

It is one thing doing something abstract.

Time will tell.

I will take a photo and share my work with you.

It is a reminder for me to pick up some paint and get this room, my office painted.

I want to rearrange and redo things in here.

 

We are coming into the CANADA DAY weekend.

People will be travelling to OTTAWA this weekend to be in the nation’s capital for the festivities.

There will be music and fireworks and more.

I have never been to Ottawa and have only watched it from the comfort of my living room.

 

I am excited to be at home with Alvin.

The plan is to clean up my email, save photos outside of my hard drive and purge.

Somehow I find it hard to delete anything.

So I do not require ten shots of the same person.

I do not need a photo that is not in focus.

Time to get serious and get things done.

The other night I had a call from a charity organization who will be in the neighbourhood next weekend needing clothing and household goods.

Another reason to go through things.

Lots to do with gardening in between and walks with Alvin.

 

Have you ever been asleep and woke up speaking?

This morning we were up at 4:30 a.m. and because I have this bit of a scratchy throat I decided that we would not walk this morning.

After Alvin had his breakfast and had been outside, we hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s.

Just as the timer when off I woke up and was talking.

The only things that I remember was my Mom and sister were there.

I think we may have been shopping.

Anyway we were going to sit down at a table and my sister had been telling me she wanted to sit “there.”

Wherever there was, I am not sure.

I was telling her “sure, go ahead.”

So there must have been some history ….. but I do not remember ever having a thing about sitting in a certain spot.

Anyway I woke up and the dream fell away.

I was happy that both my Mom and my sister were there.

I do not remember having a dream with them for many years.

It is also funny at how quickly one can fall asleep and start to dream.

This is the timeline.

We laid down on the sofa at 4:40 a.m. and I set the timer for 5:20.

I woke up at one point and looked at my watch and it was 5:00, so sometime in twenty minutes I fell asleep and started to dream.

WOW.

 

Well almost time to hit the road.

I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, I was dreaming of you.  We may have been shopping???

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 29th day of June, 2017.

Looks like a beautiful morning …. bit of a breeze and the SUN is shining.

I was surprised to see the car windows “fogged over” so I guess light light frost.

Weather crazy …. sunny one minute and pouring the next.

They are forecasting a nice weekend.

I hope that the weather does hold out for all those folks out celebrating CANADA’s 150th BIRTHDAY.

Alvin and I will be quietly celebrating at home.

I so remember Canada’s 100th Birthday celebration.

I was 10 years old.

We even had a song written specially for the occasion.

Oh, the good old days.

Seems crazy to think that 50 years later I am turning 60 a few weeks after Canada’s 150th.

Does not seem possible that 50 years have passed.

Time flies …. truly flies.

So on this Thursday I am excited to have a quiet weekend.

There is trash to be picked up and I think that I will do that task on CANADA DAY …. in honour of my country, your country, our country.

We have such amazing majestic landscapes and I will always try to do my part for my country.

Perhaps watch some celebrations on television while sipping on a cup of tea “made in Canada.”

Does not get better than that.

Happy Thursday…..

Special Hello to:  CANADA

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 26th day of June, 2017.

Cooled off overnight and sky is a bit overcast this morning.

Grateful for the breezes.

What an awesome weekend.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walks.

We even had two walks yesterday.

We worked and we played, does not get better than that.

My neighbour gave me:  patio set with umbrella and four chairs, garden hose and hand sprinkler (which I really really needed), small food processor (which is great because I lent my big one to my kids), two cookbooks, cast iron casserole dish with lid for the oven, Magic Bullet with all the attachments (now I have two which I love), Pampered Chef newer version of the chopper that I use for garlic.  How lucky am I?

Definitely was blessed this weekend.

Coming up weekend is Canada Day.

We celebrate our 150th Birthday this July 1st, 2017 – which is Saturday.

I remember Canada’s 100th Birthday back on July 1st, 1967.

We even had a song written to celebrate Canada’s 100th Birthday.

It was great as I was school age back then.

Looking forward to watching some festivities on television and looking to the sky for the fireworks.

It is a reminder on how blessed we are to live in such a great country.

We should never take it for granted.

I always try to give back to the country that has given me life …. a great place to be born and to live.

 

Well here we go again another work week.

Promises to be great.

Special Hello to: my sister …. getting closer to your visit.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday July 2, 2016.

Another bright and sunny morning although there are some clouds to the south.

I think they are forecasting occasional showers for today.

Me and Alvin had a wonderful Canada Day.

We both were startled by a loud crash when someone in the neighbourhood fired big fireworks.

I had closed the window earlier because there were smaller ones going off.

Thank goodness it started to rain and put an end to the fireworks.

I doubt very much that they had permission to set them off.

Thank you Mother Nature.

 

There is a bit of a cool breeze coming in through my office window as I key these words.

I am also reinforcing some buttons on a couple of new tops that one of my friends gave me so that they don’t come off and get lost.

One is a deep purple and the other is a deeper khaki limey green – both which go with a flowery cardigan that I own.

Lucky me.

I love hand me downs ….. I remember as a little girl when boxes of clothing would arrive from our cousins.

My sister and I used to love trying the clothes.

Our Mom made most of our clothes when we were small but as the boys started to come along she just did not have the time.

She also spent a lot of time out doing chores and working on the land.

I definitely did not have the time to sew on top of looking after the small ones, cooking, cleaning and other chores.

Thank goodness my sister was only 18 months younger and was a huge help with most things.

I remember we would have the odd battle but I do believe it was out of frustration as we had huge responsibilities as young ones.

We did love to go to school and even though we missed more than we went our grades were not reflective of that as we felt as though it was a holiday, it was fun.

Well enough down memory lane.

Time to get these buttons tightened and get downstairs and have my breakfast and then COFFEE.

Mr. Alvin had his breakfast earlier at 5:00 a.m.

 

We want to wish you a great day.

Special Hello to: all those children who grew up before their time …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 20th day of April, 2016.

It is overcast but not with rain clouds this morning.

We have wildfires burning to the north and west of our location.

We are in the “area” that could be affected should they not contain them.

Unfortunately with not much snow this winter and although we enjoyed not having to shovel everyday and plough through snow walking and driving …. we pay the price come spring.

It is so dry.

I have started watering my front flower bed that has perennials.

There are a few green leaves on them but I am not sure that they made the winter.

I transplanted them last fall.

I hope so but time will tell.

The lawns are a mixture of brown and green.

I am afraid that without spring showers and summer rains brown will be our reality as it will be too much water to keep them green.

Just a friendly reminder for everyone on the planet ….. please be careful.

Do not throw away that cigarette butt or set off fireworks just because they are pretty.

You might find yourself in the midst of a raging fire.

Let us be careful this spring / summer.

Do your part, please be a good citizen of your neighbourhood and of this planet.

Pick up the trash …… don’t be a misguided inhabitant.

Well it is time to leave for work.

Our office has been cool so it is sweater weather.

Somedays it is warmer outside than in the office.

But on the other hand ….. I would rather don a sweater than the alternative.

Cannot take off clothes.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Special Hello to: my fellow bloggers …..

Always, Carol and Alvin