2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Happy Birthday to Ashley. I hope that you have a great day. Today is also the first day of FALL or AUTUMN. My favourite season of all. Although I do love them all. I am so grateful that here in Alberta, Canada we still enjoy four different seasons with winter being the longest of them.

Quick update about the ongoing saga and me and Mr. Alvin. Well I won’t say that he is loving sleeping upstairs because I am not convinced at this point that he is. I do think that he actually likes sleeping on the main floor more. Not a big fan of being carried up and down the stairs. I guess things in our bedroom look different from before with the addition of some pieces of furniture from my daughter and son-in-law and the “sofa spot” that I made up of cushions/his dog bed in case he jumps from the corner of the bed. We went to bed at 9:30 ish, he was up about 12:30 so I took him outside and then back upstairs. He was up again at 3:00 and we came downstairs and settled on the sofa until almost 6:00 a.m. So the in between times seem to be getting longer. If he would just say settled/sleeping from the time that we went to bed until even 3:00, I would be a happy Momma. As I was reiterating to a friend yesterday he never used to sleep through the night anyway so for him to sleep from bedtime until 3-4 would feel like a good night sleep. Not sure what to do tonight. Last night when he was up, he was panting and when he is panting he is super anxious (as he was not hot) so I do not like him to be in that state so of course, we were up and outside. The only thing is he is heavy at 30 pounds to lug up and down the stairs at anytime but most especially in the middle of the night. Oh well, every night is a new opportunity, a chance for things to be better. I just have to keep positive thoughts and see a better outcome.

Yesterday was a good day. I accomplished lots at my job (working from home). We have been going for walks at my lunch break from work and after I am finished work. Last night after work, we got ready and were outside when our neighbour in the other half of the duplex arrived home. We hadn’t seen each other for a bit so we stopped for her to give Alvin some love & attention and to catch up. Then we were on our way to the park. When we got to the park, Alvin was so happy sniffing that I thought let’s go and see our friend Pauline. The extra walk would be good for both of us. It is not that much further beyond the entrance to the park to her house which backs onto the park. We love her and they have the best backyard. I realized as we were walking that it has been months since we have walked in the park. We missed the whole summer. Alvin happily sniffed each and every blade of grass along the way. I took in each and every leaf on the trees which are slowly beginning to change colour and any bird chirping and everything in the park along the way. I, we were in our happy place. Definitely this was something that we both needed badly. An escape from the routine and back to some semblance of our old life which seems like years ago now. When we got to her house, we did not find her in the backyard but I noticed the kitchen window open so I called up with hopes she would hear me and not loud enough to disturb any neighbours. A couple of minutes later, I heard a little voice say “Oh’s it’s Carol” and then come down the stairs to the backyard calling us to come in ….. We were both so excited to see her as we have not been to her back yard since June, 2021. I missed seeing all of her beautiful flowers. Thankfully over the summer we have seen each other when she has come to our house. This was the best medicine for us. I desperately needed that for my mental well being. A piece of what we had not that long ago. Pauline checked the gate at the top of the yard to ensure it was closed so that Alvin could come off his leash and run around the yard. His favourite thing to do. She invited us to stay for a visit. We were all so happy for this time together. We chatted and chatted. Looked at flowers. Her husband popped in to say hello and then said better let you girls visit. He is a wonderful guy. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Oh, almost forgot to mention that Georgie, Pauline’s grandpup, a wee little dog was there visiting so he joined us as well. He spent a great deal of time on my lap. No photos of this time as I did not have my phone with me but perhaps that is a good thing as I have my memories locked in to remind me that life is good.

On our way home we bumped into another neighbor and her pup. We hadn’t seen them for a bit so we stopped and chatted making a plan to get together soon.

When we got home it was 6:30 – two hours past the time we left for our walk. A long time past Alvin’s suppertime so I fed him right away and as I got his food out of the fridge, he then realized he was hungry. What a guy.

Well time to go and put on the coffee. I love using my computer instead of the phone. Much easier.

I hope that you have a great first day of FALL. Enjoy the colours and the changes in temperatures and smells. Our tree is a lovely mix of gold and green now.

Thank you for continuing to read my blog, I so appreciate your time.

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

Always, Carol & Al

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning,

Da, Da ….. Welcome to the first day of FALL 2020.

Our skies are overcast with deep blue clouds …. I think there was some rain in our forecast.

The trees are beginning to turn the most glorious shades of yellow, orange and red.

The grass is amazingly still a rich green due to the rain we have been having all summer long.

There does not appear to be any sign of a breeze this morning.

FALL is here.

The rabbits will be starting to turn colour shortly.

The geese are beginning to fly in large flocks overhead.

Thanksgiving is around the corner.

My neighbours are getting married on October 3, 2020.

I am excited for another fall wedding.

My daughter and son-in-law got married in October of 2008.

Seems like an eternity ago.

I am so happy that my flowers on the deck and in the back garden are still doing okay.

Of course, not as colourful and green as they once were as after all it is almost the end of September.

But there is some colour.

My potted tomato plant has a mass of small little green tomatoes with one tomato a bit bigger.

Oh, I did forgot there are a few that are starting to turn red.

I may pull them and ripen them in the house.

This is the time of year where we play a waiting game with respect to the frost.

I do pay attention to the weather forecast.

Once we get a hard frost …. it is most difficult to clean out the flower pots.

Basically you have to cut down the plants and put the roots in the spring.

Now that is okay but I would prefer to prep the pots for spring now but either way works.

I did want to load up the front flower bed with some fresh top soil but with the way that time is passing not sure that is going to happen before spring either.

Perhaps I will leave that although I did want to plant my tulips now.

Decisions decisions, decisions.

 

Quick story before heading back downstairs to grab some coffee,  move Alvin’s bed from the living room to the kitchen.

So yesterday after work we went for a walk.

We had a nice visit with our friend Pauline, her granddaughter and her boyfriend in the yard before heading to complete the last half of our walk.

Her garden, Pauline’s flowers are still as beautiful as mid summer.

Gorgeous.

When we got around to Alvin’s friend Teddy’s house ….. I had to let him go in.

Usually I say when he walks toward the driveway, “not today buddy.”

Perhaps I add “Teddy is at the farm” …. because they have been at the farm lots this summer.

But last night I thought let’s go in for a visit.

So in we went.

Teddy and Kobi swarmed me ….. jumping up ….. so excited to see me, us.

Alvin, of course headed to see if there was some food out in Teddy’s dish.

What a guy.

I could also smell something good and Iris had just baked an apple/raisin pie.

Oh that smelled so good.

Reminded me of fall.

Reminded me of the apply/pumpkin candles from Bath & BodyWorks.

Iris said “come out to the back and we can sit on the deck.”

She had stained it over the weekend and it looked so great.

We had a great visit.

Teddy had jumped up and snuggled on my lap for most of our visit.

Kobi not far away.

Alvin checking every so often.

Enjoying the warm temperature of the late afternoon.

Then before we knew it …. time to go home.

Alvin managed to snag this treat called a “bully stick.”

You do not want to know where it comes from and I am not going to say.

Anyway Alvin had this treat hanging out of his mouth and would not give it up.

Iris said “that’s okay, he can have it.”

So on our way we went.

Alvin galloping ahead with the treat hanging out of this mouth, a man with a mission.

He did not turn his head or stop until we were almost home (by the park) where I was distracted for a second by something but then noticed

he had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, pooped and then started to walk.

Treat still in his mouth.

I stopped of course, picked up the poop and then with some water from his water dish I poured over to clean up the remains.

OMG, I was mortified.

Not on the sidewalk but what can you do.

We were really close to home when we, I noticed some neighbours coming toward us with their dog.

As we approached each other, they both said hello, giggled and remarked about how Alvin looked like a guy on a mission.

That he did.

He did not stop other than that quick little poop and when I stopped.

He was truly a guy on a mission.

Alvin has not really chewed the treat but has carried it around the house even to bed last night.

It is sitting in the hallway waiting to be retrieved on our way downstairs.

Okay gotta go.

 

Have an awesome day.

Take care and be safe.

Living with Kindness and Respect.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to the 22nd day of September, 2018.

Today is officially the FIRST day of FALL.

My favourite time of year.

The air is a bit cooler, the leaves are hues of yellows and oranges and reds.

Fall always feels a slower time of year.

Birds are beginning to fly south.

The grass no longer needs to be trimmed each week.

We start or have started to put away our summer things.

Cleaning out flower pots and garden areas.

We put out our fall wreaths and items.

This is what the first day of FALL looks like out my back door and windows:

Methinks it looks more like the next season, Winter.

But alas it is not to be here for too long or so the weather people report.

My poor sunflowers are drooping so low they are almost touching the ground.

I feel so guilty that I did not trim them before the snow.

The impatiens flowers appear to be okay except the poor little flowers are covered in snow.

The only items that reminds me of FALL on the deck are the ornaments of a scarecrow and pumpkin in one of the tall flower pots.

But in Canada, in Alberta – the weather can change in a heartbeat.

In parts of Eastern Canada they are having a “heat wave” extending the summer and out WEST, well here we are.

Do not get me wrong, I am not complaining.

A bit of snow does not get me down.

Only the farmers and construction workers are left waiting to see what happens.

Fall or no FALL.

Dry again or not dry again.

 

Mr. Alvin was up off and on since 3:00 a.m. today and so I am feeling a bit out of sorts.

Not bad though.

Once I have had my morning coffee I will be off to the races.

Lots to do.

I took a vacation day on Monday to have a nice extra long weekend.

Plans to reorganize my office, clean out my clothes closets and go through photos on the computer and clean out emails.

Perhaps that will be a lot for three days but time will tell.

Always laundry and some cleaning to do and walks with Alvin.

Walks in the snow with Alvin.

That will be fun.

Remember to put towels by the front door.

Noting that to myself.

 

Time to fly.

Happy first day of FALL.

Perhaps the seasons will reverse and we will have winter until December and then fall for December through till April.

That might be nice.

Although brown at Christmas time – just does not feel quite right.

 

Oh, my I forgot to mention that my daughter picked me up from work yesterday.

We stopped by the grocery store and vet.

She stayed for supper and a visit.

She brought me some clothes from a clothing swap.

Oh, I am a lucky woman.

New pants, jeans and a beautiful purple sweater.

I am so lucky.

 

Special Hello: to my sister …. Merry Christmas …. time to put up your tree…… just kidding and I hope that you are smiling now.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 22nd day of September, 2017.

Stopped raining but overcast as do not see stars.

Today is the FIRST official day of FALL/AUTUMN.

Happiness.

I love this time of year.

 

Once the rain stops ….. we will have a chance to see how many leaves have turned colour and how many are actually left on the trees.

 

Reminder to self:

It is my thoughts that create the atmosphere within me.

It is not what is happening around me.

Keeping my thoughts in a positive, wellness pattern.

To keep my atmosphere bright and joyful for both myself and those around me.

 

Happy Friday.

Gotta run.

Alvin would like to go outside again.

Cannot blame the little guy.

 

Special Hello to: my kids who continue to shine a bright light on the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin