2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Friday morning? We are doing great. Had a good sleep and Alvin slept through until 4:35 a.m. which was wonderful. This is the last day of the work week for me and a long weekend to boot. Happy Victoria Day Long Weekend to us. The sky is clear and the sunrise was beautiful this morning. There was frost on the cars so I am glad that I covered my front flower bed with some old sheets and left the flower pots in the garage. Looks like will be covering again tonight and then tomorrow after early morning we should be good. Then the pots can come out of the garage and get some sun. I am so grateful that my flowers in the front flower bed appear to be okay. Hardy bunch of little ones. Appears to be no wind for a change and that is nice. It was calm overnight which was nice, no chance then of the sheets becoming airborne. Any plans for the long weekend? I am finishing the closet clean, spending time outside as the forecast is for warmer temperatures, going for walks, washing the remainder of my daughter’s baby things and then packing them away properly. I guess some cleaning and writing. I want to write more and I have been doing some here and there. I love to write poetry so will concentrate a bit more on that aspect of writing. So happy to look out the window and see blue sky and sun. Makes me want to get up and dance. I can do a chair dance now, I am bopping to the music in my head. Smiling as I do this little dance. Alvin is laying on the floor in the hallway. Oh, news! Yesterday afternoon our new neighbours moved in across the street – appears to be a family with three children. They have a trampoline and I could hear them screaming with delight, as they jumped up and down. I also had to run over after work and pick up another bag of food for Alvin, he seems to go through the hard food quickly. The bag is small so that will happen, lol.

I hope that you are enjoying this morning thus far. Perhaps you are sipping on that mug of hot coffee on your deck or maybe you are meditating or doing some yoga or exercising or maybe out for a walk with your pup. I love early morning walks with Alvin. We will be doing those soon as the weather warms up and is too hot to walk after work and even sometimes at noon.

• 

  Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Daria Obymaha on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Ioana Motoc on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Ena Marinkovic on Pexels.com

Visions of a quiet Friday morning as you start your day. I guess I missed the walking/exercising/yoga stuff. I think that a mug of coffee, tea or hot chocolate is the perfect way to start the day. A little writing in your gratitude journal or perhaps even reading a chapter or two in your favorite book. Happy Friday.

Living this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience and gratitude. Always with Gratitude.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, September 17, 2020.

Over half way through September and fast approaching the first day of fall.

Just googled to see what day that is …. the winner is:  Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

I love FALL.

We certainly are seeing the beginning of fall already here where I live.

The trees are beginning to change colour and drop their leaves.

Even though we have not had frost most of the flowers are beginning to say “goodbye.”

I have already trimmed my front flower bed as the plants / flowers really did not do well this year.

I am not quite sure why.

Most of my flowers in pots on the deck are still doing okay.

I will leave them as long as possible.

Usually I am chipping away at the plants as they are still looking good till the frost.

Time will tell.

The weather forecast is good for the next while.

The sky is clear this morning.

Life is good.

Mr. Alvin was sitting in the hallway “whining.”

For what reason, I am not sure.

So I will make this short.

 

We did enjoy a visit with our friend Pauline last night after work.

As we were walking by we noticed her working in the yard.

Her yard is our sanctuary and it is so relaxing and peaceful.

We love to see her and be in their yard surrounded by flowers.

 

I am most grateful for this day and every day.

I think and pray and feel for our neighbours to the south.

I wish the fires would just go out.

Keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

 

I wish you the most exquisite day.

May you enjoy some time outside in nature.

Go for a walk.

Take Care and Be Safe.

 

Living with Kindness and Respect for ALL,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. have you ever clicked OK to some changes to agreement for something on the computer?  Yup, I did in my haste. Just on WORD.PRESS so hopefully all is well and I didn’t agree to pay them a million dollars or something crazy like that….. be careful.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

Welcome to a bright, blue sky, breezy morning here in Edmonton.

We seem to having a lot more wind here than we did when I moved here over ten years ago.

The garbage truck just went by ….. stopping and starting as they do along their route.

Geese honking and other birds chirping away.

Our window is open in the office so we are hearing all of the sounds that our neighbourhood is making as it slowly comes to life.

Not many people up and out.

So many of our neighbours are working from home.

I do know some of my neighbours that are slowly beginning to go back to their places of employment.

I love this time of day.

Perfection.

If I had my poop in a group or ducks in a row, I would have been organized earlier and sat out on the deck and drank a cup of coffee all the time enjoying the morning.

But alas did not happen.

Oh well, next best thing, window open, coffee in a travel mug and will enjoy as I start to work.

I have my coffee up here and ready to go.

I have been dragging my keister the past few mornings likely due to my watching how much I stand and such.

But anyway that is okay.

Perhaps on Saturday morning …… read my book on the deck and drink some coffee.

Alvin loves to lie on the deck and enjoy the sun until it gets too hot.

 

Did you plant flowers this year?

What kinds?

Are they doing okay?

Flowering?

 

Thanks to my darling daughter I have impatiens, petunias and marigolds.

Most of my perennials are up and some are even flowering.

I cannot believe that one day my ferns in the front flower bed were barely a spot of green and already they are several inches tall.

Before I know it they will be reaching for the sky …… over two feet tall.

They grow so fast.

The irises and others are up.

Unfortunately I don’t remember all the names of the shrubs and plants I have in the back and front gardens.

Oh and lilies.

Love the lilies.

The recent rain has definitely helped plants and the grass and trees grow, bud and bloom.

The grass is this most beautiful green, I guess kelly green.

So, so pretty.

The dandelions dot most lawns and they were in full glory a week or so ago.

Then they go to seed.

I hope that the bees got to them before they were sprayed or went to seed.

I feel so bad for Mother Nature and then Man happens.

 

Well time for coffee and get signed onto work computer.

 

Wishing you the most grand of Tuesdays.

Filled with some laughter, even on a Tuesday you must have a giggle or three, oh come maybe four giggles.

Our life is way to serious.

We must laugh along the way.

If we all live in kindness and with respect.

Even if we slip or have a moment, we all do.

Climb back up and live again in kindness and with respect.

 

Happy Tuesday.

With kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

What a beautiful morning today.

Bright blue sky with the odd fluffy grey white clouds dotting the sky.

Okay there are some bigger grey clouds but I believe that they are going to dissipate shortly.

The grass is this amazing green.

Everything is picture perfect.

The plants in my front flower garden are growing so fast.

 

Alvin enjoyed Humphrey’s company last night.

Some photos to share, of course.

The boys were outside in the backyard.

Alvin had come into the house but of course when I went out to see what Humphrey was doing in the back flower garden; he had to come along.

Except for work; Alvin is not far away from me.

Humphrey was sitting on the retaining wall for the back garden.

Which I may add is starting to look amazing.

Perhaps I have a green thumb after all.

Who knew?

Both Humphrey and Alvin appeared to be in detective mode.

Humphrey was starring and checking things out.

It took a while for me to figure out what he was so intent about ….

If you look ever so close you will see a little black bug.

He would go to catch it and the bug would run for cover.

Most of the time Humphrey just watched the little black bug go back and forth between the slabs of rock.

I could watch these boys forever.

Alvin was checking out something in the grass.

I thought that his black and white coat looked so handsome against the green grass.

Of course, I just had to snap a photo of the deck.

My flowers in the pots are beginning to take off as well.

Humphrey will be joining us this evening as well.

Always, look forward to have Alvin’s friends to visit.

 

I have a slight dilemma ….

The pergola over my deck was not built very well.

It was already here when I moved in ….

They did not use treated wood so the wood is beginning to burn black.

I am thinking of having it removed in the fall before winter.

It will likely last for a few years ( I checked with a friend ).

With or without?

That is the question.

I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.

 

Well almost time to head out for the day.

I guess my positive thinking did not remove those darker grey clouds.

Oh well, rain is a good thing.

Things were pretty dry around here.

 

Time to go as I have to put together a birthday gift for tomorrow.

It is the birthday of my walking buddy tomorrow.

Just in case she is able to go tonight – I want to have a little something for her.

 

I wish you sunshine and rainbows.

Be kind to your fellow humans, to every living creature and to the environment.

If we all work together ….. life will be grand for all.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time!

Hello,

Another gorgeous day on the way.

A little bit too warm for me but I will accept it as those days are not in the majority here in Western Canada.

I have closed all of the blinds except for Alvin’s vantage points with hopes that the house will stay at a comfortable level for the boy.

I will also leave the main floor bathroom door open as it is cooler in there.

 

Last night my daughter gave me a ride home via COSTCO.

GUESS WHAT?

I got some florals …. some flowers.

So Happy.

I was truly doing a little happy dance while planting them last night.

Both Alvin and Humphrey were watching with “raised eyebrows.”

Oh, Humphrey joined us for the evening as his Momma was golfing.

The flowers in the pots are the ones that I picked up at COSTCO last night.

Could not believe that I filled 7 pots for $24.00.

I planted Marigolds, Snapdragons, Impatiens and Trailing Lobelia.

I still have some pots to be filled when my daughter and I go to our local nursery “CREEKSIDE.”

We have been going there for years.

Even though it is great to get plants at the big box stores for very reasonable prices; I do believe in supporting local businesses.

I look forward to our date in the near future.

The plants / flowers in the front flower bed are growing like crazy.

Every morning I wake up to the ferns being inches taller.

Is that even possible?

The lilies and other plants are growing quickly.

The back flower bed is doing fair well, too.

GREEN plants and pretty coloured flowers always make me happy.

Whoops where did the time go.

Gotta go.

P.S. decided to use my camera as I still have to get the photo storage figured out with the cell phone.

I will one day soon.

As soon as I get my voice mail activated.

ARGH.

So many things….

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Do what makes you happy.

Please.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 4th day of October, 2015.

My cousin has gone home, went to Costco, my daughter brought Alvin home & stayed for a visit …. all happened yesterday.

Oh, and some laundry, too.

Whew.

This morning the sun is shining and there are some dark clouds looming to the south.

I wish that it would stay bright.

I am strongly considering pulling my flowers, cleaning up the flower beds, putting away the patio furniture and ornaments and raking for a third time the massive mounds of yellow leaves from the front lawn.

It is kind of sad as the flowers are still blooming and looking great (will take some photos to show you) but when it freezes it will make them near impossible to be removed from the pots …. likely from the ground will be difficult, as well.

The neighbour to the south of me is building a garage.

It is not a regular one or two vehicle garage but a structure that appears to be a medium size house.

It has multiple windows, stairs, will have cupboard/work bench and the driveway is not your average one.

It goes to the edge of his property touching the back lane but goes all the way around the garage at the back and sides.

I do like the fact that his driveway is flat and not on an incline.

Crazy ….. very big.

That is what is going on in my neighbourhood.

Well I had the most glorious visit with my cousin as I have already shared with you.

I had a great visit with my neighbour to and from Costco.

I was so happy to see me Alvin and to have my daughter back at the house (she is such an amazing human and I feel better as a person when she is here).

So needless to say not too much housework was accomplished …. although I did wash my clothes but then bedding and towels are today.  I have started.

Well I had better get this show on the road …. get dressed …. finished my coffee and perhaps pour some into a to go mug and then I can drink it while I am working outside.  Will see if I can convince or “trick” Mr. Alvin into getting into his harness so he can be outside with me.  I like him to get as much fresh air as possible.

Oh, quick story about Mr. Alvin as I do not believe that I remembered to share this with all of you.

Friday night after work my daughter and son-in-law came to pick up Alvin so he could go for a sleepover which in hindsight I am so happy that I did so …. they both came in to get him.  My daughter along with Alvin’s things  (toothbrush and such) got into the car …… my son-in-law was with Alvin (who had his leash on, of course) and they were at the driver’s door of the car (the driver side facing the sidewalk so I could see clearly).  My son-in-law bent over to pick up Alvin and Alvin collapsed his hind end to the ground (it looked so funny).  This happened three or four times. I will admit that I did giggle for a bit. He has never done this at any other time that I remember.  Finally my son-in-law bent over and picked him up remarking “Oh, Alvin you are getting heavy.”  I was in the open doorway at the time so hear him and agreed.  So both of us have to work on our mid sections.  But it was so cute when he just collapsed to the sidewalk when my son-in-law went to pick him up.

Have an awesome Sunday.

Special Hello to: all those folks who are trying new things …… good on you ……always good to stretch.

Always, Carol and Alvin