Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing on this Tuesday? I hope that life finds you in good health, first and foremost and that you are able to enjoy each and every day including this one. We went to bed later again last night it was almost 10:30 p.m. when I turned off the light. It was 2:00 a.m. when Mr. Alvin woke up and needed to go outside. How can you say “go back to sleep” when someone has to go to to the bathroom? You cannot. Or at least not in good conscious. So downstairs we trotted sleep still thick in my eyes with my cell phone and our sofa special pillow in tow, lights on and unlocked back door so he could outside. With so much snow I don’t have to go out until the sunrises to pick up any little parcels that he leaves behind because I can clearly see them and so can he. Back into the house and onto the sofa. It was 6:30 when the alarm went off that he next woke up. So time for his breakfast and another trip outside. I do know one thing for sure that his bodily function are in fine working order. While he had been eating I prepared the coffee so that I could plug it in when we are “finally up and downstairs for the day.” The coffee will be fresher longer. After that I still wasn’t quite ready to get up to stay up even though it wasn’t super early at this point. Set the microwave timer for 25 minutes which would mean getting up at 7:00 a.m. and that is what happened. It doesn’t take me long to get myself ready on those days when I don’t shower. There is no reason to shower everyday it dries out the skin, most especially in our dry winter season. Anyway, that is a personal preference and I prefer to show every other day. My hair has been healthier as a result, not so drying. So here we are almost ready to begin another day in the life of Carol Lewis.

Yesterday my daughter was running errands. She went to COSTCO first and picked up groceries for them and for me and then dropped them at the house. Just in time to have a short break with me. Then she was off to do more shopping at IKEA and at BATH & BODY WORKS. She phoned the order into IKEA which was a great idea and then just had to pick it up. I so wished that I could have gone with her to BBW. I love that store. I think I have mentioned that once or twice before and that I worked there a few years back. They were the first company to hire this “54” year old woman at the time when I moved here from Saskatchewan. I was so appreciative and even stayed on when I was hired at my current job. It was hard to leave but I could not continue working 7 days a week after the kids moved to a city about 20 minutes away and I could not leave Mr. Alvin alone from early morning till late at night. My girl picked me up some foaming hand soaps in my favourite scents: Tis the Season, Frosted Cranberry and Winter Citrus Wreath. I am so happy. She brought the goodies back including some items I requested for Christmas stockings, on her way back from the second leg of her shopping trip, and then she headed for home. I am so grateful to be the Mother of this beautiful, caring, compassionate, loving and thoughtful woman I call my “daughter.”

So needless to say with working the late shift yesterday and my daughter popping in and out we did not go for a walk. So hopefully the temperature is warm enough for me to go with Alvin at lunchtime. I gave him a short haircut actually shorter than I had planned. Thankfully he has a nice sweater to keep him warm and a great thick winter coat, too.

Well I guess it is time to head back downstairs and get that coffee perking. Life is life. I told my daughter yesterday when she asked me “How were things going?” I replied “great, how can I possibly complain, Alvin and I are in good health, as our our family and friends, we have good food to eat and a roof over our heads and I have a job where I can work from home.” Really how blessed am I, are me and Alvin. I am over the moon grateful for my life. Thank you Universe.

I hope that you are having a great day. Still pretty dark outside here as I quickly glanced out the office window. The sun will shine soon and I hope that it shines where you are. Remember to always, live your life with kindness and respect for all. Your life will be all the better, if you do!

Happy Tuesday.

Living our lives with kindness and respect for all,

I / We remain, as always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 18th day of November, 2018.

Our buddy Teddy left for home with his Mama yesterday morning so the house is SO quiet with only me and Mr. Alvin.

My plans for the day changed when one of my friends called to invite me to go with her to a neighbouring city “St. Albert” to the Enjoy Centre which is a greenhouse/nursery/retail space

where a large “Craft Sale” was being held.

All the vendors had made their wares.

There were all mediums of art: painting on regular canvases, ceramics, woodworking, stained glass and glass art, illustrator/graphic designers, doll makers, coffee brewers, jewellery of every possible

description, things for your pets, fudge and different types of candy, dried mushrooms, condiments, pie maker (not ordinary pies), and so much more.

We came across the paintings, Art by Monk.  She is a famous West Coast Artist and her work was amazing.

My friend and I were speaking to one of her agents and did not even realize that she was on the other side of the display, painting.

I saw a painting of a FOX that was incredible and had the nicest frame on it, as well.

So many things.

I was on visual overload.

I was so excited to come across the same artist “Mackenzie Jones” that my daughter and I bought rings from in a store in Canmore on our girls road trip this past summer.

Love our rings and I wear mine everyday.

Our second trip and each time I have bought a ring made locally and I wear them daily.

A fond reminder of our Mother/Daughter time together.

Needless to say in between the time Teddy left and I went on the craft trip, not much was done so today I have lots to do.

I did go for a short walk with Mr. Alvin in between the craft trip and the Christmas party.

 

Our “friends” Christmas party that was slated for December 1, 2018 was moved up as one of the girls is leaving for down east next week with her daughter and husband and

will not be here for the party.

We had it last night.

So much fun.

The girls provided the snacks and refreshments and told me only to bring myself as there was very short notice about the change in plans.

Even though I had just ate supper, it was not very long when I caved and had some goodies.

ARGH, it begins.

With no car not so easy to pop out and pick up items and no time to bake the “Oreo Cheesecakes” that was I going to bring.

We laughed and caught up in our news.

Some selfie shots were made but ended up only getting odd head shots of the three of us.

A time to laugh for sure.

Alvin stayed home and slept.

The gal that hosted the party gave us all a gift which we were not doing but she is a bad girl and doesn’t listen.

I received a bottle of “Vanilla Bean Noel” foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works, a necklace of Christmas lights and light up and some peanut butter/chocolate Reese pieces.

So excited about the necklace as I will wear it to work.

We love our necklaces.

Best present ever.

 

She also picked me up some hand soaps from Bath & Body Works when they were at West Edmonton Mall yesterday morning to see Santa (with her daughter).

The mall was crazy busy and I was grateful she ran the errand for me.

The hand soaps were on for a really, really good price.

On the way home last night it was snowing.

It was still snowing a bit at 5:30 when we first got up this morning but had stopped when we got up to stay up about 8:15 a.m.

I was pleasantly surprised when I looked out the window to see the front walk shovelled.

Must have been my neighbour to the west …. so nice.

Earlier I thought I hear some noise out front but did not pay attention as we were snoozing on the sofa from 5:30 to 8:15 a.m.

Well time to get this day going.

I popped the first of four loads of laundry into the washing machine.

Coffee has been made so need coffee.

Such a great Saturday.

I seldom go out and almost never TWICE in the same day.

 

Lots to do today submit a Steeped Tea order, clean bathrooms, do some laundry, walk with Alvin and more.

Happy Sunday.

I hope that you were able to spend time outside of your home.

Another warmer day on the way.

YAY.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are artistic and make things.  You rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin