Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning. We are well. Up at 3:00 to go outside for a bathroom break – not me, you silly, Mr. Alvin. My funny for the moment. I could see the stars or at least a few along with some satellites. The air was cool which was refreshing. I was shocked to see the temperature on the main floor was “69” degrees fahrenheit. Upstairs not sure. We then hit the sofa for a few more hours and were up shortly after 6:00 (yes, I hit the snooze button, but only once). Then up and gave Mr. Alvin his breakfast. I am so happy that he loves his new wet food. He has always been a foodie and will pretty much eat anything you put in front of him so one has to be careful. At the end of the day, I am very grateful that he did not turn his nose up at the new food. Not sure what I would have done. Then the usual things readied the coffee pot, made our bed including putting the decorator pillows back on and our few special stuffies (previously were Amanda’s) and I had a shower. Now I don’t have a shower everyday. Really unless you have been outside rolling around in the dirt, or covered in bug spray or sweating from working outside then every second day or so, works fine. I usually use my hair as an indicator. Now I am here writing/typing/keying these words.

I can hear the loud hum of cars, trucks and other motor vehicles on the highway which surrounds the City of Edmonton. People going somewhere. The breeze wafting in through my open office window is delectable. Also I have learned over this heat wave and since the temperatures have dropped so much during the evening as of late, that if I leave the main floor windows open, the main floor cools off and then I leave all the windows upstairs open as well. We have not had rain in the forecast for a few days.

We are going to go for a walk this morning. Yesterday morning we were really late leaving the house but had time for a good walk, not the full one we have been doing but I figured if we are out and about breathing in that fresh morning air, then the length is immaterial. After all, it is Mr. Alvin sniffing every secret “fragrance” along the way that is truly what is important. As he ages, he has definitely slowed down and truly “smells the roses.” No longer does he rush ahead of me to see what is ahead, he stays close by and smells everything. He does love the rose bushes by the park. He makes me happy. What a guy!

We certainly can learn a thing or two from our four-legged buddies.

Well today after work someone is coming to pick up the scrapbooking and craft items that I sold to her. It is time to keep only what I am going to use and not everything that I am not. I am excited for someone to have them.

Over the summer, I have been selling and giving away items and even trading some items to just simplify my life. Less is more. Honestly western society, most especially North America has been smitten over the last many decades with materialism. The more stuff the better. Well it is that stuff that is clogging our lakes, rivers and filling the oceans. Time to stop. We do not need all these things. After all, you cannot take it with you. Food for thought.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Time for a walk. Reflection and fresh air.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: thank you for your time and I appreciate you reading these posts.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Tuesday morning? We are well. Mr. Alvin did throw up earlier about 4:30 this morning but appears to be okay now. When I went outside with him at 6:00 after he had breakfast I noticed some flakes of the white stuff coming down. As the sky lightens this morning I do not see anymore but it is cold outside. There is wind as that seems to be our new norm. Always something changing.

I am happy that today is my last day of work until Thursday, April 21, 2022. YAY. I just need to get some things finished up today and then I can relax with my grandpups and Alvin on my time off. The sky is an unusual colour palette as I look out of my office window. Hopefully the clouds clear soon. The forecast for the next few days is supposed to be on the cooler side but at least we can walk. Just have to bundle up. Hopefully the sidewalks remain clear.

We managed to get out for a walk yesterday at my lunch break but it was short at only 15 minutes. Better than nothing but the wind was so cold. I even had my winter coat on and Mr. Alvin had his warm sweater on and the wind just cut through. I could not even warm up and the house seemed colder.

I am grateful for this house, our home, for our good health, for our many friends and family, for a job that continues to allow me to work from home, for good food to eat and so much more. I am truly blessed.

On this Tuesday, I hope that you are well. I cannot take my mind off the work I have left to do so I will make this post short and head back downstairs, pour my coffee and get to work.

Take care, be well and have a wonderful day. I hope that you are able to get outside and that you are surrounded by laughter. Fresh air and laughs are the perfect combination.

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

“Dare to dream,” – why not?

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing today? We are good. Can you believe that it is Friday again? WOW. Time definitely passes more quickly with each passing day. Just means that we have to make the most of each one. That is definitely a reminder to myself. The sun was shining earlier but there appear to be a bit of cloud in the southern sky this morning. We did not get much rain mostly cloud cover the past few days. That is sad for sure. It is pretty dry out there. There is a breeze this morning. The forecast is for +20 degrees celsius today. How about that! I looked at the long range forecast and it appears that we have + double digits ahead, hip hip hooray! I booked this afternoon off as vacation as Mr. Alvin has a 3 p.m. vet appointment. So I am going to enjoy that time off from work with Mr. Alvin. We can walk at noon and then again later.

I think that I am going to post some photos. It is so great to have access to such beautiful photos. Also, I had better download photos from my camera so that I can share some of those with all of you.

Alvin is needing my attention so this will be quick.

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Wishing you a awesome Friday.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience for all.

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.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 9th day of March, 2019.

WOW, one week into March and one week closer to spring.

The first day of spring is fast approaching but will it be the actual date that spring arrives.

Time will only tell.

This coming week we are to have above zero temperatures and with that more SNOW.

I shovelled twice yesterday …. once being leaving for work and once after Alvin and I went for a walk.

When we walked only about half of my neighbours had shovelled.

Alvin did his hop jump through the snow dragging me behind him.

What a sight that must have been.

For some reason once again we were up about 3:00 and now have been up since before 6:00 a.m.

Early, early for a Saturday.

Normally on the weekend we are up a bit later …. say 10 p.m. and then up about 8:00 p.m.

Not today.

At least on the bright side, I will have my work done early.

By 7:00 a.m. I will have my blog posted, bedding changed, laundry gathered, and the first load of laundry in the washing machine.

Also coffee on and starting breakfast.

Already did some work on my taxes this morning before this post.

I guess there is something to be said for getting up early.

But I am up at 5:00 or earlier during the week ….

Oh well …..

Today will be different …. will see what happens.

 

The sky remains dark out of my office window.

Must be overcast.

No light on the horizon.

ARGH, does that mean more snow for today?

No, please no more snow.

I just want birdies singing, buds on the trees and blades of grass sticking out of the nearly melted snow.

Is that too much to ask?????

Am I having a moment, sorry I am.

 

Well I better hop to it.

Lots to do.

Really looking forward to coffee this morning.

 

Have an awesome day.

Remember …. no matter what happens ….. SPRING is closer than WINTER.

Winter is ending ……

 

Happy Saturday.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 19th day of September, 2018.

I almost said June …. not sure what I was thinking about …. ???

It was dark but dry but when we got up this morning and nothing has changed thus far.

They are forecasting temperatures of about 14 degrees celsius, which would be BEAUTIFUL.

Last night Alvin and I went for a walk after work with our friend “P.”

We walked around the big lake to the north of us (first of all we walked to our friend’s house as we were ready more quickly than I first thought).

It was beautiful.

Some of the leaves are changing colour to hues of yellow and orange while the others are bitterly hanging onto to their greens.

Lots of folks out walking with loved ones both two and four-legged.

The SUN was shining and there was just the perfect warmth-cool mix to the air.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk.

We will be going again tonight.

 

After our walk and before supper, I decided to put away the remaining or at least the bigger pieces.

Leaving only the bistro table (which I should not lift into the garage) and its’ two chairs.

The deck looked so bare.

I decided as we only have a couple of days left without the forecast of moisture (rain & snow) to put the flowers back onto the deck.

I had placed a few pots into the garage last week.

Kept them watered and they lived.

The only pot that I left in the garage is the lavender plant as I want to dry the flowers and put it in the basement to winter there.

 

I decided mid point in the week is a good time to put up some photos.

The ones with the snow were from this past Saturday and the one with the flowers in the “sunshine” are from last night.

There was even a reflection on the fence by the sunflowers, do you see it?

All I can say is my poor Sunflowers from Saturday.

The one on the left, actually broke right at the base of the stalk and was just kind of there.

Poor thing

 

 

My friend P said that the Snapdragons are quite hardy.

The impatiens …. they were starting to get weak in the garage.

Anyway, that was last night.

I am glad to see some colour on the deck even if it is only for a couple more days.

 

I hope that you all have an awesome Wednesday.

Happy Birthday to my old neighbour who built a new house, and moved to a neighbourhood about 6 minutes away by car.

Happy Birthday “S” ……

 

Special Hello to: my sister and my friend V …… ladies you rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 5th day of September, 2018.

Wow, mid first week of September 2018.

That came fast.

I was at home under the weather yesterday – so I did not post on my blog.

I hope that life is finding you well, energized and happy.

I am doing well.

Alvin and I had a nice walk last night.

Always makes a person feel better to get some fresh air.

 

My carpool is on vacation this week so catching the bus this morning.

Back to the normal bus schedule now as the kids are back to school.

I will catch the earlier one which gets me to work about twenty minutes early.

 

Alvin is semi curled up on his blue blanket on the office floor beside me.

He is like an attachment.

When I am at home – he is never far away.

Oh, how I love this little guy.

 

The temperature seems to be warming and ended up being warmer than original forecast.

Today mid to late teens so that will be nice.

 

Alvin is noticeably licking his paws now.

Not sure if the new “egg shell membrane” medicine is working better or worse than the glucosamine.

 

I was watching a bit of a show in between sleeping yesterday and caught Jamie Lee Curtis speaking about her life.

She said that she never was particularly good at school or sports and was not considered to be pretty.

She just went by unnoticed until as a young adult she started to do the things that she was interested in acting and later writing.

Jamie just published her 12th children’s book.

Very inspirational.

 

Well almost time to grab my things and my shoes and hit the trail to the bus.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

 

We have to remember that having all the education in the world does not guarantee you happiness UNLESS you are passionate about your chosen path.

I am not saying that education is not good nor am I saying that it does not help.

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 31st day of May, 2018.

Wow, May is coming to a close.

Hard to believe it is the last day of this month.

Tomorrow is June.

How on earth did that happen?

Still overcast but has stopped raining.

It is cool outside.

Far cry from a few days ago.

Alvin and I are enjoying our walks.

The past couple of days we have walked before he even ate supper.

Guess he likes to eat a bit later.

 

Paw Patrol (pet sitting) is going well.

Humphrey is quite the Cat.

He makes me giggle.

We are having fun together.

Last night he was in the cuddling mood, so that we did.

 

We always try to do better, right?

Stop to thinking before speaking.

Listening to your inner voice and not letting it escape before it should.

Perhaps a bit of editing.

I am not saying that we should watch with delicate care as to every word that we say but far too often our inner voice in the heat of the moment is far too emotional to escape to the outside world.

Most times saying exactly what you think does not make you feel any better, certainly does not make the situation any better, so editing helps.

No need to fuel the situation.

Every day WORDS are spoken in the trillions and more …. far too many to actually count.

So why not make them as positive as possible.

Yes, sometimes criticism is necessary but not all of the time.

There are times that I want to scream but I take a deep breath and just say something to myself.

Because it is not actually necessary to speak to every conversation.

Sometimes SAYING NOTHING is far more powerful than speaking out.

Just some thoughts this morning.

 

Well almost time to leave for work here.

I hope that you have an awesome Thursday.

Wishing you to be surrounded by positiveness.

 

Special Hello to: my friends all over the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 3rd day of May, 2018.

Well here we are ….. entering into the month of May.

Last night was beautiful even though it felt quite cool in the morning.

The wind was BLOWING so hard last night that at one point earlier in the evening, I took down my “spring/summer” wreath from the door.

Thankfully it is calm this morning.

We did receive a few drops of rain last night in the evening.

Not really enough to even settle the dust.

Who knows what summer will be like.

Will it be hot and dry?

Will it be hot, raining and muggy?

Will it be cold and wet?

Will it be cold and dry?

Will it arrive?

I am sure one way or the other that it will arrive.

Time will only tell.

Even the weather forecasters do not seem to know for sure.

I think that weather would be one of the most difficult things to forecast.

 

Well Alvin is continuing to lay on his blue blanket beside me in the office.

I love when he is close to me.

He heard some birds this morning outside in the back yard.

They sounded like swallows, something small but loud.

Anyway he barked three times and that was it ….. went out and brought him into the house.

Cannot stand the chance of someone calling to complain and after all it was about 5:50 a.m. – not sure I would like to listen to a door barking at that hour either.

Anyway he did his thing for a brief while and I think it was important for him.

Good for him and good for me.

Funny though when we have been walking by our ponds every night and the geese are there …. he does not even acknowledge them.

They don’t mind him either.

It is definitely a funny thing …..

 

I have been trying to find out what the temperature is but I am dressed in capris, top and a mid length cardigan.

I will be wearing that no matter what.

I checked weather for Edmonton and got so many hits and then none of them are easy to access.

Gotta love the NET.

 

Oh well, I will soon know.

Thank goodness I will step outside and wait only a few minutes before climbing into a nice warm car.

Oh, I love these days.

Carpooling, it is the life.

Definitely makes this part of the day more pleasant.

Although now I am missing out on four walks everyday.

So am working on a weight routine to do each day in addition to the walk with Alvin.

Have to do something ….. it was a long long long, yes long winter.

There be a tire there ….. argh.

Anyway …. that is what happens when you eat and do not exercise much.

That was this winter.

Even Mr. Alvin has expanded his mid section.

 

Well time to go and put the finishing touches on ….

Have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister …. HELLO, there.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 21st day of March, 2018.

The first full day of SPRING 2018.

I hear that they have more snow in our long range forecast.

What I say to that is ….. that is okay as summer is right around the corner.

These end of winter spring storms are just, the end of winter.

Soon the snow shall me melted.

Soon our tulips shall be blooming.

Soon the bunnies will be all brown.

Soon there will be buds on the trees.

Soon we will be able to leave the house without warm winter boots with ice picks, heavy winter coats, scarves and mitts.

Soon we will be FREE from the winter weight.

Yes, it is going to happen, soon.

 

Update on Mr. Alvin.

Well we went to see his Doctor yesterday.

Now he has a yeast infection in the other ear.

ARGH.

So he has his final treatment in one ear and the first treatment in the other.

Next Tuesday will be the follow-up in one ear and the final treatment in the other.

Then we will be going back for the final follow-up.

Poor little guy.

I learned something yesterday.

Because he has floppy ears one has to keep them dry.

So when you are out walking or if he is playing in the snow, you must wipe them when he comes into the house.

Otherwise run the risk of a yeast infection.

 

Well time for me to fly.

Time always flies at this time of day.

I hope that you are all doing great.

Have an awesome Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: all you bloggers out there – keep writing.

Always, Carol & Alvin