Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of June, 2018.

Another beautiful sunny morning.

Alvin slept from 10:00 p.m. until 6:40 a.m. (he must have been pooped after his sleepover with Teddy.

He had a moment this morning and did not wish to walk down the stairs.

So I gingerly picked him up to carry him downstairs.

He wasn’t really happy about that and perhaps he did not trust that I could manage carrying him down the stairs.

I was carefully as after all he is “me Alvin” and I would never intentionally put him in harm’s way.

We made it to the bottom of the stairs and I carefully set him down.

After that he has been up and down the stairs.

He has been looking around and not sure if he thinks that perhaps Teddy is here somewhere.

 

Yesterday my daughter and Milo came for an unexpected visit.

Timing was perfect as I was giving Mr. Alvin a haircut.

Teddy just watched and perhaps was thinking “Yikes, I may be next.”

Even with the two of us we were not able to get Alvin’s front paws trimmed very short.

So it is what it is.

He looks good and will be much cooler.

Now after tomorrow the temperatures are cooling off.

I give him a trim/cut once a month.

Timing.

The boys had fun playing and hanging out.

Milo and Teddy got along well.

So great to have Teddy come to hang out with Alvin.

We enjoyed having him over.

 

Happiness means something different for everyone.

What brings you great joy?

What makes you feel giddy with joy to the very bottom of your being?

Happiness for me is being in good health, being surrounded by family and friends and being at home.

I have always wanted as long as I have lived to have my very own home.

This belongs to me (and to the bank), and I am so grateful to call this mine.

I can come home every night after work to my little piece of heaven.

I have flowers in the spring until fall.

I have room for me Alvin to relax and to run around.

There is room to sit for me, Alvin and company.

I can sit under an umbrella and sip on a cup of coffee and read a book, if I wish.

I can lay down if I wish but have to watch out for the “ants.”

They seem to be living everywhere these days.

I can take in the sunshine, the moon, the stars.

I can breathe fresh air sitting on my deck.

I can be proud of what this is and I am.

I can admire the flowers.

I can watch the clouds rolling by.

I can smell the fragrances of the flowers.

This is it.

Happy Days.

These were taken last night about mid evening before the sun went down.

 

 

 

 

 

Love the reflection of the night sky in the garage window.  It was so perfect out last night.

Well I guess I had better fly into the shower and then head out for coffee with my girls.

Always enjoy our get togethers.

Happy Sunday.

Enjoy what you have …..

Big or small …..

It is yours……

 

Special Hello to:  my sister – these flowers are for you …

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 28th day of May, 2018.

A gorgeous morning.

Slight breeze.

Sunshine.

Perfection.

 

Alvin slept until the alarm went off at 5:00 a.m. – we were up to stay up, then.

We are on pet patrol – meaning I am pet sitting for a friend and neighbour.

So in order to look after everyone – we are staying up.

Poor Humphrey was not impressed that I did not stay for long this morning.

Cinder, the gecko – well she does not utter a word.

I was over several times on the weekend and stayed for longer periods of time.

Humphrey is the Cat.

He is a good guy and likes to go outside.

What a great weekend – surrounded by animals and children.

…………………………………………………………………………….

May 28, 2010 – Watching my Grand-puppies. (This was before I started “Thought for the Day”).

Appears that having fur babies around me has been happening for a long time.  These ones were extra special to me and I think of them everyday.

My kids left this morning for a week.  They flew to Toronto.  So Elton and Penny are spending the time with me and Alvin.  I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised at how well behaved they have been.  It was off to a bit of a slow start with last night.  Elton must have missed his Mom and Dad because he just couldn’t settle down.  Alvin spent the night following Penny around the bed.  Yes, they all slept with me.  They are cute and I love them.  Well, have to run.  I will share some stories later of our time together…….  It will be an earlier night as I believe I slept for a total of 3 hours last night.

Ah…… poor Grandma…..  🙂

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Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 28th day of May, 2014.

Wow the skies are playing magic tricks this morning.

When I first was up the sun was rising.

Then it was shining.

Now the sky is overcast.

If I wait for another minute the sun will be shining once again.

Mother Nature in all her glory.

So beautiful.

We have certainly needed and enjoyed the moisture received over the past few days.

Our grass is such a nice green now.

I hope that wherever you are  ….. that you are enjoying perhaps green grass and trees and pretty flowers.

Maybe you live near the ocean and are enjoying walking in the sand.

I am so grateful that I have eyes to see this beautiful planet.

I am so grateful that I have ears to hear all the sounds on this beautiful planet.

I am so grateful that I can tell everyone about everything I see and hear.

I am so grateful that I can smell all the fragrances and aromas all around me.

Thank you.

I hope that you are enjoying every piece of this planet …..

Take it in and enjoy.

Treat it all with love and respect ….. every bit.

……………………………………………………………………………….

I guess over the years weather, Mother Nature and our babies have been most important.

I love to look back and read what was happening on the same date years ago.

Well time is a rolling along.

Alvin is laying on his blue blanket – which has become a routine for him.

So happy to see the sunshine but there is some rain in the forecast for Wednesday.

We could use some moisture.

Happy Monday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who write …. I love to read, keep writing and sharing.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 8th day of June, 2017.

The sun is shining although there are some deep blue clouds above my house and over.

No forecast for rain until tomorrow.

Another hot one today.

Thank goodness for A/C at work and at home.

We enjoyed another walk last night with our friends “S” and Presley.

This warm sunny weather has been good for my plants/flowers as they are growing so much.

I am excited to see them all bloom.

Also I noticed that the roses are budding so just a few days and there will be beautiful pink flowers lining my walk to the park entrance and on part of the way to the bus.

The fragrance is amazing and tickles one’s nose in the most delicate way as it makes it way up into your brain.

Love, love, love wild roses.

I am a flower girl …. person ….. woman.

I love all flowers.

The colours and the different fragrances.

I would love to have my deck totally covered in flowers of every shape and colour.

I guess we would have to have a path to walk ….. so that Alvin would get to his grassy patch ….

But you know what I mean.

Perhaps visualization may help …..

Something to do on the bus ride to work.

Well time to get this load on the road.

Okay perhaps that may be a bit too vulgar …. I apologize.

Time to get this show on the road.

Better, right.

Hope you are smiling …. just a bit …… I can see your mouth curling up at the ends…..

Thank you for the smiles.

It is a good luck on you.

Happy Thursday.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who is taking on another venture ….. congratulations and good luck on your product launch. I will be there in spirit.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of May, 2015.

It is overcast and very windy.

We did however receive some rain overnight which is great.

Perhaps it will rain over the course of the day and that would be wonderful as it is so needed.

Well I had the best start to the long weekend.

Yesterday started off with bootcamp.

This one was very engaging ….

Found out “all of the arms work” really engaging when I went to dry my hair after a nice warm shower.

I could barely lift my arms …… arg ….

This morning they feel great …. not tired ….. they feel strong.  YAY.

My friend “S” and I went shopping/ running errands after bootcamp.

First stop was the VET to pick up food for Alvin and some treats for him.

Our second stop was Home Depot to pick up some more flowers.

OMG, I could have bought every single flower there.

I picked up a ready made pot filled with pinks and white flowers.

Impatiens and I think begonias to plant for the front porch.

Petunias, and some others that I am not certain of their names.

Have to read the labels.

Also small basket of purple pansies.

So pretty.

I LOVE FLOWERS.

I LOVE LOVE FLOWERS.

They make me so happy.

The colours.

There was one tiny white flower that filled the air with the most amazing fragrance.

I made sure that I picked up some of them.

I decided to plant them (was hoping today) later.

Later might be tomorrow.

They are carefully sitting in the garage by the window.

Will check them later to see if they need a drink of water.

After our stop at Home Depot we went to Costco.

Now that store on a Friday was “busy” …..

People were doing silly driving parking things.

Well of course when you go to Costco …. do you ever stick to the list?  NOPE. Never.

After all doesn’t everyone need a ten pound bag of carrots ….

Apparently me and Alvin did …..

One last stop before home.

Save-On for the winning lotto tickets.

P.S. the one item that I really should have picked up was new house phones because apparently mine are not working …. just filled with static when someone calls ….. I did find out that they can hear me quite fine……..

It was wonderful to spend time with my friend “S” ….. we laughed and chatted and laughed.

Great time.

Now on this quiet Saturday ….

The only sounds in the house are the clock tick tock ing in the bathroom, the sound of the keys as I type these words and the wind as it blows through the upper vents.

Friday was great …… exercise, shopping, walk with Alvin and then being at home.

So on this quiet lovely Saturday morning I hope that you too are enjoying your day.

I love being in my home ….. just puttering …. doing laundry ….. sipping on a cup of coffee ….. just being.

I did think however after yet another bootcamp that I had better get out my yoga equipment and get stretching.

It is amazing as you get older how inflexible you become if you do not work at it.

So I am going to ……

I want to be the most healthy almost 58 year old woman…..

So time to go and get at it.

Remember to take time for yourself. ….

If you like flowers….. go to and pick up some to plant or a ready made pot.

If you do not have the extra money to buy flowers today then just go and spend some time at one of the retail garden stores.

Smell them and take in all of the amazing colours.

This experience will uplift and bring you to a great place.

Well I hear the laundry calling and another cup of coffee …. perhaps I will drink it while it is “hot.”

Have a wonderful Saturday …..

Special Hello to: my daughter and family …. we miss you guys.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 24th day of March, 2015.

I can now share my “life changing” news with all of you.

I firstly had to ensure that most of the staff knew before the rest of my world.

Last Friday before my shift at the store, at my home away from home, Bath & Body Works – I gave my two weeks notice.

It was definitely one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever had to make.

I had been feeling as of late, as if my life was getting away on me.

I missed more walks with Alvin than I took him on.

I rarely got to see my girl friends.

In the near eight months that my daughter has been living here – we made jewellery once.

I had no time for video chats with my sister, friends and family.

I went from the office to the store …. scheduling always changing.

I missed just having a weekend at home.

I missed doing stuff around the house.

The little things.

Seems like a lot of  I’s …… but truly sometimes you have to be selfish, and look after yourself.

You are responsible for you.

I am not responsible for you and you not for me.

Decisions.

So I decided to resign from the store.

In the near four years that I have been employed by Bath & Body Works – Canada; I have always enjoyed the work.

The staff are always changing and always amazing … treating me like family, and I, them.

I have met some of the best people that I know and have made friendships that will last my lifetime.

I loved meeting all the new people every shift, and then seeing repeat customers from time to time.

I love smelling the new fragrances and being in the mall.

It was the best second … well actually first job one could ever ask for to be sure.

After all, it was Bath & Body Works that hired me four years ago when I was job hunting.

They took a chance of hiring someone who had a ton of experience but not in a related field, and most especially not in retail.

Of course, all of my life I have been giving great customer service translated you do not have to work in retail to be a customer service “agent.”

I am forever grateful.

Who knows perhaps someday I will return. ….. maybe for next Christmas.

I will always have fond memories of my time there.

Great job – great people.

New Chapter about to begin.

I look forward to the next weeks and months.

With a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Sometimes the song is a bit sad but mostly it is a HAPPY one.

Special Hello to: my family and friends who have always been a great support system for me.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 20th day of August, 2014.

Funny story this morning.

Alvin and I are in the kitchen and I am having my breakfast.

When I eat my oatmeal with a banana or blueberries, I always share them with Alvin.

Not 50-50, though.

Anyway, as we are rolling through the banana; all of a sudden there appears Miss Penny.

Well Mr. Alvin took umbrage to her trying to get in on his treat.

He stood up and growled as she nestled in beside me.

So cute ……

Anyway ….. he did shared the remaining banana.

They are so cute.

The way that they interact.

I love taking them all on walks.

Last night my daughter, Elton and Penny joined Alvin and I.

It was nice.

The evening was so beautiful…..

Just perfect ……

Still a few roses blooming and you know how I feel about that fragrance.

It just goes up into your nose …… where no other scents go and fills your brain with wonder ….. mmmm mmmmm

Needless to say I love roses.

Well almost time to go to work.

Another day another dollar, they say.

Have a great Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all those fine folks out there who take the time to read my blog …. thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 10th day of June, 2014.

Good Morning Sunshine ….. at least it was very sunny before I stepped into the shower.

I am so grateful for the rain …… we did need the moisture.

Now we could use some sunshine …… the warm blast of sun rays.

I can feel it now.

I can imagine it now.

Perhaps if I really use my imagination ….. the sun will really shine.

The flowers and grass are growing ….. flowers blooming …..

Soon the wild roses will be blooming and the fragrance is unbelievable.

That is my favourite time to go on walks with “me Alvin” ….. when the roses are blooming.

The waft as you walk by and by and by …. (sometimes I go back and forth).

Well of course, I am silly because I loved to walk anytime …. anywhere but most especially when the roses are in fine form.

There is nothing in a bottle that compares to them.

Well I am running late …. how did that happen.

Oh well ……

I hope that you all have a wonderful day.

Keep smelling the “roses” or whatever your favourite flower might be.

Nature has so many glorious scents.

Thank you Mother Nature.

Special Hello to: my sister who is travelling ….. safe drive.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 28th day of May, 2014.

Wow the skies are playing magic tricks this morning.

When I first was up the sun was rising.

Then it was shining.

Now the sky is overcast.

If I wait for another minute the sun will be shining once again.

Mother Nature in all her glory.

So beautiful.

We have certainly needed and enjoyed the moisture received over the past few days.

Our grass is such a nice green now.

I hope that wherever you are  ….. that you are enjoying perhaps green grass and trees and pretty flowers.

Maybe you live near the ocean and are enjoying walking in the sand.

I am so grateful that I have eyes to see this beautiful planet.

I am so grateful that I have ears to hear all the sounds on this beautiful planet.

I am so grateful that I can tell everyone about everything I see and hear.

I am so grateful that I can smell all the fragrances and aromas all around me.

Thank you.

I hope that you are enjoying every piece of this planet …..

Take it in and enjoy.

Treat it all with love and respect ….. every bit.

Special Hello to: my cousin “J” who always gives me good info ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 14th day of May, 2014.

Okay, really ….. almost the middle of May ….. WOW.

Time ……

I was so surprised when I looked out my bedroom window this morning and low and behold across the street the trees are not just in bud but are in leaves.

WOW, now that certainly appeared to happen over night.

What a glorious surprise.

That makes it official ….. spring and summer are here…..

We have green …. the trees are green …. some of them anyway.

My tree is in the budding phase.

But I am so happy that across the street there be leaves on the trees.

I could just do a happy dance.

Also some of my neighbours have flower basket ( likely from Mother’s Day ) and that makes me happy.

I am so excited to go flower shopping …… plant me some flowers……

Another happy dance.

I love flowers and plants and trees and grass …. green and colour and the smell ….

There is nothing like the fragrance of wild roses.

They will be flowering over the next little while.

So gorgeous …. the pinks.

Can you tell what mood I am in?

Well looks like Mr. Alvin would like to go downstairs and outside.

So the boss has “spoken.”

Have the best day and I sure hope that you are surrounded by colour and delightful fragrances.

Smile …… happy dance ….. smiling ….. grooving to the beat …. of HAPPINESS.

Special Hello to: my friends “G” and “S” who are helping me with the neighbourhood clean-up and also to my daughter.  I am surrounded by the best people.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 26th day of August, 2013.

Wow, sure is noticeable that we are approaching the latter part of the year.

The sun does not even begin to think about rising until after 6:00 a.m.

Must be nice, I think.

My favourite season is fast approaching – FALL.

I love the smell of the air, the colours of the leaves on the trees, and just the way that it makes me feel.

OH and the smells of autumn.

Whether it is the smell of pumpkin or cider or apples.

Working in retail and especially in a store that is all about FRAGRANCES and SCENTS.

It is noticeable so much earlier than Mother Nature’s gentle and sometimes not so easy nudge.

I love watching the rabbits begin to turn from brown hues to white.

I love hearing the geese honking as they start making their migratory journey with the little ones all grown up.

I love walking and enjoying the slight crispness to the air but not cold.

Do you have a favourite season?

So on this Monday morning I hope that you are enjoying the weather and the season wherever you are living.

Have a great great day.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, it means the world to me.

Special Hello to: all those lovers of FALL ….. it is almost here.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin