Good Morning,
Today is Thursday the 13th day of August, 2020.
Almost half way through August now and fall/autumn is fast approaching.
In some areas of the country the leaves are already beginning to change colour.
The grass in places is beginning to turn yellow/brown.
The grass and trees are still pretty green here in Edmonton due to the rain.
The air is cool.
The mad heat of the summer was short lived – only being about ten days this year.
We had a great many rainy days but have been blessed to have sunshine.
The weather during my vacation has been very nice with most of the hot days falling during this time.
Ah, summer.
Ode to Summer.
Short and oh so sweet.
I will say that fall is my favourite season …. I do love the freshness of spring and the smell.
Now that being said …. when I was growing up on the farm … back in 04 (just kidding) ….
There really was a fresh smell to spring.
A scent to the snow melting …. we did not know about snow mold back on the farm.
The crocuses covered pastures with a purple blanket.
Snow melted over a few weeks time.
I do remember once, when I young that we still had some dirty snow on the northside of our house in July.
That was crazy.
Back to modern times.
So this is Thursday, then Friday and the weekend and Monday is back to work.
For the most part the time has gone by at a reasonable pace until today and now it seems like work is right around the corner.
Back to getting up earlier.
Thankfully not as early as back in March when I had to leave the house at 6:40 or so or earlier if I was catching the bus.
I am grateful that the decision was made for us to remain working from home until at least January 2021.
Perhaps our leadership team will find that working from home just works better for staff.
I do love being at home.
No commute.
Time for extra walks.
Being with Alvin …. No. 1 reason for loving working from home.
Yesterday we had so many visits.
In the afternoon, Teddy, his sister Kobi and Mom came for a visit.
First visit from them in months although Teddy did spend some time here a few weeks ago.
After supper we went for our second walk of the day.
It was so nice outside.
We were almost past Pauline’s house, the friend with the glorious garden, when we heard her call out to us.
Alvin enjoyed running and sniffing about her yard and I enjoyed checking out the flowers and chatting with our friend.
Her flowers are still so beautiful.
A young lady named Jenna and her small dog named Ellie stopped by.
Pauline introduced me and Alvin to them – they had met while walking about a month ago.
My friend had been out walking with her grand pup George when they met.
I love meeting new people.
We had a nice long visit before returning home and not empty handed, I might add.
Pauline gave me some succulents to plant in my back garden.
I did not have time to plant them last night as we found Humphrey and his Mom on the front lawn visiting other folks from the neighbourhood.
Alex, Janet and their yellow labs “Eddy” and “Bruno.”
Alvin got a little freaked out as they saw me and pulled on their leashes to come and see us.
We had a nice visit on the front lawn.
I am so grateful that we have such lovely people in our neighbourhood.
By the time we got into the house it was 8:30 p.m. and we had left the house at 6:30 p.m.
A nice couple of hours outside enjoying the fresh air.
Well it is time to hit the shower as it has been a couple of days.
My hair looks like it needs to be washed.
The sky is now overcast and after the shower, I want to get those succulents into the ground as soon as possible.
They are resting in some water at this time.
I hope that you are enjoying August 13th, 2020.
Another friend celebrates a birthday today.
So many August birthdays.
Happy Birthday Caroline.
Alvin is standing in the doorway and staring at me.
Now he is stretching.
He is good at stretching, I could learn a lesson from the boy.
Well I think after my shower I will put on long pants.
Other than next Monday the weather forecast is for high teens and low 20’s for the next couple of weeks.
Last night it got down to plus 8 degrees celsius.
Living life with kindness and respect.
We all have our differences, our opinions and similarities.
No one human being is exactly the same.
That being said “we have to be better at living with each other.”
We should all be striving for the same thing.
Peace, respect and kindness and compassion for all human beings, for all living beings and for the environment.
When we notice disrespect, violence and non compassionate actions we need to speak out and change this.
No one person whether adult or child should have to live in fear or violation.
No animal should be chained up.
Cruelty and violence should be two words that are not in our vocabulary.
We need to be better.
We have to be better.
If we look back historically at the different centuries …. we are no better now.
The only different now is technology.
My hope that during my lifetime we humans learn to peaceful, respectful and compassionate.
I/We shall remain,
As Always, Carol & Alvin
My New Life @ 51 