2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing today? Alvin and I are well and happy that today is Friday. I am excited for his birthday party on Sunday. He will enjoy seeing his best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi as well as our family. We are having a wee bit of snow this morning. Just a few flurries. Nice to have some white snow. We have so many leaves in the backyard and where they are flying in from I do not know, but they are all over. I guess with those gale force winds that we have been experiencing – they could be blowing in. Can you imagine seeing a cloud of leaves blowing in from miles away? That would be a sight. Yesterday I picked up as many as I was able. So I am hoping for a bit of snow to cover them and freeze them in place for now. Spring clean up is going to be “so much fun.” Oh well that is a few months away. ARGH.

Last night after finding nothing on television to watch and I so wanted to just watch a show, I decided to go to NETFLIX and watch BRIDGERTON. Mainly I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and I can now see why. I watched two episodes before I had to stop to go to bed. I am now addicted. The story is good plus the costumes are amazing. Can only imagine the thousands of dollars spent on dreaming up and creating those dresses. I would highly recommend the show. It is both funny and sad and has some drama, of course. Shonda Rhimes has done it again. The show is based on the novels by Julia Quinn set in the competitive world of Regency era London’s Ton during the season, when debutantes are presented at court. Created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes. Two thumbs up. Narrated by Julie Andrews. The acting is really good, as well. I am really enjoying it. One of my favourite eras. Check it out.

I also have to get back to NETFLIX and continue to watch another favourite of my STAR TREK DISCOVERY. I had started to watch it from the beginning as I missed some of the new episodes so thought why not?

Another good thing about NETFLIX is no commercials.

Well it is time to get this day going. We are going to have a busy weekend as tomorrow will be setting up for the party. Simple but elegant will be the day. I noticed that Mr. Alvin may need a touch up hair trim. Another task to add to my TO DO LIST for tomorrow.

I hope that you have a wonderful Friday. Remember to take some time for you as you deserve it.

As we continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion. I should perhaps add patience as there are some days I really need to work on that.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning All.

Earlier this morning when I was outside with Mr. Alvin – I could see my breath. That means only one thing? Temperature dipped to below freezing last night. Surprisingly enough my last two pots of petunias are still blooming. I think they usually make it past below freezing temperatures. Today is the last day of the long weekend for me so I am going to put away my patio / deck furniture. I have the bistro table that is made out of steel/iron with a river rock table top ….. this baby is heavy. I used to be able to move it across the deck, which I still can but it is carrying it up the three steps and into the garage that might be tricky. I may have to enlist some muscle along the way. Anyway the wind has decreased from the gale force that we have had for the last day or so. Thank goodness. Oh, I spoke to soon, the trees that I can see from my office window are swaying in the wind. Looks like raking may be out of the picture for now. This year I decided to leave the leaves on the ground until the trees were bare. Humphrey and Bogart’s Mom and I share the front lawn. Her tree still has a lot of leaves and mine has three or close it. Actually a few more than that.

How was your Thanksgiving thus far? My daughter and son-in-law and grand pups “Aspen” and “Milo” came for supper. We were going to eat at 5:30, then pushed it to 5:00 and then to 4:00 p.m. My daughter remarked about eating at 3:00 next year and that we are getting older. Yes, we are. I came back with how about lunch and we had a good giggle. We had a great time. Supper turned out great. When we were finished eating instead of trying to stuff down fruit pizza and pumpkin pie for dessert we decided to play a game of “Trivia Pursuit.” I made some coffee. There were a lot of laughs during that game. My son-in-law won by a hair. We only played until three wedges. The fruit pizza was a hit. My daughter had suggested a television show that is on NETFLIX called the “DERRY GIRLS.” It is a British sitcom set in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1990’s. The first season was broadcast in early winter of 2018, followed by second series in spring of 2019 and now a third series has been commissioned for 2020. It is both funny, the kind of funny that almost makes one “pee their underpants” and series and sad. They have watched this series a few times as they love it so much. We watched the first season, first episode together and then they packed up to go home. I still had their COSTCO order from Friday night and leftovers from supper. I do want to mention something about ordering groceries to be delivered. Watch the prices. Not only is there a charge for the service but the prices are jacked up as well. After we got the family safely packed up and on their way, me and Alvin went back into the house where I ran the water to do the last few items that would not fit into the dishwasher and turned the television to the second episode of DERRY GIRLS. Certainly not a bad way to be entertained while doing dishes. After the dishes were done, I sat down and watched the rest of the first season, first series and then the next couple of episodes from the second season, or series. Of course, we did have a couple of interruptions as Mr. Alvin had to go outside and do some business. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had so grateful that my kids were able to join me and Alvin. It would not have been the same without them. Plus how could I have ever eaten all that food, I would have had leftovers long after they were proper to eat.

Well what is up for you on this Monday, October 12, 2020. WOW, almost halfway through October, 2020. Oh, I must count how many sleeps until Halloween and putting up the Christmas Tree and decorating the house. 19 sleeps until Halloween and 20 till the TREE goes. I am excited to be at home for both without having to go into the office everyday. Of course, I will have to go in perhaps on or two days every month for now. That is totally okay with me. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to continue to work from home. How about you? Are you working from home? Do you like being at home? It is different that is for sure but once you get settled in, it really is quite nice. No commute. Gotta love that. When you are off at 4:00 you are off at 4:00 (if you stop working at 4:00) and starting at 8:00, no more getting up at 5:00 or sometimes earlier. I am so grateful that I am able to work from home. This has been one of the best things to happen in 2020.

The sun is shining and I had better get moving here. Get dressed, have coffee and some toast and then get out and start putting the furniture into the garage. I also have to break down some cardboard boxes for the garbage. Also I like to go through the garage and reorganize so that is the plan for today. Outside. If the weather permits and no gale force winds we shall go for a walk this afternoon.

Thank you for reading this post. I have to get working on my book. I am only about two chapters in but actually have the material written it is fine tuning it and putting things in proper order. Sometimes I think that is more difficult than putting the words on paper so to speak. Anyway, I am writing each and everyday about this life of mine. A bit of this and a bit of that. Sometimes I read an old post and think “oh, that was silly” and the next time “oh, that was smart, witty and charming.” I will say that when I write this daily post, I do usually plan what I am going to write ahead of time. It is whatever comes to mind and I run with it. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes sad and sometimes a mix. At the end of the day my main goal is twofold. To write daily and to make people pause, think and perhaps even laugh. Is that twofold or fourfold. LOL. Anyway, you know what I mean. I love to write and if people like to read my words then I am even more happy.

On this Monday, October 12, 2020 – I wish you good health, love, joy, much laughter and abundance. May the sun shine down on you and your family and bring lightness to your day. Happy Monday.

Well time to get this load moving. I feel like a load this morning. Definitely ate way too much.

Living my life with love, kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

Raining through the night and earlier this morning but has stopped now.

Funny how that happens.

I missed watering my flowers on Monday night and then gave them a good drink last night.

Well they are well watered now.

Some of my flowers and plants are beginning to fade.

The nights are beginning to cool now.

I suppose it won’t be too long before I need to prepare for the next season.

Will check the long range forecast for frost.

I will leave everything as long as possible.

As long as the flowers are blooming I like to leave them and sometimes near the end they are beginning to look a bit less than perfection.

 

W for Wind.

Man oh man, have we been experiencing a lot of wind these days.

Seems like every year Edmonton gets more and more wind.

A nice breeze is fine but gale force is not.

Alvin and I have almost blown away on some of our walks and then sometimes we just stay home.

 

This is one of those mornings where for some reason I do not have a lot to say.

Fancy that.

Usually I start and don’t have time to write everything that I am thinking.

I almost never plan what I am going to write ahead of time.

Just sit down and start typing the things that come to my mind.

Sometimes they are silly and sometimes very serious.

 

I want to extend our sympathies to our neighbours on the passing of their beloved fur baby “Capone.”

He was a big guy and so sweet.

I remember when he was a puppy.

My how time flies.

We have lost so many of our fur baby friends and family this year.

Abi (Alvin’s girlfriend), Casey (long time family friend), and now Capone and our Mabel who was my brother and family’s girl.

Rest in Peace my darlings.

We shall miss you forever and keep you forever in our hearts and minds.

 

With kindness and respect for all,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 13th day of June, 2018.

Today is the 65th Birthday of my dear friend “P.”

She is a wonderful person and friend.

Alvin and I send our wishes to her for a great day.

Today is a great day to be celebrating a birthday as the sun is shining and there is only a slight breeze.

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating today.

 

So great to wake up to the sunshine and a light breeze.

Those gale force winds reeked havoc with some trees, plants, fences, signs and more.

Last night I took the bus home from work and noted all of the small boxes that scattered one of the walkways along my walk.

Not quite certain why people would feel the need to place small cardboard boxes loosely out in their garbage during gale force winds.

But then again “common sense” seems to be a fleeting thing these days.

So that will give me lots of trash to pick up before we have more rain.

Oh people!!

I was so grateful that we seemed to be intact after those winds.

I checked the birthday girl’s house last night as they are away to celebrate her birthday.

Only some newspaper had blown into their yard and was trapped in between plants and the fence, so I cleaned that up.

A couple of small pieces of tree branches had broke off and a few plants looked a bit wind blown.

No major damage that I could see and was grateful.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk and our friend left a bag of treats in a water proof bag for Mr. Alvin.

How spoiled is he?

 

Spent some time last night moving flowers back to their spots on the deck.

I left the umbrellas in the garage until later in the week.

No need for them now, anyway.

 

Wow, so today is Wednesday.

Having Monday off – changed the pace of the week.

 

Well almost time to hit the road ….

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Enjoy the sunshine and I hope that the sun is shining for you.

 

Special Hello to:  Hi Sister ….. glad to hear that your vacation is going well.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 23rd day of October, 2017.

Another gorgeous day on the way.

Still not used to waking up in the dark ….. not sure if I ever will.

But grateful that the ground is dry and the temperatures are in the plus digits.

Alvin and I have been loving our walks each day.

So nice to be able to just grab a light jacket and go ….

In the winter …. more work as Alvin requires his jacket, too.

But on a nice winter day ….. a walk is just as wonderful.

Back to FALL.

The leaves are still falling from some trees.

So amazing that they held on through gale force winds and pounding rain of a few weeks ago.

Just love seeing piles of multi coloured leaves on the sidewalk and in yards.

 

Remember how I said Alvin usually does not lay in the office.

Well he changed his mind this morning.

Mr. Alvin currently has “three” chew treats throughout the house.

He retrieved the third one from outside earlier this morning.

Dirt and all.

I managed to grab it when he set it down on my master bathroom floor.

He certainly did not like that …..

Quickly I washed it and returned the chew to him.

So now on the little square of carpet that I have under my chair which reaches under the desk, he is laying with his chew just a few inches away.

What a guy.

I just love all of his little quirks.

He is quite the character.

 

Well it is almost time to grab my lunch, put on my shoes and jacket and head out the door for another day at work.

I hope that you all have an awesome Monday.

 

Remember to look after yourself – then you can look after others.

If we do not look after ourselves – how can we possibly look after others.

 

Happy Monday.

Special Hello to:  my friend “V” ….. thank you for being a wonderful friend.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 28th day of July, 2017.

Yay, it is the weekend.

Good thing as the heat of yesterday and the storm of last night has me needing some extra sleep.

I do love storms as long as the lightning is far away and no hail or torrential downpours or gale force winds.

Not that watching the rain come pouring out of the sky so fast it gives you cause to take a deep breath.

I as most reasonable human beings does not appreciate the damage that can come as a result of a summer storm.

The force of nature in a storm is out of this world.

So I am a cautiously optimistic storm watcher.

Alvin, thank goodness does not appear to get to freaked out over storms.

Perhaps that is because I am pretty cool about the whole thing.

Sometimes the first clap of thunder might set me to jumping but otherwise I am pretty relaxed.

Bearing in mind what can happen and being careful to watch for the signs.

I have been in the path of a tornado and because I was taken by it – did not take precautions.

Fortunately I was okay but the house directly south of ours at the time was not so.

So live and learn (if you are lucky to do so).

Be careful and be safe.

Well a bit cooler forecast for today …. 26 degrees celsius which is better than 30+

 

Have an awesome Friday and I will be spending the weekend in anxious preparation for the arrival of my sister on August 4th followed by one of my brother on August 8th.

Life is great.

 

Special Hello to: my siblings …. you all rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin