It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone!

Well it is a bright, sunny and beginning to warm morning here in Edmonton.

I can hear the geese honking in the distance.

Last night after work we took our second walk of the day.

Followed by the start of laundry and then the raking of the front lawn.

The neighbour that shares the front lawn with me did her own raking.

She has been feeding the bunnies which we have many all winter long.

So lots of bunny parcels mainly on her half but some transferred to mine.

We cleaned up most of it but I am sure that a little poop left behind would be great fertilizer.

At least it is natural.

 

I had been pondering the thought of having one of those landscaping / lawn companies, you know the ones, like GREEN DROP stop by.

Perhaps give the lawn a well deserved boost.

My neighbour gave her half some extra help and her lawn was so much healthier looking than mine.

I even watered mine some.

But after listening to Dr. Jane Goodall speak on Jimmy Fallon the other night and reading about bees and dandelions (which I usually have a few for sure).

I have decided to take the natural approach.

I will ensure that the lawn is properly hydrated (if no rain, then I will water).

I will leave the dandelions for the bees.

I will not put down any kind of “chemical” fertilizer on the lawn.

This is my pledge.

Now of course, it may be for naught if my neighbours surrounding me fertilize but I will do my best.

I am also planning a “trash/garbage” pick up day in the next couple of weeks.

This is where I take a day of vacation from work OR spend a good part of a Saturday or Sunday out in my neighbourhood picking up the trash.

Right now it is absolutely disgusting.

Might be sooner than later.

I use my own garbage bags (which reminds me I am almost out of the big ones that I usually purchase from COSTCO) and I have the garbage picker tools and disposable gloves.

So all of the necessary and safe equipment for the job.

I do this for my neighbours, for my neighbourhood, for my community and for the natural community most of all.

I constantly worry about birds and animals eating elastic bands that folks drop on the ground by the mailboxes.

I constantly worry about all the crap that people do not pick up.

So with the birds, animals and environment in mind, in my heart, I do this.

Unfortunately I do not go out as often as I used to.

Once upon a time I went out once a week now it is once or twice a season.

This is the time where it is the worst.

I would remind all of my humans out there, please pick up the trash when you see it on the ground.

You are out walking so much more now, why not slip a bag and gloves in your pocket.

Pick up that trash when you are out and about.

Why not?

Why is it that the majority of people just walk on by?

Please I am asking you.

Next time please pick up the trash no matter the size.

When you are packing up your trash to go out for pick up.

Be careful of how you pack it.

DO NOT THROW LOOSE PAPERS, CONTAINER in a BLUE BOX OR

WORSE leave BOXES stacked willy nilly to blow about.

Those are the boxes and styrofoam packing materials that I find on the street all of the time.

The styrofoam breaks down as it hits the curb and corners of the sidewalk breaking into much smaller pieces so of which are digested by birds and smaller animals.

These smaller pieces also end up going into the storm drains.

Easy to to.

PICK UP the trash.

Please.

 

I do apologize if this sounds like a rant as I would rather it sound like a public service announcement.

We all have to work together to make this planet a better place for all of the inhabitants.

We rely on the NATURAL WORLD.

Slowly and now so slowly we are disturbing, changing and destroying the natural world.

Let us come together and do some good.

There is good coming out of this pandemic.

The good is helping the natural world.

Marine life is returning in areas, the sky is clear from smog and pollution as people are staying home and some factories are closed.

This should tell us something.

It is a good reminder.

We have to stop and get things straightened out.

The next time we have a pandemic we may not be so lucky.

I am not taking away from the loss of life globally from this horrible virus.

 

Please have a good safe and happy Saturday.

Given the chance to do something great for the environment in your neighbourhood, please do so.

Do not leave what you can do, for others to do.

 

With kindness and a deep respect for our planet.

I/We remain,

As Always,

Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 15th day of April, 2019.

Well it seems to be calm outside this morning.

The exact opposite of yesterday.

The sky is clearing as the sun rises in the east.

Alvin is on his blue blanket as he rests while I write this post for my blog.

We had a busy but wonderful weekend.

We socialized, had some exercise, ate well, did some work around the house and yard, and even did some volunteer work.

Humphrey was with us on Saturday for most of the day.

My young girl friends came for coffee after Al’s Doctor/Vet visit on Saturday morning.

I raked, did laundry, made a big pot of chilli and tidied up around the house.

We had some wonderful walks including one with our friend S and Luna, the young labrador (lab).

Yesterday my daughter came for a visit and pancake breakfast.

We had a great time catching up with all of our news.

After the big breakfast and visit – I geared up to pick up trash in the neighbourhood.

I made sure to have extra disposable gloves, two big garbage bags, mini gloves and a coat with a hood and a scarf.

Once outside I decided to tie my hood up with the scarf which worked for a few minutes before the wind blew around my hood and took it down.

The wind was cold and so strong that most of the time I had to pick up trash a few times before getting it into the bag.

There were moments when I thought that I might be air borne.

Sometimes picking it up with my hand that was covered with the disposable glove.

I was almost home when I turned to see this whirlwind of dirt heading right for me.

Luckily I was able to turn and miss the face-on brunt of the impact.

Over the course of this walk one man even crossed the street to say “You are my hero for picking up trash.”

That was nice.

When almost at home I hear my name from one of my friends who was visiting at another friend’s house.

She said she did not realize it was me at first.

The wind had my hair all blown wild and crazy.

Between the scarf and my hair, I was unrecognizable.

I chatted for a moment before carrying one.

One thing to mention ….. my friend’s dog Jazmine was there and she took one look at me and turned away.

I even called out her name but she would have nothing to do with me.

Ah, I must have looked scary.

One more story.

Sometimes people drive me crazy.

I was coming around the bend toward home and this young couple crossed the street ahead of me heading to their vehicle, a truck.

When the girl got into the truck some fast food wrappers blew out.

I was right there and picked them up.

She saw this and said nothing.

How rude.

Anyway my hood is clean now except for the leaves and whatever trash blew in from elsewhere.

It was a productive weekend and Sunday.

YAY, me.

 

Well almost time to leave for work as my ride is coming early today.

I hope that you all have an awesome Monday.

Please remember that your trash is not for someone else to pick up.

Your trash is not to fill the oceans and kill the marine life.

Your trash is not meant to fill the yard of your neighbour.

Your trash is not meant to blow around parks and forests for the wildlife to eat and then slowly die.

You need to look around and be mindful.

Stop buying all those items with the multiple layers of plastic.

If we stop buying and start complaining then manufacturers will make changes.

We only have one planet.

Time to change.

This is the change that needs to happen.

Not just a change in government a change in how we live our lives.

I challenge you one and all.

What will you do?

 

Special Hello to: my friend V who was a busy girl this weekend and always (time to rest?).

Always, Caro & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 24th day of May, 2016.

Overcast but has stopped raining for now.

No rain overnight.

GREEN GREEN EVERYWHERE.

*******************************************************

I always find it funny not necessarily ha ha funny but perhaps strange funny to look back in time on my blog and see what I was doing on this DATE last year or two years ago.

I had a very busy weekend and it was HOT unlike this past weekend.

Always good to see what was going on a year ago or two it can help with your current mind set.

****************************************************************

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of May, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton, sun shining and a cool breeze masking the heat.

Yesterday felt like a July day ….. HOT.

Weather is a funny thing not funny ha ha but strange.

This morning is what I deem as perfection.

It is warm but the breeze keeps it comfortable to be out and about.

Great for walking.

But alas, Mr. Alvin is on his sleepover at his sister’s house.

His first one at their new place.

I am excited to hear all about it.

While he was away and the reason for his sleepover the furnace was cleaned.

Two of the nicest young men did the job.

Funny though they both told me different sizes for the furnace filter ( I already know which one ).

Perhaps it was the hot day that messed with their memory.

Once they left I got busy …. it was close to 4 p.m. but better late than ever.

I dug out three shrubs from the front “flower bed” ……

It took some work and at one point I was thinking it would have been nice to have had some help.

But I kept at it and got them out.

Got most of the dirt from the roots and then as the shrubs lay on the lawn …..

Now what?

One was quite heavy and with branches how am I going to dispose of them.

Aha, I thought ….. get those big stretchy black garbage bags …..

I managed to squeeze each one into their own bag.

Then lugged them to the back …. up the steps and onto the deck and up more steps and into the garage.

It took me almost one hour to get the shrubs out but I must tell you, I felt like a million dollars.

I did it all by myself …… I am strong and not reliant on someone else.

It was a good thing.

Then after that I raked and moved the dirt around in the now naked flower bed.

Also the neighbour behind is building a huge garage and has a big pile of top soil so I decided to ask him if I would be able to use some to top up my front flower bed.  He kindly said “yes.”

Then I had to find something to put the dirt into …. I found a ten gallon pail in my garage.

Now let me you a pail full of dirt is not light.

But I hauled five of them from his yard across the back alley into my garage down both sets of steps on my deck across the path between me and my neighbour’s to the front flower bed.

What a great workout.

I do believe that going to bootcamp helped me to complete this task.

I definitely could feel my core and arms doing what they were supposed to ….

Here are some photos:  furnace cleaners and the flower bed ….. forgot to take before photos !!

Was so grateful to have my kids shovels and garden tools to use….

Now all I need is a couple of bags of potting soil to top it up and then some flowers.

YAY ….. I did it.

Well time for breakfast and coffee…

Happy Sunday and always remember “do not sell yourself short.”

You are stronger than you think.

You are better than you think.

You are more resourceful than you think.

You can do anything.

Special Hello to: all the single women in the world……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to the 2nd day of April, 2016.

It is a bright and sunny morning here in Edmonton.

I am up and showered – freshened up.

Time to write in my gratitude journal, have breakfast (share my banana with Alvin) and then share a pot of coffee with my neighbour “S.”

This morning I am off to clean-up the trash around the neighbourhood.

It does not look like I even went out about a month ago as there is so much.

So I will put on some comfortable old shoes, my sunglasses, grab some garbage bags and some disposable non-latex gloves and my keys and be on my way.

Whoops almost forgot my handy dandy GARBAGE PICKER UPPERS…..

It will likely take me about 1-2 hours to clean things up as I will do a big loop and of course, the walk-way to 62nd Avenue (which is CRITICAL again).

I know for a fact that MacDonalds and StarBucks do not throw their coffee cups into the wind so that they blow into our neighbourhood.

Why oh why cannot people just take them home and throw them into the garbage.

Perhaps too easy.

Are people really that stupid?

Uncaring.

I just do not believe that say you throw your StarBucks coffee cup into the bushes/grass on the walkway today.

Then someone comes behind you and does the same thing.

Everyday you walk there and it just looks worse and worse.

Does that not bother anyone except me?

Anyway I am going to make it beautiful.

The way it should be.

My wish is to educate people.

Also I am going to plead once again with the City and the Neighbourhood Association to please put up a garbage bin.

I hope that next time you are walking about enjoying nature and sipping on your coffee or cold drink that you will think about taking the cup home instead of throwing it onto the ground.

Now obviously I realize that not everyone does this or else our world would be completely filled with cups.

Have a great weekend.

Please keep your neighbourhood clean and tidy.

All you have to do is keep in front of your house clean and secure trash on pick up day.

Thank you.

This is my public service announcement.

Have a great Saturday.

No poems for me today …..

 

Special Hello to:  to all those folks who help to keep our planet clean and tidy.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of May, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton, sun shining and a cool breeze masking the heat.

Yesterday felt like a July day ….. HOT.

Weather is a funny thing not funny ha ha but strange.

This morning is what I deem as perfection.

It is warm but the breeze keeps it comfortable to be out and about.

Great for walking.

But alas, Mr. Alvin is on his sleepover at his sister’s house.

His first one at their new place.

I am excited to hear all about it.

While he was away and the reason for his sleepover the furnace was cleaned.

Two of the nicest young men did the job.

Funny though they both told me different sizes for the furnace filter ( I already know which one ).

Perhaps it was the hot day that messed with their memory.

Once they left I got busy …. it was close to 4 p.m. but better late than ever.

I dug out three shrubs from the front “flower bed” ……

It took some work and at one point I was thinking it would have been nice to have had some help.

But I kept at it and got them out.

Got most of the dirt from the roots and then as the shrubs lay on the lawn …..

Now what?

One was quite heavy and with branches how am I going to dispose of them.

Aha, I thought ….. get those big stretchy black garbage bags …..

I managed to squeeze each one into their own bag.

Then lugged them to the back …. up the steps and onto the deck and up more steps and into the garage.

It took me almost one hour to get the shrubs out but I must tell you, I felt like a million dollars.

I did it all by myself …… I am strong and not reliant on someone else.

It was a good thing.

Then after that I raked and moved the dirt around in the now naked flower bed.

Also the neighbour behind is building a huge garage and has a big pile of top soil so I decided to ask him if I would be able to use some to top up my front flower bed.  He kindly said “yes.”

Then I had to find something to put the dirt into …. I found a ten gallon pail in my garage.

Now let me you a pail full of dirt is not light.

But I hauled five of them from his yard across the back alley into my garage down both sets of steps on my deck across the path between me and my neighbour’s to the front flower bed.

What a great workout.

I do believe that going to bootcamp helped me to complete this task.

I definitely could feel my core and arms doing what they were supposed to ….

Here are some photos:  furnace cleaners and the flower bed ….. forgot to take before photos !!

Was so grateful to have my kids shovels and garden tools to use….

Now all I need is a couple of bags of potting soil to top it up and then some flowers.

YAY ….. I did it.

Well time for breakfast and coffee…

Happy Sunday and always remember “do not sell yourself short.”

You are stronger than you think.

You are better than you think.

You are more resourceful than you think.

You can do anything.

Special Hello to: all the single women in the world……

Always, Carol and Alvin