2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? We are doing well. A few times up during the early morning hours and finally up to stay just before 8:30 a.m., on this slightly overcast Sunday morning. The sun is rising in the morning sky spreading the glow. How was your Saturday? Mine was amazing. First thing in the morning, Alvin and I hosted our friend Signe’s birthday party in our garage. Our friend Gillian brought over small heaters and it definitely took the edge off in between blowing the breaker box in the garage until we realized it was the smaller older heater that was causing the disruption. We unplugged the older heater at that point. We had blankets and of course all of our winter gear. I snuggled up to Mr. Alvin on the two seat sofa with him in his sweater and wrapped with a warm blanket. You never saw happier friends. I cannot tell you how much I miss our get togethers. We used to have coffee dates almost every weekend for years and then when the girls changed career paths; the coffee dates were spread out to every couple of three weeks. We absolutely love each other. I am grateful these days that I have a cell phone as we text all the time. It is a great way to keep in touch. We also speak on the phone as well. Sometimes there is nothing better than to hear the voice of a dear friend. I am happy to say that the commissioned gifts which were paper collages made by my super talented daughter Amanda were a huge hit. She definitely has an artistic gift. I am so glad that I could help support her artistic endeavour and to give something truly unique and beautiful to my friends. A treasure for all time. Gillian and I gave Signe gift cards to her favourite store on the planet “CHAPTERS/INDIGO” and we know that she will enjoy buys books. Oh, the vanilla from scratch cupcakes were a hit. That will be a recipe that I will definitely keep and the icing which I modified from my regular sugar cookie/cake icing I will remember to use again. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning with your friends. I was happily shocked that Mr. Alvin sat on the sofa with his sweater wrapped in the blanket the whole party (he did not lay down, he say up). These gals are the best. Perhaps in hindsight having the birthday party later in the day when the temperature had definitely warmed up more would have been good but despite the chill in the air we thoroughly enjoyed our time together and cannot wait until the next time OR when the restrictions are lifted so that we can get together in the house even if we have to social distance. I have lots of room for that. Better to be together than apart.

After the birthday party disbanded and the ladies went home. I gathered up the remaining items left in the garage and put the furniture back to its original stored location. Another successful birthday party held. I then grabbed a mug of coffee and chilled on the sofa with Mr. Alvin until I had to get ready to leave for the Optometrist’s office to pick up my new eyeglasses. I arrived a few minutes early which is par for me. Do not like to be late or right on time. Although with the COVID19 Restrictions and Protocols, being right on time is actually better. Before I stepped into the entranceway, I donned a blue mask. One of the staff opened the inner door and asked to take my temperature. I told her that I had walked over and would be cool so she asked if she could take it at my wrist and with this new fangled thermometer she took my temperature. It did not even seem that she looked at it unless it perhaps beeps or glows some bright colour if you have a temperature. She asked me to use some hand sanitizer which I was already doing and then to follow her. I had been hesitate about my new glasses after reviewing the photos I had taken from my visit a month ago trying on frames. But when she handed me the new glasses and I put them on, I was in love. The new frames look great. They feel nice and light. I am quite certain that the whole visit took less time than it took me to walk there in the first place. Before I left “Sunni” asked if I wanted some of the anti fog spray. They had mentioned this to me on my second visit and how good this spray was so I picked up one for me, one each for both my daughter and son-in-law as they also wear specs. After that I was on my way back home to Mr. Alvin. At home, I put Mr. Alvin’s sweater back on along with his harness and leash and we went for our first walk in over a week. It has been over a week since the frigid temperatures hit our city. There was a bit of a breeze which was cool but really all in all it was perfect. Bright sunshine. Both of us enjoyed the walk until we were 3/4 of the way home, then Alvin began to hop on three paws. We stopped and I rubbed his cold paw with my mitt. He is too heavy for me to carry although if he was injured, I certainly would find the strength to carry him as far as was necessary. He was good until we were almost home and then another paw. Stopped again, warmed the paw and then we were home. At home I wiped his paws so they were warmed up and dry. Removed our outerwear. Then, I went upstairs and changed as I was pretty warm after being dressed for being in the garage. Then grabbed some laundry and down to the basement to get that started. After the laundry was going, I went upstairs and warmed up a mug of coffee and snuggled with Mr. Alvin. I decided to go and shovel the driveway as it had not been done since the last snowfall. It was not too deep. While I was outside one of the neighbours came home, so we chatted from our driveways.

By this time it was almost time to start preparing supper. Alvin was hungry so I ended up feeding him a bit earlier than usual. I made roasted chicken breasts with roasted sweet potatoes, carrots and onions for my supper.

What a wonderful Saturday.

Well I guess I had better get the remaining laundry downstairs for round two. I was going to give Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath but have decided to do that next weekend. We will go for a walk this afternoon. The sun is really shining brightly now.

I hope that you are having a great weekend. Be safe, take care and be strong.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and learning to have more patience as each day passes.

Always, Carol & Alvin