Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and Welcome to another Thursday morning.

This one being the 14th day of November 2019.

Can you believe it?

Time feels as though it is passing in hyperdrive.

Super fast.

 

Well this has been sort of an odd morning.

Alvin was up at first about 3:30 a.m. although he did attempt to make me get up prior to that time.

Downstairs we went.

I gave him his glucosamine chew as per usual.

Perhaps that is my problem.

He is taking that as a treat.

But I give him the benefit of the doubt and usually he has to go outside.

I know that if I have to “pee,” there is no holding on for more time.

Bathroom here I come.

So I give him that same consideration, respect, if you will.

After the outdoors and his medicine we went to sleep on the sofa for another 1.5 hours.

It was broken a bit but I managed to get him to lay down until just before 5:00 a.m.

Then it was breakfast and he was in a hurry.

I could not give him his food fast enough.

Then drink of water and outside.

He was in and out several times over the next while as I wrote in my Gratitude Journal and ate my breakfast.

Oh, I share my banana with him ….. he started to get excited as I cut up the banana but I managed to quiet him with only one word.

What the word was now …. perhaps “softly STOP.”

I think it was “STOP” but before even 5:30 a.m. ….. it may very well have been another word.

Anyway, I am babbling.

Can you babble with words?

Of course, you can.

I write as I speak.

Once we came upstairs he seems to have settled down.

I know that last night when he was outside before bed there were a couple of dogs barking in the near distance.

There was also a FULL MOON (or close to it).

Was it the moon causing Alvin’s anxiety last night and earlier this morning?

He is snoozing on his blue blanket so that is good.

All has returned to normal in our house.

Or as close to it as it can be.

 

I am not certain what effect if any, the FULL MOON has on us living creatures.

However, despite being told that the FULL MOON does not have any effect on human’s state of being.

I still think that the FULL MOON has an effect on all living creatures.

The pull of the moon is powerful.

 

Well here we are almost time to go back downstairs and finish getting things together.

Throw the lunch into my backpack purse/bag.

Go outside with Mr. Alvin and clean up any little presents from earlier and see if he needs to go again.

I do not want to bother him as he looks so darn cute laying on his little blue blanket.

Oh my darling boy.

 

I hope that you have a dreamy Thursday filled with only goodness.

Remember it is the duty of each one of us to treat all living creatures with kindness and respect.

Just because a creature cannot speak/communicate like you and me does not mean that they should be dismissed as lesser than.

No, it does not.

We all need each other.

 

Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin

 

One of my favourite photos of me and Mr. Alvin.

I shall treasure forever ….

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Well the sky is more sunshine than not.

It is lovely outside this morning and temperatures to soar to about 24 today.

Doing the HAPPY DANCE.

 

Last night after work Alvin and walked over to his Doctor to pick up some food, a bag of treats and his glucosamine.

The air was heavy with blue sky and I had some regret about wearing a sweater.

But the sweater provided two pockets for things that I needed to have with me.

Oh well, I survived.

I decided on the way home that I would just stop at the house and drop off our purchases and then walk over to our friend’s house.

To check on her flowers.

With all of the rain that we have had … they did need a little top up …. a little drink.

I happily did this for them.

Alvin was running around the yard …. enjoying the grass.

Her flowers are crazy amazing.

Every colour under the rainbow.

 

So I still have an ant problem.

Perhaps it takes a few weeks for these home mixtures to work?

 

I cut the back lawn after 9:00 p.m. – not bad neighbour as I have a push mower – no motor except for mine and I can guarantee everyone that it was not loud.

 

I got brave and put out some of the patio cushions.

The furniture looked so bare for such a long time – I just had to.

 

Alvin and I enjoyed some quiet time together inside and out.

First time in a long time we actually sat outside on the deck.

 

Well it is Friday.

I am glad for the weekend.

Tonight after work my daughter is picking me up and we are heading to COSTCO.

I actually like going there ….. nice to check things out.

There will be laundry in my future tonight.

Tomorrow Master Teddy will be joining us for the day and then in the afternoon my grand-pups will be joining us.

Their Mom & Dad have a wedding to attend.

So me and the pups tomorrow.

So excited.

 

Well remember as always ….. live each day with kindness and respect.

It works.

 

Happy Friday.

 

Yes, it is…..

 

Always, with love & respect Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 28th day of February, 2019.

WOW, the second month into 2019 almost into history.

Tomorrow will be March.

March is already looking to be a busy month.

My daughter’s birthday is in March.

 

Last night the carpool dropped me off a few minutes earlier than usual.

So as soon as Alvin went outside, I got changed we donned our winter walking apparel and were on our way.

We walked over to Teddy’s house where they were expecting us.

Teddy was watching from the upstairs window and greeted us with a series of small barks.

We were happy that they joined us for our walk.

Alvin and I have been able to walk almost every night for the past few days.

But a treat.

We are feeling more energetic and sleeping better.

Well I am sleeping better.

We were up again at 2:30 a.m. …. downstairs..

I gave him one of his glucosamine chews and let him outside.

Now I am afraid that I have started a routine.

Oh well, when we hit the sofa after that ….. we get some quality sleep.

This is my life.

The life of a Momma and her Alvin.

It was so refreshing to walk last night.

I did not even have my hood up …. bareheaded …. living dangerously….

It was a great walk with our friends.

 

My carpool is writing an exam today so I am catching a ride with my neighbour.

So leaving in a few minutes.

So have to fly.

Wishing you all a very Happy last day of February 2019.

Enjoy, as well all know it will not repeat itself.

 

Happy Thursday.

Special Hello to: all those folks out there who are thinking of spring ….. I am with you.  Flowers …… green grass ….. mmmmm….mmm

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 17th day of November, 2018.

Another new day.

The sun is rising in the eastern sky and the air is crisp.

Hoping it will warm up throughout the day.

This morning Teddy goes home.

We are going to miss the little guy.

I will miss his patience and energy.

Alvin will miss his company, his being here throughout the day.

 

My young friends and I always have a Christmas party every year.

It has changed from a Saturday or Sunday morning coffee Christmas party to a night out for supper and then the past couple of years we have gone to each other’s

homes for a “nightcap” and treats.

This year we are opting out of the dinner out and having an evening at home hosted by one of the three.

We were going to have our party on Saturday, December 1st …. but a huge surprise.

One of the gal’s is from eastern Canada and her husband surprised them (my friend and her daughter) with tickets home for two weeks so they will not be home on the 1st.

So the party was changed until tonight.

We will have appetizers and sweet treats and liquid refreshments.

I cannot wait to see the girls.

 

Well lots to do.

Housework and I have to have a cup of coffee.

We were up at 4:00 and the boys went outside and Alvin had his glucosamine chew and then we laid down on the sofa, thinking it would be perhaps 5:30 or 6:00 when they woke me up

for breakfast and when I woke them up it was 8:00 a.m. – crazy.

So boys have now ate of course and I am ready to have some toast and coffee.

 

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Enjoy your Saturday.

 

Special Hello: my friends and family all over this country and beyond.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 17th day of December, 2017.

One week from today is Christmas Eve.

WOW, how did that happen.

The days are getting shorter and shorter until the 21st and then they will start to get longer once again.

Going to work in the dark and coming home the same ….. just seems like you do not have any time.

We are so spoiled to have a good portion of the year with lots of daylight.

This day, December 17th, 2017 – we have very little snow remaining and the temperatures have been on the plus side for most of the month.

Cards were mailed and delivered, baking completed and almost all delivered, gifts well they are a work in progress.

Let’s see what last year held:

 

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 17th day of December, 2016.

Only 7 sleeps until Christmas Eve.

A bitterly frosty cold morning here in Edmonton with a windchill of minus 30 degrees celsius.

Guess what they are forecasting minus 9 degrees celsius by tomorrow morning with a high of minus 3 degrees celsius for Sunday and guess what for Monday?

PLUS ONE …… with snow flurries and possible freezing rain.

How crazy within twenty-four hours we go from minus 30 to minus 3.

Oh well ….. next week is supposed to be relatively nice with single digit temperatures except for Friday when it dips to minus eleven.

The sky is so pretty this morning with hues of pinks and yellows.

The chimney smoke wrapping itself into the colour and disappearing into the sky.

 

Last night Mr. Alvin decided to wake up before 3:00 a.m. – I think perhaps his poor front paws are bothering him.

More than likely arthritis ….. he has started to lick them a lot.

He is now on some chewy glucosamine.

Will give it another week and then see where we are at.

Could also just be in part to the fact that we really have not walked for two weeks other than down the street to my friend’s which took all of three minutes.

I think he also has been sleeping too much as a result.

Perhaps his jumping off the bed days are numbered.

So am going to spend time training him to jump off on the cushioned stool that is at the foot of our bed.

He uses it to jump up but not to jump down.

My poor boy.

 

Last night one of my neighbour’s had invited me over for a visit.

I dared not tell him where I was going or he would have been upset that he was not going.

They have a family member who has allergies so he cannot visit inside the house.

However they love him and in the summer we visit outside with them all the time.

All I have to do is to mention their names and he gets very excited.

If they are outside working in their garden and we are walking by he makes a bee-line to cross the street to see them.

We had a nice visit.

 

Today I have laundry and some baking to do.

Also I have to return a call from my great nephew … he heard my voice message and was giggling when he left his message.

He said “Grandma, er I mean Anta, this is “A”, can you call me back.” …… with little laughs and giggles, so cute.

Get my Christmas gifts ready for the kids.

We are doing the reuse items idea.

Find something from around your house that you do not need and that they might want.

I know what I am giving my son-in-law but have too many ideas for my daughter.

It is a good way to stay within a budget and also to reuse things that are sitting idle.

Tonight I am going out for supper to a nearby restaurant with two of my younger girl friends.

So excited …

We decided not to exchange gifts and instead to go out for supper and visit.

This year is full of changes.

Just thinking wonder who won the Lotto MAX, if there was a winner ….. oh maybe it was me.

Can you imagine?

OH my that would be crazy to have $55 million dollars.

Happy days ahead …..for sure.

 

Tomorrow to end the weekend I am baking sugar cookies for one of my young friends who I promised if she bought the ingredients I would make them.

So I will be mixing, rolling, baking and icing cookies tomorrow.

 

Well time to get the laundry started so that my under wear is dry for tonight.

Yes, I did say that.

It is the truth and it is funny.

 

Well as the bright sunshine streams through my office window, I shall say good-bye for today.

With gladness of warming temperatures so that Alvin and I can walk.

Actually tomorrow will be baking cookies and WALKING WITH me ALVIN.

 

Happy Saturday ….

Be safe, keep warm and enjoy the weekend.

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

Always nice to look back and remember and then keep moving forward

Special Hello to: ALL ….. Merry Christmas.

Always, Carol and Alvin

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

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 7th day of July, 2017.

WOW, we’re having a heat wave ….. not a tropical heat wave …. a Western Canadian HEAT WAVE.

Oh my goodness, I love summer but sometimes the higher temperatures play havoc with my essence.

I will say thank the Universe for the nightly breezes ….. making the higher temperatures more bearable.

I can only imagine Alvin and all the fur babies of the world.

How do they survive the heat?

This is nothing compared to other locations across the planet.

I do feel for Alvin ……

When I arrived home last night at almost 6:00 p.m. (don’t get me started on that one), it was 80 degrees F. in the house.

It cooled off quite quickly after I opened the windows.

Thank goodness for that breeze ……

 

Our public transportation at this point in time is CRAZY.

Insane for us ….. I cannot compare to any other place.

Part of this is due to summer construction.

It is the only time of year that we can do all those outdoor road and sidewalk projects.

It definitely plays with the traffic flow.

One day the buses run relatively on time and the next day they are over 1/2 hour late.

Now when it is time to get home, it is hot and you have that Mr. Alvin waiting to go outside to PEE and to eat his supper ….. being late is not an option.

Although what can you do when you rely on the buses.

So last night I waited downtown for almost 1/2 hour.

Two buses stopped to say they were FULL …..

Finally the third one had room for us.

It would not have been so bad but I had to stop at the Vet for Alvin’s food and glucosamine chews.

Anyway got home safe and “sound.”

Happy that today is Friday …… another hot one …. even hotter than the last few days.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “M” who is visiting our fair city.