A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! Bed late and up late this Saturday morning. So excited that my daughter slept over last night. We had such a good night and as she is getting ready to go home to her family, a bit of sadness creeps into my heart. I love when she arrives and am sad when she leaves. I guess that is a Mother thing or parent thing. She is such a great human, person, woman and daughter. Just love my girl to the moon and beyond.

One thing that I want to figure out with my new computer is how to access my photos through Word Press. Somehow the new computer does things differently or perhaps it is the old me that just cannot see the trees for the forest. Oh, well, as I recently told my daughter, eventually I figure things out. Sometimes it takes me awhile.

Last night for supper we had black bean burgers enveloped by Val’s most delicious dill pickle cheese biscuits with a splatter of her raspberry jalapeño jelly. OMG, so delicious. We added cheddar cheese as you cannot have a burger without lots of cheese. My mouth is watering at the mere thought of that burger. I do not think that anything will ever top the most deliciousness of that burger with those biscuits on either side. My friend Val sure knows how to cook and bake. She is the bomb, so talented in the kitchen. I am eternally grateful for all the goodies that she sends to us. Alvin loves his homemade treats as well. We had later in the evening this incredible chocolate brownie. Hidden in the brownie/icing was pieces of a Kit Kat chocolate bar, one of my favourites. It was so rich and delectable. My tummy was so full and content by the goodness. This morning I gave my daughter one of the apple tarts for “breakfast” with her coffee, I will have my later (dessert for supper tonight). Thanks Val, you rock.

Thank you to my daughter for helping me with computer things this morning. She is on her way and I am about to “publish this post.” Photo of Alvin is from last night. What a cutie!

I hope that you are having a wonderful Saturday. Mine has been good thus far. Lots going on. I am also watching over Humphrey, Bogart and Cynder for a couple of days.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, gratitude, love, laughter, focus, possibilities and coffee. I need coffee ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are doing very well! I think that Mr. Alvin might have an ear infection. He was thrashing his head about for what seemed like forever this morning. I gave him a tramadol (pain) and shortly thereafter he seemed to settle down. Anyway, looks like another trip to the Vet. I will be calling as soon as they open. Also hoping that the grey skies turn to blue by the time we go or at least it is nice out when we walk there. No sunrise this morning. It is happening without a view.

Yesterday was a fantastic day. I had coffee with my friends and took the treats. The hostess went just a tad overboard with a tray of fruit and iced butter pecan cupcakes. She also gave Gillian and I a spring coloured plastic bucket with a handle filled with all sorts of goodies. There was a sign for Spring, notepad and pen, chocolate, hand cream, fluffy socks (as we still have snow), more chocolate and a flower that is solar powered. I tell you she is one of the most thoughtful, generous people I know. Gillian and I were grateful. We had a great chat about everything and then more and ATE. So many goodies. Three hours later I was home. Mr. Alvin was happy to see me but I think by the way of his other end, he was anxious. We got ready shortly thereafter and went for a nice long walk. The rest of the day was quiet. I just putzed doing odds and ends of things.

We, I watched the OSCARS. I was happy to see that the movie KODA won all three of the awards that it was nominated for: Best Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur and Best Picture. If my memory serves me correctly. Congratulations. So happy for them. Jessica Chastain and Will Smith won the Best Actor. Supporting Actor went to Ariana DeBose. Other winners: Best Director: Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog, Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Branagh for Belfast, Best Original Score: Dune and Best Original Song: Billie Eilish and Finneas for No Time to Die. Dune won several awards. The show went over by about 35 minutes despite them dropping several categories from the televised show and having earlier. It was a nice escape. Even some drama.

Well I am running late so best be going.

All in all, Sunday was a good day and Monday is yet to be seen. So far we are okay.

Have an awesome Monday.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am well. Bed late and up late but that is okay because it is a rainy morning so it will be a stay at home putz around kind of day. I am definitely good with that. Do some laundry, dust some things, figure out Christmas gifts and whatever else I get my hands and mind into. Hang out with the Alvin.

Last night I packed up some fruit and mini chocolate Halloween decorated cupcakes and left for my friend’s house at 7:24 p.m. I could tell Alvin was thinking okay she is putting on her coat and not mine. She is saying some things that I don’t quite understand but I heard her says Signe and Gillian’s names. He just sat on the sofa. I struggled in the darkness finding the right key to lock the door but finally after two attempts I found it on the third. You see all my keys look the same except for the mailbox one. Anyway soon I was on my way down the steps and as I walked down to the public sidewalk out front I checked back over my shoulder and did not see Alvin on the sofa but saw his little face pressed up as close to the window as he could with having the blinds in the way. Ah, my poor boy. I always dislike leaving him alone but I do need to spend some time with human beings from time to time. Checking both ways before I crossed our busy street. There are always so many cars parked along the sides that you do not always see a car zooming down the street. By the way, not many people adhere to the maximum of 40 kilometers. Another story for another day. Finally I am almost at the party. Really the walk might be 3 minutes max. As I approached my friend’s home I saw pumpkins on the steps and decorations on their front lawn. They always do such a good job decorating for Halloween. I cannot wait. My decorations are interior not exterior. I rang the doorbell multiple times as the inside door was partially open and I wanted to play the part of a prankster. She was laughing as she opened the door to let me in. Our third partner in crime had not arrived as yet. I was happy to see her and her daughter. A few minutes later the doorbell rang and our friend arrived. We unpacked our treats for the party and got to filling up plates which was a reminder that even though my supper was fairly light – it should have been nothing. There was so much to nibble on. Once everyone was ready and we had chatted for a few minutes we settled in and started to watch the new Halloween Movie – Halloween Kills. We all noticed how it went between the last movie and present time. As the movie progressed we were all surprised by the “campiness” of the storyline and actions. I will admit that this genre of film is not my favourite or even something that I would typically watch but I did it for my friend. Spending time with the girls is way more important than whether or not I love a certain movie type. Disappointingly the movie did not improve before it ended. Perhaps this was how it was meant to be, I do not know but my friend who loves and waits with patiently to watch them, was sadly disappointed. I will say this though our commentary was better than the movie and we had the best visit. So perhaps it was not a waste of anyone’s time. We always need to seek out the positive in every situation and that was it for last night. We had the best visit. Talking about our lives and offering support to each other if required. Doing what friends do. One of the girls came up with the hashtag “GoldenGirlsForLife” and that describes us fully. Even though at this stage of the game, they are far from being Golden Girls in the sense of age but they are “Golden” in the sense that they are amazing friends. So we ate and talked and watched the movie and ate some more. I stayed a bit later than usual and definitely past my usual bedtime but it was so worth spending the extra time with the girls. I was home just before midnight. I think that Alvin was worried that I wasn’t coming home. He kept at my side after that and even this morning while I am upstairs he is not happy that we are apart.

So it is time to get that pot of coffee on to perk. Pop in that first load of laundry. Have some breakfast in a bit. Snuggle with the boy. Do some dusting. Just think about how blessed I am to be where I am in life. Sometimes when I look back over the last 64 years I am amazed that things turned out the way this way. Not the way that I had planned but in a way much better. I zigged and zagged down the life’s path and finally ended up here and could not be happier. Well perhaps if groceries were cheaper because why should a small bag of grapes be $10.00 and an apple be $2.00. I amaze at folks who can feed a large family these days.

Have an awesome Saturday. I hope that the sun is shining where you are OR if it is raining that it is a light rain. Be well my friends, we well. Spread the kindness, joy and respect to everyone you see today.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, love, laughter and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Sure am glad that we had a nice walk in yesterday. Not great for Alvin to walk in the rain.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning World.

Welcome to Sunday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The SUN is SHINING brightly.

I can imagine the birds singing as I sit here clacking away on the keyboard.

My trusty companion Alvin is laying on his blue blanket on the floor beside my chair.

The sky is the purest of the palest of blues that I have seen in a while.

YAY, I love Sundays.

The coffee is perking away and I am energized by the aroma as it wafts throughout the house.

Life is good.

 

Last night I was invited to attend a “paint night” with my young friends.

We had a hoot.

The painting is not actually painting in what we traditionally know it to be ….

but rather with this little plastic stick of sorts you pick up a bead that has a round head and flat bottom and lay it onto the picture.

It reminds me of paint by numbers but the picture is sticky and you attach beads.

The pictures are pre numbered of course and they are small beads.

All of our paintings were different views of the sunrise and sunset.

Morning, daytime and evening.

I cannot wait to finish mine.

Definitely longer than a one evening project.

I only did about a 1/4 and then stopped to just concentrate on visiting with my friends.

But so much fun.

We chattered away catching up on our our news and the world’s.

All three of us brought some goodies to share.

There was the taco dip and chips, veggie and fruit tray and dip, “energy bites,” goldfish and breton crackers, and this crazy yummy chocolate pudding with whipped cream and graham cracker

crumb dessert.

We had coffee and wine.

I am so grateful to have these gals as my friends.

We support and love each other.

They have young families so I am kind of like the Grandma or an older Aunt.

I have seen their children grow over the last almost ten years.

They were really just babies when I moved here and met them.

The laughter that emanates from the room when we are together is crazy.

I love these ladies.

 

Well time to head back downstairs and have some of that glorious coffee.

Just relax for a bit before changing and getting on with the day.

I have towels in the dryer to bring up and put away.

I would like to go through and put in order my papers for taxes (yup, I did not put things in good order like I was going to at the start of the year).

Go for a walk later if the temperature is okay.

 

Yesterday morning we hopped quickly over to the vet to pick up some food for Mr. Alvin.

He has enough for maybe a week but sometimes hard to gage and I did not want to run out part way through the week.

Mmm, what else.

Get ready for work.

I know that I had a couple of other things on my list ….. wipe out the oven.

 

I hope that you had an awesome Saturday night with family and or friends.

Perhaps you spent the evening watching your favourite movies cuddling with your puppy dog.

Maybe you played cards or a board game with your kids.

Whatever it was …..

 

Have an awesome Sunday.

Life is good.

Be kind and respectful to one another.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Hello My Beautiful Sister ……

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 9th day of November, 2015.

Wow another weekend come and gone.

It was raining yesterday and the streets are gleaming.

It hovered at the freezing mark so hopefully the sidewalks are okay for walking.

I had a most splendid weekend as did Mr. Alvin.

We enjoyed all of our company ….. some stayed  for a few minutes others for longer.

A great time was had by all.

I would say that we are well prepared for the upcoming craft sale, YAY.

Lots to do before then but that is okay.

Alvin continues to carry that chew treat around the house “burying” it from time to time.

Sometimes he leaves it outside (sometimes laying on the deck and others he actually buries it in the dirt).

Although now that the ground has froze it makes it more difficult to do so.

I have some news …. remember I was mentioning about the GALA that we went to on Saturday afternoon.

Well they had some baskets full of makeup type goodies that they draw for …. I WON ONE.

How exciting.

There was perfume (2), mascara, couple of different eye shadows and lip stuff, a tote bag and nail art.

I am so blessed to have had a fun weekend.

Not much house type work done but that is okay.

I hope that you all have an awesome Monday.

I am still deciding whether to wear winter boots or shoes.

ARGH …..

This in between and if I only knew the actual state of the sidewalks and streets.

Special Hello: my sister and great niece, thank you for Skyping last night …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 21st day of November, 2014.

What a surprise I had when I arrived home last night after working both jobs.

There on the middle of the kitchen table sat a parcel ….

As I drew nearer I realized that the said parcel had “my name” on it.

Quickly my eyes searched for the return address as I was not expecting a package.

Lo and behold I saw the name of one of my friends from back in Regina.

I grabbed the scissors from a nearby drawer and set to work to open the carefully done up package.

When I got it open I found a beautiful card and letter and a container with some goodies.

This friend of mine and I am going to name her which as you know I seldom use anyone’s actual name … I usually refer to them by their first initial ….

This absolutely thoughtful and out of the blue gift was from my pal “VAL” …. who is by far one of the most thoughtful humans I know.

This is the second time she has surprised me and surprise it was …..

Anyway the homemade treat of chocolate dipped biscotti is sitting on the table not opened as I wish to have it on a Saturday morning with my coffee and RELAX.

Now there is more than enough for several Saturdays ……

Perhaps over Christmas when I have some extra days at home and not at either job.

Well here it is almost time to leave for work once again ….. almost seems like I just got home ….. whoops yes I did …. it was midnight when I got to bed last night.

I had a great Thursday night at the store.

I hope that you have a crazy wonderful Friday and that perhaps you will take the time to surprise a friend or family member.

Doesn’t have to be anything big ….. something homemade and from the heart will do.

Have a great Friday ….

Tonight will be the third night in a row for working at the store ….. so much fun.

I will be back tomorrow …. thank you for reading my blog ….. this is too cool…..

Special Hello to: my friend VAL from Regina ….. you are absolutely the best and have perfect timing.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Afternoon and Welcome to Saturday the 25th day of October, 2014.

WOW, I am so excited as we are in the final hour countdown until “Our Dear Stella Jewellery” Open House.

Friends, Family, Neighbours, and Co-Workers of ours will be coming to our house in just less than one hour.

We are ready ….. house cleaned check …… beverages ready check …… goodies check ….. and MOST IMPORTANT

of all we have a table set up full of our jewellery …..

My daughter is so creative and did such a great job of setting up …. will post photos later.

Well this will be short as I must go and put the finishing touches on things and perhaps relax for a few moments.

I hope that you are having an amazing day….

Thank you as always for ready my blog.

You rock ……

DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

Special Hello to: YOU ……

Always, Carol and Alvin