The Next Chapter

Good Morning. Oh, the font has changed this morning. Cool. The sky is clear blue and I can see the sunrise reflecting off the buildings and trees out of my office window. Last night after work I went for a walk with my friends Jeanette, Alejandro and Eddie & Bruno. I brought out some treats (freeze dried liver) for them. They both gobbled them up and I was most pleased that Bruno was happy with the treat. He is not doing great but some days better than others. Last night was a good night. It was almost two hours from the time that I left my house to the time I returned for the night. Now part of that time was spent visiting outside with a neighbour who had been out mowing her lawn. I also came to realize just how loose my glasses are as when I bent over to give the boys their treats, they slid off my face. They are so much heavier with the sunglass clips. Perhaps I should have gone with transition lenses. If I put my head down they slide down. Not sure if going to the Optometrist to have fit better will help or not but I guess I need to try. I usually look down watching the sidewalk a fair amount or at least half of the time. I like to keep my head on a swivel. In this day and age, you have to be super aware of your surroundings. After the long weekend at our work site, more than ever this is important. Back to the walk. When we first left the sky was dark with big rain clouds and I thought that for sure we were going to get wet but after a few minutes into our walk the sky is cleared and we had the most beautiful evening. From time to time the wind would start to blow and the temperature would dip and then it would pass and life was good. I so enjoyed our walk last night. The grass had been freshly cut from the previous day. Most of the trees are almost fully out in leaves. We had a great walk including seeing some Robins. I love those birds. Little Robin Red Breast.

The time was almost 8 p.m. when I walked into the house after the walk and the visit but I felt like a million dollars. Nothing like spending time with friends and being outside in the fresh air and sunlight. After what feels like weeks of days filled with smoky skies – the clear blue sky was a gift. One that was so appreciated. I could have walked all night long or at least been outside till dark.

I snapped a few photos of the blue sky from my porch last night. Perhaps I should have walked about with my phone and taken some better ones but you will see the brightness. It is hard to take photos from your porch without getting cars and houses in the shots. Oh well. I also noticed just how dusty my front room blinds are at this time. Remember I was sidetracked from my spring cleaning! I will be washing the blinds this weekend for sure. YIKES. No one wants to see dusty blinds in a photo. Not me!

Photos and then time to head downstairs as I am catching the bus this morning to work.

That fresh blue sky and the sun! Great end to a wonderful evening.

May 23, 2023

Try not to inspect the photos of the blinds to hard although I can see the dust on the last photo, argh. Oh well. I am human.

Have a wonderful day! Be safe and aware and enjoy and remember to laugh.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin, My Forever Angel

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Another beautiful day on the way. The sky is partially overcast but I am hoping that it remains dry for the day. I am so grateful to my daughter for spending overnight on Friday with me and Alvin. She stayed until about noon on Saturday. I had a list of things that I required an extra set of hands for so she helped me out. We hauled the dresser in from the garage and it is all set up and most of the drawers are filled already. Moved things about. One of my downstairs plants has a new home atop of the dresser. She helped me trim a bit more fur/hair from Mr. Alvin’s front paws. He was squirmy so we did not get much but a bit and that is great. There was an ear cleaning (he sure sat a lot better for her than for me). We moved the heavier plant pots that had been emptied into the garage along with the base of the umbrella stand that she gave me. Well actually the base is sitting on the upper deck drying out from the last rain. I do not want wet sand sitting in the garage. The big thing was TRIMMING THE TRIM. I was amazed that with girl power how much we were able to do. We even brought out the 5 foot step ladder and got some of the higher branches, not the highest ones but enough that I feel better. We were so proud and even had fun doing it. Amanda likes to trim trees, I found out. We also found out that if we both hold onto the tree trimmer together and one pulls the rope it worked a lot better. The tree trimmer is about 8 or so feet long and has a hard core blade system at the end. It is very heavy for one person. She was amazed that I had done it by myself the past years. Well, I always say “you do what needs to be done, one way or the other.” We tossed the branches over the back gate as I needed to borrow my neighbours shorter handle tree trimmer tool to cut up the branches so that they can be taken by our garage people. So it was a great morning.

In the afternoon, I did laundry, some cleaning and later in the afternoon, our friend Pauline stopped by with a plant and some seeds. Sunflower and Brown-Eyed Susan plants. We chatted for a few minutes and then we walked her home where we had a short visit as it was time for her to prepare supper and me to go home and ready mine. I fed Mr. Alvin before she arrived at our house.

So a great day all round. I rewound and watched LIGHTYEAR a few more times and even saw bits that I had missed from Friday night. That was in the afternoon. Just left the movie playing as I did some housework. Last night it was just watching some episodes of YOUNG SHELDON and BIG BANG THEORY. Some I had seen before but I enjoy these two shows so I watched them again.

Our tree is beginning to turn yellow. I noticed there are quite a few trees that are still very green.

The grass is a mix of green and yellow/brown. The north side of the street most of the lawns have gone yellow/brown but on our side, the south side, many remain green.

Well time to go and get dressed for the day. Have some coffee and then go and chop some branches. I have to retrieve the laundry that is drying in the basement and then do a couple of loads of laundry. Have a walk with Mr. Alvin somewhere along the way and then have a quiet one. We might use BOBI the robot vacuum cleaner to clean upstairs. My daughter is lending me BOBI as her floor space is small and she does not use much and my vacuum cleaner, my beautiful ELECTROLUX is not working. I think it is the sensor according to some troubleshooting research that I did on GOOGLE Search. Perhaps at some point I will find someone who can fix it.

Wishing you a great day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvlin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. The sky is blue and the sun is shining and there is a slight breeze. Does not get better than that! Yesterday was a beautiful day. We had a little shower but not too much. Our plants, flowers, gardens, crops, lawns and trees just need some sunshine at this time. So nice to be having some this morning.

How was your Sunday? We were busy. Well I was busy! Mr. Alvin was busy having me wait on him. But I do not mind. We enjoyed a walk but had to cut it not too much shorter as it started to rain. I did some cleaning, baked a banana/pumpkin/orange loaf with chocolate chips, took photos of the items in the garage sale and lots of other odds and ends. It was a full, good day.

Hard to believe that I had a three day weekend and that it is over already. Where does the time go?

Also tomorrow is the first day of summer, Tuesday, June 21st, 2022. I will change the wreath on our front door and put up our wreath with the roses on it.

Not much new here. Oh, I have been dreaming like a huge amount. Something is going on within my brain. Seems like one ends and another begins. I don’t remember too many details but I know that there are many of them and they are different from one another.

I love looking out the window and seeing the green leaves on the trees swaying in the breeze. The trees are pretty much full now and look so great. I love the colour green. I think it is my favourite colour. Although I do like other colours.

Well I have to go shortly here and do a couple of things before I start work.

Plug in the coffee pot to perk for one thing (I can taste the coffee in my mind). Put out the bags of bottles to be picked up.

Looks like we will have a good walk at noon. I think I am going to have to get mobile earlier so that we can walk in the morning. There is nothing like that morning coolness, not cold, just perfection. Sometimes by noon it is too warm for Mr. Alvin to be out walking. Today should be okay.

I hope that you have a great Monday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: only 50 days until my 65th Birthday. Cannot believe it. Still.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Another dreary looking morning out there. We were outside a short while ago and it was nice but before that I could see my breath. We received a fair amount of rain yesterday and everything should get very much that beautiful green now. We will however need some sunshine and that according to the forecast is in short supply over the next week. We had a decent sleep last night. Lights out at 10:00, Alvin was next up at 4:18 and then 5:39 so all in all not bad. He seems to be doing better since I completely cut out human food a couple of days ago now. He has not been leaving behind a “lovely fragrance.” LOL.

If I strain hard enough I can almost see the sunrise.

I am slowly but surely getting the garage cleaned out and disposing of items. Another item was picked up last night. So exciting to meet new people and to have my garage almost bare. What a great feeling. Next to get through those containers in the basement. Actually that would be a great job for the evenings when the weather is not great for walking. Note to self.

I am so grateful for my life. There are moments of imperfection but so many more of utter perfection and delight.

Can you believe it is 63 days now until my 65th Birthday? WOW. Still shaking my head in disbelief, 65. Whoa.

This post will be short as I cannot bring any words of wisdom or funny stories quickly to mind and soon shall be time to start work. Yes and time to plug in the coffee.

I wish you a great day.

Happy Tuesday.

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

Always possibilities …….

Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? We are well. Mr. Alvin slept from bedtime until 4:53 a.m. Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it. But oh so happy. We went outside and then he had his Movoflex chew and then his breakfast. We had some more zzz’s on the sofa till time for me to get up and going.

The sky is semi overcast but the sun is shining. It was warm out. I am always amazed by the difference between looking out of my office window to the south and out our bedroom window to the north with only our house in between.

Well yesterday turned out to be a great day. I did have a minor, I would not say meltdown as it was not that but have you ever had multiple things happening all at once and you lose it, temporarily. Well it was near the end of my work day and I was closing programs, my phone was pinging with some incoming messages and Alvin was scratching wanting up onto the sofa. Just a combination of those sounds made me not happy. Anyway, I didn’t save one of my spreadsheets which would have been an update but needless to say I clicked on “don’t save” instead of “save” as I was riled. I looked Alvin in the eye and gave him heck and poor boy was shaking. I was not yelling but I think he definitely felt the elephant in the room. I felt so bad. So have to change things. No more phone nearby. If I can turn off or down the sound so that I don’t have to listen to the pinging, that would be helpful. I am human but feeling like a terrible one. Hard to make up for bad behavior. I have to forgive myself and move on. I feel so bad for Alvin. Thankfully this did not last long. I guess we all have moments.

Last night I mowed the lawn and pulled some weeds from the back flower bed. The plants on the south side of the house are doing okay but the ones out front are doing great. Our overnight temperatures have been on the cool side. The grass in the backyard is lush and green considering the front is barely green. I wished that I would wake up tomorrow morning and look out of the front window and see dark green lush grass out front. A gal can dream.

Well it is time to head downstairs. I have a bit of a headache. Sign that I need to drink more water for sure.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Don’t give up! Keep on going ahead.

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 Monday morning? Alvin and I are well. We had a good night sleep…. so much closer to pre surgery days or nights, I guess I should say. I still keep tapping on the snooze button. This is actually odd, never in my life until recently have I ever used the “snooze button.” I guess my life has changed so much that I now find the need to use it. Oh well.

How was your weekend? Did you relax? Did you have some fun? Did you go for a walk in nature? Did you tackle a couple of things from your TO DO LIST FOR FALL? I hope that you said YES to all of these questions.

Let me answer them. My weekend was great overall. Yes, I had some downtime. I likely should have have a real time “me time” and had an at home “spa treatment” but I did not. Still relaxed and watched a movie and snuggled with the boy. I did have fun which was during our walk. The leaves are so beautiful and it was so much fun just walking taking our time enjoying the scenery and the fresh air. I guess I incorporated three into one. But I did have fun. Yup, I sure did tackle some items from my TO DO LIST for FALL. Saturday I cleaned out the front flower bed and yesterday I cleaned the kitchen light fixture and before moving to the front entrance fixture I noticed as I was up on a ladder that it was dusty on top of the cupboards. As I got closer to inspect I found it was not just dust but greasy dust, the not so easy to remove kind. Usually I place paper towel or wax paper down so that it is an easier clean up but somehow I only put paper towel down on the section above the fridge, which is so odd. Not the rest. So I grabbed some hot water and dish soap (not DAWN but wished that it had been) and start to scrub with a Norwex cloth but just made a mess. I tried CLR. I tried vinegar. I even tried my new hand held steamer. I tried everything that I could think of until I thought of the magic white powder, yes ….. you guessed it “baking soda.” I put some warm to hot water in a dish and piled in the baking soda and grabbed an old toothbrush of Alvin’s (longer handle) and went to to work. With a bit of elbow grease it came off and bye bye sticky gunk. I think that I am going to once a month clean the top of my cupboards. Whatever designer / contractor / builder decided that cupboards that do not go to the ceiling are a good thing – did not have to clean them. So if you want a fairly easy and cost effective cleaner for the top of your cupboards, I highly recommend some good old fashioned baking soda and warm to hot water and an old toothbrush. This is also GREEN and gives you a bit of exercise to boot. I use baking soda for a lot of things but never thought to use for this. I also took it to task to clean the outside of the microwave and stove and everything was so nice and shiny. I also cleaned the bathroom ceiling fans. Another thing I found out. Usually I clean the bathroom fans twice or three times each year. I remove the cover and vacuum the dust and they are usually dusty. For the past few months I have been using the fan for the house ….. I do not remember what it is called but it pulls in the air from outside…. it actually reduced the amount of dust in the fans. I had no idea. But it did. So that was an easy cleaning job. I am getting those items off my list two or three at a time. Much easier and less stressful. That was it. I enjoyed some time with my favourite cats Humphrey and Bogart as well.

The sun is just beginning to rise in the morning sky. A new day.

I hope that you are doing well. Happy Monday ALL.

Have a great day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Another night upstairs in our bed, thank goodness!!

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this “bright and sunny” Thursday morning? I am so grateful that the skies are pretty clear and that the sun is shining after a few days of clouds, rain and snow. It did freeze hard over night as I noticed the water that I have out for the bees froze over and there is frost on the cars. Most of the snow has melted now and the grass and trees appear to be renewed, is that possible? Of course, they gratefully soaked up the moisture in both forms. My lawn has not looked this good in years. Between the fertilizer that our neighbours threw on a few days ago and the extra moisture ….. well it looks like a lawn again. I was thinking that we may have to replant which I suppose throwing on some extra seed would not have hurt. If I would have had some grass seed in my garage I would have done so, at the beginning of the rain. Food for thought. I am going to pick up some seed to have on hand. Even our back patch of grass is coming back. Yesterday and earlier this morning there were a bunch of little birds flying about our backyard near the bird house. There was also a Magpie that was swooping in and about every once in awhile. They are pretty but not good for the little birds. Anyway, I am certain that by noon, or perhaps before I can remove the cover that is protecting the flowers in the front flower bed. Did I forget to mention? Yes, I did, that I pulled the cover back and checked some of the flowers and they are okay. If they survived last night, we all should be good. I also shook and dipped with a measuring cup all of the excess water off of the handmade tarp so that it would not crush them and not freeze. Fingers crossed.

I am looking forward to a walk with Mr. Alvin at noon. He needs to get out as I think he has a bit of cabin fever or at least he has been more anxious that usual. He barked short piercing barks the whole time I was in the shower. I kept calling out to him and hoping to calm him down but it did not work. I even tried singing my “put one paw in front of the other” song but to no avail. Luckily, he is okay now. What a guy. I tried to explain about how lucky that he is as I have noticed this poor little orange cat running on the front sidewalk and across the street. Poor cat looked like he or she had not had a good meal in a long time. So many cats on the loose in our area. Very dangerous as we have had coyotes in the nearby parks. Plus there are hawks and other birds of prey that can swoop down and take away little cats. I hope that he finds a home, soon.

Well time to head on downstairs and put on the coffee, need to smell that delectable aroma and drink some of that pure joy liquid before I start work. I am grateful that all my flowers survived this late spring snowfall and the wind. Thank goodness for a garage. I don’t have a car but man on man, that building has come in handy for storing and housing the vehicles of company.

I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday. May you laugh and smile and be surrounded with kindness and joy.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience. Always working on patience I am patient. I am patient. I am patient.

ALLways, Love Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR

Good Morning Thursday.

Yesterday Alvin and I enjoyed two walks.

One at lunchtime and the other after work.

Alvin certainly slept better.

I think the extra exercise is playing him out.

But happy that he is sleeping more through the night.

The sky is overcast at this point but I have high hopes that it will be another bright and sunny day.

How are things in your neck of the woods?

Sunshine, Rain or Snow?

I hope that you are having a great morning no matter what the weather.

Alvin is resting on the little bed that I have made for him in the office.

Pretty comfy I think.

 

So excited for the long weekend.

Happy Easter to ALL.

A time to reflection.

A time for thanks for all that we hold in gratitude.

 

I am planning to work on and finish my income taxes.

Having an extra day will give me the time so that I don’t have to spend a whole day or so on them.

I don’t remember how long it took last year.

I have already begun so it should not be too bad.

 

I can smell the coffee as it has finish perking and is ready for me to go and grab a mug.

Nothing better than freshly ground coffee perking in the morning.

Almost anyway….

 

How about some pretty flowers for this last day before Easter.

Photos of flowers anyway.

Will take our minds off of the snowbanks in the front of my house and yours.

Well maybe you have a snowbank out front, just guessing.

I threw in a photo of a fruit pizza that I made at some point in the past.

This weekend was supposed to be supper here with my kids and we were going to have fruit pizza for dessert.

It has been put off until a later date.

I wish you all a great weekend.

Time with those members of your household.

Perhaps a creative way to visit with family and friends and keeping the “social distancing” in mind.

 

Well it is getting close to the time that I have to start work.

I have so far to travel …. lol.

Please be safe.

I hope that the Easter Bunny drops by ….

He made a stop here yesterday and I am so grateful as I was completely out of CHOCOLATE.

How could one go into the Easter Weekend with no CHOCOLATE?

Not easily.

Thank you to the Easter Bunny who is so kind and generous.

 

Have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Keeping in Kindness and Respect

I/We are Always,

Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Well here we are at Thursday once again.

July 11, 2019 ….. WOW crazy.

We are “enjoying” our summer thus far.

I think that every day that I can sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed, get up and stand up and walk away from said bed; is a good, no great day.

The sky is overcast once again but sunshine is in our future.

Tomorrow ….. warmer and sunny all day.

That would be wonderful.

Last night I decided to take my phone/camera on the off chance that the geese would be out and about.

There is so many of them … the chances were good.

I got lucky.

 

Not sure what happened with the one photo at the end …. perhaps hit flash or something but looks cool.

Even Mr. Alvin got into a photo.

I love this tree …. I believe that it s Russian Birch.

So pretty and smells so good.

 

Well I hope that you enjoy my geese photos.

Alvin almost completely ignored the birds last night.

He did look at them once or twice but did not run to them or bark.

We had a great walk and I was so pleased to have photos of the geese.

The babies are all grown up or pretty close now.

I tried to get some photos of the smaller ones but they kept pretty close to each other.

I was holding Alvin on the leash, his water bottle, poop bag and trying to take photos.

It was fun.

 

Time to leave for work.

Have an awesome Thursday.

Filled with Kindness and Respect, as always.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Mixture up above this morning.

Front of the house ….. bright sunshine

Back of the house …. clouds rolling in ….

This week, last week and the coming week ….. all with rain in the forecast.

Well for now the plants and trees and lawns are enjoying it so much as you can tell by the vibrant greens of the plants.

My IRISES are blooming.

They are a miracle flower.

The stems are so long and thin it is a miracle that they can hold up this beautiful LARGE flower.

I could not help but to snap multiple photos …..

They do not last for a long time and I wanted to enjoy them while I can.

I am hoping that you enjoy them, too.

Alvin was looking out the window from his favourite chair last night as I snapped a couple of photos of the IRISES.

The tree photos are from this morning.

So excited to see bright sunshine and blue sky.

I still cannot get over the green.

Feeling LUCKY IRISH, today.

I should have worn GREEN.

 

Back to last night.

Alvin and I enjoyed a wonderful walk.

The geese were out gobbling up food near the water at the entrance to park last night.

There were multiple families and the baby goslings all different sizes.

So cute.

I could have stood there or sat in the grass (a patch without goose poop) and watched them all night.

Alvin just sniffed paying no attention to them whatsoever.

They were watching him though.

Very carefully.

 

Lucky me, I do not have to catch the bus this morning as my neighbour is giving me a ride to work.

My carpool is on vacation, camping.

 

Well it is almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you all have an awesome Wednesday.

Yes, my friend V it is Wednesday already.

Time flies when you are having fun.

 

Reminder be kind and respectful.

It always begins with self.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Ah, Alvin is snoozing on his blue blanket beside me.