Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Thursday morning? We are doing well. I/We were so happy to spend some time with our girl. The time we spend together is always great. I am very grateful to have her in our lives. We miss our boy and the pups and cannot wait until Christmas to see them.

Amanda picked up a floral/plant arrangement for me to take with a card and a special Angel pin to our friends Norbert & Irene who recently lost their youngest son. One of the hardest face to face conversations. Broke my heart into a million pieces. I feel so badly for them. To lose a child of any age makes no sense. We always as parents believe that we will go first and when tragedy strikes and changes the “natural order” we are beyond disbelief and heart broken.

We, me and Alvin got to see little Betty Ann who belongs to friends of Amanda & Steven’s. Her parents dropped her off as she will be spending a week or so with the kids while they are away on business. I truly have the best kids, they have the biggest hearts and always have an extra pup or two in the household. I do not know how they do it because I always think I have my hands full with Mr. Alvin, lol. We all had a short visit before Amanda and Betty Ann were on their way to Alberta Beach.

Overnight the temperature dropped into the high double-digits. It was chilly outside when we were out earlier. Last day to the office for this week. I am very grateful that I can spend tomorrow working from home with Alvin by my side.

Last night was a blur with one minute driving with Amanda to cooking supper to eating supper with her, to going to see my friends, to Betty Ann being dropped off to them being gone. It seemed to happen so quickly. Almost makes me wonder, did it really happen? Of course, it did but it was an emotionally charged evening from happiness to sadness.

Well it be time to head downstairs and finish getting ready to leave for work. I am very grateful that I have a ride to and from work with a coworker. She is awesome and we have really got to know each other over the past couple of months. Carpool will do that!

Have an awesome Thursday!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: Amanda brought the tree lights and the toilet handle, so I have a couple of projects ahead of me. I think I shall wait until Friday after work. Should be fun.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 6th day of June, 2017.

Here we are one day closer to the official first day of summer.

This morning the sun is shining brightly in the beautiful blue sky.

The birds are singing and Alvin enjoyed a few minutes on the deck just taking it all in.

Oh my boy.

Likes to soak in the moment.

I must say that one of my most favourite times each day is the time that we snuggle on the sofa before getting up to stay up.

I have this rectangular pillow from IKEA that is just long enough for my head, Alvin’s head and a bit of space.

When I lay down on the pillow and throw a blanket over me ….. once Mr. Alvin has done his thing ……

He plunks himself down and his head hits right on the pillow beside me.

He really does with some force plunk himself down.

He snuggles right in and it is the best start to my day …..

We have a bit of a snooze before getting up to start the day.

Most every day for the past couple of weeks we have been walking with our friends “S” and “P.”

S is my neighbour whose dog was attacked and killed by an off leash dog in an on leash park.

So we have been walking with S and her dog Presley.

I get such a kick out of Presley ….. he came running down the sidewalk to meet us last night and when he arrived …..

He sniffed, growled, nipped at Alvin, and then went in another direction.

Both the dogs are comfortable around each.

If Presley nips Alvin ….. Alvin just walks away.

I wished that I always had his patience and grace.

Now if food was involved ….. that may go out the window.

But I am proud of Alvin for taking higher ground to give the little guy some space and time to grieve the loss of his beloved friend.

While we enjoyed a great walk last night …. our friend “P” was out in her amazing garden.

She called us over and we walked away with snapdragons for both of us girls and I got a tomato plant.

We are so lucky.

All of the plants that my friend “P” has given me are doing great…… best gardener.

 

Okay time to hit the road.

Mr. Alvin needs to head outside one last time.

Happy Tuesday.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Be safe.

Spread kindness ….. it is the only way.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who has yet another business ….. so busy ….. not sure how she does it.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 25th day of January, 2015.

It is a good thing that my computer has a computer on the toolbar on the bottom of the screen otherwise I would have thought it was the 24th or 23rd.

Time just has a way of passing without great fanfare or drumroll.

The days just seem to roll up into one and before you know it a month has passed and then two and then a year.

My life is pretty great ….. I really cannot complain.

I have a beautiful house that I can call my own.

I share my home with the best “puppy” dog ( I like saying puppy dog) on the planet.

I have money to pay my bills, buy good food and to buy things when needed and sometimes just because I want them.

I am surrounded my love and support, kindness and understanding, laughter and sunshine.

Just sipping on a cup of coffee before I head out to work at the store where I will see new faces dispersed with the odd old one.

Most days I see only people that I have never met but every so often there are people that I have met before …. and people that have worked at the store but gone on to other things.

Well time to go and indulge in more coffee and breathe before turning up the energy.

It is good to be me.

I cannot say that my life is perfect but it is my perfection.

There will always be situations that arise that could be met with anger and disappointment, sadness and grief but amidst it all I see sunshine, love and laughter and it helps me get through.

You just have to know things will always be better.

This is my perfect …. my life.

Have the best Sunday.

Special Hello to: all my friends, new and old …… Happy Sunday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Yesterday, I attended a one day course on “diversity, multi-culturalism” at work.  It was most interesting and definitely shed light on some of our thought processes when it comes to ourselves and others.  Most people in my experience tend to ignore, nervously laugh or the opposite be negative about other cultures, and this is due to lack of knowledge for the most part.  What we do not know or are not certain about we tend to fear.  Our group was very diverse.  We have some co-workers from other countries/continents. So it makes for some interesting conversation when you start discussions.  Even how we deal with grief can be hugely different from country to country and definitely from continent to continent.  In Canada, we tend to be “indirect” …… more reserved I would say.  Whereas other countries put it out on the table, and not necessarily in a negative way.  Sometimes I think that being direct gets classed in with a negative aggressive behaviour.  Anyway, it was a wonderful day and I learned so much.  I have always believed that we are all created equal no matter where we began.  I treat everyone the same no matter what their position or station is in life.  After all, we breathe air into our lungs and walk on two legs and have that thumb thing happening (LOL).  So we are the same.

I am excited for the day when only positive flowing feelings flood this great planet of ours.  How love fuels our lives and keeps us warm.  I also learned that our smiling at everyone you see can definitely be misconstrued; because it means different things in other countries.  I laughed to myself when I heard this.  Sure wished that there was an universal way of being friendly and welcoming when you see someone in passing without speaking.  Perhaps I will find a gesture and spread the “word”, I mean non-word.

Anyway better sign off for now.  I hope that you continue your learning and understanding of others.  We all share this beautiful planet and it is about time that we live in peace, harmony, and respect of each other.

PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL.

Always, Carol