The Next Chapter

Good Morning ALL! I hope that this finds you well. Yesterday was definitely different. First day going to work without Alvin in the house. Leaving the house felt strange as I said to him – I love you Alvin and I will see you after work, habit. The house was dark as I turned the key in the lock. As I walked to the car, I turned to the living room windows where I had always waved to Alvin who would be sitting on the sofa looking out watching me as I left for work. When I got into the car, Michelle was crying as she remembered how he would look out the window at me as I was leaving. We had some tears on the way to work. Oh my boy, how I miss you. The continuing saga at the office was a temporary reprieve from my new life. I thought of him often as I had also brought one of his favourite toys, his Teddy Bear with me to the office (carefully tucked away in my purse). I felt as though he was beside me all day.

The walk to the house after work felt long as I climbed the steps to the house, the realization that there would not be someone waiting for me on the other side hit me like a ton of bricks. As I turned the key in the door, I still hung onto hope that I would see him as I opened the door and called out to him. But he was not there. I locked the door behind me and stepped into my new reality. Alvin is only a memory now, a recent one but now a memory. One to remain in my memory and in my heart for all time. I will always remember that little guy who brought so much joy and laughter to my life.

We did not have coffee at the office yesterday so I made a pot when I got home from work. By this time, I had a headache from lack of caffeine, I suppose. I took a few minutes to just enjoy the coffee before starting supper as Amanda was coming for a sleepover after work and a dental appointment. She arrived earlier than expected which was wonderful. Supper was a bit later. Tears were shed. It is difficult for her when she steps into the house and Alvin is not there to greet her. No barks of joy. No little fur bundle looking out the window waiting for her to come into the house. It was definitely a difficult moment. We had a good evening. Even a wee bit of laughter.

Time to head downstairs as I have to make a pot of coffee before work as we have none.

I hope that you are safe, warm and have a wonderful Tuesday.

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.

The Next Chapter

Morning. The sun was coming up when I first started to read this post. I decided to read back over the last couple of months regarding Alvin. The sun is now shining and the sky is a pretty blue. The temperature is supposed to be warming up and I am grateful. I cannot believe that my darling Alvin has been gone for almost one week. My heart is broken. There are no words and I know that I cannot change the ending of our story and it sucks. I miss him so much. The house is empty without him.

Yesterday afternoon a friend and neighbour came over with a beautiful plant arrangement and cards. Crystal loved Alvin and when I had texted them on Saturday, her husband gave her the news. She as am I are in disbelief. How can our beloved Alvin be gone? Really, how did this happen? We should be snuggling on the sofa and I should be having a conversation with him. Crystal has had to say goodbye to two beloved dogs over the years and I remember her last Daisy. She was a dolly and Alvin loved her. They used to play in the grass. I wished that I had photos of them together but I do not. I also forgot to add Miss Daisy to the list of Angels. He has company. She adopted Stella shortly after Daisy passed as the hurt was too great and then a couple of years later adopted Issy. My friend said that you will have always guilt and wondering why? Crystal is also a Nurse and said that most Vets as well as Doctors seems to treat the symptoms instead of investigating to see why there are problems in the first place. That was this case. By the time tests were actually done, he was in a bad place. I should have pushed earlier. That is something I will regret for the rest of my life. They are our responsibility and I clearly let him down. I was his voice and his protector and I did not. I keep going over everything in my head. Nothing I say or do or think at this point will bring him back, I so wished that it would. All that I can do from this point, is try to breathe and live this life which has been shattered. I am not looking forward to going back to work. But I suppose the drama of that place will give me a different focus for those hours.

I am trying to keep the good memories in the fore front of my brain, of my mind but perhaps it is too soon for that ….. I do not know. My life was touched by the best “heart” ever to be born on this planet. Alvin was the best. He was sweet, kind, stubborn, loving, cuddly, smart, funny and so much more. I was truly blessed to have had him in my life ….. I did not ask for him but he found me and that was a miracle. He was my miracle. Alvin you blessed my life with your presence. I shall miss you and there is a canyon of a hole in my heart that will never heal. I do not want it to heal as it will keep you real.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin, my forever Angel.

Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing great. Up at 5:15, (well up at 3:00 as both of us had to “go”) for the day. Alvin has had his breakfast and I have made our bed and had a shower. Now time to be creative! I love having the opportunity to write this post every day or most days. This post, this blog is meant to be light and fun although there are days when it can be very dark. Everyone has days where it is difficult to keep that bright light and positive energy and mindset shining. Today is a bright light kind of day. I hope that it is for you as well. There is a full moon. I am not sure how many folks out there have the belief that a full moon can play with people’s behaviors but I tend to lend toward “yes.” When you work with the public – you can definitely see it. The sky was beautiful clear with the moon up front and centre and stars scattered about. Happy Wednesday!

Last night I made the “Hamburger Quiche” for supper minus the ground beef and using the YVES Mexican blend “meatless meat.” It was a nice reminder of home, I mean Regina. Edmonton is home but Saskatchewan will always be my “home, home.” I was born and raised there until my early teenage years and spent most of my adult life in Saskatchewan, so it is home. Back to supper. The Quiche was good and I had peas for a vegetable. I usually do not have ketchup in the house or even use it but I bought the smallest bottle that I could as you just have to have it with this dish. Not sure why.

I was nervous when I opened the front door last night and Alvin was not there. Two second later he bounded down the up stairs. My heart deflated as I realized that I had not put up the baby gate to keep him downstairs when I am not at home. I had forgot. I think that our bed is one of his happy places as he can look out of the window as he no longer can get up on the chairs in the living room. A few years ago I would not have thought twice about preventing him from going upstairs but now in his golden years, I do not want him to slip and or fall and injury himself. Whew. Thank goodness he is okay. I will remember today. I will.

We had a good evening after supper and dishes were done. It was close to 7:30 when I sat down with a cup of tea. That is one thing about working at the office – the commute. Honestly I do not like it. We lose two hours each day commuting. That is two hours that I missing with my Alvin. I do enjoy the conversation with Michelle, my coworker and carpool driver. But I would much rather be at home. I can tell you when we were outside at 3:00 a.m. and I went to take a breath of air and my lungs hurt from the extremely cold air this morning, I just wanted to go back into the house and curl up under the blanket with Alvin. Which we did because it was 3:00 a.m., lol. You know what I mean.

Today and tomorrow at the office and then the long weekend. Remembrance Day, November 11th.

Have a wonderful day everyone! I hope that you are able to “shine brightly” on this day!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: couple of things to do and we will even have some cuddle time before I leave at 7:00. We are leaving earlier because of the snow and ice on some of the streets.

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? Wednesday. Midweek once again. Surely seems like the weeks fly by. Sometimes during the day we may not think so but when you look at the day of the week it certainly does. Funny story, yesterday after work I had just put on my winter boots and was going to put on my winter coat, mitts etc. to go out and shovel Sonja’s front sidewalk (neighbors in other half had done mine earlier) when I noticed the name and phone number of my Optometrist’s office flash across my SMART TV. I thought that is odd as I had given them my cell number and told them that that number was no longer in service. With boots on I ran quickly to grab my cell phone and call them. The receptionist asked me if I could hold and I of course said yes. While I patiently waited to see if my new glasses were in. A few minutes later she came back on the line and I explained about the phone number and got them all updated including my work number which I had forgotten about. These days an appointment is required to do anything so I set one up for this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with the knowledge that the temperature is supposed to be warmer or at least that is what the weather guy said. In the morning I am hosting a birthday party for one of my neighbours and friend – there will be three of us in attendance. The three of us. We are going to have the party in my garage. I don’t have a car so I have lots of room for social distancing and I have comfortable furniture that I can set out and a table. I will be doing some rearranging on Friday night. So Saturday will be exciting. Friends over and we have not had a visit in person for a long time. Also new glasses. YAY. Oh, after the phone call – I went out and shovelled my neighbours sidewalk. What goes around comes around, I always say.

Well as Mr. Alvin is very anxious to go back downstairs and perhaps he has to go outside, I will repost a poem that I wrote many years ago, actually almost ten. I am feeling very grateful, very thankful this morning. There is so much more I could add to this poem but it does say what is in my heart. Thank you.

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THE THANK YOU POEM

Thank you for the sunshine

Thank you for the rain

Thank you for the laughter

Thank you for the pain

Thank you for the cool nights

Thank you for the warm days

Thank you for the love

Thank you for the way it fills my heart

Thank you for each buzzing bee

Thank you for all the trees

Thank you for the roses

Thank you for their sweet smell

Thank you for my family

Thank you for the way

Thank you for my dog, Alvin

Thank you for this heaven

Thank you for the abundance

Filling my day – keeping me full

Thank you for the sun, the moon and the stars

Thank you for old ladies, young men

Thank you for music played on guitars

And then !!!

Thank you

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis

March 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta

Continuing to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning ALL. How are you all this morning? Alvin and I are well. I want to send out Happy Wishes to my niece on her 36th birthday. Hopefully I got the year right. I cannot believe she is all grown up. Time flies and our babies are no longer are babies but yet they are! Have a wonderful day “D” on your special day. Woke up this morning to more snow. Looks like this is going to be the year of the SNOWBANKS. Alvin just sneezed. Lots of shovelling. Yesterday I shovelled the driveway after our walk at noon. When your garage is detached from your house …. it is the old adage you always see what is in front of your nose but forget to look behind. Definitely is in this case. I will have to shovel at noon or after work today. Always good to keep everything shovelled. SNOW and more SNOW. Alvin is enjoying all of the snow on the deck. I left some for him to sniff around in as he likes to bury his head in the snow so to speak. He does actually bury some of his chew treats in the snow. Then spends the winter looking for them. In and out. He loves it and that is all that matters. Just like a little one with a wooden spoon and pot. Simple is always better.

Well I guess today is Wednesday already. Midweek. I am slowly putting together my craft project and hopefully it will be near completion this weekend as after that there will be baking happening in the kitchen and I don’t want to haul everything back and forth to the basement, Christmas project that is. I must make some decisions soon. I have one last obstacle, if you will before I can make it to the finish line. But I will figure it out. Just waiting for that inspiration to hit and it will. Hopefully not in the middle of the night, lol.

Not much else new in our lives at the moment. I must say thank you to my friends and my daughter who have collectively picked up my Christmas baking ingredients so that I did not have to go to the stores. I only have a few items left and then I am ready next weekend, not this weekend but next to start the CHRISTMAS BAKING. Just what we all need after this year is more treats but maybe we do. Anyway I am baking and that is all there is to it. Everyone needs a treat, right!

Time to get on downstairs and make that coffee. I kind of slept in this morning. One of my ears is plugged (happens more often in the wintertime and it is a thing for me) so I was sleeping on my side and didn’t hear the alarm at first. Anyway, all is good.

I hope you are having a good day and have a great Wednesday. We will continue living our lives with kindness and respect for all.

Thank you so much for reading my daily post. I do so appreciate your time. When I first starting writing many years ago now, I had dreamed of having 1 million people reading my blog posts. Now I may not have a million reading but those of you that do, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If we do not have dreams and stay positive – then not likely things will happen close to the way you would like. Anyway, I am grateful to you. Thank you.

With kindness and respect and gratitude,

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a WINTERY WEDNESDAY.

Last night it started snowing and has not stopped.

The snow was up to Alvin’s neck on the deck when we got up at 3:30 a.m.

Yup, we were up and I fed him and shovelled some of the deck.

Not quite sure why but we were both wide awake at that time.

There will be shovelling to do again before I leave for work.

 

Yesterday was UKRAINIAN Christmas.

I realized after I wrote and published my post yesterday that I completely forgot about writing about Ukrainian Christmas.

The reason for me leaving up the Christmas Tree and decorations.

I was honoring my friend of forty-seven years who passed last year.

He was a kind, sweet, gentle Ukrainian man.

He would give you the shirt off his back or the shoes from his feet.

He cared for animals and life.

He loved his garden and flowers.

He farmed with his brother and when his brother passed he farmed alone.

Managing it all by himself.

A big job for two but for one, so much.

He would always call me and teasingly, ask, if I had a boyfriend or if I had got married.

I would always say “No.”

I know that he was just checking to make sure I was okay.

I would call him from him to time, as well.

He was fond of the photos that I sent him at Christmas time with a card.

A photo of me and Alvin.

He had a smile that would light up the saddest of folk.

He was generous to a fault.

He was like an older brother and treated my siblings as such, as well.

When I learned of his passing; I felt as though I had lost a part of me.

Well I guess that I had.

He was my older brother.

You left us way too early and I will miss you, always.

Yesterday you were in my thoughts and will never leave my heart.

I see your star shining on a clear Alberta night keeping watch over us all.

Thank you my brother.

********

 

Please be careful out there ….. lots of snow.

I pray for rain in Australia.

Please save the animals in Australia.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Welcome to the last day of June 2019.

How did that happen?

WOW …..

Bright sunny morning with a bit of a breeze.

In about one hour – Master Teddy will arrive to spend the day with us.

I, we always love to have Teddy spend time with us.

He brings an instant joy and energy wherever he comes to our home.

I dare not mention him before he comes or Alvin will spend the time at the window watching for him.

Same goes for Teddy.

Except Teddy will just run around making it hard to catch him.

So his Mama does not say anything until they are on their way.

Although I am pretty sure he knows at that point that he is coming to our house.

It is so amazing that these wonderful beings are excited to come and see us.

I love being surrounded by these amazing creatures.

They don’t care what you are wearing or if you have on makeup.

Doesn’t matter if you have dishes drying in the sink or if you have a pillow out of place.

There is no judgment of any sort.

They just love you for you and perhaps a treat or two.

If you treat them with respect, kindness and with love they will be loyal for a lifetime.

They do not ask for much.

Animals are more forgiving than humans.

It breaks my heart to read stories about the horrible treatment of animals whether domesticated or in the wild.

But why?

Why do we always have to do such things.

We could learn so much for all of the other inhabitants of this earth.

So on this last day of June take note of how you treat all of the non-human creatures on this planet.

If we all change our ways just a bit ….

Can you imagine what a wonderful world this would be?

If we treat animals better … then we treat each other better.

Be kind and respectful, always.

 

Happy Sunday.

May your day be filled with sunshine and rainbows.

May you be joyful and surrounded with laughter and abundance.

Life is good.

 

All my babies and me.

They bring such joy to my life.

And no matter what …. there is kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 12th day of April, 2019.

Well up in good time this morning.

I am on Humphrey duty so am going to check on him this morning before leaving for work.

We will go and pick him up again after work and he will spend the evening with us.

OMG, the boys are so cute.

Last night Alvin was kind of off his game for some reason.

Not quite sure.

He was barking while sitting on the sofa with Humphrey.

Humphrey gave him a soft swat in his general direction as if to say “enough buddy, enough.”

I coaxed Alvin to sit on the other side of me until he calmed down.

He got over whatever it was and the boys settled in for the evening.

In and outside, they went.

 

Well a few more weeks and it will be flower time.

I noticed that some of my perennials in the back garden are up and green.

YAY.

So far so good.

I can hardly wait to wash down the deck and put out the deck furniture.

Too early at this point.

Did you hear the news in Saskatchewan?

I do not want to say the word but it begins with a “S” and ends with a “W.”

ARGH.

But even though Easter is later this year …. there is always a possibility of some of that stuff.

Won’t last long which is great.

Another double digit day.

YAY.

 

I am thinking that I will go out on the Easter long weekend and pick up the trash in my neighbourhood.

Almost every time we go for a walk I pick up something.

Still so much.

As I have extra days next weekend besides Saturday and Sunday – feels like a good time.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

 

Well I should get going and check on that Mr. Humphrey.

Make sure he did not eat all the food that I gave him last night (likely not).

Good idea to check and see if he used the litter box.

Check on his water.

Peek in on Miss Cinder.

She does not get mentioned in my posts often.

 

Happy Friday.

May the force be with you.

Keep smiling.

Keep showing kindness even if you are not feeling “it.”

Keep feeling gratitude for your life and all that you have.

Keep the faith.

 

Special Hello to:  sending positive energy and good feelings out to you all on this day.  Keep well, and I am keeping you in my heart and thoughts for always.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of April, 2019.

The sun is being to rise in the east.

The pink and orange glow on the horizon.

A new day is upon us…..

 

On this mid week day; I would like us all to send a huge wave of positive energy and love to each other.

There are those families at this moment who are dealing with crisis whether health, relationships or financial.

If we could all take just a few minutes to send some love out into the world through our thoughts and with our hearts.

We will help each other.

Positive energy to change a thought or bring joy to someone in need.

Positive energy – positive flow.

We need it now.

Close your eyes.

Think of your family and friends and show your gratitude for them.

With love in your heart and thoughts.

We can help each other.

Support each other.

Show kindness to each other.

Be there, sometimes in silence.

Sometimes with loud thunder.

 

 

I am grateful for all of my family and friends.

I am grateful for our journey together.

I am grateful to be surrounded by love and respect and support.

I am grateful for my life and for yours.

 

 

May peace and love be with you on this day and always.

May you always be surrounded by love and grace.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: all my family today …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 27th day of November, 2018.

Another beautiful day on the way.

Yesterday was a bit cooler than the past several days but still so nice for this time of year.

A time of the year when weather can change in a heartbeat.

Oh, that is most times of the year.

That is living in Canada.

Our weather can change drastically from morning to noon to night.

My Grandma always said “Variety is the spice of life.”

Do you think she was referring to the weather?

Likely not.

Oh well.

I feel sassy and full of vim and vigour this morning.

Most times I am not an early morning person but perhaps it is the extra things I am doing that are helping.

I started taking Vitamin D, a multi-vitamin and onto MATCHA again with breakfast.

Anyway, I feel great.

Certainly is a good way to begin one’s day.

 

Sunday night I came across something that Charles Dickens had written.

It was on a Christmas card.

I thought it would be appropriate to share it with you:

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

     Charles Dickens

 

Such a lovely sentiment and something that we should all try to do.

I do try and keep positive thoughts in my mind (most of the time) and following with kind and generous actions.

But to say that I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year – just brings it up to another level.

 

We all have heart ache in our lives.

We all have situations that do not go the way we thought or intended.

We all have moments/times when our thoughts and actions are less than stellar.

If we all just take 5 minutes each day for ourselves.

To bright the light back.

We can live through the heart ache.

We can change our thoughts and intentions.

We can have more stellar thoughts and actions.

If you are feeling great and in a good place …. your thoughts and actions will show this.

 

I hope that you have an amazing day.

Keep Christmas in your heart.

Be kind to yourself and to others.

 

Special Hello to: all our Angels on earth and in in the heavens, thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin