2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? We are doing well. A few times up during the early morning hours and finally up to stay just before 8:30 a.m., on this slightly overcast Sunday morning. The sun is rising in the morning sky spreading the glow. How was your Saturday? Mine was amazing. First thing in the morning, Alvin and I hosted our friend Signe’s birthday party in our garage. Our friend Gillian brought over small heaters and it definitely took the edge off in between blowing the breaker box in the garage until we realized it was the smaller older heater that was causing the disruption. We unplugged the older heater at that point. We had blankets and of course all of our winter gear. I snuggled up to Mr. Alvin on the two seat sofa with him in his sweater and wrapped with a warm blanket. You never saw happier friends. I cannot tell you how much I miss our get togethers. We used to have coffee dates almost every weekend for years and then when the girls changed career paths; the coffee dates were spread out to every couple of three weeks. We absolutely love each other. I am grateful these days that I have a cell phone as we text all the time. It is a great way to keep in touch. We also speak on the phone as well. Sometimes there is nothing better than to hear the voice of a dear friend. I am happy to say that the commissioned gifts which were paper collages made by my super talented daughter Amanda were a huge hit. She definitely has an artistic gift. I am so glad that I could help support her artistic endeavour and to give something truly unique and beautiful to my friends. A treasure for all time. Gillian and I gave Signe gift cards to her favourite store on the planet “CHAPTERS/INDIGO” and we know that she will enjoy buys books. Oh, the vanilla from scratch cupcakes were a hit. That will be a recipe that I will definitely keep and the icing which I modified from my regular sugar cookie/cake icing I will remember to use again. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning with your friends. I was happily shocked that Mr. Alvin sat on the sofa with his sweater wrapped in the blanket the whole party (he did not lay down, he say up). These gals are the best. Perhaps in hindsight having the birthday party later in the day when the temperature had definitely warmed up more would have been good but despite the chill in the air we thoroughly enjoyed our time together and cannot wait until the next time OR when the restrictions are lifted so that we can get together in the house even if we have to social distance. I have lots of room for that. Better to be together than apart.

After the birthday party disbanded and the ladies went home. I gathered up the remaining items left in the garage and put the furniture back to its original stored location. Another successful birthday party held. I then grabbed a mug of coffee and chilled on the sofa with Mr. Alvin until I had to get ready to leave for the Optometrist’s office to pick up my new eyeglasses. I arrived a few minutes early which is par for me. Do not like to be late or right on time. Although with the COVID19 Restrictions and Protocols, being right on time is actually better. Before I stepped into the entranceway, I donned a blue mask. One of the staff opened the inner door and asked to take my temperature. I told her that I had walked over and would be cool so she asked if she could take it at my wrist and with this new fangled thermometer she took my temperature. It did not even seem that she looked at it unless it perhaps beeps or glows some bright colour if you have a temperature. She asked me to use some hand sanitizer which I was already doing and then to follow her. I had been hesitate about my new glasses after reviewing the photos I had taken from my visit a month ago trying on frames. But when she handed me the new glasses and I put them on, I was in love. The new frames look great. They feel nice and light. I am quite certain that the whole visit took less time than it took me to walk there in the first place. Before I left “Sunni” asked if I wanted some of the anti fog spray. They had mentioned this to me on my second visit and how good this spray was so I picked up one for me, one each for both my daughter and son-in-law as they also wear specs. After that I was on my way back home to Mr. Alvin. At home, I put Mr. Alvin’s sweater back on along with his harness and leash and we went for our first walk in over a week. It has been over a week since the frigid temperatures hit our city. There was a bit of a breeze which was cool but really all in all it was perfect. Bright sunshine. Both of us enjoyed the walk until we were 3/4 of the way home, then Alvin began to hop on three paws. We stopped and I rubbed his cold paw with my mitt. He is too heavy for me to carry although if he was injured, I certainly would find the strength to carry him as far as was necessary. He was good until we were almost home and then another paw. Stopped again, warmed the paw and then we were home. At home I wiped his paws so they were warmed up and dry. Removed our outerwear. Then, I went upstairs and changed as I was pretty warm after being dressed for being in the garage. Then grabbed some laundry and down to the basement to get that started. After the laundry was going, I went upstairs and warmed up a mug of coffee and snuggled with Mr. Alvin. I decided to go and shovel the driveway as it had not been done since the last snowfall. It was not too deep. While I was outside one of the neighbours came home, so we chatted from our driveways.

By this time it was almost time to start preparing supper. Alvin was hungry so I ended up feeding him a bit earlier than usual. I made roasted chicken breasts with roasted sweet potatoes, carrots and onions for my supper.

What a wonderful Saturday.

Well I guess I had better get the remaining laundry downstairs for round two. I was going to give Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath but have decided to do that next weekend. We will go for a walk this afternoon. The sun is really shining brightly now.

I hope that you are having a great weekend. Be safe, take care and be strong.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and learning to have more patience as each day passes.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? I am doing great. Off to a little wobbly, well rather later than planned start but all is good. I have showered and am writing my post now and one of the girls will be here in less than a hour. She is bringing a couple of small heaters as we are having a birthday party in my garage. Thankfully the temperature is warming up but having the party at 10:00 a.m. …. it is likely still going to be cold. I wore a long sleeved top and a cardigan and sweatpants that are toasty warm. Not sure if to wear my bigger coat or my other one. Both are warm but one covers more of my legs. Boots ….. Also I will be putting a sweater on Mr. Alvin, his sweater of course, not one of mine, (you are silly, lol). All depends on how you write words as to the understanding, right? I have everything packed up and ready to be hauled out to the party area. Last night after work I moved and rearranged things in the garage so each of us are more than six feet apart so we can be mask free so we can drink our beverage (coffee and tea) and eat the birthday cupcakes. Each person has a comfy chair with a nice cushion. I am taking out blankets as well. Also we each have a side table of sorts. One is a table, one is a wooden bench and the other which I am using is a rubbermaid container with a piece of cut drywall as a topper (as it is flat). I am taking a cloth to cover the table. Decided to use the river rock top bistro table as I was unable to easily get to the other bigger patio table. I think it will be perfect. A birthday banner will be hung this morning as I thought the tape would come off in the cold. I have a few decorations that will go onto the table and voile we are done. Ready to party. I will put on the coffee so it is ready when Gillian arrives. I said her name. Sometimes I mention friends and family by name and sometimes not. The birthday girl is Signe. Her actual birthday is tomorrow. The sky appears to be clear. I think this is going to be a great party. It surely is. Also the extra gift for the girls that was being commissioned and did not make it for Christmas has arrived. So both girls will have gifts today. How wonderful is that. I am so excited. Alvin had lots of gifts last Sunday and me, well everyday and all the time that I spend on this earth with my Alvin, family and friends is all the gift I need.

I did want to mention something that I believe has become so important this past year and will remain important now and into the future. That is PATIENCE. We have all had to learn and be patient this last year. It is not a trait that comes naturally to human beings or at least not in my experience. It does come more easily to some than to others but it is most important these days. We have had to change our daily lives completely in 2020 and even into 2021 whether working from home, changed work hours, having no job, wearing a mask whenever you are outside in public, teaching your children from home, either having personally experienced the COVID 19 virus first hand or having a family member or a friend have the virus and of course, the worse possible – having someone pass away. There is no one on this planet that has not been affected in some way, shape or form. You may be one of the millions of folks who work in healthcare, with seniors, in schools, in stores, restaurants, fire department, police, utility companies and the list goes on and on of those that are out everyday no matter what. Also to all of the small businesses who have either had to close their doors or somehow have managed to keep afloat. Everyone, everyday has had to have patience. Whether you are at home or at work …. we all need patience. I tell myself (quite often, actually) and others to stop, take a deep breath and then go forward. We can do this. Patience will always serve us well in every situation for the present and into the future. Some things are beyond our control but patience is something we can control if we work on it. I know that for sure. Deep breath, patience all. We got this. We have learned valuable lessons as human beings or at least I hope so and although there may be many days that are marred with doubt and despair we will get to the other side. It will be different. I do not believe that things will ever go back to the way they were or at least some part of me, hopes that is the case. We hopefully will have learned for the future, for our children’s futures and their children.

So time to go and put the finishing touches on this birthday party. Mr. Alvin looks like me may have to go outside as it look like his eyes are watering …. he is fussing. He even asked me nice. How can you ignore that.

Be well, take cake. Breath and have patience.

Oh, I get to pick up my new glasses today, so excited. We might also get a walk in later this afternoon.

Life is good.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and learning patience, always.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my nephew in Calgary and one of my long time friends in Regina. They both celebrated birthdays yesterday and guess who forgot to send them birthday wishes. Happy Birthday to you both. May 2021 be filled with good health, great joy, much love and laughter and abundance.

Turnaround in our weather. Thankfully the temperatures are going up (warmer). One or so weeks of this frigid weather is enough for us. Tomorrow I am hosting a birthday party for one of my Edmonton friends in our garage. We will have heaters thanks to another Edmonton girlfriend. I can honestly say that I have never hosted a birthday party in a garage. I have hosted on the deck, in the house, in basements, on the beach, at McDonalds, in a park and so on but never ever in a garage. After work today, I am going to move around and organize seating and a table for us. Hang up some decorations. The Birthday Banner. The guest list is the three of us friends which includes the birthday girl. I must add Alvin to the list as he will NOT stay quiet in the nice warm house. He has to be attached to me all of the time. I have this perfect patio set that is made to resemble wicker but it is not. There is a small “loveseat” and two comfy chairs. They all have nice cushions which I just remembered will need to be brought out of their storage bags. I also have a small table that comes with the set and then a large round table. So I will move the large round table into the middle of the garage or close to the middle. Place the seating six feet apart. Make sure that everyone has a spot to set their coffee/tea drinks on and we are set to go. Set up should not take too long. Just some rearranging and we are good to go. In the morning, I will take the cupcakes (made from scratch, I might add) and some other treats to the garage along with a butler of coffee. The gift. Party time. I am so excited to spend good quality in person time with two of my best girl friends ever. They are amazing human beings and I am more than proud to call them my friends.

Well I guess it is time to head on back downstairs. Put on the coffee and start work in a few minutes. YAY it is Friday. It has been a strange week. Alvin seems to have a dislike for the headset that I put on so when I am on the phone which is often he barks. I even let him sniff the headset but to no avail, he still barks. When I was using the phone app, I could get up and take the phone with me, I cannot do that with the headset, as it is not cordless. So it has been frustrating. Sometimes he has to go out and other times not. What a guy.

Okay, it is Friday. Today is going to be quiet and a great day. Looks like it may be nice enough for us to take some semblance of a walk at noon today. I am so grateful. I think he needs to get out for longer than bathroom breaks.

Living with kindness, respect, compassion and learning to be more patience. Learning. Learning, Learning.

Always, Carol & Alvin