Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 2nd day of September, 2018.

The sun is shining brightly this morning with no sign of rain clouds.

Yesterday even before I wrote up my TO DO LIST, I decided that I was going to trim the tree out front.

I grabbed the tree trimmer apparatus from the garage and before you know it there was a pile of branches on the ground surrounding the tree.

At one point I could not hold the tree trimmer securely and cut the branch, thankfully it was about the time my neighbours arrived home.

I was standing there trying to figure out how to get that upper branch that was hanging over the eavestrough when we started a conversation.

The young man helped me trim the branch as he was taller and that was what was needed.

Although later I found out that there may have been a telescope on it to reach higher (oh well).

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of the process which would have been a good idea.

Especially when you are writing a blog and post the stories.

I will leave it to your imagination.

Further with this story.

I also realized with my light coloured jacket on that as the berries hit my jacket or whenever I picked up a branch I have little purple dots all over my jacket.

Oh well, another note to self moment.

They loaned me their trimmer so that I could cut the branches into smaller pieces to pack into garbage bags.

It was the most slick garden tool ever.

So sharp and easy to use with its’ arm length handles.

They asked if they could borrow my (actually belongs to my kids) tree trimmer and I said “yes, of course.”

While trying to cut the first branch it BROKE.

I think it may have been as young man was holding the pole and his wife was pulling on the cord but on an angle.

Anyway after some discussion, I lost out and my neighbour (young woman) said that they would pay to replace it.

I told her it was expensive, she said it did not matter, they broke it.

She knew I sold tea and asked if I wanted to give them something, some tea would be nice.

I said DEAL.

She went in and checked on HOME DEPOT’s website and ordered the tree branch trimmer.

Very nice and so generous to offer and to do.

It was nice to actually have a conversation with them.

They are busy with their lives and we usually come and go at different times.

A little bit later they picked up the tree trimmer and brought it home.

They tried it out first and it works so slick and even comes with a saw attachment.

Worked out.

It took me some time to cut the branches down and then pack them into garbage bags as there were a great many branches.

I did not realize that I was stepping and squishing the dark berries into the ground and subsequently into the soles of my shoes.

I realized this when I went into the house to grab the garbage bags.

Thankfully no marks on my floor – just on my wooden front steps.

But the steps look decorative with berry stained shoe marks.

That is okay ….. add a little colour to the front steps.

NOTE to self: check feet and always take your shoes off before going into the house.

Usually I do but I guess I was so zoned and in the moment ….

Big job done and before I even wrote it down.

After the tree job was completed and I had, had a sit down coffee break, we went for a nice walk.

Turned out to be beautiful day.

The photos below of the sunflowers and my flowers are from this past Thursday evening AND the clouds were from yesterday morning.

I cannot believe how pretty they still are ….. will have to take a photo of my trimmed up tree, she looks great …..

 

The clouds looked extra cool but somehow the photo just does not capture that ….

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Change your inner voices from:

You cannot do to You can do

You cannot have to You can have

You cannot be to You can be.

 

Might be a good idea to change how you say things to your children and to others.

 

Well time to have a shower.

My daughter is coming over and we are going to IKEA.

She needs a book case and they have the best ones.

 

I hope that you have an awesome day.

You can do, have and be whatever you wish.

 

I can continue to grow and be a better person each and every day of my life.

I can continue to have a great home, family, and friends.

I can continue to do all that I need to do to be healthy and live a happy life.

 

Special Hello to: You, my friend.  Keep up the great work.  Have a happy day.

Always, Carol & Alvin.

 

 

 

Thought for the day …….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of May, 2015.

It is overcast and very windy.

We did however receive some rain overnight which is great.

Perhaps it will rain over the course of the day and that would be wonderful as it is so needed.

Well I had the best start to the long weekend.

Yesterday started off with bootcamp.

This one was very engaging ….

Found out “all of the arms work” really engaging when I went to dry my hair after a nice warm shower.

I could barely lift my arms …… arg ….

This morning they feel great …. not tired ….. they feel strong.  YAY.

My friend “S” and I went shopping/ running errands after bootcamp.

First stop was the VET to pick up food for Alvin and some treats for him.

Our second stop was Home Depot to pick up some more flowers.

OMG, I could have bought every single flower there.

I picked up a ready made pot filled with pinks and white flowers.

Impatiens and I think begonias to plant for the front porch.

Petunias, and some others that I am not certain of their names.

Have to read the labels.

Also small basket of purple pansies.

So pretty.

I LOVE FLOWERS.

I LOVE LOVE FLOWERS.

They make me so happy.

The colours.

There was one tiny white flower that filled the air with the most amazing fragrance.

I made sure that I picked up some of them.

I decided to plant them (was hoping today) later.

Later might be tomorrow.

They are carefully sitting in the garage by the window.

Will check them later to see if they need a drink of water.

After our stop at Home Depot we went to Costco.

Now that store on a Friday was “busy” …..

People were doing silly driving parking things.

Well of course when you go to Costco …. do you ever stick to the list?  NOPE. Never.

After all doesn’t everyone need a ten pound bag of carrots ….

Apparently me and Alvin did …..

One last stop before home.

Save-On for the winning lotto tickets.

P.S. the one item that I really should have picked up was new house phones because apparently mine are not working …. just filled with static when someone calls ….. I did find out that they can hear me quite fine……..

It was wonderful to spend time with my friend “S” ….. we laughed and chatted and laughed.

Great time.

Now on this quiet Saturday ….

The only sounds in the house are the clock tick tock ing in the bathroom, the sound of the keys as I type these words and the wind as it blows through the upper vents.

Friday was great …… exercise, shopping, walk with Alvin and then being at home.

So on this quiet lovely Saturday morning I hope that you too are enjoying your day.

I love being in my home ….. just puttering …. doing laundry ….. sipping on a cup of coffee ….. just being.

I did think however after yet another bootcamp that I had better get out my yoga equipment and get stretching.

It is amazing as you get older how inflexible you become if you do not work at it.

So I am going to ……

I want to be the most healthy almost 58 year old woman…..

So time to go and get at it.

Remember to take time for yourself. ….

If you like flowers….. go to and pick up some to plant or a ready made pot.

If you do not have the extra money to buy flowers today then just go and spend some time at one of the retail garden stores.

Smell them and take in all of the amazing colours.

This experience will uplift and bring you to a great place.

Well I hear the laundry calling and another cup of coffee …. perhaps I will drink it while it is “hot.”

Have a wonderful Saturday …..

Special Hello to: my daughter and family …. we miss you guys.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 11th day of May, 2015.

Beautiful morning after a beautiful day.

So great to see the sky beginning to lighten as me and Alvin arise at 5:00 a.m.

Alvin and I now have a routine, I would say.

Routine are good most especially for pets.

During the week we keep pretty much to a regular schedule.

Do you have a schedule or is every day different?

I am lucky because I have one job now, same hours every day. Upon arriving at home it is let Alvin outside, feed Alvin and then get changed, go for a walk, and then have supper.  Most evenings just do bit of tidying up and anything that requires immediate attention, and other than that we relax on the sofa.  By relax I mean watch a bit of television.  Sometimes I just get lost in the moment gazing out the living room while snuggling with Alvin.

Most of us working folk only have a few waking hours at home during the week.

It is crazy how many hours we spend away from home, at work ….

To have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and to pay the bills.

I like to get to bed during the week at the same time.

I tend to leave the big jobs for the weekend.

Now that the lawn requires attention I would rake it and water it during the week of course.

Perhaps leave the mowing for the weekend.

We all do what works best for us.

You never know what the day will bring.

I am hoping for a quiet day that I can accomplish everything on my TO DO LIST (at work).

Well here it is almost time to leave and looking out the office window I can see the sunrise ….

It is going to be a glorious day ….. the sky is clear with a slight breeze.

I do kind of enjoy the bus ride to work …. mainly because I get on one bus and go all the way to work.

Sometimes in the evening it takes three buses to get home if you miss that one.

Oh well, life is pretty great on this end.

I hope that you all had a great Mother’s Day ….

I was absolutely spoiled ….. huge ( BIG ) bouquet of roses, gerber daisies, carnations, hydrangeas,  and several other flowers who names elude me at 6:00 a.m. …… the most beautiful card, and the company first and foremost of my daughter and grand-puppies.

We even went out for a bit to run some errands and I picked up one of Mike Dooley’s book (started to read last night), some wooden spoons, couple of cool place mats for the kitchen table and some groceries and a pot of flowers for the deck.

WHAT a great day.

Still excited ……

Okay gotta go ….. have a great Monday.

Clear skies ahead.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family ……

Always, Carol and Alvin