The Next Chapter

Good Morning. Nothing feels real this morning as I had set the alarm to get up at a certain time so that I could have a shower and get ready for work. Yes, back to the office. I am a little nervous and I am not sure why. So much has been changing over the last two weeks including my personal circumstances with the loss of my beloved Alvin. My life has been turned upside down the past couple of months. Where does one go from here/from there? I am trying to take one day at a time. Alvin has always been in here in the morning except when he visited at his sister’s house or for those handful of times that I was away. He wasn’t sitting on the mat in the bathroom with his back to me while I showered. I did not wake up on the sofa. I no longer have middle of the night trips outside with him. I miss him and everything little thing about him. I ate a banana yesterday morning and I felt guilty as that was his most favourite food ever. Everything in the house reminds me of him. I never want to forget him and what he brought to my life. The joy, laughter and most of all the love. In the early days of going back to work when he was much younger, I remember having to leave him. Making sure he went outside for a pee and maybe even a poop at the last minute before heading out. Ensuring his water dish was filled with clean cool water. Leaving the television on for company until it went into sleep mode. Telling him that I loved him and would see him later after work. The best thing to come out of the Pandemic for me was that for 2.5 years I was able to work from home almost everyday and be with him. I think we would both admit that sometimes we did get on each other’s nerves (trying to smile here). I always said that we were just like an old married couple. But all in all, it was the best time of my life as I was here for him. If he needed to go to the vet right away, I was able to take him. He would lay on one of his beds in the kitchen not far away from my “workspace.” When I had a late breakfast, he would sit beside me on the sofa and I would give him a treat and if I had a banana, we shared that precious fruit. Walks, oh how we loved out walks. Most days if the weather was favourable, we would head out at my lunch break and then again after work. On those days when the weather was hot, we would head out before I started work and then sometimes again after supper if it had cooled down. I loved how he would be with me wherever I was in the house. Since his last surgery on his knee in July of 2021, I seldom allowed him to follow me into the basement, just too many stairs. Sometimes I would just carry him when I was going down for longer than a couple of minutes. When I carried the laundry basket downstairs, he knew what I was doing and would wait patiently near the basement door. Oh, what a guy he was!

Well I suppose I should head downstairs and finish getting ready to leave for work. I am grateful that I have a ride with my coworker to the office. I am also grateful that she will be joining me when we move to the site office. She is changing jobs. There will be a few days, perhaps one week where she will be in training so I will catch the bus. Get this a Senior’s bus pass is $35.00 for one month which is cheaper than buying bus tickets for the week.

My daughter has a dental appointment after work nearby so she will be spending the night. I look forward to seeing her.

Trying 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

Today I am writing two posts. I wanted to write a special one just to Alvin as today is one week since he passed. The sun is shining and the temperatures are rising as I write these words. The house is empty as I listen to the furnace running keeping me warm and the click clack of my fingers on the keyboard. Time just keeps going. Every day since Alvin passed people have reached out to me. There is such love for my little four-legged companion. Many tears have been shed between us all and continue to fall. Forever in our hearts.

Thank you Gillian for popping by over your lunch break to bring a “lemon loaf” and for having coffee with me and just chatting. I appreciate your friendship and support.

Thank you Sara, Carson and Family for the lovely bouquet of flowers and to Sara for stopping by. Alvin would have loved all of the flowers as he always wanted to sniff them whether in the house or outside. He loved when it was springtime and I would be on the deck planting the flower pots.

Last night I was invited to friends Norbert & Irene for a visit. We talked and talked. About Alvin and about the loss of their son last year. So much hurt and so much joy. Irene and I even had several games of Connect Four. I did not win but that was okay. I joked that I was a good loser but in reality win or lose, I actually won to have such amazing people in my life. They sent me home with a gift of chocolate and a beautiful card. I do love chocolate.

Yesterday I always walked over to Alvin’s Doctors, to the clinic where he seemed to be on a very regular basis. I had some unopened items from the last week that I was able to return. Thank you to Brenne for your hugs and for loving Alvin. To Dr. Karen who was just about to go into surgery and could only give an air hug but for your kindness and your love for Alvin. To Michelle, whom I did not see as she was in the back with another beloved boy or girl, thank you for being there for Alvin and for loving my boy. They were family and I appreciate them.

Later in the day I had a conversation with Alvin’s Doctor Zhou from Guardian who answered some questions I had, lessening some of the guilt that I feel. They are so good at Guardian. Not only professional but have such hearts. Such a hard job but so rewarding.

The outpouring of love for my Alvin is real and I am so appreciative. Everyone is telling me stories about him and how much he touched their lives.

I need to get moving. A walk to Shoppers to pick up a Seniors Bus pass (cannot believe that I am a senior) and a few items from the grocery store. Good to get some fresh air. Alvin will be with me as he always is …….

My whole house reminds me of him and will continue to keep him in the forefront of my mind and he will always be in the majority of the real estate in my heart.

Thank you to my daughter and son-in-law for all they do and for their love and support each and every day.

Continuing 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 – December

Good Morning ALL! Happy Wednesday. I am so excited.

Countdown to Christmas: THREE sleeps until Christmas Eve. THREE sleeps until my Alvin comes home. THREE sleeps until my family are here for Christmas. So excited.

Christmas photos from current over the years since I moved to Edmonton. Random shots.

Christmas presents

Wrapping xmas 2020

Close up of our tree

and more

Christmas at my house

Posting this just because “ALVIN” is so cute here….

I am word poor this morning so I shall leave you with the photos.

This Christmas, may your day be Merry & Bright and may this Christmas be wonderful. I was going to say “be white” but if you are living in most areas in Canada, there is no chance of this not be true. I cannot speak for the rest of the world. I just hope that everyone has a good, no a great Christmas this year.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing today? A bright sunny morning here in Edmonton. We had frost overnight. Last night I had a get together with my friends at Signe’s house. Signe’s daughter had offered to come and stay with Alvin while I was at her house. So grateful that he had company after a long week for him. We had so much fun, always laughter and good conversation. After coming home, I spent the next hour or so chatting with Maddie. She is so grown up and hard to believe she was just a toddler when I first met her and now she is in grade 9. Time flies. I cannot remember the last time that I had such a long talk with a teenager. We were sitting on the sofa when Alvin moved from his spot beside me, walked over, and snuggled up beside Maddie. It was so cute. He really likes Maddie. I could see that Alvin was getting tired as his head kept bobbing up and down. I think it was almost 11:30 when she went home and we started getting ready for bed. What a great evening for both Alvin and me!

Today is going to be quiet. It is already getting late so this will be short for today. I am finding that I cannot quite formulate what I would like to say. Still feeling a bit tired. Definitely need some coffee.

Tomorrow is back to the office for the next three days and I am grateful that I have someone to check in on Alvin.

I hope that you have a great day.

I was thinking that it is less than two weeks until I start decorating for Christmas. Now that is exciting for me. Just thinking about how to do some things a bit differently using the same decorations.

Alvin just did some stretches and I think he wants to go downstairs.

I apologize for the disconnected thoughts this morning but I am really feeling a bit dozy. Time to get that pot of coffee on and perking.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: feeling very grateful for my friends!

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Thank goodness today is Saturday, I love the weekends. I get to putz around my home, perhaps see some friends and family and go for walks with Alvin. I am making a list of all the things that I need to do before you know what arrives, I cannot even bear to utter the words, so I will leave it up to your imagination. If you live in Western Canada or Canada, you will know exactly to which I am referring. Now I do very much love certain elements of that time. Fall arrives officially on September 22, 2022 which is not long off. I have plants to winterize in the house, the big tree out front to trim, the back flower bed to get ready, finish the front (which will be about a five minute job), clean the outside windows that I can reach and show be getting especially the gutter of the porch cleaned as it is full of crap. Anyway that does not include putting away the furniture from deck (which does not take long) and cleaning out the remaining flower pots. So lots of outside things to do. There is one item on my list that I must find someone to give me a hand and that is trimming the tree. The branches are too high for me and even with a ladder holding that long pole trimmer, I can imagine that would be way too much for me. The pole has a bit of weight to it and with the sharp blade tool on the end and having to pull the long string to work the blade, nope not for me. I do trim the lower branches every year by myself. Perhaps later today I will try and do some.

Inside the house the blinds need to be cleaned again, they sure seem to be getting dusty more quickly. I would love at some point to remove and replace them. They have been good to me and done what they needed to do but some of them are discoloured from the sunlight which happens over more than a decade. Another item on my list. Oh that dreaded list! Do you have a list? Oh, I am sorry, I neglected to ask how you were doing this day. How are you? Very well, I hope.

Perhaps with a long list of things to do, it will give me the energy and drive to actually do more than a bit of cleaning and laundry. With the heat over the last few weeks, Alvin’s health issues and the work stuff, I am exhausted. Not burned out, I don’t think. I just need to lay down for about three days and sleep, lol. Okay, perhaps a slight exaggeration!

The temperatures are going to be just perfect this weekend. 25-26 degrees celsius. Cooling off in the evening. My kids and grandpups are camping for one last time. I hope that they were warm and comfy last night and tonight and tomorrow night.

Tonight I am actually going out. Signe invited me and Gillian over for a paint night. She has the canvases and the picture that we are going to mimic. They are always fun. At first, I thought with Alvin and stuff, that I would stay at home with him but I realize that all I do is stay home with him except for the odd 45 minute trip to the grocery store and now the days going to work. Work does not count. That is not for fun. So I am going out. YAY, me. Signe’s folks are visiting from Eastern Canada. I love to see them, her Mom is so much fun. I know her the best from previous interactions. So I know that I will have a good time. Surrounded by friends is a good thing. If you have been just staying home – time to get out for a bit. Have some laughs and special time with family and friends. Yes. Alvin will be okay for a couple of hours or so.

Tomorrow I am having some neighbours over for a visit. That would be Cookie’s family. With the return to work on the near horizon, I am looking at all the possibilities for Mr. Alvin. It does take a village and I am accumulating one. Not much time so I am working on it.

Also I need to get busy and contact the bank regarding the mortgage renewal. Honestly, it would be so wonderful to own the house outright. Just me, myself and I. That is a huge dream of mine.

Well the coffee has perked and I need to get dressed and get this day going although it has been going for awhile. Whoops, time to pay bills as well. Better not forget that. I love to have my bills always paid on time. Also helps to look at it as though you are helping to pay someone else’s salary and not just give money to the owners or shareholders or whatever.

Have a wonderful day. Stay warm and safe. I hope that the fires are going out near Jasper and all around us. I feel for the wildlife that have been lost and injured and those left behind. Humans have a much better chance of getting out of a wildfire. They do not.

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

Fall / Autumn and the new fall t.v. lineup is right around the corner. My fav shows will be back.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have someone to share all of this with in addition to Mr. Alvin. He is not too great at trimming trees or paying the bills. But he sure is darn cute.

Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! What a wonderfully cool Monday morning this is. The sun is starting to rise, the sky is a pale blue as the night leaves for morning with pale orange hue on the horizon away from the sun. Beautiful. The house is cool this morning and I even forgot to open our bedroom window last night. How did that happen? I even got up just before I turned the lights out to turn off the fan which I had briefly turned on at the lowest setting. I have closed the bedroom windows and blinds except for the office one for now. I will close them once I am done writing this post. Monday morning here we come. I am so happy that Mr. Alvin slept until almost 4:30 and then he woke up at 5:57 (still beat the alarm). So we have been up for a few extra minutes. Today is shower so I need a bit more time and we are still walking in the mornings due to the heat at lunch time and after work. Yesterday when we went for a walk in the mid morning, it was so beautiful out that we just kept walking and before I knew it we had walked our whole “old” route. This time it took us 45 minutes. Alvin is slowing down. We used to do it in 25-30 minutes. But I figure 45 minutes of fresh air, sniffing in that beautiful air, checking out the grass, the trees, the flowers and just being together is great. I am happy that he is still able to walk. I am so proud of Mr. Alvin. We bumped into an older gentleman with his dog, a girl, I do not remember her name now but Alvin liked her. She was 9 years old, I think the man said. Anyway, Alvin took a shine to her and she was timid but did not seem to mind the attention. The love fest carried on for a few minutes before we both went on our way. So nice. Whoa, the sun is coming up and reflecting off of the neighbours garage, looking oh so pretty. I am glad that we are up and getting things done.

A good weekend and I am so grateful that the temperatures were less hot. Way less hot. Yesterday I spent some time cleaning out some of the flower pots where most of the flowers had already passed on. I also did some rearranging and cleaning of the garage preparing for putting the patio/deck furniture away. Won’t be for a bit but not too far off, I would think. I have already prepared the front flower bed except to trim back the perennials that remain. There are three of them. I was going to clean the blinds on the main floor and that did not happen. Just putzed. It was a wonderful day.

Off the subject, I have had this computer (new) in 2009. It is a 2009 model. So it has served me well. The computer can no longer accept updates so it remains behind. I have an Apple iMac. I have been researching to find out which would be the best one to get and am shocked by the results of my searches. I found that the Shopping Channel had some on sale and you can pay for them by interest free monthly payment which would be ideal for me. Upon some research between myself and my daughter (whom I could not do anything technical without), found that the newer Catalina operating system will not be supported after this year. So I do not know if this means that there would be no more updates. Who wants to buy a computer that is basically obsolete before you even pay for it? The new ones that were made in 2022 are thousands of dollars. I love Apple products but seriously do we need to charge so much. Aren’t the Apple people rich enough. How about making things a bit more affordable. You have the “customer base.” Anyway, I have some serious thinking to do before I spend any money. More research and time. I hope this old gal can work for some more time. She has done pretty darn good. Fingers crossed.

Well time to head back downstairs and go for a walk with the boy. Alvin is resting on his bed in the office here beside me.

I hope that you have an awesome day. Cannot believe that the long weekend in September is only a few days away. September, FALL ……. I love fall.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: I am so grateful to be working from home ….. I love that we can go for a walk and come home and then I can plug in the coffee pot and then start work. I love that I can drink home brewed coffee all morning long if I chose.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! What a beautiful morning. We slept until 4:15 and then back to sleep until 6:07 and then well, I fell into a sleep where I was dreaming all sorts of things until 8:30 a.m. I guess I needed the sleep. I have an exciting day ahead. So excited. But first back to yesterday. So it was a warm sunny day. Alvin and I went for a walk at noon. We have started walking to our friend’s house which is about halfway and then turning around and heading home. It takes us about the same amount of time. Mr. Alvin seems to be slowing down and truly smelling the “roses” or in his case each “blade of grass.” He is definitely in the moment and does not want to be rushed. So in order not to be rushed and worry about getting back to work late, we only walk part way. I have found that I am enjoying the walk more this way. We saw the geese in the distance yesterday with their “babies” who by the way are no longer babies. They are getting so big. Sooo cute. The trees and grass are so green. The dandelions have made a yellow blanket across most of the grass near the water and trees in our park. The houses with yards that back onto the park are trying desperately to keep the grass near their homes and their lawns free of the little yellow flowers. If the dandelions stayed in flower and did not go to seed so quickly it may be a different story but alas they do not and people are not happy. I love the little yellow flowers but not so much when they are ready to sail away and seed the world. I had a productive day at work. When it was almost 4:00 p.m. – I received a phone call from my neighbour – advising that she was not going to need her car after all – I could borrow it if I wanted to. So I changed my grocery shopping back to Thursday after work. Once I was finished work which was a few minutes after 4:00 p.m., I made sure that Alvin had a drink of water and went “pee.” Gathered my list and bags and purse, of course and was on my way. The store was definitely more busy than I thought but everything seemed to go quickly. When I was finished picking up and paying for my groceries, I noticed that the Lotto Max Jackpot was up to $70 million again so I decided to pick up a ticket. I waited for a Cashier as they were all busy at the grocery tills. It was only a few minutes before I had the nicest young person. She was so polite and friendly. While she was getting my tickets and I was paying she told me that recently she had two men who had won some money. One had one $800 and one $25,000 – both had said if they won they would be back. Well they came back to “collect” and were kind of rude to her. She said that maybe she had brought them luck and one said no, he bought the ticket? the other said he bought a car. I told her I will be back and I will give her something. I understand the $800 winner but the $25,000? Why could they have not bought her a coffee at the very least. Would have been kind. Oh well, I don’t know their situations and perhaps they could not or even maybe did not want to share their winnings.

Well I have to get the show on the road. My friend Pauline is picking me up at 12:30. We are heading the Bird sanctuary which is across the road from the Botanical gardens where we hope to see a garden filled with lilacs. The scent is supposed to be enchanting. I cannot wait. This will be my first time to the Bird sanctuary and third or so to the Botanical gardens. Cannot think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

In the meantime, I need to get my photos downloaded from my phone to the computer and that could take a bit of time and then delete more from my phone so that I do not run out of memory when I am snapping photos and make sure my phone is 100% charged. Also the shower and get ready time.

Last night at the store I picked up three wave petunias and planted them last night. I cannot wait for them to be grow and bloom. So pretty.

I hope that you have a great Friday. Enjoy the weather.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am so grateful for wonderful friends and neighbours. I helped Sonja with an unwanted house guest last night. A wasp had come into her house. She is terrified of them. I am not. I am however allergic to their sting as I had a bad experience as a teenager and have tried to keep my distance since I was stung. Anyway, I sprayed some water on it to confuse it before I apologized for having to take its’ life and then swept it up in a paper towel. I do not have to tell you the rest. I do not like taking a life even a bug.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Happy Monday morning. I hope that you are well this morning. Alvin and I had a great sleep, yes we did. Lights out just after 10:00 as I was reading and still did not finish the book that I am reading. This will be the third time that I have read this book so I know the ending. I am re reading the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella. They are a nice light read and always make me smile. Rebecca or Becky as she is affected referred to, is just one of those characters that you can one minute shake your head in disbelief that someone would do that and in the next one you are feeling so sorry for her or so happy. She also reminds me of me in some aspects. I think she would likely remind most of the population of themselves. If you have never read the series, please do so. I am certain that you would them very most enjoyable. The characters are so well done. I hope that Sophie writes another new one soon. Maybe she has and I just have not heard. Reminder to check.

Well yesterday was a GREAT day. The to do list remains the same as I strayed greatly. Started out with the girls coming for coffee. We had a “muffin” day as everyone brought muffins in addition to my banana pumpkin with orange zest loaf. We had carrot cake muffins with cream cheese icing and then a mix of blueberry, chocolate chocolate chip, and raisin bran. I also had some oranges, (two kinds). We had a lovely visit. I just love these girls. I am so blessed to have such good friends near and far. After the girls left for home, I just settled down on the sofa with Alvin for some snuggles and to finish my coffee. In the end I watched a movie. Afterwards we went for a great walk. Mr. Alvin is feeling better and seems to have rounded the corner of concern and coming out the other side. In the afternoon, I tended to my flowers in the house, ended up trimming back and pulling one of my old bushes from the back garden. The bush used to be so pretty and then at some point it has turned into a thorn bush. I was tired of getting pricked all of the time so I trimmed it back and pulled most of the roots. I had to wear two sets of gardening gloves and the second pair on top were a heavy duty glove. Anyway, I was happy that I got it trimmed back and mostly out. I will need to get a small shovel and dig out the remaining roots. We just had a quiet afternoon for the most part. I made myself a big supper of pork chops and baking sheet of vegetables including sweet potatoes and carrots and onions and brussel sprouts. So good. After supper there was some action outside. A woman that I did not recognize looked like she was herding something as she moved about with her hand in the air. I looked out the window to see that a goose with two goslings was walking down the street. She was stopping traffic so that she could get the geese to safety. When I looked closer and actually went outside as were some of my neighbours, I saw two adult geese with the goslings. Little fluffy balls of cuteness. Nice of this stranger to get out of her car (someone else was driving) and help the geese. She herded them to the back lane which is busy enough but definitely more safe than our busy street where people drive insanely fast. I was happy to see kindness for the innocent birds. They will live to see another day and that is so wonderful.

The sky this morning is overcast. Not cold outside. I am happy that I decided to plant my flowers later.

After the geese were saved, I decided to take Mr. Alvin for a walk to the park. We bumped into another neighbour walking with her two dogs so we chatted and walked home together from the park.

Perhaps that is why we slept so good. FRESH AIR in the evening. Perhaps I will change our after work walk to after supper. Might be better for Mr. Alvin.

Time to go and have my first cup of coffee and start this day.

I hope that you have a great Monday. Be well and safe. I hope that there is something for you to laugh about today. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. thanks Val for the text last night …….

P.P.S. to Pluto ….. I howled at the moon last night even though it was not visible at that time.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Saturday Morning ALL! Well it is bright and early. I hope this finds you well. First Alvin had me up at 4:30 to go outside for a pee and for his glucosamine chew then back to the sofa we went. Next we woke up just before 6:00 a.m. to see flashing lights out front of our house, I jumped up and there was a first responder vehicle down the street from us. I gave Alvin his breakfast and went out to the backyard with him as it was just beginning to get light. Dark clouds lining the sky and WIND, was thinking we may blow away, lol. Back in the house, I watched out front at the flashing lights. Then the lights stopped flashing and I realized it was an ambulance as the attendants opened the side of the ambulance and then got in and left the scene. At that point, I thought that we would lay back down on the sofa for some more zzz’s because really who needs to get up at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday with no good reason. Well that lasted for about one minute and then I decided to just get up. I am wide awake. So I put on some coffee, dried the dishes that were in the sink and put them away, changing the bedding on our bed, am doing this post now and then I am going to do some other things before going to Gillian’s for coffee at 10:00 a.m. Kind of cool to be up and already checked off some things off my list at this time of the morning. The dark blue clouds are beginning to dissipate and I can just barely catch the sunrise. I will say that the wind is drying things up and perhaps I brought this on myself as I wanted so desperately for the backyard space to be dry for Alvin and after my tumble last Sunday. By the way, I am fully recovered. I am so grateful for that.

I can smell the coffee downstairs waiting patiently for me to go down and grab a mug. I am really excited to be up and about this early. It has been awhile since I stayed up at 6:00 on a weekend. Funny thing is I didn’t even turn the lights out until after 11:00 p.m. last night.

Sometimes we do not realize the direction we are going until we are on our way. I guess that is the case for this Saturday.

I was reading some affirmations from my SECRET SUPER APP and earlier I happen to see: Your thoughts become things and you just have to keep thinking those thoughts and “that thing will become your reality.” After all, that is how I moved to Edmonton and bought this house. I am not sure that it would have happened had I not been filling my head with thoughts of owning my own house in Edmonton near my daughter. I remember while in Regina – checking Real Estate ads in Edmonton. Thinking I could afford this house and I could afford that house. I put the wheels in motion and what happened, I got a house near my daughter and son-in-law. So I know it works. I just have to start thinking that one thought of what I want and keep going toward it. I know it will happen.

Well I should go for now. I hope that you have an awesome Saturday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. there are always possibilities if we focus on gratitude.

2021

Good Morning All! The air has a slight coolness. The sky is a brilliant blue. The sun rose while were napping after our second rise up with the moon still making a last appearance in the morning sky. It is Saturday.

My To Do List is rather massive this morning as I shake off the last bit of sleep and prepare for the day. A nice shower to begin with while Alvin waits downstairs for me. I cannot tell you how much I miss his ability to come up and down the stairs with me. This one some thing that we totally took for granted has changed our lives dramatically. I miss him either laying near the foot of the bed or on the mat in the bathroom while I shower. It seems like forever ago. I hope that someday we can actually sleep on our real bed and that he will wait for me to set him on the floor when he wants down. My bed is just too high even with the soft area rug on the floor. If he would use the cushioned bench at the foot of the bed for both jumping up and down, things would be much better but of course not something that you can rely on to happen. I must be patient.

I’m thinking that I might start bringing in my geranium plants this weekend once I figure out a good place for them to go. It would seem that I have become “the plant lady.” Funny my grandmother would had the “green thumb” – really did not keep plants in the house. When I was really small and we would travel down the road to her house, the only plant I remember is a fern. She did start flowers in the house but never kept them inside. It was another time. Now I have them all over the house. I can’t imagine my home without live plants.

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I have two small Spider plants, an African violet and two poinsettias upstairs in addition to these plants in the kitchen. Soon there will be three pots with geraniums and a Callas Lily which will winter in the basement.

it makes me sad as I start winterizing my gardens and pots. Slowly the plants begin to die and need to be pulled and the pots returned to their place in the garage. The perennials and shrubs in the flower bed some of which are trimmed before the snow and or frost hits. I have two small shrubs that have survived since being planted in spring/summer of 2020. Such as life.

Well I suppose it is time to hit the shower after a lazy start to our Saturday. I like it this way. I usually hit my stride about 1030 and then don’t stop until supper time.

Have an awesome Saturday.

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

Always Carol&Alvin