The New Year 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Alvin and I are doing great. I had a wonderful Mother’s Day yesterday. My daughter picked me up in the late morning so that we could arrive at Creekside Nursery & Garden when it opened. Wow, did it ever get busy fast. Initially we both thought that we would just look and pick up maybe the odd flower as it is too early to plant. Well that did not last long. By the time we got to the check-out our cart was filled to the brim, no room left for even the smallest container. I also picked up a cream coloured ceramic flower pot, three bags of potting soil, gardening gloves, fertilizer, and some plants which included tomatoes, greek oregano ( I did not know there was such a thing), begonias, violas, pansies and impatiens and lavender.

The photos are all from home except for the first two and the stock photo.

Photo by George Dolgikh @ Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com

My kitchen looks amazing. I will keep the plants inside until it is warmer to plant them. What a gorgeous workspace. My happy place. I apologize for the slightly blurry photos as they looked clear when I snapped them.

I hope that your Mother’s Day was awesome.

Well it is almost time to head downstairs. Get this Monday started.

Alvin and I had a quiet Mother’s Day evening which suited me fine.

The sun is shining this morning, there is a breeze, buds on the trees and even small small leaves on some of the trees.

Feels like almost summer now that I have my flowers.

Happy Days ahead.

Have a fantastic day.

Happy Monday.

I am so grateful for such a great Mother’s Day with my daughter, grateful for all the beautiful plants I was able to purchase, grateful to be alive, grateful for my darling Alvin and my son-in-law and my grandpups. Thank you for this great life.

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

Always, Carol & AL

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this Thursday morning, May 6th, 2021? We are well. We enjoyed a couple of walks yesterday and on the second one we were able to have an outside visit with our friend. She was working in her garden and invited us in for a patio visit. I love sitting on her patio in her backyard. I cannot wait until her flowers are all out and blooming. She starts most of her plants and flowers inside the house and then in spring plants them in pots on her patio and some in her flower beds which surround the lawn area. She has one of the most beautiful garden ever. It is our sanctuary away from home, I always feel relaxed and calm in her yard.

As I am plum out of stories and things to say on this morning. I am going to post some photos of mine from previous years. Bad me, I still have not downloaded the photos that I have been taking recently. I will be proud to show you my handiwork on the front flower bed and cannot wait to fill it full of plants and flowers. It is now a blank canvas so I had better get planning it before it is too late. Soon it shall be time to pick up some plants/flowers and get them planted. I cannot wait. My favourite thing is picking out some plants/flowers, then planting and caring for them and watching them grow and flower.

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  My Flowers

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  A gift

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  Impatiens

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  My pansies

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  Perfection

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Wishing you joy and laughter on this Thursday. Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Love flowers ………

P.S. cannot wait to get the fence painted. Looking a bit worn, lol.

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are fine, not quite as much straight through sleep as I would have liked but that is okay. We will make sure that we head off to bed tonight in better time. Just saw flashing red lights out of my office window and turned my head to see the big GREEN trash/garbage truck. The dark cloud banks lining the southern horizon appear to be mountains with pale blue skies above. How very beautiful. A great morning sky. Not often the clouds arrange themselves like this but when they do it is truly magnificent. We had some snow stick from last night and oddly enough the snow that was on the front sidewalks earlier this morning had disappeared when we were up earlier. I did not think it was warm enough to melt. Oh well, it has left. I think that I am going to share some favourite photos this morning. I have no further words that can contend with the beauty of the skies outside.

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  Our World

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  My Flowers

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  More Flowers

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  Summer Adventure

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  Willow

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  Another Adventure

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  A gift

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  Photo Shoot

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  My Flowers

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  Another Summer

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  Flowers

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  Beautiful Place

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  In Awe

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  Impatiens

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  My Roses

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  My Flowers

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  My Roses

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  Park

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  My pansies

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  Flowers for Easter ….. Happy Spring.

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  Perfection

I hope that you enjoy the photos as they remind me of the months to come.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning ALL,

What a glorious beautiful sunny warm morning.

The birds are chattering away and life is good.

I am so happy to wake up to sunshine.

We have been up for awhile.

Slowly and methodically enjoying each moment of this beautiful morning.

Yesterday was a great day.

Alvin had a poop …. getting closer to normal.

I am waiting for him to poop again today.

He seems more like his old self as each day passes.

I can tell with his reactions to people and with his friend Humphrey, the cat.

We had a much better sleep last night, thank goodness.

My daughter stopped by to pick up her NORWEX order and to drop off some items that I needed.

She also had a great surprise for her Momma.

Guess what she brought me?

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world.

FLOWERS.

She brought me some impatiens and some petunias and snapdragons.

We had a wonderful pancake breakfast following by planting.

It has been a few years since we actually planted flowers together.

The sun was shining and the temperature was warm enough on the deck for me to be in short sleeves.

I am so happy.

Also I transplanted my geranium, only sadly to find out that this plant is very toxic to dogs and cats.

Alvin has never really paid much attention to plants but I have to make some decisions.

Thinking of moving it into a safe spot.

Where not sure.

In the meantime, I keep a careful idea on the fur babies when they are on the deck.

Now with the flowers ….. it looks like summer.

I was over the moon happy to have time with my daughter and to plant flowers on a sunny day plus Alvin having a better poop.

Life does not get better than this ….. so happy.

I was trying to upload/download the photos from my phone but am experiencing technical difficulties so will be for another day.

Time to go and have coffee and some toast and honey.

Alvin is signalling that he wants to go back outside.

The simple things in life are the best.

If we try not to overthink, overdo, stress about things to much, everything will work out.

I know this…..

Keep it simple.

 

I hope that you have a glorious Sunday.

Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

Sit on your deck, patio or by an open window with your cup of coffee.

Turn on your favourite tunes.

Breathe and enjoy.

 

With so much respect and kindness sent to you on this day and always,

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and finally we are in the last two or three days of this bone chilling cold snap.

Cars, trucks, buildings, houses, animals, humans; none of us have totally warmed us since this all started.

The roads are frozen so hard.

Icy intersections are many.

We are so blessed that our power has remained flowing and that is due to the harding crews in the power stations/offices.

We are truly grateful.

 

We will be so happy to get out walking once again.

My clothes are beginning to feel tight and not because I am eating more but because I am not walking.

We all need fresh air.

The kind that does not freeze your lungs when you open you mouth.

I am grateful that Alvin and I have a beautiful warm home during any temperature.

 

Today is the last day in our temporary location and Monday we will be back in our “old digs.”

Newly renovated.

A new day.

 

I think it is time for some colourful flower photos.

Flowers for planting from a few years back

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

Kindness and Compassion should be our way of life.

Always a good reminder in case we stray.

Some situations …. some times, we forget.

 

Happy Friday

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time!

Hello,

Another gorgeous day on the way.

A little bit too warm for me but I will accept it as those days are not in the majority here in Western Canada.

I have closed all of the blinds except for Alvin’s vantage points with hopes that the house will stay at a comfortable level for the boy.

I will also leave the main floor bathroom door open as it is cooler in there.

 

Last night my daughter gave me a ride home via COSTCO.

GUESS WHAT?

I got some florals …. some flowers.

So Happy.

I was truly doing a little happy dance while planting them last night.

Both Alvin and Humphrey were watching with “raised eyebrows.”

Oh, Humphrey joined us for the evening as his Momma was golfing.

The flowers in the pots are the ones that I picked up at COSTCO last night.

Could not believe that I filled 7 pots for $24.00.

I planted Marigolds, Snapdragons, Impatiens and Trailing Lobelia.

I still have some pots to be filled when my daughter and I go to our local nursery “CREEKSIDE.”

We have been going there for years.

Even though it is great to get plants at the big box stores for very reasonable prices; I do believe in supporting local businesses.

I look forward to our date in the near future.

The plants / flowers in the front flower bed are growing like crazy.

Every morning I wake up to the ferns being inches taller.

Is that even possible?

The lilies and other plants are growing quickly.

The back flower bed is doing fair well, too.

GREEN plants and pretty coloured flowers always make me happy.

Whoops where did the time go.

Gotta go.

P.S. decided to use my camera as I still have to get the photo storage figured out with the cell phone.

I will one day soon.

As soon as I get my voice mail activated.

ARGH.

So many things….

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Do what makes you happy.

Please.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 20th day of September, 2018.

Two more days until it is officially “FALL.”

Dark outside but no moisture overnight which I really like.

 

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk with our friend last night.

I had not been taking Alvin’s water bottle with us for the past few nights as it has been cooler and not hot.

At points on our walk as it was longer … Alvin would stop and whine and look at me.

I figured he just wanted to go home because we were walking a greater distance but my friend thought perhaps it was because he was looking for a drink.

She said he is so used to having a drink or two along the way.

It was funny because lots of times when I did carry water, he would not want a drink, even when I stopped and asked him and put the water in front of him.

Not then.

Funny how we all want things when they are not there.

Well I felt like a “not good Momma” so last night I took water with us and he had a drink or two.

Note to Momma, always have water along.

I guess he is getting older and perhaps needs a drink even when it is not hot.

I should have known.

There is not a day that goes by where I do not learn something new or refreshing my memory on something old.

That is life.

Live and learn.

That should/could be my MOTTO.

Live and learn.

Words to live by.

 

On our walk the leaves on the trees and bushes by the lake are slowly turning yellows and oranges and reds.

The grass in spots was turning yellow and brown.

The air had that tad bit of coolness to it wrapped in the warmness.

It was a good night.

 

When we got home and after supper, I cleaned out the front flower bed.

Trimmed down the perennials and pulled the remaining annuals except for two begonias.

I also pulled and cleaned out the flower pots on the deck that held the Impatiens plants as they did not make the previous night.

They are a delicate plant and it was just too cold for them.

The Snapdragons made it with flying colours.

There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow so I may pop them back into the garage as by Monday it is supposed to be nice again.

Might as well enjoy them as long as possible.

Just the back flower bed and I have my yard work all done.

Deciding on whether to put the bistro table and chairs into the garage on not?

There is time for that.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Remember to live your life.

Take a chance, go for it.

Be happy ….. simple things …. simple pleasures.

 

Footnote:  on all the flyers in the post box and delivered to the door.  Think of all the trees we are cutting down to make these posters, flyers and such.  Most of them end up on the ground by the mail box or in our recycling.  I know this as I take them from the post box straight to the recycling and we pay for that service.  ARGH.  Perhaps it is time that we do something about this.  I am going to speak to the City and see what we can do.  With technology we do not need paper flyers and they could have a few in the stores for those who like to look at them.

 

Special Hello to: my friend V, love the new bamboo toothbrush and paste.  LOVE THEM.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 19th day of September, 2018.

I almost said June …. not sure what I was thinking about …. ???

It was dark but dry but when we got up this morning and nothing has changed thus far.

They are forecasting temperatures of about 14 degrees celsius, which would be BEAUTIFUL.

Last night Alvin and I went for a walk after work with our friend “P.”

We walked around the big lake to the north of us (first of all we walked to our friend’s house as we were ready more quickly than I first thought).

It was beautiful.

Some of the leaves are changing colour to hues of yellow and orange while the others are bitterly hanging onto to their greens.

Lots of folks out walking with loved ones both two and four-legged.

The SUN was shining and there was just the perfect warmth-cool mix to the air.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk.

We will be going again tonight.

 

After our walk and before supper, I decided to put away the remaining or at least the bigger pieces.

Leaving only the bistro table (which I should not lift into the garage) and its’ two chairs.

The deck looked so bare.

I decided as we only have a couple of days left without the forecast of moisture (rain & snow) to put the flowers back onto the deck.

I had placed a few pots into the garage last week.

Kept them watered and they lived.

The only pot that I left in the garage is the lavender plant as I want to dry the flowers and put it in the basement to winter there.

 

I decided mid point in the week is a good time to put up some photos.

The ones with the snow were from this past Saturday and the one with the flowers in the “sunshine” are from last night.

There was even a reflection on the fence by the sunflowers, do you see it?

All I can say is my poor Sunflowers from Saturday.

The one on the left, actually broke right at the base of the stalk and was just kind of there.

Poor thing

 

 

My friend P said that the Snapdragons are quite hardy.

The impatiens …. they were starting to get weak in the garage.

Anyway, that was last night.

I am glad to see some colour on the deck even if it is only for a couple more days.

 

I hope that you all have an awesome Wednesday.

Happy Birthday to my old neighbour who built a new house, and moved to a neighbourhood about 6 minutes away by car.

Happy Birthday “S” ……

 

Special Hello to: my sister and my friend V …… ladies you rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 12th day of September, 2018.

Dark out and raining.

Last night after our walk; we put the remaining flowers into the garage.

They are doing so great that I wanted to have them for awhile longer.

They are watered and if the sun shines they will get some light through the windows.

This cold snap is only to last until next week and then we will have some mid teen temperatures.

The flowers will love that.

I was going to wear a long sleeved top today and it felt warm.

I also put on socks as am going to wear shoes with them today.

I also am wearing full length jeans today.

All of a sudden my body temperature soared.

So off with the long top and on with no sleeved-top and short sleeved shrug of sorts.

That helps.

The first time that we start to wear warmer clothes feels odd, feels strange and WARM.

Also changed my purse from summer white to fall/winter black.

I have other colours as well but somehow it feels like should be black.

Alvin is snuggled in all his cuteness on the little blue blanket.

 

With winter just around the corner and who knows how short that corner is …. I am thinking that I need to get doing yoga/pilates SOMETHING on a regular basis.

Somehow that “roll” is not going away …. walking is good but does not take that away once it has formed.

Oh the joys of being past 50, er um, now past 60.

No excuses.

There are plenty of folks past 60, even 70 and 80 that are slim and trim, and super healthy.

I was so inspired by CHER at 72.

Now I know that she has had some help along the way …. but you do not keep that figure without exercise.

So I am going to get back into it …..

I have recorded several 1/2 programs so that there is a variety.

Even found some to help with the midsection ….

That is what I need the most.

You know it is a problem when … well you know.

Who knows …. perhaps I can even get Alvin doing some exercises.

He will certainly wonder what I am doing.

 

Well here we go again …. almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Perhaps it is night where you are ….. if that is the case ….. have a great night.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to:  my friend “V” ….. who is one of the busiest and most hard working women I know.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

These beauties are safe in the garage.

Still looking to dry some lavender.

 

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.