2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this beautiful bright and sunny Wednesday morning? Alvin and I are okay. For some unknown reason he was up starting from midnight and every couple of hours until I am up for the day. I am feeling a bit on the tired side but hopefully it does not affect the day too much. Perhaps some caffeine soon will perk me up and I hope that night we sleep through the night.

I was looked through my posts back to near the beginning of this blog and found one that I thought was pertinent today and always and will share it now:

April 2010

I have been thinking lately of family and friends.  About how easy it is to lose track of people.  Recently I have connected with old friends on Facebook, and am thrilled to hear about their lives.  I find people fascinating, and it pleases me a great deal to hear from them.  To hear their stories.

My thought for this day is:  send an email or SKYPE someone you care about, do it right now.  Time is of the essence.  It can get away on you.  Take advantage of this new technology.

Make someone’s day……. you just made mine.

I am not sure how many people still use SKYPE now, likely more TEAMS or ZOOM but the idea remains the same. There is also INSTAGRAM in addition to Facebook and other Social Media platforms.

The point being reach out to family and friends. They might love to hear your voice over the telephone.

Whether you phone, use messenger, FB, Instagram, SKYPE, Teams or ZOOM or something else, the point is our family and friends need us more than ever.

Time can pass so quickly and it is very easy to say “I will call her or him tomorrow.”

Reach out today.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

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  Photo by Jou00e3o Jesus on Pexels.com

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? We are doing well and still adjusting to the time change. Spring forward takes a bit more getting used to, for sure. But we will adjust in time (before the next change in late fall, lol). Last night it was after 7:30 p.m. and still light outside which was great. I cannot wait until the sun is already up at this time of morning. It is always easier for me to get up when it is light outside. How about you?

Yesterday at lunch we met up with friends Ali and Bailey from down the street and adorned with sweaters on the pups as it was cool at noon, masks on we girls and our lighter winter apparel we headed out for a 40 minute or so walk. We would come across folks with dogs or the pups especially Bailey were sniffing lots so did take all of 40 minutes. It was so nice to have a walking companion and we chatted the whole walk. I will say that walking and talking with a mask on is not the most comfortable thing in the world but I certainly am not going to complain as some folks have had to wear masks and work 12 hour shifts for days on end. I am grateful my mask wearing is not often as I do not go anywhere or see anyone. I have several masks on hand for those times when I must wear a mask and I will always wear one as instructed by our Health Care Professionals. Back to Bailey I cannot believe how long and gangly she is ….. he has such long legs even though she will not get much bigger and eventually will fill in, I would think. Again, nice to have a friend to walk with …. another human being. It was great.

Teddy and Kobi will be coming over at noon for the rest of the day while their parents go out to the farm to tend to some business.

I was wondering about some things. I will be 64 this summer and how I view the world is likely much different than an 18 year old or even a 30 year old. Do you ask yourself questions all day long? What kind of questions? Maybe we all ask this question “When is this going to end?” OR “Is this virus going to ever go away?” I often ask myself or tell myself “Why did you say that?” I have lots of questions swirling through my mind at any given time. Sometimes it is quiet but not often. Most times I cannot even stop the noise when I go to bed. I used to meditate and perhaps that is something that I should get into once again. I wouldn’t say that I am particularly worried or concerned most days ….. just have a busy mind. They say we have 60,000 thoughts each day. That is a lot. I was wondering how everyone feels about all of the social media platforms? How many YouTube Videos are there? How many singers have become world famous during the pandemic bia YouTube? How many organizers and designers? How many cooks? How many makeup artists? The list goes on and on. Now there is Tic Tok (not sure of the spelling as I have not been on there). Instagram and FaceBook and so many more. Food for thought. Maybe it is time to do a video? What do you think? I wonder if the Internet will ever crash? Sometimes it goes down but they always get it going again.

Anyway that is it for this morning. I need some coffee.

Wishing you a wonderful day. In Edmonton for the rest of the week supposed to have temperatures of +9-13 degrees celsius which is a far cry from yesterday’s +2. YAY, perhaps spring is really here. Hope so. Not a long winter but I really want spring and then summer.

Living with kindness, respect, compassion and patience (always working on patience and yesterday was one of those days for sure).

Always, Carol & Al

P.S. last night gave Mr. Alvin some of his new food. We have to, I have to introduce it gradually over two weeks. Now there is measuring 1/2 wet and 1/2 dry but ratio of 3/4 old to 1/4 new for first few days, then half and half and then 3/4 new to 1/4 new. Sure wished that I was better at math, lol.

Sun coming up. Hip Hip Hooray.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Well it is much later than usual for me/us to rise for the day but that is okay because it is Sunday. The sun is rising and erasing the night sky. It is kind of overcast out there and definitely felt cooler than yesterday morning about the same time. Yesterday ended up being an different day according to my plans. Teddy’s Mom texted to see if we wanted to go over for a visit. So how can we turn down an invitation to socialize with friends, cannot be done. Besides we are very mindful of the rules. I will call them rules. Rules are put into place for a reason and in this case a very good one. I got some cleaning and laundry done before we headed out for a walk and a visit. The puppies Teddy and Kobi are always so happy to see us. I love how Kobi will stand up on her hind legs and place her front paws on my lap and then just look at me almost waiting for me to bend down and get really close to her face. SO cute. She will just gaze intently into my eyes and then lick my nose. I love them. Teddy always has to sit on my lap and have a few minutes of snuggles with “Aunt Carol.” Iris is a generous kind being. She reminds me of a real life “Mrs. Klaus,” so kind and sweet. Our visit was great. During the visit – Iris who happens to be an “Energy Healer” gave Mr. Alvin a session. So happy for that. She was able to clear out some old dead energy that had been blocking him since he was a puppy. At one point early on, his eyes got very bright ….. like a fog had been lifted and even the white fur around his “mouth” got more white. You had to see it to believe it – it is the truth. I was so excited. When we were dressing to leave, she asked me not to put on his sweater as it would cover the old energy still leaving his body and then to wash his harness. It is liken to just having a bath and putting on your dirty clothes. Alvin virtually ran home. He was definitely full of energy. Once home, I made sure to place his sweater and harness into the next load of laundry. Last night I finished the laundry, worked on my craft project (yes, I did), made some energy bites and a few other things. Just before bed I watched an interview via INSTAGRAM between Katie Couric and a young woman named “Robyn.” I hope that I remembered the spelling of her name. I have always like Katie as we are the same age, both born in 1957. Her birthday is in January and mine in August. We both have daughters, she has two and I have one. She has Molner and I have Mr. Alvin. Now just recently, I think it was at the office that one of the “younger staff” after I had given them a Christmas Card had thought Alvin was a my husband as I signed the card “Carol & Alvin.” I guess likely anyone who did not know us, me well might think that. I thought it was cute. Trust me most days he feels like a very needy husband although I am pretty sure that husbands don’t need the door opened to go outside to pee. Although you never know. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Katie and Robyn speaking and the fact that they had “dressed up” and the difference between a 63 year old’s dressing up and a thirty something’s. One with a wrap and evening gown and the other with a leather jacket, dressy top and leggings (I think). The younger one quickly grabbed an evening gown and put it over top of her clothing minus the leather jacket. I haven’t laughed as much as I did listening and watching these two women. Robyn is a comedienne who recently made it to “fame” after one video went viral. Bedtime was very late last night.

Plans changed for today. My daughter was going to come for a visit but will be coming tomorrow instead which is fine. I am just happy to see her whenever it is possible. In about one hour a gal from work is stopping by to pick up her tea order. So I had better get this show on the road, er I sure say that alot, don’t I ? Then we will go for a walk and then I will give the boy, Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath. Later I will work on the craft project. There are a few little things that I have to finish up like bringing up the laundry that is drying on racks in the basement, emptying the dishwasher, washing the main floor – floor. That kind of stuff.

I hope / I wish you all a great Sunday. Please check out that INSTAGRAM interview with Katie Couric and Robyn, You will be happy that you did. Take the time to do something nice for someone. Yesterday I delivered a Christmas Card and photo of us to a family down the street. I had tried to deliver another day but no one was home except for the doggies and trust me they wanted to get that door opened. I received a text from the Mom (the sitter was there when I dropped off the card) this morning to say thank you so much for the card and photo. They have three little boys. The middle son most especially loves Mr. Alvin and he was so happy to have a photo with Alvin in it. That warms my heart. Made my Sunday morning reading those words.

Well time to fly. Need COFFEE now.

Be safe and well and happy. May you spend some time today in laughter. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

Happy Sunday.

Living this life with kindness and respect.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning ALL, yay it is Friday.

Alvin and I enjoyed a full walk last night after work.

He didn’t stop or walk slowly.

I could tell that he was enjoying each and every step.

Sniffing and walking.

Walking and sniffing.

 

Just transferred the money to the gal that is baking my birthday treats.

Those treats are a delectable carrot cake with cream cheese icing and cupcakes.

The cupcakes are one dozen vanilla with key lime icing and the other twelve are chocolate with salted caramel icing.

I can hardly wait to bite into these sweet amazing treats.

My friend is one of the best bakers, I know.

I have met up with a few of them over the years.

My paternal Grandmother was one of those women who could bake the socks off anyone.

She made the best jelly rolls, angel food cakes, orange chiffon cakes, cookies and homemade bread.

I can taste them now.

All the gloriousness (I guess that is a word).

The jam in the jelly roll.

The thin layer of icing on the cakes.

The smell of the bread baking in the oven.

That was a long time ago and I can recall those smells.

It is funny how much food plays a role in our lives.

We have to eat to maintain health and energy and to live.

But food has become over the centuries so much more.

We eat when we are happy.

We eat when we are sad.

We eat to celebrate.

We eat when someone dies.

We eat, eat and eat.

Christmas cookies.

Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

Easter bread.

The list goes on and on.

We have channels all about food.

The industry is crazy.

There are bake offs and cook offs and grilling championships.

The list is a mile long.

Every celebrity that can cooks has their own television show.

We blog about food.

We have YouTube videos about cooking and baking.

We put photos on Instagram.

FOOD, food, and more FOOD.

Sweet and Savoury.

 

Well with all that goodness now instilled in your brain, I have to go to work.

I baked a coffee cake …. second one with this new recipe that I found in one of my favourite recipe books.

The night before I baked a few dozen peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

For an outing this evening.

I am still a bit nervous as this is my first larger than 3 people gathering.

But I am prepared.

I made separate packages of the cookies and will come up with something for the cake using cupcake holders.

 

With kindness and respect, we live our lives.

I/We, shall remain,

As Always, Carol & her Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time

Hello,

Well it is Monday and it is a day off for me and many other Canadians.

So grateful to have an extra long weekend going into my last week before vacation.

Although I must admit I am only working Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

 

The house is quiet this morning with only me and the Alvin.

We are looking after a neighbours cat Moo Moo and Humphrey will be joining us shortly.

Lots to do today.

Some laundry, vacuuming, cleaning and stuff.

Also some card writing as there are many August birthdays.

The air remains cool thus far, which is a blessing.

Although so nice to have sunshine.

 

I signed up for INSTAGRAM last night or actually my daughter started me off.

I am excited for this new social format.

Have to think exactly how I would like to present myself.

Positive is a given.

 

I have more photos and then I have to run.

Two cats and a dog for today.

One cat with us and the other will go and visit again.

 

Yesterday Aspen and I were out for a walk before 7:00 a.m.

After Teddy went home; I took Alvin and Milo for their walk and after dropping them at home followed up with second walk for Miss Aspen.

We were all pooped after that and just relaxed.

 

 

Love the lilies as the buds open wide.

 

Time for breakfast and coffee and WORK.

Oh, gotta go and pick up Humphrey.

 

The babies were all good and we enjoyed our time together.

 

Happy Monday.

 

Always filled with kindness and respect.

I have the best life.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin