Living … One day at a time.

Oh my goodness, this is Christmas Eve morn.

Where did the time go?

I just got home from picking up Humphrey and doing the chores at his house.

In less than one hour my friend G is picking me up to take a last grocery run.

There are always those items that you do not wish to pick up too much in advance.

I just heard a clang in the back and looked out my window to see some lights of a truck – the garbage guys.

Today is the pickup.

I just realized how dark it is in the back lane.

We do not have any lights.

That might be something either the City or our Neighbourhood Association could put in.

At least one here and there.

Dangerous with no light.

Especially when the neighbourhood fees just rose by $25.00 to $175.00 annually per year and add taxes to that figure.

Today is not the day to complain there will be another day to vent that story.

 

Mid afternoon yesterday my friend P and I went to see the movie CATS.

It was spectacular, fantastic, wonderful and awesome.

The cast was crazy good.

James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson, and introduces ballerina Francesca Hayward in her first feature-length film role.

It was well done.

The music, the dancing and the singing were fantastic.

We thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

 

I came home to Alvin and Humphrey.

Had a bite to eat (about 7 p.m.).

Made a double batch of chocolate fudge with walnuts and the honey mustard dip for tomorrow’s dinner.

Did I tell you our menu?

It is unique but every other Christmas we switch it up.

Not everyone likes turkey, I do but not everyone.

 

Menu:

What I call Chicken Fingers

Honey Mustard Dip (homemade)

Cranberries (homemade)

Mashed/Whipped Potatoes with Boursin Cheese baked in oven

Gravy (not homemade)

Stuffing (not homemade)

Buns (not homemade)

Peas

Corn

 

Assortment of goodies (all homemade) ranging from my Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Chip cookies and fudge to my friends Banana cake, Ginger cookies, mince tarts, and apple tarts 

and every place in between.

 

Some things made by me and others not.

A good mix.

 

We will have a hot cheese dip with baguette to snack on as well as veggies, crackers with hummus.

 

Likely too much to eat.

 

Well it is getting on here and my friend will be here shortly to pick me up for our shopping trip to Save-On and Costco.

Hopefully we will be there before the masses.

 

Wishing you a great Christmas.

The kids are dropping off Aspen and Milo about 2:30 p.m. and I will hang out with the pups until they come back for the evening.

Change of plans.

Humphrey will go home before the pups arrive.

Aspen would not like Humphrey.

That would be one scene I would not like to view.

 

I wish you and your family the most glorious Christmas ….

May you enjoy love, laughter and some good food….

If you are able to include a person(s) who does not have family to spend the holiday with, please do.

No one deserves to be alone at Christmas unless they choose to do so.

 

I hope the next two days are filled with a special kind of light that will continue to shine all year long.

The light of love and compassion.

The light of kindness and respect.

The light of generosity.

The light of you and me.

 

Merry Christmas from Carol, Mr. Alvin and Mr. Humphrey.

Me and the Boys.

Always and Forever.

………… After all…..

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 16th day of June, 2017.

Woke up extra early this morning but not on my own with thank to Me Alvin.

So feeling a bit tired and have a headache.

Oh well, it is Friday after all.

The sun was shining earlier but now it has clouded over.

Rain is in the forecast.

We had a wonderful walk with our friends “S” and Presley last night.

 

The air was perfect …..

I keep forgetting to mention the ROSES ….. they are in bloom ……

The fragrance is amazing …….

I love the smell of roses in the early morning.

They line the a path that takes me part way to the bus.

It is like walking in heaven.

 

Well Mr. Alvin had his Momma up at 3:40 a.m. – yes …… you are correct.

So even though we hit the sofa for some zzz’s ….. I am a bit tired.

 

So time to go here.

Listening to Adele in the car with James Corden – Carpool Karaoke.

They are singing a Spice Girls song ……

Tell what you really really want ……

I do not want to leave but I have to run and catch the bus.

 

Thank you for Friday.

Special Hello to:  all those people who write all over the world ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 15th day of June, 2017.

We had a rainy Wednesday and the SKIES have cleared and the SUN is SHINING BRIGHTLY.

It is Thursday …..

The rain was nice for the crops, plants, trees, grass and my flowers.

Well for everyone’s flowers not just mine.

Alvin and I enjoyed a lovely walk last night.

We really did.

I also have been enjoying watching “JAMES CORDEN’s CARPOOL KARAOKE” …… OMG.

I am a happy girl.

Just keeping listening to them over and over and seeing new ones.

Just listened to SIA and James and now Sir Elton John replay (listened to it last night).

I could just listen and listen to the music.

So happy that someone shared James and Ed Sheeran on FB.

Now ….. Crocodile Rock …… Sir Elton and James and Carol……just rocking it with Me Alvin patiently waiting to go to bed.

Thank you WORLD for MUSIC.

 

Oh, I just want to say to all my family and friends that I am not the only one on this planet that do not have cell phones:  Sir Elton John and Ed Sheeran do not have them.

I would say that I am in the best company of non conformists.

 

Special Hello: Every person on the planet.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 14th day of June, 2017.

Overcast now and was raining earlier.

I was “putting on the face” a few minutes ago and hear these voices and then they broke into song.

I realized that it was Sir Elton John and James Corden.

You see last night before I went to bed I had been watching a couple of the Karaoke Carpool with James Corden and his Special Guests.

I always turn on the computer before I start getting ready so that I can just sit down and write my blog without having to wait for the computer to start up.

Anyway nothing like hearing “Your Song” first thing in the morning.

Great way to start the day and I am grateful.

I will say this James Corden is my new favourite guy.

He is funny, smart, can sing, is compassionate and caring.

If you have not watched his Carpool Karaoke Videos – you must.

He has interviewed and sung with some of the greats:  Adele, Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder,Ed Sheeran, Lady GAGA, and the list goes on …….

Anyway it is getting onto time to leave for work.

I was so happy to hear some music before leaving the house as usual it is quiet except for the odd thud as Alvin jumps off the bed onto the rug below or the odd bark …..

Happy Dancing …… I am Happy Dancing.

Have an Awesome Wednesday.

Even though the skies are grey – they are clear to me.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: my friends back in Regina …… always thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Special Hello to:

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Well today is Sunday, June 11, 2017 and is the 60th day until my 60th Birthday.

I would say that this has been on my mind, as of late.

Not that I am stressing over this upcoming date.

Just pondering the path behind and the road ahead.

Over my lifetime to this point;  how I envisioned my life is not exactly how it has turned out.

In the early days I wanted the white picket fence, the house, the husband, the four children-two sons and two daughters, summer vacations and to be a nurse and writer.

However that is not exactly the course that my life has taken.

I do not have the white picket fence.

Fences are not all that necessary.

I finally got the house on my own just months before I turned 52.

I do have have a husband, and that is okay.

I was married and have been divorced for several decades.

I do not have four children.

I do however have ONE amazing, wonderful DAUGHTER and a great SON-IN-LAW and GRAND-PUPPIES.

I adopted my four-legged companion, Alvin in 2010.

He brings great joy to my days.

I am not able to take summer vacations.

I am not a nurse.

But I write ….. this I have done since I was 6 years old.

So life changes as the days and years pass.

Our dreams change over time.

I will say that I never thought that I would be single, take early retirement after 30 years with a company and then start another “career” and am now almost 6 years into it.

Time flies.

I kid with folks and say that I am “OLD” but truth is …. I feel young even though somedays my body reminds me otherwise.

I love to laugh and when I find that I am taking life too seriously I change directions and find the laughter once again.

 

I watched a video last night of James Corden doing an interview with Ed Sheeran in a car.

They were driving along ….. singing and talking ….. talking and singing.

Enjoying life.

I must say I love ED SHEERAN and pleasantly surprised by James Corden’s voice (he easily could have been a singer).

You may wonder what Ed and James have to do with 60 days to 60 but in actuality it is partly the choices we make about music and such that keeps us young.

Think young ….. act young ….. be young.

 

Well I guess if I am to write things for 60 days about turning 60, I should stop now.

Safe to say the next 59 days worth of posts will be shorter.

I hope that my journey to 60 will perhaps inspire you, make you laugh, maybe even bring a tear to your eye but most of all I hope that it brings some joy to your day(s).

Now yikes only 59 days till I turn 60……………

 

Always, Carol