December 30, 2020 – almost over!

Good Morning All. How are you this fine Wednesday? Alvin and I are doing great. Cannot believe that 2020 is almost over. Most people are so over 2020 that they cannot wait for it to end. Me and Alvin had an interesting year and mainly on the positive side. I am so grateful to be working from home, to be employed and that we are in good health. Actually the good health is number #1 on the gratitude list.

Well I finally figured out how to work this new fangle wordpress photo stuff. Here are some photos from the month or so.

Most of the photos are self explanatory but some may require further explanation. The third photo. Kelly Ripa’s glasses (on my new large screen television set). I fell in love with these glasses and when I went to pick out my new glasses, I wanted something similar to these ones and I found them. Not quite as big as hers but pretty close. Happy about that.

The fridge filled with baking and on the table. This year I made up over 20 boxes of my homemade: sugar cookies, unbaked chocolate macaroons, chocolate chip, raisin gingerbread cookies and fudge and delivered them to friends in the neighbourhood, and to my daughter (she picked them up). There are photos of presents on the kitchen cupboard and that is because as I have mentioned Mr. Alvin has decided to open his presents ahead of time. So anything for him or for his friends stayed on the counter until they were delivered. The photo of Alvin with the orangutan is not the best photo of the boy but it gives you an idea of how he felt about this gift (which luckily was for Aspen and Milo ). I have a photo of him with the orangutan wrapped about him, not sure where it is but he was scared of the furry guy. Photos of my grandpups Aspen and Milo just relaxing. The Elephant necklace from Fifth Avenue Jewelry (FAC) – my most favourite piece of jewelry. I have been wearing it lots. So pretty.

Christmas Project 2020 – a gift for my daughter. I created this gift by using one of her baby bonnet’s and some antique brooches. Creating a bouquet of flowers on the bonnet with a bee close by. My daughter loves bees so the bee pin had to be included. It turned out great and looks so good displayed in a shadow box.

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  Christmas Tree 2020

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  Sunrise

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  Kelly Ripa’s glasses

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  Baking

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  More Baking

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  Christmas presents

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  My new television

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  Miss Aspen Xmas 2020

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  Milo Xmas 2020

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  Alvin Xmas 2020

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  Alvin’s new winter coat

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  My fav new necklace

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  Wrapping Xmas presents

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  Wrapping xmas 2020

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  Christmas Project 2020

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  Close up of our tree

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  More of our tree

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  and more

Yesterday I took down the Christmas tree and most of the decorations on the main floor. I did not bring up all of the ornaments that are up for most of the year as I just like the almost bare look for now. I would like to bring in the New YEAR in a simple easy uncluttered manner. The basement has to be reorganized now and that will be my project for today. I also have to run (will walk) to the Vet and pick up food for Mr. Alvin. Cannot run out of that. We will go for another walk. Yesterday while out on our walk we bumped into our friend Malena and her dog Rio. She is staying with her parents for awhile. We of course chatted while social distancing.

I hope that you have an awesome day. Time to head for the shower. Then have breakfast. I think that when I go back to work, I am going to start eating earlier in the morning again instead of waiting until 10:00 a.m.

Be safe, take some time for yourself. Be kind, respectful and show compassion to all others.

Happy Wednesday.

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.

We woke up to sunshine.

Now the wind has got up and the sky is slowly becoming overcast.

Oh no,

Today is Thursday the 14th day of May, 2020.

Can you believe that it is almost half way through May?

I will say this,

it does not seem to matter if you are working from work with no pandemic or working from home – time flies.

Is it perhaps the feeling one gets as they age, getting older?

I think when you are young you think in terms of time differently than when you get older.

 

When you are a child …. Christmas always seems so far away? Could not wait for school to start and to end for summer holidays.

I was not one of those children.  I loved school.

 

When you are a teenager …. everyone seems older, you are invincible and know more than your parents.

 

When you are in your twenties and even thirties …… if you are working the days seem to be so long as you just want to be out with your friends or partner.

Life is great and fun.

 

After thirties, most people have children by this time, and I think that is when the clock seems to go into overdrive.

There are never enough hours in the day.

School and Extracurricular Activities.

James has soccer practice every second day, and then guitar lessons on Thursdays and Sundays.

Janet has ballet lessons three times a week.

Alice has piano lessons twice a week and has a tutor to help with math once or twice.

Mom & Dad have a nervous breakdown trying to keep up.

Supper is almost never together.

Family time is when the majority of the family is in the car going from one lesson/practice to another.

I am not certain why there is the need to keep children so busy they have no time to be children.

With everything we try to put into a day it is no wonder the days pass by quickly.

STOP.

Smell the roses.

Walk in nature.

 

I do believe that some good come out of this pandemic.

This staying at home has forced people to be together.

To eat together, to play together and be together 24/7.

Likely for the first time in over fifty years.

We no longer take for granted the small things in life.

I see families out riding their bikes and going for walks, together.

Slowing down is not such a bad thing.

 

Well I must sign off for another day.

Food for thought.

If we keep it simple.

Live and practice kindness and respect everyday.

Then time will pass as it should and as it always has.

One second at a time.

 

I/We, remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 8th day of December, 2018.

Funny how a few hours can change the course of your planned weekend.

Not in a bad way – just changed it.

I noticed a FB message from Teddy’s Mom yesterday when I was on break at work.

She asked if Teddy could come and spend the night on Friday and then they would pick him up on Saturday night; as they were going to the farm.

Of course, he can.

We cannot say “no” to Alvin’s BF.

Then I received a phone call from Humphrey’s Mom and she had an unexpected trip out of town and wondered if I could keep an eye on Mr. Humphrey.

Well, yes I can.

After work I caught the bus as my carpool stayed downtown to attend a work function.

The bus was close to 1/2 hour late and it was 5:00 p.m. when we rolled up to Lewis Farms, the bus terminal.

The gal that was driving the bus ….. was at least 20 miles per hour under the posted speed limit.

I am not sure if that was what was making her tardy but it certainly did not help.

She also slowed near every posted pedestrian walk even as it was clear ahead that there were not pedestrians.

She also let every person come in from every side street.

ARGH.

It was hellish, I will say.

I am all for being polite when you are on a bus after a long day at work and the first bus that comes is full to the rafters and then the second one is full but you manage to squeeze on and

then she drives like she has all of the time in the world …. well, there are words.

People just want to get home.

I was very happy to turn the page in my bus riding adventure when the 119 pulled up just after we were unloaded.

That driver was also over 20 minutes late and he did not wait around so we left right away.

I still did not get home until 5:40 p.m.

It is at these times that I am so GRATEFUL to be in a carpool.

Not so much looking forward to the time off my friend has before Christmas, in January and February.

ARGH.

Oh well.

I was happy to get home to Mr. Alvin.

We went for a short walk but a walk nonetheless.

Teddy arrived about 7:00 p.m.

I then had supper and started to write up some Christmas cards.

Did not get them all done but at least a good start.

Now it is 915 on Saturday morning and there is so much to do.

Laundry and baking and baking and laundry.

Perhaps I should scale back the baking OR will have to buy another deep freezer and start earlier.

I would do some next weekend but I have that DENTAL appointment on Friday and am having a tooth removed.

So might not feel like baking on Saturday but then again just having one tooth removed is not the end of the world.

So I will chug on.

Time to get things going.

I can always do most this weekend and then perhaps a smaller batch next Saturday.

The following weekend will be Christmas and I am also hosting an office Christmas party on the 22nd.

I can do this.

I know that I can.

Keep the Christmas party simple.

No need to get carried away.

That is what I keep telling myself.

I am not trying to impress the coworkers.

If they do not like it …. well …..

Okay time to get some breakfast into me and that all important COFFEE.

I have already been up off and on since midnight.

For some reason Mr. Alvin just was restless.

He is not ill that is for sure.

I also have been over to check on Mr. Humphrey.

So the day has begun.

 

Have a great Saturday.

Any ideas for hosting a simple but great Christmas party – please share them.

It will be all ladies except one might bring her 4 year old.

Not really appropriate but what can you say.

As she put it “He will be the life of the party.”

Likely Alvin will have something to say about that …..

He loves kids so he would like the little boy.

The little guy is also used to pups so that is good.

 

All in the life of a single 61 year old working woman.

Happy Saturday.

 

Special Hello to:  all those folks who have lots going on …. cannot always say no and sometimes no is not the answer. Where is the paradigm in that?

Is that a real thing?  Need coffee starting to babble.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 7th day of November, 2018.

Another day has arrived.

Teddy is now here, his Mama brought him to our house after supper last night.

If I could only harness the energy that is in our house during the first minutes of his arrival.

The boys are settling in and this will be the longest that Teddy has stayed with us.

11 nights and 12 days.

Some quick snaps of the boys this morning.

First one of Teddy before made the bed … before the decorative pillows.

Second, third and fourth …. the boys in the office.

Which feels a bit crammed at the moment due to all my plants being in the office.

Only one large one but it is on a small table and takes up floor space.

Funny both boys were on Alvin’s blue blanket at one time.

Not certain why Alvin has his back to Teddy but then again it might have to do with him keeping an eye on that chew treat on the floor close by.

They are like brothers.

One wants what the other has.

That was once again evident when I made them breakfast.

Teddy has a special blend and Alvin always wants it.

Alvin has his from our vet and Teddy eats that.

They are a funny pair but I love them together.

They are always close by me.

One wanting to snuggle just a bit closer than the other.

Well I have to go out and pick up the little packages that the boys left outside.

Might as well in case it snows more over the course of the day.

So easy to see in the snow.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

I am looking forward to coming home to these cuties.

Sorry the photos were not better …. someone was moving just a bit….

 

Happy Wednesday.

Keep it simple.

That can be true for everything in life.

We tend to do most things over the top.

Not necessary.

Life is too short to waste on extra this, extra that.

Just keep it simple.

Focus on all good things.

Happy mid week.

 

Special Hello to: all my daughter who always has a minimum of two pups in their house.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 13th day of December, 2016.

11 Sleeps till Christmas Eve (if I can count this morning).

It is very windy so I will have to tread carefully to the bus stop.

Although I cannot imagine the wind would be strong enough to bowl me over.

All good.

Sometimes the mornings seem to come so quickly.

Mr. Alvin has this thing about getting up at 4:00 a.m. (waking up even before that and I have to coax him to stay in bed for a bit longer).

This was the case again this morning.

I do not like to put him off too much because I know what it is like ….. you reach a certain age.

After all the poor guy has to hold it all day while I am at work.

I am grateful those odd days where my neighbour is home early or at home and comes to check on him.

 

It is true that the days seem to be passing quickly.

Not sure why.

Each Christmas seems to come more quickly.

I love this time of year.

Sharing and giving.

I wish that it would be Christmas 365 days of the year.

Would be so nice.

 

Well I did kind of sleep in this morning due to getting up at 4:00 and then back to the sofa for a bit.

I hope that you are having wonderful day.

Do not fret you will be ready.

Simple is better.

Keep it simple.

 

Special Hello to: family and friends, Happy Christmas.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 11th day of January, 2014.

The wind has been howling away this morning.

The house is empty except for me.

I hear each and every creak.

Oh, how I miss my Alvin.

He slept over at his sister’s house last night as I worked at the store.

He is the best company.

Speaking of company, tonight his girlfriend and her “parents” are coming for a visit.

They are friend (neighbours) that live a few doors down.

Alvin loves his “ABI” …..

They get so excited to see each other and play and play.

We will have a great night.

Looking forward to the company.

Do you get excited for company?

Are you a people person?

Do you like to entertain?

Do you fuss and stew and make everything perfect?

Sounds like me.

Well better get the show on the road.

Have a great day.

If you are entertaining ….. keep it simple.

I have learned that over the years.

Most important thing ….. “make sure that no one has allergies.”

The last thing you want to do is to make something that will end up with an emergency visit.

Have a great Saturday ….

Time to laundry and all of that stuff.

Thank you for reading.

Special Hello to:   YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Welcome to Thursday, September 6th, 2012 …. the sun is starting to rise for the day …. (or at least our view of it).

It is funny how that all works …. something so big and so far away can have such an effect on us…

I love the Universe and all that it contains.

Every time they find a new star system or such I get so excited right down deep in my soul.

I love everything about the sky and what is out there …. it just makes me feel great …

I would love to travel in outer space ….. would be so C-O-O-L.

Well this morning I had a couple of small sidetracks getting signed into my blog so this will be short.

Almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you all have something that makes you feel GREAT.

Something that you think about and ponder from time to time.

Something to read about …. talk about…..

I hope that you have a wonderful day …… remember to keep it simple and live in the moment ……

What you think about now builds the next moment and the next and so on.

Special Hello: to all those dreamers …..

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Keep it simple and be aware.

Have a great, blessed, happy and safe day.

Always, Carol