December 31, 2020 – last day

Good Morning ALL. Can you believe it? The very last day and down to last hours of 2020. 2020 came in with all of the promise and hope that a New Year could bring and is leaving us with thoughts of promise and hope that 2021 will bring. So we will start and end with the same dreams for the New Year although the in between could never have been predicted. This year has been the same and different for so many of us. I cannot compare my year to that of my friend who lives down the street and works in the healthcare field. We both have had much different experiences this past year. She has faced all of the stresses and anxieties that came with COVID19 and the Pandemic as she continued to work. Me on the other hand, when our employer announced that we would be closing our doors to the public on March 16, 2020, and start the process of having staff work from home, I had mixed feelings but mostly I was overjoyed. On March 19, 2020 I was sent home with my coworkers with a laptop and whatever supplies we required to work from home. Later that afternoon I was set up and March 20, 2020 I was working from home. In the beginning there were definitely some stressful times but over the last nine months I have smoothed out the kinks and working from home has certainly been a godsend. Of course, there are moments of stress, but that is inevitable, as my job can most certainly be stressful at times. But I no longer have to spend a minimum of 1.5 hours travelling to and from work. There are no worries about leaving a senior dog, my Alvin home alone for such a long period of time. We have figured out a few things over time and one being that we will need to go to the office for one day per month as we have some large print jobs where the documents need to be prepared to be mailed. I can handle one day each month. Of course, this may change over time. My friend down the street lost her beloved pup Abi in February and in July brought baby Bailey home. Having a puppy at any time is a lot of work and with the stresses of working during a pandemic has been difficult for our friend. We have kept in touch with porch / sidewalk visits, texts and video chats. We live only a few doors apart and yet our lives that were so similar are so different this year. She was not able to spend Christmas with her sister and brother-in-law who are expecting early in the New YEAR nor her parents. Her parents are in her sister’s pod as she is expecting. I on the other hand was so blessed to be able to spend Christmas with my daughter and son-in-law and pups. In January my friend will be hosting a “virtual baby shower” for her sister. So many firsts this year. This is a reminder that I must check out the registry and chose a gift for the new baby. I always love to buy books for little ones, cannot go wrong with books.

I am grateful that we have the technology to see family and friends. This is the time to use this technology so that no one is alone. Take a few minutes and reach out to family and friends. We are blessed to have the technology to physically see each other.

So as we wrap up this YEAR, I have mixed feelings. I would say for the most part I have positive feelings. Working from home was always a dream, a thought that I had but never thought would come to fruition. I missed spending time with my sister and brothers in August. My daughter and I did not take our annual girls road trip in August. Since March, I have mainly seen my friends from the doorway although we did have a few visits. Our girls Annual Christmas party was done virtually. I never thought that I would not enter a store for several months. From March until August, all of my groceries were picked up by my friends and my daughter. I have since that time been to the store a grand total of 6 times, been to the vet numerous times, to Shoppers once to mail Christmas cards and parcels on November 20, and to the Optometrist twice since August. I will say that the handful of times that I have entered a grocery store have been anxiety ridden for me. For the past month or so I have not been to the grocery store although I was to the Bone & Biscuit on December 11th, to pick up gifts for the fur babies including Alvin. I have been to the office three times, twice in September and once in November. Most of my time has been spent at home or going for walks. Thankfully we are able to go outside. As the time passes, I think that the only way that we can stop this virus is to follow the protocols set out by the Health Care Professionals and Government Leaders. While it is not ideal as we are social creatures, it is imperative to follow the rules. Wear masks when in public, wash your hands, stay home when you can and social distance. I will say that trips to the Vet are different now. The last time Alvin went I was not allowed to be with him, I sat with my mask on in one of the exam rooms while they took him to the back exam room. The Optometrist was definitely different. Two visits one for the exam and the other to pick up frames. They as the Vet only book one appointment per hour. Better to be safe.

Perhaps if we would have taken more precautions sooner and taken this more seriously – we would be in a better place, I don’t know. Going forward we must do what is right for everyone. This is not the time to be selfish. We do want to see our family and friends in the New Year.

The sun is up although it appears to be cloudy. This is the last day of 2020. I hope that 2021 brings us hope and promise. I know that it will take months and likely most of this next year before the vast population can be vaccinated and at this point we do not know if that is the complete answer or not but I remain positive that the scientists will figure it out and we will end 2021 in a better place. To all of those folks who lost loved ones this year, I keep you in my heart and hope that your memories will help to bring you comfort. To all those families who lost beloved pets, I keep you in my heart and hope that memories of them will bring you comfort.

May the New Year be filled with hope and promise. May you find your way through this next year with faith, hope and grace. Continue to be kind and respectful and compassionate to all others. We need each other even more now than ever.

Thank you for taking your precious time to read my words, this post. I appreciate your time.

So from our home to yours, Alvin and I want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and WELCOME to Thursday.

Second last day of the work week for me.

Looking forward to a long weekend.

Teddy and Auntie J are coming over for supper and a visit on Saturday.

Our weather is taking a downturn on Saturday as temperatures are dipping to the minus 25 range.

ARGH.

I am not looking forward to that …..

 

How about a look back on this day a few years back.

I like to do this from time to time.

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Happy Tuesday, November the 8th.  (2011)

I am so grateful for our great weather.

I wish that it would continue for many weeks to come.

Snow for Christmas would be nice.

You know the light fluffy stuff ….

Coming down softly on Christmas Eve just in time for Santa’s visit.

(A girl can dream, right!)

I know that some years Edmonton has had snow later on.

That would be great.

For all those souls basking in the white stuff ….. it will melt and very soon, I hope.

For this day ….. my thoughts are about the weather and Mother Nature’s designs on it all.

Apparently in 2011 we did not have snow.

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Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 7th day of November, 2014.

WOW, one week into November ….

Isn’t that wild?

Well I survived my first Thursday night shift at the store and by that I mean I am up and ready to go to the office and then onto the store for another four hours.

I do love working at Bath and Body Works but was wondering how it would go working until 10:00 p.m. on a Thursday night but so far so good.

It was nice being in the mall on a Thursday night.

It has been raining here off and on for the past day and the deck appears to be wet this morning.

It was so nice and warm as I walked home from the bus stop last night.

I thoroughly enjoyed my walk but missed having my Alvin with me.

Well okay, then, I guess looking back on this day years back is slightly depressing.

I did not remember that we had no snow in 2011 and in 2014 it was raining.

There are a couple of things from 2014 that I will mention.

One is that I was working at Bath & Body Works back then and the kids & pups were living with us at that time.

I loved having them with us ….

Working a second job and sometimes 7 days a week had some ups and downs but it was great.

*************************************

Last night Alvin and I walked over to Teddy’s house.

Warmed up and had a nice visit.

Of course, Alvin ran right over to Teddy’s food dish.

There is always something there for him to finish.

Thankfully they do not mind.

 

Well here we go again.

Almost ready to head downstairs and gather things up for work.

So happy that today is Thursday, payday.

That is always a good thing.

Wishing you an awesome Thursday.

We, including me always have things to work on.

If we take those moments to build ourselves then we can put that forward to others.

Being kind does not only apply to rewinding video tapes.

Oh, I guess that is old school now.

But you know what I mean.

 

Mr. Alvin is patiently laying on his blue blanket.

I decided to change my bracelet from the bangle to a chain one.

So better go and do that.

 

Happy Thursday everyone.

I hope that life is treating you well.

Stay warm and if it is warm where you are …. keep cool.

 

Always, Me and The Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Well it is Saturday July 6th, 2019.

Almost one week into July already …. WOW.

Another rainy day although at the moment it is only overcast.

We have been managing to get walks in around the rain for the most part.

Last night we started our walk after work in a light rain, then it stopped and when we were almost home, the rain came down.

We were wet upon arriving home.

So lucky to have seen the multiple families of geese by our park.

The babies are no longer babies.

**********************

I am so happy that you love my new office wall colour.

I love it so much.

Now for the hard part …. how to place things and what to bring into the office.

So my mind has been swirling with ideas.

Some easy but all time consuming.

So I will get my plan in place before I jump into things.

The colour is amazing.

So brilliant and GREEN.

I love GREEN.

Makes me feel so ALIVE and gives me an all around good feeling.

The office desks are a deep rich brown almost black, perhaps like an expresso colour and my book cases are about that same colour.

They play well off of the vibrant green on the walls.

I love how the green changes in different light.

 

I have also decided to paint this green on a feature wall in the living room.

All of my main furniture in the living room is rich tones of browns except for a chair that is same green palate with brown.

My accents will match perfectly.

Can you imagine how well the Christmas tree will pop in that room?

WOW, wow, wow.

So happy.

 

Well as it was a busy week filled with things other than laundry and house cleaning – time to get at it.

I always find it so strange that I can tell myself when going to bed – that I would like to get up at a specific time and that is the time I wake up.

Last night I thought 7:00 a.m. would be a good time and that was the time that I woke up.

Also noting that Alvin wanted to go downstairs at 3:22 a.m. but that is, his clock not mine.

We did go downstairs at that time and afterward hit the sofa until I woke up at 7:00 a.m.

Our thoughts can literally bring about anything.

 

Well on that note it is time to fly.

I can see laundry, cleaning and a walk in our future.

Also checking on our friend’s flowers …. although they will not require watering today.

 

Happy Happy Saturday.

Enjoy your day.

Reminder to ourselves to be KIND and RESPECTFUL.

I know that sometimes there are people who throw us off being kind and respectful …

But find your way back.

It’s okay.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. longing for some sunshine but I heard a rumour that we are to have very hot temperatures this summer ….. time will tell.

 

 

 

 

I

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 6th day of February, 2019.

Another COLD, COLD day has arrived.

Thankfully the worse part is usually first thing in the morning.

I believe with the windchill it is minus 42 degrees celsius this morning.

ARGH.

But this is winter in CANADA.

I remember COLD temperatures when I was a child on the family farm.

 

Well today is my last work day this week as I am off tomorrow with Alvin as he has his surgery.

It is going to be a long morning between the time we get up and leave for the Vet as he cannot have food or water.

Poor baby.

Of course, Momma will comply with the vet’s orders and I will stand beside my boy and not have food or water while we are together.

Once I drop him off – it will be time for a cup of coffee.

I always feel bad for him when he has to fast ….

But will make sure he has something to eat at the latest he can tonight along with water as well.

Not quite the same as breakfast but we will have to manage.

It will be a busy day at work trying to prepare for being gone for a couple of days.

 

I am grateful to my friend who will pick us up tomorrow morning and drive us to Alvin’s surgery appointment.

I am grateful to my friend who will also take me to pick Alvin up after his surgery and bring us home.

I am grateful that I am surrounded by kind and generous and supportive family and friends.

I am grateful to have this warm, safe place, our house we call home.

I am grateful that we always have food in our bellies.

I am grateful to be employed and to be surrounded by great co-workers.

I am grateful that Alvin and I are in good health and that we will continue to be so.

I am grateful for the rides to work this week with my neighbour, thank you.

I am grateful to one of my co-workers for driving me home this week.

I am grateful for the reminders that we all must be tolerant, kind, patience, supportive and respectful.

I have to work on the patience portion, for sure.

GRATITUDE can change your life for the better.

Live in gratitude and you will notice the difference for the better, much better.

 

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

I hope that you are all safe, warm and surrounded by love and respect.

I hope that you have a chance to laugh each and every day.

Laughter is truly the best medicine.

Have an awesome WEDNESDAY ….

 

Special Hello to:  all those folks who work outside in the elements from fire fighters to oil rig workers to farmers to construction to meter monitors.  Please be safe and warm.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 24th day of September, 2018.

Sunlight and sunny sky are peering through the dark blue clouds.

There is a slight breeze as I can see the neighbouring trees moving from side to side.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket by my feet.

I booked today off as a vacation day and am grateful to be at home.

 

Today would be the first work day without our co-worker who passed away on Friday.

He was not only a co-worker to me but my friend and I will miss him.

Funny what comes to mind when someone passes.

Like what was the last thing I/we said.

The mind goes into overdrive as you fight to remember little things like that.

He was a good guy.

 

When someone passes it is a reminder to us all to be kind, patient and compassionate toward each other.

Always to finish a conversation peacefully.

We never know if and when we will see each other again.

I know that we cannot live our lives thinking that, that might be the last time you see that person.

It is like the old adage “never go to bed mad”

Sort things out and leave each other in peace.

 

Life goes on and we have to remember to live our lives.

We do not know how much time we have on this earth.

 

Take care of each other.

Be kind to your self and to others.

 

Special Hello to: all of my family and friends, thank you always to the end of time for your love and support.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

We are okay here……the sun is shining more bright as it fills the morning sky.

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 13th day of February, 2018.

Well it is actually warm outside this morning – hovering around the minus 3 degrees celsius.

Forecast for this afternoon plus 3 degrees celsius.

We are having a heat wave – a tropical heat wave.

YAY, we are excited, I am excited.

Can you tell?

Doing a little happy dance while sitting down at the computer.

 

Last night my daughter picked me up from work and we went to COSTCO.

YIKES, that is always an experience.

So many people …. some actually surprised me with manners …. which is always nice.

I love our rides together as we have some of our best conversations travelling together.

 

I have noticed with myself and with others that it seems to be getting more difficult to maintain, retain, be positive and happy.

Between social media and regular news and the interactions with others in general.

Well it is no wonder that people are suffering from increased mental illnesses.

The anguish, the depression.

We are constantly bombarded with a huge amount of negativity.

I understand how people feel the need on social media to state their thoughts and feelings.

But sometimes it is too much.

Actually there have been many times that I strongly consider not going on FB.

I mainly use it to keep in touch with my friends and family and for my Steeped Tea business.

We have to find a way to be more positive and kind.

 

Well it is time for me to finish getting ready to leave for work.

I am excited for our walk tonight.

I am certain that Mr. Alvin is as well but I cannot tell him now.

Have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are trying …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 6th day of December, 2017.

Today is the 59th Birthday of my dear cousin “J” …….

Wishing you a Happy Happy Birthday dear cousin.

May this next year be filled with perfection of all things.

 

Well as December seems to be zooming along where are we in the grand scheme of things.

Right where we should be.

Whatever you get done for the holidays is just what needs to be done.

If something is missed it is for good reason, it was not necessary.

Simple is best.

Enjoy this time of year.

Enjoy the music, the extra nights out, the food, the sweets, and the gifts.

But most of all enjoy each other.

Be kind to each other.

If someone is in need – lend a helping hand.

 

Well someone here took a few minutes extra sleep this morning and needs to run.

Gotta catch that bus you know.

 

Happy Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all those folks celebrating Birthdays today.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 18th day of November, 2017.

YAHOO, it is Saturday.

The sun is coming up and the sky appears to be clear.

The winter sky which definitely looks different from the summer one.

Which is strange ….. because it is the same sky?

Life is wonderful.

I love looking at the sky ….. the clouds …… the variation of colour.

 

Alvin has his regular “pedicure” and other thing this morning.

I do not like to say what it is – not that is is bad but all the same it is personal and I would think Alvin would prefer me not to say anything about it.

Alvin does love his “J” who is the daughter of his Doctor.

All I have to do is mention her name and he gets so excited.

When we leave the house he even knows which way to go.

So cute.

 

Well I guess I should get this show on the road.

I had a phone call in between this post.

My clothes dryer is on the fritz and one of my friends is going to take a look at it.

I am so blessed to have such kind and generous friends.

 

Have an awesome day.

Happy Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: all my dear friends all over the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 7th day of September, 2017.

Dark still and the air is cool which is wonderful as it is to be plus 31 degrees celsius today.

Wow and it is September 7th …..

Funny how it cools down at night and can be so warm during the day.

 

Last night my daughter picked me up after work and we went straight to COSTCO.

Picked up some items and then off to our VET to pick up food, glucosamine and treats for Mr. Alvin

Then home to a happy boy.

My daughter stayed for supper and was happy to share the fruit crisp that I had made on the weekend.

I made it with fresh apples, rhubarb and cherries – all of which were grown local in Edmonton.

It was super delicious.

After supper we visited before she gathered her fridge food items from COSTCO and was on her way.

I always enjoy our rides as we have some of our best conversations in the car.

Thank you once again my darling for a perfect visit.

We always love having you here.

 

Dreams ….. do you dream?

I dream lots usually.

Sometimes I can remember a flicker of what I dreamed and other times I wake feeling sad, anxious or super recharged and over the moon.

Speaking of moon …… I noticed a FULL MOON last night.

That would count for some things.

 

Well almost time to head out the door.

I hope that you have an amazing day.

Remember (reminder to me, too) to be KIND and LIVE EACH MOMENT WITH CARE AND INTENTION.

Once those moments have gone – they have gone.

No turning back.

We want to live with no regrets.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ….. Happy September ….. when is G’s birthday?

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 24th day of August, 2017.

To be another hot day and possible thunderstorms.

Is this the end of August weather?

As August winds down, I am happy in the fact that I spent time with so many of the people that I adore this month.

Some from a distance and others from around the corner.

I write on paper every morning and say to myself multiple times each day of how blessed and fortunate I am.

To be surrounded by the most kind, thoughtful, compassionate, generous, funny and intelligent people.

Some of them are young ones and others in between and some older.

I have always believed that your friend base should be broad and of every age category / group.

This has kept me young and alive.

I will never forget the time that I spent with my sister this August.

The most time we have spent together in years.

It was wonderful and amazing.

She always makes me laugh and even sometimes provokes those conversations and feelings that get you going.

That is a good thing.

Learn and grow.

She is a smart lady and I love her very much.

Also this August I spent lots of time with my girl, my daughter.

She is simply the best person on the planet.

Her kindness, generosity and compassion are surpassed by no other.

Love you my darling.

Also my friend “V” from back in my other home ……

This woman is the best friend one could ever ask for ….

She is funny, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, generous and the BEST COOK on the planet.

I treasure our conversations whether on-line or on the phone.

I am hoping that we can visit before the year ends.

She also introduced me to a friend of hers named “J” and she is this incredible funny and wonderful lady.

Never met her but I feel like I have known her for years.

My friends in Edmonton ….. treat me like a Queen.

They are supportive, great conversationalists, thoughtful and kind and SMART.

How could one go wrong being surrounded by all these great WOMEN.

Now the men are another story.

I have some men friends and of course they have all of the above traits.

Including me Alvin.

Well almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day and that you are as blessed as I.

Special Hello to:  friends and family ….. you rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin