The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Sunday morning? Alvin and I are doing great. We had a good sleep including an early start, but that is okay. The sky is that glorious hue of blue and the sun is casting its’ beams off any objects it touches. What a beautiful morning. Al and I have had a glorious weekend despite the rather late start to the day yesterday. I only had one load of laundry to do as I had done laundry on my last day of vacation. Bonus points. After coffee and breakfast and the laundry was washed and dried, Mr. Alvin and I headed out for a walk. I only needed a sweater as it was so beautiful and I took Alvin’s water bottle/dish as well. It was so nice. We saw friends Norbert and Irene out giving some TLC to their lawn and stopped to have a little visit. Alvin loves their yard. While we were visiting another person and her pup walked by, we said hello. Sunny, her pup immediately rolled about on the freshly mowed grass. He was covered in dry grass but looked so happy. His Mom just smiled. There was also a brief conversation with a couple of men, who were having a conversation out front of a house on our way to the park. Everyone was outside and everyone was happy to chat and say hello.

We took our time as we continued walking to the park and once inside, I just let Alvin take the lead and allowed him time to sniff to his heart’s content. I just breathed in the fresh air which actually spelled like spring. We continued on our walk until we spotted a friend out in her yard raking the grass. She noticed us and walked toward us remaining in her yard as we walked to her. We had a long conversation over the fence. I had not seen her for awhile. I always love speaking to Lucy. Alvin sat on the grass and watched other people and their dogs going by, he didn’t flinch, just sat like the good boy that he is. Lucy and I spoke about so many things. Work, her homeland China, the environment, pollution, weather, gardening, people, and more. We had been chatting for likely well over thirty minutes when I happened to turn my head to see another friend out for a walk. I was surprised to see her. It was time for us to keep walking so I said good-bye to Lucy and joined my friend Gillian on her walk. Alvin really had a long walk but I figured with the break in walking he should be okay. We had a good chat on our walk and Gillian walked us home and then was going to head out for another lap. When I got home I saw that we had been gone for almost two hours. WOW. I felt like a million dollars. Refreshed and energized. What a time we had! Once home, I did a few things which included sweeping the floor, moving the IKEA shelves to a different angle in the kitchen, watered plants, finished a necklace that I had been working on, almost finished it anyway. At supper instead of cooking a pasta dish I decided to just have pizza again with a bunch of raw veggies. In between it all I gave Mr. Alvin his supper. What a great day even though we had such a late start. I think being outside was just what the Doctor ordered. After supper I watched an interview on NETFLIX with Oprah and Viola Davis. I was surprised and enthralled by her story. There were several things that we have in common and not her Tony or Academy award wins. She has a beautiful smile and I was sad to hear that people had told her that she was ugly. She is not. It was a great interview. Perfect timing. Then I decided to rent a movie from TELUS ON DEMAND. I couldn’t decide which one and then saw a new movie with Liam Neeson. I love him and decided that from the preview it looked good, so I paid the $7.00 and continued. The movie was called “BLACKLIGHT” and it was really good. A good story. Aidan Quinn was also in the movie and I have also liked him. A good night.

Now for today. My friend Gillian will be here in about one hour for coffee and instructions for looking after Mr. Alvin as I have to go to the office on Tuesday. This afternoon my daughter is coming for a visit. So much company and visiting this weekend and clearly just what was needed. I will be making the pasta dish for supper tonight and setting up my workspace in the kitchen after supper cleanup.

I hope that you have a great Sunday. If you have the opportunity or perhaps make the time to GO OUTSIDE. Say hello to people. Enjoy the sunshine. I hope that the sun is shining wherever you are and that you are well.

I am grateful for the sunshine, warm temperatures and family and friends and for good health and for Mr. Alvin. Grateful for life and for spring. Renewal.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. life is good!

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone!

Well it is a bright, sunny and beginning to warm morning here in Edmonton.

I can hear the geese honking in the distance.

Last night after work we took our second walk of the day.

Followed by the start of laundry and then the raking of the front lawn.

The neighbour that shares the front lawn with me did her own raking.

She has been feeding the bunnies which we have many all winter long.

So lots of bunny parcels mainly on her half but some transferred to mine.

We cleaned up most of it but I am sure that a little poop left behind would be great fertilizer.

At least it is natural.

 

I had been pondering the thought of having one of those landscaping / lawn companies, you know the ones, like GREEN DROP stop by.

Perhaps give the lawn a well deserved boost.

My neighbour gave her half some extra help and her lawn was so much healthier looking than mine.

I even watered mine some.

But after listening to Dr. Jane Goodall speak on Jimmy Fallon the other night and reading about bees and dandelions (which I usually have a few for sure).

I have decided to take the natural approach.

I will ensure that the lawn is properly hydrated (if no rain, then I will water).

I will leave the dandelions for the bees.

I will not put down any kind of “chemical” fertilizer on the lawn.

This is my pledge.

Now of course, it may be for naught if my neighbours surrounding me fertilize but I will do my best.

I am also planning a “trash/garbage” pick up day in the next couple of weeks.

This is where I take a day of vacation from work OR spend a good part of a Saturday or Sunday out in my neighbourhood picking up the trash.

Right now it is absolutely disgusting.

Might be sooner than later.

I use my own garbage bags (which reminds me I am almost out of the big ones that I usually purchase from COSTCO) and I have the garbage picker tools and disposable gloves.

So all of the necessary and safe equipment for the job.

I do this for my neighbours, for my neighbourhood, for my community and for the natural community most of all.

I constantly worry about birds and animals eating elastic bands that folks drop on the ground by the mailboxes.

I constantly worry about all the crap that people do not pick up.

So with the birds, animals and environment in mind, in my heart, I do this.

Unfortunately I do not go out as often as I used to.

Once upon a time I went out once a week now it is once or twice a season.

This is the time where it is the worst.

I would remind all of my humans out there, please pick up the trash when you see it on the ground.

You are out walking so much more now, why not slip a bag and gloves in your pocket.

Pick up that trash when you are out and about.

Why not?

Why is it that the majority of people just walk on by?

Please I am asking you.

Next time please pick up the trash no matter the size.

When you are packing up your trash to go out for pick up.

Be careful of how you pack it.

DO NOT THROW LOOSE PAPERS, CONTAINER in a BLUE BOX OR

WORSE leave BOXES stacked willy nilly to blow about.

Those are the boxes and styrofoam packing materials that I find on the street all of the time.

The styrofoam breaks down as it hits the curb and corners of the sidewalk breaking into much smaller pieces so of which are digested by birds and smaller animals.

These smaller pieces also end up going into the storm drains.

Easy to to.

PICK UP the trash.

Please.

 

I do apologize if this sounds like a rant as I would rather it sound like a public service announcement.

We all have to work together to make this planet a better place for all of the inhabitants.

We rely on the NATURAL WORLD.

Slowly and now so slowly we are disturbing, changing and destroying the natural world.

Let us come together and do some good.

There is good coming out of this pandemic.

The good is helping the natural world.

Marine life is returning in areas, the sky is clear from smog and pollution as people are staying home and some factories are closed.

This should tell us something.

It is a good reminder.

We have to stop and get things straightened out.

The next time we have a pandemic we may not be so lucky.

I am not taking away from the loss of life globally from this horrible virus.

 

Please have a good safe and happy Saturday.

Given the chance to do something great for the environment in your neighbourhood, please do so.

Do not leave what you can do, for others to do.

 

With kindness and a deep respect for our planet.

I/We remain,

As Always,

Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 24th day of April, 2015.

Well it is finally Friday …..

Are you thinking that as well?

I know that is like seeing the glass half empty inside of half full but it has been a long week.

Work at the office has been extremely busy and a bit on the stressful side.

But that is life and at the end of the day I am very grateful to have a good job in this economy.

Plans for the weekend?

Well, my “to do list” keeps growing every time I turn around.

So I will be busy.

Lawn care ….. laundry ….. cleaning bathrooms ….. dusting ….. floors …. you know that STUFF.

The best part of the weekend other than being at home with me Alvin is that Amanda and family are coming for brunch on Sunday and a visit.  YAY.

We are still adjusting to the quietness of the two of us.

I am sure it will take time to once again being just the two of us.

I am so grateful to be down to one job ….. two jobs is HARD WORK.

Not the work as much as the time ….

Time away from home …… when home everything has to be done in less time.

Always boils down to TIME.

Either too much or not enough.

I guess for most of us it is not enough.

Just have to reconfigure the best use of it.

So I am grateful to be home in the evenings and weekends.

Well here it is time to put on the finishing touches and catch that old bus to work.

I guess for the most part we are in a routine ….. for now.

I feel great ….

So happy that this day is Friday.

Special Hello to: my sister ……. it is time to SKYPE and catch up.