2021

Good Morning All! How are you doing? Alvin and I are great. We had a great long weekend. Even managed to give the boy a haircut yesterday minus the bath. I did take a really wet cloth and washed off the loose hair. I figured he was stressed enough with the haircut that a bath would be too much. He had a bath last weekend. I did give him an anti-anxiety pill but it did not seem to help. We had two walks. I did some yard work and finished the laundry. Popped in three times to see Humphrey and Bogart and Cynder.

Just as I cleaned up some flower pots and pulled some weeds, the sky got dark and there was the roar of thunder. I hurried up and picked up Alvin and headed into the house just as it started to rain. We got a nice shower and then the sky cleared.

We were up at 430 and Mr.Alvin had his breakfast and then did his outside business. I cannot believe we slept again till 830 (well actually 839). I guess we were tired. Doesn’t matter as it is not a work day. We will go gore a walk I a few minutes.

The sun is starting to shine although there are patches of clouds. Not sure if rain is in forecast or not.

Today I have mainly things to do on the computer so will either do in pieces or bring the boy upstairs.

Sending hugs to our friends whose grand pup recently passed away. We know he was loved. Rest In Peace, little Otis. We hope you are chasing rainbows and having lots of yummy treats.

A reminder to be kind and respectful to all creatures on this planet. Our time is relatively short so use it wisely.

I wish you a great day.

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

Love Carol&Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this fine May 12, 2021 Wednesday morning? Alvin and I are doing okay. He has yeast infections in both ears. Came on quickly considering we had been to the vet not even two weeks ago. Might have had something to do with walking in the wind and perhaps getting dirt and perhaps I did not get them dried enough when he went outside to go to the bathroom when it was raining. The vet who he has seen before is not his regular vet but I feel she brings a new light to the table. She helps out at the clinic to give my vet a break for a week or so each month now. It is easy to burn out when you work with no breaks. I cannot imagine that being a vet would be an easy job either. Also Alvin is taking probiotics for seven days with hopes that it gets his tummy and stuff back in regular order. I that Teddy’s Mom gives them probiotics, perhaps Alvin should take them on a regular basis. Mr. is sitting in the hallway calling to me, so perhaps he needs to go out or just wants my attention. I just called him to lay on his little bed in the office and he came and now he is gone again. Definitely he is not quite back to normal. Hopefully soon.

The sun is shining brightly in a clear blue sky this morning and there appears to be just a slight breeze as I can see the trees to the south of us moving ever so slightly. I believe we are going to have a +18 degree celsius day today. Perfect for walking.

We had the walk to and from the vet in the morning and after work we went for our regular walk. The trees are budding and in some cases the leaves are already out. I love this time of year. Everything so fresh and new. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel fresh and new? I think so.

Well sorry for this being so short. The boss is calling me. If you could hear him you would want to finish this as soon as you possibly could.

I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday. Go out and enjoy the day and remember to take some time just for you. 15 minutes or 30 if you can. Walk, sing, dance …… read a book. Time is precious and we have to remember to take some for ourselves. Recharge those batteries. I am thinking. Need to do that.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this bright and sunny Tuesday morning? I, we are doing well. Alvin is patiently waiting for me outside the office door. The garbage truck is making the regular rounds. Just a soft breeze this morning. I can hear the hum of the traffic on the highway in the distance as people are out and about.

I was wondering who do you admire? Who were your childhood heroes? Did you have any? What did you learn from them? Are you continuing to learn from those people? Perhaps they have passed. Did you learn life lessons? Did they make an impression on your life? on your future? on your personality? on what you chose as a career? So many questions.

I would say that I admire those folks who do what they say and say what they mean.

I admire people who stand up for what they believe in.

I always admired my teachers growing up as I learned about the world from them.

My paternal grandmother played a huge role in my life. She gave us time, love, taught me to dance and was always there for me and my siblings. I could say so much more about my Gran Stella but it is almost time to head downstairs for work. These are big questions and I could write likely forever on them.

I want to continue this post perhaps on the weekend when there is time to delve into details.

Food for thought, though.

Wishing you a great Tuesday.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this last day of March 2021? We are doing well. Today is my late start / late shift day. I will say that I am not terribly excited about having to work these shifts every month but it is what our employer asks of us so what can you do? The sky is overcast and there appears to be little wind this morning. YAY. Happy about that. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be double digit plus temperatures here in Edmonton and that is great news. The Easter weekend, the long weekend will be much cooler with plus single digit temperatures. Now as long as our day time highs are plus temperatures not much to complain about from me, anyway.

Alvin and I had a nice walk yesterday at lunchtime. Walking into the wind was a bit on the cold side but definitely not winter like conditions and our walk was most enjoyable. I have noticed that the past couple of weeks Alvin has been jumping up onto his chair by the window a bit more often. He used to sit in that chair and look out of the window for hours during the start of my time at home but gradually starting spending more time on the sofa or on his bed in the kitchen close to me. I am happy to see him enjoying looking out of the window. I wonder when I was working away from home just how long he actually stayed in the chair? Or did he go upstairs and lay on the bed? Perhaps he ran around the house. I will never know. Some days upon my return from work he would be sitting in the chair looking out the living room window …. he would see the vehicle and jump up onto his back legs and take a really good look before jumping down and running to the door. Always happy to see me and to go outside. It was an awful long time to hold his pee and I always felt guilt and wished that I had trained him early on to go on pads. There were also times when he would not be at the window looking out and as I opened the door I could hear him jumping off the bed and then see him come bounding down the stairs to greet me. Our four legged companions. They treat us like royalty with their unconditional love and gratitude. Even though sometimes we get on each other’s “nerves” so to speak we are pals and I will always do whatever is earthly possible to ensure that he is happy, healthy, comfortable and surrounded by love. After all, he is my boy and has been from the beginning. We are both working on patience.

Almost time for me to head to the shower and get freshened up.

Oh, no …. how could I possible forget the birthday of one of my dearest and long time friends who celebrates her birthday today. Happy Birthday P, wishing you a wonderful day. May you be surrounded by family, love and laughter on this special day. WIshing you good health and abundance. Thank goodness for that birthday calendar.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion and respect.

Always, Carol & Alvin

• 

  My Flowers

• 

• 

• 

2021

Good Morning All! How are you doing this Friday morning? We are well. Third day in a row that we were up and stayed up at 6:30 a.m. – no turning on the snooze button.

FRIDAY THOUGHTS

Up we are,

Listening to the hum,

of cars in the distance.

As I write these words.

Looking around,

this room,

I see hints of my life,

Photos, cards, books, plants, art and stuff.

All things that one would collect over time.

Alvin moans, then whines,

afraid to cross the floor.

Words of encouragement to help him,

cross to the hallway.

Silly boy …. but that’s okay.

Life has always been interesting,

full of surprises and not,

Mostly just the regular everyday.

Living each day as best that I can,

What else is my lot?

I fill my days with work,

happy to be employed,

working from home these days,

So happy about that.

Writing each day makes me happy.

Perhaps one day I will get my ducks,

in a row,

maybe they will fly and soar,

I will get to those heights.

As I put together my words, the writings into a book.

That is my dream.

What is yours?

Does everyone dream of something better?

Of a passion?

Of a different life?

I guess so, we are human,

of that I am certain.

Well as the minutes pass away,

it comes closer to the time,

to start work for the last day this week.

Then my work at home begins,

you know laundry and cleaning.

In between we shall enjoy our walks,

me and Alvin,

our time together.

We do not know how long it will be,

so enjoying each moment, each minute,

each day is important.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Do something that you love?

Something that you love with your whole heart?

Take that chance,

take it now.

We will continue to live each day,

with kindness, respect, compassion

and of course patience,

always working on patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Written this day Friday, March 19, 2021

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – final quarter

Good Morning, so glad that we did not blow away last night or even this morning. The wind blew down some of my Halloween decorations that I had put up yesterday afternoon. Blew over my garbage can and bye-bye couple of items that were in it. Basically it was other folk’s garbage that had blown onto my lawn. Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz ….. gone, gone, gone. The air is cool but not cold this morning. My two pots of petunias are still amazingly blooming. I am so glad that I put away all of my little knick knacks from the deck yesterday afternoon as they may have taken flight overnight. The sky is blue as the sun is in the early stages of coming up there remains some of the orange colour on the horizon.

Well I accomplished all and then some of the items on my TO DO LIST from yesterday which makes today and tomorrow easier days. Although I can always find things that I want or need to do around the house. With Christmas just around the corner, I need to get working on my craft projects. Started and have ideas but need to put some actual labour into. I have noticed that I do sometimes procrastinate when I do not have a clear vision of the end result and then again sometimes I am not feeling “artistic” and that pushes the timeline. Oh well there is time so no need to panic just yet. Besides Christmas is not about the gifts as we all well know. It is about being together. All of our “holidays” are about being together with family and friends and celebrating those relationships or at least that is my thought.

So Thanksgiving weekend – some folks celebrated yesterday, some today and others tomorrow. This one is different for most folks. I know some of my friends had family over yesterday. Others today with part of the family and the other members of their family got together with them actually last weekend. Tomorrow is the actual day of Thanksgiving. At the end of it all, we should celebrate each other yesterday, today and tomorrow, everyday. Family and friends are so vital to our well being. Relationships need to be worked on in order to thrive. We are a social creature and need the love and support of others in order to survive. Okay how did I get to this point. Oh, well …. Sunday Morning brain. I hope that whenever or with whomever you have the opportunity to celebrate this Thanksgiving with, I hope that it is awesome. Enjoy the food but most of all enjoy the fact that you have family and friends with you. Now there may be folks that due to circumstances are not able to be surrounded by any family or friends and my heart and best wishes go out to you. I hope that you can play music, watch a video or a movie so that you have at least the noise of humans around you. Maybe your family and friends will facetime with you. Technology is a great these days. Even if you are alone you are not alone.

Alvin and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our home this year. We do most times and as I love entertaining. We are having a non-traditional Thanksgiving meal but good food is all you need. Only a couple of times or so a year do I make anything deep fried and today will be one of them. Chicken with a honey mustard sauce (homemade), potato salad (homemade), peas, corn, cheating and having stove top stuffing as have to have stuffing and for dessert “fruit pizza.” Fruit pizza is a favourite in our family. We will have my daughter and son-in-law and my grandpups Aspen and Milo.

Well Mr. Alvin is laying on his blue blanket / towel bed not far away from me. Resting.

On this Thanksgiving I am grateful for:

I am grateful that I have family that love me and that I love so much words cannot express.

I am grateful that I have dear friends all over this planet of ours. Some down the street and others halfway around the globe.

I am grateful that my daughter and son-in-law thought it was a good idea for me to adopt a puppy. Alvin is my companion, my friend and partner in crime. Okay perhaps not so much the “partner in crime” but you get the idea.

I am grateful that I was able to get my own home late in life but better late than never.

I am grateful to be employed especially during this economic crisis and grateful to be working from home.

I am grateful to be safe.

I am grateful for technology and that I have access to it.

I am grateful to be alive, to have more than what I need and some of the things I want but most of all I am grateful to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to touch and to be in good health so that I may enjoy all of the above.

On this day and always no matter if I have a day or moments that I am feeling a bit less than positive or wonderful, I know that I am strong and that I will be okay.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. May you be in good health and be surrounded with family and friends who support and love you. Happy Thanksgiving.

• 

  Me and my Alvin

• 

  Fall Wreath

Continuing to live in kindness and with respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning All,

Well there is a breeze blowing out there.

The sky is clear with hues of oranges as the sun rises.

Looks amazing.

Love sunrises and sunsets.

 

So how are you doing today?

I am doing well.

House is quiet of course without my partner in crime, Mr. Alvin.

He is doing well at his sister’s house.

Now today she has to go into the office so time will tell.

My son-in-law is at home so it will be interesting to see if he “sticks like glue” to him.

My daughter has been telling me that he goes wherever she goes.

If she is working …. he is under her desk or on the dog bed beside her.

If she is in the kitchen …. he is in the kitchen.

In the bathroom …. he’s there, too.

Pretty much the same as with me.

Although occasionally he will sit on the chair while I go into the basement or upstairs.

But most times he is with me.

I am sure that he will have many stories to tell me when he arrives home on Sunday.

Last night they received their first robot vacuum cleaner.

My daughter says with all of the dog hair ….. they had to try something.

She sent me the cutest video.

All three dogs engaging …. watching ….. wondering the vac as it maneuvered around the floor.

Alvin watched intently and kind of followed BoBi, that’s her name.

Aspen walked up to it and then backed away.

She did not want to turn her back to the machine.

Milo had been on the stairs, he came down walked up to it and then away.

Cutest video ever.

They all reacted differently much the way humans do when we encounter something new.

Interesting and funny to watch.

The machine is quite loud.

BoBi is quite loud.

Anyway it was nice to see the pups in a video.

 

Last night two of my girl friends were over for a Diamond Painting evening.

We all are working on projects and felt that it would be fun to get together and work on them.

So great to have a week day get together.

I love my girls.

I am working on my FALL one that yes, I started in July on our other Painting Night with the girls.

Yup, I am falling short on completion date.

Fall is here and I am not done.

Hopefully Fall last for awhile.

Fingers crossed.

 

Did anyone watch the U.S. Presidential Debate?

I will only say this …. I expected nothing less from Trump and was a bit concerned for Joe Biden.

These are interesting times in the world that is for sure.

 

Well it is time to grab that mug of coffee and start work.

 

Have an awesome Wednesday as I was starting to type Tuesday.

Yikes, the week is going quickly.

Take Care and Be safe in all that you do.

I am going to go for a walk at noon.

Not walked since Saturday.

Exercise would be good for me.

Continue to live your life with kindness and respect,

As will I,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

Raining through the night and earlier this morning but has stopped now.

Funny how that happens.

I missed watering my flowers on Monday night and then gave them a good drink last night.

Well they are well watered now.

Some of my flowers and plants are beginning to fade.

The nights are beginning to cool now.

I suppose it won’t be too long before I need to prepare for the next season.

Will check the long range forecast for frost.

I will leave everything as long as possible.

As long as the flowers are blooming I like to leave them and sometimes near the end they are beginning to look a bit less than perfection.

 

W for Wind.

Man oh man, have we been experiencing a lot of wind these days.

Seems like every year Edmonton gets more and more wind.

A nice breeze is fine but gale force is not.

Alvin and I have almost blown away on some of our walks and then sometimes we just stay home.

 

This is one of those mornings where for some reason I do not have a lot to say.

Fancy that.

Usually I start and don’t have time to write everything that I am thinking.

I almost never plan what I am going to write ahead of time.

Just sit down and start typing the things that come to my mind.

Sometimes they are silly and sometimes very serious.

 

I want to extend our sympathies to our neighbours on the passing of their beloved fur baby “Capone.”

He was a big guy and so sweet.

I remember when he was a puppy.

My how time flies.

We have lost so many of our fur baby friends and family this year.

Abi (Alvin’s girlfriend), Casey (long time family friend), and now Capone and our Mabel who was my brother and family’s girl.

Rest in Peace my darlings.

We shall miss you forever and keep you forever in our hearts and minds.

 

With kindness and respect for all,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Saturday Morning,

Wow, this year so far has been filled with incredible highs and incredible lows.

This past week I would say has had some incredible lows.

Three nights this week of virtually no sleep countered with last night with first time up at 3:30 a.m. has made for a very long week.

One great thing to happen is my daughter is coming to visit today and I shall whip up some pancakes.

I don’t have my usual ingredients but that has never stopped me from making something.

I have found in life you have to be able to use what you have and go from there.

 

Just like this fence adventure and I shall call it that ….. I finally got things sorted out and just have to chat with my neighbours about the final tally.

I researched and spoke to people and then negotiated.

Negotiation is not something that I find easy to do ….. selling is more my thing.

That being said I guess negotiating is part of selling.

Now working for someone else and selling is one thing …. like retail.

I love that …. and I am good, no very good at selling things.

Anyway, I am more than happy with the final result in this case.

 

Perhaps after having a shower will perk me up and that is next on my list to do.

Last night I did some laundry so that reduced the number of loads for today.

I will say that with not having to go to the office, my laundry is considerably less.

Now basically one outfit for the day not two or even three.

I think that perhaps Alvin may need to go outside before I slip into the shower.

Will check with him first for sure.

 

The rain has stopped and it is very windy.

Clouds still fill most of the sky although it does appear to be brighter in the distances.

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and 20 degrees celsius.

Now that would be nice.

Something to note that yesterday afternoon it was snowing, yup it was.

Mostly it was wet snow and melted as it touched the ground.

The point is on May 22, 2020 it was snowing.

 

At this moment both of us long to go walking but until he is back to normal, not taking any chances.

Not a pretty sight to have diarrhea on a walk, the clean up is a nightmare.

 

Well my daughter will be here in approximately two hours and I have things to do in preparation of her arrival.

I hope that you are having an incredibly “high” kind of day filled with all good things.

 

This life of ours now is unique for our time for most of us.

I hope that we are able to figure out a “new norm” and that it is one that is good for everyone including animals and all creatures including the environment.

We need to be more kind and respectful in all areas.

Take our new norm, go forth and spread that kindness and respect into your daily life.

This is a good thing for sure.

 

Well I better get this boat on the water …..

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with all sorts of goodness.

You deserve this most definitely as do we all.

Take care and be of good health.

 

With kindness and respect,

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Sometimes we just need some photos of cuteness and the beauty of nature.

My grand pups Milo and Aspen

My beautiful geranium waiting to be transplanted outside.

My little cuteness,  my boy, Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well HELLO FRIDAY, April 24th, 2020.

 

I have long since forgot how many days exactly that I have been working from home.

To be honest 95% of the time it is wonderful.

I love the “short” well actually no commute to my work.

I love sharing more of my time with Alvin.

I love being able to walk for 1/2 hour at lunch and then right away after work.

I love arising a bit later (truth be told even Mr. Alvin is starting to wake up a bit later).

I love being able to stay up a bit later to enjoy the evening light.

100%, I absolutely adore having more time at home.

Who doesn’t like working in their sweats and a tee-shirt and no makeup.

Bad hair days …. who cares.

It does not matter …. whatever you are comfortable in.

Some days it is office attire with makeup and others it is not.

More time for walking.

More time to get housework, yard work and exercise done.

It is nice being able to have more free time on the weekends.

I am off work at 4:00 p.m. (not granted some days I leave 10-15 minutes later but that is okay).

I can have supper and dishes done well before 6:00 p.m.

When working at the office by 6:00 p.m. – Alvin would have his supper etc, we would have walked and I may have started supper.

Usually it would be 7:00 by the time supper and dishes were done and sometimes later.

So even though there are moments throughout my day that I could honestly pull my hair out by the roots, I do love being at home.

I know that there is no separation between home and work.

But I have come to terms with that fact.

Life is meant to live.

If we continue to wrap ourselves in the negative before too long it is over.

What a waste.

 

I am off today at 3:00 p.m. (took one hour off).

The plan is to go for a walk right away, then come home and start the laundry and then rake the front lawn.

I have been raking the back out of necessity for Alvin.

Luckily the mucky mess is drying up (in the back).

The front needs some TLC.

Tonight will be the second of the three meals from HELLO FRESH.

Excited for that.

Tomorrow Mr. Alvin needs a haircut and bath (yup again).

My daughter is dropping some items by and for a visit (miss her).

Whether Saturday or Sunday – we hope to visit with our friends in their backyard.

Tomorrow is supposed to be really nice so I want to take advantage of the warmer temperatures.

 

Well almost time to grab that cup of java and start work.

Technically I do not start until 8:00 a.m. but I like to get things started and I have a contest to enter (matching pets through work).

Have to submit my entry.

Wish me luck.

 

I hope this finds you and your family in excellent health, safe and having lots of giggles.

Happy Friday.

 

With Kindness and Respect,

I/We Remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin