Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL (it is just barely morning). What a great last almost 24 hours we have had. There is something about having your brother, his husband and your daughter and your pup in the house at the same time. We laughed and cried as we shared news and talked about “the old days.” Some of us remembered things a bit differently but it was all good. Just after the boys arrived, my brother and I left the house to go to the grocery store. Likely not a great idea for Mr. Alvin as he was left with my brother-in-law who is a lovely human being but Alvin really didn’t know him. Todd said that he tried to get him to go outside with him but did not work instead he sat on one of his beds and looked out the living room window waiting my return. Clearly no separation anxieties here, lol. I get it – for most of the time he sees only me and he had not met Todd before and to be honest, I never really thought about it. Note to self. Do not leave the house right away after bringing someone new inside. It is funny not funny ha-ha that Todd has never been to my house here in Edmonton and I moved here in 2009. My brother has been here several times over the years. My poor Todd is awaiting double hip replacement so it was not easy going up and down stairs but he does not let that get in his way. He is a real trooper. Good mindset about his whole ordeal. He will be 54 in a few days. Hopefully after waiting for over two years, the surgery will happen soon. It breaks my heart when you know someone who has been waiting to have surgery and in constant pain. So it seems to be the standard thought process to give you drugs that you may or may not become addicted to help with the pain instead of doing the surgery right away. Drugs that over time damage and destroy your muscle/joints and whatever else. So why not do the surgery sooner than later. I wonder what the real reason is? We also realized that my brother and Alvin are on the same pain medication – just a different dosage. We had a real giggle over that.

I was so happy that my daughter decided to stay and visit. We had a cold supper if you will which was great. After supper and the sun went lower in the sky we sat outside on the back deck. It was wonderful listening to the laughter coming from my house. It has been awhile since I have had that many people enjoying the deck and each other’s company. I am so grateful that they took the time and came out of their way to come from Calgary to Edmonton before heading to Regina with final destination Winnipeg – then the lake. I remember to a few days ago when we were out at my daughter’s. I love the laid back lifestyle. So much fun.

Well it is almost time to head downstairs and get the laundry going and set up the fans and close all the blinds before it gets too hot in the house.

I am grateful to the Universe for bringing some of my family together for a great evening. I drank a bit and even had a few puffs of a cigarette (my brother-in-law smokes). I was a bad girl but sometimes you just have to be “bad.” We had good food, laughed, cried, shared stories, took pictures and just enjoyed being together. Does not get better than that.

We made a pact that next summer for us to get together again but we will make sure that our sister and other brother will be there, too.

Well I should go. Get things back to normal and do laundry. Always laundry.

Have a wonderful Saturday. Oh, I have to check my lottery ticket from last night -that would be a perfect end to a wonderful time. Especially if it were enough to share with family and friends.

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

I do love to entertain. This morning I made buns with two kinds of toppings, some cut up raw veggies and a container of unbaked chocolate macaroons. That was my gift to the boys – the macaroons. A request made by them. We celebrated my birthday and Todd’s which is coming up last night. Now they will have a good snack to have on their trip.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. we had some rain earlier this morning.

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Tuesday, July 25, 2017 and it is the 16th day until my 60th Birthday.

It is safe to say that I have a thing with food.

A love – dislike (cannot say hate) relationship.

I love food and it loves my belly.

Just a few things that I happen to snap photos of over the past few years.

I love to bake and most especially at Christmas time and for special Occasions.

Cookies, anyone?

Fruit Cocktail Cake

One of my Vegetarian Creations ….. so yummy…..

Amanda’s 33rd Birthday cake

Unbaked Chocolate Macaroons, Anyone?

Sugar Cookies

Fudge

Fruit Pizza – OMG so delicious

the fixings …. this was a supper we had a couple of weeks ago.. (when the kids lived with us) my version of a taco salad.

Breakfast ….. nothing like pancakes and fresh fruit

Cupcakes from Steven’s Birthday in September.  Decorating is not really my thing but I try.

COOKIE TIME

Christmas Fudge

 

WHAT …..

LOTS OF ICED SUGAR COOKIES

 

Notice a consistent pattern here?

I am not able to bake just a small amount.

Perhaps I need to consider selling my baking at Christmas time?

 

 

Always, Carol

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 19th day of December, 2016.

Only 5 sleeps until Christmas Eve.

I almost counted incorrectly.

Well the weather reporters were correct; the temperatures have warmed up.

I believe it is +2 degrees celsius here in Edmonton this morning with a breeze, of course.

Alvin and I were able to enjoy a nice little walk yesterday afternoon.

He is not much these days for long walks but any walk is better than none at all.

Yesterday in addition to the walk; I baked and I baked and I baked.

Ended up making 110 (iced) sugar cookies for my friend, 5 dozen macaroons, 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies and a double batch of fudge.

I was going to cut back …. perhaps a little.

Anyway baking done and neatly packed into the fridge.

My friend picked up her sugar cookies and was so excited for them.

Well almost Christmas.

We had our first Christmas Dinner instead of meeting at one of the three’s homes and exchanging gifts.

It was nice to eat out as I almost never do …. so it was a great treat.

Well here it is once again time to leave for work.

We only work four days this week and then on Friday we go to the office for our Family Christmas Party and then home early.

So lots to do at work this week but I am hopefully to get it all done…. Fingers crossed.

I hope that you are having an awesome day.

Remember to take some time for yourself.

Last night at 7:00 p.m. I was falling asleep on the sofa.

We went to bed at 7:40 or closer to 8:00 by the time we got upstairs and ready.

Wouldn’t you know it as soon as I laid down I was wide awake.

Oh well ……

Have a great Monday.

Special Hello: to my friends near and far.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 7th day of December, 2015.

Wow, another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

Upon viewing photos from my friends back in Saskatchewan it would appear that in some places they have no snow at all.

My friend visited her brother in Calgary over the weekend and they have no snow either.

We have some but only some.

WOW ……

Well I had a spectacular weekend.

I spent most of the weekend baking a total of 12 hours from start to finish.

I made 31 dozen different treats as you can see below.

Showing all of the ingredients needed and the results.

IMG_3868 IMG_3869 IMG_3870 IMG_3871 IMG_3872 IMG_3873 IMG_3874 IMG_3875 IMG_3876 IMG_3877 IMG_3878 IMG_3879 IMG_3880 IMG_3881 IMG_3882 IMG_3883 IMG_3884 IMG_3885 IMG_3886 IMG_3887 IMG_3888 IMG_3889 IMG_3890

Last night after I finished baking and cleaning up and before supper:  I delivered some treats to my friends in the neighbourhood.  One of my friend’s little ones love my fudge so I made them a batch and another loves my sugar cookies so she received three dozen.  Others received a sampling of the treats.  I have two more deliveries to make.  Then there is the cookie exchange at work, treats when company comes a calling and for my daughter and her family and for Christmas.

Well almost time to leave for work.  I just wanted to share with you my baking …… in between there was a vet appointment, walks with Alvin, laundry and housework.  Whew, I need to go to work to rest.  Not likely lease signings today.  Oh well….. Happy Monday everyone.

 

Special Hello to: my sister …. I totally forgot to SKYPE last night ….. it was almost 7:30 when I had supper …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 3rd day of December, 2015.

Wow, it is crazy, awesome, fantastic, wonderful, divine, nice, great, WEATHER here in Edmonton.

This morning I did not need gloves but I wore my mini ones because my hands dry out easy.

SO Beautiful ….. I am so GRATEFUL for this wonderful WARM weather.

Yesterday it was melting ….. and what day is it again?  Smiling …..

 

Do you ever have a moment that you feel “OH WOE IS ME” and that moment turns minutes seconds and into minutes and into hours?

We all have them?

Funny how out of the blue then you can receive an email or see a sign and all of a sudden you are reeled back into reality.

Thinking all the while …. “I AM VERY BLESSED.”

It would seem that any time I find myself “HAVING A PITY PARTY FOR ONE” .…. reality brings me back and I realize how super lucky I am.

I have my own house …. more room than I actually need but suits me and Alvin all the same.

I am in good health as is Alvin ….

I have a daughter whom I treasure more than life ….

I have my constant companion her little brother Alvin whom I treasure just as much ….

I have an awesome, amazing good-hearted, super smart son-in-law and GRAND-PUPPIES. (sounds better than GRAND-DOGS)

I work in an office that always gives me a reality check.

I have friends and family all over the world who are simply the best.

I have a sister who is not just a sister but a dear friend.

I have so much and more.

So on this Thursday ….. I am just thinking that the possibilities are endless.

I have so much and can do pretty much whatever I choose.

Just have to choose.

Make the list and start working toward those dreams.

We just have to remember to live our lives and not let our lives live us, make sense.

There will always be those moments when you just cannot rise to the occasion.

That is okay.

Have your pity party and then rise up and carry on.

Today is TERRIFIC THURSDAY …..

We are in the countdown to Christmas.

Last night wrote more Christmas cards and will mail more today and then finish the ones to be mailed, tonight and mail tomorrow.

This weekend I get to BAKE.

I love to bake ….. “sugar cookies” …… “chocolate macaroons” …… “chocolate fudge” …… maybe a couple more items.

YAY …

Well it is time to go and finish getting ready to go to the office.

Have a splendid day…..

 

You are simply the best and do not forget this….. 

You can climb to the top and wave the flag ….

I know you can.

 

Special Hello to: my friends back in Regina and in Saskatchewan who are the best ….. thanks guys.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 3rd day of December, 2014.

Another day closer to Christmas.

I am so excited to do some Christmas baking this Saturday.

The plan is to make sugar cookies, macaroons and fudge.

Those are the main ones and if something else sneaks in there that would be fine as well.

I love to bake.

I am going to try and be a bit fancy decorating the sugar cookies this year.

Will have to figure something out …. no ideas at the moment …. just know that I want to make them different and pretty.

I hope that you have your list made and that you are zipping along with each task on it.

Just take one day at a time.

That is what I try to do.

If you look at the number of days left you might just feel overwhelmed.

Also even if you do happen to run out of time …… Christmas always turns out.

It is more the feelings that you have and are surrounded by than actual physical things.

More than a feeling …….

Well almost time to go to work.

Today I work at the office and then tonight at the store.

I love helping people find just the right gift.

Thanks again for reading my blog.

Have a fantastic day.

Oh, by the way I went to have my eyes checked yesterday afternoon and they are actually better distance wise and a bit less so close up.

No surprise.

I ordered some new specs and sunglasses and then there will be a new me.

It is like dressing up in a costume …. I always feel like a new person when I get new glasses.

The same applies to hair cuts.

Which reminds me …. almost time for me to trim my hair.

Yes, I cut my own hair.

Just basic but it works.

Happy Wednesday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Special Hello to: anyone with a Birthday this month ….. Happy Birthday …..

 

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