Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Good Morning ….

What a glorious Monday morning it is.

When I was outside with Alvin about one hour ago it felt warm considering I had a nightgown and sweater on exposing my lower legs.

So off to a great start.

Each weekend or the time off that you have from work is precious.

Most of us have a billion things to do on the weekends or on our time off away from the job.

There is always laundry, cleaning, yardwork, shopping for groceries at the minimum.

If we are able to take time to relax …. that would be in front of the television watching a movie or the like with a glass of wine or your favourite beverage.

But is that really relaxing?

Not really.

But we ALL do the very best that we can.

I am more fortunate than most as I do not have children at home although some would say that Alvin might rank a close second.

He is my partner in crime that requires help being fed and bathed and groomed.

But other than that …. I have more flexible time.

I can/could sit on my bed, in the middle of the floor or sit on a comfy chair and just meditate for some time.

But do I do this on a regular basis …. not really.

I did for a time but find it difficult to sit “quiet” without doing something.

This week I am going to make a point of sitting “quiet.”

Quiet means with NO outside distractions.

Now Alvin I have no control over but I will say if he has been fed and gone outside, he general would lay down beside me if I am on the sofa or bed.

So this is the week that things change.

I have also done quite a lot of reading and everyone says that it is important to do some weight bearing exercises as you get older.

So this week I am going to start doing some of those.

Off to an easy start, nothing to crazy.

I have some hand weights which will be perfect.

Now just for some proper instructions and I will be off to the races ….

We all try to do the best that we can.

But I think even though we think that we do – there is always room to pump it up a bit.

So that is my personal challenge for this week.

To start ….

More quiet time … no outside distractions like the television or phone (yes, I can see where these can get you into trouble).

Trying some weight bearing exercises.

I want to be in the best health that I can be in as I get older.

Never too late to start.

 

Okay the clock on the wall says that it is time to get this show on the road.

Well I hope that you have an awesome day.

Turn the lights out and lock the door when you leave for the day.

Remember a walk on your break is always better than a cookie and coffee.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Kindness and Respect always place the perfect reflection on you.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

What a smoky morning.

Thoughts are with all those affected by the forest/wild fires to the north of us.

I opened the windows when we were first up at 3:30 and was hit with the smoky air.

Opened the door to let Alvin outside and bam – hit once again.

Cannot imagine what it would be like closer to the fires.

We are thinking of the Firefighters and First Responders and volunteers that are up there battling the fires.

One nice thing about having the windows open you can hear the birds chirping or in this case “honking.”

Oh how I love the geese.

Alvin spotted a dog running by with his human just as sun was rising.

Perfect time to be out before the temperature rises.

We have missed two walks but when it is 29 at bedtime what can you do.

We do not need to be walking in the heat nor do we want to be breathing in the smoke.

Edmonton had a poor air quality grade yesterday.

No wonder with the smoke.

 

Well today is Thursday.

In a few minutes time to head out to work.

Thankfully the house will be cooler today.

Surprisingly enough last night even though the thermostat read “77” when I arrived home … it did not feel that warm.

Dropped by more than 3 degrees this morning in the house so good for Mr. Alvin.

 

I am reading about Meditation (again).

I have so many great books and I read them over and over gain.

Perfect reminders should one get off the “path” whatever that may be.

It is different for us all as we are all unique beings.

Even twins have their differences.

Breathe and take some time to quieten your mind.

No phone, no television, no distractions.

I have to work on that again.

Make my energy positive once again.

We can easily turn to the “dark side” if we do not practice positive enforcements.

Meditation is good to bring us back, down and centred.

Happy Thursday.

 

Wishing you a great Thursday.

Remember no distractions.

Quiet time.

Quiet your mind.

Be stronger.

 

Still Living …. One day at a time.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 10th day of January, 2019.

Starting to warm up and it has been lightly snowing off and on since last night.

Always know when it is snowing if not obvious – is when Mr. Alvin comes into the house with a light coating of snow.

 

So another new Year.

I am always on the look out for new information.

Educating yourself.

I believe that meditation is important.

Staying still and closing the ego and traffic out of your mind is beneficial in so many ways.

Even just a few minutes each day can help so much.

 

Listening to yourself first.

To that gut instinct.

Listening to others is also important.

Without being drawn into or brought down with the negative chatter.

 

Being positive.

Finding the silver lining in every situation is a talent, believe me.

 

Remember we all have crisis or bad things that happen to us.

You are not the only one.

Be mindful of others.

 

REMEMBER TO LAUGH.

Really life is funny.

 

Just a few things I know for certain.

I am running late.

Not sure what happened here.

Life, I suppose.

Cannot blame Mr. Alvin – it was all me and time.

 

Happy Thursday.

This afternoon I have a dental appointment, a crown.

I am becoming ROYALTY.

Lucky me.

 

Have a great day.

Special Hello: my friend V, who makes me laugh and is so helpful.  Great qualities.  Thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday, the 19th of July, 2017.

A beautiful day on the way.

We were to bed later and Alvin slept till the alarm went off.

I was just thinking about what I was doing this date in July of 2010 and this is what I found (actually it was the 20th)….

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Today I am sitting my grand-puppies Elton & Penny so I am up bright and early (up at 5:00 a.m.) and actually it feels pretty GREAT.

The sun is shining and the air has a quietness of it’s own….. feels like a wonderful meditation.

For anyone who gets up a bit later (which is fine, of course), once in awhile it is good to get up bright and early.

Shake out all those cobwebs (I had a shower) and start your day.

It is just after 6:00 a.m. and this is quite possibly the earliest that I have written on this BLOG.

Have a great day and remember to take the time and get up early (you can always grab 40 winks later in the day) and enjoy your early morning.

Well off to have breakfast (and get that Alvin out of bed).  You see when I came back upstairs to make the bed and have a shower, he figured it was back to bed and jumped up.

I had the bed partially made and just threw down his blanket and he crawled under it (so cute) and is still there.  Time to get up “sleepy head”.   GOL (giggling out loud)

Okay, I am leaving/going now.  Have to remember to turn off the “wireless mouse” ……

Always, Carol

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I am so grateful that I started writing this BLOG back in the spring of 2010 as it is a reminder of all the good days that I have lived.

This was during my “semi-retirement phase” which last a couple of years or so and I had the best time.

Ah, me Alvin was just a baby back then ….. I miss that and of course the times that we spent with Elton & Penny.

They are always in our hearts and minds.

Happy Wednesday

Special Hello to:  All of you …… have a wonderful day.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 11th day of May, 2016.

This morning the sun is up and shining and it is WARMER inside our house.

Thank goodness for that.

I noticed our tree out front is flowering big time.

Now I am pretty sure it might have had little fuzz balls other years but not full blown FLOWERS.

It is so beautiful.

I must snap a photo later ….. to show you all.

 

Mr. Alvin and I had a nice walk last night by our lake.

It is so peaceful there.

Such a great place to relax and think.

Or just relax as you walk along.

Sometimes we stop and watch the geese and ducks in the water.

Admiring the green grass and trees.

Checking out the yards that back onto the lake and how beautiful the gardens are becoming.

My friend “P” lives in one of these homes and her yard always reminds me of an English garden.

 

Always a good idea when you are out and about to just soak in the natural beauty that surrounds us.

Even if you live in a concrete jungle you can always find a park in the city or just look up to the sky.

Nature is my meditation.

She makes me feel good.

 

Happy Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all those folks who love to walk.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 21st day of December, 2013.

The only sounds that I can hear at this very moment are those of my fingers hitting the keyboard.

It seems so eerie ….

The sky is a pale blue as the sun begins to rise.

I can see out of my office window smoke rising from neighbouring chimneys.

Alvin slept over at his sister’s house so it is just me and it is so QUIET.

Do you ever have moments like these where it is so quiet you can hear your own breathing?

If I close my eyes I feel that peaceful solitude that comes with meditation.

Feels so good.

Furnace just cut in ….. (that is a good thing).

So on this last Saturday before Christmas ….. before all the excitement becomes so loud that you cannot think much less hear yourself breathe ….. take a few moments.

When you are in those moments ….. just sit in a comfy position, anywhere.

Close your eyes ….

Smile ….

Just breathe …. deeply …… deeply …..

Only concentrate of breathing ….. not of your TO DO list or how busy the mall is going to be.

I guarantee that the rest of the loud, crazy day will be so much easier to handle ……

I hope that you have an amazing Saturday.

WOW, it is so close now…….

YAY ……..

Special Hello to: my friend Linda …… thank you for the most beautiful card and we shall talk soon, I promise.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 20th day of October, 2013.

Slightly overcast as the sun rises.

Late in the season sun up late and down early.

I miss the bright sun early in the morning and up late at night.

But that is okay….. change is good.

Sometimes it just takes a bit of time to get used to some different.

I had a great day yesterday with my grand-puppies and Alvin.

We just spent the afternoon watching television and cuddling.

I did do some chores around the house but for the most part it was cuddling.

Such a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

I feel renewed and refreshed.

That is a great way to begin a Sunday.

Well I am off to work at the store once my daughter and I have a cup of coffee.

I hope that you are having a great day.

Always remember to take some time and just relax.

Meditation and Visualizing.

I did some of that yesterday ….. always good.

Special Hello to: my fellow bloggers …. you rock.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

We all lead busy hectic lives.

So in the midst of each day …..

take some time to be still…

be in a comfortable position …

close your eyes and just breathe….

Work on freeing your mind from those 60,000 some odd thoughts that we have each day…..

Meditation is one of the best “healing” powers we have ….

Try it out ….. and ENJOY.

Have a great day.

 

Always, Carol

Thought for the day……

It rained earlier this morning so when Alvin and I first got up at 5:00 a.m. the deck was wet.  The air smelled so fresh and clean.  I love the smell of rain.  A few hours later when we were up for “real” ….. Alvin “asked” to go outside.  So I let him out.  He walked around the deck and climbed up into the snowbank that is off (literally) the deck.  Soon he was back down (thank goodness) on solid ground.  I am a little nervous about him  going up there as he could fall through the snow and not be able to get out.  After he wandered around he climbed or rather hopped up the steps to the top of the deck, he sat down.  I was watching him from the kitchen window.  He just sniffed at the fresh moist air and looked around.  I wonder what he was thinking?  He sat there for several minutes just taking it all in….. he looked so cute.  Then for no reason, he got up and hopped back down the steps.

I am always amazed at how he takes those few minutes and just sits there.  He must be practising some form of “meditation”.  He is still and quiet – just as one is during those times of meditation.

So here is the thought for this day ……. if Alvin can take those precious moments and be still ……. then I should be sitting right beside him on the top of the deck (well maybe not on the deck at this time, LOL) being STILL.

Have a great day everyone.

 

Always, Carol