The Next Chapter

Good Morning! Woke up with a headache but have to shake it off as I have things that need to be done today at work. The sky is starting to rise as the sun positions to rise. Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day. On my lunch break I walked over to the mall and cashed in my winning lottery tickets. I won $2 and a free play. Better than the opposite. I also picked up the winning $62 million lotto 649 for last night’s draw. The walk was so nice. By the time I got back to the office, I was warm with my sweater underneath my jacket. My coworker & carpool had an appointment in the afternoon and left work early so I caught the bus home. Nice walk. The ice and snow on the walkway near to my house thankfully had dried up. YAY. Spring, truly is here. The snow has mostly melted from my back yard and the front. Another week or so and I will be able to rake. Definitely waiting until the ground has thawed completely. I may not rake the leaves up as I heard it is good to leave them on for awhile. Perhaps wait until grass starts to turn green.

When I arrived home, my neighbour (other half of duplex) came out. Jess said that she had something for me, I asked if I could quickly run and grab the mail. My parcels were here from TSC (The Shopping Channel) – the quilt and sheets for my bed had arrived. YAY. When I got back to the house, Jess handed me a bag and told me that she wanted to give me something special as a memory of Alvin. I will have to put the photo here as it is a whirly that has a photo of Alvin on it ….. for outside …… it is made of tin and is so beautiful. I will post a photo later. So grateful to everyone near and far for their love and support. There isn’t a day that goes by where I do not shed a tear for Alvin, I miss him so much. He was the best guy and friend and companion.

I made the executive decision to call a repairman to “fix” my stove. The company I called charge a $99 diagnostic / come out charge so I figured why not? If I can fix the stove – better than something to go to the eco station or wherever old appliances go. The appointment is for 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Fingers crossed that it is an inexpensive repair and that I have my stove back again. Time down will be three weeks on Sunday. ARGH.

I am sorry for this to be short but hard to think with a headache. So I shall sign off.

Have an awesome Thursday! Yup, only one more day now till the weekend. Whoops, sorry – do not need to be rushing the days. Sometimes, I do, sometimes I need to ….

The rabbits are almost completely brown now.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel)

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! I hope this finds you doing well on this Thursday morning. I am pretty sure a few hours ago it was Sunday but somehow the calendar has now changed and it is Thursday, April 7, 2022. I am pretty certain that somehow time has increased its’ speed and the days are really passing as quickly as they feel to me. Am I alone in this?

This is a sad morning as yesterday we received news from a neighbor and friend that her beloved Jazmin passed away. Jazmin was almost 17 years old. We will miss seeing them on our walks and on our visits. Alvin will miss his friend. She was a sweet girl. Her Momma is lost at this time and I can feel her pain. We shall miss the cuteness that was Jazmin and know that she will be running fast through the fields of flowers with others that have gone before her. Good Night Sweet Jazmin.

The sun seems to be higher in the sky this morning. The sky is blue and there is no wind. A beautiful day by all counts.

My daughter is stopping by to see us after her appointment later today in the neighborhood. It will be great to see her. Alvin is appreciative as she is picking up his food, toothpaste and Movoflex from the Vet so his Momma does not have to carry it all home. His Momma is also appreciative.

I wish for us all that today will be filled with good news. I think that we all need some good news for a change. I am not a super religious person but a spiritual one but today I pray for some light to the darkness. I need, you need, the world needs some good news. The weight of it all is dragging us down.

On this Thursday, I wish you good health, joy, lots of laughter and abundance and some great news.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. the you know what has almost all melted and the ground is drying up. We are happily walking twice per day and enjoying it so much.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. The sunrise seems to be faint in the distance but I can see very light colours of orange and pink. That is a good sign. The night sky has diminished and the lighter blue of the morning has taken over. It is windy this morning. As I look out of my office window, I see mostly dirty snow banks what is left of them and bare ground. The windrows of snow that line the front public sidewalk have decreased in size by more than three-quarters. Those that remain are dirty as they are filled with sand and gravel that once covered the ice on the streets. It does not look pretty but yet there is some likeable about the scene. Perhaps it is because we know that the renewal of spring lies just ahead with the buds on the trees and the green blades of grass that peer out from the snow on the lawns, the first perennials start to bloom (tulips). It is perfection. So I shall be patient with the somewhat drab appearance of nature at this moment. Drab but still beautiful. We will be happy that to have no snow and ice. It will be great to be able to go for a walk and not have to worry about ice and snow and outerwear. Yesterday we walked twice once again for a total of 50 minutes. I am starting to feel less of the winter me and more of the spring me. Does that make sense? I think we are somewhat different over the different seasons. Makes sense, somehow. Just like a child at Christmas waiting for Santa to make an appearance. I am grateful to live in Canada where we have four distinct seasons. One of them is much longer than the rest but we have different ones all the same.

Can you believe that it is Thursday, March 31, 2022 already? April tomorrow.

Speaking of March 31st, today is the birthday of an longtime friend of mine, I have known her since the early 1980’s. Happy Birthday Polly. Alvin and I wish you a great day and may your days ahead be filled with much love, laughter, good health and abundance.

I don’t have much to say this morning. Sometimes when the sun is not shining I feel quiet with not many words to share. Not that I am not thinking but my mind is more quiet than usual. Perhaps the clouds or less than bright sky is Mother Nature’s way of having us slow down, be quiet onto ourselves. Just a thought.

Time for coffee and then to work.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am grateful for you, me and the world.

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this bright and sunny Monday morning? I hope that it is bright and sunny where you are. Alvin and I are doing well. We had a fantastic weekend despite Mother Nature’s spring snowstorm. As I mentioned before I got to use my brand new Bissell Crosswave. Yesterday I submitted a tea order and baked a banana loaf / bread. Did some cleaning and put away the laundry that was air drying from Saturday. I even did some shovelling and I enjoyed the day. Here we are again at Monday morning. Most of the snow has now melted. The sidewalks are clear. Front lawn still sporting a white blanket.

I wanted to share a daily affirmation that I came across on Facebook. It has become my new mantra.

Daily Affirmation – stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself and repeat daily

I am healthy. I am strong. I am powerful. I am happy.

I am grateful. I am wealthy. I am loved.

I am appreciated. I am lucky. I am prosperous.

I am divine. I am confident. I am proud. I am blessed.

I am beautiful. I love the person that I am.

Stating a daily affirmation is good for us to do.

It is surprising how quickly you begin to see a difference in your being.

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Have a wonderful day.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 6th day of April, 2017.

Happy Birthday to my friend “L” back in Regina.

Alvin and I would like to wish you a very Happy Birthday.

 

Well forecast for today is 15 degrees celsius.

WOW, that is warm for April and we will take it.

Perhaps by the end of the day the remaining snow on my front lawn will be gone.

If not, I will give it a hand …. spread it out a bit.

 

Well as per usual it is hard to believe that we are already one week into April 2017.

It seems with every passing year the time just seems to pass more quickly.

I guess it is a signal that we need to live our lives consistently in the moment.

Enjoy every second no matter what is happening.

There always will be a situation that comes along that is not the most favourable.

It is up to us in how we react to said situation.

One thing I always have to work on … is to think before reacting.

Sometimes we say things in the heat of the moment that generally we would not ….

I am always a work in progress when it comes to “situations.”

Live and Learn.

Not a bad thing.

Sometimes frustrating.

 

I will say that at the end of every day I get to come home to the cutest little guy on the planet, me Alvin.

He warms my heart with his waggling tail and his big brown eyes.

I guess lesson here is no matter what happens during your day – you can always go home.

Hopefully home is your sanctuary, your safe place.

I love my house, my home.

It is everything I have ever dreamed of having ….

 

Well here it is time to leave for the bus once again.

I can hear trucks running outside in the “hood” and I would suspect others are getting ready to leave home for work, as well.

 

Happy Happy Thursday.

Have a great day.

 

Special Hello to: my sister who leaves for South America very early tomorrow morning.  Safe trip my darling sister.  Enjoy and I am excited to see the pictures.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to the 20th day of March, 2016.

Happy Spring Everyone !!

Today is the first day of spring ….. it is now official.

My spring bulbs will start to grow over this next while.

I look forward to seeing the flowers as I do not remember what I planted.

They were a gift from a friend.

The forecast for today is sunny and about 7 degrees celsius which is a lovely day.

The weekend thus far has been beautiful.

Frost lightly covers the windshields of cars and rooftops.

Looks so pretty with the early morning light.

Most of the snow from our front lawn has melted.

We no longer have six inches of ice built up on our front sidewalk.

It is always a challenge over the winter months and spring to keep it clear as it is a low spot and drains from our backyard and from the neighbours.

The storm drain is several feet away.

 

Mr. Alvin continues to heal and recover from his dental surgery/cleaning.

Always happy news …..

 

I guess time to get going ….. I hope that you have an awesome first day of SPRING.

We are definitely going for a long walk in the early afternoon hours.

To celebrate this day.

 

Take care.

We miss and mourn our losses and think of them always in happy times.

 

Special Hello to: family and friends ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of May, 2015.

Another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

I am so reminded of life’s simple pleasures this morning.

As I sat at the kitchen table and looked onto the deck at all the flowers I had planted.

The colours melted my heart and brought me joy.

A bit later Mr. Alvin was out on the deck doing his Al thing …. walking about.

At one point I was looking out at him and he was looking back at me with his head peering over the top of a flower pot.

Writing in my gratitude journal each morning … I have so much to be thankful for …..

It is these things that bring me joy ….

It is these things that make me happy …..

It is the simple things in life ….

Not complicated ……

Just a moment when simple beauty actually seems to stop time ….

It has been one of those mornings.

Somedays one may think that oh I don’t have a car or perhaps I do not travel.

But it was just over one half hour ago that I was reminded that I truly have more than I need.

I am happy …..

I pass this onto you ….

Take a look around ….. it is  most likely that you have much more than you think to be thankful for and that you are surrounded by joy and happiness ….. do not make it complicated …… for it is simple ….. it just is.

Time to get on my way …..

Happy Wednesday ….

Special Hello to: my friends back in Regina ….. have a wonderful day.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 8th day of May, 2015.

The sun is beginning to rise promising to be a great day.

Most of our snowfall melted with the warmth of the sun yesterday.

YAY …… on our way to a great weekend.

The snow helped cleaned up the dust and add some moisture to lessen the dryness.

Mr. Alvin is happy that it is the weekend.

His sister is coming for a visit on Sunday and he always loves when she arrives.

Penny and Elton are coming, too.

I know he misses their presence everyday.

Sometimes we forget to be grateful for our lives.

Today my thoughts go to gratitude.

I am grateful to be good health, to be surrounded by loving family and friends, for my companion Alvin, for my own house, my home, to have electricity and running water, to have books to read, food in my belly, sunshine to warm me, green grass to see, time to write, time to make jewellery, time to have fun and for inspiration. Thank you.

I hope that you have a wonderful Friday and have time to relax and enjoy.

Special Hello to: all the Mothers out there …. this is your special time.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Thursday morning …… today is April the 5th, 2012.

When I awoke this morning and looked out the window I was “semi surprised” to see a heavy white blanket of snow covering everything in sight.

We were forewarned of the snowfall but I was keeping the sunshine and clear skies in my thoughts but alas we got the snow.

Oh well, as it happened on Sunday ….. it soon melted once the sun came out.

Moisture is good.  It will also freshen up the ground …… 🙂

Today is the last day of the work week for me and so many others.

I am going to spend the weekend working on and “completing” my route for the Census.

I enjoy meeting more of my neighbours.

Also it will be great to sleep in a bit each morning …..

I WISHED that Alvin would wake up at 7:00 (he is an early bird usually before 5:00 most mornings).

Oh well, early is good, too.  I have a great life even with the early starts…. 🙂

I wish for the days ahead that you are surrounded by those you love, magic and laughter.

Take care ….. if you are travelling ….. slow down ….. keep your cell phone in the glove box (compartment) or in your pocket/purse and have a wonderful long Easter weekend.

Happy Easter (early) …..

Special Hello:  to YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin