Last Half 2022 – December 24th

Good Morning ALL! Merry Christmas Eve 2022. I am up and have changed bedding, trash cans in bedrooms, giving upstairs bathrooms a quick clean up and writing this post before I head downstairs where I will put on a big pot of coffee. After that I will wash some bedding and get to my final TO DO LIST before the kids and pups arrive about 2:30 p.m. There will be shovelling, baking some mincemeat tarts (lazy way, I purchased a ready made jar of mincemeat and tart shells), some tidying up and that final dust and vacuum and then have a shower and get “dressed up” before they arrive. I cannot wait to see Alvin, Aspen, Milo, Steven and Amanda. Today marks three weeks since I last saw Alvin and I sure miss him. He will be surprised to be home. Will have to fill up water dishes and put some of his wet food into the fridge. Exciting!

COUNTDOWN: We are here! Christmas Eve 2022.

Yesterday we were off at noon. I did a few things around the house and then went to the grocery store. One of my friends and her daughter dropped me off at Save-On-Foods while they went to Dollar Tree and then picked me up when they were done. The parking lot was full and the store was busy but not too bad. Once back home, a bit later, another friend and her Mom popped by for coffee and she picked up the folding chairs that I had borrowed for the Christmas party last weekend. We had a last coffee with some Christmas cookies before the big day! Last night I did a few more things, had supper and then watched a bit of the new Netflix movie: Pinocchio. I was tired so left part way through to watch later and then off to bed.

Merry Christmas 2022

May you be surrounded by the people that you love!

May you have more than enough good food to eat!

May you be in good health!

May your worries be small!

May your house be warm!

May your love be strong!

May your mood be jolly!

May you enjoy the time!

May this Christmas be memorable for all the right reasons!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Wishing you safe and easy travels wherever you may go.

Merry Christmas 2022.

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Photos from Christmases past.

Christmas 2010 – Alvin’s first Christmas with me, with us. Playing tug with a new toy with Elton.

Christmas 2012 – colourful packages and our tree

Christmas 2014 – Alvin, Elton and Penny ………. toys, toys and more toys.

Christmas 2016 – Aspen and Milo (Mi-Mi) join our family.

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

From Our House to Yours – Merry Christmas Everyone!

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Merry Christmas or at least it feels like it. Thankfully the sun is shining brightly this morning. The snow rain mix began to fall yesterday just after Aspen and I started our walk. It was light at first but throughout the day it became more heavy and eventually the temperature dropped and it did not melt as it made touchdown to the ground. When me and the pups were up at 4:15 this morning there was even more than when we had gone to bed. The places on the deck and in the backyard where I had shovelled before going to bed where once again covered by a pile of the white stuff. We would need double digit plus temps before this will melt quickly but not going to happen. Not likely it will stay long but will require shovelling “one more time.” April 20th, 2022 and we have what feels like a foot of snow and I am so grateful that I had the foresight to take Miss Aspen for a walk yesterday before all of the snow. We will likely go later this afternoon. Once the sidewalks are clear and hopefully dry. I am never totally surprised by the weather in Canada or in Western Canada. It changes quickly. We did need the moisture and I do hope that the areas to the south where it is incredibly dry got some of this moisture. I will say that someone was happy to see the snow and has already gone sniffing about some of the piles on the deck. Actually all three of the pups were happy to see the snow this morning – well actually last night. So someone is happy. Perfect for making snow people.

Today is my last day of vacation before work tomorrow. I am so grateful that I am able to work from home. I am grateful that I don’t have to worry about the commute, about leaving Alvin alone or having to find someone who could come and check on him, that I don’t have to worry about the large cost of public transportation or carpooling, about the extra costs for clothing, shoes and food and the costs of being in an office. There was always something going on that required extra money. This way my money is my own. With the increased pricing of just about everything – working from home has made it so that I can afford to pay my utilities and to eat properly. Life.

Well time to head to the shower, then coffee, some laundry, shovelling, walk the pups at some point, find all of the pup’s things tonight as their parents come home tonight, make supper, cleaning and ……

Milo and Alvin did not have a walk yesterday. I decided it would not be pleasant for them to walk in the ever falling wet snow. Alvin is sensitive to yeast infections in his ears from moisture. I was drying him like mad yesterday after each visit to the backyard.

I think he secretly like having all the snow as he could pee on the deck. Who would know and really who cares at this point. Much easier to clean the poop up for sure.

I hope that you are well and having a great day. Hard to believe it is this late, after 10:00 on a Wednesday. Tomorrow at this time I will be just about to take my first coffee break.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin, Aspen and Mi-Mi

P.S. I shall miss my grand pups when they go home. We have had a good week.

2021

Good Morning ALL! Welcome to Friday, December 24, 2021. Are you excited? I am so excited. I am so grateful that I am off work at noon which will give me proper time to get ready for our company. I am close but there are some finishing touches that I like to do before receiving company. You know what I mean! Alvin and Cookie are doing well.

My Christmas Story

It was quiet in the house as I worked my office job from the kitchen table, no sounds of pups.

The tree was decorated and the fireplace ready for the jolly soul in the red suit.

All of a sudden there was clanging and banging noises coming from the living room.

I sprang from my chair to see what the matter!

There I found little Miss Cookie surrounded by Alvin’s toys,

Sitting in the big chair by the window.

How this little one had got those toys all up in the big chair, I will never know.

Alvin sitting nearby on the sofa, watching in amazement.

The pups settled in,

All ready for tonight.

They will be surprised by the treats in their stockings,

The gifts under the tree.

From Our House to Yours We Wish you a Merry Christmas.

May your New Year be filled with Good Health, Joy and Abundance.

Written by CYLewis on December 24, 2021.

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

Merry Christmas

Love Carol, Alvin and Cookie

P.S. we are all so excited for tonight. I cannot wait to see Alvin open his gift.

Welcome to Christmas 2020

Good Morning ALL. Merry Christmas Eve. We made it. So excited to see my family later today. Alvin and I were blessed to have his buddies Teddy and Kobi over for a visit yesterday. They kept him company while I worked. It was a win/win. They are so cute and we love them very much. Miss Kobi follows Alvin everywhere he goes whether inside the house or outside. Teddy and Alvin are happy to see each other and just be in the same space with no need to be close. They have a great relationship. Life is about relationships and friends for sure. Both Alvin and I are so blessed to have so many dear and wonderful friends. Friends are family and family are friends. We are blessed all the way round.

I just want to wish each and every one of you, the most special Christmas.

I hope that you are safe and in good health.

Alvin would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read his Momma’s stories.

I totally agree with that statement, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I hope this day brings you joy and comfort.

I hope that you are able to enjoy each and every moment.

Continuing to live each day with kindness, respect and compassion.

Merry Christmas.

I am so excited for this Christmas!

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Merry Christmas …..

Well we are having a snow shower at the moment.

Now isn’t that a way to begin a Friday.

Earlier and actually almost all night it was raining and I know this because I was up and out in it with Alvin.

Last night during his last “outing” into the backyard before bed ….. there was bottom end action.

I missed that he had “bottom end action” during one of the earlier escapes to the backyard.

Now how I missed it …. not sure.

But likely because I was holding a huge umbrella and because he happened to be in the grass that has now grown seemingly overnight.

Anyway, things are starting to return to normal.

Still a ways to go but leaning toward the right direction.

Thankfully as I cannot do a third night in a row ….. right now I am likely running on less than full engine capacity.

Not likely, I am …..

Hopefully the coffee can help out this morning.

Perhaps because Alvin was up and down – he will nap most of the day so that I can concentrate on work.

We shall see.

 

The other major “thing” in my life in the moment is the “fence between me and neighbours in other half of the duplex.”

One of the fence posts and 20 feet of the fence has rotted due to the stone work in their yard and because my deck is up against the fence.

Moisture gets in and cannot get out.

So we are having that replaced.

Long story short as I need to grab my coffee and start work shortly (needed to have a few minutes of sleep as virtually I had two last night).

The guy that is doing the work ….. had not factored in that the fence boards were rotten …. he only figured that likely the one post.

Anyway ….. second quote came in and I had a problem with not having a breakdown of pricing and the amount charged for labour.

So I asked some questions ….

Needless to say things did not go over well.

So I have more questions this morning to ask before asking for a requote.

Life in the fast lane.

Note to you and to me …. insist upon something in writing and ensure that you have that paper before starting or accepting any job.

Don’t let it come back and bite you in the butt.

 

Okay, I have done venting.

This is going to be an interesting day for sure.

 

SNOW, RAIN ….. contractor …. ARGH.

 

I hope that this finds you well.

Have a great day.

 

Life has to be lived with kindness and respect.

I/We, remain

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Oh my goodness, this is Christmas Eve morn.

Where did the time go?

I just got home from picking up Humphrey and doing the chores at his house.

In less than one hour my friend G is picking me up to take a last grocery run.

There are always those items that you do not wish to pick up too much in advance.

I just heard a clang in the back and looked out my window to see some lights of a truck – the garbage guys.

Today is the pickup.

I just realized how dark it is in the back lane.

We do not have any lights.

That might be something either the City or our Neighbourhood Association could put in.

At least one here and there.

Dangerous with no light.

Especially when the neighbourhood fees just rose by $25.00 to $175.00 annually per year and add taxes to that figure.

Today is not the day to complain there will be another day to vent that story.

 

Mid afternoon yesterday my friend P and I went to see the movie CATS.

It was spectacular, fantastic, wonderful and awesome.

The cast was crazy good.

James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson, and introduces ballerina Francesca Hayward in her first feature-length film role.

It was well done.

The music, the dancing and the singing were fantastic.

We thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

 

I came home to Alvin and Humphrey.

Had a bite to eat (about 7 p.m.).

Made a double batch of chocolate fudge with walnuts and the honey mustard dip for tomorrow’s dinner.

Did I tell you our menu?

It is unique but every other Christmas we switch it up.

Not everyone likes turkey, I do but not everyone.

 

Menu:

What I call Chicken Fingers

Honey Mustard Dip (homemade)

Cranberries (homemade)

Mashed/Whipped Potatoes with Boursin Cheese baked in oven

Gravy (not homemade)

Stuffing (not homemade)

Buns (not homemade)

Peas

Corn

 

Assortment of goodies (all homemade) ranging from my Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Chip cookies and fudge to my friends Banana cake, Ginger cookies, mince tarts, and apple tarts 

and every place in between.

 

Some things made by me and others not.

A good mix.

 

We will have a hot cheese dip with baguette to snack on as well as veggies, crackers with hummus.

 

Likely too much to eat.

 

Well it is getting on here and my friend will be here shortly to pick me up for our shopping trip to Save-On and Costco.

Hopefully we will be there before the masses.

 

Wishing you a great Christmas.

The kids are dropping off Aspen and Milo about 2:30 p.m. and I will hang out with the pups until they come back for the evening.

Change of plans.

Humphrey will go home before the pups arrive.

Aspen would not like Humphrey.

That would be one scene I would not like to view.

 

I wish you and your family the most glorious Christmas ….

May you enjoy love, laughter and some good food….

If you are able to include a person(s) who does not have family to spend the holiday with, please do.

No one deserves to be alone at Christmas unless they choose to do so.

 

I hope the next two days are filled with a special kind of light that will continue to shine all year long.

The light of love and compassion.

The light of kindness and respect.

The light of generosity.

The light of you and me.

 

Merry Christmas from Carol, Mr. Alvin and Mr. Humphrey.

Me and the Boys.

Always and Forever.

………… After all…..

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 27th day of April, 2019.

Well at 3:30 this morning we got up; we being Alvin, Teddy and me.

The grass was green and all was well.

We laid back down again until 5:00 a.m. and the pups had breakfast.

Went outside and did their business.

Then we got up at 5:58 a.m. and looked out to see what had happened below.

I took this photo with my tablet and had saved it to Facebook thus the size of the photo.

Now it is after 9:00 a.m. and there is several inches of the white stuff covering the deck.

The umbrellas on the patio tables are blowing in the wind.

I forgot about the plant that I had placed on the deck last weekend.

It is a type of grass so am hoping that it will survive the blast of snow and coolness.

 

So today is going to be a lazy day.

Will get some laundry going soon.

The snow has just made us want to sleep …. even the boys are thinking the same.

Movie day ……

It will be a quiet one.

Lazy day….. with my boys.

 

Wishing you all a great Saturday.

Hoping that wherever you are …. that you are safe and warm.

Good day to read a book …..

 

I am so grateful to my friend S who called to let me know that she had been trying to get us tickets to see the new AVENGERS movie ENDGAME but everywhere was sold out.

Just the mere thought made me feel like a million dollars.

Noticed that a few people had seen and were posting comments on FB, so I looked away.

I understand their excitement but I wished that perhaps they would not give details until the rest of us were able to see the movie.

Oh well, such as life.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ….

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 26th day of December, 2018.

Wow, another Christmas onto the books.

I did not even make it up into my office to write my blog.

We slept in this morning until 7:00 a.m. and then back to the sofa until almost 9:00 a.m.

The sky is overcast and is a heavy grey colour as it sends snowflakes softly to the ground.

Just makes one want to sleep.

I would love to see sunshine.

 

Back to Christmas.

We had a wonderful Christmas.

Alvin and I hosted my daughter, son-in-law and two grand-pups Miss Aspen and not so baby anymore Baby Milo.

Somehow his handle seems to have stuck as both Aspen and Milo are close in age.

We also watched over Humphrey the Cat and Cinder the Gecko while their Mom was away with family for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve:  I hung out with Alvin, Teddy for a bit, Aspen and Milo and Humphrey and Cinder while their parents attended other family Christmas parties.

It was nice just vegging with the pups and in between checking in on Humphrey and Cinder.

We watched Christmas movies until my daughter and son-in-law arrived here about 11:00 p.m.

Then it was gift opening.

We always have fun opening gifts.

My favourite gift was a framed piece of my daughter’s artwork.

It is absolutely gorgeous and I cannot wait to hang it on my bedroom wall alongside another one of her creations.

I think that I am going to request more and fill the wall.

The pups seemed to be the winners in the gift category this year as the main floor was covered in toys.

Everyone was tuckered out so after gifts we retired to bed.

then it was CHRISTMAS DAY.

 

Christmas Day is usually quiet.

I made the hot CHEESE DIP again and it was a hit.

We nibbled here and there throughout the day on veggies, mini quiches, hot cheese dip & bread and oranges.

My daughter and I took Aspen and Alvin for a nice walk.

It was snowing quite heavily then and we looked like snowmen when we arrived back home.

There were phone calls made to family and friends.

I oven roasted two turkey breasts which was a nice change along with whipped potatoes, gravy, stuffing (just stove top), corn, carrots, homemade cranberry jelly (yup, I did) and beet pickles.

We had some sugar cookies and fudge for dessert – although no one was very hungry.

I am so grateful that my kids live close by and that we spend Christmas together.

After supper we watched the Netflix movie “The Christmas Chronicles” with Kurt Russell.

I had watched it before but was happy to see it again.

The day just seemed to evaporate into history.

The kids packed up and in a blink of an eye were back home by about 9:00 p.m.

Alvin and I tried to stay up but by just after 10:00 p.m. we were in bed – snoozing away.

 

Now today is Boxing Day.

As I am not one to hit the stores for Boxing Day sales, I will just spend a quiet day at home.

I can hear a doggie barking ….. would someone please let him or her into the house.

Oh, I have a story.

I was speaking to my friend from Regina and happened to be looking out the window when I saw a dog run by on the opposite side of the street.

Clearly not on a leash.

I relayed the situation to my daughter and we watched to see if anyone was out looking for him/her.

Then we saw a truck turning and stopped a guy got out.

Then there were about six people on foot running after this poor doggie.

Who just kept running as they chased him.

We were so relieved that the dog had family out looking for him/her.

They finally got him….. happy ending.

 

Well I guess that I should get this show on the road.

Still snowing.

Dog still barking.

I am breathing.

Alvin is patiently waiting in the hallway.

Guess that I should get dressed or NOT.

 

Happy Boxing Day.

 

Special Hello to:  all my “sisters” out there ….

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 18th day of December, 2018.

Another beautiful day on the way.

Another night that Mr. Alvin and I were not able to walk – it was warm but icy.

Cannot take the chance.

Hopefully soon the ice will have cleared up and we can resume our nightly walks.

I am looking forward to the week off from work when Alvin and I can go for a couple of walks each day.

Last night one of our friend’s came for a visit.

We are always glad to have her in our home.

She brings a kind light wherever she goes.

One of the nicest folks that I have ever had the pleasure to know.

Alvin loves her.

He was trying to tell her something last night but we could not figure it out.

I think it may have to do with the plate of baking that I set onto the table.

Perhaps he would love my “sugar cookies” as much as others.

Sugar not good for puppies.

Sorry Mr. Alvin.

We also exchanged small Christmas gifts.

I shall treasure hers always.

She gave me the most beautiful Christmas Angel coasters.

Very very beautiful.

AND one of my favourite things: chocolates from PURDYS.

 

Time is counting down.

Looks like six sleeps until Christmas Eve Day.

WOW, where does the time go.

 

Are you ready?

I am pretty much there.

Just have some gifts to wrap and pick up the groceries.

Then just the cooking.

All fun things ahead.

 

I would like to wish each and every one the most glorious Christmas.

May you live in Peace, in Truth, in Harmony with Others and Nature.

May you be in good Health.

May your blessings be tenfold.

May your heart be kind and giving.

May you realize that good people do exist and that you are one of them.

May you spread joy and love all year round.

Merry Christmas and the Best New Year Ever.

 

Have an awesome Tuesday.

Time to go and catch that bus.

Gotta love public transportation but on the other hand it beats the alternative and for me that would be walking.

Work is definitely too far to walk.

 

Special Hello to: YOU

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 11th day of April, 2018.

Guess what?

You are never going to guess?

We got a present from Mother Nature during the night.

It is sticky.

It is white.

Yes, we received a nice layer of the white stuff.

I guess the memo did not reach Mother Nature.

I wrote her and pleaded with her to “please stop with the white stuff.”

I added that I wanted the part of spring where the ice was not covering the nearby ponds, the spring flowers were blooming and the buds were on the trees.

Oh well, I guess she has a sense of humour and clearly mine is wearing thin.

Enough ice and snow.

Sorry, Mother Nature, I know that you have a tough job, most especially with us “humans.”

 

Now that I have vented about the snow on to happier things.

Last night when Alvin and I were out for our walk, we came across friends.

Dad and his small daughter.

She had learned on April 1st to ride a bike with no training wheels and they were out practising.

“L” was doing great.

She loves Alvin so we stopped for a few minutes going and coming home.

I guess that is a sign that summer is not too far off.

Officially not too close but not too far.

 

Alvin is sitting on his blue blanket beside me in the office.

Almost time for me to go and don the boots and coat.

I was thinking that I would wear shoes today, guess not.

Oh well.

 

We will stop, perhaps vent about the snow, then giggle as we are being silly and carry on.

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Special Hello to:  all those folks who live where it snows.  “Merry Christmas”

Always, Carol & Alvin