2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this Wednesday morning, May 5th, 2021? We are okay here at my house. Mr. Alvin for some unknown reason has been up and down since 3:00 a.m. There are so signs of distress other than him whining from time to time but that is not unusual for him. He ate his breakfast in quick time as per usual and did his business outside. I will have to keep an eye on him. Perhaps it is arthritis in his paws/legs. Poor guy. He does not look sickly and his eyes are clear. They sometimes seem to tell me when something is off. Bored, perhaps. I do not know. Older age, possibility! So I am a bit on the sleep deprived side. So it is Wednesday, mid week. The sunrise was gorgeous, yes I watched the sky turn from my vantage point on my sofa. My windows in the living room face north but I can see how beautiful the sky is as it goes from night to sunrise to morning. There is a bit of a breeze this morning and I believe today is to be a good day weatherwise.

It is true that we never know what any day is going to bring us. Yesterday for example. At noon we only walked to the park and then turned around and headed for home as it had started to rain. Although I don’t mind walking in the rain, I really don’t like Alvin to get his ears wet. He can get ear problems faster than anyone I know. Does not matter that I careful dry them. So a short walk at lunch time. I made sure that I finished work right on time as I had our Annual General Meeting for our Union Chapter on Zoom. I wanted to feed both of us before the meeting and I managed to do so but it did take me 15 minutes to get into the meeting and I was ten minutes late joining. But I did it. After the meeting I cleaned things up and decided that as it was 13 degrees out at 7:00 p.m. that we should go for our regular walk. We did just that. There were a lot of folks out walking and walking with their dogs. We were just inside the park when I noticed a man coming down the path with two really large dogs. I walked onto the grass and almost to the fence of the houses that line the park giving them a wide berth. He saw us and walked around a tree and when I came back down to the sidewalk and he got the sidewalk he turned his head and started talking loud enough for me to hear that “something about COVID, he worked as a biologist/chemist something or other for a company and that they had come up with a quick test before something else.” He also mentioned about the numbers put out by the government were crap. I mentioned about the 30 million people in India that have COVID and he said that how come only 16 US states are reporting no COVID?, Mexico? and other places he mentioned have no COVID … he went on and on … stating that his family were all University trained (what the heck did that mean). He said so much and spouted off numbers and such and said the f word a couple of times or so. Clearly he did not believe that COVID was real as he said it is just influenza. I will say this kind of scared me. No wonder we are where we are ….. I did not hang around very long. But he managed to say a lot of something in just a couple of minutes.

We continued on our walk as I tried to make sense of anything that he said. Now he said so much and I could hear him but not hear word for word.

I arrived at home just in time to see that a call was coming in from messenger. I did not catch it in time. So I opened messenger to find a message from someone from my hometown, the place where I was born. I had not spoke to him in decades. He had sent me a message and as I was reading it I accidentally called him so we chatted and he apologized for contacting me with bad news. A guy that I went to elementary school with passed away. How incredibly sad. We chatted for a long time catching up on our families. I was grateful for his call.

What a strange evening. You never know where things will go or what will happen.

Well time to head downstairs, I am truly running late and that coffee is going to hit the spot this morning.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 25th day of January, 2020.

Last night my daughter gave me a ride home from work.

I always enjoy our rides and visits, catching up.

Cannot believe that we have already been in the newly renovated old office for one full work week.

 

Today, this morning, in about two hours; the pups Teddy (Alvin’s BF) and Kobi (his little sister) are coming to stay with us for one week.

Mom & Dad are going to Mexico for a vacation.

We are excited to have them stay with us and I am a little afraid of the unknown, like our first night together.

Kobi sleeps in her own “condo” at home which is basically their front entranceway.

Their front entranceway is like a room with a door so it is easy to block it off.

I borrowed a metal enclosure so that I could set it up and put her bed and things inside.

It will go in the kitchen which is the biggest area on the main floor.

I will set it up after supper tonight.

Apparently she chews baseboards and stuff.

The stuff I know as she took my shoes from the back door and was going to chew on them.

Alvin never did that although I will say that when I adopted him he was closer to a year old.

But he did always have hold of my pant leg.

Perhaps it was for fear that I would leave or just anxiety.

Puppy power.

So many things we never think of but Kobi’s new parents are learning with each passing day.

Last time she was here, there were three pooping accidents, so eyes need to be open and paying attention.

Which I did think we were but apparently not.

My hope that is Mr. Alvin sleeps through the night otherwise it could be several early mornings.

Tonight will be the test.

I surely hope it goes smoothly.

I love these little guys but need to have sleep.

So please Mr. Alvin no repeat of last night, er, this morning.

Looks like a nap later this morning.

Well life is full of lessons and learning.

I am excited to have that little bundle of fur spending time with us.

She is so full of energy and happy.

There will be three juggling for a spot beside me.

Good thing that Kobi will be sleeping downstairs (she has been used to that since the first weeks she came to live with Teddy and his family).

She likes having her own condo, her own space.

Teddy and Alvin like to sleep with me.

So that all works out, just fine.

 

Well time to go and change bedding, get dressed, gather towels and get that laundry going.

Today will be quiet.

We have spent a day together so this is not new.

 

Our friend, Alvin’s girlfriend’s Mom is going this afternoon for a visit.

Feel so sad about losing Miss Abby.

I am now spelling her name correctly.

I apologize for the wrong spelling in prior posts.

Past coworkers and friends are coming to visit tomorrow afternoon.

We are going to visit and have a round or two of JENGA.

So excited to see them.

Time for some puppy love.

One person for each pup.

That works out well.

 

Well I hope that all is well.

If I have a day that I cannot get to the post, please forgive me.

I will do my best.

 

Have an awesome day.

So happy this weather is mild.

The pups can be in the backyard for a bit.

We can go for walks.

 

Happy Saturday.

Fill it with kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well it is Friday, end of the first week back in our old newly renovated office space.

I must say I really like my workspace.

The noise level can sometimes be a major distraction but perhaps in time they will add some paintings or something to the walls to help absorb the sound.

Otherwise so far so good.

Last night we went for a walk but only as far as the park and Alvin turned back (there was no changing his mind).

I found a bit of bile on the main floor; so he definitely had an upset tummy and gas.

I noticed he has had gas for the past couple of days.

So back to only his food, his biscuits from the vet and only small amount of banana and perhaps carrots in the evenings.

No other treats.

I think sometimes it can be too much for the “old” guy.

But this morning all seems well.

I think that excess gas is an age thing.

I will admit that I suffer from “gas attacks” from time to time, okay more often than that.

LOL.

What can I say?

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket beside my computer chair.

He is always in a hurry to lay down on his blanket.

We have a routine.

That routine will be disrupted this weekend as tomorrow the Teddy and his little sister Kobi arrive.

They will be with us until next Saturday when their Aunt J arrives home from Mexico.

I am excited to visit with Aunt J and catch up.

We always have good visits and suppers together.

Tonight my daughter is picking me up from work.

I always cherish our time together.

 

Post from January 25, 2011.

How long is winter?

I had been asking myself that very question up until the past few days.

It feels like spring outside.

The sun is shining …… I can see and hear the snow melting from the roof …… hip hip hooray !!!

It has been so great that Alvin and I have been going out for walks everyday.

Life is always …. BETTER ….. MORE GREAT – when the sun shines and the snow is melting…..

Have a blessed day….

Always, Carol

In January of 2011, I was still a “retired” individual.

Home with Alvin.

A few months later our lives would change again when I went back to work.

For several years I worked two jobs.

Now just one.

 

I was going to post a random day from years ago and found just a short little post with my logo.

Strange how today the weather is similar, almost ten years later.

**********************************

 

Well almost time to head on downstairs.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Happy Friday.

Be Kind and Respectful to yourself and spread that to all you meet (all).

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, well so happy today is Friday.

Wishing my nephew “J” a very Happy Birthday.

Also belated birthday to my Cousin-in-law “W.”

 

We just found out last night that Teddy is going to have a little sister.

Well actually he has one and her name is KOBI.

Last night we heard the great news.

Teddy’s parents are in VEGAS on vacation and adopted a sweet little girl while there.

She is the cutest pup and I am sure that once the initial surprise has wore off Teddy will be a great big brother.

Alvin will have a best friend that has a little sister.

How about that.

Now it will be Alvin, Teddy and Kobi and Humphrey and perhaps Aspen and Milo.

Grandma will have a full house at that rate.

I look forward to many visits from all of the pups and the week at the end of January when Teddy was to stay with us while his parents are in Mexico.

Guess it will be Alvin, Teddy and Miss Kobi.

WOW, cannot wait.

Another beautiful bundle of joy.

Walks might be exciting for a bit.

But on the up side of that at least two of the three I can easily carry.

 

Well I guess it is almost time to leave once again.

So much excitement.

This weekend friends and neighbours down the street are having a CHRISTMAS CRAFT SALE.

They hosted one a couple of years ago and it was great.

Check out the crafts, have some refreshments but most of all enjoy great company, they are a wonderful family.

Then next Tuesday it is the SNOWFLAKE COOKIE EVENT, the annual one hosted by the GIRL GUIDES.

The daughter of my friend is a girl guide and participates in the event.

Great time to shop for some cookies to have for Christmas ….

I think that I may have mentioned that I plan to only bake one kind of cookies this year.

SUGAR COOKIES.

They are the ones that everyone loves and they are the most work so why not.

I only ever make them at Christmas so makes sense.

 

Busy times ahead.

Well I had better hit the trail.

Happy Days.

Oh and last night we safely walked over to Teddy’s house to visit for a bit with Aunt J and Teddy as she goes back home on Sunday.

Teddy’s parents and new little sister arrive home this afternoon.

WOW, still cannot believe they are bringing a little one back from their vacation.

 

With kindness and respect, we will be joyful.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

It is quiet in the house and in the neighbourhood at this hour.

We had a lovely visit and supper with Teddy and Aunt J.

Supper was in honour of her visits to Mexico.

Soft tacos.

Nothing like tomatoes, onions, lime, avocado, refried beans, cheese and more.

I love the smell of LIME.

One of my favourite things.

Reminder to pick up some limes on my next grocery shop.

I always enjoy our visits and our conversations.

Always learning something new.

I did not know that she became a certified SCUBA DIVER after the age of 50.

How cool is that for a prairie girl!

Not like there are oceans close by for diving.

It was a great story how that came to be.

Quite by accident.

Won a contest with a trip to a tropical climate.

The forecast was rain during the time that she was to be on the island.

She did not wish to sit around all week in her room; so she booked scuba diving lessons and the rest is history.

You never know what can happen.

Nothing planned.

 

Well today is organizing a book party for Steeped Tea.

With Christmas coming …. my customers will be wanting to pick up some items.

Great gift ideas as well.

I love our Hot Chocolate.

MMMMMM

 

I also see lots of shovelling in my future.

We have almost as much as the first time we shovelled.

The third time now ……

 

If the temperature is okay we might head out for a walk.

Likely will be short as they have not plowed the path around the park.

Not everyone gets out and shovels.

So many folks just leave the sidewalks covered in snow all winter long.

I am fortunate most of my neighbours do shovel.

Some may take a bit longer than others but it gets done.

 

I snapped some photos last night at bed and this morning.

Love taking photos of the SNOW.

Especially the fresh stuff.

 

 

Well I guess it is time to hit the shower.

Might be important to “smell good,” just in case someone comes to visit.

Oh, I am kidding.

I always smell good.

Just freshen up.

Don’t you find that a showers gives you energy?

I do.

Then coffee and breakfast

and

then

SHOVELLING.

Exercise.

Perfect order.

 

Happy Sunday.

With kindness and respect I shall live this day and my life.

 

Always, Carol & Al

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 4th day of May, 2019.

Happy Birthday to a gal who has been family since I was a teenager.

Happy Birthday to L back home ….. have a great day.

 

The sky is partially overcast but I can see the sun rising with promises of perhaps a beautiful day.

Our sky tells us a story every day of what it will be like outdoors or even how we may be feeling at that moment.

There are times like this past week or two where it has been changing from minute to minute and hour to hour.

The rooftops, decks and lawns are all covered with what looks like a heavy frost but in fact is a frosting of sticky snow.

When we went to bed the rooftops, decks and lawns that we can see where all clear but not this morning.

Summer will be here soon and then it will be time to start thinking about where and what to plant.

My friend P who has the most gorgeous flowers and garden …. has a walkout (basement) full of flowers that she has already started.

They are away to Mexico for a few days so Mr. Alvin and I are on watering duty.

Every day they are getting bigger and bigger.

Once again she will win “my prize” for the most beautiful garden.

She has pansies and crocuses and others that are already blooming and lots of green in her garden.

My front flower patch still looks “not alive” but I am hoping that something will break through as I have many perennials planted there.

Time will tell.

She definitely has a green thumb.

Their home is filled with a wide variety of plants and small trees.

I look forward to watering duty today.

Lucky Mr. Alvin, as she left him a bag of treats so that he could have one or two while I was busy watering and checking the plants.

He knows they are there and gets so excited when we enter the house.

 

Well today on this Saturday.

Sticking close to home.

Always happy to hear some good news.

Right?

 

I have some tea orders to submit later today.

Summer Berry Sangria and Ginger Ale my favourite summer drink.

 

Well the laundry will not wash itself.

Kind of happy to be putzing around the house and getting things done.

I must have had a bug but am starting to feel my own self once again.

Perhaps in part to this weather.

No sun for me is the worse.

I need the sun even though I am not a fan these days of being out in the hot sun for extended periods of time.

Short times are perfect.

Maybe a couple of hours or so working in the yard.

But taking a break is good.

When I was young …… outside all day …..

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: all those people who have a green thumb, my Grandma Stella was one of them during her life on this earth.  Missing her.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 8th day of March, 2019.

Woke up extra early ….. Alvin needed to go outside.

Then we hit the sofa for more sleep.

As our sofa is so comfy, I always make sure to set the timer on the microwave so that we do not sleep in…..

Only thing with that is ….. have to do it in chunks of 99.99 minutes.

When you are up at 2:30 a.m.  …… you get the picture.

Oh well, it is Friday.

So tomorrow morning it doesn’t matter.

I only thought of this now but I guess I could set the timer on the stove instead of the microwave…..

Holy catfish ….. what a great idea!!

 

We also woke up to SNOW.

Yup, it has been snowing since 2:30 a.m.

Or at least at our house.

Perhaps Mother Nature did this as we were up …..

Creating a bit of magic as with the lights on ….. appeared to be a large blanket of diamonds.

Can you imagine?

A blanket of diamonds the size of my deck.

That would be worth a couple of $2.00.

WOW.

 

Alvin and I went for a walk last night but only went part way before he headed back home.

For the second night in a row there has been a cold breeze.

I hope that tonight it is warm and no wind so that we can go the whole way round.

 

I am grateful that today is Friday.

Three things on my TO DO LIST.

The most important things to get done.

1.  finish my Income Tax (doing all the extra stuff when you have Commission based business). I will be more prepared next year.  Lesson learned.
2. wash floors up and down
3. laundry, always laundry.

I hope that we have good days for walking this weekend.

Two of my friends are back from their month long holidays.

One from Mexico and the other from Hawaii.

Wow, I can only imagine.

Being in a tropical spot ….. laying on a lounge chair on a beach ….. palm trees swaying …. sipping on a fruity drink ….. taking in the sunshine.

Mmmmmmm.

Yup, that would be great.

 

Well I wish you all the very best Friday.

If it is snowing where you are ….. turn on a outside light or look where the street lamps are shining and you will discover a blanket of diamonds.

Truly makes one day.

I can close my eyes and see the snow sparkling.

So beautiful.

 

BE kind to yourself and to others.

BE kind to all the creatures living on this earth.

Remember we share this place.

We DO NOT own this place.

 

Special Hello to: my dear sister ….. close your eyes …. aren’t they pretty?

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 12th day of February, 2019.

Well forecast for next week shows minus teen numbers for temperatures.

What a heat wave is on the way.

Without the WINDCHILL effect that would certainly feel like summer compared to what is going on now.

Time will tell.

 

I miss our walks and just feel it is too dangerous for us to be out there walking.

Mind you it is getting dangerous in the house as we are really needing some fresh air and exercise.

Now I am lucky as at least I walk to the car in the morning and at night.

So I get what 20 steps in the fresh air ( being sarcastic ).

Not complaining about getting a ride that is for sure.

I am  over the MOON grateful to be in a carpool who picks me up at the door and drops me off at the door and all over again each day.

I am grateful that my “carpool” had a great vacation in Mexico.

So grateful and feeling so blessed.

 

I am over the MOON grateful that Mr. Alvin is healing nicely and hoping stitches come out perhaps this Saturday.

We are grateful for the furnace that heats our home and keeps toasty warm 24/7.

We are grateful to have clean water at the turn of a tap.

We are grateful to have good food to eat.

We are grateful to have family and friends who love us.

We are grateful to be alive, to live in this city, in this country on this planet.

I want to fill my life with gratitude so that there is no room for anything else.

Only positive energy.

 

Well time to go and do a couple more things before leaving for work.

Thank you for reading this post and my blog.

I am so grateful to have people interesting in my writing.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who is one of the hardest working people, women I know.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 9th day of October, 2018.

I almost typed/keyed Monday ….. it is funny how habitual we are ….. first day of the work week for me is almost always Monday.

Mr. Alvin is curled up on his blue blanket on the floor beside me.

It is funny how the little things make you happy, make you feel content.

I feel that all is right with the world when Alvin is content, when he appears to be happy.

*****************

Life is filled with lightness and of dark.

Whether you see the light or feel the darkness.

We all pass the same way.

We are born, we eat and drink, we die.

So why is it that we feel the urge to label everyone.

Does it matter what colour your skin is?

Does it matter if you are woman or man?

Does it matter what your sexual preference is?

Does it matter if you believe in something greater than yourself?

Absolutely not.

We all are born onto this earth and we will all die on this earth.

We have to rethink our in between time on this earth.

So on this Tuesday …. just be a human being.

If you live in Canada, you are still a human being.

If you live in the U.S.A., you are still a human being.

If you live in Mexico, you are still a human being.

If you live in China or Russia, you are still a human being.

Nothing changes.

***********

Tuesday is grow day ….. learn something new.

Mr. Alvin moved from his blue blanket to sitting under my legs on the little piece of rug under my desk.

He likes to be close to me when I am at home.

 

So on this Tuesday, I hope that you are inspired to be a better human being.

I am.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who inspires me daily.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 18th day of August, 2018.

The sky is that same grey white smoky colour.

The wind is blowing as I can see the trees swaying.

The air SMELLS of smoke.

I opened the window earlier and had to shut it right away as the smell was so strong.

My heart and prayers go out to ALL those folks living in and near the areas affected by the fires.

I think of all the birds, bears, deer, moose, insects, foxes, the wildlife that may not escape the red lashes and breath-taking fumes of the fire.

I hope that they do not suffer.

I think of the domestic cats, dogs, cows, chickens, horses, pigs that are not able to escape.

I hope that they do not suffer.

 

Last night after supper, I decided to mow the grass front and back.

Followed by watering the plants, trimming and deadheading the plants and flowers.

 

Not long afterward Alvin and I were sitting on the sofa watching some television …. it had got dark rather quickly.

I looked out to see that it was raining.

I did not hear the rain at first as I had the electric fans on, the furnace fan on and the television.

Not long after that there was ferocious THUNDER and LIGHTNING that lit the night sky.

Some claps of thunder made my jump.

One minute the rain was coming down in a mad rush and the next minute it stopped.

My flowers and plants will not be thirsty for a few days now.

Likely too much water.

I did not see where they were forecasting rain for last night.

They will be okay.

 

Hopefully British Columbia is receiving some rain.

No lightning, please.

Just rain.

 

I am grateful to all those FIREFIGHTERS that come from across the world to help out.

They are a breed all to themselves.

You always hear of ours going somewhere to help and then others coming here.

Thank you MEXICO.

We are so grateful.

Guess more people could take a page from these brave souls.

I pray that they are all SAFE.

 

Well today will be staying indoors for the most part.

Lots to do in the house.

CLEANING and LAUNDRY.

The fun things.

 

Have an awesome day.

Be kind to every creature whether two or four-legged, winged or crawling.

We all play a role in this place we call EARTH.

We need each other.

 

Happy Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: all my friends and family who have made this the best summer, thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin