The Next Chapter

Good Morning! How are you this Monday morning? Yes, it is Monday already. Don’t you think that the weekends go far too quickly? I had a fairly good sleep but woke up around 4:00 and then dozed off and on until the alarm went off.

Yesterday a flock of medium sized birds of which I did not recognize flew into my tree. There must have been well over one hundred of them. They dangled and say for a moment while I struggled to take a photo or video. By the time I was ready most of them had flown away and to a neighbouring tree (I did get a short video there). It was like a beautifully orchestrated dance. Safe to say that spring is here. Oh, I hope so.

I had been thinking of reading up on the external hard drive and finishing off my taxes but after spending most of Saturday on the computer, I thought “no.” Instead I cleaned. The upstairs. Cleaned the bathrooms. Washed the cabinets, the sinks, the toilets, went through the cabinets (spring clean) and vacuumed. I vacuumed the stairs and the main floor. Just did some cleaning which is good for the soul.

Oh and big news. I had decided to bake a banana pumpkin loaf. Likely should have turned the oven on first to preheat but instead I put together the loaf and then turned on the oven. It did not warm up. I reached out to my neighbour but she did not get back to me and found out a bit later that they had gone out. By that time, I had googled two things. How long can you keep batter in the fridge and can you use the microwave to bake this type of loaf. Surprisingly enough positive searches for both. I ended up popping it into the microwave and after about 12 minutes off and on, it was done. Knife came out without batter. I let it sit for a minute before taking the knife and going around the outside edges to loosen it before turning it over onto a tray to cool. A little while later, I gave it a slice. Voile, it was cooked. Then to taste, well not the same consistency as baking in the oven but it was done and edible. So in case your oven stops working – you can use the microwave and not waste the batter. I had taken chicken out of the freezer so had to pan fry it. Not my favourite way of cooking chicken that is for sure but it works. Now I am oven less until I am able to get it fixed. I think it is the heating element, I had it replaced several years ago. Hopefully that is all.

Time to head downstairs. Have a wonderful Monday.

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)

Thought for the day …

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 11th day of May, 2018.

Perhaps you may have wondered what happened to my post yesterday.

Well I had quite the morning.

Wednesday night my left ear plugged just before bed.

My little four-legged alarm clock woke me up at 4:00 a.m. – Thursday.

We toddled off downstairs so he could go outside (not raining yet) and have his breakfast.

While he was outside I always do the prep work for my breakfast.

Took the pre-cooked steel cut oats out of the fridge and placed in a bowl.

Placed the bowl in the microwave with a lid …. ready to be heated later.

Put a banana by the bowl to share with Alvin at breakfast.

Grabbed the water jug and lemon juice out of the fridge and made my lemon & water.

Poured a glass full.

By this time Alvin was ready to come back into the house.

I had already set the alarm for a 75 minutes which would have had us up about 5:20 a.m.

Opened one set of blinds in the living room.

We then headed to the sofa to have some snuggles and extra zzz’s till the alarm on the microwave went off.

I made sure that I slept with my right ear upward so that I could hear the buzzer.

At some point I jumped up and looked at my watch.

In sheer panic and disbelief, I noted that the time was 6:40 a.m.

A little over 5 minutes until my carpool arrives.

I ran upstairs like I was on fire.

Into the bathroom, brushed my teeth while grabbing my face soap – ready to wash my face.

Then the moisturizer.

Looking about 3 seconds into the mirror, I figured no time for makeup.

Some advantages of being “60” – I am not out to impress anyone.

No no makeup.

Luckily I always have my clothes laid out the night before so they were ready for me to put on.

I even took a second to put on earrings, my rings, and a necklace (which was laid out).

I even remembered to wear deodorant and underwear.

Check – pants and top on.

Although without having the thermostat turned on – it has been pretty cool in the house in the mornings – so unlikely I would forget my pants – just saying.

I am not totally without some sense of moral obligation – I grabbed my eyebrow pencil, lip stuff and mascara and took them downstairs.

Alvin looked confused as I flew threw the kitchen.

Opening the back door and now it was raining.

I left the door open to see if he needed to go back outside.

No time for breakfast, I grabbed the oatmeal out of the microwave and put into the fridge.

While in the fridge I grabbed my lunch and picked up the banana and placed into the lunch bag.

Somedays it pays to be prepared.

Alvin decided not to go back outside again.

Locked the back door and ran to the front door.

Opened the closet door.

Grabbed some shoes and threw off my socks.

Grabbed my purse, umbrella and jacket.

Managed to get my coat on …. set the alarm.

I remember Alvin looking dumbfounded as I said a quick good-bye, have a great day and was out of the door.

Luckily my ride was a couple of minutes late but I was already out of the house …. ready to be picked up.

When I explained my morning ….my friend just smiled and said “Next time, call me …. we are early enough that you could have had a few minutes.

Nice friend, right.

All the way to work I had to have my head facing toward her to hear what she said as my left ear is plugged.

ARGH.

I get to work and usually I am one of the first ones there so most times I make the coffee.

Not that day …. another coworker had stopped at Tim Hortons and picked up coffee and tim-bits.

My hero.

So I had a banana and tim-bits for breakfast.

What a morning.

It is amazing what one can do in a handful of minutes.

I am grateful for two things (actually a great many things) and that is being prepared in advance and the second being it is was not a shower day.

Thankfully my hair looked okay.

Did I mention that I quickly brushed it and put it back (at home).

At work I decided to forego the make up …. except for a wee bit of eyebrow pencil.

So that is it ….. my reason for no blog….. my reason for no writing in my gratitude journal and no breakfast at home.

Usually when my routine is disturbed that much – the rest of my day pays for it.

Not today.

I got so much work done.

Perhaps because I could only hear out of one ear and was not disturbed.

We are all connected to our routines, that is for sure.

Well I hope that this brought a smile to your face.

I am quite certain that I looked pretty funny as I played SUPERWOMAN zipping around the house yesterday morning.

NOTE to self:  remember you really are not old ….

Special Hello to: my daughter who is a reminder that life is certainly worth living

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

PS:  I managed to coax the boy to remain in bed until closer to 5:00 a.m. – we did have 20 minutes on the sofa – but I was really careful and did not fall back to sleep.

The sun is rising and the rain clouds have passed over.  We did get a great bit of rain yesterday – hopefully enough to help out the grass, trees, gardens and such.

YAY, today is Friday.  I am so happy for that …… enjoy, my friends, enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ……..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 5th day of June, 2015.

Can you believe two more days and we are one week into June.

Crazy, hey.

Well it is also Friday morning.

The sun is shining and the sky is clear here in Edmonton.

There is also a bit of a breeze so it will be comfortable outside.

What are your plans for the weekend?

I hope that besides doing things around the house that you are able to relax and have fun.

No matter what is going on in your life ….. please always take some time for you.

If time is short ….. then just take 30 minutes.

It is so important to take time for yourself.

Just like sleeping rejuvenates the body.

Time to just “be in the moment” is healthy for the mind.

Often people are so wrapped up in running from one place to the other …. they forget themselves.

Tonight I was invited to a birthday party for some neighbours who live close by.

Tomorrow I am hosting a birthday party for another friend.

Lots of birthdays.

In between yard and house work followed by time for ME AND Mr. ALVIN.

Cannot forget my boy.

Well time to get the show on the road.

Mr. Alvin had me up again at 4:20 (actually before but I managed to get him to lay down for a few more minutes).

His clock seems to be off …. just a tad.

So of course because his Momma was “sleepy” …. we hit the sofa for a few extra zzzz’s.

Well I feel back into a dream ….. and the timer on the microwave woke me up.

It was a 45 minute lay down.

Okay I better get going.

Have an awesome Friday.

Special Hello to: all those celebrating a birthday during the month of June.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Well Happy Wednesday !!

This is a great day.  Sir Alvin woke me up at 12:24 to go outside, and then again at 4:20 (he sure has his times off).

Perhaps it is deliberate as he can sleep all day …..but not his Momma.   LOL.

The air was still warm at midnight.  It is about 6:30 and the sun is coming up.  I love the morning sky.

When we got up at 4:20, we went outside quickly and then I set the timer on the microwave and grabbed a few more minutes

of sleep/rest on the sofa before rising just after 5:00.  I was a bit off when I walked into the kitchen and knocked my water glass over on the counter, and there was water everywhere.

In the meantime, Alvin is impatient to have breakfast…..

Oh well, no big deal.  Just wiped it up and sat down to write my daily “morning pages”.  Everyday I do this writing exercise which

is in between a journal and this 12 week writing “course” that I did several years ago.

The thought for this day ….. is …. always take the time to enjoy the things around you.

Like the air at midnight and the sky at 6:30 in the morning.

Even wiping up the spilled water …..

So have a great day everyone.

 

Always, Carol