Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 29th day of September, 2018.

The trees are swaying in the breeze while the sun rises and sky slowly clears from blue rain clouds.

Thank goodness for the weekend.

Time to rejuvenate, relax and also to do some things around the house.

This is a weekend of birthday celebrations.

We are celebrating my Son-in-law’s birthday which was on Wednesday.

No cooking for this Mum as we are ordering in ….. pick-up or take-away whatever you happen to call it.

Sounds like it will be Chinese Food.

My Son-in-law also wanted to have an Ice-Cream Cake so that will come from Dairy Queen.

What an easy party to plan.

The card and gift are done.

Just have to tidy up and have the refreshments ready.

Coffee and Water ….. easy peasy.

 

Alvin and Teddy are in the office with me while I write this post.

Teddy slept well and Mr. Alvin well he woke me up a few times.

Perhaps it was the full moon or the time of year.

I do not know.

He appears to be feeling well.

Or perhaps it is an age thing.

I get up to go “pee” so I guess why couldn’t he.

Oh well.

 

Sunday, it is coffee at a friend’s in the ‘hood.

I love to say that.

We take turns.

This time her parents are here for a visit and she is having a little birthday party for her Mom and invited myself and “G.”

The three of us girls take turn hosting coffee weekend get togethers.

Sometimes it is almost every weekend and other times it could be a month in between.

Depends on what everyone is doing.

 

So this weekend is all about celebrating.

 

Yesterday was the funeral of my friend from work.

It was a beautiful celebration of his life.

He was loved by his family, friends and co-workers.

That was clearly apparent.

He will be missed by us all.

I was saddened to hear that his little dog had passed away just a few days ago.

So much heartbreak in one family.

It is a reminder to hold your loved ones near and tight.

Tell them all how much they mean to you.

Do things together.

Phone them, visit them, text them, face-time with them, spend time with them.

It was a clear reminder that life is SHORT.

Do not take them for granted.

Treat people with kindness and respect.

We may only have one chance to do this meaning you never know the next time that you will see that person again.

Also be kind to your four-legged friends and all creatures.

They deserve your love, understanding, kindness and respect.

All living beings deserve this.

 

To all of my dear friends and family, you mean the world to me.

I think of you all in my waking moments and in my dreams.

Sometimes we are on unusual adventures and sometimes it is just a little visit to say hello.

Take care.

I thank you for being you and for being in my life.

 

One of our long-time co-workers and friend retired yesterday.

Monday is going to seem like we have landed on another planet.

Two of our staff and friends will no longer be there.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

 

Special Hello to:  ALL my family and friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 28th day of June, 2018.

A beautiful morning with blue sky and sunshine.

There is a breeze which is keeping the temperature cool.

Perfection.

 

My last work day for the week going into an extra long weekend for me.

So excited.

Tonight I am going with two of my girl friends to a PAINT NIGHT.

Can hardly wait to try out my “painting skills.”

Or rather I should say to see if I have any “painting skills.”

It is one thing doing something abstract.

Time will tell.

I will take a photo and share my work with you.

It is a reminder for me to pick up some paint and get this room, my office painted.

I want to rearrange and redo things in here.

 

We are coming into the CANADA DAY weekend.

People will be travelling to OTTAWA this weekend to be in the nation’s capital for the festivities.

There will be music and fireworks and more.

I have never been to Ottawa and have only watched it from the comfort of my living room.

 

I am excited to be at home with Alvin.

The plan is to clean up my email, save photos outside of my hard drive and purge.

Somehow I find it hard to delete anything.

So I do not require ten shots of the same person.

I do not need a photo that is not in focus.

Time to get serious and get things done.

The other night I had a call from a charity organization who will be in the neighbourhood next weekend needing clothing and household goods.

Another reason to go through things.

Lots to do with gardening in between and walks with Alvin.

 

Have you ever been asleep and woke up speaking?

This morning we were up at 4:30 a.m. and because I have this bit of a scratchy throat I decided that we would not walk this morning.

After Alvin had his breakfast and had been outside, we hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s.

Just as the timer when off I woke up and was talking.

The only things that I remember was my Mom and sister were there.

I think we may have been shopping.

Anyway we were going to sit down at a table and my sister had been telling me she wanted to sit “there.”

Wherever there was, I am not sure.

I was telling her “sure, go ahead.”

So there must have been some history ….. but I do not remember ever having a thing about sitting in a certain spot.

Anyway I woke up and the dream fell away.

I was happy that both my Mom and my sister were there.

I do not remember having a dream with them for many years.

It is also funny at how quickly one can fall asleep and start to dream.

This is the timeline.

We laid down on the sofa at 4:40 a.m. and I set the timer for 5:20.

I woke up at one point and looked at my watch and it was 5:00, so sometime in twenty minutes I fell asleep and started to dream.

WOW.

 

Well almost time to hit the road.

I hope that you have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, I was dreaming of you.  We may have been shopping???

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 16th day of February, 2018.

YAY, it is Friday.

Forecast is for SNOW, oh yay.

Can you sense my enthusiasm?

I am happy it is the weekend and a long one at that.

Monday is FAMILY DAY so we have the day off from work.

A nice treat.

I think that today shall be photo day, favourite photo day.

I am going to post some of my favourite photos.

Hoping that they bring a smile to your face and perhaps spark a good memory for you.

The most yummy CARROT CAKE and it happened to be for my 60th Birthday.

Oh, me Alvin ….. just relaxing.  Every weekend morning we lay on the sofa as he likes to get up at 4:00 and his Momma not so much.

So we get up, he eats and has some water and then goes outside to do his morning constitutional (his business) and then we snuggle on the sofa for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

But normally I would be on the other side of him.  He is so darn cute.  CUTENESS alert.

I love owls and they always remind me of my Mom.

She is gone but not forgotten.

Nothing more special than a Momma and her babies.

Alvin and I saw this beautiful family when we had been out for a walk in the summer.

Babies are so fuzzy and cute.  Momma is graceful.

Tulips for Canada’s 150.

I love Tulips because they are my daughter’s favourite flower.

My grand pups ….. more CUTENESS.

Miss Aspen on the my left and Baby Milo on the right.

So cute.  Aspen is reserved and Milo, sometimes a holy terror.

We love them so much.

 

One of my most absolute photos is of my grand pups that have since passed.

Miss Penny on the left with the red scarf and Sir Elton on the right in the blue.

They were the loves of our lives for many years and we hold them in our hearts and thoughts forever.

Deck complete, what a beautiful sight. Now for the flowers…. FUN

Back in summer of 2010 one year after I moved in ….. I contracted this deck to be built.

No regrets.

Back when he was still a young one …. Mr. Alvin basking in the sunshine on the deck.

 

First snowman me and my sister made since we were kids ….. (2009)

Our Beautiful Mom Jeannie,
1938-1993

Wrapped gifts …. so beautiful….

I love wrapping gifts for Christmas.

 

Whoops time to go.

Have a great Friday.

Special Hello to: You.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 11th day of November, 2017.

Today as we should every day think of those brave women and men who gave up their lives for our freedoms.

Not only to keep us safe but so that we have a multitude of FREEDOMS.

Freedom of speech.

Freedom to practice one’s religion or not.

Freedom to be who we are free from persecution.

Freedom to live, love and play.

We thank them with who we are and with what we do each day.

By working, by contributing to society and by being good citizens of this country and of the world.

Thank you.

 

Today is the birthday of my very special nephew “T” …… he has a warm, soft heart and I love him.

I have known him since his Mom, my friend had him growing in her tummy.

Happy Birthday buddy and I hope that you have a special, special day.

I will be calling you today ……

 

Alvin and I are puppy sitting shortly so have to get ready.

 

Let us all take us some today to be grateful for all that we have and for all that we are ….

If it were not for the bravery of others we would not enjoy what most of us take for granted today.

 

Have a great Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: my nephew “T.”  Happy Birthday

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Thursday June 22, 2017 and it is the 49 day until my 60th Birthday.

The list continues:

24.   My kelly green cardigan

23.   Walking barefoot in lush green grass

22.   Walking barefoot in warm soft sand at the ocean

21.   Smell of babies

20.   Being in my very own house/home

19.   Picking berries the summer of 1971 with my Sister and my Mom

18.   Learning to how dance with my Grandma Stella

17.    Walking down the back way to the Sherwood Village Mall with my daughter on our way to have lunch on my Fridays off from work.

16.   Memories of adventures / sleepovers with the little ones

15.  Memories of playing cards with my Grandpa Jim.

14.   My Grandma Stella’s homemade jelly rolls, cookies …. anything she baked.

13.   My Mom’s homemade fudge

12.   Coffee dates with girl friends

 

Always, Carol

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 1st day of June, 2017.

The skies are overcast and the wind is blowing here in Edmonton.

It is a refreshing morning.

Alvin and I both had an off night and were up and down but at the end of it all are okay.

Not sure what hit us …..

But not serious ….. might have just been heat and humidity.

I am running late as I semi slept in so I will just share a cute story from my bus ride home last night.

There always seems to be something happening on the bus so I am just start riding regularly about those experiences.

BUS RIDE STORY:

Tonight on the bus ride home – there was a Mom and three small children.

The older boy who was likely six asked his Mom this question:

“Who controls the rain GOD or SATAN?

Best question ever.

I had to smile to myself.

It definitely made the stuffed into the bus like sardine trip easier to take. STILL SMILING……

By the way I did not hear what the Mother replied.

 

Have an awesome Thursday.

Keep smiling.

Look for the little things ……

 

Special Hello to: You

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 5th day of April, 2017.

First week of April and the weather is beautiful.

Last night Alvin and I had a wonderful walk.

 

Today is the 7th Anniversary of my FIRST BLOG ever …..

I named my blog after the major change in my life which happened at 51.

It was not until a couple of years later that I chose  “My New Life at 51” as my blog name.

I had wanted to entertain and inspire anyone who took the time to read my words.

Writing is the one constant that has been in my life since I was a small child.

Whether writing poems for my Grandmother at Valentine’s Day or one for my Mom on her Birthday; I tried my hand.

A poem for my daughter’s class play.

I loved writing in school and did well.

My next project will be writing a book ….. it has been a dream of mine for a long time.

One that I can have published.

I just have to decide on a storyline and go.

I just keep changing my mind ….. is that not the beauty of writing ……. you can always change your mind.

Change the lines ….. change the story ….

 

 

Well here it is time to leave once again for work.

I hope that you have enjoyed this journey with me and will continue.

With gratitude and hopes that I can bring a smile to your face and perhaps be inspirational along the way.

 

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: all those folks who write and to those who read what we have written …. thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of August, 2016.

Today was the birthday of a very special life force in our lives, our beloved Penny.

AKA: Penny Lane Hobbs.

She came into our lives with all the zest and zeal of a puppy, and that she was.

She chewed things, was adventurous, had a mind of her own and had the best voice and knew how to use it.

Penny loved walks, FOOD but most of all loved her Mom, Dad and big brother Elton.

She accompanied them on camping trips and loved to be outside exploring.

Alvin and Penny were a force to be reckoned with whenever they were together.

They played and they bugged each other and they played some more.

She left us in March and we were profoundly sadden by her departing but the memories of her will stay with us for an eternity.

Miss Penny

My Grand-puppies Penny and Elton

Alvin and Penny …..

Just TOO Cute……

Alvin getting to know his “new” family….

Miss Penny

Our Penny

Elton and Miss Penny Christmas 2015

Wait for it ….. wait for it….

A rose for our girl …….

The cake was for Amanda a few years back but it is appropriate that I post a photo of a cake in honour of Penny’s love for food and for her birthday.

 

Happy Birthday Penny.

We loved your energy and were so grateful that you were such a big part of our lives for over ten years.

We miss you and think of you every single day.

I was happy to be called your Grandma.

Rest in Peace our baby girl.

Love Your Family…..

 

Special Hello to: all those who share a birthday with Penny ….. have a wonderful day.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 1st day of January, 2016.

A New Year.

Alvin and I managed to stay up until Midnight ….

 

The sun is shining brightly in the sky …

 

 

This morning I am reminded of all the dear souls two-legged and four-legged that we lost in 2015.

Just received a call that …

Yesterday …. our friend “KOA” has left us.

The big yellow dog that would visit my neighbour.

Rest in peace KOA … we know she is in a better place and we wrap our arms around her Mom “K” who misses her so much.

We have been blessed to know, to have learned and to have been in their lives.

 

Today remember …. turn on the photos in your memory and watch their stories.

Remember all of the joyful times you spent together.

 

Take care …..

 

Special Hello to: everyone who has lost someone ….. we miss them, too.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 21st day of December, 2015.

YAY, there are only 3 days left until Christmas EVE.

Both Alvin and I are super excited this Christmas.

We are travelling a short distance to spend Christmas with my daughter, his sister and my son-in-law and his brother-in-law and the grand-puppies, his niece and nephew.

YAY, Spruce Grove here we come.

Just a few days ….

Christmas dinner will be catered.

Can you believe it?

I feel so pampered and blessed.

We even get to pack a bag …… how cool is that …. a sleepover.

Visiting and playing games and relaxing …. that will be my Christmas.

How wonderful is that?

 

The next few days will zoom by …..

Next thing we know it … Christmas will be here.

Today is the cookie exchange at work.

3 dozen iced sugar cookies will be on their way shortly to the office.

Thank goodness that I am able to catch a ride with my neighbour.

 

I am all ready for the big day.

So excited.

 

All my family and friends that I cannot see for this holiday season you hold a special place in my heart and mind.

I think of you each day with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Merry Christmas to each of you and the most wonderful New Year.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

Pack up those cookies ….. and lunch, too.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU ….

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Cookies for work.

The fudge wanted to get into the photo with the cookies…..