The New YEAR 2022

Hello, I cannot say that it is a good morning. I am terrified to go back downstairs and start this day. Last night while I was cooking supper, I heard a noise from the kitchen. The noise was the lid from Alvin’s wet food tin falling onto something, which I had left by the sink with some dirty dishes. I had put some water in the sink and was going to do dishes after I ate. Both Alvin and Cookie were with me in the living room. My heart sank, I knew what it would be. I stood up and walked around the sofa and to the end of the kitchen counter and on the other side of the sink I saw the creature that I fear the most, bigger than a spider and faster, a mouse. I can barely type those words. My throat is dry as I am so scared to go back downstairs to start this day. Poor Alvin. Anyway, when I saw the mouse, I grabbed my phone from the charger and ran to the door, screaming as I ran to the farthest point from him/her. It took me a few seconds or perhaps even a minute to actually text my neighbour Jessica, and all I could type was HELP followed by the word Mouse. I believe that I was hyperventilating. It felt like my throat was dry and I was crying and screaming. The poor dogs were frozen in positions on the sofa. After I texted Jessica, I texted another friend quickly as I know that she is not afraid of these creatures but I also knew that she has a sore back. It wasn’t long before I heard I heard a noise on the porch, so I scooped up Cookie so that she would not run outside. I surely did not need something else wrong. My neighbour came into the house and immediately went into the kitchen, the mouse was still on the counter. It ended up behind the stove but when she moved the stove, it was gone. It did not appear that there was any place for it to go. Somewhere in between all of this my friend and her daughter arrived. It may have been before the stove was moved, I don’t really remember. I was beside me. My friend had brought a mousetrap with her and the girls were trying to set it behind the stove. But after several tries it would not work. Someone googled to find what could be done in interim. Apparently they do not like tin foil, I did not know that. My neighbour had stuffed tin foil around the entrance points by the stove and counter and floor. I knew that they do not like bounce sheets or dryer sheets and I have them all over the furnace room, well not all over. In a few spots. Anyway, after several minutes of not seeing the mouse, my friend and her daughter went home and my neighbour suggested that she go to Walmart and pick up some traps and other supplies. I feared to be alone but it was the best thing to do. I had the pups there. Also Cookie’s family were on their way home. What a mess. My dinner had been cooking in the oven. So it was on the kitchen table but my appetite was not there but I did have a couple of carrots and roasted potatoes. I held Cookie while the girls were there and she was shaking. I can only imagine that I scared her half to death. Alvin just kept staring at me. It was not long before my neighbour was back. She pulled out the stove, set two traps, just like that and pushed the stove back. At this time, I have no idea if the mouse was caught or not. I cannot move the stove. I will need help. I had to take a day off work as I am so petrified to be downstairs. Anyway, my neighbour stayed for a few hours. We threw away some items from my counter that I could not easily clean and sanitized the rest. We washed, well she washed dishes and I dried. We did a load in the dishwasher. Bless her heart, my neighbour accidentally put the coffee perk in the water before I noticed, it is electric and cannot be submerged in water. How could I be mad? She was in autopilot mode trying to keep my spirits up and help. The pot actually needed to be replaced. Anyway, Cookie’s family got home and picked her up just before 11:00 p.m. and shortly after that we came upstairs to my safe place. Alvin is whining now so I must go. He likely has to pee. He has been so good. My neighbour is going to bring me coffee and stay for a bit while I figure out what to do. I still have to take down Christmas decorations. What a mess! Well not a mess, I feel like a mess. It would not have been so bad if the creature had not been on the counter, that freaked me out bigtime. Note to self, never leave the lid from his food uncleaned on the counter. It was not there long but enough time.

Breathe. Oh and I spent some time on the phone with my daughter while my neighbour was at Walmart. Oh, I am surrounded by strong women. I am so grateful. I wished that I could have the essence of CAT in the house so that they would stay away.

I am going to text Jessica and she will bring over some coffee. I definitely need coffee. I will put my winter boots back on, they give me a false sense of security but a security nonetheless. I put them on right away last night when this all started. I had to take the bag of garbage out to the garage and then they were covered in snow so I had to put on slippers. Not quite as good.

What a night. I pray and hope that it is gone forever and never to return.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS I am thinking that I may set up my workstation in my office for the rest of the week. Not sure if I can work in the kitchen at this point. I am even afraid to open cupboard doors and drawers. All the things we washed are cleaned and sitting on the kitchen table.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 14th day of December, 2018.

Another beautiful day on the way.

Almost forgot Mr. Alvin’s blanket for the floor.

Too  much on my mind.

Poor little guy is being “neglected.”

Not really but perhaps his Momma is a little bit absentminded or just mind wanders to other things.

 

How old do you have to be before you realize that you cannot please all of the people all of the time?

10? 35? 50? 66? 92?

Perhaps we always think the best of people before they whip the wind out of our sales.

I don’t know.

Just pondering people this morning.

Thankfully I am surrounded by mostly wonderful, kind, generous, loving, compassionate and supportive people.

The ones that are on the other side of the spectrum ….. they are in the minorities.

Perhaps it is those people, the negative ones that truly make us grateful for all of the others?

Thankfully the positive energy outweighs the negative energy.

But somedays that negative energy is very powerful and eats at you.

Food for thought.

 

Well this afternoon it is back to the dentist.

ARGH, having a tooth removed.

Oh well that is not so bad.

I am going to bake and ice the sugar cookies for my friend, as she loves them so much.

She buys the supplies and make/bake them with love.

 

Was able to deliver some baking to two neighbours last night and the third one wasn’t home but she came and picked up the package later.

It was so ICY, we walked on the street beside the sidewalk.

Alvin pulled and I pulled him back.

Not exactly a relaxing walk but we got some fresh air and delivered some cookies….

At my friend’s house ….. they are the ones who always come to my rescue ….. the four-legged visitor from last weekend …. anyway I said that her sister

thought it was a VOLE and  not a mouse due to size and colouring and the fact it did not make a sound.

Did that make me feel better?

Yes and No.

 

Anyway almost time to get this show on the road.

Life is crazy, crazy busy and at the end of the day “most interesting.”

I am eternally grateful to my kids for gently persuading me to adopt a pup.

Alvin has been such a blessing.

I can come home at night to this amazing creature who is so happy to see me.

He doesn’t judge.

He doesn’t suck the love out of your heart ….. he fills me up.

He keeps me on my toes.

He is my boy.

 

Okay, time to go.

I hope that you have a great Friday.

Sorry for being all over the place.

It is just that kind of morning.

There are days.

 

Where are we days to Christmas?

I have lost count.

Less than two weeks now.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister ….. my brothers …… my friends …., thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 9th day of December, 2018.

The sun is now shining and the sky is clear.

What a Saturday I had …..

Master Teddy slept over on Friday night so I had both of the pups here yesterday.

We were up a few times during the night as I mentioned yesterday.

So the baking and laundry got off to a late start but a good start.

I somewhere along the line decided to change up the cookie menu and make the following:

Raisin Nut cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

After the first two cookies were baked I took a break and we went for a walk.

It was so nice out.

Me and the pups went for the full 1/2 walk and it was great.

Once back to the house after checking and doing more laundry, it was back to the cookie baking.

The time past and then it was time for the boys to eat.

I opened the pantry door which is on the interior wall in the kitchen to fetch the food.

Note: that I had been in and out of the pantry all day long.

The pups did not act any differently than usual BUT when I moved the plastic container which housed Al’s food I saw something move and I freaked screaming so loud that I

almost gave myself an anxiety attack.

The pups stopped in their tracks.

I grabbed the rubbermaid container that is currently housed the excess baking supplies and placed it in front of the pantry door.

Knowing full well that it did not completely block the opening at the bottom of the door.

I need weather stripping.

I grabbed the phone and started calling neighbours and by the fifth one I finally reached someone at home.

It was my friends that helped with the dryer, installing the trap door by the dryer vent on the deck and so on.

My friend “N” came over shortly thereafter.

I wasn’t even sure it was still in the pantry but when he opened the door …. yes it was still there.

It moved.

I screamed.

He tried in vain to catch it with his gloves ( it was very small ) but it ran under the basement door and the chase was on.

I kept the dogs away.

My friend followed it down the stairs and watched it run to the bottom and into the family room.

He asked where the light was and I yelled down where it was …

I got up the courage to go down the stairs not quite to the bottom but I could see over the stairway partial wall what was going on.

I said to close the door to the furnace room as the carpet is so thick he would not be able to run under the door.

There were a few boxes stacked in the corner by the trunk and he gingerly removed each one looking for the little creature.

ARGH.

He said we should try and catch it in the vacuum.

I took the vacuum down and plugged it in removing all of the extensions so it was down to the handle portion.

We did not see it for awhile and then it came out and ran along the wall.

I screamed.

The chase continued.

After several minutes of chasing the mouse from one side of the room to the other.

Under the television stand and around and back, my friend caught the mouse in his big thick gloves.

I ran FAST up the stairs to unlock the back door and back to the living room to keep the dogs away and to be at a safe distant.

My friend, the male friend who is older than me – did not quite get how absolutely terrifying this was for me.

So he went to show me what he had in his gloves – I screamed and he went to the back door and threw it onto the snow bank.

Which in hind sight was likely not the best plan as I watched from the bay window in the kitchen, at a safe distance …. it running down the snowbank toward the house.

I felt coldness fall over my whole body.

My friend had shut the door and was checking the weather stripping to ensure it could not get in that way and determined it likely came in when I had the door open for the dogs.

He determined that it ran under the deck at the house by the garbage can and just told me to leave the door closed and perhaps take the pups out the front if they had to go.

Not really that easy.

Anyway for a moment I calmed down.

By this time, I lost my desire to continue with the baking and felt sick and drained.

I cleaned up the kitchen.

Made sure that the boys had supper.

Made a bit of supper for myself when Teddy’s Mom and Dad arrived to pick him up.

I told her quickly and she said that she could stay with me if I wanted and I gratefully said no, that is okay.

After Teddy left …. I ate supper….. we just left all of the lights on as I heard they do not like bright lights.

I settled down later to watch a movie when the phone rang and it was my friend who was on her way home from Calgary.

He had arrived home and saw that I had called … I had not left a message.

I retold the story and she had some ideas.

After a lengthy conversation I told her that I had been watching a movie (rented one) and it was getting late by then so had to go.

Thanking her for her call.

What a night.

WHEW.

I must get this show on the road as I am once again baking and have a long list of things to do.

 

I know what it is like to be so terrified of something that it stops you literally in your tracks.

So scared that it is hard to think straight.

 

I know in my brain that it is silly to be scared of something so small when I am so big.

Perhaps it is because they are so fast.

Perhaps it is because they can carry disease.

Perhaps it is just because I had two, no actually three bad experiences when I was a child.

Scarred for life.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who have fear for something …. I know your pain.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 28th day of October, 2018.

Happy Birthday to my dear friend “L” ….. we love him dearly.

We have been friends for over 35 years.

Wishing him a wonderful day.

 

Yesterday did not turn out near the way that I had planned.

That is always part of the problem with “planning.”

Instead I had company for coffee, a tea order in the morning, spent time with Humphrey the cat who is recovering from two surgeries in less than four days in morning and afternoon,

worked on laundry off and on all day, went for an mid afternoon walk with Alvin and ended up having tea at Teddy’s house with his Mom and stopped at another friend’s house to borrow

a costume for HALLOWEEN (check).

So then I decided today would be the day to get some housework done and also to pull my beautiful Snapdragons.  Still blooming.

I would like to share my story about Humphrey the cat who lives close by.

He had to have surgery as he had crystals or something that blocked him from peeing.

Painful, how horrible.

That was last Friday.

Then over the weekend we wasn’t peeing again so back to the Vet and instead of completing the unblocking surgical procedure the Vet suggested to my friend to have him “made female.”

I did not realize that was a thing.

So they removed his little penis and made it so now he pees like a girl.

So that helped him from having to have the unblocking procedure which by this time he has had twice (once before) and then this passed Friday.

Now this all makes a difference in his bathroom practices meaning the litter box has to change.

He cannot use the regular stuff that he uses but has to use pellets or something.

I have never had a cat.

Anyway yesterday when his Momma had to go out to the Vet to get him some medicine to deter him from licking his wound and after my unexpected date had left, I went over and spent some time

with Humphrey.

He was laying in the spare room in the sunshine upstairs.

So I decided to lay down right beside him.

He is wearing the dreaded CONE OF SILENCE.

I stroked his head and spoke quietly to him.

Humming along the way.

We just hung out.

He loved the company.

At times to get comfortable with his front paws outstretched he folded them and rested his CONE on his paws.

This made it easier for him to rest.

I did not have a watch on and just continued to lay and speak to him.

Stroking him gently and just being.

Once during the time I was there he playing with a shoelace the rest of the time he was content to just lay there in the sunshine.

Which at times was bright and I had to cover my eyes and move a bit.

By the time I decided to get up – it took a bit of doing to get up.

Remember I am not 20 something any longer.

But not 100 either.

Anyway …. he had walked into my friend’s office and I noticed something was running on the floor and he seemed to be interested.

Then I realized it was a MOUSE.

Not a real mouse …. a computer generated one.

My friend left a tablet going on the floor …

I really was startled.

After that I gently picked him up and carried him downstairs.

He did not stay on the sofa and wondered to the patio door looking longingly outside.

He loves being outside but he cannot go out now after just having the surgery.

Humphrey laid down under the chair and continued to look outside.

By this time it was 2:30 p.m.

I decided that I had better go home and see the Alvin.

He would be wondering what happened to me.

So homeward I went …. laundry ……

 

Today means getting some work done.

That is okay.

As my wise friend said …. if you have clean clothes to wear and food in the house that is all you need to worry about.

I have that …..

So I will get done what I can do and enjoy my time with me Alvin.

I am so grateful to have had that time yesterday with Humphrey.

Both Humphrey and Alvin lay with their front paws outstretched and folded.

How cute.

 

Okay, time to get dressed and have breakfast and COFFEE.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Have an awesome day.

 

Oh and guess what the winning $60 million LOTTO MAX ticket was sold in Edmonton.

Was not me but nice to see sold here.

Maybe I know the winners.

Who knows.

 

Happy Sunday.

Time to get out of these PJ’s and get some stuff done.

 

Special Hello to: my siblings …. happy day here and ahead.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 21st day of June, 2018.

DA DA DA …… (supposed to be trumpet) Today is the first day of SUMMER for 2018.

It is hot in the house unless you are sitting beside the fan or by the windows which are all open for the next bit.

Downstairs has cooled off so should be okay for me, Alvin.

 

Last night on the bus ride home the bus “broke down.”

We were only about ten minutes into the ride from where I get onto the bus when stopped at a red light; an alarm came on.

Sounds like a phone ringing.

Anyway everyone is looking at each other.

The back doors had come open.

The driver tried to close them to no avail.

So he called it in.

After turning the bus off and “resetting the computer” the alarm went off.

He managed to get the door closed but as soon as he drove the alarm went off again.

We sat for just over 15 minutes on a full bus in the HEAT with the alarm going off and on.

He called it in again and asked for buses to stop and pick up his passengers.

By this time people had escaped from the bus.

It was kind of funny one girl went to get off and the driver told her to get back as it was unsafe.

She in turn said well others have got off and he replied that she needed to sit down (nicely).

He was in the first hour of his shift when this happened.

I think he was hot and frazzled by that time.

Anyway we all climbed off the bus.

I along with 50 of my bus mates walked back to the bus stop (behind the bus) and waited.

One bus went by and the driver was out and managed to flag him over.

I could see the “100” which is the one that I catch (there are several at that time of day).

Some woman walked to be in front of me.

So I walked over and the driver of the 100 stopped right by me.

When he opened the doors it was my regular driver (he had been late and I had not asked if he turned into the 119 which takes me straight home from downtown with a few stops).

Long story short …. only about 20 minutes late getting home.

 

NOW for the cute story.

This morning as Alvin and I were out for our 5 a.m. stroll I spotted this black and white cat down in the trees by the water.

It was walking along as we were coming up to the benches and trash can.

As we approached it moved and sat under the bench which I thought was very odd.

It remained there as I steered Alvin away as not to start a commotion.

As we walked by the cat remained under the bench.

I looked down on the sidewalk and saw why?

There was his catch for the morning laying on the sidewalk by the bench.

Argh, a mouse.

We quickly continued on and as we turned the bend I looked back to see the cat jumping through the air and what looked like the mouse jumping, too.

Perhaps the mouse had only been knocked out or was playing “dead.”

OR the cat was batting him all over the place.

It was quite the sight.

So that was my morning.

Just about time to leave to catch the bus.

Have to close all of the windows.

 

Have an awesome Thursday and first day of summer.

We are having Teddy come for a sleepover beginning tonight.

 

Special Hello to: my daughter who is my pride and joy and who helps people in many ways.  Love you my darling.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 7th day of  June, 2016.

The sun is shining and it is calm this morning after an evening and overnight filled with thunder and lightning.

Despite Mother Nature’s good attempts “no rain.”

 

I had the most strange dreams during the early morning hours and after we hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s.

I had sold my house and moved into this old apartment.

It was huge.

When I was going through the cupboards I noticed there were foil pans, a mop bucket (they were floor to ceiling cupboards) and lots of odds and ends.

This always makes me nervous.

So much so that I cannot take things out of the cupboard.

Then I noticed that there was water under the window.

The floor was slanted so it was about a foot of water on the floor.

Just on the one side of the room.

Very strange.

So I called the maintenance guy.

He said that an old woman had been running the water in the sink when she died.

I found it strange that after all that time no one cleaned it up.

Why had I not seen this apartment before I moved in?

Anyway there was a bit more but it was strange.

I do not remember Alvin but someone had been there with me visiting and called out from another room  “oh no, there is a mouse.”

Anyway I am sure he was there somewhere …… because I do not go anywhere without him.

It is funny the things that we dream.

 

Back to reality.

Almost time to leave for work.

Gotta run.

Argh.

 

Special Hello to: all those people who have odd dreams.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 12th day of November, 2015.

Happy Belated Birthday to my nephew “T” ….. hope you had a great day.

Part II

Well yesterday did not have a happy ending.

I wished that those small creatures would just stay outdoors.

Anyway ….. I washed my winter boots and wore them on the main floor (no carpet) as they were my strength.

Alvin stayed close thank goodness.

We managed to get through most of the day …..

I cut up and cleaned the huge Halloween pumpkin.

Half of it I gave to one of my neighbours and the other half I cooked.

It was so yummy warm with some butter, salt and pepper.

Alvin had some plain ……

It was after that which was about 5:00 p.m. that I realized Alvin had not had his supper yet.

So I opened the pantry door …. grabbed his bowl and his food container and about that time … the MOUSE ran out of the pantry …. SCREAMING, I managed to place Alvin’s glass bowl on the counter and yell instructions to Alvin who by this time was in hot pursuit of this not welcome guest.

Screaming I watched it run under my fridge and I managed to get Alvin to come to me.

It did not come out.

I scooped up Alvin and ran over to the neighbours.

Gasping and sobbing I told them the story ….

“S” came back to the house with me.

Decided to put down the sticky traps not that I particular like the thought of them but I cannot live in fear.

One in the bottom of the pantry …. (removed Alvin’s food container and the two boxes with garage bags).

After that was done …..

While she was here I put back into the fridge my salad ingredients because I did not want to stand in the kitchen.

Grabbed the last muffin and two oranges and we stayed in the living room.

Twice I quickly walked Alvin to the door and outside.  I went with him.

This morning no sitting at the kitchen table to write in my gratitude journal.

No lemon water.

No oatmeal.

No banana at the table.

Instead I grabbed Alvin food container out of the bathroom (next to the pantry) and fed him.

We both went outside.

I grabbed a banana from the table and we stood near the edge of the cupboards at the living room entrance and shared the banana.

Then I took my journal, pen and our water and came upstairs.

In just a few minutes my neighbour is coming over to check the traps before I leave for work.

One is in the pantry and the other in the oven drawer (which is empty).

I feel so helpless even though I am much better than the first go around with those little beasts.

I just wished they would go elsewhere …..

Thank goodness for great friends and neighbours and Alvin who truly is my hero.

I think he knows …..

Well I better start getting prepared … downstairs …. Alvin will need to go out again.

Funny how something so small can make you so scared.

I know how people feel that have these phobias ….. not fun.

I hope that you have a great Thursday.

Hopefully the deed is done and that is that.

I will be wearing my boots regardless for a few days ….. will have to buy some indoor foot wear that has solid soles and goes up the calf.

I feel somewhat guarded … protected.

 

Special Hello: to my nephew “T” … I called you but your phone was not in use …. perhaps you stopped with the land line…..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 12th day of July, 2015.

The sun is desperately trying to break through the smoky haze that has taken over our skies for the past few days.

I can only imagine what it is like near the fires.

The smoke filling the air …. hard to breathe.

I was thinking of all of the poor creatures that lived in the forest with no where to run unlike we two-legged ones that can jump in a car or be flown out of the danger zone.

My heart bleeds today for them all.

If they are fortunate to escape the fire zone then what?

They end up in a habited area and then we do the unthinkable because we think they are a threat to us.

I am just grateful to be where I am …..

This has been an odd weekend.

The basement pretty much done ….. the “DRYWALL” ( I thought of the name ).

When I was vacuuming the more fine dust the filter on the vacuum decided to be done.

A bit later I found a wee small dead mouse behind the furnace tucked behind a small opening ….

Where and when ….. OMG ….. they creep me out.

I also hooked up the dryer vent hose and levelled the dryer (all by myself, found that it wasn’t difficult). YAY, me.

I was just about to start laundry and entered the laundry area (furnace) and found water by the furnace.

It had run down into the area under the stairs ….. grabbing towels I got it wiped up …

Thinking it was the humidifier … I called my neighbour as she had removed the top part by the filter.

She came over and we found it was not the humidifier …. she called her friend’s husband who is a plumber, heating and a/c guy ( they were here in just a few minutes or so it seemed).

He was pretty certain that the a/c pan that is enclosed in the furnace unit was over flowering because it was plugged somewhere and then the water has to come out somewhere …..

So he cleaned it all out and the water stopped running.

Note to self: must have the a/c unit on the furnace checked annually.

It was an invaluable lesson.

Just seemed like one thing after the other.

So glad that it is fixed and that the a/c continues to work when we need it to …..

Once again and I am in continuous gratitude to be surrounded by great people …. truly I have the best neighbours on the planet.

This morning I am on my way to another friend’s place just down the street for coffee and muffins.  A third gal, neighbour and friend is going to be there as well.

This weekend I am so grateful.

I also want to send some love to Miss Aussie, neighbour cat who had surgery on Friday and needs some love and positive energy to make her well.  Come on girl you can do it.  We love you …… Alvin, too.

Well I should go and do a couple of things before heading out to socialize ……

I hope that wherever you are that life is treating you well and that you are treating life well.

Spread the love, gratitude and positive energy …..

Thank you.

Special Hello to: to all those folks who try something new and spread their wings daily.

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 23rd day of March, 2014.

Well it is has been an interesting, fun, semi-tense, amazing, bit stressful weekend.

I will say it is ending on a great note.

Starting with the finally ending “saga” of the mouse in my house.

As you know this past Friday, Mr Alvin sniffed out another little creature.

My nephew helped (no, he put them out) put out traps.

I worked Friday night at the store so my daughter and son-in-law swung my our house to get Alvin for his usual Friday night sleep-over and checked the traps.

They were empty.

So when I got home from work that night I was not brave enough to check them so I just went upstairs to bed.

When I got up in the morning I stalled as long as possible before going downstairs.

By the way yesterday was our first Trade Show with our Dear Stella Jewellery.

It was at a small community centre and although we did not have near the traffic coming through we made some amazing friends, learned about new products, took some custom orders and did come out ahead.

The best part of the whole day was that I got to spend it all with my daughter.  Love her.

Back to the SAGA.

So I reluctantly checked the traps in the main floor bathroom but did not have the courage to check the basement ones.

You see I have to place them where Mr. Alvin cannot get at them.

Nothing in the bathroom …. so very great care and incredible nervousness I managed to have breakfast and get things ready for the Trade Show.

When my daughter came she checked the downstairs and nothing.

So we went on our way.

When we got back later yesterday afternoon the traps in the bathroom were empty but alas one of the two in the basement was not.

Usually my daughter is more brave than me but she could not muster up the courage to pick it up so I got my garbage picker up thing and some paper towel.

Covered the little thing and very gingerly picked it up and placed it in a small box and then into a garbage bag and disposed of it.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I DID THAT …….. whew ….

SAGA OVER …….

Still checking for entry point but hoping it is over.

Perhaps now I can feel like I am once again in my house.

Thank goodness for Alvin and my kids.

So time to go downstairs ….. another day.

I hope that you have a great Sunday.

Oh, coffee time…..

Take care all.

Special Hello to: all those folks who are afraid of something …. sometimes you just have to bit the bullet and draw on your inner strength and do it.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 22nd day of March, 2014.

Well today is the big day – our very first Trade Show with our Dear Stella Jewellery.

I am nervous and excited.

I want to be more excited but I am a little afraid to go downstairs this morning.

Alvin slept at his sister’s house as I was at work last night and I do not know if that rogue mouse was captured or not.

I only wished they would leave me house.

Perhaps they could go and visit another family.

I really need it to leave.

On the up side as I look out my office window the sunrise is beautiful …. such glorious colours.

I do love this time of day.

It is so quiet, too.

Okay put on my brave face and perhaps after I get dressed my boots ….. for some reason putting on my boots gives me a certain sense of security.

A little bit anyway.

Okay time to go.

Wish me luck on all fronts.

Have a great Saturday.

Get out there and do the things you love.

Special Hello to all those folks trying things for the first time ….. you go.

Always, Carol and Alvin