December 28, 2020 – close to a New YEAR

Good Morning ALL. Well we sure seem to be sleeping in although we are up earlier and then keep hitting the “snooze button” and returning to the sofa. The sky is most pretty this morning as the sun rises. It is filled with ribbons of blue and pinks and yellows. No visible wind. Looks like another beautiful day. Alvin and I went for a great walk yesterday afternoon. Not quite melting weather but single digits below zero, which cannot complain about this time of year. Today I am going to try on frames for my new glasses. I am excited and nervous as it will be much different than usual. They make appointments to do this, I am not sure exactly how much time I will have to pick them out as I forgot to ask that question when I had my eyes checked and realized that you had to make another appointment. Oh well, I will soon find out. My appointment is for 1:00 p.m. – I might see if I am able to text photos of me in the frame to show my daughter for advice. I am not sure how they have this all set up. I can see the sun starting to brighten up the eastern horizon. How rude of me, I forgot to ask how you are doing? Are you back to work or are you enjoying some extra well deserved time off? I am enjoying the later as our office closes for the time between Christmas and New Year’s. I have decided that I am going to take down the decorations and tree starting tomorrow as it takes a couple of days or so to do this. Big job. I want to have some days before I go back to work that are relaxing. Oh, who am I kidding? For the first time in my life, I am ready to have everything down and ready to bring in the New Year. I have taken down the Christmas decorations or at least started on New Year’s Eve but I cannot remember the last time that I had everything down and put away before New Year’s Eve ….. I don’t think it has ever happened. Perhaps some of my family and friends will remember? Anyway, I think that as this has been such a tangled, unbelievable, no word description of a year that I am going to start the NEW YEAR doing something different. Why not. I may give Mr. Alvin a haircut on the weekend. He needs more food so I will be making a trip to the Vet with on my way home from picking out frames or else will pop over there tomorrow. Likely tomorrow.

Wishing our neighbour and Humphrey’s and Bogart’s Momma a very Happy Birthday. She is feeling under the weather so wishing her a speedy recovery.

Nice to see the sun shine early in the day.

To my daughter and son-in-law as I do not remember who gave me which book, I started reading one of them last night and using my new magnetic bookmark (such a great invention). The book is good. Do not remember the title. Yesterday I wrote in my Christmas Card book – all of the lovely and thoughtful gifts that I received for Christmas 2020. Definitely spoiled this year.

I also went through the freezer and packed up a large container with baking – texted first – then delivered to a family who lives two doors down. I thought what Mom of four has time for much baking and I had so much and I certainly do not need any more. We had a quick visit with me on the sidewalk and her on the porch.

I hear a plane go in for a landing but the airport is 25 minutes away OR perhaps it is a big big truck on the highway. Not sure which but loud. LOL.

Well time to go and get changed and cleaned up. Perhaps I will put on some makeup today as I am going out. Might be a good thing when trying on frames.

Wishing you all a great Monday, December 28, 2020. The New Year is right around the corner and I have a feeling that although it may start off slow meaning we are not going to be rid of this virus as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Actually more than a feeling. My wish for the New Year is for people to listen to the Health Care Professionals. Wear Masks. Social Distance. Stay home. Wash your hands. If you think about it and I know that there were families out there that got together for the holidays not heeding the restrictions set out by the Government / advice by Health Professionals that the new cases are going to once again rise. Was it worth it? I will never understand the reasons why some people may think that it was a necessity to get together for Christmas. I would rather be alone and have another Christmas to celebrate than get together and then have someone die or me.

Sometimes we have to say something.

2021 is going to start quiet. We are going to listen. Christmas 2021 will be spectacular.

Well time to get this show on the road. Argh, almost 9:30. Where does the time go?

Have a great day. Be safe.

Living with kindness, respect and compassion.

Happy Monday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time

Good Morning …. New Year’s Eve Day.

Woke up earlier to being congested with a headache.

Went back to bed twice.

Mr. Alvin really wants me to get up so I am up.

Still not feeling great but will just get on with it.

The sky is partially overcast with blue cloud cover and the sun peeking through in spots.

I have things that I had planned to do today but now off to a late start.

Oh well, nothing that cannot wait.

It is the last day of 2019.

Tomorrow is a NEW YEAR and a new DECADE.

How exciting.

 

Well I do apologize for this being a short post as Mr. Alvin would like to go downstairs.

Perhaps he has to go outside.

I should get dressed as still in pjs.

It is almost 11:00 a.m.

ARGH.

But what can you do.

REST is best.

Not too difficult to change bedding and throw some laundry in the washing machine.

Just little jobs.

Perhaps having a shower would decongest me.

 

Well 2019 as every other year has seen good and bad.

There will always be births and deaths, it is life.

Work has been work.

Temporarily in a new space but our old building is now renovated and we move back shortly.

Met new people in the neighbourhood.

Enjoyed company of family and new and old friends.

Was able to go on another great road trip in the summer with my daughter.

My sister drove to visit and joined us girls on our annual road trip.

Finally had my office painted after several years of discussing and loving it.

Hung up the bulletin boards that my daughter made for me two years ago for Christmas.

The office is now a happy space

Alvin’s best friend has a new little sister.

My sister adopted a new four legged friend named RAIN.

I remain selling STEEPED TEA and NORWEX.

Summer of 2019 was wet and cool.

Christmas of 2019 was mild.

All in all it has been a good year.

I look forward to this new one starting tomorrow.

Will rest today so that I can start the new one in a good place.

 

Well time to get this day going.

I think that Mr. Alvin has to go outside.

 

Happy New Year’s Eve.

I hope that you have a great day.

Whether you go out on the town or just stay at home.

Happy New Year’s Eve.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 12th day of February, 2017.

It is a bright and sunny morning here in Edmonton with promises of warmer temperatures.

Yesterday was beautiful with a slight cool wind but nothing near the minus 30 temperatures in the days before ….

We also had a massive change of plans yesterday.

We left the house for our walk just after the strike of noon and arrived home just before 5 p.m….

We were on our way to the big lake to have a nice leisurely walk when Alvin spotted a neighbour out on her deck and the rest we shall say is history.

We were about ten minutes into the walk, if that, we can never say no to her as she is an older dear living by herself and she loves Alvin so much.

He would not have gone anywhere else after seeing her …. we had to go into the house.

She ended up over the course of the afternoon with a house full so it was lovely.

I had met her son, grandson and his girl friend a couple of years ago on New Year’s Eve.

Just before we were about to leave (then another hour later) one of my neighbours and also a friend and her Jazmine (dog) stopped by.

So instead of having a long walk, finishing laundry before supper and doing some dusting etc.  ….. we spent the afternoon visiting.

Today is almost another version of yesterday.

Starting with coffee at my friend G’s house celebrating another friend’s birthday.

Followed by tea tasting at my neighbour and fellow Steeped Tea Consultant’s house.

Then I shall canvas for the Heart & Stroke followed by walk with Alvin (in a different direction), supper and at 6:00 p.m. it is SKYPE with my sister.

Busy day.

Well time to get going to have some snuggles with Alvin before shower time and leave for the birthday party.

I hope that you have a fantastic Sunday.

Perhaps you will have a change of plans resulting in a wonderful morning/afternoon.

Happy Sunday.

Special Hello to: my friends and family.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday December 31st, 2015.

Happy New Year’s Eve.

Normally Alvin wakes me up around 5:00 a.m. to have his breakfast.

Not this morning ….

I was laying awake when just after 7:00 a.m. the sound of sirens came closer to my house.

Jumping out of bed, I saw the first fire truck stop just on the other side of our duplex and then a second one stopped right in front of my house.

SCARED ME.

We went running downstairs ….. I could not see a fire anywhere ….

I opened the front door and did not see anyone out front.

We could hear the neighbour (not in the other half) but next door’s dog HOWLING.

I quickly fed Mr. Alvin his breakfast.

I put on my boots and we went out onto the deck and all of their lights were on …. Capone, their dog was pacing on the deck.

Something was wrong.

Alvin howled alongside for support.

There did not seem to be flames and no one from inside the house including the firemen were outside.

So that was a good sign.

I did not want to go out while the firemen were there so I just kept an eye out.

They were there for almost one hour ….. then they were gone.

So I decided to go to D & K’s and see if there was anything that I could do.

D & K and all four of their children and Capone were in the living room ….. reeling from what had just happened.

K said that the alarm detected smoke and went off but they were unable to find the source.

The fireman diligently checked every electrical outlet and the walls and could not find any fire.

While I was there …. we determined that the smell which the firemen said smelled like burnt wax was coming from the furnace register/vent by the front door.

We surmised that perhaps one of the young ones put a plastic figure or wax crayon down the register/vent.

The furnace had not kicked in so they turned up the thermostat and that smell definitely came from the front register/vent.

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

I decided it was time for me to go home and offered my home for them if they needed to have the vents cleaned or whatever.

So home I came …. figured I had better get my blog wrote and have breakfast just in case they come over.

What a morning …. thank goodness everyone is okay.

This is a reminder to folks with small children to make sure that toys do not get put down the registers/vents.

We can breathe again.

Mr.  Alvin was worried for sure when he heard Capone howling he had howled in return.

So glad that all is well.

 

I was going to blog highlights from this year …. or perhaps plans for this next one but instead the Universe decided differently.

So I shall take this opportunity to put the word out:

A reminder for all …… be sure that you have smoke detectors and that they are in working order.

A fire extinguisher …. they have one … I do not, and I will be purchasing one right away.

Make sure that you have a plan in case of an emergency.

DO NOT LEAVE CANDLES BURNING UNATTENDED.

Your life can change so quickly …. make certain that your house is safe on this New Year’s Eve and every night.

 

Take care.

 

Special Hello to: EVERYONE …. Happy New Year’s Eve.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the FIRST DAY of 2015.

WOW, another NEW YEAR.

Seems like we just had one.

Fun fact, according to my dairy page on this day last year …… Edmonton had above freezing temperatures …. snow was melting.

This morning when we got up (me and the puppies) there was a puddle of water under my neighbour’s truck ….

The sky is overcast.

Mr. Alvin is playing with one of the Christmas toys ( not his ).

Sir Elton is sleeping on the sofa ….

Miss Penny is likely laying on the floor in the living room by the fireplace ( not on ).

Last night the puppies did not want to settle down and now I see why.

This morning out on the deck I noticed “cat tracks” …… likely Barney from down the way stopping on his way to “visit” one of the neighbour’s cat.

He doesn’t really visit as much as he bothers.

I guess it is a cat thing.

 

I do not know if people make resolutions much anymore.

I just want to be a better me.

Be more kind, be more loving and giving …. that kind of thing.

Be more kind to me, too.

We always look to others when giving but we need to start with ourselves first.

 

I hope that you had a great New Year’s Eve.

I had a quiet but lovely evening.

I watched the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie which I have been wanting to see.

Then followed up with Kathie Lee and Hoda’s New Year’s Special.

It is a good night.

 

Wishing you all a very Happy First Day of the New Year.

I am just relaxing and sipping on a hot cup of coffee to be followed by a shower before leaving for work at the store.

 

Special Hello to: Family and Friends all over the world …. Happy New Year.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..to end the year….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 31st Day of December, 2014.

The last day of this year.

I have been away from writing since my blog on Christmas Morning.

I just did not have words to write …..

Perhaps it was a good way to end the year.

Giving myself some time to reflect on the year and the holiday.

Yesterday when I was updating my excel spreadsheet with the purchases that I had made over the last couple of weeks; I came across a notebook with only a few pages written upon.

Crazy but they were from the first three days of January, 2014.

Usually in addition to writing this blog I write in a gratitude journal everyday.

This past week I have not written in that journal either …. perhaps that is why I feel like I am just wandering about and not doing much.

This is the entry from my gratitude journal and I would like to share it with all of you:

“DAY 1565, Friday January 3rd, 2014 – 5:05 a.m.

Looks like rain turned to snow overnight.

Still mild out.

Back to work as feeling better.

Using one of my new notebooks from Manda.

Hard to believe Christmas over and already Day 3 of the New Year.

I’m reading Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book – “Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.”

One important thing: watch judgments – as without opposites we would not be – can’t have short without tall, high – low etc.

I want to be only kind and positive.

I want to serve humanity and help animals.

Alvin is on my lap.  I love to cuddle with him.

Today is a great day.

We are safe, warm, happy, kind, grateful and alive.

I am a money magnet.

Money comes to me easily and effortlessly.

Thank you for this great life, and this wonderful day.

Signed with a “THANK YOU” and a “HEART.”

 

I guess this sums up my thoughts and feelings of late.

Sometimes we just run into a roadblock that keeps us from doing what we love.

I am happy to report that I am back.

It doesn’t matter if one person or five hundred people read my blog.

It only matters that I love to write it.

This New Year I want to add more to my blog ….. I did start way back when but got caught up with work ….

Photos are nice.

I need to share some of this past year.

 

Dear Stella Jewellery Open House in October.

Another Dragonfly adorns my front wreath this summer.

Creating a bracelet for the Bride. Wedding #2 and in Las Vegas.

Necklaces for the Bride

Diaper Cake for Co-worker at the Office.

Beautiful Sky near my Home

Fruit Pizza for my 57th Birthday

My brother’s neighbour’s baby calf …. so cute.

Flowers at my brother’s acreage.

Young kitten at my brother’s.

YAY, they installed a fountain in one of the small lakes near my house.

Front porch for fall.

Jewellery out for our October Open House – Dear Stella Jewellery

Well it is time to go and take down the Christmas Tree.

I usually keep it up for New Year’s Eve but then I was thinking about time over the next few days … figured better to take it down now.

Then I can get the house back to norm.

The sign says it all ….. Halloween Day at the Office

House decorated for Christmas 2014

Several dozen iced sugar cookies ….. yummy

Treats made by my friend “S” for Christmas…

Above my fireplace

Rudolph and Santa’s Elf above the fireplace.

Me by the tree on Christmas Eve …. opening gifts. Sure looked tired ……

Mr. Alvin with one of his Christmas gifts ….

My favourite thing to take photos of ….. the Christmas tree

Special ornament from my BF back in Regina ….. he looks so dignified standing at attention.

Sweet treats at office Halloween Lunch

Nutcracker Collection

The little Angels were made by my Mom and my daughter over twenty years ago.

Our big snowfall of 2014 – early in December.

Gifts under the tree.

Oh, how I love taking photos of the tree.

Ignore the wrinkly hand …. was eyeglass shopping. Bring on the hand cream.

More gifts.

Friends brought me coffee from their trip to HAWAII

This sweet treat arrived in the mail and I so enjoyed them ….. My friend send me a second batch and I still have some to have later.

Back yard.

“ME ALVIN” looking out of our temporary bedroom window …. a new place for him to look.

Okay time to go ….. I just could not help myself sharing more photos.

Have a great New Year’s EVE.

If you drink do not drive.

If you drive do not drink.

If you drink stay at home.

If you are out ….. pack a toothbrush and spend the night.

Happy New Year.

I wish only good things for everyone.

Me and Alvin wish you all good health, great joy, much love and laughter and abundance.

HAPPY NEW  YEAR.

We will be snuggling on the sofa and watching movies tonight.

Perhaps having some Bailey’s and coffee as I bought some for Christmas and have not cracked the bottle yet.

Okay I am signing off for now.

Special Hello to: every living being on the planet …. our hope is that you are all safe and warm.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 18th day of March, 2014.

How was your St. Paddy’s Day ( realized the correct spelling )?

Mine was interesting…… all good on the St. Patrick’s side, anyway.

 

Here we are fast approaching the first day of spring, 2014.

Can you believe it is almost the end of March, already.

Wasn’t it just New Year’s Eve?

 

I am so grateful that the sun is warming the earth here and all around us.

I am so grateful that the snow is melting and that the earth is showing once again.

I am so grateful for the smells and sounds of spring.

 

So on this timely Tuesday – I am so grateful to be alive.

I was thinking this morning I wonder what my grandparents would think of what is going on around us if they were alive?

My Grandma Stella would have embraced the internet and all that it brings.

I could see her sending emails as she loved to write letters  …. perhaps in the beginning she might have been a bit reluctant but she would have converted and surfing the world wide “web.”

I am always amazed by how much of our glorious older people have embraced technology with cellphones and email.

 

I hope that you have an amazing Tuesday.

If you happen to find yourself in a situation that starts to remove your positive sunny outlook and peace of mind ….. stop take a deep breath.

If you can remove yourself from the situation.

If not, with your sunniest face ….. just carry on.

Find the right words …. always good to have a “catch word” that can bring you to your best place.

I have found myself as of late stepping off my glorious plane of peace and positive energy to the “dark side.”

It is not something that I am proud of nor to I wish to stay there but it has happened.

So I am going to practice what I “preach.”

After all, we are all human.

I hope that you have a lovely day.

Wish me luck and I, you.

Take care, my friends.

Special Hello to: my cousin “J” and my sister “C” ….. who have always been supportive and loving ….. thank you.

Always, Carol

P.S. very excited that our first Trade Show for our Dear Stella Jewellery is only four sleeps aways…… YAY

Thought for the day….

Welcome to Friday, January 4th, 2013 ……

Are you having a great start to the New Year?

My week has been great.

Started out on Monday being New Year’s Eve, then I had New Year’s Day off from the office, worked Wednesday, Thursday and today.

The week was great …. full of pleasant surprises and even found out that I had won a bit of money on the first day back at work.

So that was great …..

Today is the day that I work both job ….. go to the office during the day and work at the store in the evening.

Should be fun.

Well as I am running late ….. had to catch some extra zzzzz’s this morning.

So I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend.

Keep the faith.

Keep dreaming.

Thank you for reading my blog.

I am enjoying reading others, as well.

Special Hello: to all my fellow bloggers …. you rock.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin