Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing pretty well. I will admit to feeling just a bit tired. Lights out at 10:00 p.m. last night and then we were up at 2:00 a.m. and then up to stay up at 5:30 a.m., so all in all not a bad night. I think that it will take a bit of time to get adjusted to this new normal and hopefully it will remain this way until I retire. Having some extra days at home is great and will be most appreciated come winter time. The coworker that I am carpooling with will be taking some vacation days in November and December to use up days before end of the year. I will need to secure another way to work for those days. Might be possible to take some of the same days off. There are others that have vacation time to use as well. So we will be even more short staffed for some time over the next few months. I was thinking about it being October 6th already and that I usually have my Christmas tree up and decorating the house starting on the first day of November, 2022,

I am excited for that time although I do not wish to rush the days away. Time to start hauling the “summer” ornaments/decorations to the basement and bringing up the rest of the fall items. My fall things go into Halloween. All works together.

Alvin did good yesterday. He could have drank more water but I understand. It was the first time that a “man” has come over to check on him. Usually it is a “woman” but as usual he was more interested in the food aspect than the actual visitor. Husam told me that he had been laying down when he arrived and after saying hello, Alvin led him to the kitchen and directed him to the top of the counter where his “treat” was waiting. I think it is going to take him a bit of getting used to different faces coming and going. Today my neighbour Sonja will take over the Alvin responsibilities for the rest of the week which is a change from the original plan. Whenever possible always better when it is Sonja as she knows Mr. Alvin the best. Also she is able to check on him more than once during the day which is great for my heart. It is difficult to leave your beloved pet home alone after he has got used to you being there 24/7. I am not sure how we did this before the pandemic but now he is almost 14 and that is a total different story. He needs to be able to go outside and pee, he needs to drink a certain amount of water each day. I will say this, I am so grateful to my friends in the neighbourhood for taking on this added responsibility. I do have the best friends and neighbours on the planet. This is a fact.

Alvin was even more clingy last night and I am sure that will be the case from now on.

Back to the office for the second day in a row for this month. I will say that the noise level during the day is too much, too many distractions, and listening to people coughing and such, does not give me a good sense of well being. Definitely going to take some adjustment but if this is what has to be, then I will just suck it up and get it done. I know that at least I do not have to work for too much longer which is good to know. I am grateful that we have two days at home each week and hopefully they will leave that the way it is.

The best part of going back to the office honestly is free coffee.

Time to head back downstairs and take Mr. Alvin outside for one last pee before I leave for work.

I am grateful that I am carpooling with a gal from work. That is so great.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: tomorrow ride home with my daughter and she will be staying for a sleepover which means I have a long list of things to do this evening, yay. I cannot wait.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 24th day of January, 2017.

This morning feels like a poem.

I would like to share a poem that I wrote in 2010.

Wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday.

Wishing that we all use our imagination.

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IN MY IMAGINATION

In my mind, there is a place

Where the sun shines all day

And it rains some nights

Where the tulips bloom to my delight

Where the water is crystal clear

And sparkles like diamonds in the sun

Where peace is not just a dream.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I found my dreams they all came true

I could touch the stars

And walk on the moon,  and then visit Mars.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I met you there on a sandy beach

When the sun was shining just before the rain

You took my hand, and you kissed my cheek

In my imagination.

In my imagination.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

Somewhere that I can go

Kick off my shoes, walk in the sand

Meet you again in my imagination

Under the stars

In my imagination

Please remember to go

Meet me there

In my mind, there is a place.

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010

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Special Hello to: my friends and family sprinkled all over the world.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 25th day of May, 2016.

YAY, the sun is shining and it feels good.

The sky is that pretty blue.

I am not complaining about our almost five days of rain, no sir.

Because it was just what the Doctor ordered.

But now he orders sunshine and that is good.

I am so grateful for the moisture and hopeful that we will receive more over the course of the summer months as it is needed.

 

Mr. Alvin was so funny last night.

We were chilling on the sofa, the Momma watching the taped VOICE and watching the top four perform and Alvin with his chew treat beside him.

One minute it was on the sofa and the next it was on the floor and then the whimpering began.

So the good Momma that I am – I picked it up for him.

Not in the beginning paying too close attention to what was going on.

As I mentioned I was watching the VOICE and also enjoying a cup of “steeped” tea.

Again, the treat was on the floor and the whimpering began.

Again, I picked it up and next thing I knew I saw him out of the corner of my eye pushing it to the edge and off.

It was a game.

He got me.

So cute.

We played the game for a bit.

Best of two worlds …. playing …… snuggling with me Alvin and watching the VOICE.

If you know who won …. I do not as yet.

 

We enjoyed our first walk in a few days last night.

It was a great evening.

 

Well here we go again time to go to work.

The evenings sure pass quickly.

 

Have an awesome day everyone.

Take Care.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 1st day of October, 2015.

We are now well into the throes of fall …. or autumn as I sometimes like to call it.

The leaves are a multitude of amazing hues of yellows, oranges and reds.

They warm my heart.

In between all of the colours of fall peer some of the flowers that have managed to stay in perfect form despite some of the cool night temperatures.

My front flower bed is still growing strong.

Last night on our walk we had three visits with friends along our walk.

It was fantastic….. we talked of my friend’s flowers and then my upcoming open house for Steeped Tea.

At another friend’s we discussed “hand me downs” …… growing up with them…..we girls loved them, her husband did not.

Laughed at silly Alvin with a Dad and his three little ones.  My how he loves the kids.

It was one of the best nights ever.

The weather was perfect …. company was awesome ….. feeling so great.

Well here we go again almost time to leave for work.

My how that time always creeps up on me …..

Oh well …..

Time does go by one second at a time ….

I hope that you are out and about enjoying all of the sights and smells of fall.

Stop and crunch the leaves that have fallen onto the ground.

That is one of my most favourite things to do.

I also like to throw them up into the air ….. I always do this after I have raked them from the front lawn.

So much fun.

Be three again ….. why not!

Happy Thursday to you all.

Enjoy…

Special Hello to: my sister …. by the way ….. they have one gorgeous house …. I finally figure it out …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 27th day of November, 2014.

Today marks the 40th Birthday of one of my friend’s “K.”

He is the husband of a good friend of mine.

Such a great guy …..

Happy Birthday ….

So many Birthdays in November …… even some I did not remember.

Well only three days left until December.

I was in slight panic mode until I remembered “write down everything that I have to do”

If you break things into manageable pieces then it does not feel to be so overwhelming.

You are more likely to get things completed or accomplished in this way.

With working three nights each week along with Sundays I really have to get better at time management.

There is not too  many hours that I am actually home and awake.

Wednesday and Thursday nights basically I come home make lunch for the next day and lay out my clothes and then ready for bed.

Friday nights I give myself a bit of time to unwind before going to bed.

Although I will say that I did not lay awake last night so my body is adjusting to this new timetable.

I do enjoy working at the store.

Now if we could get the puppies to follow my lead.

Alvin always hears me come into the house and wants to come down to meet me.

Everyone in the house is already in bed.

So it will take a bit more adjusting, methinks.

Oh well …. that’s life.

One moment and one bark at a time.

I hope that you have an amazing Thursday.

I look forward to meeting some more awesome customers tonight at the store.

Special Hello to: everyone that celebrates a Birthday today…

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 24th day of October, 2014.

Dark outside ….. it does take awhile to get used to waking up to that …..

This is our reality for the next few months.

Shorter days …… longer nights.

I like the longer night part ….

Soon our clocks will be changed back one hour.

I always get a kick out of Alvin ……. because now we get up at 5:00 …… once the change happens it will be 4:00.

It does throw us off …..

Why is it that change plays such havoc with all of us living breathing beings.

Personally myself I do enjoy change …… preferably in small doses.

But change means growth.

Sometimes you just have to run with it and see where you can go.

I have had massive change in my life over the past about 7 years ….

Some of it was great and some not so.

But I did grow and learn and that is good.

So on this Friday ….

Be okay with change ….. sometimes it does take getting used to a new norm.

After all ….. whatever becomes routine is the new norm.

Well time to go to work.

I hope that you have a great Friday.

As will I.

Working at the store tonight …

Always enjoyable.

Special Hello to: people facing change ….

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 29th day of July, 2014.

It is starting to lighten up outside ….. each morning it stays darker just a bit longer.

Ah, how I miss those mornings when the sun was up high in the sky before 7 a.m. …..

It has been cooling off at nights so makes sleeping easier.

Always good when you do not have to have the air conditioning on all night.

Alvin sits at the window looking out upon his domain …. or at least the back half.

I think we are all adjusting to the move.

Just a few more things to finish up at the house over the next couple of days and it will be ready for the new owners.

I love having my bedroom window open and listening to the neighbourhood waking up.

In the not to distant distance you can hear trucks and cars passing on the highway that goes around our city.

The odd dog barking to be let into the house.

Folks are likely running about their homes getting ready for the day.

Stay at home Moms preparing for the day ….. crafts and other activities.

Dad’s dressing and ready to leave for work.

Working couples getting everyone ready so kids can be dropped at daycare.

Dogs and cats wanting to go outside.

We are almost ready to leave for work.

I hope that whatever you are doing today whether going to work or staying at home or perhaps travelling to some faraway location …. that you have a smile on your face and contentment in your heart.

Lives are worth living.

Always remember to live your life.

Each and every moment.

For that moment will never pass again.

Happy Tuesday.

Special Hello to: my friend “L” back in Regina ….. miss you my friend.

Always, Carol and Alvin

In My Imagination

In my mind, there is a place

Where the sun shines all day

And it rains some nights

Where the tulips bloom to my delight

Where the water is crystal clear

And sparkles like diamonds in the sun

Where peace is not just a dream.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I found my dreams they all came true

I could touch the stars

And walk on the moon,  and then visit Mars.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I met you there on a sandy beach

When the sun was shining just before the rain

You took my hand, and you kissed my cheek

In my imagination.

In my imagination.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

Somewhere that I can go

Kick off my shoes, walk in the sand

Meet you again in my imagination

Under the stars

In my imagination

Please remember to go

Meet me there

In my mind, there is a place.

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010