2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? Thursday January 28, 2021. You likely are wondering why I am writing so late when I should be at work. Well today is my late start. So as per usual the boy had me up much earlier at 3:00 a.m., I think and then again at 4:30 and after that we slept till 7:54 a.m. Nice to sleep in a little bit. I start work today at 11:00 a.m. and work until 7:00 p.m. I even after getting up shovelled the deck and picked up poop in my pj’s. Of course, I had on winter boots and my winter coat with a hood and mitts. I would be so silly to go outside in these frigid double digit minus temperatures. It has averaged with a windchill in the high twenties or so this week. Thankfully the long range forecast is for warmer temperatures. I cannot wait for us to get out and walk again. We are getting that cooped up feeling. Both of us. Anyway, it felt good to get one thing off my list before even dressed for the day.

I was reading a few minutes ago that Cloris Leachman had passed. So many well know folks have passed this past while and of course a great many folks only know to their family and friends. My heart and thoughts go out to all of them. Thank you for all your contributions and for being you.

The sky is clear this morning which is great meaning no more snow at least in the next bit. I shovelled the front yesterday after work. Of course it kept snowing so there is more snow to shovel. But shovelling is exercise and I really need more of that.

The house is quiet except for the tick tock of the clock in the main upstairs bathroom which is located next to this room, the clicking of the keys as I type and nothing else. Sometimes it is good to just close your eyes and take some deep breaths and relax. Actually we should be doing some concentrated breathing every day. So much that we should be doing. I think perhaps it is time to change up our routine. We have been getting up later in the morning now that I am working from home. In the beginning, I was up earlier but over time it has got to be later. If I got up earlier there would be time for exercise and perhaps some other writing. Baby steps so I am going to figure out some things to do and start to get up 30 minutes earlier and then build from there. No point in going all out as we all know that, that gets you nowhere. I do not wish to set myself up for failure, I wish to be successful. Working from home is great however in some respects it has made me lazy, most especially in the morning. Do not get me wrong, I do my job and I have put in many extra hours over the last months at home. I also keep my house clean and do everything else that needs to be done. I guess what I really mean is when I was working outside my house, I used to get up at 5:00 a.m. and stay up. I basically did the same things as I do now getting up at 6:45 a.m. Mm, thinking about it I also had travel time in there and I ate breakfast before I left the house. Anyway, I just need to start getting up 30 minutes earlier and doing some physical activity. It is most important especially in the winter time.

I guess that I have babbled long enough. Time to get dressed. Do more shovelling. Pick up the mail. Have breakfast.

Wishing you a great Thursday. I am so grateful for clear skies this morning and for the fresh snow. Finally the leaves are well covered. I can now distinguish between leaves and poop in the backyard. Excited to host a birthday party and get together for me and my girl friends and then pick up my new eyeglasses.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and ever working on patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? Is there snow where you are? It be snowing here. Not too much overnight but some that warrants shovelling later on. The fresh blanket of snow gently covers the sidewalks and the rooftops and the roads. When the light shines on fresh snow it reminds me of a field of diamonds, shining ever so brightly. Best of Nature. I love snow and am hopeful that it is only a light blanket that we receive this time. Tuesday morning. Did you have a good sleep? Alvin woke me up at 2:38 a.m. to have his glucosamine chew and to go outside. He pooped and it was snowing. I guess I do not have to tell you that now it is covered by fresh snow. I remember roughly where it was so hopefully in the light of day I can dig it up and dispose of it in the garbage can. ARGH, I should have put on my coat and boots and went outside with him but somehow the idea of going outside at 2:39 a.m. did not have much appeal to me. Not much at all. Oh well, my fault entirely. We then went back to the sofa until almost 4:45 a.m. which was lovely, up and he has his breakfast and then outside again (I know same story and yes more digging will happen when the daylight appears) and then back to the sofa until 6:45 a.m. and then I just had to have 15 more minutes. Some mornings I feel as though I am a robot moving automatically about. In the hours before our first time up – I did have some good sleep. I should have one of those watches or that phone app that can monitor your sleep patterns. I wonder just how much “good” sleep I am having each night?? Likely a great question. Oh well, such as life. If I was not getting up with Alvin …. I am getting up myself to go to the loo. Age?? Likely. Perhaps enough of silliness and the talk of poo and the loo, which by the way takes up a large part of our lives.

Next subject. What is the next subject? I feel a sneeze coming on? I am hopeful that this cold snap will disappear soon and we can go out for walks once again. I noticed some neighbours out walking with their dogs. I just cannot take Alvin out when it is minus 30 or colder with the windchill. The pads on their paws can freeze easily. Don’t they know? Some of our neighbors have booties for their pups and nice coats which makes me happy. They are well looked after. They are big big dogs and need the exercise each and every day. Speaking of doggies, my Mr. Alvin is whining and staring at me from the hallway. What now Mr. Alvin, what now? He is spoiled and that is clear. Too late for us. Oh well.

Almost the end of January, thank goodness.

I had thought of a good topic as I was going to bed and should have written it down as I have forgotten.

Time to head downstairs. I hope that you have a great Tuesday.

Filled with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

I work on patience every single day as it is not something that comes naturally to me. Personally I think that it does not come naturally to most human beings. LOL.

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Yay, Saturday morning.

Alvin and I were up at 4:05, then again at 6:00 and then a few minutes ago.

I was tired.

Perhaps it is in part the extreme cold temperatures that causes that sleepy feeling.

Who does not want to curl up under a cozy blanket and just sleep.

Oh well, we are up now and have a full day ahead of us.

That lazy feeling removed my desire to take down the Christmas tree last night.

So today and tomorrow.

Down comes everything.

The temperature is way too cold to go outside unless it is a necessity.

No walking for sure.

 

Last night after watching a segment on one of the shows that I record about LIVING CLEAN; I decided to do this.

I went on social media and challenged family and friends to reduce their household and life usage of plastic.

Every day I will post a tip, something that I have learned to be more GREEN or to LIVE MORE CLEAN.

I also enlisted them to post anything ideas that they had as well.

Within a few minutes several friends had posted a tip to share.

 

Perhaps in 2020 we all need to be LIVING CLEAN AND BE GREEN.

We just have so much stuff that we do not use or need.

So many items are purchased out of convenience or just plain desire.

Even me with my love of Christmas.

I like the tree and all of the decorations.

But is it necessary, no.

Absolutely NOT.

 

Over the years I have mostly ditched the plastic grocery bags and use recycled bags and boxes.

I seldom purchase plastic storage bags and mainly use glass and “tupperware” containers for storage.

But I am still using some plastics.

So many things that we use on a daily basis come in plastic containers.

Shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, laundry soap, cleaners and the lost goes on and on.

Attempting to purchase less grocery items that come in plastic wrap.

I must confess that I have purchased the net bags for my produce, and have not used them.

I WILL be using them for ALL future produce shopping.

 

This year I am going to use up what I have and go as green as possible.

Making my own household cleaners, finding items to replace personal hygiene products that are not harmful to me or to the environment.

Away with the chemicals.

It is not easy and good things seldom are … but I am going to do the best that I can.

I care deeply about the environment.

I care about what we are doing to marine life and wildlife.

It has to end.

Not necessary.

Cut out the conveniences and companies need to step back from the greed that envelopes them and make changes.

 

Okay, time to get this day going.

Please post any ideas that you have for my quest.

Let’s do this together.

Together we can change the world.

Together we can save the world.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

Remember this is the moment to make changes that will give future generations a chance to live on this beautiful planet.

I believe that is not too late.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin