A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! I am cheating a bit here as I was playing around with the computer and trying to figure out how to get some photos onto my blog. Not sure what I did but I was able to upload some. These photos are from my New Year’s Eve walk near the North Saskatchewan River Valley in Edmonton, Alberta. Remember the story about me and my friend Lucy? Well that is me all bundled up in my winter coat, boots, warm pants, scarf, mitts and hat. The view was amazing. What a great way to start the week. Pictures of Mother Nature. I so badly wanted to share these with you and here they are.

Well I am going to stop here and then continue in the morning ……. we are having a last Sunday afternoon……

Well that was disappointing – just after I wrote two paragraphs and decided to cut them out of their place and move them below the photos, they are not there. Did something change with the new iMac that you cannot cut and then paste? Now I am running late. In summary, our friend Gillian came for coffee and a visit yesterday morning. We chatted about so much leaving work out of the conversation for the most part. We had taken a vow to keep conversation about work to a minimum. We cannot believe that her eldest son will be getting his driver’s license in April and the youngest son will get his Learner’s license in March. Other than that, I mentioned that we had a good sleep last night. I did have an odd dream or was it a dream. Felt like I was being kicked in the stomach until I turned onto the other side. Weird. Alvin is improving with each passing day and we are both wanting to get out for a walk. I am reluctant to walk until he is better and has taken all of his medicine. Just in case.

Time to fly downstairs. Get that coffee on and start my computer.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

A New YEAR 2023

Happy New Year. Well it was an interesting end to the year for me, how was it for you? Did you go out and celebrate with friend(s) or family or both? Did you stay at home? Order in food or cook something special? Watch a movie and New Year’s Eve program? Well on December 31st, I received a phone call late in the morning from one of my friends asking me if I wanted to go for a walk. My friend Lucy. She is a neighbour of another friend Pauline. When she asked I thought she meant in the neighbour and with Alvin but she had other ideas. We finally got it sorted out and what she was really asking was if I wanted to walk near the River Valley. There is an access point less than a 10 minute drive from my house. I had never been there and had no idea what to expect. But I figured, I should get out and let her know that I would take Alvin out first and then I could be ready for 2:00 p.m., if that was okay with her. A plan was set. I went over in my head a list of items that I should wear for my 1-2 hour walk. Winter boots of course, winter coat, scarf, lighter gloves and pair of mitts and a hat. I normally do not wear a hat but this time, I figured that I would wear one and it worked out well. In hindsight, the only item that I could have used was my ice picks for my boots. The trail was not icy but it might have given me a bit more traction climbing up the slopes/hills. Back to the beginning. Lucy picked me up just before 2:00 p.m. and I said goodbye to Mr. Alvin. He had been outside for a pee and had water so he was good for a few hours. I also put up a baby gate to upstairs. The thought of him slipping when I was not at home, was not one that I wanted. We chatted during the course of the drive. Then we were there. Two cars were parked at the entrance so we pulled in behind. Next thing I know we were walking downhill taking in the most exquisite sites of nature. The trees were covered in frost and as the sun was shining but not too brightly they appeared to be almost grey. Such a beautiful sight. We both stopped to take some photos. We did a couple of selfies along the way. There was a bridge along the way over the river, the North Saskatchewan River, I believe. The trees were so thick and with the water being frozen over; it was not easy to see the “actual water” but we could see the bottom. We were walking up and down and down and up and then came the greatest incline and I could feel the breath being sucked out of me. Definitely not in great shape. I can walk on a flat surface for a long time but when you add an incline, man, I could feel it. But I did it and was very proud. Once we came out on the other side, Lucy asked if I would like to keep walking and take in the neighbourhood which was filled with huge brand new homes and some even being in the midst of construction, so we continued. Some of the sidewalks were shovelled and others were not. We both were in awe of Mother Nature. Decorative grasses were heavy with frost and looking more beautiful than during the summertime. The branches of trees were heavy with the frost and in some places, the frost was so heavy on the small branches that the slightest of breezes was making it snow. The air was warm for this time of year. I believe it was about minus 9 celsius which is perfect for walking. When we came to the end – we turned around and went back. There is something about going home that makes it much easier than going. The incline did not seem so high. We stopped along the way out taking photos and admiring Mother Nature’s achievements. I am so grateful to Lucy for calling. She had wanted to take one last walk at the River Valley for 2022. Then I was home. We said our goodbyes and she was on her way. Lucy will be at work and already working for a hour and a bit. Alvin was happy to have me back home.

I let Alvin outside for a pee and then we snuggled for a bit before time to think about supper. I think it was about 3:45 when I arrived home. Suppertime arrived and I feed Mr. Alvin and then prepared my supper. After deciding on roasted vegetables, I prepared them and popped them into the oven. During the time supper was cooking, I decided to see if I would be able to transfer the information/data from my old computer to this one. Well I was able to do so but was sad to find out that my new computer does not have enough memory to hold my 45,000 + photos. They are on the cloud and on another online data storage facility but I no longer have access to them at my fingertips. I will have to figure something out. Clearly I need to go through them and weed out the poor shots and the duplicates. I know that for a time some of the photos were duplicated when uploaded/downloaded whichever it is called. Anyway, I was able to set up the new computer all by myself. In between, I went downstairs and checked on dinner.

I am having company for coffee at 10:00 a.m. and it is almost 9:00 so I need to sign off as the shower is calling me.

The sky is painted pretty oranges and pinks this morning. Oh, we did not stay up until midnight last night. I was too tired. I watched Guardians of the Galaxy before heading to bed about 9:30 and sent off a few texts to family and friends wishing them a Happy New Year. Of course, after I was tucked away in bed, I remembered a few more that I forgot but I just could not drag my body up to send another text. Today I will send messages with wishes for a Happy New Year. Also, if someone calls you out of the blue and wants to do something that is a bit out of your wheelhouse, say “yes.”

I did try to see if I was able to “air drop” my photos from yesterday’s adventure onto this new computer but Miss Siri was not too helpful. I will try again later.

Happy New Year. All the Best for 2023. This year is going to be the best one yet.

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

Happy New Year with Love Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Wow, we were off to a great start to 2020.

Yesterday friends called to see if we wanted to go with them for a walk in the River Valley.

We would drive there and then walk around for about one hour.

It was so absolutely beautiful outside.

We were in the area not far from the Edmonton Valley Zoo.

Even though it was an on leash park several folks did not have their dogs on leashes.

I was so proud of Alvin …. we said hello to everyone and wished them all a Happy New Year.

There was not one bark out of the boy no matter the size of the dogs.

Perhaps because I was so taken aback by the beauty – I was relaxed and not concerned about the dogs.

Although I did pay attention to our surroundings as any good pack leader would do.

 

My friend’s husband remarked of the circle in the snow.  Looks like something you might find in a field.

The majestic North Saskatchewan River flows through Edmonton and you can see how beautiful it is even

in the winter months.  Frozen but still a most glorious body of water.

My friend was attempting to get a shot of us behind the tree but we just could not get it right.

I had to watch that the branches did not poke Alvin or I, in the eye.

It always amazes me how beautiful winter can be without the pops of colour from trees, flowers and foliage in the summer and fall months.

 

 

There were so many people and pups out walking yesterday.

I could see why as the day was amazing.

I believe it was above 0 celsius with no wind.

George (my friend’s grand pup) was searching for squirrels

We did see a couple of squirrels along the way.

 

This was the most perfect outdoor afternoon that I have spent in a very long time.

The air was so warm that I did not require mitts so I was able to take photos easily.

Alvin was calm and happy.

 

My friend P made sure that we had photos of me and Alvin on our first adventure of 2020.

It was a great couple of hours.

Relaxing and wonderful.

Great company.

Great weather.

Could not ask for more.

A perfect way to spend the first day of 2020.

I look forward to more new things in 2020.

This was Mr. Alvin’s first walk in the River Valley and my second one.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin