Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 15th day of April, 2018.

Overcast this morning but not cold outside.

I have a pool of water taking up most of the green space in the back yard.

It is waiting for the ground to thaw and for warmer temperatures to carry it out to the storm drain.

Gotta love spring.

At the other end of the water is a snowbank.

Poor Alvin …. no where to go.

Thankfully there remains some snow on the deck for those early morning bathroom breaks and at night.

Slowly the snow is melting.

When I look down our street it still looks like winter.

On the side that faces north there remains about two or so feet of snow on the front yards and on the side that faces south, NONE.

 

I was listening to a program on television reporting about the melting permafrost in the Northern part of Canada.

Slowly land is disappearing and falling away.

Anything buried in the permafrost over time since perhaps the beginning of time is thawing.

Scary thought.

Bacteria, dust and mold.

All once frozen is thawing.

Anthrax from a once frozen animal has made a child deathly ill.

 

I am not quite certain how I went from spring to the melting permafrost in our North.

Point being our climate – our environment is changing.

We see it in many ways all around the world.

If you think that picking up that piece of styrofoam laying on the front lawn Or that flicking your cigarette butt into the storm drain DOES NOT MATTER,

You are sadly mistaken.

Our oceans are filled with garbage.

Microscopic plastic fibres are finding their way into the drinking water.

Marine life are eating what they think is food.

We are eating that marine life.

 

Something to think about.

It is not something we can ignore any longer.

 

Special Hello to:   all residents of the planet Earth.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 28th day of March, 2015.

Well it is overcast in Edmonton but the temperatures remain warm.

The snow is melting as I can hear and see the water running.

But alas the weather report calls for snow showers today.

Oh my what a “sense of humour” – Mother Nature.

Is it perhaps because we are not doing our part with the environment.

Maybe a reminder to us that when we want something like spring/summer instead of winter ….. that she holds off just a bit longer.

Hoping ….. maybe we will wake up, and smell the coffee.

 

Plants, animals and trees.

The air and the land.

The OCEANS.

We have swiped our “hand” and done more damage in the last 100 years than all of the years combined on this planet.

I think, anyway.

I am calling upon all of my fellow inhabitants of this beautiful emerald gem to please, do your part.

Pick up the trash.

Be kind to the environment.

Be kind to the plant and ANIMAL life.

 

Don’t buy some many throw away items that continue to fill our landfills.

All of those plastic bits end up in the ocean floating or in the belly of some poor unsuspecting creature … some land … some marine.

Reduce….

Reuse …..

Recycle ……

Just because you think you need something …. does not mean you really do.

Learn to live within your means.

Volunteer your time to neighbourhood clean-up groups.

Simply pick up the trash from in front of your house.

You know the blue bins that people place mainly paper and plastic cartons in …… well I have noticed that lots of people just set them out by the bags of trash.

Now one small wind and all of that paper is blowing into the nearby parks and neighbour yards.

 

Not sure where that came from other than the fact that I am pumped to now have the extra time once again to get out and pick up the trash from my neighbourhood.

Working six and days per week does not allow much time for extracurricular activities.

I am going to organize another clean-up for the neighbour this spring …. in May.

 

Well I hope that you have a great day.

Have fun looking after your part of the planet.

If we learn to treat the land and water and air and all living beings on this planet (including one another) with kindness and respect …

We shall have this planet around forever …. I hope.

Time to finish laundry and then in a bit get ready to work one of my last shifts at the store.

It will feel strange to be home Friday nights and weekends…..

 

Special Hello to: my fellow volunteers …. you rock and thank you for your time and energy.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Cleaning the office…..

Last week I spent a few days going through my office.   It is the room that houses my book collection, my computer, boxes of photographs, magazines, some craft supplies, collection of cards that I have received over the years, my daughter’s high school report cards, year books, and other “important stuff”.   There were several storage containers in the closet that needed to be reorganized as well as the book cases.   Usually twice a year, I go through each room and re-organize and re-vamp.  It always surprises me how many things I end up tossing (usually paper products), recycling or donating.  I am not surprised by TLC’s show about hoarding.  We  human beings tend to accumulate stuff.  Of course, some of us collect more stuff than others.  I was pleasantly surprised when Kelly Ripa of Live With Regis & Kelly told the audience that her husband likes to go through their “things” on a regular basis, and with a giggle almost threw out “their marriage certificate”.  But I think that he is more the exception than the norm.  People just like stuff.  I mean really, you can go into all these stores and buy little “doodads” and “gadgets” that really do little for anyone’s well being, and at the end of the day usually end up in the nearby landfill.  We are filling not only our homes with “stuff” but landfills and the oceans.  2011, is the year that I am going to watch more closely the things that I purchase.  It is not only the money aspect but I want to be a more responsible citizen of this planet.  When my grandchildren arrive and as they grow along with my great nieces and nephews, I want them to inherit the beautiful planet that I remember from my childhood.  I am not sure if this is realistic but I really pray, and wish that all the residents of this planet would take more care in what they bring into their homes because inevitably it will end up elsewhere.

So you keep your treasures;  Grandma’s china, Mom’s jewelry box, your Grandpa’s pocket watch and your nephew’s artwork (or at least some of it).  Perhaps you have a relative or friend that would love to have some of your Grandmother’s china or some other ornament.  Keepsakes are a good thing.  As you get older, as I have found, I have instructed family and friends to “cut out” the ornaments for birthdays and Christmas.  I really have no need for more ornaments.  Giving gifts of movie passes, dinner theatre tickets, spa treatment, babysitting services, and the list goes on and on.  Those are the things that we should give each other …. I mean for the adults.  Unless you have a real need for something …… keep this rule in-force DO NOT BUY.

I guess that I have gone off the topic somewhat here.  But that is okay, this is my blog and I can do that…… (please keep reading)…..(thank you).

Alvin was bugging me for his supper (earlier than usual) so I just took a bit of a break to feed him.  Back to cleaning the office.  I am a lover of moving the furniture around ….. this makes me feel like I have a new room.  Feels great and is easy to do.  What an easy makeover and economical, to boot.

As I am a sentimental being, I try to be realistic when I am spring or fall cleaning a room.  The rooms that are most demanding are the office, kitchen and my bedroom.  So when I am cleaning, I really think about each item.  Do I really need this?  Does it function or make my life better?  Will future generations be in awe when they come across it in Grandma’s trunk?  Better yet, could this item help someone else?

At the end of the day, my office is a couple of garbage bags cleaner and more organized and efficient.  At least until next time I perform a miracle.  Yes, I am GOD…..or at least I think so.  LOL.

Here are some photos of before and after.  You be the judge or perhaps not…… I feel better about the room and that is truly what is important.  Alvin likes it, too.  Good luck to you all in your cleaning endeavours.  May the force be with you.

Office before the Clean Sweep

Another before photo

Closet after clean sweep.....

Taken today after clean sweep but working so desk not perfect

Switched bookcases around

Other side of the office - broke up the bookcases

The other wall......