Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning,

Da, Da ….. Welcome to the first day of FALL 2020.

Our skies are overcast with deep blue clouds …. I think there was some rain in our forecast.

The trees are beginning to turn the most glorious shades of yellow, orange and red.

The grass is amazingly still a rich green due to the rain we have been having all summer long.

There does not appear to be any sign of a breeze this morning.

FALL is here.

The rabbits will be starting to turn colour shortly.

The geese are beginning to fly in large flocks overhead.

Thanksgiving is around the corner.

My neighbours are getting married on October 3, 2020.

I am excited for another fall wedding.

My daughter and son-in-law got married in October of 2008.

Seems like an eternity ago.

I am so happy that my flowers on the deck and in the back garden are still doing okay.

Of course, not as colourful and green as they once were as after all it is almost the end of September.

But there is some colour.

My potted tomato plant has a mass of small little green tomatoes with one tomato a bit bigger.

Oh, I did forgot there are a few that are starting to turn red.

I may pull them and ripen them in the house.

This is the time of year where we play a waiting game with respect to the frost.

I do pay attention to the weather forecast.

Once we get a hard frost …. it is most difficult to clean out the flower pots.

Basically you have to cut down the plants and put the roots in the spring.

Now that is okay but I would prefer to prep the pots for spring now but either way works.

I did want to load up the front flower bed with some fresh top soil but with the way that time is passing not sure that is going to happen before spring either.

Perhaps I will leave that although I did want to plant my tulips now.

Decisions decisions, decisions.

 

Quick story before heading back downstairs to grab some coffee,  move Alvin’s bed from the living room to the kitchen.

So yesterday after work we went for a walk.

We had a nice visit with our friend Pauline, her granddaughter and her boyfriend in the yard before heading to complete the last half of our walk.

Her garden, Pauline’s flowers are still as beautiful as mid summer.

Gorgeous.

When we got around to Alvin’s friend Teddy’s house ….. I had to let him go in.

Usually I say when he walks toward the driveway, “not today buddy.”

Perhaps I add “Teddy is at the farm” …. because they have been at the farm lots this summer.

But last night I thought let’s go in for a visit.

So in we went.

Teddy and Kobi swarmed me ….. jumping up ….. so excited to see me, us.

Alvin, of course headed to see if there was some food out in Teddy’s dish.

What a guy.

I could also smell something good and Iris had just baked an apple/raisin pie.

Oh that smelled so good.

Reminded me of fall.

Reminded me of the apply/pumpkin candles from Bath & BodyWorks.

Iris said “come out to the back and we can sit on the deck.”

She had stained it over the weekend and it looked so great.

We had a great visit.

Teddy had jumped up and snuggled on my lap for most of our visit.

Kobi not far away.

Alvin checking every so often.

Enjoying the warm temperature of the late afternoon.

Then before we knew it …. time to go home.

Alvin managed to snag this treat called a “bully stick.”

You do not want to know where it comes from and I am not going to say.

Anyway Alvin had this treat hanging out of his mouth and would not give it up.

Iris said “that’s okay, he can have it.”

So on our way we went.

Alvin galloping ahead with the treat hanging out of this mouth, a man with a mission.

He did not turn his head or stop until we were almost home (by the park) where I was distracted for a second by something but then noticed

he had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, pooped and then started to walk.

Treat still in his mouth.

I stopped of course, picked up the poop and then with some water from his water dish I poured over to clean up the remains.

OMG, I was mortified.

Not on the sidewalk but what can you do.

We were really close to home when we, I noticed some neighbours coming toward us with their dog.

As we approached each other, they both said hello, giggled and remarked about how Alvin looked like a guy on a mission.

That he did.

He did not stop other than that quick little poop and when I stopped.

He was truly a guy on a mission.

Alvin has not really chewed the treat but has carried it around the house even to bed last night.

It is sitting in the hallway waiting to be retrieved on our way downstairs.

Okay gotta go.

 

Have an awesome day.

Take care and be safe.

Living with Kindness and Respect.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Sunday Morning.

Partially overcast windy morning.

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous.

There was some wind as seems to be the new norm here in Edmonton.

Yesterday was a busy day for me and Alvin.

I left some tasks to be completed today (smart on my part, right?).

Between laundry, cleaning bathroom fans, toilets, sinks, changing light bulbs, vacuuming, dusting, washing down the deck, putting out all the patio furniture, cleaning out the garage and going for a

walk – that was enough for one day.

It felt great to get so much accomplished.

I even got to have some visits with friends along the way.

First of all, my friend G brought me some eggs and helped with change some light bulbs.

The upstairs fixture in the hallway needed bulbs.

I was able to get one of the bulbs changed but the second bulb would not come out.

So when the phone rang and I checked the message a few minutes later to find that she wanted to bring the eggs over.

I texted right away and described my dilemma, she came to help.

I noticed last night when I turned the switch on that light comes on a split second later than the other lights on that same switch.

ARGH, that is not right.

When Alvin and I took a late walk we saw our friends N & I out in the yard.

N was power washing the driveway and I was putzing in the garden.

Then after several minutes we continued on our way.

I am glad that I took some water for Alvin as he did get thirsty along the way.

Just down the street from these friends other friends were out cleaning the garage.

Seems like everyone was cleaning out the garage yesterday.

I know why.

So we stopped and visited.

They had a bunch of things to recycle and would have been for a garage sale, but garage sales are cancelled this summer.

I also heard that our Eco Station is closed so not recycling.

That is not good.

This family is a couple just slightly older than me who have three grown children.

The two daughters are adults and are not married.

The sisters live in a condo not far away.

They come to visit often.

The family also has a dog named RIO.

Alvin and Rio are friends.

They are the most delightful family.

Immigrated to Canada when the children were young.

I don’t remember which country but they speak Spanish.

Cannot remember if South American country or Latin/Central America, but not Mexico.

They are caring and thoughtful.

After a nice visit we continued on our walk.

On our way home they gave us a bag of treats/food that they had bought for Rio who is fussy.

Well everyone that knows Mr. Alvin knows, that he is not (not fussy).

He enjoyed some new food for supper.

After returning home we had supper, did dishes and finished up the laundry.

I think I might have a couple of loads left.

Today I will wash the floors with my steam mop and make the energy bites.

I found some stamps so I want to write a few letters over the next few days.

 

Well time to get going another semi late start.

But why not, I say.

It is nice not having to answer to anyone other than Mr. Alvin.

That sounds like of harsh.

I can do most things in my own time and at my own pace.

I think that I am going to put the cushions from the patio set back into the garage as it looks like rain.

Also the patio set that sits on the third level needs a new umbrella.

I think that I am going to put that umbrella in the garage.

It has been windy and the bottom of the umbrella is torn.

If I have company to sit under it, I can always bring it back out.

Just looks like it is going to be another windy day.

 

I wish you a great day.

Make certain that during these times that you listen to instructions given by your federal and local health agencies.

Do the social distancing – it is important.

I have a funny feeling that when the flu season hits this fall we may have some more serious problems.

Just a feeling.

Work from home if you can.

Eat probably and rest.

Make sure that you hydrate.

Wash your hands often.

Be careful and be smart.

This is affecting folks worldwide.

You are not alone.

If we think our economy is failing.

We are not alone.

This has affected every economy globally.

Personally I feel that the leaders of every country should be working on a global plan for the economic survival of this planet.

We cannot afford to leave anyone or any country behind.

We need to work together globally.

So we can get through to the other side of this pandemic.

 

Time for breakfast and COFFEE.

I love that first cup of coffee in the morning.

With kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 2nd day of November, 2013.

Well today is the day ….. I am putting up my Christmas tree.

The skies are overcast and it is eerily quiet in my house.

Mr. Alvin spent the night at his sister’s house and will be back home in a little while.

I have asked my daughter to help me set up the tree as it is too much for me to get up from the basement and actually set up.

Then will spend some glorious hours decorating it.

We always watch a Christmas movie while setting it up …

Over the next few days I will decorate the rest of the house.

I have to think about what I should do for the top of the fireplace.

I have a big area and it is fun to decorate.

Have to come up with a different theme.

Have done Toy Soldiers, Santa’s Village, Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Forest with the Elves and so on.

Outside of the house is done with my neighbour.

We have identical decorations and put them up together.

My thoughts today are of pure excitement as for me this is one of the best days of the year.

I love it so much.

I hope that whatever you are doing it is something that you love to do.

We should always be doing things we love to do.

Have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: my fellow lovers of Christmas decorations.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday, the 29th and third last day of July, 2013.

WOW, almost August.

I hope that you had a great weekend.

Yesterday while at Bath & Body Works I bumped into one of my friends and colleagues from SGI in Regina.

It was so great to see Maureen …. she looks wonderful and it was so wonderful to catch up.

I always love seeing everyone from back home in Saskatchewan.

Isn’t it always great when someone you haven’t seen for awhile makes an appearance in your life.

It warms your heart and brings back memories.

I wished that I would see more people more often from back home.

I think that is a good wish.

Well the temperature has cooled down and it the skies are partially overcast this Monday morning.

So not quite sure what the day will bring.

Almost time to be off to work ….. at the office.

So remember to take a deep breath and take some “me” time no matter who your day is going.

Always good to just have a few moments/minutes of downtime.

Close your eyes and just breath.

Try to quiet your mind.

Have a wonderful day.

Here we go with another line in my story.  I am writing this story one line at a time and I have no preconceived story or plot lines … just want to see where it goes.

I hope that you enjoy and that I make it enjoyable.

Special Hello to: all those folks travelling and seeing folks they haven’t seen in some time.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

I haven’t figured out the logistics of doing this so bear with me.  But here we go…..

 

FIRST LINE …..July 25, 2013

As we walk along the water’s edge the coolness leaves my skin with goose bumps and prickles, as if there is someone behind me.

July 26, 2013

Alvin pulls on his leash and brings me back, the fragrance of freshly cut grass fills my nostrils; my heart beat quickens, and I am unable to shake the feeling.

July 28, 2013

The sky is overcast with a hint of sunrise peeking through and the leaves of the trees rustle in the breeze, and I think how did I get here? 

July 29, 2013

What does that mean, and what is making me think these thoughts?