Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning ALL. A bit colder outside this morning. Well I had a good day downtown at the office. My daughter picked me up in the morning. Alvin was not really sure what was going on as I have only been away for the entire day twice since March 19, 2020. Can you imagine? I have been away to the office three times since March 19, 2020 but one was for a few hours to attend a meeting. My neighbour Sonja came over and checked on him a couple of times letting him outside and giving him one of his cookie/biscuit treats. The parcel from Steeped Tea did not arrive and the status went to pending but finally this morning it is showing an arrival date of today. For some reason they pushed it to today. Likely got behind in deliveries, I get that. It was nice to see a few people. Three in fact. That was all of the people that I saw at the office. Everyone practicing the COVID 19 safety protocols. I am grateful. I was able to get everything done early and then had time to actually put the postage on all of the letters / packages I had stuffed. First time using that fancy new machine. It worked pretty slick. I was so happy that I could help out our Support Services team. They work so hard. My daughter picked me up about 3:50 p.m. and we headed to Shoppers before going home to Alvin. I had a couple of parcels, card to go overseas and other Christmas cards within Canada. So happy to get everything posted. The gal in the “Post Office” said that it was so busy earlier and she was working alone. Isn’t that always the way? Also, I remembered to pick up extra stamps just in case I forgot to send a card to someone. Amanda and I always have good conversations on the car rides. I mentioned to her that one of the Support Services team was curious if I was following politics. I asked him “do you mean the U.S. elections.” He said “Yes.” So we chattered about the results. He thinks that there is voter fraud and I was very surprised to see that he sided with Trump. Not necessary Trump himself, but the Republicans. Anyway, I shared my knowledge of the U.S. Elections and was shocked by my articulation of the process. I have done lots of reading and I actually know stuff. Everyone is entitled to their thoughts and opinions. Realizing that I don’t know as much about our own government, I have vowed to do some research. I used to know the details but over the years have kind of forgotten. Time to do some reading.

The Pampered Chef order arrived yesterday so that was good.

Well it is time to head back downstairs, put on the coffee, put on the poop and get to work. I had to hit the “snooze” button this morning.

Living with kindness and respect for all. “Even when people do not have the same beliefs and opinions as ourselves.” (most importantly then).

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Finally the snow has stopped here in Edmonton or at least in my neighbourhood. So much snow has fallen. The sticky heavy stuff making shovelling difficult and time consuming. My neighbours and I shovelled the front sidewalks several times yesterday and there was still about a foot to shovel this morning. Thanks to my neighbour Sonja for shovelling the front. When we got up about 1.5 hours ago I went outside with Alvin so that I could pick up his poop from earlier in the morning (it had stopped snowing by that time) and that’s when I decided in my pj’s to start once again shovelling the deck and Alvin’s grass area. There is so much snow that it is hard – where do you put that snow? As I was shovelling I realized that Sonja was in her backyard, yes that is Humphrey and Bogart’s Mom. She was shovelling away singing to some tunes on her earphones. I got her attention and we both thought this is just the beginning. So much snow. She was further ahead of me and after a few minutes went into her garage so that she could shovel her driveway. Our garages are detached from our homes. After a few minutes I decided that I would go and join her and shovel the driveway. It is the place that is not visually noticeable from the house and better to do it now than later. Of course, she’s younger and in better shape and had a head start, not that it was a race but she finished ahead of me and said that she would go and start the front and see how far she got as she was also getting tired. I said “thank you,” of course and carried on shovelling the driveway. Oh, Alvin had been cold several minutes before so I put him into the house. It was shortly after I started shovelling the driveway, I found my mini gloves were not keeping my fingers warm so back into the house and into my big girl MITTS and also put on my high warmer boots. Back out and finished the driveway and then the deck. By the time I got back into the house, removed my boots and walked to the front door, my neighbour was heading up my front steps as she had almost finished the shovelling. What a workout we girls had this morning. She is almost on her way to look after some horses of a friend. The horse shelters have to be cleaned so she will be getting lots of exercise and really building up those arm muscles. To all my friends in Alberta and elsewhere – be careful shovelling. The snow is heavy. Take your time. Be safe.

Well it is definitely time for some COFFEE and I actually have earned the appetite that I now have ….. for a change.

Happy to see that the United States will have their first female Vice-President. It is about time. Congratulations to the new leadership team.

Well time to get this day going although I am feeling a bit tired after all that shovelling. I have vacuuming to do up and downstairs. Bring up the laundry that was drying in the basement. I want to bake some scones using the Steeped Tea mix. I think that I am going to make pancakes for breakfast as I have milk to use and do not wish to waste it. Also have to work on a project for Christmas but cannot reveal at this time. I am going to place a Pampered Chef order from a friend’s online party which will bring my Christmas shopping close to being done. I have Alvin, Aspen and Milo left and some stocking stuffers for the kids. I will do some baking in the early part of December and hand it out to friends and family. I did write up most of my Christmas Cards yesterday but still more to do. A few letters to do as well.

Have an awesome Sunday. I am so happy to see somewhat clear blue skies this morning and the sun was shining earlier, wasn’t it? I thought so??? Well at least it is not snowing. I am so relieved that it stopped.

Take care everyone. Be safe and I hope that you are in good health.

I/We shall continue to live our lives with kindness and respect for all living creatures and the environment. I guess after all it holds life including ours.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 26th day of June, 2017.

Cooled off overnight and sky is a bit overcast this morning.

Grateful for the breezes.

What an awesome weekend.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walks.

We even had two walks yesterday.

We worked and we played, does not get better than that.

My neighbour gave me:  patio set with umbrella and four chairs, garden hose and hand sprinkler (which I really really needed), small food processor (which is great because I lent my big one to my kids), two cookbooks, cast iron casserole dish with lid for the oven, Magic Bullet with all the attachments (now I have two which I love), Pampered Chef newer version of the chopper that I use for garlic.  How lucky am I?

Definitely was blessed this weekend.

Coming up weekend is Canada Day.

We celebrate our 150th Birthday this July 1st, 2017 – which is Saturday.

I remember Canada’s 100th Birthday back on July 1st, 1967.

We even had a song written to celebrate Canada’s 100th Birthday.

It was great as I was school age back then.

Looking forward to watching some festivities on television and looking to the sky for the fireworks.

It is a reminder on how blessed we are to live in such a great country.

We should never take it for granted.

I always try to give back to the country that has given me life …. a great place to be born and to live.

 

Well here we go again another work week.

Promises to be great.

Special Hello to: my sister …. getting closer to your visit.

Always, Carol & Alvin