Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! It has been quite the week and I for one, is most grateful that today is Friday and once work is done, the weekend begins. Thank goodness.

We had a pretty good sleep last night although it was bed at 10:00 and up at 2:00 for a quick outside “break” and then back to sleep until 6:00 a.m. All in all, pretty good. Alvin seems to be doing quite well and I hope that keeps holding for quite a bit longer. No one knows.

Today, starting with flowers …….

I would like to post this poem that I wrote when my Grandmother passed in September of 1998. She was 97 years old. Queen Elizabeth reminds me so much of my Grandmother. Both were strong, intelligent, both believed in service to their communities, loved their family, both ahead of their times, women well into their 90’s and both passing in September with their beloved husbands leaving ahead of them.

Beyond the Sunset

The sun melts into hues of gold and pink,

as the sky darkens.

A peaceful sigh, as she closes her eyes.

She sees the roses in her garden.

The fragrance soft but strong in the air.

She sees her children and theirs,

She feels her husband’s touch.

She remembers times gone by,

It has been a great life!

She is not afraid.

The time has come.

The Lord extends his hand,

And she follows him home.

Written by: Carol Lewis (Granddaughter)

September 29/30, 1998

***********************

I want to wish you all sunshine and rainbows on this Friday as we begin the weekend.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

Raining through the night and earlier this morning but has stopped now.

Funny how that happens.

I missed watering my flowers on Monday night and then gave them a good drink last night.

Well they are well watered now.

Some of my flowers and plants are beginning to fade.

The nights are beginning to cool now.

I suppose it won’t be too long before I need to prepare for the next season.

Will check the long range forecast for frost.

I will leave everything as long as possible.

As long as the flowers are blooming I like to leave them and sometimes near the end they are beginning to look a bit less than perfection.

 

W for Wind.

Man oh man, have we been experiencing a lot of wind these days.

Seems like every year Edmonton gets more and more wind.

A nice breeze is fine but gale force is not.

Alvin and I have almost blown away on some of our walks and then sometimes we just stay home.

 

This is one of those mornings where for some reason I do not have a lot to say.

Fancy that.

Usually I start and don’t have time to write everything that I am thinking.

I almost never plan what I am going to write ahead of time.

Just sit down and start typing the things that come to my mind.

Sometimes they are silly and sometimes very serious.

 

I want to extend our sympathies to our neighbours on the passing of their beloved fur baby “Capone.”

He was a big guy and so sweet.

I remember when he was a puppy.

My how time flies.

We have lost so many of our fur baby friends and family this year.

Abi (Alvin’s girlfriend), Casey (long time family friend), and now Capone and our Mabel who was my brother and family’s girl.

Rest in Peace my darlings.

We shall miss you forever and keep you forever in our hearts and minds.

 

With kindness and respect for all,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning,

 

This morning comes with news from last night of the passing of a little fur baby friend of ours.

His name was Casey.

Just a little guy but such an endearing soul.

He always had a soft spot in our hearts.

He was very much a quiet little guy but his presence was felt by us all.

Occasionally there was a little bark.

Casey endured some health issues over the years.

Thankfully he is now free of discomfort and pain.

We always enjoyed having him in our house for a visit.

Our family will miss him very much.

 

Casey with Alvin

Casey will join our Angels Penny and Elton.

They will be resting on the lush green grass in a meadow just for them.

Under a bright blue sky.

Perhaps some pretty flowers and some trees for shade.

Perhaps with a little breeze.

With stations of cool water and doggie treats galore.

They will never want or need for anything.

They will forever be in each other’s company.

Rest Peacefully, we shall miss you little buddy.

Forever in our hearts and minds.

A little piece of my heart has gone with you.

 

Forever yours,

Carol & Alvin

 

I want to add to this post that we always thought of little Casey as a part of our family.

We were always happy to see him and missed him when he wasn’t there.

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a WINTERY WEDNESDAY.

Last night it started snowing and has not stopped.

The snow was up to Alvin’s neck on the deck when we got up at 3:30 a.m.

Yup, we were up and I fed him and shovelled some of the deck.

Not quite sure why but we were both wide awake at that time.

There will be shovelling to do again before I leave for work.

 

Yesterday was UKRAINIAN Christmas.

I realized after I wrote and published my post yesterday that I completely forgot about writing about Ukrainian Christmas.

The reason for me leaving up the Christmas Tree and decorations.

I was honoring my friend of forty-seven years who passed last year.

He was a kind, sweet, gentle Ukrainian man.

He would give you the shirt off his back or the shoes from his feet.

He cared for animals and life.

He loved his garden and flowers.

He farmed with his brother and when his brother passed he farmed alone.

Managing it all by himself.

A big job for two but for one, so much.

He would always call me and teasingly, ask, if I had a boyfriend or if I had got married.

I would always say “No.”

I know that he was just checking to make sure I was okay.

I would call him from him to time, as well.

He was fond of the photos that I sent him at Christmas time with a card.

A photo of me and Alvin.

He had a smile that would light up the saddest of folk.

He was generous to a fault.

He was like an older brother and treated my siblings as such, as well.

When I learned of his passing; I felt as though I had lost a part of me.

Well I guess that I had.

He was my older brother.

You left us way too early and I will miss you, always.

Yesterday you were in my thoughts and will never leave my heart.

I see your star shining on a clear Alberta night keeping watch over us all.

Thank you my brother.

********

 

Please be careful out there ….. lots of snow.

I pray for rain in Australia.

Please save the animals in Australia.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 24th day of September, 2018.

Sunlight and sunny sky are peering through the dark blue clouds.

There is a slight breeze as I can see the neighbouring trees moving from side to side.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket by my feet.

I booked today off as a vacation day and am grateful to be at home.

 

Today would be the first work day without our co-worker who passed away on Friday.

He was not only a co-worker to me but my friend and I will miss him.

Funny what comes to mind when someone passes.

Like what was the last thing I/we said.

The mind goes into overdrive as you fight to remember little things like that.

He was a good guy.

 

When someone passes it is a reminder to us all to be kind, patient and compassionate toward each other.

Always to finish a conversation peacefully.

We never know if and when we will see each other again.

I know that we cannot live our lives thinking that, that might be the last time you see that person.

It is like the old adage “never go to bed mad”

Sort things out and leave each other in peace.

 

Life goes on and we have to remember to live our lives.

We do not know how much time we have on this earth.

 

Take care of each other.

Be kind to your self and to others.

 

Special Hello to: all of my family and friends, thank you always to the end of time for your love and support.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

We are okay here……the sun is shining more bright as it fills the morning sky.

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 23rd day of September, 2018.

There is snow and more snow laying on the ground this morning.

Yesterday late in the day I received some bad, bad news.

One of my fellow co-workers passed away.

 

For My Friend

We met in the summer of 2011 at work.

You were one of the first people I met when I started this new job.

You were kind, generous, polite, and so willing to help.

Always willing to make things better.

There were coffee breaks and lunches together to chat about work and life.

We shared a love of movies, most especially STAR WARS and STAR TREK.

You knew every detail.

We were always early to work, so we would always chat in the morning before most of the staff arrived.

Sometimes it was only a smile and “Good Morning” and other times it was much more.

 

You always thought of everyone but yourself.

This generosity came from the bottom of your heart.

Whether it was cookies you brought from your Mom.

Whether it was a coffee, just because.

Whether it was to stop and make sure I/we were okay.

It always came from the heart.

 

Last year when you lost your beloved wife.

Your world came crashing down.

Your heart was broken.

 

Your Mom in hospital not too long ago.

Then more recently poor little Sadie had some health concerns.

So much for your heart to handle.

 

You were the best of us.

Always, the best of us.

Rest in peace my friend.

You were much more than a co-worker.

You were my friend.

 

My heart is heavy with your loss.

You left us way too soon.

Work won’t be the same.

I won’t forget you.

 

Rest in peace, my friend.

There are those souls you meet along the way.

That bring sunshine and goodness.

You were one of them.

 

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 12th day of May, 2017.

The sky is overcast and rain is in the forecast for today and the weekend.

I hope that it will have clear points so that I am able to do my outdoor “tasks.”

Alvin has a Vet appointment tomorrow morning, I HAVE to clean up the neighbourhood (driving me crazy) and get few items at the store.

I guess only time will tell.

I do have an umbrella and Alvin has sort of a rain jacket.

Last night was gorgeous and we enjoyed an extra long walk.

Stopping to visit with new friends along the way.

Meeting a young dog named “Oswald” AKA Ossie.

We had a grand time.

On our way home I stopped to pick up the mail.

Inside a purple envelope stood out from the stack of flyers.

We always have lots of flyers for the recycling.

Back to the “purple envelope.”

It had familiar writing …. my friend “V.”

But what could it be …. not my birthday.

Once we arrived home I quickly opened the envelope ….

Inside was a beautiful Mother’s Day card with a perfectly written inscription.

My friend also had written a poem about me.

Wow, no one has ever done that before ….

We kind of challenged or more like mentioned that we should do some writing together.

I would love to write a book with her.

I am so grateful to have such a thoughtful friend.

It is kind of funny that we knew each other for like twenty years but never were “friends.”

Not that we were the other …. simply just knew each other in passing.

I wished that I had known her better back then ….

I believe that things happen for a reason and I guess it was just our time to be friends.

Thank you my friend…… Alvin, thanks you as well.

We are hoping to see you this summer for a visit.

Well time to get going for work.

Catching a ride this morning.

Happy Friday.

Special Hello to: my friend “V.”

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Today is Sunday, December 4th, 2016 and it has been thirteen days since our beloved Elton went to rest with our Penny.

It has been quite the year for our family, and I cannot even imagine how my kids feel suffering the loss of their two babies in such a short period of time.

Our Penny left us on March 15th, 2016 and then Elton followed her on November 22, 2016.

This year family and several of our friends are suffering the loss of their dear fur babies.

When these wonderful creatures enter our lives we do not think of when they will leave us as it is often times too painful.

They are members of our families, and their loss is felt in every aspect of our lives.

Elton joined our family in quite the most unusual way.

On July 11, 2004, on the advice of a visiting friend, Amanda and Steven went to the Humane Society to see about possibly adopting a dog.

In the parking lot of the Edmonton Human Society a young man approached them.

He asked them if they wanted a dog.

The man told them that their dog was scared of kennels and that they could not longer have him in their place.

Amanda and Steven went to his truck only to find the wife holding a dog and crying aloud.

My daughter started to cry as she took the dog from the young woman’s arms.

Both the man and the woman clearly upset about having to give up their beloved dog.

The kids ascertained quickly that this doggie required medical attention as he looked pretty rough.

He had a bad ear infection for starters.

I was living in Regina at the time when I received the phone call from them telling me all about the new addition to their family.

They were so excited.

I knew that this pup would never want for anything and that they would be great parents to him.

Right from the start Elton was pretty laid back but when he wanted something, he wanted it now.

That did not change over the next 12 years.

One year after they adopted Elton – Penny joined the family.

 

I clearly remember the first visit Elton had at my apartment in Regina.

The kids had come back for a friend’s wedding and left their beloved boy in Grandma’s “capable” care.

I figured no problem …. I raised my daughter so how hard could it be.

Perhaps a bit on the arrogant side.

While they were gone ….

I, me and Elton were on the patio ( I lived on the main floor), and I was having a smoke (back when I smoked).

Carelessly I just let him be on the patio with no leash as he had been so good.

I could not have for-seen what happened next.

We were chilling on the patio keeping dry as it was raining.

All of a sudden out of nowhere a rabbit dashed by the patio and Elton was gone like a flash.

For a split second I stood daft …..

Not even thinking of anything but “Oh my gosh the kids will kill me if anything happened to him as I lived close to a busy street.”

I tore off like a bullet or the next closest thing not considering that I had flip flops on, and the grass was wet.

So I pretty much slid in chase.

I could see him as he turned the corner of our apartment building and  continued to run until he came across the big tree in the green space of our complex.

Thankfully he stopped to “mark his territory” and I literally fell almost on top of him.

There was no way that I was going to let go.

Breathing a sigh of relief, so happy that he was safe.

I feared having to share our story with his parents.

But I caved, as I cannot be dishonest.

I learned a valuable lesson that day.

Never again …..

Although years down the road after I moved to Edmonton when I was walking with Elton, Penny and Alvin – well I will just say that we almost had a similar experience but no rain.

Not easy holding onto three …..

Over the years Elton played a major role in our family.

He was the guy.

Big brother to Penny and later brother figure to Alvin …..

Elton had his health issues over the years.

He had many allergies and once they were determined he could no longer eat some of his favourite treats …. like bananas and peas.

Elton and Penny both accompanied the kids on pretty much every holiday they went on and the other times when they could not go – they were with Grandma.

I remember the kids relating a story from one of their summer trips.

They had gone to Waterton National Park the summer before Penny joined their family.

The kids were hiking up to a lake when they saw bear poop on the trail and instantly went on guard.

As they got to the lake they spotted the bear only a few meters from them eating berries, he did not seem to care.

Of course, Elton was his calm self.

Steve decided they should stay and fish but Amanda wanted to get the “heck” out of there.

They stayed.

The bear ended up passing a moose across the lake doing nothing.

Now this story might have had a different ending if Miss Penny had been there.

She would have spoke up.

 

This is Elton, our dear little guy who was a large part of our family for over 12 years.

We were blessed to have him with us.

I can speak for all of us when I say he will be dearly missed.

Here are some photos of his life in our family.

Baby Elton

Elton got a little brother to enjoy in his time left with us.  Baby Milo.

Elton, ssh he’s sleeping

My Grand-puppies Penny and Elton

Casey, Elton and Alvin …. just missing Miss Penny.

Ah, my puppies ….. Elton and Penny

Sir Elton

Christmas chewing on their new bones.

 

Elton & Penny at their new house trying out the new sink.

 

Looking out the window watching for Mom and Dad.

A life well lived.

A life filled with love.

There was love …. there is always love.

Rest in Peace our darling Elton.

Love Grandma and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 6th day of August, 2015.

Wow, one week into August.

It has been a great one thus far.

In just three sleeps I will celebrate my 58th Birthday and in five sleeps one of my brothers will turn 53.

My sister turned 56 in February and our baby brother turned 50 in January.

It only happens for two years every decade.

Kind of cool.

I cannot believe that I am almost “60.”

It is not that I am afraid of that number or even growing old for that matter (for the most part).

It is just that wow …… it seems like I am still in my 40’s or younger.

I feel young and my friends and family keep me there.

I am so blessed ….. truly I am.

This morning the kids are dropping off the grand-puppies.

They are staying with me and Alvin for two nights and three days as they are looking after my son-in-law’s niece and nephew.

So we are excited.

It is always wonderful to have Elton and Penny visit us.

Alvin is beside him …. actually I only mentioned in passing quietly otherwise he would have been running around and looking out of the window ……

Well only a few minutes until they arrive.

After they get the pups settled they will drop me at my office on the way to theirs. (just like the old days) ….. NICE.

I took tomorrow off as a vacation day so will have some quality time with the pups.

The sun is coming up and shining on the neighbour in the back lane’s huge garage that stands almost done ….. apparently waiting for “paper work” from the City.

I hope that you have an amazing Thursday.

If today is your birthday have a wonderful one.

If today is not your birthday have a wonderful one.

Stay safe and have fun.

Special Hello to: my sister who is back home in Regina and my brother in Calgary ….. to our brother who hosted … THANK YOU.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Here we are …. another Monday.

Where does the time go?

Really where does the time go?

It feels like it is being sucked into thin air.  LOL.

Well that is okay.

I am making the best use of time …. most of the time, that is.

Just going to walk Sir Alvin.

He has his harness on, and is pacing the floor so it is time to go.

So the thought for this day is…..

Make the most of each day.

Time has a way of passing quickly or so it would seem.

So have fun, laugh lots and be happy.

Stay in a “mood of gratitude”.  (that is my new line)

Life will continue to be great..

Sun is shining and the world awaits……..

 

Always, Carol