A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! I am so happy to report that we slept from say about 9:30 till 1:20 a.m. when downstairs we went and Alvin had the most perfect poop. We then retreated to the sofa and set the alarm for 6:00 a.m. I am so thankful that our sofa is comfy. When the alarm went off, well of course, I hit the SNOOZE button for a few more zzz’s. Why not? Then we were up and I was preparing Mr. Alvin his breakfast. I gave him the “medication” last night and only took about 6 minutes to get it into him. So that was good. After his breakfast, we headed outside where again Mr. Alvin had a really good poop(s). I am over the moon happy about these recent events. How happy can one be over poop? Just ask me! It is a most important bodily function and when it is bad, that means that inside things are not going well. So this morning, I am encouraged to believe that he is “better.” I know it does not change the liver disease and other ailments. We are good now. He is on his last day of 1/4 of rice/chicken/wet food/dry food mix before back to 100% his regular food tomorrow. The weather is also continuing to be nice so I am going to see if we can go for a walk after work. Just to give him some exercise to build up his stamina as he is a bit wobbly when out on the deck. I am so happy that things are looking up.

I have decided to get busy now that I have the “word software” and get putting together the book about me and Alvin. Now is definitely the time. I have lots of previously written stories to draw from and use. Sometimes you never know where life is going to take you. But when it does you are know that all will be well and all of that …..

Hopefully sooner than later, the sunrise happens at an earlier time. I know Mother Nature’s schedule. Does she know mine? I suppose not.

This Saturday I was invited to my friend Lucy’s house for supper. Saturday, January 21st is Chinese New’s Year’s Eve. I decided to read up on the celebration and found out that it is tradition to give certain types of gifts and just so happens that I have two or three items that would be perfect to give. So happy. I also made arrangements for my friend’s daughter to come and stay with Mr. Alvin so that he is not alone. YAY. Works great for everyone. She makes a bit of money, I get to go out and Alvin has company.

I am feeling pretty happy with life at the moment. So happy about Mr. Alvin. He is waiting for me downstairs and I am grateful that with the hall light on and the baby gate up that he patiently waits for me. I have been carrying him up and down the stairs each time. When it is not necessary for him to be upstairs – he remains downstairs.

The aroma of the freshly perked coffee is wafting upstairs. So I will sign off shortly.

Wishing you a great Tuesday.

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

Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Monday morning? Alvin and I are doing great. I changed his bed in the office and I think that he likes this one better. He is one lucky little guy as he has three beds. Now one in the family room in the basement, one in the living room and one upstairs in the office. I do not have to haul them around so that is great. Alvin is one wonderful little guy. Yesterday was so nice that despite the messy icy sidewalks we ventured out for a walk. I had cleaned our walks pretty good with only one chunk of ice that is in the dip nearly impossible to remove at this point. We still have the five feet of snow and ice chunks lining the streets and our sidewalks. Keeping most people from parking on the street including company and delivery trucks. One of the neighbours from a few doors down is parking in front of Sonja’s house and I believe the reason is because they have an opening in the snow to the street or at least it is lower. Not really the way it should work. They should be parking in their garage or garage pad. The street is for company and delivery trucks not to park one of your five vehicles. I am kidding about five but some people have at least three vehicles which makes it difficult. Most times this street is down to one lane and people drive way too fast. Our street is really busy. Anyway, we went for a walk. We got down the sidewalk very carefully to the corner where our friends live across and made sure we checked both directions and in a low spot we crossed to their side of the street. The sidewalks were not too bad. We walked up the street and then I realized that I found the perfect walking place, the crescent. There is a pile of snow from the graders and we walked around the crescent and the pile of snow ten times and then went home. It took us 20-25 minutes so I figured that was perfect. Mr. Alvin was slightly confused as he kept trying to break free of the circle walking and go down the back walkway toward the other park. I was happy and felt like we actually had some exercise and we so enjoyed the warmth of the fresh sunny warm air. One of my friends posted that it was +10 degrees celsius. So today we will do that same walk. We were walking on the street in the crescent but I was able to watch for cars and not as busy as being on our main street. YAY, a safe place to walk. I hit the motherlode.

The forecast is for continued nice warm temperatures and hopefully SUNNY blue skies. I am a bit tired of the grey ones. My body craves the sunshine. My mind needs the sunshine. My soul would very much like the sunshine a bit more often. I can see the sun starting to rise with partially clear skies so we are definitely off to a great start. Happy Monday that be!

I wish you a great day. If it is nice where you are – go outside and take that walk. Whether it is 5, 10 or 30 minutes, fresh air and exercise is magic. Good for your heart, mind and body.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

I am so grateful to have a cup of homemade perked coffee. Oh, I forgot to mention that one of my dear friends called yesterday morning to see if I was up for a cup of coffee? I had just made 10 cups and was going to have one, what great timing and usually I do not make that many cups so it worked out perfectly. We had a great visit and even had some good laughs. I am so lucky to have such great friends and happy for such a wonderful surprise on a Sunday morning.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Holy catfish it is Thursday April 16, 2020 today.

The sun is shining on this new morning.

The sky is that faintly powder blue.

Sunshine is gleaming off the frost tipped cars on our street.

There is a pool of water in my backyard and on the other end is a snowbank.

Soon there will be grass.

YAY, it feels like a great day ahead.

 

How are you doing today?

I hope that this finds you well and happy and safe.

 

What are you doing these days?

Has your day to day schedule changed dramatically?

Are you working from home?

Are you studying from home?

Teaching young children?

Perhaps you are retired and the big difference is leaving the house for supplies and for visits?

Perhaps you are laid off from your job?

 

Whatever you are filling your days with remember to look after yourself.

Hydrate and exercise.

Lots of sleep and rest.

Now you have the time to take a nap in the afternoon.

How about that?

Now you have time to read that mountain of books that are falling off the bookcase.

Now you have time to maybe write a book.

Go through the house room by room.

Clean that closet.

No better time.

Now is a great time to reduce the extra things that have been taking up space in your space.

Time to make things simple.

Our future is going to change.

There is no doubt about it.

So why not make your life simple.

It all starts at home.

We do not need 20 pairs of black pants.

Do you really use 3 sets of dishes?

How about your pots and pans cupboard/drawer?

Clean it out.

You know that you have pots in there that you just cannot bear to part with.

Think about it and take action.

 

Well it is time for this gal to go and grab a cup of that fantastic perked COFFEE.

My workspace is beginning to call my name.

I really do not start until 8:00 a.m. but I will admit that most days I start much earlier than that …. oh well.

 

I hope that you are well and safe.

Don’t forget about your single neighbours, senior neighbours and perhaps that family that just may need a bit of help …

You have the time …. do something nice for someone today.

Even if it is a baking a cake.

 

Have an awesome Thursday.

Living with kindness and respect.

I/We are,

As Always, Alvin and Carol

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Tuesday

The sun is rising and the sky is blue with a few night clouds still remaining.

The garbage guys just went down our back lane.

I opened the window and called out to them “THANK YOU.”

After doing so I realized that the man at the back of the truck had ear phones.

So unlikely he heard me.

Anyway, I feel better saying “thank you.”

 

There are three small words that can mean the world to folks at this time or any time, really.

They are:  “please” and “thank you”

Often times we forget our manners.

My Grandmother was instrumental in teaching me good manners.

I have followed them my whole life.

I am certain that there may be once or twice that in my mad rush or blind ignorance that I forgot, and I apologize.

Just a simple thank you can go a long way.

 

How about practicing:

At the grocery store say thank you to each and every employee working that day.

Say thank you to the person who graciously moves out of your way as you rush along.

Thank you to the person who drops off the flyers at your door every week.

Say thank you to your family and friends just because.

Walk about the house just saying thank you until it rolls off of your tongue.

Remember when asking anyone for anything to say please.

Walk about the house just saying please until it rolls off of your tongue.

 

If we are all practising self-isolation you likely are not seeing many people with the exception of grocery stores and perhaps the pharmacy/drugstore.

Whether you are at home or out picking up the necessities.

Remember this without those folks working their shifts and sometimes longer at your local grocery store and others ….. we would not be eating or able to survive.

That is the truth.

They are really risking their health and lives every time they go to work.

All the services that are deemed to be essential/necessities ….. whether we see these people or not ….. send them good thoughts.

Like shouting out to the garbage truck as they stop in our neighbourhood.

 

Practise good manners with self-isolation and social distancing.

We will come out of this better people.

That is my hope.

Less selfish.

More kind, supportive and respectful.

 

Well it would be time to grab my coffee and get to work.

I am grateful to be employed during these times and to be at home with my Alvin.

I am grateful to be in good health.

I am grateful for the warming temperatures.

I am grateful for walks with Alvin.

I am grateful for freshly perked coffee.

 

Thank you everyone for reading my posts.

I really do appreciate you spending some of your precious time with me.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

 

Always be kind and respectful.

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Sunday morning.

Well shortly after I wrote my post yesterday the sun shone brightly.

It was a lovely day.

Lucky me, I went to shovel the driveway and there was no snow.

It had melted.

That was a first.

YAY.

Alvin and I enjoyed a beautiful walk in the afternoon after several loads of laundry.

Ended the day watching the newest STAR WARS movie “The Rise of Skywalker.”

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

This morning it has been lightly snowing since we were first up at 5:00 a.m.

No worries we did not stay up but I can tell by the amount of snow that it did not stop.

Actually it appears to be coming down with more intensity at this time.

Oh, last night we had a good show with the rabbits.

Alvin watched them intently gathering and having a snack out front.

At one point there were four of them.

Happy to report they are getting pretty brown.

We have so much snow which is not great for the wildlife.

 

I was thinking as I walked to the computer this morning.

List of things that change when staying at home / working from work during a PANDEMIC

1. Transportation to work, no bus tickets or payment for carpool.
2. No need to carry a purse, cause I do not use anything in my purse
3. More snacks
4. Changing up exercise routine
5. More television
6. Baking more
7. More snacks, did I say that already (very important)
8. More time spending with loved ones and in my case, my dog Alvin
9. No commute time to work (ten steps from bed to laptop in office in my case)
10. More time to clean the house
11. Less time actually spending cleaning the house
12. Less energy the longer at home
13. Overthinking everything
14. Trying new recipes
15. Waistline expanding
16. Need to start wearing button up pants instead of the stretchy ones
17. No gatherings
18. Quietness
19. Having television on during work hours for background noise
20. Routine, trying to keep work and home separate
21. Time spent looking out of the window
22. Did I say changing up exercise routine, gotta start that ….
23. Walking more (when weather allows)
24. Hoping for sunshine
25. Happy when receive texts from family and friends
26. Learning new things
27. No coworkers
28. If you have school age children at home, then you have now become a teacher
29. Trying to remember what day of the week it is
30. Resting, maybe too much (depends on who is in the house with you)
31. Excited to see the rabbits gathering out front to have a snack (no social distancing for them)
32. Happy to be alive and well
33. Wondering how long this will last
34. Nervous about going back to work
35. Staying away from news and social media for a time to be less stressed
36. SNACKS, so important for one or more in a household
37. Food has become so important
38. Realizing that one’s leaking tap is going to be this way for some time before can get fixed
39. Supposed to be spring now, why more snow?
40. Anyone at home that has folks bringing by groceries and supplies, we are grateful, realizing this will end someday and I will be shopping again
41. No going to the mall (I did not go much, anyway)
42. Thinking of how much the world has changed over the past month or so
43. Thinking of how much things will change going forward
44. Realizing that this would be retirement minus the working Monday to Friday
45. Getting stairs in several times per day (if you live in a multiple storey home)
46. Getting close to 50 (points to make)
47. Making a list that never gets completed
48. Day 3 cleaned the junk drawers
49. Day 6 cleaned the front closet
50. Day 18 cleaning the junk drawers again, and the rotation begins.

NOTE:  two things enjoying being with Alvin all day everyday and having my own perked coffee in the mornings.

 

Well time to hit the shower before having breakfast and enjoying some perked coffee.

 

Happy Sunday everyone.

I hope that you are smiling …..

 

Remembering we are living in kindness and with respect.

 

I/We, remain

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S.  trying to decide if I should just cut my own hair.

That could have been point 51.

My hair is much longer than this photo.

Am thinking I could put the long clipper attachment on Alvin’s hair cutting machine and cut my hair.

What do you think?

If in household with children ….. cut their hair.

If in household with a dog that needs a haircut ….. already done.