Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, March 14, 2019.

Another nice day yesterday and now we have lots of ice covering the sidewalks.

So our walk was a bit on the precarious side last night but we managed to walk.

 

Well today is Thursday.

Payday for lots of people.

Pay bills and wait for the next payday.

Isn’t that the way that it goes.

But for all those people who complain that after the bills are paid; they only have a few dollars left ….. you have a pay check and your bills are paid.

I think for some people complaining is a chronic habit.

Certainly can be an annoying habit.

I am grateful that I have a job, somedays it is frustrating and stressful.

But nonetheless, I am happy to have it.

I am grateful that I have money to pay my bills.

Wasn’t always the case.

I am grateful that I can work one job to make a living.

Okay and sell Steeped Tea and NORWEX  –  but you get the picture.

I am most grateful to live my life.

I am so grateful for my family and friends.

Okay, now it is time to leave for said job.

I hope that you enjoy the poem and have a wonderful Thursday.

Take a deep breathe and just do it.

You know that you can.

 

………………………………………………………………

 

Sometimes you just need some poetry and I just happen to have some.

This is one of my favourites from my repertoire or better known as my notebook.

 

IN MY IMAGINATION

In my mind, there is a place

Where the sun shines all day

And it rains some nights

Where the tulips bloom to my delight

Where the water is crystal clear

And sparkles like diamonds in the sun

Where peace is not just a dream.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I found my dreams they all came true

I could touch the stars

And walk on the moon,  and then visit Mars.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I met you there on a sandy beach

When the sun was shining just before the rain

You took my hand, and you kissed my cheek

In my imagination.

In my imagination.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

Somewhere that I can go

Kick off my shoes, walk in the sand

Meet you again in my imagination

Under the stars

In my imagination

Please remember to go

Meet me there

In my mind, there is a place.

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010

 

Special Hello to: my sister …. love you my darling.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Wednesday, June 14 2017 and it is the 57 day until my 60th Birthday.

 

One thing is for sure:

I have always been blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by the most loving, caring, compassionate and supportive family and friends.

Good people make all the difference in your life.

Definitely got me to this place and will keep me here.

 

Always, Carol

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 12th day of July, 2016.

Another mixed weather morning although the sun is shining and reflecting off of my neighbour’s garage making it seem quite bright out of the office window.

Now it is time for some sunshine so that things can grow and develop.

Yesterday my grand-puppy Elton celebrated his “13th” Birthday ….. he is doing so well.

I am so grateful for every extra day we have with this awesome guy.

Thank you to my daughter and son-in-law for taking a chance and literally adopting him in the parking lot of the Human Society.

You never know where you will find love.

Last night on our walk we heard “Oh Carol” in a British accent coming from somewhere and then I realized it was my friend “P” who was standing behind her flowers in the back yard as we were walking by.

She has the most glorious garden.

They just returned from a wonderful vacation in Alaska.

She said it was her favourite trip and the landscape was incredible, different at every angle.

They met some interesting people along the way as well.

I am happy to have her back home.

Both Alvin and I missed her.

Alvin and I love stopping by to admire her garden and to visit.

How are you doing today?

I was just wondering.

Please take a few minutes for yourself.

Go for a walk and enjoy the green space in your neighbourhood.

If you do not have any green space then maybe walk to your nearest flower shop …. some place where you can connect with nature.

Take off your shoes and wiggle your toes in the grass.

Smell a flower.

If you have no green space then go to a quiet place and put down a blanket and look up and admire the sky.

I think you could find a spot.

Take some time – just for you.

You deserve it.

Have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: my sister … who makes me laugh.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday, July 1st, 2016.

Happy Canada Day.

This morning the sun is shining brightly and there is a coolness to the breeze that is blowing in through the office window.

Canada Day is on a Friday this year which makes for a nice long weekend.

Me and Alvin are just going to lounge and enjoy the day and evening.

I might do a few things around the house but today will be a fun day.

After all we are celebrating CANADA on this day.

Memories linger in my mind of all the places that I have visited in Canada and to all of the others places I wish to visit someday.

We truly have a beautiful place on this planet.

I was curious what Canada Day was like last year and here is my post from last Canada Day.

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

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 1st day of July, 2015.

Today also is the day that we Canadians celebrate “CANADA” …..

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians.

I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful, wondrous country.

From coast to coast …. the prairies and the mountains and all in between.

I see new photos everyday that remind me of the beauty.

I am grateful to live in a country that is free.

I am grateful that I have choices, and can make my own decisions.

Just on my way out the door to go, and have coffee with my neighbour.

I hope that you have a great day.

It is overcast and raining off and on here in Edmonton but we need the rain, so no complaints.

Happy Canada Day…..

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

I smell coffee in my near future.

Time to turn it on ….. relax on the deck and drink in the sunshine.

Special Hello to: all of my family and friends.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 1st day of February, 2016.

Today is the Birthday of one of my dear friends that lives down the street.

Alvin and I want to WISH “S” the very best day.

She is one of these folks that tells it like it is, would give you the shirt off of her back and is never afraid to help.

She is fierce and kind and we love her …. Happy Birthday to Our Friend.

 

FRIENDS …..

Sometimes you do not realize the depth of a Friendship until it is tested.

Sometimes a Friend is someone you know very well, and sometimes it is someone that you just know.

Sometimes a Friend will listen and other times they will talk, tell you things and give advice and support you.

Sometimes a Friend is just there beside you quietly holding your hand or giving you a hug.

Sometimes a Friend is Family.

Sometimes Family are your Friends.

Sometimes you have more Friends than you realize.

Sometimes you wish for more.

Sometimes you realize that Friends are not just those people that you confide in, that you laugh with, that you cry with … they are the ones that LISTEN when you speak, WEEP when you cry and THINK of you when you are in need.

I do have, and always have had some of the most amazing people on this planet surrounding me.

I realize that without their Friendship I would not be in this place.

I am truly blessed.

Today, tell your Friends how much you appreciate them.

Not just for the things they do for you but for being there in the good times as well as the bad.

For listening and for thinking.

For laughing and for playing.

For crying and for joy.

They are our FRIENDS.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: all my FRIENDS … I love you all.  Thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 21st day of December, 2015.

YAY, there are only 3 days left until Christmas EVE.

Both Alvin and I are super excited this Christmas.

We are travelling a short distance to spend Christmas with my daughter, his sister and my son-in-law and his brother-in-law and the grand-puppies, his niece and nephew.

YAY, Spruce Grove here we come.

Just a few days ….

Christmas dinner will be catered.

Can you believe it?

I feel so pampered and blessed.

We even get to pack a bag …… how cool is that …. a sleepover.

Visiting and playing games and relaxing …. that will be my Christmas.

How wonderful is that?

 

The next few days will zoom by …..

Next thing we know it … Christmas will be here.

Today is the cookie exchange at work.

3 dozen iced sugar cookies will be on their way shortly to the office.

Thank goodness that I am able to catch a ride with my neighbour.

 

I am all ready for the big day.

So excited.

 

All my family and friends that I cannot see for this holiday season you hold a special place in my heart and mind.

I think of you each day with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Merry Christmas to each of you and the most wonderful New Year.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

Pack up those cookies ….. and lunch, too.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU ….

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Cookies for work.

The fudge wanted to get into the photo with the cookies…..

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 11th day of October, 2015.

The wind has been howling since the wee hours of the morning (all night) along with some rain.

I always find it scary/interesting when it appears that the clouds are moving over head.

I am just on my way to have coffee with one of my girl friends.

YAY ….

I will admit (but not to everyone) that now being at the halfway point of my four days off that I have not accomplished anywhere near what was on my list.

In fact, I did tear up the list and write another one.

There has been time spent with Alvin ….. we went on a nice long walk yesterday after the Scentsy party …. it was gorgeous …. over 25 degrees Celsius …. SO NICE.

So decision has been made ….. have the list and do what you can …. plus take time to play with Alvin and also time to relax.

One important item for today after the coffee date I am going to go through my upstairs office and get this room back in order.

That is a for sure item.

We can crank up the music and just go at it …… toss what we do not need.

I must admit I had not been to a Scentsy party and I really enjoyed the scents.

Almost felt like I was cheating on Bath & Body Works …..

Is that not sad.

There has to be a good mix for everyone, right.

I did have a great Saturday ….. after our walk ….. Mr. Alvin had a bath …. now he is looking extra cute.

 

At bedtime I have been reading “How to See YOURSELF as You Really Are” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  

These few lines I thought were important to share to everyone at this time:

“Each religion works to lessen suffering and contribute to the world; conversion is not the point.  I do not think about converting others to Buddhism or merely furthering the Buddhist cause.  Instead, I try to think of how I as a Buddhist can contribute to the happiness of all living beings.”

This really does say it all …… no matter what your religion, trying to convert others to it, is not the point, all that truly matters is that we all contribute in our own way

to the happiness of all living beings. (not just humans).

Perhaps if we spent less time trying to make each other like ourselves and more time working on happiness we would be in a better place.

Just wanted to share on this Thanksgiving weekend.

 

Have a great Sunday.

I am off to have a cup of coffee and share in conversation and laughter as we do.

Special Hello to: my sister and her family, to my brother and his friends, to my brother and his family and to YOU ….. Happy Sunday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 10th day of October, 2015.

YAY, it is Saturday ….. WHOO HOO ……

Sun was shining and now is clouding up a bit but the temperature is warm.

It is this weekend that we celebrate the Canadian Thanksgiving.

On this weekend, I am grateful to live in my neighbourhood surrounded by wonderful people; grateful for a wonderful City, Province and Country.

Grateful for my family and friends.

Grateful to live in peace.

Grateful that I have Alvin to see before I close my eyes and when I open them in the morning.

Grateful for good food and words.

Grateful for the medicines and the technologies that have got us to this place.

It is a great weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadians.

May we continue to grow and prosper.

May we continue to be kind and generous, respectful and compassionate.

This is the weekend to reflect and remember how we got to this place.

To be grateful …..

 

Time to get this show on the road.

Lots to do ….. VOTE (advance polls), Scentsy party, Alvin’s bath, computer stuff, perhaps rake the leaves again (did yesterday, too) …… the list is much longer.

Special Hello to: family and friends, Happy Thanksgiving.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 7th day of July, 2015.

The sky has been mostly overcast until this point at just after 6:00 a.m. when the sun is breaking through.

That is the view from my office window which faces southward.

Now the sun almost casts a glow over the houses as the trees sway in the morning breeze.

I am so grateful to live in such a great place.

I am grateful to have my own home.

I am grateful to have such a great guy as a companion, Mr. Alvin.

The best four-legged friend this Momma could ever ask for …… mmmm

Last night before Alvin and I went for our walk we had a couple of errands to do in our neighbourhood.

Dropping stuff off.

After completing our task we proceeded on our nightly walk.

The air was perfect.

Not too hot.

Not too cool.

Just the right amount of a breeze.

We bumped into Mr. Alvin’s girl friend’s Moms (they are sisters who live down the street from us).

Mr. Alvin loves his Abby ….. unfortunately she had gone for an earlier walk and the girls were out for a run.

We chatted and caught up and then we all went our separate ways.

Running is not for me.

I love to walk ….. not run.

I like to stop and smell the roses.

Just before we arrived home we saw our friends who have the most gorgeous yard.

The grass is now the most lush that I have ever seen it to be.

Just the right amount of TLC ….. oh my goodness so green … the perfect shade.

They have beautiful flowers …. a rock garden …. hedges ….. roses ….. just spectacular.

Nicest people and Mr. Alvin loves them.

Funny thing the girls caught up to us ….. LOL….. we were visiting again.

Well it was the best evening.

We have a great many of them and I am truly grateful.

Now if I could only persuade Mr. Alvin to use the new sofa ottoman to get onto and off of the bed.

Still isn’t using it all of the time…..

Stubborn boy …. not good with change.

Well time to put on the finishing touches before going to catch the bus.

Oh and my sister called me last night.

Didn’t I say it was the most perfect evening.

Could not ask for more…… family, friends …..

Special Hello to: my sister …. thank you for your call.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Story Line by line – November 6, 2013

Chapter Four:

November 1, 2013

Oh, how I loved that dress, and my mind flashes back to the junior high school dance where I first wore that beautiful pink and then I see my favourite books floating in mid air and my best friend “Dee” is there.

November 2, 2013

Alvin is staying very close as we begin to take in this enormous space, and our nervous energies feed each other, and I think of Alice in Wonderland, and  what shall our next move be as a bright purple balloon drifts by.

November 3, 2013

It is absolutely amazing the dress, my friend, balloons, family, old boyfriends, my house, Christmas, all of the things that I have loved during my life are appearing as Alvin and I make our way through it all.

November 4, 2013

I realize throughout all of the memories that my “four” are no longer walking with us and have disappeared.

November 5, 2013

“Where did they go?” I mutter aloud as if I half expect Alvin to answer and yet I know that we are “down the rabbit hole and things are about to get very interesting.”

November 6, 2013

What do I do – what can I do – nothing makes any sense – why would they do this – am I a guinea pig of sorts – are they watching us – who are they – are the questions that flood my mind as we just walk not knowing what will happen next.