Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 15th day of April, 2019.

Well it seems to be calm outside this morning.

The exact opposite of yesterday.

The sky is clearing as the sun rises in the east.

Alvin is on his blue blanket as he rests while I write this post for my blog.

We had a busy but wonderful weekend.

We socialized, had some exercise, ate well, did some work around the house and yard, and even did some volunteer work.

Humphrey was with us on Saturday for most of the day.

My young girl friends came for coffee after Al’s Doctor/Vet visit on Saturday morning.

I raked, did laundry, made a big pot of chilli and tidied up around the house.

We had some wonderful walks including one with our friend S and Luna, the young labrador (lab).

Yesterday my daughter came for a visit and pancake breakfast.

We had a great time catching up with all of our news.

After the big breakfast and visit – I geared up to pick up trash in the neighbourhood.

I made sure to have extra disposable gloves, two big garbage bags, mini gloves and a coat with a hood and a scarf.

Once outside I decided to tie my hood up with the scarf which worked for a few minutes before the wind blew around my hood and took it down.

The wind was cold and so strong that most of the time I had to pick up trash a few times before getting it into the bag.

There were moments when I thought that I might be air borne.

Sometimes picking it up with my hand that was covered with the disposable glove.

I was almost home when I turned to see this whirlwind of dirt heading right for me.

Luckily I was able to turn and miss the face-on brunt of the impact.

Over the course of this walk one man even crossed the street to say “You are my hero for picking up trash.”

That was nice.

When almost at home I hear my name from one of my friends who was visiting at another friend’s house.

She said she did not realize it was me at first.

The wind had my hair all blown wild and crazy.

Between the scarf and my hair, I was unrecognizable.

I chatted for a moment before carrying one.

One thing to mention ….. my friend’s dog Jazmine was there and she took one look at me and turned away.

I even called out her name but she would have nothing to do with me.

Ah, I must have looked scary.

One more story.

Sometimes people drive me crazy.

I was coming around the bend toward home and this young couple crossed the street ahead of me heading to their vehicle, a truck.

When the girl got into the truck some fast food wrappers blew out.

I was right there and picked them up.

She saw this and said nothing.

How rude.

Anyway my hood is clean now except for the leaves and whatever trash blew in from elsewhere.

It was a productive weekend and Sunday.

YAY, me.

 

Well almost time to leave for work as my ride is coming early today.

I hope that you all have an awesome Monday.

Please remember that your trash is not for someone else to pick up.

Your trash is not to fill the oceans and kill the marine life.

Your trash is not meant to fill the yard of your neighbour.

Your trash is not meant to blow around parks and forests for the wildlife to eat and then slowly die.

You need to look around and be mindful.

Stop buying all those items with the multiple layers of plastic.

If we stop buying and start complaining then manufacturers will make changes.

We only have one planet.

Time to change.

This is the change that needs to happen.

Not just a change in government a change in how we live our lives.

I challenge you one and all.

What will you do?

 

Special Hello to: my friend V who was a busy girl this weekend and always (time to rest?).

Always, Caro & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 15th day of April, 2018.

Overcast this morning but not cold outside.

I have a pool of water taking up most of the green space in the back yard.

It is waiting for the ground to thaw and for warmer temperatures to carry it out to the storm drain.

Gotta love spring.

At the other end of the water is a snowbank.

Poor Alvin …. no where to go.

Thankfully there remains some snow on the deck for those early morning bathroom breaks and at night.

Slowly the snow is melting.

When I look down our street it still looks like winter.

On the side that faces north there remains about two or so feet of snow on the front yards and on the side that faces south, NONE.

 

I was listening to a program on television reporting about the melting permafrost in the Northern part of Canada.

Slowly land is disappearing and falling away.

Anything buried in the permafrost over time since perhaps the beginning of time is thawing.

Scary thought.

Bacteria, dust and mold.

All once frozen is thawing.

Anthrax from a once frozen animal has made a child deathly ill.

 

I am not quite certain how I went from spring to the melting permafrost in our North.

Point being our climate – our environment is changing.

We see it in many ways all around the world.

If you think that picking up that piece of styrofoam laying on the front lawn Or that flicking your cigarette butt into the storm drain DOES NOT MATTER,

You are sadly mistaken.

Our oceans are filled with garbage.

Microscopic plastic fibres are finding their way into the drinking water.

Marine life are eating what they think is food.

We are eating that marine life.

 

Something to think about.

It is not something we can ignore any longer.

 

Special Hello to:   all residents of the planet Earth.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 13th day of June, 2015.

It is a glorious morning here at my house in Edmonton.

There is a breeze, the sky is almost overcast with the sun peeking through in spots.

Yesterday I took half of a day vacation from the office and came home for the afternoon.

I made a few stops before arriving at the house.

Stopped at Shoppers and then at Save-on.

The one out of the ordinary item that I bought was one of those bags that is on wheels.

My daughter told me that I should get one and it would be easier to carry groceries home.

I really didn’t want to because it kind of made me feel “old.”

Now I know that shouldn’t be as I see all ages pulling those “carts” around filled with things.

It wasn’t the easiest thing to load.

Trying to hold the full grocery bag and load it into the bag …. took a few tries.

I have the recycled bags so perhaps the plastic might have been easier but oh well.

I am trying to do my part for the environment.

After loaded I did find it easy to pull home….. so much easier on my shoulders and arms and hands.

The main reason I took the afternoon off was to paint the front porch.

I will admit that I have kind of procrastinated on doing it but it is done.

There are pictures to prove my hard work.

There was a bit of a wind …. actually it was quite windy …. not gale force.

But from the looks of my hair, clothing and the landing you might think it was a strong strong wind.

Now all white and pristine.

Looks pretty good for a non-professional and it was fun.

There was only one thing … Mr. Alvin.

I put the baby gate up at the door so that he could at least see me.

Didn’t work so much as he just sat there and “cried.”

I did not wish to take it down as I knew he would be running to one of the neighbours or the other.

So I just tried to be reassuring ….. “Your Momma is here.”

Or perhaps he didn’t think I was doing a great job.

Or perhaps he thought I may fall off of the ladder.

Anyway it is done.

In the fall it will be door frame and window frames.

YAY ….

I am so proud of myself….

Now it is your turn …. try something outside your regular comfort zone.

Well time to finish my coffee and get dressed as Mr. Alvin has an appointment for his regular pedicure.

His favourite thing to do …. NOT …..

I have a long to do list and I am going to accomplish every item and be all done by six o’clock tonight.

YAY …..

Have to have the house in ship shape for my Steeped Tea par-TEA next Saturday.

Besides always good to get the rest of my spring “cleaning” done.

Blinds ….. cupboards ….. you know.

Have a awesome Saturday.

Special Hello to: all you folks who are stretching and doing things outside of your regular routine.  Congratulations

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 15th day of January, 2015.

Another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

Yesterday was a balmy plus 5 degrees celsius.

How lucky are we?

VERY.

So is it climate change, global warning or just a mild January?

Alvin and I are enjoying our walks in the warmer temperatures.

We try to make a difference and recycle …

Not purchase a lot of prepackaged foods so less containers to recycle.

We use “cloth” shopping bags.

We do not use chemical cleaning products.

I do not throw my trash on the ground ( I am the one that picks up other’s littering ).

Maybe on this day …..

Just take the second if you see a piece of paper or cardboard or some other piece of litter on the ground and PICK IT UP.

FIND the nearest garbage can and throw it in.

It breaks my heart to see pieces of cardboard and plastic floating in our nearby lakes and bags caught in the branches of trees.

We can make a difference ….. one piece of litter / garbage at a time.

Today I am deeming this: PICK UP LITTER DAY … KEEP OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS CLEAN.

Just think of how proud you will feel.

Truly we can all make a difference.

Well time to go and pick up this morning’s poop (puppy power) from the back yard.

Keeping things clean and tidy is a good thing.

Have a great day.

Oh and thank you so much for helping to keep our neighbourhoods and planet clean.

All of the creatures that cannot speak will certainly appreciate it and me, too.

Alvin says thank you.

Then he will not find something on the ground and get it into his mouth before his Momma can retrieve it.

Special Hello to: all of my humans.

Always, Carol and Alvin