Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 20th day of July 2020.

The sun is shining brightly here in Edmonton.

The sky is a bright blue (no rain clouds).

The morning air remains cool and refreshing and there is only the slightest hint of a breeze.

 

Well our household is not back to normal.

Perhaps it never will.

Mr. Alvin and I slept on the sofa last night.

I figured one less time he would have to go upstairs and I have been carrying him down.

So have to keep that to a minimum.

He never has liked me to be out of sight and now even less.

It took us awhile to get settled down.

He did jump off the sofa last night and cried as he made contact with the floor.

Walking over to his bed on the floor he laid down.

I then laid back down on the sofa but a bit later he came back to the sofa for the night.

It was warm in the house even with the window open a crack.

So I decided at one point to turn on the fan.

Once we settled down we both slept.

This morning we did all of our main floor routine before coming upstairs.

I figured that I would just come upstairs in time to brush my teeth and wash my face, get dressed, write this post and then go to work.

I can then slip downstairs to grab my coffee and he usually stays up here anyway so that should work.

By the time coffee break comes it will be about four hours since he went for a bathroom break so I will have to carry him downstairs.

Very carefully I might add.

 

Most of our day yesterday was good as we had lots of company.

Two of my friends came in the morning for coffee and then my daughter came for a visit as well.

I always enjoy spending time with the girls.

 

We did not go out for a walk but I am hoping to try again today.

I think they are forecasting about 25 degrees today so it will be a late afternoon early evening walk.

Likely just a short one …. I don’t want to push him.

I understand as well that he is getting older.

He turned 11 in January so that makes him 11.5 years old.

Now that was an approximate date but not out by much, I don’t think.

Last night I also texted with one of my friends from Regina.

I am not sure why we didn’t just call each other but texting is beginning to be a habit for us all.

Even though it takes longer to get a thought across and then there is spell check and don’t get me started on that “feature.”

 

So I guess as I recently read in a post by Maria Shriver …. take one day at a time, sometimes half a day or sometimes one hour at a time….

Not exact words but you get the idea.

I really enjoy reading posts and Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper.

She just makes sense to me.

 

I need that coffee this morning.

This weekend was a revelation as well.

I had decided just at the end of last week to change my August vacation from two weeks to one.

Then with the recent events starting with the after hours calls on Thursday night and then Alvin and with help with my daughter; I realized that I do need to take two weeks vacation.

It has been a long haul and with recent events, I need a nice break.

Time to do my thing even if that thing is just relaxing with Alvin.

So I emailed my Manager to see if I can once again change my mind.

I hope that it is not a big deal.

Sometimes we don’t realize just how close we are to “that point” until someone tells us.

That point has arrived and if I want to stay healthy in body, mind and soul, I have to look after me.

I have to stop always putting everyone and everything in front of my needs.

Meaning that if I do not look after me first – then how can I look after anyone or anything else.

That sounds better.

Man, I need to run and grab that coffee.

 

We had another two big storms yesterday.

One about 5 p.m. and the other a short time later.

Lots of heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning.

I don’t think that the storms are helping Alvin much either.

Seems like everything just has come to a head this weekend.

 

I have learned so much this weekend.

I do hope and pray that Alvin recovers quickly and in full.

Thinking that his days of jumping up and down from the bed, sofa, chair and possibly stairs might be over.

Perhaps he will be able to do the stairs with some help.

Definitely not onto the hard floor even though I have strategically placed mats with padding in the places where he goes up and down.

These past few months have been full of change.

I have been trying to roll with it and find my way.

I guess we all have …..

 

Time to go and grab my coffee.

Wishing you a wonderful day.

Please keep Alvin in your thoughts and with positive energy.

I will monitor him for one more day and if no change back to the vet tomorrow …..

Big sigh from the boy as he lays on his bed not far away from me.

Living with kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well today is Saturday, January 04, 2020.

I love writing those numbers.

2020.

Feels futuristic.

We were outside a few minutes ago in the backyard to pick up you know what!

Alvin’s little parcels of love.

The air was warm and the sun is just coming up.

 

YAY, it is the weekend.

Once I have written this post, had a shower and breakfast; we will pop over to the Vet and pick up some food for Alvin.

There be laundry to do, floors and bathrooms to clean, walks to be had and whatever else I find the time to do.

My neighbours have agreed to help me bring in the cabinet/cupboard from the garage to the basement over the weekend.

Then I will be able to get the basement sorted out.

Now the Christmas tree and ornaments will remain until next weekend but I will have everything else in order by then.

 

Everyday on the news and on social media we hear stories and see photos of the massive fires in Australia.

The loss of wildlife is staggering.

I heard half a billion animals have lost their lives.

This will change the landscape of Australia forever.

My heart goes out to the people and to the animals both wild and domestic.

I know that Canada has been sending firefighters to help as have other countries.

Maybe if we collectively as a planet turn our thoughts to rain; we could bring rain to them.

Hoping for rain but not too much that they then have flooding.

Positive thoughts, positive energy.

Please save AUSTRALIA.

 

I wish you all a Happy Saturday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

How are you today?

I am great.

The wind is howling outside and about 4:40 a.m. there were snowflakes making their way to the ground.

Melting as soon as they touched down.

My trusty friend is on his blue blanket and I know at this very moment that life is perfect.

Isn’t it always?

 

Perfection is always a mixture of positive and negative.

You cannot live without both.

 

I was thinking of this before I went to bed last night.

All actions and reactions,

Must start and end with,

Kindness and Respect.

 

Our entire lives are lived with actions and reactions.

Every single moment of every single day.

It is always how we react to the actions that define that moment.

You always have a choice.

Sometimes it may not feel that way but trust me you do.

It is always how you react, how you feel, how you think in any situation that gets you through or not.

Food for thought.

I am pretty certain that you have thought about this at some point during your life.

Likely several times.

Maybe even daily.

Perhaps even unconsciously.

Are we simple beings or are we complex?

I think a little of both.

Our basic needs are simple but when you factor in emotions that is a totally different matter.

Oh, we humans.

 

Well, something to ponder for sure.

Through the ages many a “thinker” has wrote about these very topics.

Positive and Negative Energy

Actions and Reactions.

Kindness and Respect

Likely will continue till the end of time.

 

Well time for me to head downstairs.

I hope that you have a great day.

Filled with Kindness and Respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 24th day of April, 2019.

Another gorgeous morning as the sun rises filling the sky with hues of pinks and oranges and yellows.

Well my five day weekend has come to an end and it is back to work for me.

What a glorious five days we had – working – walking – working and walking.

Alvin saw his friends and spent some time with Humphrey the Cat.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to get some tasks completed around the house.

Always things to do but I made a large dent in the list …. perhaps dent isn’t quite the right choice of words but you know what I mean.

We even lounged on the deck for a bit yesterday afternoon.

Sometimes we walked just me and Mr. Alvin and other times we were joined by our friend P (once with Georgie her grand pup).

I am grateful for the kindness of my family and friends.

I am grateful for this spring wonderful weather.

I am grateful to have beautiful parks so close by.

I am grateful to have seen swans flying in our neighbourhood as they passed through Edmonton.

I am grateful to have seen the return of robins in our area.

I am grateful that both Alvin and I are in good health.

I am grateful for our life.

 

Today feels like a good day to share a poem that I wrote many years ago.

 

FROM DREAM TO REALITY

I had a dream late last night,

Of sparkling white sandy beaches,

Palm trees swaying in a sweet scented breeze,

Of clear blue skies and water, clear blue,

Of monkeys, elephants and parrots, too.

When I awoke and looked all around,

It was a dream, so I had found.

The picture is somewhat sadly different.

My sandy beaches are cluttered with garbage.

The palm trees have been removed, replaced with malls.

The breeze smells bitter — terribly so,

The monkeys, elephants where did they go?

We have come too far, too fast,

The signs have been there,

But we did not see, due to our hungry greed

From horse drawn sleighs to gas powered cars,

From tin and glass to Styrofoam and plastic jars,

From all that technology we still didn’t learn

That we’re literally burning our planet — our Earth.

The time has come to join together,

Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters,

If we learn to reduce, recycle and reuse

We can save our planet —

The gem in our universe.  Our Earth!

Written for Amanda’s school play at W.H. Ford School

By Carol Lewis on November 28th, 1990

This is so bizarre that I wrote this twenty years ago for my daughter’s school play.  It is even more prevalent today.

Now it has been almost thirty years now.

What has changed?

 

Well almost time to go downstairs and finish getting ready to leave for work.

Alvin is nesting on his blue blanket which has been made even more comfy by adding a lap blanket my Grandmother made in about 1990.

Talk about lots of older things.

It remains almost as new.

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Sending out our thoughts and positive energy to all those in need.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: my friend V who is such an amazing person……

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of April, 2019.

The sun is being to rise in the east.

The pink and orange glow on the horizon.

A new day is upon us…..

 

On this mid week day; I would like us all to send a huge wave of positive energy and love to each other.

There are those families at this moment who are dealing with crisis whether health, relationships or financial.

If we could all take just a few minutes to send some love out into the world through our thoughts and with our hearts.

We will help each other.

Positive energy to change a thought or bring joy to someone in need.

Positive energy – positive flow.

We need it now.

Close your eyes.

Think of your family and friends and show your gratitude for them.

With love in your heart and thoughts.

We can help each other.

Support each other.

Show kindness to each other.

Be there, sometimes in silence.

Sometimes with loud thunder.

 

 

I am grateful for all of my family and friends.

I am grateful for our journey together.

I am grateful to be surrounded by love and respect and support.

I am grateful for my life and for yours.

 

 

May peace and love be with you on this day and always.

May you always be surrounded by love and grace.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: all my family today …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 12th day of February, 2019.

Well forecast for next week shows minus teen numbers for temperatures.

What a heat wave is on the way.

Without the WINDCHILL effect that would certainly feel like summer compared to what is going on now.

Time will tell.

 

I miss our walks and just feel it is too dangerous for us to be out there walking.

Mind you it is getting dangerous in the house as we are really needing some fresh air and exercise.

Now I am lucky as at least I walk to the car in the morning and at night.

So I get what 20 steps in the fresh air ( being sarcastic ).

Not complaining about getting a ride that is for sure.

I am  over the MOON grateful to be in a carpool who picks me up at the door and drops me off at the door and all over again each day.

I am grateful that my “carpool” had a great vacation in Mexico.

So grateful and feeling so blessed.

 

I am over the MOON grateful that Mr. Alvin is healing nicely and hoping stitches come out perhaps this Saturday.

We are grateful for the furnace that heats our home and keeps toasty warm 24/7.

We are grateful to have clean water at the turn of a tap.

We are grateful to have good food to eat.

We are grateful to have family and friends who love us.

We are grateful to be alive, to live in this city, in this country on this planet.

I want to fill my life with gratitude so that there is no room for anything else.

Only positive energy.

 

Well time to go and do a couple more things before leaving for work.

Thank you for reading this post and my blog.

I am so grateful to have people interesting in my writing.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who is one of the hardest working people, women I know.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 26th day of January, 2019.

Last night it was raining and raining hard.

This morning it is +2 degrees celsius in the afternoon forecasted to be +5 or so.

Remembering it is Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA and almost the end of January, 2019.

There is a beautiful sunrise this morning and it started about 7:30 a.m. …. so nice to see sunrise earlier.

The sky is clearing the morning covering to display a beautiful palette of oranges, pinks and yellows.

So, so pretty.

Alvin is laying on his blue blanket beside me.

 

Last night I had a complete change of plans.

One of my friends messaged me about going out for supper.

She said that it was being paid for by our other friend’s husband.

Our friend’s husband” gave us a gift card to Original Joe’s, a restaurant in our neighbourhood so that we girls could go out and celebrate her birthday.

We were supposed to go out on the 1st of February which is her actual birthday but her husband would be working away from home and they have a young daughter.

Who is old enough to be alone after school but they don’t like leaving her alone at night.

Makes sense to me.

I was planning to do laundry, call my sister and do some cleaning as my cousins are coming for a visit and supper today.

So I contacted my sister and she was okay with changing to Sunday.

I thought laundry could wait.

So long story short, I went out with the girls for a nice night out with them.

I do not go out much so figured it was a good idea.

Late on Thursday I noticed that the growth on Alvin’s eye had changed colour so after work yesterday I called our Vet to see if I should bring him in today or if okay to wait

until his appointment next Saturday which is the 2nd of February.

The vet was busy so I asked if they could call us back as I wanted to take Alvin for a walk.

Said yes.

Just after we arrived back home and I had our coats off and Alvin’s paws dried off, the phone rang.

Dr. K wants to see him this morning to see if the growth needs to be removed or not.

I am thinking yes.

So we switched his appointment from next Saturday (his regular exam and vaccinations) to today at 10:00 a.m.

I am kind of nervous but I know that of course he will be okay.

I also contacted my cousin to let them know as this might push back their arrival time depending on how long we are at the vet.

So that has been my last less than 24 hours …..

All good things, right.

Always look at the silver lining.

If and I am quite certain it will be a yes, he needs the surgery … perhaps while he is under they will clean his teeth.

That would be a good thing.

I have a dental appointment next Thursday to put on the permanent crown.

Teddy comes for a sleepover on Wednesday night and for a day or so.

Never rains but it pours.

Thankfully the crown costs will be covered by my insurance which is great.

Just have to pay it up front and put in my claim.

The sun is almost up and I think that the load of laundry I put on 30 minutes or so ago should be done.

Might as well get the second one going before I have a shower.

Hopefully I can have a cup of coffee before we leave.

Keep us in your thoughts, at least positive energy for Mr. Alvin.

I am certain that all will be okay at the end of it all, but doesn’t hurt to have some positive energy streaming.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 14th day of December, 2018.

Another beautiful day on the way.

Almost forgot Mr. Alvin’s blanket for the floor.

Too  much on my mind.

Poor little guy is being “neglected.”

Not really but perhaps his Momma is a little bit absentminded or just mind wanders to other things.

 

How old do you have to be before you realize that you cannot please all of the people all of the time?

10? 35? 50? 66? 92?

Perhaps we always think the best of people before they whip the wind out of our sales.

I don’t know.

Just pondering people this morning.

Thankfully I am surrounded by mostly wonderful, kind, generous, loving, compassionate and supportive people.

The ones that are on the other side of the spectrum ….. they are in the minorities.

Perhaps it is those people, the negative ones that truly make us grateful for all of the others?

Thankfully the positive energy outweighs the negative energy.

But somedays that negative energy is very powerful and eats at you.

Food for thought.

 

Well this afternoon it is back to the dentist.

ARGH, having a tooth removed.

Oh well that is not so bad.

I am going to bake and ice the sugar cookies for my friend, as she loves them so much.

She buys the supplies and make/bake them with love.

 

Was able to deliver some baking to two neighbours last night and the third one wasn’t home but she came and picked up the package later.

It was so ICY, we walked on the street beside the sidewalk.

Alvin pulled and I pulled him back.

Not exactly a relaxing walk but we got some fresh air and delivered some cookies….

At my friend’s house ….. they are the ones who always come to my rescue ….. the four-legged visitor from last weekend …. anyway I said that her sister

thought it was a VOLE and  not a mouse due to size and colouring and the fact it did not make a sound.

Did that make me feel better?

Yes and No.

 

Anyway almost time to get this show on the road.

Life is crazy, crazy busy and at the end of the day “most interesting.”

I am eternally grateful to my kids for gently persuading me to adopt a pup.

Alvin has been such a blessing.

I can come home at night to this amazing creature who is so happy to see me.

He doesn’t judge.

He doesn’t suck the love out of your heart ….. he fills me up.

He keeps me on my toes.

He is my boy.

 

Okay, time to go.

I hope that you have a great Friday.

Sorry for being all over the place.

It is just that kind of morning.

There are days.

 

Where are we days to Christmas?

I have lost count.

Less than two weeks now.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister ….. my brothers …… my friends …., thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 15th day of November, 2018.

Today is the birthday of a  very special nephew “J.”

Happy Birthday Buddy – Wishing you an awesome day.

 

Woke up to rain.

Pups got a bit damp on their first time outside for the day.

 

Here are the photos that I was unable to download yesterday morning.

That arrangement with the green and red just simply pops.

So beautiful.

The pups …. Teddy lounging on the foot stool, Alvin waiting for something and then Alvin stretching.

 

 

What a great way to start the day.

Love the photo of Teddy stretching.

Both pups stretch first thing after waking up.

Yesterday was a great day.

Our off-site staff meeting was awesome.

Thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Home a bit earlier than normal.

So able to take the pups for a full walk before it was dark.

Even saw our friends out for a walk and stopped for a moment to chat.

 

Life is pretty great.

If you live simply and simply live your life.

Life is pretty great.

I say again Life is pretty great.

Don’t complicate things.

Surround yourself with all as much positive energy as you are able.

Keep positive.

The glass half full view is much better than the opposite.

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends, their love and support keeps me living my life.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 6th day of September, 2018.

Almost one week into September.

Almost FALL.

YAY.

It is dark outside at 6:15 a.m.

No rain overnight and there does not appear to be any frost.

Last night Alvin and I had a nice long walk with our friend.

The temperature was warm enough for a t-shirt and capri length pants.

Love these days.

 

FEELINGS

Somedays it is easy to contain any negative or blah feelings.

Others the madness courses your through veins like a poison.

Your heart feels heavy and ready to explode.

Somedays it is hard to contain those ugly thoughts and words.

Somedays you just want to reach to the sky and pull yourself up.

Somedays you just want to scream.

 

Somedays you feel amazing, kind and beautiful.

Somedays you feel the positive energy surging through your veins.

Somedays, most days your heart feels full.

The love and joy that is your life.

The words flow on paper like a loving piece of poetry.

The blessings that come your way.

The gratitude you feel for all the days.

The people that come and go into your life, those that leave an impression with you, that make you feel something; good or bad.

 

Feelings, we all have them.

Most days we feel happy…..joyful.

We feel blessed to be who were are and where we are ….

Most days we feel love and compassion.

Somedays are grey, others are black and cloudy.

Feelings ….. a vast array of good and bad.

That is what we humans are made of ……

I hope that the good outweigh the bad.

But remember we need them all ….

May the bad or the less than positive feelings just be there in minute detail to remind you that life is GOOD.

 

Life feels good.

Life is amazing.

I feel good.

I feel great.

I feel joyful.

I feel the positive energy flowing through my veins like a good book on a cold winter’s night.

I feel blessed.

Feelings …..

 

Written by C. Lewis at 6:15 a.m. on this day, Thursday September 6th, 2018.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who inspire me to be who I am …. and to all those folks who I do not know who inspire me in ways yet to come.

Always, Carol & Alvin