2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Monday morning the first day of November, 2021. Wow, cannot believe that it is November already. The sure has flown by. Alvin is resting, was laying on the hallway carpet just outside the office but now he is sitting up and staring at me, likely hoping I will be done soon. We had so much fun last night. There were sixty-nine (69) ghosts, goblins, chickens, first responders, dancers, witches, Marios, Freddy Krueger, Members of Addams Family, lions and bears. I noticed before the treaters started that two folks were out for their evening walk with their two dogs. The dogs are yellow labs, I believe (they are big) and they were sporting manes so they looked just like lions. So cute. I was disappointed in the number of treaters but then realized that the majority of the once little children are now grown up. One of the boys was 8 when we moved in and is 20 now. His siblings or at least two of them came by, they were our first guests. Another family only the youngest of three. Other friends their older boys went to a different neighbourhood. Another friend her daughter and a friend were our last treaters. There was only one family that all three of the boys came out and so nice they were with their parents. The middle boy gave me a hug. I almost cried. They are so sweet. As always, Alvin had to wear a harness and non-retractable leash. I found early on that he wanted to sit up in his chair just like the good old days. So I placed in on the chair and he sat patiently waiting for the treaters to come by. So cute. I took a couple of photos (have not downloaded yet). I am so grateful for the weather last night. It was not bitterly cold, no freezing rain or the white stuff so it was perfect as far as Halloween weather goes. Alvin even gave some treaters a kiss (we knew them). He was a good boy and received a lot of compliments. I was surprised by a couple of kids that I did not recognize but they called Alvin by name. We know more people than I think.

My daughter came for a late breakfast of pumpkin latte pancakes (my spin on the coffee blend). We had a fantastic visit catching up in person on our lives since Thanksgiving.

I cannot wait until Alvin’s best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi arrive this morning (not sure of the time as yet). It is a surprise for Alvin. He is going to be so happy. After work we are going to walk with our friend Pauline and then after supper I am going to chat with my sister who lives in Saskatchewan. A great Monday for sure. Actually a super great Monday.

Well, I suppose it is time to go and put on that pot of coffee. That first cup most especially on a Monday is so enjoyable.

Oh, the Halloween decorations will come down gradually over the week and this coming Friday begins the Christmas decorating. I cannot wait.

Have a great day and I hope that you had a great Halloween.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! It feels strange writing so late on a Tuesday morning. I took the morning off as Mr. Alvin has a 10:00 a.m. vet appointment to check his ears as I believe he may have an ear infection. Seems strange to be taking half a day vacation but those are the rules. I am happy to have some extra time off. Yesterday I started later, off this morning and then I had booked Friday off a month or so ago. The sky is overcast and I hope that it does not rain during our walk to the vet or back home. Before or after would be perfect. I hope that Mother Nature is able to accomodate my request. Fingers crossed. We do need the moisture but I don’t want Mr. Alvin to get wet. He won’t melt or anything, I know. There is a breeze this morning and it is already 10 degrees celsius which is nice for this time of day. I have been thinking that it is time to turn off the heat. Forgot to check what the lows are for the next week and that will be the deciding factor. Likely not minus temperatures for sure. Who knows.

The house is quiet except for the clicking of the keys as I type/key these words and the tick tock of the clock in the bathroom next to the office. I do love the quietness. Closing my eyes and just taking it all in. Perhaps a bit of meditation! May 11, 2021. Today is the birthday of Kalekeni Kalamba from MALAWI. I sponsored him through World Vision many years ago. He will be a man now and perhaps married with a family. Wishing that we had not lost touch. I wish him a wonderful birthday and I hope that he is doing well. In good health, happy and successful.

Time passes. We change and the world around us, changes. I have now lived in Edmonton for 12 years. Hard to believe. I can still feel the excitement coursing through my veins and into my heart as I took the house key and unlocked the door to my new life, my first home on my own. A dream came true that day. You never know where life will take you ….. you dream big and sometimes if you keep those dreams alive …. they just do come true. I have decided that perhaps I need to put that energy, that faith, those thoughts and words, in planning to retire. I have been working what seems like forever. Now that is not that I want to sit on a chair with my feet up all day doing nothing. Nope, it does not. I want to do my own thing. Have more time to really concentrate on different forms of writing. I would love to learn how to paint. To set up a studio where I could play with large canvases. I have lots of ideas. Do some volunteer work. Just do the things that excite me and bring me joy. I do really like my job and I always have appreciated that this employer took a chance on an “older” person as I was almost 54 when I first started. Still cannot believe that it has been ten years in July since I started to work for this company. Time flies. As most of us, we cannot retire on just our good looks alone, lol – so have to get everything in order. I can do this.

In the meantime, I shall gratefully continue to do my job from the comfort of my own home. This is so amazing. I am happy to be home with Alvin, especially since he is in his golden years. We are doing this together.

Time to head downstairs and put on a pot of coffee. I must say that a cup of coffee in the morning is one of my most favourite things in the world. Truly.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Be safe and take care. Do something just for you today.

Continuing to life this life with respect, kindness, compassion and patience for all.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Perhaps with a little help from the Universe !!!

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Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 27th day of May, 2017.

It is a glorious morning here in Edmonton with the sunny shining full blast and a breeze to keep it all in check.

The birds are singing.

There were an assortment of birds landing and taking off from our deck this morning.

Alvin wanted to catch the magpie.

But I invited him back into the house.

Birds are free to fly …..

Alvin not so much.

 

Excitement ….. we are hosting a Birthday Party for one of my friends who happens to live in the neighbourhood.

I do love a good party.

Nothing better than friends, coffee and CAKE.

Great way to begin a weekend.

After the party Alvin and I will check in with our friends and perhaps take a walk followed by the ZOO.

I am excited to go with my daughter to the ZOO this evening for our OFFICE PARTY.

Two events in one day ……

BUSY and I LOVE IT.

So excited to spend the day with my dear girl friends and my daughter.

Alvin will be happy to have so many girls around …..

 

Well 35 minutes to party time.

Just have to remove the p.j.’s and get some actual clothes on …..

Sipping on coffee ….. putting clothes away from the laundry that I did last night.

The cake was baked last night and I just iced it a few minutes ago.

Decorated last night.

Wrapped the gift and wrote up a card last night.

House clean.

I think we are almost ready except to put on a fresh pot of coffee.

I could not wait till 10:00 a.m. …. so I made a pot earlier for another neighbour and I to share.

She lives next door ….. we share a pot of coffee on the weekends.

 

Beautiful weather …. I am so giddy with excitement for the most PERFECT DAY.

I hope that wherever you are and whatever you are doing that you are surrounded by loving, kind and generous of heart people.

I am so blessed.

SO blessed.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

Back tomorrow with photos of the ZOO ….. so excited …… I hear that they have paddle boats so hoping to try that out.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU, my friend ….. you rock.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 19th day of September, 2015.

It is a warm, bright sunny morning here in Edmonton.

WOW, it is the weekend and I am so happy.

Mr. Alvin has his regular monthly pedicure / other checks appointment this morning.

When I mentioned the receptionist name “J” he jumped up and gave me a kiss.

Safe to say that he loves this girl.

It is so funny he is always excited to go and see “J” and the other girls that work at the Clinic but when he is having his nails done he is not so happy.

At least I do not have to carry him there ….. now that would be something.

After I write this blog it will be time to get ready and go.

After I get home I am going to make me a pot of coffee and set down and write up my TO DO LIST.

There are items that must get done over the next few weeks plus the routine items such as laundry and cleaning.

Did you have a good week?

I hope so.

It was good at the office ….. busy as per usual.

I like to be busy but it is always nice if one can be “caught up.”

It has never happened since I started at the office.

It is the nature of the beast so to speak that one always has an inflow of work.

Never to be “caught up.”

Well one of the things on my list is to clean out the closet in this office.

I have kind of stashed things in there since the kids moved in April.

Well that is not entirely true.

It has always been my gift closet, craft storage, odds and ends storage.

But it is time to go through it and see what is needed and what is not.

Last weekend I cleaned out the guest closet and it looks great.

One closet at a time.

Closets are always interesting.

We always seem to put things behind doors just in case we might need them.

Eventually the doors barely close and you have to make some decisions.

Otherwise you become a hoarder or sorts.

I am not making light of this issue for sure.

So many of us ….. keep things thinking we might need them at some point.

Part of this comes from not wanting to do without.

Part comes from perhaps laziness.

Part comes from history …. depressions ….. wars….

There are all sorts of reasons.

But for me, it is the thought I might use it.

I have found that since I turned 50, I do find it easier to “toss” and “give” things away when I am not using them.

There is something freeing about it actually.

Well I had better go and get ready to start this day.

I have a bit of a headache … maybe because I have not had coffee yet.

But it will have to wait until we return from the Vet.

That is usually a quick visit …. so I won’t have to wait too long.

I wish you a Happy Saturday.

I wish you great pride in whatever you accomplish or not.

I wish you time to relax.

I wish you to be surrounded by love and laughter.

Special Hello to: my friend “M” who brings back fond memories.

Always, Carol and Alvin