A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! Today is Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Yesterday we went to the vet for Alvin’s appointment to see if we could figure out what is causing his poop not to be in a group, so to speak. After a rectal exam and going over his file (yuck, poor Alvin – although I did not hear him cry, so that was good), the vet proclaimed there is a good possibility that it is “IBS” aka Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Now that does not sound very good. I know several people who have that and it is not much fun at all. I took a deep breath and asked “what next.” She said that she wanted to put him on a very low dose of prednisone to clear up the inflammation. To add to the liver disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and more. He had extensive tests done last summer when they found out he had liver disease. Anyway, I asked what some of the side effects are of prednisone and she said that he may pee often. I told her that I have to go to the office on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Her suggestion was that I give it to him at night (with supper) and hopefully that will help. Well we were in bed just before 10:00 p.m., up at Midnight and outside, back to the sofa and then up at 2:00 and outside (thank goodness it is warm out) and then at 4:00. I changed the alarm from 6:00 to 6:30 and at 6:15 he wanted to get up. I fed him his breakfast which is rice, pumpkin, his wet food and some chicken and Metamucil. Then outside and it was snowing. The warm wet fluffy flakes. The kind that I like until I have to shovel them. Oh well. It is warm so they will not stay long. I also noticed when going to bed last night that there is some ice out by the low point in the sidewalk that needs to be cleared. A task for today. I forgot to tell you that we walked to the vet. The sidewalks from our house to the walkway were brutal and then it was okay. Twice along the way, Alvin stopped and wanted to go home. I am not sure if he realized where we were going, I think so. Likely had a good idea why. Anyway, I managed to get him there and wondered about going home. When we arrived at the vet, I was checking texts and going to call them to advise we had arrived when I noticed a message from our friend Arlene. She let me know that she would come and get us. I am, we are so blessed to have such amazing, supportive and caring friends and neighbours. She is all of these things and more. Breath of relief. I actually felt better when I heard the IBS instead of something else. Not the best news but not the worst either by far. This is treatable and hopefully we can get his poop back to normal and try to put him back on his “real food” diet. I have a lot of his hard food that he has not been able to eat for awhile. Our story is a bit out of order but it is early morning and when the thoughts come to me, I write them down. After we got home, I quickly wiped off his paws to remove any of the salt (pet friendly) that may have got into his pads. I had wore my ice picks to the vet and was grateful. I definitely needed them.

I was glad that we had some downtime before I started work yesterday. Drank a bit more coffee and just chilled with my boy.

Although our lives have been up and down like a rollercoaster as of the last while, I am over the moon grateful that perhaps we have closure on this health concern and can get back to our life. Lots coming up but as long as Alvin is doing okay, I can get through anything. Dreaming of winning the lottery and retiring in this house with my boy at my side. Sleeping in when we have a crazy night. Walking whenever we chose. Writing more and going through my photos. That is my dream.

Time to get back downstairs. I am building up the muscles in my left arm. Will have to work on the other one otherwise the muscles are going to be off balanced, lol. Wonder if it is still snowing?

I hope that you have a great Tuesday. I know that this day working from home with Alvin at my side is going to be GREAT. I love being at home with Alvin. He is the best.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee. Thank goodness for coffee and I have lots.

Always, Carol & Alvin

I am grateful for my life with Alvin. I am grateful for this beautiful home that we share. I am grateful to be surrounded by the most amazing, caring, loving, supportive people. Thank you for this day.

Last Half 2022 – December

Good Morning ALL! It has been a strange almost 24 hours. Yesterday morning I awoke with Alvin next to me and my daughter sleeping in the spare bedroom. This morning I awake to myself. Just me. It has been years since I have been alone in the house. Feels odd, strange and lonely. Yesterday at the stroke of NOON, Alvin left with my daughter for three weeks or so and will be home on Christmas EVE. Yesterday it was hard to see him go and I did shed some tears for my boy and then I got busy. I have lots to do and that was part of the point to get some things done and to have some downtime. Packing him up to go was akin to packing up a child to go away. There was his favourite blanket, I sent a bed for the car and in case he wanted his although Amanda said they have more beds than pups at home. I packed his food for three weeks which seemed like a lot but not really, his meds, his dishes, his toothbrush, toothpaste, ear cleaner and toys. Oh, his sweater, harness and leash. Although he did wear his harness in the car and was strapped in safely in the back seat while sitting on his favourite blanket and his bed so he was comfy although I am not sure he thought so. I think that I forgot something, oh and the pumpkin. There was food and pumpkin that was open in dishes in the fridge that was packed and went. They made it to Alberta Beach and Amanda reported that he is doing great. He did pant on the drive out but did not drool which is a step up for him. For the guy that seldom sets a paw into the motor vehicle. I am both pleased and very relieved. I wonder how last night went. I went to bed at 9:30 and read for a few minutes before lights out but did not fall asleep for a long time. How long I do not know as I did not get up to check the time. I woke up a couple of times during the night to go to the bathroom. I was laying thing trying to convince myself that I should get up and when I checked the clock it was 6:30 so I stayed in bed until just after 7:30. Yes, I should have likely got my butt out of bed but just to lay there with no one wanting me to move and do anything was great. I have all day to get things done.

Just after Amanda and Alvin left yesterday, I went to put something in the hall closet likely my jacket and before I knew it, I was cleaning it out. It was done at the end of fall but needed it again. Reorganized and cleaned the floor and proudly displayed my new winter boots. Following that I sat down and did some things on my phone before starting to bake.

Yesterday I made four batches of fudge which I am not sure how many pieces that will make, I am going out on a limb and guess around 100 pieces and then I baked 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies. I had supper in between the 5 dozen cookies mark.

I think it was about 7:30 or so when I finished cleaning up. So I enjoyed some Christmas movies while snuggling under our favourite red blanket.

Today’s schedule or agenda is SUGAR COOKIES. I am thinking about four batches but will see how many individual cookies I make. Each cookie will need to be iced and then there is laundry. I have already changed bedding, towels, gathered laundry and reorganized my bedroom clothes closet. Just will finish this post and do some online banking before heading downstairs where I will make some coffee and make the first batch of sugar cookies so they can be chilling while I start laundry. Whew.

I am glad that I booked tomorrow off as a vacation day. Tomorrow afternoon is also the funeral of our neighbour’s son. The service will be streamed so I will be able to attend via online. I also have to run and pick up toothpaste and movoflex for Alvin as Amanda will stop by on Wednesday after work to pick up. Going to be a busy week.

Have a wonderful day.

I just received a text from Amanda. Mr. Alvin was up at 4:30 to pee and then back to sleep until a bit ago and has just finished breakfast (8:20 a.m.). WOW. All is well.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (even though he is not here at the moment, he is always with me in my mind, heart and soul.)

Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are doing well. Another beautiful morning out there which will be great for our walk in a few minutes. As the day progresses it is forecasted to be 32 degrees celsius with a humidex factor of 35. That will not be fun and I am hoping that because the house is relatively cool at this moment that it will remain that way for several hours. After this week it looks like the high temperatures will have dissipated. It is not that I want to see summer disappear but not many people do well in those temperatures especially when we see them so seldom during the course of a year. I do however, look forward to fall or autumn and hopefully it will last until December. A girl can dream.

I do love fall. The crisp early mornings and the easy warm days and the cool evenings. The leaves on the trees turn to the most glorious colours. The bunnies start in time to turn white for winter. The air, the sights and the sounds and the fragrances of fall are so enticing. Pumpkin and spices.

Last night one of my friend’s came over for a visit. We had more of a “venting” session but that is okay as we both clearly needed to get some things off of our chests. Sometimes you just need to get it out. Nothing serious – just the little things – those things that eat at your mind – causing more damage in the long run. So happy that we spoke our truths and said what we needed to say. We also talked about her sons returning to school tomorrow. Christmas. The weather. So there were definitely some positive thoughts going about the conversation. Not all negative. I would like to think that venting or getting things off of your chest is not a negative action but rather a positive way to dump the negative energy without anyone getting harmed in any way.

On this sunny Tuesday, Alvin and I are going to enjoy our walk. I filled his water bottle and have his pooping bags just in case. More often than not, I use one of them to pick up trash. Today is garbage day in our neighborhood so hopefully it will not be windy and blow about the recycling. There is always someone who just lays things loosely in a cardboard box or a blue bin. Always someone!

Well I am going to grab the fan and take it downstairs, instruct Mr. Alvin to come downstairs and then get ready for our walk.

I wish you a glorious day. Remember always good to remove the negative energy / thoughts from your mind. If you can release those thoughts by “venting” them with a good friend – then you are definitely going to feel better.

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

As the sun fills the morning sky I bid you adieu!

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: so grateful for such great people that surround me.

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and WELCOME to Friday ….

Not an ordinary Friday.

But the Friday before a long weekend.

The Friday before we celebrate THANKSGIVING.

One of my most favourite times of year.

The weather …. the people …. the FOOD.

Who does not like PUMPKIN?

Pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin cookies.

Pumpkin cake.

Pumpkin Lattes.

Pumpkin tea.

Pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkins carved for Halloween.

Another fun time of the year.

There is always the contest for the largest PUMPKIN.

Charlie Brown and the gang.

Leaves turning such a vast variety of colours.

Leaves laying on the sidewalks and lawns.

Walking through the leaves …. crunching them.

The smell of the air.

Birds leaving for the winter.

 

We call the day THANKSGIVING but really we should be thankful all year round.

I am so grateful to have good health.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by the most wonderful people on the planet.

They are all family.

I am so grateful to Alvin in my life.

Although there are times that he drives me a little crazy and I’m quite certain that I do the same to him.

I love the little guy.

I am so grateful to have this beautiful house that we can call home.

I am so grateful to live in this great Country.

Life may not be perfect in all eyes.

But it is perfect for me.

 

Life is filled with many rainbows.

They come and go.

Latch on and have the time of your life.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

I am so excited to have this weekend.

Teddy is coming for a sleepover on Saturday.

My kids and grandpups are coming for supper on Sunday.

 

I wish and hope that you have a life filled with great joy, good health,

much laughter and abundance.

Happy Friday.

Respectfully and filled with kindness just for you.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 12th day of October, 2017.

Well there is no SNOW on the ground this morning which is a good sign.

More time without the pretty stuff.

We went for a short walk last night as the wind was freezing cold.

So thankful to be getting a ride home and to be getting home so VERY early.

Yesterday was home by 4:45 p.m. and we even made a couple of stops.

WOW …. normally on the bus I get home … well, let me think about that for a second ….. THERE IS NO NORMAL …. anytime between 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Feeling pretty spoiled this week, to be sure.

Nothing says FALL like a parcel from our good friend “V” ….

Truth be told ….. she spoils us ….. with goodies all year long.

She knows how to spoil me and Mr. Alvin.

There was a bag of treats for the boy.

Muffins, Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, Caramel Chocolate tarts, Brownies like a cupcake with chocolate icing and a piece of KIT KAT chocolate bars and a DEEP DEEP DISH APPLE PIE.

Now this would have been more than enough treats for us ….. she also gave me the most gorgeous turquoise pendant.

I am wearing it today.

I, we are so grateful to have such a thoughtful, kind and generous friend.

 

Footnote: to the treats for Alvin.  He went overboard and guess who was up SICK last night about 1:30 a.m.?  Not the Momma.  Note to self: do not keep letting him have treats …. he has no self control.  Have to teach him …. NO…..never too late to learn something new.  “ALVIN…”

There is so much to be thankful for this week and all the weeks of my life.

I am surrounded by great people.

I live in peace and joy.

I live knowing that if I truly would like to do something (legal of course), I may do so.

I live knowing I can make my dreams come true.

I live knowing that life is great at any age.

 

Whoops time to fly.

Have an awesome Thursday.

Happy Thursday.

 

Special Hello to:  my dear friend “V” who keeps me full of homemade sweet delectable treats …… thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 28th day of September, 2017.

Another gorgeous day on the way.

So grateful for these warm beautiful sunny days.

What a great way to celebrate FALL.

The leaves on the trees are turning to yellows, oranges and reds.

Still lots of green ones waiting to turn.

The grass in most areas remains a bright green mainly due to the rain last week.

So it is a gradual process and that is the perfect way to bring in FALL.

I love this time of year.

There is something comforting about it all.

The smell of fall …… oh, the taste of FALL.

Who does not love pumpkin.

Me, I do, I do.

Every year more and more products add some with pumpkin to their fall line-ups.

Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin chocolate, pumpkin lip gloss ……

You name it and someone has made it.

Alvin and I have been enjoying our walks ….. the colours in our park are amazing.

Parts of the park are more visible now with some of the leaves having dropped from the trees.

So now you can see clearly across the lake to the other side of the park.

So pretty.

Some ducks and geese swimming about ….. just adds more pleasure to our view.

Happy FALL.

 

Well it looks like it may be almost time for me to grab my lunch and shoes and go.

Nice to be able to wear only a sweater again.

Also nice to be dry when I get to work.  LOL.

 

Have a great THURSDAY everyone.

Special Hello to: my sister, Hello.

Always, Carol & Alvin