Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Thursday morning? We are doing well. I/We were so happy to spend some time with our girl. The time we spend together is always great. I am very grateful to have her in our lives. We miss our boy and the pups and cannot wait until Christmas to see them.

Amanda picked up a floral/plant arrangement for me to take with a card and a special Angel pin to our friends Norbert & Irene who recently lost their youngest son. One of the hardest face to face conversations. Broke my heart into a million pieces. I feel so badly for them. To lose a child of any age makes no sense. We always as parents believe that we will go first and when tragedy strikes and changes the “natural order” we are beyond disbelief and heart broken.

We, me and Alvin got to see little Betty Ann who belongs to friends of Amanda & Steven’s. Her parents dropped her off as she will be spending a week or so with the kids while they are away on business. I truly have the best kids, they have the biggest hearts and always have an extra pup or two in the household. I do not know how they do it because I always think I have my hands full with Mr. Alvin, lol. We all had a short visit before Amanda and Betty Ann were on their way to Alberta Beach.

Overnight the temperature dropped into the high double-digits. It was chilly outside when we were out earlier. Last day to the office for this week. I am very grateful that I can spend tomorrow working from home with Alvin by my side.

Last night was a blur with one minute driving with Amanda to cooking supper to eating supper with her, to going to see my friends, to Betty Ann being dropped off to them being gone. It seemed to happen so quickly. Almost makes me wonder, did it really happen? Of course, it did but it was an emotionally charged evening from happiness to sadness.

Well it be time to head downstairs and finish getting ready to leave for work. I am very grateful that I have a ride to and from work with a coworker. She is awesome and we have really got to know each other over the past couple of months. Carpool will do that!

Have an awesome Thursday!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: Amanda brought the tree lights and the toilet handle, so I have a couple of projects ahead of me. I think I shall wait until Friday after work. Should be fun.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Thursday Morning.

What a beautiful sunrise this morning.

The sky was painted beautiful by Mother Nature as only she can.

The sun was in rising on the horizon.

Various shades of firy pinks and oranges splashed above the sun on the horizon to meet the blue morning sky.

What a beautiful canvas!

What a great way to begin one’s day.

I am feeling so grateful and blessed this morning.

That was the sky out of my bedroom window which faces north and of course that was the view to my right which is to the east.

Now it has been perhaps one hour since I snapped those photos that the sky to the south from my office window is not the same.

The trees are swaying in the breeze and above the sky is beginning to grow dark with deep blue clouds.

What a gorgeous mix of Mother Nature this morning.

Absolutely breathtaking.

I will say it once again, a great way to begin the day.

 

Last night on our second walk of the day we came across two neighbours out for a stroll.

They have always taken a shine to Alvin ever since the beginning, since I first adopted him back in 2010.

At that point in time they had a dog named Rosie.

So last night when they spotted us – I had to show Alvin where they were as we were on different paths.

As soon as he saw them, over he ran.

They both bent over and gave him so many pats with love.

I was blown away by a comment ….

He said “How old again is Alvin.”

I said that he would be 12 years old in January.

Remarking how spry and puppy like he was and that one would never know his real age.

I have to agree.

For the most part Alvin does not show his age.

He does not have any grey and is in good health.

For sure he has had a couple of things or so in the past year.

But bouts of diarrhea is not necessarily age related.

He pulled/strained a muscle in his neck.

Not age related.

So everything could happen at any age.

I am over the moon grateful that he is in good health and hope that he will continue for many years to come.

We have his regular nail trim (spa treatment, haha) and bum thing this morning.

I will also have the vet clean his ears as he makes it difficult for me to do a good job.

I have tried, believe me.

After looking at how furry his paws were – I have been sneaking in trims whenever I can.

Half scissors will travel.

As soon as he falls to sleep on the sofa or wherever, I jump into action.

Well trying not to jump so to speak as he is a light sleeper.

I have managed to get some of the excess fur off his paws so that the vet can more easily trim them.

 

Well I guess it is time to grab that coffee and start looking to get ready to start work.

I have a few minutes, no rush.

Likely one more time to go outside.

The coffee is smelling extra good this morning.

I cannot believe that today is August 27th, 2020.

Where has the time gone?

Time flies when you are having a good time!

Or so they used to say.

 

I wish for you good health, great joy, much love and laughter with all sorts of abundance.

May your Thursday be a happy one.

May you be surrounded with positive energy.

With kindness and respect,

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S.  you know August 27th means?  Fall is right around the corner.  Doing a little happy dancing ……

 

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning,

Another hot one on the way.

We just returned from a nice walk.

The air is still a bit cool and refreshing.

Then I opened the door to the house and could feel the difference.

Even with the windows open early on to let in the cool morning air, it has warmed up again.

I have the electric fans on to help combat the hot stuffy temperature.

 

The sun was shining brightly at 6:58 a.m. when we left the house.

The sky is that clear blue.

I am amazed at how green and rich looking the grass has remained.

I was checking out the leaves on the trees.

Each one is different …. just like each one of us.

 

Today is going to be and is already a great day.

I moved my work computer downstairs once again to the kitchen after Alvin had a rough morning.

He threw up twice.

The first time I think he had too much fruit and that was my fault.

The second time …. was a bit later.

More than likely due to the heat.

So downstairs on the main floor with both fans blowing from one end of the house to the other is cooler.

It only takes me a couple of minutes to hook the computer up so easy peasy.

I can bring the equipment and stuff upstairs on Friday after work.

That will work out fine.

 

I will say that after I have been at home with him now since March and then for two weeks vacation, he is even more clingy and demanding.

He used to come into the bathroom when I would have a shower and muss up the bath mats.

Now he stands in the hallway or on the area rug in the bedroom and whines.

He does not like walking onto the laminate floor.

I guess this all comes with age.

So I sing a little song to coax him to come into the bathroom and then to leave.

It seems to work.

Everyone is surprised when I tell them he will be 12 in January 2021.

Looking at him – he has no gray.

He moves with the agility of a puppy.

Oh, my Alvin, my buddy, my pal.

Aging …..

 

Well it is almost time to head back downstairs and pour that cup of coffee.

Get the computer going and start my day.

Lots to do.

 

I hope that you are well.

Be safe.

Be strong.

Be kind.

Be respectful.

 

Have an awesome Tuesday.

Keep cool … if you are living somewhere with high temperatures.

 

Living with kindness and respect for all.

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR

Well Good Morning and WELCOME to FRIDAY.

Today is the last day of the first month of the New Year.

Is that not super crazy that we are done the first month?

I can hear that puppy crying for me on the other side of the gate.

Our little escape artist finally cannot get out/up.

She can push the metal enclosure to get to the steps going upstairs.

Usually I have a baby gate / heavy basket blocking and that keeps Teddy from coming up.

But not the baby.

Oh, she is determined.

She does not give up.

This morning I had a brilliant idea to use the gate that Kobi’s Mom brought over.

Yes, it worked great as it goes all the way across.

So I placed it on one of the lower steps and on the other side pushed the heavy basket.

She cannot move it or get around.

So she is crying/squeaking/barking for me as she sits on one of the lower steps.

What a character.

Thankfully last night everyone slept pretty well …. Alvin did get up to go outside about 3:00 a.m. but that is normal.

Kobi slept until he woke up.

I am a happy camper this morning.

Hopefully tonight will be a clean house when I arrive home.

It was so icy that we only made it to the park and home.

I took Kobi and Teddy first, brought them home and then took Mr. Alvin.

He is doing well despite having a five month puppy at him every day all day long.

Poor Teddy I think is exhausted.

She does not give up.

I get that she loves to play but poor Teddy.

Anyway if you are ever thinking about getting a puppy for a child/children and that they will be able to take care of him/her, think again?

Puppies are a lot of work.

They have boundless energy and NEEDS.

Be prepared.

Do your homework.

Just because they are cute and cuddy, does not mean that they are not work.

You owe it to that puppy as well.

At Christmas, this is what happens.

Cute puppy.

Let’s buy that for the kiddos for Christmas.

One week or less into caring for the energetic puppy adding into the mix many sleepless night ….

Parents take the pup to the Humane Society or some other organization.

Very sad.

Please know what you are getting into …. perhaps puppy sit for someone who has a puppy.

 

Anyway almost time to go and rescue Miss Kobi from the bottom step.

She wants so badly to come up to see me.

I have time for cuddles now.

So I shall sign off.

Time to go and give some love to the pups and to let them outside for one final pee/poo.

 

Have an awesome Friday.

YAY, it is the weekend.

So excited.

 

Always, Carol, Alvin, Teddy and Kobi.

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,  good morning to you.

The sky is beginning to lighten as hopefully the sun will rise shortly.

YAY, today is Saturday.

Master Teddy slept over last night as his parents went out to the farm for today.

The boys well Alvin is curled up on the blue blanket beside me and Teddy is just sniffing about at the moment.

After work on our walk we walked or actually Alvin pulled me over to Teddy’s house.

By the time we arrived my shins were aching.

Oh, yes.

We had a little visit and then were on our way.

Me and the boys walked around by the lake in our park to home.

The grass is still very much green amidst the partially turned leaves on the trees.

Some trees are still very green.

The water is flowing.

Oh, how I love this time of year.

We enjoyed our walk home.

The boys spent a bit of time in the backyard but mostly they were right beside me as I cooked my supper.

Alvin is motivated by food …. I think you know.

So even this morning at 5:00 a.m., Alvin, after he ate his food wanted to eat Teddy’s.

Yup, we were up eating well they were eating.

Deep sigh.

What can you do?

Teddy is wanting to get up onto my lap but it is not easy to type/key with a puppy on your lap.

He always slides down.

 

I was just thinking last night and earlier this morning …… about being more proactive when it comes to my job.

Instead of being reactive …..

Hard to explain without getting into details which I cannot.

But I am excited to try these ideas in my work life to see the results.

Perhaps giving folks ideas how to make processes easier instead of reacting to them.

I will get back to you about this.

Life is way too complicated and I want to make it easier.

Life is short so why not make it as easy as possible.

If you have to work why not enjoy it.

Even the most demanding, frustrating of jobs could be made easier and less complex.

Simplify.

We all need to simplify our lives.

Our work  ….. our home.

Life balance.

We have over the years made things way too complicated.

Complicated = Stress

Or at least that is my opinion/my view after being on this earth for 62 years.

I have seen this first hand.

 

If we look to the Animal Kingdom we could learn so much.

Instead of destroying them …. learn from them.

 

Well I have two puppies that are ready to get downstairs.

I need some COFFEE.

Time to get going on the laundry.

I have changed my bedding and gathered the laundry.

And the COFFEE.

Yup, simply a cup of coffee and I am in heaven.

Nothing better than to be sipping on a mug of hot perked coffee surrounded by pups.

Life is good.

My life is great.

 

Happy Saturday.

If we continue to learn and live our lives in kindness and respect, we will live great lives.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 7th day of May, 2019.

May is just zipping along.

Raining this morning giving the air a freshness and bringing about greenness – life.

Yesterday morning in England ….. Prince Harry and wife Meghan gave birth to a baby boy.

The wait is over.

Congratulations to the Royal Family on their new arrival.

Now for the name.

 

 

We continued with our watering duty last night although the plants do not need water every night – I want to check.

Our walk was delightful ….. taking in the ducks and geese along the way.

Fountain on at our pond …..

Love the sound of water….

 

Well last night Mr. Humphrey spent a few hours with us.

Humphrey is so photogenic.

He knows when you are taking pictures.

I did miss some cute shots but what can you do.

They move.

 

Now you know that the last three photos ….. someone is getting a bit too close for comfort.

You can almost guess what is going to happen next?

Yup. Humphrey gave Alvin a “love tap” and Alvin cried out and jumped off the sofa.

I spent some time trying to convince Alvin that the green blanket on the other side of me was just as good.

But he is set in his ways.

That is his side of the sofa.

Just when I thought that he was getting better at sharing.

 

Well the sky remains overcast as it continues to rain lightly.

I guess an umbrella is in my future.

My ride is picking me up EARLY this morning as she has to make a stop after she drops me off.

So I will get a head start to my work day ….

Actually every day is a head start to my work day ….

Usually I am there before the folks that start at 7:30 a.m.

When you carpool …. it happens.

I like early.

 

Have an awesome day.

Shout out to the in-laws who adopted a puppy.

Puppy is so cute.

 

Special Hello to: YOU on this rainy day …. have a great one.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 17th day of October, 2018.

It has been an odd morning here in our house.

Nothing bad for sure, just odd.

We were up at 4:00 originally which is not out of the ordinary for us.

Alvin had his breakfast, some water and outside for a bathroom break.

At 4:02 a.m. I set the microwave timer for 75 minutes which would have brought us to 5:17 a.m.

Then we hit the sofa for that extra sleep.

Next thing I know I checked my watch and to my horror it read 5:40 a.m.

I had to rub my eyes and recheck the time.

I must have slept through the timer.

Up fast and into the kitchen.

I wrote in my gratitude journal ….. slept in no time to write……thinking I am grateful that I still had time to do most everything else if I got to it.

So I ate breakfast,

Showered.

Got dressed.

Now writing this post.

 

At the rear of my house (which is where my office is located) I can hear a small dog barking in the near distance.

I think it is the same dog that barks most of the time.

This leads me to believe that the dog is outside all of the time.

I believe that I am going to investigate in the daytime (after work).

Poor little thing.

Why have dogs if they cannot stay in the house, especially if they are small.

There are no lights out back and when I opened the window it was pitch black (at this time).

Poor little thing.

 

I look at my little Alvin and think to myself that both him and I are so lucky.

So blessed to have found each other.

There are days perhaps when one or the other of us might be less than patient with the other but we would never hurt the other one.

I would NEVER leave him outside all of the time.

At the end of the day, I know he is snuggled next to me and is safe.

 

I am surprised that no one has called in a complaint to the city for the barking?

Why the once for Alvin and none for this little guy?

Perhaps if the city came out …. they could help him out.

Well in the meantime I will look into this matter.

Discreetly, of course.

 

Well almost time to leave as I am catching the bus today as my carpool is sick.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

If you are going to have a pet …. be respectful of them.

They are living breathing creatures just like us.

 

Special Hello to:  my daughter and son-in-law who are the best parents to my grand-puppies.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 30th day of July, 2018.

Another HOT one on the way.

So glad that we got up extra early yesterday and had a walk and got our chores done before it started to get too hot to work.

Windows open to cool house off for Alvin for the day.

Glad we went for a walk earlier this morning – it was so nice and cool.

Too bad one could not bottle that cool air and release it into the house.

 

Somedays a poem is just right.

 

IN YOUR HEART

 

In your heart lies the secret to your life.

In your heart lies the beat to every song and every dance.

In your heart lies the dreams for the future, and the ones forgotten.

In your heart lies every moment, every tear, every bout of laughter, every everything.

In your heart lies the gold that shines in the sunlight.

In your heart are the stars that shine like diamonds, blinding in the night.

In your heart is the strength to go where your body must follow.

In your heart is the soul that reminds you to live, love and laugh.

In your heart is mine beating like a reminder to all that we shared.

In your heart ……

In your heart I long to be…

In your heart I wonder…

In your heart I hear…

In your heart I feel….

In your heart I live, I love and I remember.

In your heart, for my heart.

My soul I do surrender.

 

CLewis, April 4th ,2011  (dedicated to the loves of my life)

 

Have an awesome Monday.

One more sleep until our company arrives, we are ready and so EXCITED.

Prayers go out to our little four-pawed friend Jazmine, get better soon.

 

Special Hello to: my sister …. we are ready.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Thursday, July 20, 2017 and it is the 21st day until my 60th Birthday.

Time is a skipping along.

When I think back over my life thus far I am both happy and sad but mainly overjoyed.

I have really nothing to complain about for my life.

Of course, there have been some incredible lows but without them how would you ever appreciate the highs.

We all deal with losing loved ones well before their time, and I have had more than my share.

But it makes you realize that time is precious and you must live your life; whatever that means for you.

I am quite content with spending quiet time in my home with Alvin – in my house.

Putzing in my yard ….. growing flowers ……

Yes, really, I own my own house.

“I am a homeowner.”

Those are words I only dreamed of saying and to be honest a part of me never really believed would happen.

It was only when I made the decision to retire from a career of 30 years that I realized that it was even a possibility.

I knew it meant if things worked out that I would only semi-retire or take time off and then would go back to work.

I only wish that I was independently wealthy and that would solve so much but at this point in time, I am not quite there.

Have to leave that door open for possibilities.

Because after all anything is possible.

I will leave you with that for today …..

 

P.S.

One thing I wished that I had the house when my daughter was young instead of her growing up in an apartment.

She spent the first 22 years minus 18 months in an apartment.

Perhaps then she could have had a puppy – something she always wanted so badly.

But in adulthood has adopted four …. she made up for lost time.

I guess things always have a way of turning out ….. if you want them to ….

 

Always, Carol

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 9th day of June, 2017.

YAY, it is almost the weekend.

Looking forward to seeing my girls (my daughter & Miss Aspen) tomorrow.

The sky is blanketed in dark blue clouds to the south as I look out of my office window.

A few moments ago in my bedroom which faces north the sun was shining and the sky was clear blue.

Funny how that works.

Seems like for some reason I am running late once again.

No particular reason but alas I am.

Do you sometimes have this problem or situation?

Not really a problem, I guess.

Just timing.

Last night after a long day between work and the bus ride home, we just had a quiet night at home.

Alvin and I enjoyed some quiet time in the back yard.

I mowed the grass and dug out some dandelions from Alvin’s little area.

The dandelions seem to come out of nowhere.

It was nice to sip on a cup of tea on the deck.

I must do that more …..

I hope that you have a glorious weekend.

I have been thinking about the things we say, I say and have come up with the following mantra:

I will think for a longer time before I speak.

 

There is more but I see by my watch that I have to go.

Have a great day.

 

Special Hello to: you and you and you.

Always, Carol & Alvin