2021

Good Morning ALL! I hope that this finds you well and in good spirits. Both Alvin and I are doing well. The probiotics and ear meds appear to all be working, thank goodness. The bottom end of the boy seems to be almost back to normal, so grateful for that. Alvin is laying in the hallway, patiently waiting for me to write this post. Some mornings I have lots to say and know exactly what to type and others, I am not quite sure. This is the latter. I can tell you that today is Friday for me and I am over the moon to have tomorrow off as a vacation day. The plan is to spend some time with my daughter. We were going to take Alvin to their house so that he would not be alone but under the circumstances with the anxiety that he feels taking a car ride and the fact that he is just recovering from something – that would not be a good plan. So we will just go for a few hours – much less than I would like but the boy has to come first. If I had someone to check on him, then I could stay out for a few more hours but cannot find anyone at this time. Less time is better than no time. He will be fine for a few hours. It is funny how just over a year ago he was home from bright and early in the morning when I left for work until I got home after work. Too many hours but what choice did I have? I always felt guilty leaving him for so long. Now that I have been at home, I find it hard to leave him. On those times that I have had to go into the office – I have made sure that someone could come and check on him, let him outside to pee and give to him some love and maybe a treat. Speaking of treats, I have to go and pick up his treats from the vet. They had to order them and they arrived later on Tuesday (we were there in the morning).

I am so grateful for this weather. The sun is shining brightly and the sky is that perfect powder blue. There is a slight breeze much the same as yesterday morning. Quiet in the house. Looking forward to our walk at lunchtime.

I have been receiving signs from every direction and I think that I have to get on with getting this book written and then published. Dreaming of this for decades. I have enough to write several books but just want to make sure that I write the right one for this time. Something that people will want to read. So many ideas. I guess pick one and get the heck going.

Wishing you the perfect day. Perhaps a walk at lunchtime. Snuggle with your little one or your pup. Perhaps time out of your busy schedule to read a book. Maybe even dancing in your living room or out on your lawn. Have an awesome Thursday.

Living with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this fine May 12, 2021 Wednesday morning? Alvin and I are doing okay. He has yeast infections in both ears. Came on quickly considering we had been to the vet not even two weeks ago. Might have had something to do with walking in the wind and perhaps getting dirt and perhaps I did not get them dried enough when he went outside to go to the bathroom when it was raining. The vet who he has seen before is not his regular vet but I feel she brings a new light to the table. She helps out at the clinic to give my vet a break for a week or so each month now. It is easy to burn out when you work with no breaks. I cannot imagine that being a vet would be an easy job either. Also Alvin is taking probiotics for seven days with hopes that it gets his tummy and stuff back in regular order. I that Teddy’s Mom gives them probiotics, perhaps Alvin should take them on a regular basis. Mr. is sitting in the hallway calling to me, so perhaps he needs to go out or just wants my attention. I just called him to lay on his little bed in the office and he came and now he is gone again. Definitely he is not quite back to normal. Hopefully soon.

The sun is shining brightly in a clear blue sky this morning and there appears to be just a slight breeze as I can see the trees to the south of us moving ever so slightly. I believe we are going to have a +18 degree celsius day today. Perfect for walking.

We had the walk to and from the vet in the morning and after work we went for our regular walk. The trees are budding and in some cases the leaves are already out. I love this time of year. Everything so fresh and new. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel fresh and new? I think so.

Well sorry for this being so short. The boss is calling me. If you could hear him you would want to finish this as soon as you possibly could.

I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday. Go out and enjoy the day and remember to take some time just for you. 15 minutes or 30 if you can. Walk, sing, dance …… read a book. Time is precious and we have to remember to take some for ourselves. Recharge those batteries. I am thinking. Need to do that.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Holy catfish it is Thursday April 16, 2020 today.

The sun is shining on this new morning.

The sky is that faintly powder blue.

Sunshine is gleaming off the frost tipped cars on our street.

There is a pool of water in my backyard and on the other end is a snowbank.

Soon there will be grass.

YAY, it feels like a great day ahead.

 

How are you doing today?

I hope that this finds you well and happy and safe.

 

What are you doing these days?

Has your day to day schedule changed dramatically?

Are you working from home?

Are you studying from home?

Teaching young children?

Perhaps you are retired and the big difference is leaving the house for supplies and for visits?

Perhaps you are laid off from your job?

 

Whatever you are filling your days with remember to look after yourself.

Hydrate and exercise.

Lots of sleep and rest.

Now you have the time to take a nap in the afternoon.

How about that?

Now you have time to read that mountain of books that are falling off the bookcase.

Now you have time to maybe write a book.

Go through the house room by room.

Clean that closet.

No better time.

Now is a great time to reduce the extra things that have been taking up space in your space.

Time to make things simple.

Our future is going to change.

There is no doubt about it.

So why not make your life simple.

It all starts at home.

We do not need 20 pairs of black pants.

Do you really use 3 sets of dishes?

How about your pots and pans cupboard/drawer?

Clean it out.

You know that you have pots in there that you just cannot bear to part with.

Think about it and take action.

 

Well it is time for this gal to go and grab a cup of that fantastic perked COFFEE.

My workspace is beginning to call my name.

I really do not start until 8:00 a.m. but I will admit that most days I start much earlier than that …. oh well.

 

I hope that you are well and safe.

Don’t forget about your single neighbours, senior neighbours and perhaps that family that just may need a bit of help …

You have the time …. do something nice for someone today.

Even if it is a baking a cake.

 

Have an awesome Thursday.

Living with kindness and respect.

I/We are,

As Always, Alvin and Carol

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

Feeling refreshed as just had a nice shower.

Alvin was enjoying a massage a bit earlier.

I am worried that he is starting to feel the effects of arthritis more and more.

I even massaged his little legs and when I stopped he asked for more.

We have this little gesture when he wants/needs something.

I ensure even Al has to have manners.

He reaches out to me or to whomever with one of his front paws.

That is how he asks nicely.

So he kept doing this every time that I stopped massaging.

Unfortunately I cannot do it all day but I am going to make a point of on my breaks massaging his paws/legs.

He is laying on his extra soft bed that I made for him in the office.

I have a blanket of mine that is over 40 years old folded down and then his blue blanket on top.

Making a nice little bed for the boy.

 

In a few minutes it will be time to go and turn on the coffee pot or I may sneak away in a few minutes.

Am feeling like a cup of coffee sooner than later.

It is strange/odd that every day since I have been home, I have not had the same routine.

We do the same things but at somewhat different times.

Perhaps changing things up a bit does not hurt.

Our routine has likely been changed for some time to come.

 

I feel for Alvin though in all of this.

I know that he is enjoying me being at home.

Once I go back to work it will be tough on him.

He is not a young dog anymore.

One day at a time.

Making each day count is the way that we have to look at all of this.

 

Oh, just when we thought SPRING had truly arrived …..

IT snowed and snowed.

We now have a nice thick white blanket covering all of the bare ground and concrete.

There remain huge banks of snow in the front yards that face north and ours is one of them.

Okay, perhaps huge might be a bit of an exaggeration but still we have quite a lot of snow.

If we do not have an imagination or sense of humour, what do we have?

The sky is overcast so I am not seeing the beauty of a sunrise.

Although far on the horizon in between all of the houses that I see out of my office window there is some lightness.

Lightness coming from the horizon.

Sunrise?

I think so.

Hopefully the sun will shine through any clouds that remain in the sky today.

 

I cannot believe it is already DAY FOUR of working from home.

Yesterday so proud of us.

We went for a 30 minute walk at lunchtime and then again after work.

We will have to be careful walking today as the snow is covering the ice and water.

Will have to go from memory of yesterday’s walk.

 

Well, it is almost time to sign off for another day.

I can smell the coffee perking.

Yup, I ran downstairs (okay, walked) and turned on the coffee pot a couple of minutes ago.

 

I wish you a day filled with something new.

A good new.

If you are not working from home and have time to spare.

Go onto the computer and take an online course.

Most city/town libraries have free courses.

Just google free courses.

You never know what you may find.

Learning something new will ease the boredom and give you confidence and help keep your mind off things.

 

Maybe read a new book, a title that you have lying around the house OR I imagine there are free books online to read.

 

Start spring cleaning.

Start room by room.

Go slowly as I think we have time.

Be meticulous about what you are keeping, discarding and recycling and giving to charity.

 

Make a list from every room of all of the items that you have that you are not using.

Once complete then think of who you could give those items to.

 

If you sew, make a blanket for an elderly neighbour.

If you knit, make a blanket for your Mother/Father.

 

There are so many things we can do.

Write a book.

GO FOR A WALK.

I highly recommend the WALK.

There is nothing like fresh air to still the demons and quiet the thoughts.

 

So my coffee is perked and I am ready for it.

 

Wishing you kindness and respect.

Be safe and in good health.

This is one of those rare times in human history that we are all in this together.

Everyone on the planet has been affected by this in some way, shape or form.

I do believe that some countries are handling things better than others but that is unfortunately how things go.

Do the right thing where you are.

 

 

Have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 3rd day of October, 2018.

Yesterday weather wise was glorious.

The sun shone most of the day.

There was a breeze but did not feel cold.

While I was waiting for my ride to arrive yesterday morning.

I was looking at my tree.

Thinking of how beautiful all the leaves looked as the odd one would come floating down to the ground.

This is what I came home to last night.

My beautiful tree ….. is now bare.

All of the leaves gone in a single day.

 

The largest pile of leaves that I have ever had from this tree.

Usually they come off in stages.

Usually I rake at least four or five times.

Not this year.

 

Oh, so pretty.

I see raking in my near future.

 

Yesterday Calgary and areas south of us received a huge amount of snow.

We, I am grateful that we still have bare ground although we did have a nice blanket of snow only a short time ago.

I am just plain grateful that the ground is bare, my snapdragons are still blooming and I have leaves to walk in and to rake, soon.

 

You never know what is going to happen with Mother Nature.

We did enjoy our walk last night stopping to chat with our friend “P.”

She had unexpected company or she would have joined us for a walk.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

Wednesday already.

I hope that you enjoy this day.

I hope that if you have snow that it melts so that you can enjoy FALL for a bit longer.

I do not kid myself to think that winter will not arrive before fall ends.

Not here, not in Alberta and not in Canada.

 

Have an awesome day.

Read a book, make some tea, make some soup or perhaps stew and share with a friend.

Have a great day.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who is always creating some wonderful dishes for friends, family and customers.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 10th day of June, 2018.

The sky is filled with rain clouds, the trees are swaying in the wind and the sun is desperately trying to peer through the darkness.

It has been raining for a few hours and the pavement is wet, the grass is happily smiling a rich green, the trees are singing for the rain as they are moving about in the wind.

I can hear the rain drops coming down to the ground.

We needed the rain, the moisture, that balance.

 

Last night as the dark clouds filled the sky and the odd rain drop began to fall; I decided to move my flower pots into the protection of the house.

I could not have every pot in total cover and not that I wanted to as they need that glorious nectar that falls from the sky.

So they still receive the moisture but are protected in the event of hail and strong winds.

I noticed that some of the flower petals had fallen off and were covering the soil inside the pots.

What can you do?

 

We are going to visit a friend later this morning rain or shine.

So hopefully it is not pouring although I can carry my large umbrella and Alvin can walk close beside me.

He really needs a summer rain jacket.

He has one but it does not really fit him anymore.

At least it is not cold outside and we can always dry off later.

 

What are you doing today?

Is it raining where you are?

What do you do on a raining day?

Stay inside?

Go for a walk?

Read a book?

Write a book?

Watch a movie?

Eat popcorn?

Go shopping?

Do housework?

Hobby/craft time?

Go through closets?

 

I hope that wherever you are that you are enjoying this day.

Perhaps it is a work day for you or perhaps a day of leisure.

No matter what … enjoy.

Take in the sights and sounds around you.

Hold them close.

Appreciate them for what they are ….

Happy Sunday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister …. who is one of the best joke tellers I know.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Remember when the sun shines.

Go outside and enjoy it.

Go for a walk with your dog or a human companion.

Mow the grass if you are lucky enough to have a lawn.

Sit on your front porch and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Sit on your deck and read a book.

There are lots of things to do when the sun shines.

Have a great day.

 

Always, Carol