The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing great. As it turns out Mr. Alvin did not shake his head or rub his ears all day after the morning so I am just keeping an eye on him. If this changes, of course, I will get the boy in right away.

This is an odd morning. It froze overnight (that is not odd). There is fog in the air. Fog does not happen a lot here in Edmonton and when it does, it feels odd to me. I cannot see the sunrise and not sure if the sky is blue or grey beyond the fog. I hope it lifts soon. I hope that everyone that drives has a safe drive to work. I am thinking of my daughter driving in from the countryside. Also my neighbour just left for the office as well. So grateful to be working from home and not having to worry about walking to the bus on the icy sidewalks.

We went to bed a bit later last night as I try to figure out the best time for that to happen. I know how important sleep is to us all. I turned the lights out after reading for a few minutes after going to bed at 10:00 pm. It was 4:00 am, when Alvin got up to go outside and then almost 6:00 am, when he got up for breakfast and then we laid on the sofa till 6:45 am. What is wrong with this picture? I would like to have a routine where we get up and stay up at like 6:00 am, I just find it difficult as the years go by to get up early and stay up. Have to break that habit. I am proud of Mr. Alvin he did good.

Yesterday it was a snow/rain mix for most of the day with heavy and light periods. Most of the snow that fell on the sidewalks and streets melted but the snow on the lawns stuck. Yes, stuck. I am feeling like I will never see the grassy area in our backyard. All of the snow that I shovelled and moved about back there is back. More exercise I see. But I most certainly am not going to complain about a bit of snow and ice as it is almost April and it will be gone for another season in a few weeks. Patience is a virtue so that say and I work on that virtue daily.

I am so grateful to my friend Signe who picked up some canned pumpkin for Mr. Alvin. For some reason I had forgot when she picked me up some groceries on the weekend. She found a sale so we are good for awhile. YAY.

I am so blessed and feel so grateful to have such thoughtful and considerate friends. Saves me from slipping about on the sidewalks going to and from the stores OR catching a taxi.

When we were outside walking on Sunday, I heard some geese honking and some other birds that I did not recognize their song. Just heard a goose honking as I typed the words. Fantastic.

Well time to go and have some coffee. Time to get things set up – turned on for work. I hope that you have a wonderful Tuesday.

Happy Spring!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: I have an African Violet in my office with the most vibrant deep purple flowers and I love it.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Another Sunday morning. It is snowing. We sure have a lot of snow. I was out shovelling on the deck and I am running out of places to put the snow. It felt heavy but it is likely because it was morning and I had just got up and gone out with Mr. Alvin. On the plus side, it feels warmer. When I look outside the sky is white, the ground is white, the rooftops are white and snow is falling. We are literally covered in snow.

Yesterday I finally cleaned the area rug in my bedroom. I love my Bissell Crosswave, it works like a charm. Man was the water ever dirty. So happy to have that job done. I also cleaned the hallway rug as well. Lots of laundry was done yesterday as well. Looks like I have shovelling in my near future and I will round up the garbage and put in garage so that it is ready for Tuesday. With all of the pee pads from Cookie’s stay I may have to wait to put all of the garbage out. Oh well, not the end of the world.

Alvin is waiting patiently in the hallway, I believe as I cannot see him from my home computer as I moved it to the desk closest to the window and have my work computer near the door to the office. Today will be a quiet day for us. I am so excited for this week as with warmer temperatures we can go for walks. Our neighbours adopted an 8 month old female pup named Addy and she will be younger sister to Humphrey and Bogart. Her new very excited parents brought her over to meet us yesterday. She was very well behaved. Alvin barked once at her but I think it was a bark to say “okay young one, this is my house and I am the senior here.” Both did well together considering she is a puppy. I cannot wait to see her again. She was outside in the backyard with her Dad a few minutes ago. He went into the garage and she waited patiently outside the door.

Well I suppose I should get going and make some coffee before heading out to shovel, doing one last laundry as I forgot to wash Alvin’s sweater and he will need it this week when we walk. He has a jacket but it will be too small and the sweater covers all of him and keeps him warm. He does have a big warm jacket but he doesn’t like to wear it much. Actually it is almost too big for him. Perhaps I should see if it would fit Addy. I will see.

Have a great day. Be kind and respectful to yourself and to ours. We have to do better this year, we must. There is something about 2022 that tells me that. Something about the number.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. Had a fairly good sleep and even slept in this morning. No reason to get out of bed and stay up at 5:00 a.m. or even at 6:00 a.m. other than I guess it is better for one to keep the same sleep schedule which includes going to bed and rising. I will admit that I am trying to find the best times and it appears to be a work in progress for us although we usually go to bed within an hour. At this very moment the view out of my office window reminds me of a snow globe. The snow is accumulating as it is below zero. I can see more shovelling in my future. Just when there was only a small amount on the deck and in the backyard. We still have a fair amount on the front yard but that is due to us facing north. All about the shade in the front which is nice as the living room faces in that direction. On those hot summer days when it is +27 or so degrees celsius that shade does not keep the living room cool …… we have fans for that…. The sky is completely overcast with no breaks so looks like this is set in for the day although the temperature is to be plus double digits today so if that happens we will end up with rain and the snow will melt quickly. Tomorrow’s forecast is for plus double digits tomorrow and rain. I am so glad that we had an extra long walk yesterday as we may not make it out today. I don’t mind walking when it is snowing or raining but for Alvin not so good. He runs the risks of moisture getting into his ears (even though I dry them when we get home) and getting a yeast infection. Not much fun for either of us.

What is going on the in world today? I have literally no idea. I only know what is going on in my house. With Alvin I have no idea what he is thinking. I can only react to his physical appearance which makes it hard. It would be nice perhaps to know what he is thinking although between the just moments ago shaking his head and sneezing, I am willing to place a bet that he is not so happy with me at this moment. Clearly he wants something. Now he is whimpering. Perhaps he has to go outside. When we arose from the sofa, he drank quite a lot of water and I coaxed him to go outside but he would not so likely now he has to go for a pee. Well we went down and outside and we are back. Guess you did not miss us as you did not know we were gone, lol.

The house is quiet as always other than Mr. Alvin running across the room. I like quiet but sometimes you need the company of other humans, right?

This is a good time for me to do some further writing.

Do you notice that when it is snowing or raining or the skies are just plain overcast and there is no sunshine that you somehow lose your get up and go? I sometimes do, okay actually lots of times I do. But sometimes when it is snowing or raining – I have the urge to clean out a closet or rearrange furniture. Always a good thing to do. Go through those closets and the pantry. Cupboards and drawers. I will say that one advantage about living with no other humans is when I put something down it stays in that spot until I move it. When I put something away – it stays away until I move it. So there are advantages of being the only human in the house but then sometimes it is just lonely. I would not say that I am lonely often as I usually find a way to entertain myself and after all, I have Mr. Alvin and he keeps me busy. I would think when you are part of a busy household filled with humans and perhaps a pet or two that sometimes you just would like to be alone. I guess for us humans it always remains something to find a happy medium. Like the work life/home life balance.

Well I guess it is time for me to get dressed, take the laundry down to the basement and get that started. There will be vacuuming to do and dusting as well. Bed has been stripped and made already so one thing off my list. I look forward to a cup of coffee on a Saturday ….. it does seem different than during the week. Mainly because I actually can drink it while it is hot/warm. Very enjoyable.

I hope that you are doing well amidst all that is going on in our world and in your life. If we remember to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience then we are doing our very best. I think that I could add love and passion to that list as well. If we love ourselves and live our lives with passion in addition to living with kindness, respect, compassion and patience ….. we truly have all of the bases covered for a well lived life. Food for thought.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to read my words. I see and know that some of you read this post faithfully everyday and I am truly grateful.

May life treat you well each and every day.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this Sunday, February 21, 2021. Today was my paternal Grandmother’s birthday. She was born this day in 1901. Her name was Stella and she was a force in all things from her love of football and hockey to baking and gardening and everything in between. She knew every player and theirs statistics in the Canadian Football League. Grandma even had season football tickets for the Saskatchewan Roughriders which were/are located in Regina, Saskatchewan (she lived in rural Saskatchewan) and never attended a game, this was one of the ways she supported them. Another was purchasing the annual fundraising dinner. ticket and never attended As much as she loved sports she loved her garden, most especially her roses. Flowers were her passion. She won horticultural awards in her hometown for her roses. Her garden was always beautiful. Happy Birthday Grandma Stella.

The sky is overcast here in Edmonton. The air is warm, I was just outside with Alvin who was digging up a chew treat from one of the snow banks while I was digging up something else (not really digging for me). After I finished I watched as he dug up the chew treat from the snow drift on the grass area of our backyard (which is small). He picked it up and then proceeded to hop up the three steps from the yard to the deck. From there he hopped up the three steps to the top part of the deck by the garage. It was here that he walked over to the snow that I have piled and started to dig. I was entranced. He had his head down in the snow, digging with his paws until he dropped the chew treat and then started to cover it with his nose. When done he raised his head which had been partially covered in snow and gave it a shake. All through this I had wished that I would have ran back into the house and got my phone to take a video. But my phone was not by the door and likely by the time I threw off my boots and grabbed my phone he would have been done. I really wanted to just be in the moment. After burying the treat, he walked over to the steps to come down and hesitated for a moment before making the leap down the steps. I always hold my breath when he comes down the steps. Also I need to share something else about Alvin. This past Tuesday as you know he had his regular nail trim, anal gland and ear check appointment in addition he was receiving some vaccinations that were due at the end of February. That morning I noticed something odd. There was colour in his pee. Now when peeing in the snow …. you notice things. The colour was red. Even after he peed, there would be a drop of red. My heart skipped a beat. This is never good. I called his Vet to let them know and that we would have to add some tests to the appointment and explained. So at the appointment they were able to take a urine sample by inserting a catheter and also did blood tests. They could tell it was not an Urinary Tract Infection or at least there were no crystals. The blood tests were inconclusive so the only other option was to book an ultrasound. So that I did. This coming Tuesday. I have not shared this information with many people. But after knowing this for several days and trying to remain positive and feeling like I need to say something, I have started to tell a few people. It is a big thing to keep all to myself. I am positive that he will be fine as he has been eating and drinking like normal. His sleeping has not changed – still as crazy as ever. He was a bit whiny yesterday but his paws seem to be bothering him which they do from time to time. Please keep Mr. Alvin in your thoughts and if you pray, in your prayers. I am hopefully for good results. This was why I wrestled about taking the video but I am happy that I stayed outside and did not miss one second of him digging up and re burying his chew treat.

Well it is almost 9:30 and I have to put on coffee and have breakfast as I am having a video chat with one of my friends. The other is spending time with her husband who works away from home and is currently at home for a few days. They are having some family time.

The sky is overcast and the wind is blowing. The only sounds are the clock ticking in the bathroom beside this room and the clicking of my fingers as they touch the keys on the computer keyboard.

I will enjoy and be grateful for each and every day that I get to spend with my friend and companion Mr. Alvin. I hope that it will be years but that is not for me to know that this point.

Have a wonderful day. I thank each and every one that reads my daily post. I love to write and it makes it even better to know that people love to read my words. I hope that most days – I bring a smile to your face, perhaps give you food for thought, and bring you some helpful information.

Take Care.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience for all creatures.

Always, Carol & Alvin

One of my favourite photos of my boy.

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? Both Alvin and I are well. He/We/I were awake just after midnight and up and out and then back to “BED,” yup the actual bed not the sofa until guess what time? I was so excited “5:00 a.m.” Felt like I actually slept through the night. So that was a great way to start the day. Oh no, we did not stay up. The sofa always calls our names.

I am so happy that our sunrises seem to be happening earlier each day and I guess they really are, so nice. No snow yesterday that actually accumulated which was good. No walking. Seems to be a lots of no’s happening. We did some up and down the stairs. Alvin does get fresh air more than me when it is this cold as he has to go out for the obvious reasons and sometimes he likes to just go out on the deck for a few minutes under the careful eye of his Momma. Have to watch that the pads on the bottom of his paws do not freeze. It is something that most folks do not think about when they are out walking their dogs in the winter time and in the summer they can blister/burn on hot pavement and sidewalks. We rescued a dog on a hot summer day who has his/her pads badly burned. My family took the pup to the Emergency Vet for treatment. Unfortunately we never did find out where she belonged. Very sad.

Today is the Happy Birthday of one of my two nieces. Happy Birthday KENZI. Alvin and I are hoping that life is treating you well. Best Wishes.

As I look around my office, I see that I am surrounded by my favourite inanimate objects such as cards, photos and books. I love to read. Every night when I go to bed – I read. I love all sorts of books. My daughter also has a thirst for reading books and quite often passes hers to me which is great because right now who gets out to shop for books. I have another friend who reads with a passion and she sometimes passes a book or three to me. Books are so very important to us human beings. They can lift you up and take you to places that you never imagined. The power of words. I am grateful to have a room filled with the things that I love. A thank you card from the CEO of a company I used to work for, a very beautiful birthday card from my sister, lots of cards displayed, photos of me and Alvin, my daughter, places I have been and favourite sayings. All hanging up on my wall size bulletin boards made my talented daughter. I must say that my office upstairs is my favourite room in the house. Truly. Makes my heart sing and my heart warm. Do you have a favourite room/place in your home. I also had this room painted the most glorious shade of green. I love this room. Truly I do.

Well I think that it is time to head on downstairs and plug in the coffee. Busy day ahead. Alvin is being patient this morning. He went outside just before we came upstairs. We both had a good sleep.

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday.

Oh, my Chef’s Place meal delivery order is coming today. This is the third one that I have tried. Fresh (cannot remember the name at this moment), GoodFood (which I love) and this one Chef’s Plate. Nice to try things that I would not normally cook and to have all of the ingredients. Just remembered it was called Hello Fresh.

Remembering to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience. Oh, I am working on patience, every day. Alvin will attest to that for sure.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning All,

Earlier this morning the air was warm and fresh. Still that way except while I was in the shower it rained. The sidewalks told the story when I looked out of the bedroom window. We are supposed to get some extremely strong winds today. Batten down your hatches.

I am finishing up things before heading to work. Thank goodness today’s commute is as far as the kitchen. I am so over the moon grateful to be working from home. So much less work “getting ready” for work being at home. I love it. Fingers crossed that after January 1, 2021 – that I may continue working from home. I know that Mr. Alvin will love me being at home, as well.

Last night my daughter and I were texting before bed and we were mentioning about reading. I have read more books this summer than I have in many years. Reading has always been a large part of our lives and we both enjoy it so much. She has read 40 or so books this summer. My total would not be near that amount but I have read several. Enjoying finding new authors.

Well it is almost time for work. Yes, I slept in this morning. Just could not get my fanny up and going. This is the toughest time of year to be motivated in the mornings when it is still dark when you are rising. I could definitely be a bear. Oh well, in a few weeks I will be acclimatized.

Better get going. Need COFFEEEEEE this morning.

Take care and be safe on this day and all to follow.

Living with kindness and respect for all.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Sunday Morning,

The sun is shining and the wind is blowing.

 

I just hopped out of the shower a few minutes ago.

How refreshing to have a morning shower.

Do you prefer before bed or in the morning?

I guess I like either one depends on the timing.

 

Alvin and I had a pretty quiet day yesterday.

I did laundry and cleaned out some drawers in the kitchen, dusted and cleaned.

We went for a nice walk.

The temperature warmed up over the course of the day, which was nice.

 

The air is definitely cooling down as the sun’s rays do not have the heat they had in July or near the beginning of August.

Fall is approaching.

As much as I love Summer for much different reasons; I love the Fall/Autumn.

The different coloured leaves on the trees.

The cool but comfortable temperatures still able to go in sleeves or a light sweater most days.

The smell of fall …. it is different.

Fall is a busy time prepping for the cold season.

Cleaning up the flower beds preparing the perennials for a winter’s sleep.

Eventually cleaning out the pots as the annuals pass their season.

After the frost and before the snow putting away all of the deck furniture.

One more swoosh in the garage (sweeping the floor) before putting away that furniture and odds and ends.

Making sure that the tree is trimmed ( I am going to do that this afternoon unless it rains ).

Washing windows one last time.

Sweeping the porch and the deck again.

I guess that I will add cleaning the blinds onto that list.

Most of the jobs are not huge for me as I live in half a duplex.

Lawn is half the size, front and back.

Which is manageable for one person.

 

Well it is getting time to go and have a quick breakfast before my friend Gillian comes for coffee.

Our other friend is visiting family in Manitoba.

 

Oh, I started another book last night.

“The House We Grew Up In” by Lisa Jewell.

This book goes back and forth between late 80’s and recent times.

So far I really am enjoying it.

 

Well time to go and have breakfast and start preparing for my company.

I just heard Humphrey and Bogart’s Mom talking to them outside.

She sounds anxious.

Looks like Bogart was where he should not have been.

He is quite the character.

Young and fast and curious.

 

We all have stories ….. even if we do not publish them for the world to read ….. we really should write things down ….

Stories to pass on …..

Start a blog ….. keep a journal.

Your children and future generations would be interested in your thoughts and your life.

Really they would.

Your words would be there to read, to inspire, to give retrospect  to future generations.

 

 

Okay time to fly.

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

 

Living my life with kindness and respect to all.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Books give me inspiration to write.

The green room, my office gives me inspiration to write.

 

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning,

Today is Thursday the 13th day of August, 2020.

Almost half way through August now and fall/autumn is fast approaching.

In some areas of the country the leaves are already beginning to change colour.

The grass in places is beginning to turn yellow/brown.

The grass and trees are still pretty green here in Edmonton due to the rain.

The air is cool.

The mad heat of the summer was short lived – only being about ten days this year.

We had a great many rainy days but have been blessed to have sunshine.

The weather during my vacation has been very nice with most of the hot days falling during this time.

 

Ah, summer.

Ode to Summer.

Short and oh so sweet.

 

I will say that fall is my favourite season …. I do love the freshness of spring and the smell.

Now that being said …. when I was growing up on the farm … back in 04 (just kidding) ….

There really was a fresh smell to spring.

A scent to the snow melting …. we did not know about snow mold back on the farm.

The crocuses covered pastures with a purple blanket.

Snow melted over a few weeks time.

I do remember once, when I young that we still had some dirty snow on the northside of our house in July.

That was crazy.

 

Back to modern times.

So this is Thursday, then Friday and the weekend and Monday is back to work.

For the most part the time has gone by at a reasonable pace until today and now it seems like work is right around the corner.

Back to getting up earlier.

Thankfully not as early as back in March when I had to leave the house at 6:40 or so or earlier if I was catching the bus.

I am grateful that the decision was made for us to remain working from home until at least January 2021.

Perhaps our leadership team will find that working from home just works better for staff.

I do love being at home.

No commute.

Time for extra walks.

Being with Alvin …. No. 1 reason for loving working from home.

 

Yesterday we had so many visits.

In the afternoon, Teddy, his sister Kobi and Mom came for a visit.

First visit from them in months although Teddy did spend some time here a few weeks ago.

After supper we went for our second walk of the day.

It was so nice outside.

We were almost past Pauline’s house, the friend with the glorious garden, when we heard her call out to us.

Alvin enjoyed running and sniffing about her yard and I enjoyed checking out the flowers and chatting with our friend.

Her flowers are still so beautiful.

A young lady named Jenna and her small dog named Ellie stopped by.

Pauline introduced me and Alvin to them – they had met while walking about a month ago.

My friend had been out walking with her grand pup George when they met.

I love meeting new people.

We had a nice long visit before returning home and not empty handed, I might add.

Pauline gave me some succulents to plant in my back garden.

I did not have time to plant them last night as we found Humphrey and his Mom on the front lawn visiting other folks from the neighbourhood.

Alex, Janet and their yellow labs “Eddy” and “Bruno.”

Alvin got a little freaked out as they saw me and pulled on their leashes to come and see us.

We had a nice visit on the front lawn.

I am so grateful that we have such lovely people in our neighbourhood.

By the time we got into the house it was 8:30 p.m. and we had left the house at 6:30 p.m.

A nice couple of hours outside enjoying the fresh air.

 

Well it is time to hit the shower as it has been a couple of days.

My hair looks like it needs to be washed.

The sky is now overcast and after the shower, I want to get those succulents into the ground as soon as possible.

They are resting in some water at this time.

 

I hope that you are enjoying August 13th, 2020.

Another friend celebrates a birthday today.

So many August birthdays.

Happy Birthday Caroline.

 

Alvin is standing in the doorway and staring at me.

Now he is stretching.

He is good at stretching, I could learn a lesson from the boy.

 

Well I think after my shower I will put on long pants.

Other than next Monday the weather forecast is for high teens and low 20’s for the next couple of weeks.

Last night it got down to plus 8 degrees celsius.

 

Living life with kindness and respect.

We all have our differences, our opinions and similarities.

No one human being is exactly the same.

That being said “we have to be better at living with each other.”

We should all be striving for the same thing.

Peace, respect and kindness and compassion for all human beings, for all living beings and for the environment.

When we notice disrespect, violence and non compassionate actions we need to speak out and change this.

No one person whether adult or child should have to live in fear or violation.

No animal should be chained up.

Cruelty and violence should be two words that are not in our vocabulary.

We need to be better.

We have to be better.

If we look back historically at the different centuries …. we are no better now.

The only different now is technology.

My hope that during my lifetime we humans learn to peaceful, respectful and compassionate.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning after WHAT A  NIGHT!

Another storm rolled in after a hot sunny day.

I am reading this book which is a crime psychological suspense novel.

THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware.

WOW, what a book.

Likely not the best to be reading before bed with a storm looming.

Anyway that is what I have been reading.

I only read a few pages last night as we were up late.

I decided to rent a movie “The Old Guard” from our cable provider.

It was good but it was 10:30 by the time it was over and then we had to get ready for bed.

So it was late for me and Alvin.

After putting down the book – I found it hard to settle down.

Alvin did as well.

Likely in part as it was warm.

I had the electric fan on a low setting with the window open.

At first there was not much of a breeze but it increased over time.

I would just almost be asleep and then Alvin would stir.

Then settle down again.

Only to be awoke by this noise.

It sounded like someone was in the house and coming up the stairs.

I froze.

I could not move.

No blinking of my eyes or beat of my heart, as I momentarily held my breath.

As I lay there in sheer terror for what felt like forever – I suddenly realized that Alvin was not stirring.

Odd, as he would have been up and barking if there were anyone or anything in the house.

So I took a breath and looked around the room in the partial light coming in from the windows.

One of the blinds was not closed to the bottom of the window so a bit of light was coming in.

As I lay there I scanned the room.

Nothing and then I realized where the noise was coming from.

That whossing, small thud was coming from the door.

The darn door.

I was relieved to be sure.

I have started in the last couple of years to close but not shut the door tight.

My thoughts were if something happened to me during the night at least Alvin could get out of the bedroom.

I still was a bit nervous, I will be say but I climbed out of bed and closed the door.

The noise stopped.

I stopped and listened and no more noise.

Do you think that I turned on the light and looked further, absolutely NOT.

So that was our excitement for the night.

Alvin woke up about 4:30 or was it 5:30, actually I do not remember as I was so tired.

Exhausted after two nights of storms.

After he was fed, watered and went outside we hit the sofa, it was 7:22 when we woke again.

My mind said get up but my body said not until 8:00 a.m. so I set the timer on the microwave for 40 minutes.

We were up just after 8:00 a.m.

The sun is shining and the birds are singing.

I went outside in my pj’s to the backyard to move my potted flowers back to their spots away from the protection of the house.

Surviving another storm.

I decided to go into the garage and bring out the cushions for the patio furniture and put up the umbrella as the sun is shining bright.

Thinking that was a great idea until I checked the weather station and they are forecasting rain to start at 9:00 a.m. which is in less than 10 minutes now.

Oh well,

I have decided to take Mr.Alvin for a walk after I am done writing this post as according to the forecast we are to get rain off and on all day.

My friend Gillian invited me over for coffee at 10:00 so there is time to get out for a walk before I leave.

She lives about 3 minutes away.

 

So that was my night.

My day was far better.

I did some laundry, gave Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath and worked at my job for 3.5 hours.

I know, crazy working on a beautiful afternoon.

But there is so much to do this really gives me peace of mind that I will not be super stressed out during the week.

I have a few hours to do this afternoon as well.

I was thinking that I have not been further than a few blocks from my house since March 19, 2020.

My daughter and my friends have been picking up groceries as I need things.

To be honest the thought of going on the bus or to the store or to work slightly frightens me at this point.

 

Well I must go.

Time to get the boy out for a walk.

There is a nice breeze.

 

Wishing you a great Sunday.

Be surrounded by love and laughter.

Living in kindness with respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

This morning exactly the same as yesterday.

Oh, I put the cushions on the furniture ….

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Today is the 40th birthday of my daughter.

She was born on a Wednesday on definitely a winter’s day.

She was the third grandchild on her Dad’s side of the family and the second on mine.

My nephew was just three years old when she was born.

Lots of Aunts and Uncles on both sides to spoil her with love and attention.

Both sets of Grandparents and one Great Grandmother.

 

So tiny was my girl.

5 pounds 11 ounces and 17 3/4 inches long.

When we left the hospital for home she weighed 5 pounds 5 ounces.

Our little doll.

 

So much has happened over the last forty years.

We started off together at home.

Then off to daycare when I went back to work.

The next thing I knew you were entering Kindergarten.

Then you were standing up to bullies on the school playground.

My darling little girl.

Definitely a force to be reckoned with, in her own quiet way.

Creative from the beginning.

In middle school she participated in a play and I helped contribute by writing a poem.

A collaborative venture. So proud.

It was about saving the environment (we have been working on that for a long time).

My girl always great in the art department.

Some of the pencil drawings of her favourite model or actor or entertainer still put me in a state of AWE.

All through school as much as she loved hanging out with her friends, she was just as happy to be at home in her room, reading.

I started to read to her when she was in the womb.

She loved to read and read from an early age.

My girl did great all through school.

In High School she decided to get a part-time job.

She worked at Zellers, Blockbuster, Black’s Photo and Chapter’s over those early years including her first two years of University in Regina where she studied Fine Arts.

In the beginning she thought of Direct and Producing Films, which she was passionate about early on.

In her early teens she found a love of photography as did I.

She loved to snap photos of her cousin.

One day after completing two years of University and being unsure of what direction to take, she decided that she wanted to pursue her dreams of photography.

Applied to NAIT in Edmonton, Alberta.

This would mean a move.

She was accepted and was the only student from Saskatchewan that was accepted that year.

They had a rigorous process for acceptance.

I was so proud of her but was sad for me knowing that she would be living several hundred miles and not just down the hall from me.

She had been down that hall for 22 years and I was going to miss her.

Now I could certainly write a letter about our first forty years …. her first forty years.

I could not be more proud of another human being as I am of my girl.

She is loving and giving, smart and funny, generous and supportive.

Compassionate for all creatures.

There is so much to say that I could likely write a book and this is not the time.

Upon moving to Edmonton, she got right into school and working.

Most times working at least two part-time jobs while attending school full-time.

She worked hard and still does.

She met her partner in life while working at Blockbuster in Regina and they have been married for more than a decade.

Time flies.

She has photographed people, weddings, special events, pets and more.

We had / have a jewelry business together.

Just after graduating from photography she went to work for one of the City Councillors.

Today she continues to work for the City.

She continues to pursue her dreams in the art world.

Paper collaging these days.

She was featured in one of the first issues of an Australian Art Magazine.

She has collaborated with a “famous” videographer/producer.

 

We have travelled to Jasper and Montreal together.

Nowadays our thing is a small girls road trip in the summer.

The trip is within an easy drive from our homes.

Checking out quirky and interesting places along the way.

 

 

She has been a Mom to Elton and Penny, our fur babies, who watch over us all.

These days she is Mom to Aspen and Milo.

There is so much to say about this baby, this girl, this woman who is my daughter.

I love her more than words can say.

I am more proud of her than I can show.

I have watched this girl of mine grown in this phenomenal woman filled with grace, elegance and compassion.

We wish her all the best in the years ahead.

May your days be filled with love and laughter and your nights, too.

May you have good health, always.

May you always follow your dreams wherever they may lead you.

Life takes courage and strength.

Always do what feels right and you will always do the right thing.

Happy Birthday to our darling girl ….

 

 

So on this your fortieth birthday, my darling daughter and Alvin’s big sister …

Happy Birthday

With Love

Always & Forever,

Mom & Alvin