The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? I, we are doing well. Alvin was up a few times but I think we are so used to it and hitting the snooze that it is our norm. Say that three times fast. I just put on some Mary Kay lip gloss and I love this product. Not tacky or sticky – feels good and looks great. My makeup tip for the day. If you need just a bit of a lift – try some pretty lip gloss. Nothing fancy. Especially for those of us who are blessed to be working from home. I know people that have stayed in their pj’s all day but after two years that must get a bit old. I wear comfy bottoms and then dress up the top half. Sometimes I wear what would be work appropriate pants but most times I wear more dressy “sweats.” I don’t always wear a lot of makeup but always do my eyebrows (as they are getting lighter each year) and lips. Usually once or twice a week or if I have to go to the office, then I put on eye makeup and blush. So whatever makes you feel good. I do know that on the days when I have a shower, I am more likely to do the extra makeup like eyes and cheeks. That is just me.

It was cold last night. We had a bit of snow sometime between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Not that we need more snow! Mother Nature, Mother Nature! Gotta love her. Once again there is a light blanket covering the bare spots on the deck, on the rooftops, the sidewalks and the streets. I cannot wait until spring and the ice melts and we can once again resume our twice daily walks. Both Alvin and I are missing our outdoor time. We go outside here and there – mainly on the back deck but it is not really the same. Patience, I keep telling him and myself.

Oh, last night I made another batch of the chocolate pudding. I doubled the batch so had to use one can of evaporated milk and one of coconut milk. It did not get super thick (but thick enough) as night before so perhaps I could have added a tad more corn starch. I am experimenting. It was very tasty. I will write down my changes and the recipes and post them. I love chocolate pudding. I suppose the recipe could be modified to be carmel, butterscotch and other flavours. Will get back to you on that.

Oh, the chili was really good. I have about 100 or so different varieties of chili that I make. I suppose that I should write those down as well. I cook so in the moment that I do not think of the future. Likely not a great idea for passing on ideas and recipes. I love to experiment and to use whatever items that I have at my disposal. Sometimes I may only have one item for a recipe so I really have to use my imagination but isn’t that what life is all about. Trying new things. I must confess that I seldom have everything in a recipe unless I am planning in advance. But I enjoy trying new things and seeing what I can create.

Looking outside it looks cold and dark. No light spots in the sky. Everything looks white from top to bottom. ARGH. Oh well it is February 16, 2022. Winter in Western Canada.

Time to go and have some of that coffee that I have poured into my to go mug to keep hot. I truly love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. LOVE, love, love.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Perhaps you will try something new. Changing things up is a good thing.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I feel like something fantastic is going to happen to us today. Just a feeling!

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 15th day of November, 2016.

Half way through this month as of today.

November has been wonderful weather wise.

Last night we enjoyed our walk.

According to the weather reports cooler weather is on its’ way.

Not too much but not so many days on the plus side.

 

I have been thinking as of late about deadlines for tea sales, the cut off to guarantee the orders arrive before Christmas.

I have been thinking about baking.  When to start and what to make.  Definitely sugar cookies top the list.

My daughter had the photo of Alvin and I printed for my Christmas cards so have to start writing cards.

I usually include a letter whether one typed up or hand-written; it is a big job so must get started on that.

A few gifts (mainly hand-made this year).

There is a dinner party for a few friends in there somewhere.

Lots to do.

Tea party this weekend.

It is actually a Christmas Shopping Event.

Two other vendors will be at my Hostess’s house: Stella & Dot and Scentsy.

Should be fun.

One stop shopping for the Holidays.

I am excited.

In December one of my co-workers from the office and I am hosting (at my house) another Christmas Event.

She makes “Natural Bath Products.”

So I have some baking to do for that event.

Also good to try something new.

Well here we go again, time to finish getting ready for work.

So happy to see dry ground outside.

But I will be donning a lighter winter jacket today as yesterday my spring/summer coat was just a bit on a light side.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

I must sit down and make a LIST of everything that I have to do and all of the events/dinners/coffee dates etc.

That way nothing will be missed or forgotten.

Back here tomorrow morning.

Special Hello to:  my family and friends in Saskatchewan.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Welcome to Wednesday the very first day of May, 2013.

How are you today?

Feeling great, I hope.

I am feeling wonderfully well.

 

Just was thinking about ideas and money.

I had recorded the “Katie” show and watched it last night.

It would seem that “homemade” is the way to go these days.

All it takes is a “depression” or a “recession” and people not have money pouring in to take us back to those simpler times.

It is quite true, though.

 

I know from personal experience that we can sometimes get carried away and think we need or have to give “material things” to others.

If you live a good life ….. where you are genuinely grateful for others … then buying them something is not necessary.

I at this point of my life “keep it simple” …… I do not buy what I do not need.

It is as simple as that.

How often in years gone by …. did I think  “Oh, I would love that top that I saw in the store window, and even though I did not have the “actual cash” for it but had one of those “credit cards” … I would tell myself that I deserved it and then would buy it.  Please forgive this very long sentence.  But it is an entire thought.  Over time it all adds up and then we find ourselves in a not glorious place.  I think most of the people in North America are finding themselves in that very position.  It does not help matters when retail is advertising like crazy on the radio, television, the INTERNET.

But we need to be realize too and I learned this only a few years ago “money is not your life”  and that you are who you are with or without it.  If you are being real.  Understanding that yes you do need a certain amount to live.

Anyway I think I may have digressed from my original thought pattern but then again it happens.

So back to the top, making things.  Creating your own food, clothing and gifts for starters is so self-pleasing.  Makes one so proud.

Let us share our recipes, share our creative genius.  Help others.  If you have an idea that would help someone – then share.

 

I am going to start posting the things that I do in this current life.

From cooking to shopping and living.

 

So have a great day and I will be back again tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone for taking your precious time to read my words, I do really appreciate it.

Special Hello to:  my fellow bloggers ….. words are so powerful and so much fun.  Keep writing and reading.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

Note regarding Recipes

I will be posting some yummy vegetarian dishes in the near future.

Usually once a week I try something new …… so I want to share them with you.

Have a great day.

Try Something NEW !!!

Sometimes, I am a bit hesitant to try new things.  But not in the kitchen.  I love mixing and blending and making something new. My daughter planned to come for supper, and watch “Survivor”.  We are total Survivor nuts.  I have only missed two episodes in the 20 seasons that it has been on the air.  I decided to make lasagne for the main course, and a cake from scratch for dessert.  I couldn’t find the lasagne recipe that I used to use (incidentally it has been years since I made lasagne).  So decided to check the internet.  Too many choices.  Overwhelming.  So I pulled out my cookbooks.  Do you use your cookbooks?  I found one that was given to me by a girl friend back in Regina (thanks Barb).  It became the base for my recipe.  I decided to make a new one, recipe that is….  There was some good information on the lasagne noodle box as well.  So I had an excellent base.  Anyway, it was a BIG hit.  My daughter loved it.  I sent some home for lunches tomorrow, and another meal.  Now just to write it all down.  I am notorious for coming up with new recipes, and not writing them down.  Because we all know (from past experience) that we will not remember come the next time !!!

Dessert was this BANANA CHOCOLATE CHUNK CAKE …… took a recipe and made it my own.  Not your typical low cal dessert but another hit.  YUMMY.

So I promise to write these recipes down so that you can try them.  I promise your family will love them.

Always remember to try something new.  New recipe.  New walking path.  New coffee blend.  Just something new.

It’s a New Day

As we start most days it is in the neighbourhood of 5:00 a.m. (just like the hours that I kept when I was working full-time, LOL). We have a routine.  He gets me up, and we go downstairs. No time to change so outdoors in my pj’s. Yikes.  Shut off the alarm.  I put on my coat.  Turn on outside light (sometimes grab the flashlight), and we go out to the backyard so that Master Alvin can perform his daily bathroom….. okay go to the bathroom.  Then we go back inside the house.  He wants his breakfast so his “Master” me serves it up with a smile or some days a little grunt.  Once he has finished the lights go out, and we hit the sofa for another two hours of sleep.  I am thinking that one of these days I should just stay up and see what he does.  Likely wouldn’t bother him at all.  It wasn’t so long ago that we stayed up.  In those first weeks it was up anywhere from 4:00 – 6:00 a.m. and we were up for the day.  Made for some very long days.  Needless to say, I was pretty cranky and overly emotional to boot.  My kids will attest to that fact.

Now we are both up, I start writing and make my breakfast.  Once done, I head upstairs (we head upstairs) to change and get ready for the day.  Most mornings Alvin helps me by nipping at my socks as I try to put them on,and then pulls on my pants as I try to get them on.  I must say it does end up being a work-out by the time I get them on.  He is so helpful.  When he goes to “bite or nip” …. he gets this look in his eyes …  kind of scares me.  Aren’t puppies fun!

Then it is time for a walk ( I have started to leave my first cup of coffee for after the first walk).  We have yet another routine.  I grab my coat.  He jumps up and grabs the sleeve or whatever part of the jacket he can get at.  I tell him “get down” or something else under my breath.  Then I retrieve my runners from the hall closet and put them on.  He is getting better.  In the early days he would run and grab my laces or the shoes making it almost impossible to actually put them on my feet.  Now he will sit or stand and watch me.  Once I am ready to go …. I grab his harness.  Usually I have to grab him as he hasn’t quite got the command “come” down pat just yet.  Anyway, his harness goes on.  Grab my sunglasses.  Hook on his leash (he used to try and eat it).  Grab the keys.  Oh, make sure have “those glorious black poop bags” in my pocket.  I set the alarm and open the door.  He will wait when I give the command “wait” and let me go out first and then he runs out.  Sometimes it looks like a comedy routine as he zooms past me and I almost go flying.  Locking the door is also a chore.  He wants to GO.  Getting better.  Then it is off to one of the neighbourhood lake / park areas.  It takes us about 35 minutes, sometimes longer.  Depends if there are people especially children out and about.  He loves everyone.  Always has to say HI.  A few days ago while we were out on a walk, we saw a pair of ducks on the lake.  He stopped and sat on his haunches.  We watched them for several minutes before resuming our walk.  I have a nature lover on my hands.  Didn’t bark or pull.  Just sat and watched them.  Very cute.  Other times he would start pulling (biting) on the leash and I would say “No”.  Finally one day, I figured out what he actually wanted.  I swooped down and picked him up and we kept walking.  He was happy.  Laid his head on my arm.  He is getting heavy so I didn’t carry him too far.  But he just wanted a rest.  There are many days when I wished that he could “TALK”.

This morning I was busy sending out e-mails to all my friends and family directing them to this blog.  Alvin is sleeping by my feet. Thank goodness for small miracles.   I do not know how many of you have had the “pleasurable” experience of owning a dog but I must say it has presented me with some interesting moments.  It is lots of work but at the end of the day, very rewarding.

Well, it is now afternoon.  Alvin is now awake and chewing on his bone.  I guess time to sign off for now.

Until later ………………….