The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Monday morning? The sky is partially overcast but earlier the sun was shining brightly. My how fast things can change. Alvin and I are doing well. Busy day yesterday. As you know we were up and at it earlier than most Sundays. We even went for a walk in the morning. I worked for a few hours in the basement and then realized that this is going to take more than one afternoon. I managed to haul up the Christmas tree and a portable stand as I had planned to give them away on social media. I also decided to give away the Christmas tree that I have for outdoors. Just feeling like changing things up. I am going for a small tree. My 7.5 ft tree was just too much for me to set up and take down and then I do not need to ask for help, I can do a smaller tree on my own. Easy peasy. Anyway, I posted the items later in the afternoon and the metal stand has been picked up. YAY.

I separated all of the rubbermaid containers between Christmas decorations and my daughter’s childhood things and my things consisting mostly of papers, like cards etc. I am going to be very strict with myself and only keep a small amount of things. I found my journals so perhaps scanning them might be an option in the future. A lot of work but I will see. I have a lot of them but I do know that my daughter would be interested in them. Whether she wants to keep them all, that is for her to decide.

The second pantry (cabinet) did not get done but I figured that I could do it after work as it does not take much time. I think my “tupperware” drawers and cupboards need to be gone through again. I am not keeping what I do not use on a regular basis.

The office closet up here desperately needs to be gone through and that will take a few hours.

I have one month to get this done as we are having a garage sale in June. Although everything won’t go in the sale as I will post some things on social media, still want to get it done.

We collect so many little non-essential items – I see everywhere I look. I get the minimalist look, I get it. Just have what you use. Although I won’t likely take it that far, I am going to keep reducing my “material things.” No point in keeping so much especially if people will use them.

We did not get a second walk in because it rained. Moisture is good, cleans up the dirt and dust and helps our trees and perennials start to grow again.

Well time to head downstairs. Happy Monday ALL!

Just getting rid of that wood – still makes me feel lighter! Big weight off my shoulders as I had been concerned as to where I could take it and who could take it away.

Thank goodness for friends.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 30th day of December, 2016.

Wow, today and tomorrow and then a New Year.

The sun is shining brightly this morning and I had to close the blinds so that I could be on the computer.

Definitely not writing this at my usual time of 6:00 a.m. when it is still dark outside.

I have loved being at home with Mr. Alvin …… doing things as they happen.

Yesterday we took the Christmas Tree down and all of the decorations.

Did some laundry.

Alvin and I walked over to his Dr.’s office and I picked up some food and treats for him.

It was a nice walk.

We had a quiet evening.

The house looks so different without the Christmas decorations.

Actually looks empty.

I had eleven rubbermaid containers filled with ornaments and decorations not including the tree.

Those containers were not the little ones either.

Hard to believe that that much stuff was on the main floor between the kitchen and living room.

It was a different Christmas for us but very nice.

The kids enjoyed their gifts as did the pups.

Another Christmas come and gone.

All of the preparations reminds me of a wedding day.

Crazy the time that goes into one day.

But that is what we humans do ….. things are always over the top.

I am grateful that we being me, my daughter and son-in-law are trying to live a more simple life.

Not buying things just to have them.

Every year I go through the house and give/throw/recycle many items.

The only things that are not multi used are my things for Christmas.

That is my one guilty pleasure so to speak.

I have been thinking after a seed of an idea was given to me by one of my friends.

That perhaps I will start making personalized gifts for family and friends.

I guess that I have actually always done this but 2017 I will do on a larger scale.

This morning I am going out to pick up some groceries and use the remaining credit on my Walmart gift card.

I am not usually a big fan of that store but as I have the card I will go and use it.

One of my friends is going out and said she could drop me there and then pick me up after she is done her shopping elsewhere.

After that shopping I have another friend coming over for a visit …..

I have a couple of phone calls to make between tonight and going back to work.

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Cute story:  Most mornings Alvin has me up way earlier than we need to be so he eats and does his business and afterward we lay down on the sofa for some extra zzz’s.

I have this rectangular pillow which I lay my head upon and then cover with our special warm red blanket.

Not long ago this happened.  I lay down and cover with the blanket.  Alvin plunks himself down beside me with his head right beside mine on the pillow.  He snuggles so close.

The first time he did this I almost had the big one as he really plunks himself down but never hitting me.

Anyway then I cover us both with the blanket and we snuggle.

So cute.

Another reason why I love this little guy.

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Well time to get this show on the road.

Shower time to freshen up before shopping.

I can only imagine the people in Walmart.  Too many likely.

Have a great day.

One more day before we celebrate the New Year.

Happy Friday.

Special Hello to: YOU ALL.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Feels like a time to share some photos of our beloved babies.

Some left us this year and some joined us this year.

A full year of Sorrow and Joy.

Great memories.

 

Alvin at Christmas 2015

My Grand-puppies Penny and Elton

Miss Penny

Baby Milo and Miss Aspen.

Our newest family members.

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 1st day of December, 2016.

Yes it is December and yes there are twenty-three, 23 sleeps until Christmas Eve Day.

Are you ready?

Have you continued with your traditions or will you be starting some new ones this Christmas?

I am proud to say that every year we revamp our Christmas traditions.

Some years you may not notice but others you definitely would.

Last year Christmas was at my daughters and we had Christmas Dinner catered.

This year Christmas is at my house and I am cooking a turkey.

Nice change.

Last year we exchanged gifts and this year we had planned not to exchange them between myself, my daughter and son-in-law.

I came up with something different, not buying but still something to exchange.

Good for the recycle, reuse as we are all trying not to spend money on things that we at the end of the day do not really need.

So we will look through our homes and find items that we think each other would love.

Not too difficult.

There are so many ways to make Christmas extra special.

I think that the thing I love the most about this time of year is spending it with family and friends perhaps sharing a meal or just some treats freshly baked.

So when you are running around like the Mad Hatter stop and think about all of those purchases that perhaps you are putting on your credit card.

Do you really need to do this?

Does the person really need that $200 sweater?

Give more from the heart.

Start making things …. people love home-made.

It is the wave of the future.

For those people that you have no idea but want to give ….. bake some sugar cookies or fudge.

There are ways.

How about that vase of Aunt’s that you have had sitting on the shelf forever but your Sister loves it so much.

Give it to your sister.

The gesture will be priceless.

Think about your options.

Please do not get into debt over the holidays.

So not worth it.

Really I can tell you that from experience.

Well time to hit the frosty trail to the bus again.

Have a wonderful first day of December.

Don’t sweat things ….. make a list.

That is one of my tasks for tomorrow evening is to take a calendar and write down everything that needs to be done and purchased between now and December 31, 2016.

That way no surprises….

Bye for now.

Special Hello to: my friends and family all over the world.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 3rd day of July, 2016.

Earlier there was thunder and lightning followed by a rain shower.

The skies cleared and the sun shone and now a little while later it is cloudy once again.

Our weather can change so quickly over a few hours time.

It remains quite warm despite the changes.

 

Yesterday I was happy to get the “family room” in the basement cleaned out.

Filled some boxes with things to remove from the house, items that I no longer need, want or use.

That is what I am on the trail to do is to remove every item from my house that I no longer need, want or use.

If I do not use things on a regular basis other than Christmas decorations and of course winter coats, boots and the like – then they are going.

I am selling, giving to charity or recycling depending on the item.

I no longer feel the need to fill each nook and cranny with “stuff” with “things.”

As I get older I want less and less stuff surrounding me.

I crave to have bare spare and to only have what I love surrounding me.

So today I am going to work on my office space.

Go through papers and stuff.

My office is pretty good but there are a few things that need to go.

 

Maybe today is the day that you reflect on what is truly important.

Maybe you do love, wear and need 100 pairs of shoes.

Maybe you do love, watch and need 200 movies.

Maybe you would like to share those shoes with others who would love, wear and need them just as much as you.

Maybe you would like to share those movies with others who would love, wear and need them just as much as you.

See my point.

It is a personal thing for sure.

But not only am I thinking of me but also our dear planet.

The more we buy.

The less our planet has.

Think of it that way.

We consume well beyond our needs.

Do you need that next pair of sandals that takes your total to over 100 pair of shoes?

Likely you never wear most of them.

Needing and wanting are two different things.

Perhaps if we take baby steps.

For every item you bring into your home you remove one.

Less is more.

It is more freeing.

Try it.

 

Well time to go.

I hope that you will ponder how much you consume.

How much you buy.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends all over the world.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day…..

This is a special day ……. EARTH DAY HOUR ….

Tonight at 8:30 p.m. local time.

We should all do our part.

Reduce that energy consumption!

Every day we should lessen our load, our carbon footprint on this beautiful planet.

Every little thing helps so much.

Turn out the lights when you leave a room.

Use cold water to wash your clothes.

Hang clothes up to dry (inside and out).

Unplug unnecessary electrical appliances.

Turn off your computer when not in use.

Use recycled paper products.

When shopping use your own re-useable, eco-friendly bags.

There are some great ones out there.

Or if you are one of these gifted people who sew, make yourself a few.

Give them to friends and family.  You could use old sheets or towels or clothes to make them.

For my quilting friends out there …… how cool would a quilted bag be!!

Come up with your own list.

Let’s make a difference.

We live in Canada, after all.

We should be leading the way.

How much fun will be it tonight to be snuggling on the sofa with Alvin in the candle light.  YAY.

Who will you be snuggling with on your sofa in the candle light?  I wonder.

Have a great day.

Always, Carol     🙂  🙂  🙂     Such a happy girl……

From Dream to Reality

I had a dream late last night,

Of sparkling white sandy beaches,

Palm trees swaying in a sweet scented breeze,

Of clear blue skies and water, clear blue,

Of monkeys, elephants and parrots, too.

When I awoke and looked all around,

It was a dream, so I had found.

The picture is somewhat sadly different.

My sandy beaches are cluttered with garbage.

The palm trees have been removed, replaced with malls.

The breeze smells bitter — terribly so,

The monkeys, elephants where did they go?

We have come too far, too fast,

The signs have been there,

But we did not see, due to our hungry greed

From horse drawn sleighs to gas powered cars,

From tin and glass to Styrofoam and plastic jars,

From all that technology we still didn’t learn

That we’re literally burning our planet — our Earth.

The time has come to join together,

Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters,

If we learn to reduce, recycle and reuse

We can save our planet —

The gem in our universe.  Our Earth!

Written for Amanda’s school play at W.H. Ford School

By Carol Lewis on November 28th, 1990

This is so bizarre that I wrote this twenty years ago for my daughter’s school play.  It is even more prevalent today.