Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. How are you doing today. I am doing great. We were up a bit later than usual and Mr. Alvin got up at 4:00 which is his usual time. Outside for a pee, gave him his glucosamine chew and a pain pill. Then we hit the sofa for some more zzzz’s. Thankfully we have a super comfortable sofa. The grass was crunchy this morning but the air was not cool/cold. When we went out after Alvin had his breakfast about 6:45 – I could hear this meow meow and looked up and over to our neighbours and saw Mr. Humphrey balancing on three legs on his Mom’s deck railing. He does so well with three legs better than I do sometimes with two. Anyway, he was saying “Good Morning to me and Alvin.” We had a good day with Humphrey. I had to run over and grab some treats for him in the morning as I did not have any left. Not fair for Alvin to have some and him not. Fair is fair. I am all about that for sure. Alvin must be tired, I thought he was sleeping but when I turned around he was staring at me from his little bed in my upstairs office. I am glad that I switched my work space to downstairs. Just feels better. Upstairs is the quiet place and downstairs is where the work gets done. Well most of the time.

We enjoyed a walk after work instead of at noon. So nice out and ended up walking with one of our neighbours and her little dog. Great to catch up.

The countdown is beginning to get super serious here. TWO SLEEPS until HALLOWEEN, can you believe it? I am still undecided about whether to dress up or not for our “virtual work Halloween costume party.” Kind of leaning towards if it is just me and Alvin, then I will but if we have Teddy and Kobie, then not. Time will tell. I have dressed up most years, if my memory serves me. Anyway, I can always throw something together.

THEN SUNDAY …… Christmas TREE decorating time. House decorating time. My daughter is coming over to help. I am so excited. One of my most favourite days of the year. This year it may be brown but that is okay. I do not mind that at all.

Well life goes on and I need to get my coffee perking. Need COFFEE this morning. Happy Thursday.

I hope that we all learn to live our lives with an extra kindness and respect that heals our world and brings us to a better place, more peaceful.

I/We shall remain, As Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Hello All, what a morning or rather what a night. It would appear that Mr. Alvin may have another ear infection or it may be that the rainy weather has flared the arthritis in his paws. He even did the butt drag for a moment a few minutes ago. Clearly something is wrong so off to the vet we go. I will call them as soon as they are open and fingers crossed that I can get in today. I cannot go another night with not much sleep. Work is hectic and I am pooped as it feels like things are coming at me from all directions. Did I say work is hectic that is perhaps the biggest understatement of all time. Okay perhaps I am exaggerating just a bit as I am feeling a bit sleep deprived. The wind is blowing this morning and it has been raining. Today is supposed to be +11 degrees celsius. Now that is a beautiful day. Hopefully the sun comes out as I do not wish to be walking Alvin to the vet for an ear appointment in the rain. He does have a raincoat and perhaps I could wrangle him into it as he is now comfortable with his new sweater.

We did enjoy a wonderful walk yesterday at lunchtime. The air was warm with a tinch of coolness but comfortable for walking. Alvin strutted along in his new sweater not giving any clue that just the days before he was not happy about wearing it. I am glad that he calmed down and loves it now.

How are you doing today? Tuesday morning? Are you working? Home or at the office? Or perhaps you are a front lines worker. Isn’t it funny we never or rarely heard that term but now it is every day. Life has changed so much since the the early part of the year. Does not even seem possible that I have been working home for almost one year. Wow.

I forgot that our time changes this weekend on Sunday, I believe. We FALL back one hour.

I just see red lights out by the garage and realized that it is the garbage guys. That would not be much fun picking up trash in the dark. Not much fun at all. Could be dangerous. I did not see any lights on the side but there must be as not everyone has lights down the back lane.

I am going to end this post as my brain is a bit foggy for lack of sleep. I hope and trust that everything will work out for each and every one of us. Things may not be perfect but that is okay. Life is a new perfect now. Change is the new norm. Whether that is good, bad or indifferent, I have not decided.

Take Care, be safe. Live with as much respect and kindness that you can fit into your days and your life. I believe that this is how we shall survive.

I/We shall remain, as always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. on the upside it is four sleeps until Halloween and five until Christmas, I mean my Christmas Tree goes up and I decorate the house.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning,

Well this morning there was a bit of sunshine a few minutes ago but now the sky is filled with deep blue clouds.

The wind is quite strong and it is actually cold outside.

I have the windows open in the house and I have a sleeveless top on and I am cool.

But hoping it will warm up soon.

Birds are chirping in the background and likely they are as unhappy about this cool damp windy weather as we.

Although they likely have been enjoying the feasts of worms that come to the surface after those heavy rain showers.

 

Yesterday morning when I was doing my post, I was in a bit of a hurry, just a bit.

I was relating my story from the night before and had finished the post.

Just as I had clicked on the publish button – I noticed some dreadful – wording that made not much sense.

The words were not even what I had typed or perhaps what I was thinking and my fingers typed something else.

Who knows.

If you received an email with the post – please go onto my blog via WordPress and see if you can figure out the error.

I quickly changed the error but it was too late.

Drove me a little mad, I will say.

If you wish …. please do so.

 

Yesterday was a good day.

I enjoyed coffee and a visit on the deck of one of my friends in the morning.

Clouds did roll in so we went into the house – social distancing of course.

In the afternoon, I facetime with one of our friends who works at a nearby hospital who is basically closed due to major outbreak of the COVID19.

She recently got a new puppy so we met Miss Bailey.

So cute.

She is a Beaglier.

I believe.

She looks like coffee and baileys.

We all need a little “coffee and baileys.”

 

Well it is Monday morning and my brain power is low.

I cannot think of much more to say.

I hope that you are living your best life despite the pandemic/virus and all the changes that have come with.

Living each day with as much kindness and respect for yourself and for others as is possible.

Wishing you the best day.

 

Stay safe.

With kindness and respect,

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S.  one of the flowers in the pot that my friend Pauline gave me has the most aromatic beautiful fragrance.

I was wondering where the scent was coming from ….. so pretty.

 

 

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning it is officially the second half of this NEW YEAR.

July 1st, 2020.

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends and family.

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians.

Here is Edmonton it is raining and overcast and cool.

Not a great day for outdoor Canada Day celebrations.

As the pools of water are growing as is the mud where there is no pavement.

The grass cannot get any more green.

The trees have had as much water as they need.

The vegetable gardens and flower gardens are more than well watered.

We are reaching the point of too much.

Or at least it would seem that way.

Perhaps not quite that as yet but with the rain continuing to come down it certainly does feel that way.

 

My get and go got up and left.

Alvin is not having much fun in this cool damp weather.

I picked him up his pain meds on Monday and he is on his third one.

He can have one once every 24 hours.

I can tell he is not a happy boy.

We did not get out for a walk yesterday at all.

I think we both are missing our walks.

Also does not look like a walk is in the cards for today.

We have seen our friends and others out for walks but Mr. Alvin is prone to ear infections – yeast.

His ears cannot get wet.

So inside we shall stay until the sun shines.

We are hoping it is sooner than the weather forecast indicates.

 

I am also thinking of turning on the furnace as perhaps some warm air might help Mr.Alvin.

Somehow having the furnace running on July 1st – seems very wrong.

But I guess for a couple of days would be okay.

Perhaps it will give us both that bit of get up and go although Alvin doesn’t seem to have a problem with that.

His is physical whereas mine is mental.

So I will quickly hop in the shower and get clean, not really dirty.

From what?

Just freshen up and my hair …. it would love a shampoo for sure.

Then I will turn on the heat and we will get this day going.

Definitely off to a slow start.

But that is okay.

Nowhere to go and sometimes it is okay to just go slow.

Although last night I was thinking about all of the things I used to do and should be doing.

Making jewelry.

Working with my new watercolours.

Writing that book.

Going through my craft room and getting things in more order.

Figuring out what I really want to do with that space.

There are a million things that I should/would/could be doing.

But at this moment just hoping into the shower is enough.

One foot in front of the other and soon I will crossing the floor.

That is what I always tell Mr. Alvin when he hesitates at a doorway.

 

So Happy Canada Day.

I am grateful that we are in good health for the most part.

I am grateful that we have a home and are safe.

I am grateful that I have choices.

I am grateful for wonderful family and friends.

I am grateful to be employed.

I am grateful for this wonderful country I/We call home.

I am grateful for the trees and the mostly clean air.

I am grateful for bears and seals.

I am grateful for each coast and everything in between.

I am grateful for my fellow Canadians.

Thank you for this great life.

 

Heading for the shower.

Better get this day going.

 

Some flowers to celebrate Canada Day.

 

Living our lives daily and forever with kindness and respect.

I/We, shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Did anyone notice that I forgot to add my sign off yesterday?

Yikes, not good.

It is a NEW YEAR.

We woke up to sunshine.

Now the wind has got up and the sky is slowly becoming overcast.

Oh no,

Today is Thursday the 14th day of May, 2020.

Can you believe that it is almost half way through May?

I will say this,

it does not seem to matter if you are working from work with no pandemic or working from home – time flies.

Is it perhaps the feeling one gets as they age, getting older?

I think when you are young you think in terms of time differently than when you get older.

 

When you are a child …. Christmas always seems so far away? Could not wait for school to start and to end for summer holidays.

I was not one of those children.  I loved school.

 

When you are a teenager …. everyone seems older, you are invincible and know more than your parents.

 

When you are in your twenties and even thirties …… if you are working the days seem to be so long as you just want to be out with your friends or partner.

Life is great and fun.

 

After thirties, most people have children by this time, and I think that is when the clock seems to go into overdrive.

There are never enough hours in the day.

School and Extracurricular Activities.

James has soccer practice every second day, and then guitar lessons on Thursdays and Sundays.

Janet has ballet lessons three times a week.

Alice has piano lessons twice a week and has a tutor to help with math once or twice.

Mom & Dad have a nervous breakdown trying to keep up.

Supper is almost never together.

Family time is when the majority of the family is in the car going from one lesson/practice to another.

I am not certain why there is the need to keep children so busy they have no time to be children.

With everything we try to put into a day it is no wonder the days pass by quickly.

STOP.

Smell the roses.

Walk in nature.

 

I do believe that some good come out of this pandemic.

This staying at home has forced people to be together.

To eat together, to play together and be together 24/7.

Likely for the first time in over fifty years.

We no longer take for granted the small things in life.

I see families out riding their bikes and going for walks, together.

Slowing down is not such a bad thing.

 

Well I must sign off for another day.

Food for thought.

If we keep it simple.

Live and practice kindness and respect everyday.

Then time will pass as it should and as it always has.

One second at a time.

 

I/We, remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday.

Welcome Wednesday.

Yesterday seemed more like a Monday than a Tuesday.

At work our connection to the INTERNET was down for most of the morning.

We are so independent on the WORLD WIDE WEB.

Not just my office but everyone – everywhere.

The world almost comes to a crashing halt when the connection is lost.

Very sad.

To be so dependant on ONE thing.

Anyway.

 

Last night was cold so I opted for us to stay home after work instead of walking.

Alvin is starting to feel the cold and when it is a certain temperature – we sometimes just stay put.

Otherwise we walk.

Exercise helps to keep us agile and breathing in the fresh air so so good for our lungs.

Walking is good for our bodies, minds and souls.

So we do love to walk whenever possible.

 

I had almost forgot but my friend that sells FIFTH AVENUE JEWELRY or FAC (Fifth Avenue Collection) reminded me that I am hosting a party on February 29th.

Luckily “technology” came to the rescue.

She set up a FACEBOOK party and I invited my friends and family.

I did make a couple of phone calls, okay TEXTS to invite a few more folks.

As someone who is not really a lover of speaking on the telephone, I do like texting.

Keeping in mind ….. to keep them relatively short.

 

Update on baby KOBI, the diarrhea is dissipating and hopefully she is on the mend.

This has been hard on her, Teddy and Aunt J.

Aunt J has scrubbed, wiped and disinfected the house every day to keep the bacteria from growing and spreading.

Fingers crossed and a little prayer or THREE.

 

Well it is getting close to the time for us to head downstairs.

Time to go out and pick up Alvin’s little bundles of good health.

Grab my lunch.

Grab my coat, scarf, boots and mitts.

Purse at the end.

I am grateful to my daughter who gave me this purse that makes into a backpack.

It is very roomy and I use it most especially in the wintertime so that I only have to carry one bag.

 

Happy Wednesday.

Be safe and warm.

Keep each other with kindness and respect.

Have an awesome day.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

I love these photos …. angling the camera down and looking up …. well I like this look.

My hair has grown quite a lot since the photo was taken.

AL his handsome self.