A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing great. So happy that the sun is shining and that the temperatures are on the mild side. I am also very grateful to be on vacation now for TWO WEEKS. There is lots to do but today will be scaled back as it is the first day. We were up a couple of times during the night so we slept in and got up when our bodies told us that we were ready to begin the day. I have changing my bedding and some banking and now writing this post which will be followed by a quick shower. After that I will put on some coffee and start the laundry. This afternoon I plan to work on the photos. I kind of fell down on the promise to do some every day this past week. They need to get done as soon as possible. Hopefully it goes quickly.

I have been going through my head, my mind about all of the things that I want to do over my vacation time and when I retire. Oddly enough, the list is similar except with retirement there are not as many hard fast deadlines. I cannot wait to retirement.

Alvin is patiently waiting for me. Last night at supper he decided to pick up out the chicken pieces from his supper leaving some of his wet food and rice and pumpkin. I decided to order pizza to celebrate vacation. You know that you order pizza much too often when the delivery guy comes to the door and calls your dog by his first name and says “How are you doing Alvin?” Makes me feel good. He is such a nice young man. I asked how he was doing. He is taking schooling to work for Immigration Canada. Also he has a new “tire” business and he delivers pizza. Very enterprising you man. I must remember next time to ask his first name. Seems only right as he knows my name and Alvin’s. When I went to eat my supper, I brought to the sofa the rest of Alvin’s supper and very quietly he ate it with no fuss. That was a relief. This morning he did the same thing so I put the rest of his breakfast into the fridge and will bring it out when I have my breakfast. Fingers cross that it will work once again.

Well keeping this short. I need coffee and am excited to get this day going. YAY, clear blue skies and bright yellow sun shining. There is a breeze. The snow is melting.

Have an awesome Saturday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am great, today is Friday and the weekend is ahead of us. We had another choppy but yet not to bad sleep. I always figure if I can get anywhere between 3-4 hours of continuous sleep, I am doing great. So I am pretty great. Earlier we walked outside to a snow rain mix. They were showing on the news (just happened to be on that channel, I normally do not watch the news this early in the day) that the outside cameras were icing up. Do not think that is a great thing but I am hoping that the roads are good this morning.

I have been thinking as of late as I reread THE SECRET that I should just put this out to the world. Thoughts become Things after all! Okay, I am going to say it. Deep breath! Here it is:

I am retiring. This is the goal. When you write something down for others and yourself to see, it makes it feel much more real. So I have done this. My thoughts become things. I am retiring with more than enough money and no mortgage. How about we all do this? Whatever you are dreaming about? Say it aloud or put it in writing for yourself and the Universe to hear and see. Then go in that direction. I will say that is what I did when I retired the first time and moved to Alberta. I kept saying that I was going to buy my own house in Edmonton close to my daughter and son-in-law and I did just that. So it is possible. Everyday and every chance – get those thoughts out there.

Mr. Alvin is quietly waiting for me downstairs so I am going to say goodbye for this Friday. I hope that you have a wonderful day. Be safe. Dream.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you today? Alvin and I are well. Just had a refreshing shower so I feel extra good. The sky is almost white matching the recently fallen snow. The only colour is the in between – the garages – the houses – cars. I have recently heard more birds singing, is that a sign that spring is close by? I sure hope so.

Today is the official retirement date of my long-time friend Linda H. She lives in Regina and we met at work although growing up we lived not too far away from each other. Alvin and I want to wish her the most wonderful retirement. I know that she will be happy to be at home and not have to commute to work any longer. No more political stuff. She can decide what she wants to do on a daily basis. Congratulations my friend.

On the upside it is lighter earlier in the mornings and that is a good thing. Alvin and I enjoyed a walk yesterday at noon. The wind was a bit cool but so great to get outside for some fresh air.

Just thinking of life in general and of how grateful I am for so many things. Family, friends, Alvin, good health, working from home, my house and well everything.

I hope that you have a great day. Keeping it short today. Looking forward to that first taste of freshly brewed coffee. So good.

Oh, thank you to my friend Signe, who baked cinnamon buns yesterday and decided that her friend needed a treat. Last night they dropped off a couple with some cream cheese icing. I will enjoy them today, and if I can hold off having the second one until tomorrow, that would be great. They will be enjoyed over a couple of days. Thank you.

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 fine FOGGY here in Edmonton morning? Alvin and I are doing well although he may say something different as he is squeaking by the office door. He is getting pretty used to me jumping every time he makes a sound. My fault not his. There has been some thick fog out there this morning although it has dissipated somewhat already. I am feeling more back to my old self this morning. It is not the end of the world if we do not go with this roofing company. Sometimes if we get a “bad feeling” or experience doubt it is better to just walk away. Both myself and my neighbour had those feelings. It was not just the feelings it was the information as well. Anyway, we are on the search for another roofing company and we will find the one that is right for us. Right credentials, right products, right price. We will secure the best company for the job and for us.

Yesterday we had quite a lot of rain in the afternoon. Alvin and I managed to get a beautiful walk in over my lunch break. We even saw some of our friends over the course of our walk and stopped for a little chat. We made it back home with minutes to spare so not late for work. My flowers are doing great with all of this moisture, I think that they grew overnight. The front flower bed is coming to life and the colours are beautiful. Even my snapdragons are all starting to come up or at least I believe it is them. I love flowers, the colours and the scents.

Life is continuing along. Not much new. Just chugging along. Experiencing life as I should. Trying to keep the positive thoughts flowing and remembering that “thoughts do in fact become things.” I know this to be true.

I have recently changed my thoughts to ones of retirement, being mortgage free and new shingles on my roof. Likely would be a great idea to make a vision board to help me in my new vision.

Wishing you a wonderful day.

Almost time to head downstairs, get on that pot of coffee and put on some music. I love to start my day with music now that I can.

Continuing to live each day with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love and gratitude.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

P.S. one of my neighbours spotted a pelican in one of our park “ponds” / “lakes.” I did not think we had them here in Alberta but apparently we do. I cannot wait until I see one.

Living … One day at a time.

HEllo,  good morning and it would be Monday, December 16, 2019.

 

FROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD ON THIS MORNING:

Tis the week before Christmas.

And all through the world not a human was sitting.

Not even Grandma or Grandpa.

Everyone was running about, here and there.

There was shouting and tears and even some fears.

Would Santa get their letters?

Were the rumours all true?

Would he fulfil their lists?

Would be bring Janie her Barbie and Jimmy his first kiss?

No one could be sure, especially this year.

There were rumours abound.

No one really knew for certain.

Could it possibly be true?

That Santa & his Mrs. were missing.

I heard that they were calling it quits.

After several hundred years who could blame them.

But then who would replace them?

I also heard that they had retired to a tropical island.

What about Rudolph and Comet and Donner and Blitzen and all the reindeer?

What about the Elves?

What about the North Pole?

I guess this is something that we just have to wait and see.

Will he arrive?

With his usual glee?

Or will there be empty stockings this year?

My heart aches with the thought of no Santa Clause.

What a world without that jolly old guy it would be?

I don’t know.

Patience is something we humans forget.

So I promise this year I will be patient and see.

If there is no Santa this year.

I do not know.

Christmas will be different … that much I know.

 

Written by Me, Carol Y Lewis on the morning of December 16, 2019 with Alvin resting on his little blue blanket.

 

Happy Monday to ALL

And to ALL a great day.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time

Bright blue sun filled sky this morning.

Welcome to the weekend.

Last night we had rain.

This morning we have “black ice.”

I have a decision to make regarding Alvin’s 10:00 a.m. appointment with Dr. K.

It is a regular one for nails and anal glands.

I am thinking that I should ask to see if I can push it to a later time today before they close at 2:00 p.m.

Our sidewalks are a skating rink and even with the ice picks on your boots, it can/could be dangerous walking to the clinic.

Some photos from last night.

Humphrey joined us for a couple of hours.

He loves Alvin’s bed curled up looking at the Christmas tree, so cute.

Then the rain.

Yes, it was.

Raining last night.

I was so wishing that I had left my downspout connected.

Now you see about the black ice this morning after it froze.

The temperature is not cold but enough to make it dangerous for walkers and for driving of course.

I threw in some photos of my Snowman and Snowwoman, just because they are so cute.

 

Yesterday at work, we said goodbye and congratulations to a friend on her retirement after 27 years of work at our office.

It was very sad and exciting all at once.

I am happy for her as she looks forward to some major changes.

 

Well I guess this will be short as it is almost time for the clinic to open and I want to see if we are able to change Alvin’s appointment time.

I wish you all an awesome Saturday.

Be safe.

With kindness and respect, always.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Mainly sun filled skies for this Wednesday morning.

Breezy.

Alvin my trusted companion once again on his blue blanket.

Keeping me company.

I guess he is my muse!!

 

How many of you out there are over 50?

How many of you have a spouse?

How many are single?

How many of you out there are on your own and over 50?

How many of you out there are over 50 and retired?

How many of you out there are over 50 and working full-time?

 

As many as I know that are over 50, likely more so are over 55 and retired – there are as many still working.

There are a dozen reasons for both.

The main reason is MONEY.

Isn’t that always the way.

I guess health could play a large role as well.

 

I was just thinking of all the folks that I know that are retired and of all of us that are working.

Sometimes working is a means to an end.

If you want to have a house, pay your bills and have food on the table.

Then working is what you have to do.

 

Kind of a heavy topic for this time of morning.

But as I am in this moment.

That is what I was/am thinking about.

 

I do like working but then again I would love to be at home with Alvin.

What can you do?

Write a book?

Working on it.

Yes, I am.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

Where does the time go?

Time is a fleeting thing ….. oh my.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 23rd day of May, 2018.

I started to key/type Tuesday the 22nd day of May, 2018 before I realized that it was mid week already.

WOW, when Monday is a stat holiday and you take Tuesday as a vacation day, the week really goes by quickly.

Yesterday we went for a walk bright and early (for us) before it got too warm.

Chatted with my sister a couple of times via FB messenger, which was nice.

We really had a quiet day and enjoyed my last day of vacation.

Back to work today.

But what a short week.

Can only imagine what it would be like to be home all of the time, retired.

Getting up when you chose to.

Taking on whatever projects you wanted to as money and time were not an object.

Does everything always boil down to time and or money?

Most of the time unfortunately it does.

But the choices we make bring us to the places of arrival.

The bright blue sky of a few minutes ago on the north side of the house has diminished somewhat due to some cloud cover at the south side of the house.

What a difference a few feet can make.

I have the windows open and you can hear the roar of vehicles on the nearby highway as folks travel to and from work.

Today is to be plus 30 degrees celsius.

 

So on this Wednesday I am going to continue to dream.

I dream of the day when I will retire.

Sleeping in if I wish.

Taking on whatever projects I wish as I will have more time.

But not to lose sight of today and making the most of each second, minute and hour.

 

Well here it is almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you all had a great long weekend.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday, the 19th of July, 2017.

A beautiful day on the way.

We were to bed later and Alvin slept till the alarm went off.

I was just thinking about what I was doing this date in July of 2010 and this is what I found (actually it was the 20th)….

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Today I am sitting my grand-puppies Elton & Penny so I am up bright and early (up at 5:00 a.m.) and actually it feels pretty GREAT.

The sun is shining and the air has a quietness of it’s own….. feels like a wonderful meditation.

For anyone who gets up a bit later (which is fine, of course), once in awhile it is good to get up bright and early.

Shake out all those cobwebs (I had a shower) and start your day.

It is just after 6:00 a.m. and this is quite possibly the earliest that I have written on this BLOG.

Have a great day and remember to take the time and get up early (you can always grab 40 winks later in the day) and enjoy your early morning.

Well off to have breakfast (and get that Alvin out of bed).  You see when I came back upstairs to make the bed and have a shower, he figured it was back to bed and jumped up.

I had the bed partially made and just threw down his blanket and he crawled under it (so cute) and is still there.  Time to get up “sleepy head”.   GOL (giggling out loud)

Okay, I am leaving/going now.  Have to remember to turn off the “wireless mouse” ……

Always, Carol

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I am so grateful that I started writing this BLOG back in the spring of 2010 as it is a reminder of all the good days that I have lived.

This was during my “semi-retirement phase” which last a couple of years or so and I had the best time.

Ah, me Alvin was just a baby back then ….. I miss that and of course the times that we spent with Elton & Penny.

They are always in our hearts and minds.

Happy Wednesday

Special Hello to:  All of you …… have a wonderful day.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day or perhaps a revelation ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 5th day of September, 2016.

Perhaps by now some of you may have noticed that I have not written on this blog since the last day of August.

My daughter noticed that I had not written on my blog for the first couple of days and asked if something was wrong?

I told her no.

But that was not one hundred percent accurate.

There are times in one’s life when the mere gravity of words and actions by those around you just makes you feel incompetent and makes you question

the things you do.

I am not saying it was a huge matter but it was enough to give me cause to pause.

Sometimes you just need to take a step back in order to go forward.

Or at the very least stop doing some of the things that you always do, and reflect.

Or sometimes it is just something you need to do for you.

It can be just as simple as that.

I just knew that I had to take a break, and that there was no way of explaining this to you.

I do apologize for that.

 

I had questions.

Was I really doing something that I truly loved or just doing something because I had been telling myself, and others for several decades

that “I am a writer.”

But was I?

Am I?

 

For as long as I can remember I loved books, I loved words. I loved the sounds of words.

They could take you near or far.

In my case it was the far that appealed to me the most.

I could imagine a new life, a different life.

I loved to read.

I loved to write.

Or perhaps it was the mere essence of the feeling that I got at the end of it all.

I do not know.

But questioning things ….. that is where I am at.

Can I write?

Sure I can.

But am I good enough that is another question.

Good enough compared to who, to what?

I had wanted to be a published author but at fifty-nine that honour still eludes me.

Perhaps there is a part of me that believes that I am not really good enough or smart enough to go the distance.

Short term projects; I can do and have done.

So this is part of the dilemma.

The other of the self-doubt is that I feel that I have worked very hard my whole life and somehow I feel unaccomplished.

But why?

Really, I should not.

I left my home of thirty years to start over in a new place.

I finally in my 50’s was able to buy my first house, and yes I have a mortgage.

After a lifetime of work I took a couple of years off for a mini retirement.

After which I found a job ( into my 50’s which is not easy these days ).

I adopted my first dog when in my 50’s.

I have made many many life choices and changes after the age of 50.

But perhaps the biggest thing of all is the fact that back home many of my friends are now settling into retirement or at least close.

Life is full of choices and we do the best that we can.

This was and is my choice for good or bad.

But sometimes we just would like things to have gone a different way.

 

I have tried to remain positive but sometimes that is just impossible.

So it is a combination of writing and life choices that brings me to this point.

I will continue to write not because I have to but because I want to.

 

Perhaps this does not truly or in full explain what is really in my heart but it will give you an idea of where I am at …..

Alvin in his cuteness, well he is Alvin and he just looks at me as if to say “Come on snap out of it.”

I say to him, “Yes dear one, I shall.”

 

Thank you for making the choice to read my blog.

I am so thankful for you.

Life evolves …..

 

Special Hello to: YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin