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

2021

Good Morning All! How are you this morning? I am well and Alvin as far as I know has remained sleeping on the sofa after I made a quiet escape upstairs to get ready for work and for the day. Darkness fills the outside as I look out of my office window. I can see one yard light in the distance otherwise pitch black out there. Soon there will be light. I cannot get William (Bill) Shatner’s experience of going to space even though it was for only ten minutes and a few seconds. Can you imagine punching through the atmosphere and only seeing darkness as you enter space? No wonder he was so emotional. We humans can only dream of going to space and until recently it was only an experience shared by an elite few. These two private companies, these two billionaires have changed this Earth and hopefully even with a few of its regular citizens seeing space, they will appreciate the Earth and provide the drive for us to get our butts in gear and help this planet before it is not a choice. Every single human being on this planet can make a difference from the old to the young and everyone in between. I do know that the companies that make all of the throw away – single use plastics, oil and gas industry and so on, employee a great many people and contribute to the economy of every country but it is time to make some big changes. We have the intelligence to make those changes. It may not be pretty but we can do it.

Now that is a big topic for this time of morning but perhaps just a bit of a reminder that we can all make a difference. I try not to buy items that cannot be easily recycled. I do recycle. I reuse. I seldom buy new clothes but buy from thrift shops and the like. My daughter and I borrow things from each other instead of buying an item that we may only use a few times – we share those things. Most of the people living in North America only use a small fraction of the items that are live in their homes. We buy items for decoration. We buy items to decorate our bodies not just clothe them. WE have so much that is not necessary to live but rather are nice to look at. Something to ponder today. Perhaps you have some jewelry that you do not need or wear any longer. You could sell it, give it to a family member or friend or give to a charity to sell. I have found that as I age, I do not have the need or desire to have a bunch of new things. Also I am going through my house and finding new homes for things. Maybe you have someone that would appreciate that old family teapot that is gathering dust in a cupboard. You know what I mean. We hang onto things because they belonged to a Grandmother, Mother, Aunt and so on.

Time to head on downstairs. Get the coffee brewing and continuing to make the list of items that I no longer need. We can also repurpose things that we have as well.

Have an awesome day.

Yes, it is Friday.

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

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 Saturday the 28th day of March, 2015.

Well it is overcast in Edmonton but the temperatures remain warm.

The snow is melting as I can hear and see the water running.

But alas the weather report calls for snow showers today.

Oh my what a “sense of humour” – Mother Nature.

Is it perhaps because we are not doing our part with the environment.

Maybe a reminder to us that when we want something like spring/summer instead of winter ….. that she holds off just a bit longer.

Hoping ….. maybe we will wake up, and smell the coffee.

 

Plants, animals and trees.

The air and the land.

The OCEANS.

We have swiped our “hand” and done more damage in the last 100 years than all of the years combined on this planet.

I think, anyway.

I am calling upon all of my fellow inhabitants of this beautiful emerald gem to please, do your part.

Pick up the trash.

Be kind to the environment.

Be kind to the plant and ANIMAL life.

 

Don’t buy some many throw away items that continue to fill our landfills.

All of those plastic bits end up in the ocean floating or in the belly of some poor unsuspecting creature … some land … some marine.

Reduce….

Reuse …..

Recycle ……

Just because you think you need something …. does not mean you really do.

Learn to live within your means.

Volunteer your time to neighbourhood clean-up groups.

Simply pick up the trash from in front of your house.

You know the blue bins that people place mainly paper and plastic cartons in …… well I have noticed that lots of people just set them out by the bags of trash.

Now one small wind and all of that paper is blowing into the nearby parks and neighbour yards.

 

Not sure where that came from other than the fact that I am pumped to now have the extra time once again to get out and pick up the trash from my neighbourhood.

Working six and days per week does not allow much time for extracurricular activities.

I am going to organize another clean-up for the neighbour this spring …. in May.

 

Well I hope that you have a great day.

Have fun looking after your part of the planet.

If we learn to treat the land and water and air and all living beings on this planet (including one another) with kindness and respect …

We shall have this planet around forever …. I hope.

Time to finish laundry and then in a bit get ready to work one of my last shifts at the store.

It will feel strange to be home Friday nights and weekends…..

 

Special Hello to: my fellow volunteers …. you rock and thank you for your time and energy.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

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.