Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 1st day of October, 2017.

October ….. 30 days after today until Halloween.

31 days till I start decorating for Christmas.

My favourite time of year.

Both of my favourite times for decorating although Christmas wins out.

I do love them both.

 

So yesterday I said that I was going to remove the rocks from my back garden.

After lifting many rocks and placing them in every empty container I could locate.

I decided to use some them along with the areas that would have flowers.

It was definitely some of the hardest physical work that I have done in a long while ……..

The photos do not do it justice as this was just after I watered the plants and of course the rock got wet and it just does not look the same.

Some of the plants are IRISES and the others I do not remember the names.

This bed was completely covered in stone and the shrubs/plants that I had in here before where surrounded by them.

Pulling out the landscaping cloth was not easy but so happy I was able to do it.

Also because Mr. Alvin has started to bury his chew treat in this flower bed, I upon the advice of my daughter placed up the little metal dividers.

You can barely see them but it should keep him out.

I had some plants temporarily in there and with him jumping up …. well not good.

I also threw in a photo of my ready for winter front flower bed.

There is no real design involved in the garden …… just what worked.

Our front tree all yellow and gorgeous.

Decided to wait and rake the leaves all at once instead of five times.

Oh, the fall wreath on our door.

I made this …. should have been a close-up but it has lasted pretty well since it was seven years ago since I made it.

I put away the last items that I could move myself.

Left are the two tables, the bottom thing that holds the umbrella in place and the two chairs for my bistro table.

Deciding if I should just put them all in the garage or not.

Doesn’t leave much room for a car …..

That was my Saturday except for laundry.

Poor Alvin was outside with me the whole time …..

It took about five hours or so ……

Coffee with my girl friends this morning.

One has her Mom visiting from Newfoundland and we are celebrating her birthday.

Should be fun.

The sky is overcast and rain is on the way.

Only hoping it is ONLY rain.

Perhaps I shall take Mr. Alvin for a walk sooner than later.

Happy Sunday Everyone ……

 

Special Hello to: all those folks preparing their gardens for winter.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. feeling a bit sore this morning most especially when I bend ….. oooo

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 21st day of May, 2017.

Another glorious morning here in Edmonton.

Alvin officially has the title of “Out of bed Enforcer.”

He will do whatever it takes to get his Momma out of bed ….. this morning starting at before 4:00 a.m.

I have to just get up stay up.

Not perhaps at 4:00 a.m. but the next time he instructs me.

We are just on our way out for a morning walk …. there is plenty of sunshine and a slight breeze making it PERFECTO.

I must tell you about our yesterday ….

Yesterday it started with mowing the grass in the back, transplanting some flowers my friend “P” gave us, cleaning the back garden and the rocks.

While I was trying to dig out the rose bush that has been unhealthy for a few years …. I had to ask for help.

Just happened that Alvin noticed our neighbour “S” at her patio door ……

She was over in a second to help remove the rose bush and then ended up helping to pull out the huge shrub.

It was the centre piece of that garden but showed absolutely no signs of life.

Brown and broken …..no green.

So we dug it out.

The roots were huge.

So the garden is a mess.

Two small shrubs remain.

I cleaned the rocks.

Now it is ready for me to remove them, pull out the black cloth and fill the garden with some good soil.

So we are part way there.

I can hardly wait to go and get some flowers.

My flowers in the front bed are growing like crazy well at least most of them.

I had to pull out two that I had purchased from a nearby nursery about three years ago. ARGH.

Not sure how much dirt I am going to need.

BAGS or maybe a yard of dirt or half a yard?

How much really is a yard of dirt?

I have seen the bags that are a yard and honestly do not get it?

Well Mr. Alvin is ready for our walk and perhaps a little adventure.

Time to grab his water bottle.

Have an awesome Sunday.

We, will.

Then home after the walk – make some coffee – perhaps enjoy some on the deck under the umbrella and then bake a chocolate ginger loaf (from Steeped Tea) for the barbecue.

Happy Sunday……

YAY ….. it is summer.

No longer are we freezing in the house.

Last night it was 72 degrees in the house – 12 degrees warmer than two days ago.

Special Hello to: all those folks who take the time to follow our story ….. me and Alvin.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 20th day of May, 2017.

Well I have now been up for a bit and I must say not as long as Mr. Alvin would have liked ….

He was trying to get me up since 7:00 a.m. and before …..

We were up at 4:30 for his breakfast and visit outdoors.

I wanted to stay in bed but not him.

He had the right idea.

Note to self:  get thee back end up earlier …..

This morning is absolutely gorgeous.

My neighbour called when I was still deciding whether or not to get up off the sofa so that was the deciding factor.

Have had coffee with my neighbour, a visit and breakfast.

Now time to get down to things.

I have a list of things that I want to do most of being outdoors.

In our back yard I have a small raised corner “shrub/flower” bed that needs to be semi deconstructed.

I want to wash the rocks that are on top, clean up the shrubs as some do not appear to have made the winter, remove the rocks, the black cloth and top up the soil; oh and pull out the roses which are not doing well.

Now I do not have the soil so I will only get the rocks prepared for now.

The bed just needs some TLC as it has been seven years since it was built.

The sky is blue and the sun is shining so I can bring out the cushions for the patio furniture.

Pull up the umbrella on the bistro table ….. time to have coffee on the deck once again.

Anyway lots to do.

I have some flowers that my friends gave me that are in the house waiting patiently to be potted.

I think it is safe to plant them …… if it gets cold at night I will take the pot into the garage.

Anyway …. I love this time of year …… putzing in the yard in the dirt.

Always great to get your hands dirty.

I can hardly wait for my trip to buy flowers for my pots.

Happy Saturday.

For all you Canadians out there “Happy Long Weekend” as it is the Victoria Day weekend.

Alvin is ready to get going.

It will be nice for him to spend time with me outside.

We can work and play in between.

Have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family.

Always, Carol & Alvin

The garden that I am speaking about is the one beside/behind the railing .

Now there are shrubs much bigger but that is from the first summer, first built summer of 2010.

WOW, seems like yesterday but now 7 years ago.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 19th day of September, 2016.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my daughter, one of my girl friends and her husband and two sons.

We had a photo shoot at the Devonian Gardens just south and west of Edmonton.

If you have never been – you should truly go.

Such a beautiful tranquil magical spot.

Waterfalls, a bridge over the water, rocks, flowers, plants, trees, shrubs.

It was such a great place to walk about ….

The colours were such a vibrant mix of end of summer and beginning of autumn.

Here are a few of the photos I shot in between:

Our selfie …… whoops.

Well okay maybe more than a few.

All but a few that had people in them.

We had the best time.

Lots of beautiful photos taken.

We had a wonderful afternoon.

I hope that you enjoy the photos.

Best outing.

First outing in a long, long time.

So much fun.

 

Happy Monday.

Special Hello to: all those folks who spent Sunday afternoon exploring new places.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 30th day of April, 2016.

Last day of April and to think that Mother’s Day is literally one week from tomorrow.

The sun is shining brightly and there is a slightly cool breeze at this time.

A bit later than I usually write this blog but we were up ultra late (after midnight) and first up at 6:00 (Alvin had to have breakfast).

Back to bed for a few more zzz’s as I have determined this to be a cold more than allergies.

My nose is red and dry ….. I would really like to just curl up on the sofa with my coffee and watch television all day but life goes on and there are things to do.

Isn’t that how it works?

Right.

We always need clean clothes and towels.

The floors need to be swept / vacuumed.

Things need to be dusted.

Paperwork to do …..

I really wanted to go and clean the walkway to 62nd Avenue for the fourth time this spring.

It is disgusting.

Each time I walk through I want to scream.

What is wrong with people?

I would love to find a way to make people more responsible for their throwaway stuff.

Someday.

One piece of garbage at a time.

Alvin is getting restless.

 

We sure enjoyed our walk last night.

We walked on the grass all around our lakes in the park near our house, and it was so nice.

I saw from across the lake four teenage boys throwing rocks into the water near some geese.

We were walking in that direction anyway so I took the opportunity to impart some wisdom.

As we got nearer there was one boy on the sidewalk away from the others.

Alvin was growling at him as we approached.

Only the second time he has ever growled at a human being.

The kid was on his cell phone… so not sure what was going on with Alvin.

Anyway I politely checked out the situation by slowly moving toward them.

They said they were throwing rocks into the water but not at the geese.

I politely returned by saying “If you were the geese would you like someone throwing rocks near you.”

I also pointed out that the lake was their home, and should be treated with respect.

The young man that was doing all the talking did not quite not what to say.

I did not continue further as they had stopped, and moved away from the water, rocks and the geese.

As they got nearer to the boy on the sidewalk – one asked what kind of dog Alvin was, and they smiled when I told them his name.

It ended up “friendly” but I could not resist making sure these kids knew it was not acceptable to treat wildlife in this manner.

I honestly do not think they were bad – just nothing better to do.

Well I guess I had better get going …. my clothes will not be climb into the washer on their own.

Laundry time.

I hope that you have an awesome Saturday …. last day of April, 2016.

 

I also want to thank my daughter for driving her Momma home from work yesterday, following that drove me to the grocery store, and to the Vet’s to grab some food for her brother.

Yes, I used my $50.00 gift card.

Perfect.

What would I do without my girl.

She is the most gracious, thoughtful, kind-hearted human being, and I cannot believe that she has some of my genes floating around inside her.

Everyday I am so proud of the most wonderful person she has become, and continues to be.

She is simply the best.

We love her very very much.

 

Happy Saturday Everyone …..

Special Hello to: all those folks who take the time to read my blog – it is so appreciated.

Always, Carol and Alvin