2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Friday morning? Yes, we made it to another weekend. We are almost blowing away here in Edmonton and parts of Alberta for the second day in a row. We are less than 55 miles as the crow flies from the site of some huge wildfires. Extinguishing them in these winds would be a might feat and I would think darn near impossible. I pray for those out fighting the fires to keep us safe. My daughter and her family are less than 40 miles from the fires. The skies are filled with deep dark rain clouds and we have had a few drops thus far. I pray for some rain with no lightning. Is that possible? I hope so. Even one of the matts I had on the deck blew down to the lower part and yesterday one of my garbage cans sitting by the fence on the deck blew over. They have not done that for many years. It has been a long time since we have had the strength and direction of these winds. I feel that the winds are getting stronger. Hopefully all the shingles and roofs remain intact.

Yesterday at noon we met up with Alvin’s best friend Teddy, his little sister Kobi and Mom for a lunchtime walk. We had a great visit with physical distancing. At the beginning of the walk we bumped into Bailey with her Grandpa out for a walk. Bailey saw me and pulled her Grandpa to cross the street. Alvin said hello and then the love fest started with me. Bailey gets so excited when she sees me and squeaks and little barks telling me so. I love her. I always feel so good after seeing them. When we got to Teddy and the gang, both Teddy and Kobi ran to me with fully extended leashes and before we knew it were all tangled up. Alvin had one of his paws caught up and I know just how sharp they are when pulled tight. Leashes, the thin ones can actually break open the skin (I know from personal experience). Anyway we fixed the situation very quickly before any damage was done. Alvin let me know what was going on even before I saw the leash wrapped about his paw/leg. It was very windy on our walk but we managed. When going to the Vet after work to pick up food for Alvin came up in our conversation, Iris offered to give me a ride to the vet. I am not sure how I would have carried a case of canned food and a small bag of dry food home in that wind and it is even worse today. After I picked up Alvin’s food and put in the trunk of Iris’s car, I slipped into the deli “The Careit” to pick up something for supper as I just did not feel like cooking. I could not decide but in the end decided upon a chicken pot pie and a ceasar salad and a small bag of two bite brownies to the tune of $32.00 and change. I almost had a coronary. I knew the chicken pot pie was $14.00 but there was no pricing on either of the other two items. Anyway, sometimes you have to support local businesses and they looked delicious. Iris told me when I told her the price “You bought them so now enjoy them.” She was right there was no reason to go on about the money spent. Sometimes! Anyway after we got home and I fed Alvin, I warmed up the chicken pot pie and while it was warming in the oven, I mixed up half of the salad. By the way there was enough for two meals so on that note it was way more economical and oh, my goodness so good. Very much worth the money. Money well spent. First bit of meat in a long time, the chicken that is.

This morning in less than one hour both Teddy and Kobi are coming to spend the day with us while their parents go to a townhouse that they own to clean it up as their renters moved out. To prepare for new ones. I love having the pups here and with the day being so stormy we wouldn’t be walking anyway so I am glad that Alvin has company. I forgot to tell you that on our way home from the walk yesterday, Alvin’s were actually blowing up in the wind. Never remember that happening before.

Time to head downstairs. Plug in the coffee and couple things before starting work. Have an awesome Friday.

Be safe and be well.

Oh, one more thing. There was a knock at the door just a few minutes after we go up from the sofa and I still had my pj’s on …. I looked out the window to see a white SUV and thought OH my goodness, did I get the time wrong for the pups to arrive and realized it was a different car. I opened the door and looked around to see nothing. Then out the window to see a woman staring at the house and pointing. I opened the door again and saw an express post packet sitting on the bench on my porch, I picked it up and waved okay to her and she left. I only checked the name and address when I got back into the house because who wants to stand on the porch in their pjs in this wind or at any time. Inside the house I looked at the address and name before opening it. Good thing that I did as it is not for me and is a different address. The print on the envelope is very small and I had to look a couple of times before I saw it was one digit different than my address. Guess I will be delivering this later. Not now. It will have to wait.

Time to fly.

Remembering to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well another windy raining evening.

Everything is so GREEN as a result of the moisture, which is nice.

So nice to have a bright sunny day and then rain in evenings and or overnight.

My neighbour took care of the front lawn yesterday.

Thankfully I am still watching how much I am on my feet and although I have not put on shoes, am thinking that is still a day or two away.

I did put on my CLARKE flip flops with the thing between the toes.

Is there a name for that?

OMG, I totally forgot.

Yikes.

Anyway we walked just inside the park last night after work and then home.

Alvin really wanted to keep going but this time it was his Momma who cut the walk short.

Baby steps, my toes are still quite black and blue and although not painful, no sense in rushing things.

I must say though, I really miss our daily walks.

Our bellies are definitely agreeing with that statement.

 

I made the third meal from the GOOD FOOD package last night.

It was a COD dish with oven roasted potatoes, a green bean with cherry tomatoes, dill and olive salad.

Quite tasty.

 

Not much new in this corner of the world.

Which at this time, I am thankful for.

Quiet is fine by me.

 

The sky is beginning to clear.

Still quite a breeze so I will leave the windows closed.

Yesterday I had things blowing around.

I have cards and what not pinned to my wall mounted bulletin boards and things were jumping around a bit.

Looked like some pieces might have sprouted wings and flown away.

 

Well time to get to work.

I am not sure why the mornings seem to be passing so quickly but they do.

Wishing you a fantastic Wednesday.

Filled with amazing kindness and lots of respect.

We all deserve this ….. each and every “one” of us.

Yes, we do.

 

I/We, shall remain

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and today is Saturday the 14th day of December 2019.

We are coming closer to Christmas with each passing day.

Some folks are stressed as they have not started shopping, baking or decorating or wrapping.

Some folks have stressed as they have finished shopping, baking, decorating and wrapping but feel as though they are missing something.

See how it does not matter at which point you are at someone is always going to be stressed.

As I age, keeping it simple is the most important.

Now sometimes I may do/change my plan as I did with the cookies/baking.

Just to be a “cookie hero.”

New phrase but same meaning as “people pleaser” or “cannot say NO when someone gives a compliment.”

That is what happened with me and the baking.

I had decided that I was only going to bake sugar cookies this Christmas and a small batch of fudge for one little boy.

I had decided that I was not going to participate in the “cookie exchange” at work.

It is not really an exchange but there ended up being 15 people participating.

We were supposed to bring enough for everyone in the group to have some.

Now people pass by where the cookies are that are not participating and of course, have one.

But at the same time we always have treats out and about so doesn’t really matter.

I am doing as I have done other years, wrapping them individually for each person.

So they will be just for that person.

I ended up baking fudge, sugar cookies and couple of kinds of chocolate chip cookies.

I would say that I have more than enough for every person/group/event.

 

Story from Friday December 13, 2019.

As I mentioned yesterday my daughter was going to pick me up from work and we were going to go to PETSMART and pick up the clipper head so that I could give Mr. Alvin a haircut.

She would then drop me off continue to COSTCO (pick up my few items, as well) and then come back to my house for supper.

So ended up she did not get away from work on time – much later as they were short staffed and she is in Management, so she could not leave the new staff person alone.

By the time she left her office, got to her car and over to me it was 4:45 p.m.

She was tired and frustrated.

No blame there.

The car needed gas so we stopped at a nearby SAFEWAY GAS BAR and I ran to the SAFEWAY store and grabbed a couple of items.

One of our long time staff members had retired and we had a big party for her at the office.

There was so much food that they were asking folks if they wanted to take some.

I took a few things for us for dinner and grabbed some salad as well.

After we were done (which was quick) we found that there was a PET store nearby so decided to stop there and grab the clipper head and some Christmas gifts for our fur babies and their friends.

I asked one of the staff at the pet store and no they did not carry that particular clipper head.

There was no way that I was going to spend more than $100 to buy a new one so we picked up a few gifts and left.

The traffic was so bad and backed up and SLOW that we just continued home.

COSTCO would wait until next week (better for me, anyway).

Poor Alvin was waiting patiently.

We arrived home at 6:30 p.m.

CRAZY.

Snowing …..

Anyway, Alvin got to go outside and have dinner and all was forgiven.

We had a bite to eat and visited before I filled a tin of Christmas goodies and she was on her way.

It was almost 9:00 before I actually sat down for a break.

Dishes and tidying up and stuff.

 

So my plans changed for today.

I was going to be giving Mr. Alvin a haircut right about now.

Needless to say we were not up when we should have been.

But that is okay.

We are having company at 1:00 p.m. so time to eat breakfast and put on some laundry.

Tidy up the house (which to be fair looks good) but I want to vacuum and wash the main floor and do the bathrooms before she arrives.

So there is time.

It is almost 9:00 a.m. – the coffee is brewed.

Time to throw on some clothes and get going.

 

I hope that you all have a wonderful Saturday, December 14, 2019.

Remember that no matter what is thrown your way …. you just take a deep breath and if you need to scream going into the bathroom and SCREAM.

Not an actual SCREAM that would wake the neighbours but a silent scream at the top of your lungs.

It is amazing how wonderful you feel after releasing all that anxiety and frustration.

It works.

 

Have a great day.

Remember there are not many things that happen in life that cannot be changed, fixed or put off.

Of course, there are some things not the majority of things that we deem to be so important are not really in the grand scheme of life.

 

Happy Saturday.

Coffee is ready.

Yes, I am going.

 

Always, Carol & a patient Mr. Alvin.

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Welcome to the weekend.

So excited.

We had a huge rainstorm with booming thunder and lots of light up the sky lightning.

Woke us up.

Alvin wanted to go outside.

So just as it started to hail …. Ma in her summer nightie and coat ran out in the hail to move her flowers.

I only have four pots this year in the backyard and I did not want them to get flatten.

Ended up that the hail was quite small … about pea sized and appears that did not do much damage.

The puddles are still visible this morning as I look out the window of my office.

One of the neighbours does not have an actual paved driveway so obviously the dirt will puddle.

After work my daughter and I went to COSTCO.

I don’t mind checking things out.

She is happy that now her Ma has a cell …. she cannot lose me.

Sometimes we use to lose each other and then it could take a long time to locate the other.

After arriving at home, we split some items and my daughter left for home.

I put the groceries away and then made a beautiful salad for supper.

One of our friends called to invite us for for a visit in their backyard.

They live down the street and have the nicest backyard.

First photos Alvin was patiently waiting for my friend’s husband to come out to the backyard.

He loves him so much.

I will say that most of the time Alvin was either laying on the swing between us girls or rolling around in the grass.

I tried to play frisbee with him although once or twice he tried to pick it up ….. he did not quite get it.

I guess you cannot always teach old dogs new tricks.

He did run around like a crazy pup when I pretended to be a monster (like we do on the deck at home).

He ran back and forth and had a blast.

The grass is so lush and beautiful.

 

Well I guess we need to end this post as Teddy will be here shortly.

I still have to put in the first load of laundry.

I had planned to do laundry last night but then received the invite.

We were happy to be invited out so we grabbed the opportunity.

Then breakfast and coffee.

Always need that cup of coffee.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

This afternoon my grand pups arrive.

They will stay with us while their parents attend a wedding in the City.

 

So happy to be spending the day with the pups.

I will take Alvin and Teddy for a walk before the others arrive.

Not able to take all four.

 

Remember Kindness and Respect will bring you the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin & soon Teddy …..

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 4th day of March, 2017.

Wow, it looks like a snow globe here in Edmonton this morning.

The once almost bare covered ground is now completely covered.

Winter, Part II.

 

As you may have noticed I have been away for several days, actually the first three of March.

I have had probably one of the worst colds ever for me.

I missed three days of work (argh, not happy about).

So yesterday was the first day in over a week that I actually felt closer to being a human being.

I wasn’t sneezing and blowing my nose every few seconds.

Today, better yet.

So by Monday, this thing should be in the past.

 

My friend “V” sent me an ever so sweet “care package” ….. which was so thoughtful.

She is the best person.

It will take awhile to eat all of the items in the package as it was huge.

Alvin, our dear boy, well he got a packet of treats as well.

I attempted to take a video of him opening his gift but it did not work out.

He was super EXCITED …… the sounds he made ……

 

This morning friends called to see if I would like to accompany them to the grocery store and I said “yes, thank you.”

My fridge is bare of fresh produce and my body is craving a salad ….. and fruit.

 

I was going to give Alvin a hair cut and bath but have rethought that action and might just wait until next weekend or tomorrow.

 

Well I just wanted to say hello and write something as it has been so long.

I missed writing.

Time to call my neighbour and see if she would like a cup of coffee, as I would.

Breakfast – homemade bread made into toast with honey.

Does not get better than that.

 

Have a wonderful Saturday.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family who missed my blog …. thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 6th day of April, 2015.

Easter Monday ……

I have the day off from the office and am just getting ready to go and have brunch with my neighbour and friend.

The sun is shining with a slight cloud cover.

How exciting I have had two days off in a row.

I am sure enjoying my time at home.

It is just the beginning.

Alvin looks so handsome with his new haircut.

He is all nice and clean after his bath.

Looks like a new puppy …..

That’s my guy.

Last night I made a big supper of vegetarian meatballs, mashed potatoes, huge salad with apple crisp for dessert.

We have so much leftover … no cooking this evening.

So I am going to enjoy brunch with my friend.

I am going to enjoy a bit later a nice long walk with Mr. Alvin.

Quiet evening watching a bit of television.

Well time to go.

I hope that you all are having a great Monday.

I will be back tomorrow.

Special Hello to: my family and friends ….

Always, Carol and Alvin