Last Half 2022 – December

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this Thursday? I am well. Receiving great report about my boy. Missing him but glad he is doing well. Still dark as night outside. We are nearing the shortest day of the year.

Are you ready for Christmas? Do you bake? Do you entertain? Do you wrap gifts in paper, bags or something else? What special dishes do you make during the holidays? Are you having a big crowd for Christmas? Do you put up an artificial tree or a real tree?

I am ready for Christmas. Shopping done and most wrapping done except for a few items that have yet to be delivered, Christmas cards mailed and still have a few to hand deliver and that will be on Sunday, house and tree are decorated (I keep fussing with the tree, looking for perfection, lol. Yes, I bake every year. This year I made Sugar Cookies and iced them, Chocolate Fudge and Chocolate Chip Cookies. I will make some Mincemeat Tarts for Christmas, as well. Yes, a bit although this year I am hosting more (which is lovely). My daughter, son-in-law and pups mostly come here for Christmas although I have gone to their home a few times over the year. Sometimes good for a change. I wrap gifts in paper, bags and sometimes use brown paper, Christmas towels, and sometimes put a gift within a gift. I started making this Hot Cheese Dip for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as an appetizer. I like to make some different twists on the traditional Christmas Dinner meal. Like chicken instead of turkey and one year we had tofurkey. Homemade cranberries instead of out of a can. Garlic whipped potatoes instead of just whipped potatoes. This year we are having Chinese Food instead of the usual. My friend Lucy gave me some Chinese Dumplings that she made so I froze them to have at Christmas. Christmas is usually me, Amanda, Steven and the pups, Alvin, Aspen and MiMi. This year we may have a couple of friends. We also leave an open invitation to anyone who does not have a place to go to for Christmas. The thought of someone alone makes me sad. I am having what I call a big crowd this weekend for a Christmas party, the second weekend in a row for parties. YAY, me. I have been putting up an artificial tree as I had a tree lose all of its’ needles. But I used to put up real trees. I love the smell of a real tree.

So there are my answers to my questions. I hope that you have fun thinking about your answers.

Countdown to Christmas: OMG only “9” sleeps until Christmas Eve.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Welcome to December, 2020

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this Thursday morning? I am great. We are in serious countdown mode to Christmas. As one week today is CHRISTMAS EVE. Sometimes I forget that I am 63 and think that I am 8. Waiting for Santa to arrive. Believing that good will prevail is what always gets me through each day. Positive thinking – faith – believing that I can force change. We all can. So back to Christmas. Are you watching your favourite Christmas programs and movies? I am over the moon happy to have this 58 inch television hanging on my living room wall. So grateful to my kids for giving it to me as they have a new one. I thought that my other t.v. was great, the colour was great, picture was sharp or so I thought. But I have noticed things on the bigger screen that I never saw before …. it has been wonderful. Definitely going to be spending some time watching more movies over the Christmas break.

Our City has serious restriction protocols in place at this time until into January so we cannot have company other than the people in your “bubble” and my bubble is two extra people other than myself. So my kids are my “pod” for this time. There are so many new words or old words have new meaning in this pandemic. Like pod and bubble to name just a couple. But at the end of the day I am grateful that our government and leadership are listening to the scientists and medical professionals and clamping down. It is not ideal at this time of year for sure but it is for the best, so that we do not have spikes and lose even more dear souls. We also have to remember to reach out to those folks who are struggling. If you have a neighbour who is alone, seniors who live down the street or you know someone who needs help, please reach out. Even if you do not have the financial resources to help, perhaps you can give them information that can help or even just to listen. Now I know we cannot go into houses to help but you can talk from the sidewalk or facetime or phone. We still have phones you know. Please make this Christmas about more than you and your family. Make it about helping someone who is struggling …. you never know what a phone call can do to lift someone’s spirits, to give them hope. Besides I truly believe that we are all here to help one another. If we were meant to be alone …. there would not be 8 billion or so people on this planet. Reach out. Please. Let this be the part of 2020 that brings lightness to what has been a dark year for so many. We can do this.

With kindness, respect and compassion we will get through this pandemic.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and I guess the countdown has already begun.

There are only “14” sleeps till CHRISTMAS EVE.

How exciting is that?

Very.

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

I have always believed.

Believing in something not the modern day commercialism of it all.

Truly, I love the thought of Santa Claus.

The goodness and the love within Kris Kringle.

The ability to bring joy to millions.

Every July I begin to watch every Christmas movie, I have and I have many.

I believe that we all have the ability within us to be SANTA CLAUS.

Or at least what we have billed him to be.

The giver of wonderful thoughtful gifts to children and adults alike.

Every person deserves to have a little something that they have always desired or wanted or needed.

Does not have to be a jet plane or an expensive video system.

Does not have to be expensive jewelry or a new car.

Sometimes all someone desires, needs or wants is a warm pair of socks.

Sometimes all someone desires, needs or wants is new dish towels for the kitchen.

Sometimes all someone desires, needs or wants is a new warm winter coat as theirs is too small or worn out.

Sometimes it may be a book, some of their favourite candy, a board game or a doll.

It does not have to be big or expensive.

But it needs two things.

1.  To be given with love.
2. To be received with love.

 

Well I guess on that note it is time for me to head downstairs.

Finish getting ready.

Pick up the you know what from the you know where !!!!

 

Have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Thank you for reading my blog.

I only have two goals.  One is to write daily and the other is to hopefully bring a smile to your face.

Thank you.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of December, 2017.

Another COLD COLD day for us here in Edmonton and in Western CANADA.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.

Chatted with my brothers on Christmas Day and my sister.

Chatted with our friends from Regina…

Hard to believe that Christmas is all over for another year.

The decorations and our inflated bellies are all that remains.

I tried “Jamie Oliver’s” recipe for cooking the turkey and gravy this Christmas and was happy with the results.

An easy and extremely tasty way to make the turkey and gravy.

SANTA CLAUS was good to both me and Alvin.

My daughter and her family slept over two nights at our house which was so nice.

We ATE and ATE and ATE too much.

We played a new game for the kids but not new for me, “SEQUENCE.”

So much fun ……

 

It feels like early in the morning but here it is almost 8:30 a.m.

The sun is not up.

 

I am most grateful to have this week at home.

Our office is closed this week.

So grateful.

 

Well time to go and have a shower and wake up.

Alvin has an appointment this afternoon at his Doctor’s.

No worries, just his regular pedicure and stuff.

We are grateful that our friend is giving us a ride for I fear a walk in this cold would freeze his paws.

 

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: all my friends all over the world.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 24th day of December, 2015 and Christmas Eve.

It is finally here …. the waiting is over.

Mother Nature has even joined in the excitement this day as it is ever so gently snowing.

The snow globe effect …..

While……

Me and the children are waiting patiently for Santa Claus to arrive ….

and Alvin, too.

Counting down the hours and minutes.

I remember back to when I was a young girl …. never could sleep Christmas Eve.

Just remember Santa Claus is a feeling ….. the feeling of wonder and awe, happiness and love.

Capture that feeling at Christmas and you will be set for life.

 

While I am a dreamer I am always a realist and while I, we are celebrating with our family and friends there are those who cannot.

There are many reasons ….

Perhaps they are alone in a hospital bed.

Perhaps they are homeless.

Perhaps they have no family or friends.

Perhaps there just is no money for the “trimmings.”

Or maybe they are not at home and cannot get there.

For whatever the reason…..you are not alone.

I want to WISH every human being on this planet all the LOVE that is celebrated and felt in my home, and in so many others.

I want to WISH every human being on this planet a place to call home, food in their bellies and to have the safety to just take a walk and gaze up at the stars.

We are all together ….. every decision I make, and you make affects someone, everyone, somewhere, everywhere.

So on this much celebrated day which should be the likes of everyday ….

I wish you love.

I wish you an easy life.

I wish you happiness.

I wish you joy.

I wish you laughter.

 

Merry Christmas Everyone from Me and Alvin …..

Have the Best Day and Remember to spread the Joy…..

You do not need another blue sweater or gift card to the mall.

There is someone out there perhaps close by who does ….

Merry Christmas …..

Be safe in your travels …..

 

Best Wishes

Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of November, 2013

Another Wednesday.

Mid week.

Nearing the end of another month.

Weeks before the big day.

Mouth is watering for those special treats.

Excitement is building.

What to do next?

Baking done, well almost (just some chocolate chip cookies for Steve).

No, everything is almost ready.

Christmas cards written, ready to mail.

Letter almost finished to enclose.

Finish a couple of gifts ( hand crafting ).

Wrap things.

With care and course.

Watch some more Christmas movies and listen to Christmas songs.

Whoops I forgot to change my voicemail (telephone) greeting.

Has to be for the holidays.

Time to go.

More thoughts ….

So exciting.

YAY ….. another Christmas just around the corner.

I feel like a kid in a candy shop ……

I have been a very good girl this year.

So perhaps Santa will drop by.

Special Hello: to SANTA Claus.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…….

It is approximately 6:10 a.m. on Thursday, September 15th, 2011 and it is dark outside …… the moon still glowing and the stars shining brightly.  It always amazes me …. the sky …. how cool is it that when we look up ….. there to our wondering eyes do appear bright shining stars (got you …. you thought I would say “Santa Claus” )……  LOL…  It is pretty amazing how the moon when in full view can truly light up the whole sky.   Should have been an astronomer, astronaut, pilot of some sort……  🙂

I love looking into the night and morning sky.  Between the moon, stars and the sun rising …… well that just makes my day.  Also our sunsets are pretty incredible, too.  I think we have the prefect view, what do you think?  Are you a star gazer or moon watcher?  Do you feel an infinity to the sky?  Somedays I wished that I could fly to the moon and beyond.  Check what is out there.  I always wanted to fly and sometimes in my dreams, I do.

So have an incredible day.  Make sure that you take the time to look up and admire the view. We are truly blessed.

Always, Carol