Living … One day at a time.

Hello, a soft easy Tuesday morning here at our house.

We were up not too early.

There has been a bit of rain overnight so my flowers, plants, shrubs, trees and grass had a nice drink.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket per our regular weekday routine.

I am working on this post.

 

Trying to say something new, something to bring a smile to your face and maybe give you food for thought.

We are all different but yet so much the same.

There is something to learn from every person on this planet.

You just have to be willing to do two things?

1.  Be a teacher – share your expertise / give back
2.  Be a student – be willing to learn / to soak up new things

Each and every day we should be learning and teaching.

Life is a huge classroom.

We all can teach someone something new or a new way of doing and we can all learn.

In fact as we age it is LEARNING that keeps our brain “young.”

So be the teacher and the student.

 

On this Tuesday, I am most grateful to live in a beautiful home with my doggie pal “Alvin.”

I am grateful that we are both in good health.

I am grateful that we live in this beautiful home.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends.

I will say this I have the best friends and family on the planet.

I am grateful to have sight so that I may watch the leaves turn from their beautiful shades of green to yellows, oranges and reds.

I am grateful to have the sense of smell so that I can smell the pretty flowers when Alvin and I are enjoying our walks

I am grateful to be able to hear all sorts of sounds and most especially music.

Thank you.

 

I hope that you all have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Spread kindness with respect to all those you meet everyday.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 31st day of December, 2018.

The last day of December and the last day of the year 2018.

 

WOW, what a year – 2018.

Right.

The world has struggled to come up with a game plan regarding the environment or at least one that ALL countries will join.

Wars, struggles and strife continue all over the world.

We have listened to the rants and raves of leaders.

Weather has been off the charts this past year between fires, floods, hurricanes and tsunamis.

Even at home there has been peaceful conflict between those who want the pipeline built and those who do not.

There have been advances and disadvantages.

We have lost dear ones.

Babies have been born.

 

For me, I continue to work, to be employed.

At a time where jobs are held dear.

I am most grateful to be employed.

I am grateful to have supportive family and friends.

I am grateful that despite the recent political atmosphere I/We live in a peaceful country.

I am grateful to have clean drinking water.

I am grateful that I can write and am not shut down for voicing my opinions.

I am grateful that Alvin and I are in good health.

I am grateful that I am able to live in a home/house that I can call my own.

I am grateful that I can see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

I am grateful for books, music and nature.

I am grateful that I can make a difference – should I choose.

I am grateful to be me.

I am grateful that during the last eleven days of this year that I was able to visit with my cousins and many friends.

To be surrounded by good people is the best feeling ever.

A great way to end the year.

 

For the New Year, I simply wish that all nations would come together peacefully to solve or at least begin to resolve the damage done to our beloved environment.

Let us hope that it is not too late.

Our environment is like our own personal good health; without it, we will perish or at least live very restricted lives.

 

I know that this sounds like a doom and gloom post but sometimes we have to dig our heads out of the sand and speak up.

There is a break in the clouds this morning.

The sky is no longer white.

The sky is filled with dark blue clouds which I can see clear blue sky.

There is hope that we will have sunshine today.

I wish HOPE for everyone – everywhere.

I wish SUNSHINE for everyone – everywhere.

 

Happy New Year.

Happy 2019.

 

Special Hello to: all of my family and friends, wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 1st day of May, 2015.

Well I was off to a great start this morning.

As I was writing the first line in my gratitude journal about 5:00 a.m. …..

I wrote “I cannot believe that today is the first day of Easter”

I looked at the words and then started to giggle.

Really, no idea where that came from but it was funny.

What a great way to start a Friday.

Laughing.

Laughing at oneself, no less.

I know that today is going to be great.

Alvin likely thought his Momma had lost her senses.

On top of being the first day of May and one month closer to summer ….. I noticed that it was starting to get light out at 5:30 instead of 6:00 a.m.

Note to self: remember to flip all of my “paper” calendars to May.

They are forecasting some rain and that would be so nice.

Oh, I must share a few of the most wonderful things that happened to me on my first day back to work from being sick:

– a co-worker had written me a hand-made thank you card in appreciation of “me” and two home baked cookies

-another co-worker had returned all of my phone calls from the past couple of days

-others showed appreciation by making sure that I was okay

-others took on a few tasks to help me out

-my daughter picked up a jean jacket from a swap that they are having at her work (she is always thinking of her Momma)

-after work while waiting for the bus I noticed a gal that usually catches the bus with me and who lives in the same neighbourhood …. she waited for a couple of lights to come over and ask me if I wanted a ride home.  She had driven to work.  So thoughtful considering she had to walk the total opposite way to her car.

WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY ….. it was so wonderful.

It is the little things that make a person glad to be alive.

I wish you only grand “little things” today to make you feel as great as I did yesterday.

Have a great Friday.

Gotta go.

Time to catch the bus and of course, snuggle for a couple of minutes with me Alvin.

Special Hello to: my sister ….

Always, Carol and Alvin

Story Line by line – November 21, 2013

Chapter Four:

November 1, 2013

Oh, how I loved that dress, and my mind flashes back to the junior high school dance where I first wore that beautiful pink and then I see my favourite books floating in mid air and my best friend “Dee” is there.

November 2, 2013

Alvin is staying very close as we begin to take in this enormous space, and our nervous energies feed each other, and I think of Alice in Wonderland, and  what shall our next move be as a bright purple balloon drifts by.

November 3, 2013

It is absolutely amazing the dress, my friend, balloons, family, old boyfriends, my house, Christmas, all of the things that I have loved during my life are appearing as Alvin and I make our way through it all.

November 4, 2013

I realize throughout all of the memories that my “four” are no longer walking with us and have disappeared.

November 5, 2013

“Where did they go?” I mutter aloud as if I half expect Alvin to answer and yet I know that we are “down the rabbit hole and things are about to get very interesting.”

November 6, 2013

What do I do – what can I do – nothing makes any sense – why would they do this – am I a guinea pig of sorts – are they watching us – who are they – are the questions that flood my mind as we just walk not knowing what will happen next.

November 7, 2013

As we walk further into this new world, I begin to notice that we in fact are not alone.

November 8, 2013

I do not see anyone but I can feel “eyes” watching us as we go deeper into this place, and then out of no where the thought of “YOU ARE NOT ALONE” comes to my mind; like something out of a movie.

November 9, 2013

Carefully I look about not wanting to miss a single thing, and carefully monitoring my thoughts with hopes that I can find out my location without disturbing my “hosts” when in the distance I see a dim light.

November 10, 2013

As I approach the location of the light it becomes brighter and brighter with only about 50 footsteps away I can begin to see what lies ahead of us.

November 11, 2013

Could I ever have imagined this in my wildest dreams, I think not, as the images begin to sharpen and come into focus.

November 12, 2013

I stop, we stop, and I rub my eyes in disbelief as I look ahead and see what appears to be a glass wall with images of ….. ME.

November 13, 2013

There, only a few feet in front of us are ME at different ages, different stages of my life with some I recognize, and other versions are new to me.

November 14, 2013

I am shaking in disbelief and wonder at what is ahead of me; am I dreaming?

November 15, 2013

Alvin has been quiet for awhile just sniffing around the space when suddenly he yanks hard on the leash pulling me off balance knocking me to the ground.

 November 16, 2013

As I lay there collecting my senses, Alvin rushes back to me tail wagging and licks my face; I giggle, looking up completely stunned, I see myself.

November 17, 2013

Wow, is that really me I think to myself and then utter a soft “Hello”  as the other “me” smiles back at me…… 

November 18, 2013

“Please tell me where I am,”  I say to her, and as I utter the words, she tells me without speaking that I am wherever I want to be.

November 19, 2013

Okay, I think let me give this a try as my mind unleashes the imagination that has been locked up as of late and before I could say anything we are curled up on a oversized leather sofa in front of a fireplace looking out of an enormous window to a breathtaking view of the mountains which are covered with snow; my heart leaps with excitement.

November 20, 2013

I had this dream when I won the lottery, and our family spent Christmas in this huge log cabin celebrating and being together it was amazing … oh, I feel so good.

 November 21, 2013

Happiness, I feel an overwhelming sense of pure joy as I continue to take in my surroundings but then boom I come to my “senses” and wonder where is everyone?

Story Line by line – August 15, 2013

FIRST LINE …..July 25, 2013

As we walk along the water’s edge the coolness leaves my skin with goose bumps and prickles, as if there is someone behind me.

July 26, 2013

Alvin pulls on his leash and brings me back, the fragrance of freshly cut grass fills my nostrils; my heart beat quickens, and I am unable to shake the feeling.

July 28, 2013

The sky is overcast with a hint of sunrise peeking through and the leaves of the trees rustle in the breeze, and I think how did I get here? 

July 29, 2013

What does that mean, and what is making me think these thoughts?

July 30, 2013

All of a sudden the leash tightens as Alvin pulls me forward.

July 31, 2013

My body lurches forward as I fight to keep my balance, what is going on …. “Alvin,” I cry as things appear to be happening in slow motion.

August 1, 2013

Alvin turns his head and with eyes as big as saucers; I suddenly realize what is going to happen.

August 2, 2013

I had no control, and could feel my breath slowly leaving my body as it was happening.

August 5, 2013

As the fog lifts from my brain and I come round; I realize that quite some time has passed as dusk has fallen, and then the horrifying thought comes to my mind where is my Alvin?

August 6, 2013

My thoughts turn immediately to the searing pain in my head as I try to stand the pain is impossible but I must ….. try to….

August 7, 2013

I do not understand what happened;  partially putting things together, realizing my thoughts turn to my beloved Alvin ….. as I try to call out his name…. I feel something warm against my body.

August 8, 2013

Suddenly I hear voices off in the distance calling my name.

August 9th, 2013

As I start to focus on my surroundings, I realize that I am not where I was and things do not look familiar.

August 10th, 2013

I want to cry out but I am frightened, and I do not quite know why.

August 13, 2013

My mind is racing, please let it slow down so that I can concentrate on what I need to do, please.

August 14, 2013

Okay, I will open my eyes again and try to focus on what is around me, and all I see is nothingness, there is absolutely nothing, how can that be?  and where is my Alvin?

August 15, 2013

“This does not feel right” as I manage to pull myself up off the ground and slowly regain my senses realizing that the only thing the same is the coolness to the air.

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday, the 8th day of July, 2013.

 THIS MORNING

Sun coming up.

The mist rising off the water nearly covering the flock of geese as they slowly made their way from one side to the other.

You could hear peeps from the baby goslings and see varying sizes of them amongst the elder geese.

The air comfortable for our walk.

Alvin stopping frequently to sniff something buried from sight.

The fragrance of the roses fills my senses, and enters my body.

My mind wonders as we stroll.

I smile, and feel an incredible sense of happiness.

Now on our way home ….. this morning.

********

Well time to go back to work ….. I am so grateful that the end of my vacation had me feeling healthy once again.

On Saturday night after Alvin and I had returned home from our walk … I noticed a huge beautiful dragonfly resting on the wreath of flowers on our front door.

At first I feared that it might not be alive but then I very gently touched it and it moved ….

I love dragonflies …. they are my favourite creatures other than my Alvin and grand-puppies of course.

It looked so regal on the wreath.

I let Alvin into the house and very gingerly lifted the dragonfly up and moved it from the front door to my flowers in the backyard.

It rested for a moment and then very gracefully flew up and around me and then away.

I am always grateful to see dragonflies.

They restore my faith that things will work out for the best.

I also saw one on television in the most unlikely of shows.

So it was my day for faith and healing.

As always, I am grateful to be alive and for all the many blessings that surround me.

Special Hello to: YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin