Good Morning! The sky is overcast this morning and we had a light dusting of snow overnight or early this morning, I am not quite certain. It all seems so surreal as I am no longer turning on the bedroom light, grabbing some sock, my phone and then picking up Alvin to carry him downstairs where I would grab my coat and boots which were at the back door and then head outside with him. Once we were done outside then back into the house where I would wipe off his paws and then of course, off with the coat and boots and then head to the sofa for more sleep. Sometimes the boots would come off first and then wipe his paws, depends if he got away on me. It was our routine for many years. So between the two seniors we usually were up a minimum of twice per night but only once did we head downstairs. Now when I get up during the night if I do, I walk to the bathroom in the dark and back to bed in the dark. I know the path quite well. Now when get up during the work week, I get ready first and write this post before heading downstairs. Really feels strange. The first time I open the blinds is when I go downstairs. No longer am I snuggling up to Mr. Alvin under our red blanket on the sofa. The last time I slept on the sofa was with Alvin. I expect to see him when I wake up beside me and keep checking for him when I come upstairs and always when I sit on the sofa as he would always be right beside me. We were/are creatures of habit and routine. We had a routine for many years. Every time that I eat a banana or some food that he loved, I apologize to him as I feel guilty that I am eating and he is not. Our lives are complicated and in death even more so. Our relationships are our feelings with each other. My best buddy is gone and unfortunately there is no amount of missing him, loving him or guilt that will return him to me and I have to learn to live with this change. Yes, change. We are always having to live with things being different. Sometimes our lives are different each and every day and as humans we are not equipped so much with dealing with change as we are creatures mainly set up for routine and habit.
Yesterday a friend reached out in the morning while I was having some coffee to see if she could stop by and drop off something for me. I was only having coffee anyway so I invited her to come for coffee and we ended up visiting for well over two hours. We had a good chat. There were tears and hugs and gentle reminders. My friend Jami gave me a “wooden rainbow bridge with both human and dog figures” so beautiful. I had never seen one before and it is so beautiful. Another thoughtful and kind gesture. I am reminded by just how much Alvin was loved and I guess me, too. So on those days when I feel lonely and the house feels empty without him by myself, I will think of all the love that has and will continue to surround me and Alvin. I am so glad that I have his ashes back home. He still follows me around the house. Well only during the day and at night. He has a special place where he can look out the window during the day and at night he watches over me from my beside the bed. I want to keep him safe and do not wish any accidents. After Jami left, my friend Gillian picked me up for a trip to Costco and then to Save-On for groceries. I so appreciate my friends. She always makes me smile. Shopping is a welcome distraction from the every day. Once back home, we chatted for awhile before she left and I put all of the groceries away. It was way later than I thought by that time so I spent about one hour copying and pasting photos from the old computer to the external hard drive. It is quite the exercise but it needs to be done and I will spend some time today working on the photos as well.
Supper is always strange for me. I think that is when I feel the most as food was Alvin’s thing. He was a foodie and loved to eat and loved to sit beside me on the sofa and watch me, hoping that he could have a little something. For a long time he was able to have some vegetables and fruit so I always ate raw vegetables with my supper and shared a bit with him. It was our routine and it made both of us so happy. Now, there is no paw being raised and no beautiful brown eyes starring at me waiting for me to give him a piece of a carrot or broccoli or cauliflower or whatever …… that makes me sad. Yes, he had manners. I always have thought that having manners was so important to have whether you were human or a pup for that matter. I taught him how to raise his paw which was our “ask nice.” Oh, how I miss him.
Last night two sister friends of mine whose parents live in the neighbourhood came to pay their respects. They brought with them, their little dog named Rio. Rio and Alvin were friends. He sniffed around the house looking for Alvin. Rio turned 11 in December. Susana and Malena gave me a beautiful frame with a charm memento attached and a most thoughtful card. We drank tea and we girls chatted.
I am so grateful to live in this amazing neighbourhood where we support each other. So many wonderful friends. I am truly blessed. Today our friend Alyaa is stopping by for tea. She looked after Alvin most of the time when I returned to the office three times each week starting in October. She truly loved Alvin. She will be coming later this afternoon.
Well I had better head downstairs and put on the coffee. While the coffee is perking, I will grab the laundry that is drying in the basement and then put it away. Once the coffee is ready, I will start working on the photos. I still have several thousands to move and I want to get them done as soon as possible. I must remember to leave my phone and volume turned on as some friends mentioned about calling/texting today.
As I look out of the office window, I see that it is now snowing.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
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.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Well the question was there when I signed in. This morning was “Do you like to eat meat?” I am thinking that Word Press has these questions incorporated into the program. For what purpose, I have no idea. Anyway, for the most part “no.”
Countdown to Christmas – 21 sleeps till Christmas Eve.
Story: Last Night
Ride home with my carpool after work – took longer – home at 5:15 p.m. – my daughter was coming for a sleepover after work – Alvin outside to pee & poop – fed Alvin – shovelled driveway – started supper – took down workstation – continuing to make supper with apple crisp for dessert – tidying up – doing dishes as went along – daughter texted as she stopped to do some shopping – she was looking for winter boots as I had wanted / needed some new ones – couldn’t find any – then found some – relaxed for few minutes – Alvin was whiny – texting with Val – texting with Amanda – doorbell rang – three ladies – one with a guitar – fundraiser – I had no cash – would sign any Christmas song – take e transfer – was flustered as was on phone – Alvin was whiny – I was hangry – tired – said I am sorry, no – not a fan of e transferring strangers who come to my door – why on a night that was minus 20 or more with a guitar – my daughter found me boots – supper ready – kept warmed in oven – apple crisp baked – daughter arrived about 7:45 p.m. – we were both tired and hungry – ate supper – tried on one of them – while going to try on other one realized it was a size “11” – daughter mad at her oversight – cleaned up – decided at 8:30 with Winners being open – quick trip back to the store to return – back to store – not many people – thank goodness – overwhelmed with stuff – had not been shopping for literally years – looked around – found another size 8 in that boot style – almost did not – that would have been maddening – used my gift card from my birthday – picked up Alvin a new food dish – a beautiful storage box – some serviettes – some Christmas string – Christmas tags and a Christmas game – see the running them – check out – home – did dishes – ate apple crisp – looking through Val’s Epicure catalog to place an order – bit of t.v. – snuggles with Alvin – Alvin tired – finally bed at 11:23 p.m. – up at 2:30 – up at I do not remember and up for awhile. Happy Saturday. Baking day. I think that Alvin is going home with Amanda.
I am texting with a friend about a Christmas gift and I have lots to do so better go now. Wasn’t last night fun! I need a vacation.
Happy Saturday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that your Sunday is going well thus far. I am freshly showered and feeling GREAT and Mr. Alvin is resting on the rug outside the office, so I am going to go out on a limb and say that he is doing great as well. Sky is overcast and it is windy.
I would like to wish my nephew in Heaven a belated Happy Birthday and to a friend here on Earth, Kris, a very Happy Birthday.
Today is I am going to do some shopping. I am hoping to pick up any last minute gifts and most of the groceries that I will need for the next while including for the Christmas parties, baking and Christmas. There will be another trip to the store later for those items that were forgotten and fresh produce. I will also mail my Christmas cards inside and outside of Canada. Yesterday I wrote cards and letters most of the day in between doing laundry, going for a walk with Alvin and some cleaning. A very productive day.
They started out in order but somehow the tree photo with only the lights ended up last, lol. Anyway more Christmas decorations photos, my favourite time of year. The bannister turned out great.
Time to head downstairs and make some coffee, then have coffee and then go shopping.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Continuing to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? The sky is a beautiful mix of orange, pink, blue and grey white. Absolutely gorgeous. We had a pretty good sleep but as usual up a few times but that is our lives so that is it. This morning I am going to Costco with one of my girlfriends and then to the Dollar Tree to pick up some bags to put cookies in for Christmas. Only a couple more weekends until Cookie baking time. The days just seem to be flying by but I guess that is nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year. I/we were invited to Pauline and Al’s for supper this evening. I am debating on whether to leave Mr. Alvin home or not. Leaving him alone always gives me feelings of guilt and worry and anxiety. He will be home for a couple of hours this morning and then a few hours tonight. I know he will be okay. The neighbour that looks after him on most of the days that I go back to the office for work is beginning to get more hours at her new job. So there may be days that I have to ask someone ask to come over and check on him. I have to keep in my mind that there will always be someone available to come over but as the days and weeks pass this may be increasingly more difficult. I do not want to go there. Okay, enough. I will always be able to have someone come and check on Mr. Alvin. There will always be a neighbour that can come over.
Yesterday I gave Alvin a haircut and bath, he looks so good. Filled in the rest of the day with laundry, a walk and some tidying up. I will need to clean bathrooms after the shopping trip this morning and hopefully be able to get Mr. Alvin out for a walk. He will definitely need his sweater with his shorter haircut. Also yesterday my daughter put in an order with Costco online for some photo Christmas cards. I gave her some photos and she put them together for us. I am so excited. This will be the first time that I have used photo cards instead of cards with a photo tucked inside. I wanted to do something extra special this year. It will be difficult to decide which to send to who.
Time to head back downstairs and have a coffee or two before Gillian arrives. I am excited to get some shopping done. I added a few things to my small list but it is still not huge.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! Can you believe that today is November 6, 2022 already. Yikes. It has been a snowy snowy November thus far. Colder, too. Our clocks were turned back last night at 2:00 a.m. which has already played havoc with our minds and bodies. I will admit that I am happy that the time goes back as it gives us one more hour in bed and when it is a reasonable time in the morning – we can see outside without the aid of a flashlight. It was snowing earlier when we got up. In fact, we went to bed at our usual time last night as the Momma was tired after a full day of decorating the house in all of our Christmas attire and the much later than usual Friday night. Mr. Alvin was awake and had to go outside at 1:30 a.m. The one thing about winter and senior dogs. You cannot just open the door and let them go out or at least I do not like to, so it means grabbing my winter coat, boots and mitts before heading out and if it is dark outside, I need my phone and with help from SIRI, the use of the phone flashlight. It is a whole deal but I gladly do it, as I do not wish my boy to slip and fall.
With all this snow and all of the shovelling so far, I am thinking it is going to be one of those winters where the snow banks are taller than me me. My computer brought up photos of a winter since I moved to Edmonton where the snow banks were taller than me. Who really wants that memory jog? But it is history and I thought it was important for whatever reason, lol, to take the photo, so I will not delete it.
Mr. Alvin is finally pooping on the deck in the snow. Easier for me to clean up and less likely someone will get injured jumping off the deck into the snow. I am going to shovel some of the excess snow off the deck onto the grass area so he will not jump off. There is quite a lot down there now.
My friends Gillian and Signe are coming for coffee and a visit this morning. I need to get outside and shovel the sidewalks. A couple neighbours have already been out. I have been shovelling every day. But it is good for the arms and good cardio.
I will post photos of Christmas decorations once I have taken a few more. I am almost done my shopping. As per usual, I am supporting small business and direct sales. That is the way to go. Helping where I am able. I do have to get some photos printed of our “family photo from summer” to pop into the Christmas cards. This year I am cutting back on the cards that I give to people that live near to me. There are a few that look forward to the card and photo so I will continue hand delivering those. I hope that stamps stay at the same price. Then baking. The big question. Everyone has been asking me. Are you doing your baking this year? What are you baking? That has not been yet decided. I will for sure do some but whether I give boxes of treats to 50 different families, not sure. I will do my best. I do know that everyone appreciates the treats.
Time to head downstairs. Get that walk shovelled. Put on the coffee and be ready for company.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? The sun is shining brightly and the sky is blue. Not much of a breeze this morning. We have company this morning. Amanda and Mi-Mi slept over. We had a great time. They arrived in the late afternoon, we left the pups together and went to Costco. After returning home from a busy Costco, we put groceries away and I boiled the potatoes for the potato salad for supper. I baked some chicken breasts and boiled the eggs for the salad earlier. My daughter was able to download/upload those garden photos that I have been wanted to share with you all for the past couple of weeks. I won’t have time to do that this morning as she will be leaving in a few minutes. Tomorrow will be photo day.
We have come to the realization that my computer is too old for some things. It seems to be only uploading a few photos at a time. At some point, I will need to get a new one. My computer will no longer take updates. So my phone and computer at not in sync. Or at least we believe this to be true.
Mi-Mi is staying with Alvin and I for the day. I will take the boys for a walk at my lunch break proving it is not too warm.
Coffee is ready and I will make a to go mug for my daughter to take to work.
Earlier this morning while juggling two bowls for the pup’s breakfast, I dropped one of Alvin’s large ceramic (glass) bowls and it broke into a million pieces. It served him well. I bought it shortly for him when I adopted him in January 2010. So it has lasted. I have another one similar but different pattern on the outside of the bowl. I am glad to still have one of them. He has other dishes but I did love those bowls. They are just the right size for him. I no longer have a spare while the other is being washed. Oh well, I guess I do have others but I loved these particular dishes.
Yesterday Alvin and I went for another full walk in the morning. It was so beautiful out.
My neighbour cut the lawn yesterday. He has been working on it and it is looking great. This is Sonja’s boyfriend. He is such a good guy. I think that all the rain that we have been having has definitely helped, too. But his patience and hard work is paying off.
Okay, time to go. I hear that someone is ready to go back downstairs.
Have a great day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and COFFEE.
Good Morning ALL! Well I am so proud of Mr. Alvin. We were in bed by 10:00, I read for a bit before turning out the lights and next time up was 4:00 to take Mr. Alvin outside. We laid down on the sofa and he made it until 5:45 and I had the alarm set for 6:00. I was able to coax him to wait for another couple of minutes before I hopped up off the sofa. We have been up to stay up since then. I gave him his breakfast and we went outside. The breeze was cool but felt really refreshing. The sky was clearing but now I see rain clouds beginning to form. We have had such a weird and wonderful spring and summer. Next week hold onto your hats, they are forecasting +30 temperatures. WOW. The sun just gave a burst of light through the clouds, so pretty. I have such a great vantage point from my office window – just keying away and looking out the window for an update every so often.
Yesterday at noon we had a great walk and after work we made it just inside the park and the boss of me stopped and turned for home. He is truly the “boss of me.” When he says suppertime, I “run” to the pantry and then to the fridge. He has a mix of dry and wet food and pumpkin. I also realized something if I cut the pumpkin back to only in the mornings and not with his supper, that also seems to help his poop. Yup, just what you were waiting for, another “pooping story.” I am sorry but my life revolves around Alvin and part of what he does on a very regular basis is pooping. Now, let’s face it, his stories are more entertaining than my pooping stories! LOL. Life is breathing, drinking, eating and pooping and paying taxes. I hope that you are smiling now and not crying.
A couple of weeks ago, I met a woman at our garage sale. She was looking for antique/older rhinestone jewelry as she was making a bouquet. I did not have anything in the sale but I knew that I had some in my collection of odds and ends. So I took her contact info and called her a few days later. I found actually several pieces that she would be able to use. Well, last night she came after work to pick them up and we chatted and looked at the pieces of jewelry that I had out. We chatted for over 1.5 hours. I found out that she was actually making her bridal bouquet using rhinestone jewelry (some broken and other pieces too beautiful to take apart, using the whole piece) and would make the boutineers and add to table decor if she had enough. She is using coloured rhinestones for her bouquet and possibly the clear for the boutineers and tables. What a great idea. Her knowledge of jewelry designers / makers was incredible and I learned so much in a short time. I think it is safe to say that we will be keeping in touch.
My friend Gillian is borrowing some space in my fridge for food items as her work is having a barbeque and she was the person that did the shopping. It was hard not to open that big huge cake that she had picked up from Costco, looks so good. There is also salads and vegetables in the fridge. She will be picking it all up in a few minutes so it is almost time for me to sign off. I think that I have caught you up in my last day. It has been a good one. The week has had peaks and valleys but way more peaks. My cousin is home recovering from her major surgery and I am so beyond words joyful about that news. Work is going well, busy as usual but that is okay. No time for getting bored although perhaps sometimes that may be a nice change of pace.
I hope that you have an awesome Thursday. We are invited out after supper for a visit at Cookie’s house with her family. Cookie will be there, too. We haven’t seen too much of them lately so will be nice to catch up. I am grateful to have such great people within walking distance to visit. They are super close to us, just a few doors away.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, and COFFEE.
Coffee is ready to plug in.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: yes, it is only 33 days until my 65 birthday. I took a really hard look in the mirror this morning after I applied some makeup (which I do not always wear this much but sometimes) and I am pretty proud of the way in which I am aging. YAY, me.
Good Morning ALL! What a nice surprise to wake up to SUNSHINE. I thought we were supposed to have the opposite. I will take this in a heartbeat. Now I can go out and pick up trash in the “HOOD.” I slept in a bit later than I wanted but still pretty early so I am just doing a few things like having coffee and eating breakfast and then I am on my way to clean up our neighbourhood. At least as much as I can do today. I have decided to take one bag at a time. Too hard to carry multiple bags for blocks and blocks although it can be quite the workout. I am excited to clean up the crap that I have been seeing on our walks. Although I do pick up the odd thing when I am walking with Alvin. It is hard to walk with him and pick up trash. Besides kind of ruins the walks if I am doing both. Could you see me with Alvin on his leash in one hand, his water bottle, a garbage pack and trash picker in the other. OMG. Not happening. Besides if I get out earlier then we can hopefully get a walk in while the sun shines.
So this post will be short. We had two shorter walks yesterday with the second one being after 8:00 pm last night. It was really nice out. Quite enjoyable.
I did go out right after work and pick up groceries. Thanks for my neighbour for lending me her car. I am grateful that I get to drive once in awhile. Don’t want to lose my skills, lol. It was nice to escape my “lovely partner in crime and sometimes brat Mr. Alvin” for a little while. Good for him too. I was gone for less than one hour. He was fine. Don’t worry I love him and he is always well provided for …..
It seemed last night in the grocery store that the average price of anything was $7.99. YIKES. I am so grateful that I only have to provide for me and Alvin. Cannot imagine buying groceries for a large family. Even junk food costs a lot of money now.
Okay time to get going here. COFFEE is calling my name and I have to make it first.
Have an awesome day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are good except! I will tell you in a moment. Beautiful sunrise with dark blue clouds filling the bulk of the sky. Rain clouds? Not sure. But looks pretty nonetheless. Most of the snow has gone leaving behind chunks of ice, gravel/sand, and muck.
Yesterday started out to be a great day and ended with a thump. In the morning we were up early and I finished off some laundry, had a shower and had a quiet morning, just enjoying it all. After lunch I walked over the nearby strip mall and went to Shoppers Drugmart first followed by Save-On Foods. I haven’t walked over to the mall in a long time. The walk was so enjoyable. I was struck by how many folks including myself wore masks and by how many did not. When I was finished purchasing my groceries, I called my friend Gillian to come and pick me up. I noticed that she had called twice. It was so loud in the store that I did not hear my phone which was in my purse. I had used a good old fashioned paper list. She was there in a few minutes and we loaded up her car. My friend had been calling me because she needed to get a few things. So back into the store I went. This time I totally forgot to wear my mask until I saw others with mask and the store was so busy that I decided to put it back on. I was so happy to spend a bit more time with my friend. After she dropped me off, I put the groceries away and Mr. Alvin and I went for a walk. It was so beautiful outside, I only wore a tank top with an elbow length sweater. Once back home, I putzed for a bit before giving Alvin his supper and warming up leftovers for me. I decided that I might as well eat early so I did. After supper and dishes, I went outside with Alvin to see if I could do something to make it less mucky in the grassy area of our backyard. Not a good idea. I did grab a cardboard box from the garage and broke it down. I laid it on the muck and was thinking that at least that way he could take the steps down and walk on the cardboard and then onto the remaining snow and ice. Well, not quite sure what happened but just after I put down the cardboard, I slipped and fell backwards onto the still frozen ground which was covered in a dirty mucky something. I twisted my body as I went down but did not hit my head (good thing). Not happy I muttered something not nice and slowly got up. I was completely soaked and filthy and MAD. Anyway I have to make this short as I slept in this morning. After I got up went into the house, took off my shoes and went upstairs to change. I found that my red tank top under my black sweater was filthy dirty on the back. The only part of my back that was not dirty was my head. Thank goodness. Anyway, I changed and put the laundry in the washer and carried on. I was a bit stiff and sore and that just got worse over the course of the night. I was in a lot of pain as I tried to sleep. Getting off the toilet is not easy. I have taken a couple of Robaxin to help with the muscle pain. My left toes are swollen a bit. No bruising that I have seen. Just incredibly stiff and sore although I believe that the worst is over, thank goodness. Not sure how it happened, I was not being careless. That was the thump to end my beautiful day. LOL.
Well time to go as I need to slowly make my way downstairs to grab my coffee. Yes, I am holding the railing up and down.
Wishing you a great day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
My New Life @ 51 