Last Half 2022 – December 1, 2022

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are with Christmas fast approaching. How are things with you? Do you celebrate Christmas with all the bell & gifts or do you have a more faith based traditions. Perhaps somewhere in between. We all have our own way of celebrating the holidays – this season. I do like giving gifts, I love the decorations, the smells, baking and most of all spending time with friends and family. Oh and the tree, of course. I must admit that I spoiled Mr. Alvin this year, I don’t remember if I mentioned this perhaps I did, but here we go again. I bought him a Christmas sweater, an actual Christmas sweater, his first one. I also got him a new colourful fancy harness and a cute toy. I figure going into his 14th year that we should do it up big. I cannot wait for him to open his gifts. He loves opening presents, so this will be fun.

I guess we are in official countdown – 23 sleeps till Christmas Eve and 24 sleeps till Christmas Day.

This weekend is baking time. I am most excited to get into that rhythm …. hauling out the supplies, the recipes. Mixing and scooping and cutting out shapes (I do round for my sugar cookies). The smell of cookies wafting throughout the house. We are going to have fun. Alvin will not be too happy as I will be busy running around the kitchen but I will be home with him and that is what matters most.

Yesterday is was stormy. The roads were icy and the visibility was down. We were sent home about 3:00 p.m. so that we would miss the rush hour traffic and to ensure that we got home okay. I called my daughter as she has a long drive to let her know about the status of the roads and she was able to leave work early as well. Our drive was okay but my daughter reported that the roads were not good. I am so happy that we all got home safe and sound. After I got home, I hooked up my laptop and worked for awhile longer before feeding Mr. Alvin who was ready for supper when I opened the door. After he ate, I went shovelling. Shovelled the front including the neighbours, then part of the deck and the driveway before starting my supper. I threw together an odd combo that turned out to be yummy. I roasted/baked chickpeas with frozen brussel sprouts, caramelized an onion, chopped up some fresh celery, a red bell pepper, some grape tomatoes and then mixed all together. It was very yummy. I added some chili jelly on top. Supper was most enjoyable considering I had no idea what to eat when I got home.

Well the clock is ticking away and I must get back downstairs and finish getting things ready to go to the office. The storm died down and it stopped snowing. Thank goodness.

Happy Thursday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. hey Val, you were correct, I found a little poopette on top of the bed this morning. Pretty sure something else did not put it there. I am most relieved. Must be an age thing, lol. My poor boy.

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this morning? We are great. Alvin slept pretty much until 3:00 a.m. or at least I was able to get him to lay back down on the bed until then…..up and has his glucosamine chew and outside for a “bathroom break.” On the sofa ….. until 5:00 a.m. although I think I remember him wanting to get up before then but again I coaxed him to lay back down. So at least this morning although choppy – I do feel like I had a decent night sleep. I guess for the most part I am so used to this routine of get up in the middle of the night although I understand why. We are both getting older. I have been getting up and going to the washroom for years and he just started maybe in the last year or so PLUS he dozes from about 7:30 p.m. until we go to bed at 9:00 ish. So by 3:00 a.m. he has slept long enough. Anyway, this is not breaking news and likely not interesting to anyone but me. I am sure that actually a lot of people can sympathize with me. If you are getting older, if you have a pet or children?

We are back into a deep freeze. We had quite a bit of snow yesterday morning but by the time I shovelled snow which was at a late lunch break for me; the falling snow had stopped. No more snow has accumulated. YAY. I still have to shovel the driveway. That is one thing about having the garage detached from the house and not having a car – I sometimes do not think of it right away. I will say that shovelling is a good source of exercise when one cannot walk. I did start walking in the house ….. on the spot ….. using weights but that lasted three days and then I stopped. For no real reason. It would seem that I cannot seem to do anything consistently as of late. Are you feeling this way as well? I think it is the WINTER TIME BLUES. Really all I want to do is to snuggle up on the sofa with Mr. Alvin. Hibernation. Hibernate. Sleepy time. Yup, that sounds good to me. I have to find something to perk me up and get me out of this funk. I am so grateful that I do not have to go to work and can get up and stay warm in the house. Although I do have to go outside from time to time each day. Once the cold weather subsides a bit and we can get back outside and walk ….. that should help. I have also been thinking and thinking and pondering the reasons why I cannot seem to get a “book written.” For many many years I have been wanting to and saying and wanting and saying that I want to be a published writer and then I do not go anywhere with that ….. I have more than enough ideas and actual data to write several books but somehow I cannot seem to get any further than that. Well I guess that is not quite true as I have started the first chapter of a book about Alvin and me. I have to get my butt in gear. Perhaps I am afraid. Of what exactly I do not know but likely that is the reason. Fear of failure, perhaps. Fear of the unknown, although that is never really bothered me before ….. I honestly do not know. So please bear with me as I navigate this dream of mine. I know that I will get it done ….. sometimes procrastination gets the better of me. Isn’t it always easier to say that I will start tomorrow and that I have lots of time. Well at this point in my life …. even though I feel that I have a great many years left to live …. one never knows. After all, I somehow write this post almost everyday. In the almost 11 years that I have been writing this, I have only missed a few days.

Okay time to head on downstairs and get this work day going. Coffee sounds like a plan. Maybe I will listen to hits from the 80’s again as the soundtrack of the 70’s seemed to be repeating. I have been listening to the Stingray Music (Telus) on the television. T.V. Such a great selection. Every type of music imaginable. Perhaps it is time to try something new???

Continuing to live each day with kindness, respect, compassion and learning to be more patient.

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday, yes it is mid week already.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? Wednesday. Midweek once again. Surely seems like the weeks fly by. Sometimes during the day we may not think so but when you look at the day of the week it certainly does. Funny story, yesterday after work I had just put on my winter boots and was going to put on my winter coat, mitts etc. to go out and shovel Sonja’s front sidewalk (neighbors in other half had done mine earlier) when I noticed the name and phone number of my Optometrist’s office flash across my SMART TV. I thought that is odd as I had given them my cell number and told them that that number was no longer in service. With boots on I ran quickly to grab my cell phone and call them. The receptionist asked me if I could hold and I of course said yes. While I patiently waited to see if my new glasses were in. A few minutes later she came back on the line and I explained about the phone number and got them all updated including my work number which I had forgotten about. These days an appointment is required to do anything so I set one up for this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with the knowledge that the temperature is supposed to be warmer or at least that is what the weather guy said. In the morning I am hosting a birthday party for one of my neighbours and friend – there will be three of us in attendance. The three of us. We are going to have the party in my garage. I don’t have a car so I have lots of room for social distancing and I have comfortable furniture that I can set out and a table. I will be doing some rearranging on Friday night. So Saturday will be exciting. Friends over and we have not had a visit in person for a long time. Also new glasses. YAY. Oh, after the phone call – I went out and shovelled my neighbours sidewalk. What goes around comes around, I always say.

Well as Mr. Alvin is very anxious to go back downstairs and perhaps he has to go outside, I will repost a poem that I wrote many years ago, actually almost ten. I am feeling very grateful, very thankful this morning. There is so much more I could add to this poem but it does say what is in my heart. Thank you.

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THE THANK YOU POEM

Thank you for the sunshine

Thank you for the rain

Thank you for the laughter

Thank you for the pain

Thank you for the cool nights

Thank you for the warm days

Thank you for the love

Thank you for the way it fills my heart

Thank you for each buzzing bee

Thank you for all the trees

Thank you for the roses

Thank you for their sweet smell

Thank you for my family

Thank you for the way

Thank you for my dog, Alvin

Thank you for this heaven

Thank you for the abundance

Filling my day – keeping me full

Thank you for the sun, the moon and the stars

Thank you for old ladies, young men

Thank you for music played on guitars

And then !!!

Thank you

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis

March 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta

Continuing to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Welcome to a SNOW COVERED ground here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and it is still coming down. When we were up at 5:00 a.m. – there was no snow. Now we have a couple of inches or so. I love the look of the ground with a pure white cover. It does present itself with work – shovelling. I have already shovelled part of the deck and the grass area where Mr. Alvin does his business because wouldn’t you know it I was lazy at 5:00 and did not go out with him. I saw him poop by the fence and memorized in my mind where he went so that I could pick it up later. Not thinking that in less than a couple of hours it was snowing and would be covered. Luckily when I was out shovelling he pooped again and I got it right away and the other must not have been much as it did not show up in the shovelling. Sorry for the grossing out but I find it humorous. If we cannot laugh at “poop” then what can we laugh at. Besides the world could use some laughter right about now. Poop story over.

Looks like I will have lots of shovelling in my future. Also the pups Teddy and Kobie are supposed to be coming over for the day. I just texted their Mom to see if they are still travelling to the farm. I am not sure how much snow we are supposed to get today. So we shall wait and see if the pups will be joining us today or not.

I figured if the pups come for the day that I would work on and hopefully finish all of the Christmas cards that need to be mailed. I made my mailing list of cards and will check to ensure that I did not miss anyone. I have a couple of parcels to finish for posting. Might as well do that today. I like to stay on the main floor when there are three pups in the house. Also I have the Christmas tree up and with three pups most especially the little one who likes to run and investigate, I like to watch. I am also on the hunt for some potting soil as I have a couple of plants that were given to me recently that require transplanting. Another little job. There is always lots to do. Oh and laundry. Will there ever be a time when we don’t have to do laundry? Guess not. At least it is easy peasy these days. I remember in the OLDER DAYS having to do laundry for seven people using the wringer washing machine and then having to hang everything on the clothesline. We did later get a propane dryer which was nothing like the dryers of today. Besides the clothes always smelled so good even in the winter. Ironing. We used to iron even the bedsheets. So I am not going to seriously complain about doing laundry. Point just made that there seems to be always lots of laundry to wash and when you consider that I am the only two legged in the household, makes me wonder. Now that being said Alvin has some laundry but not as much. Reminding me that his harness needs to be washed. Today would be a good day.

What is going on in your life? Do you have a busy Saturday planned or not planned? Oh NO, i just looked out of the office window and it is snowing heavily. YIKES. Time to build up those arm muscles. Gotta love that. Sorry back to you. If you live in the United States, I can only imagine how you are feeling. Up and down. I hope for good results.

Well from poop to election results.

Time to go and put on some coffee. I so enjoy coffee on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Now my Christmas Tree and decorations does not look so out of place. I will have to change my wreath on the front door. Time to go from FALL to WINTER.

I wish you a wonderful Saturday. With wishes of good cheer, time to relax, perhaps a chat with a friend or family member who lives far away, laughter, and above all, I wish you good health. That is the cornerstone of our life. Without it, there is no good life.

I/We continue to live our lives with kindness and respect and compassion for all life.

As Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Yes, we are well into this new year.

One month over and done.

Now almost one week into February, 2020.

Where are we?

 

Well some folks are vacationing and enjoying life.

Some folks are at home working, waiting for said vacation to arrive.

While others work and never get away on a “tropical” or winter vacation.

Now there are likely a great many folks who never have the luxury of going away on vacation whether it is a winter or summer one.

That is very true.

What percentage of the population has that luxury?

I wonder of the ones that go away how many run up their credit cards in order to do so?

It doesn’t matter where you fit in above, we are all blessed.

I am blessed to live in a nice, no beautiful house, a home with my trusty companion Alvin.

We may not travel far from home but we have our house, our sanctuary.

We have a yard to putz about in the spring and summer and fall.

We could build a snowman on the front yard or the back when the snow is sticky.

I can plant flowers and some vegetables, if I desire.

Having this house is important to me, it is not just a house.

It is my place to relax, to entertain, to live, to grow, to write, to clean and so much more.

 

Sometimes we do not know where life will take us when wherever we are, we can make it our own.

Grab a piece of cardboard or heavy construction paper and make that Vision Board.

Make your dreams come true.

Some may have small dreams and some may have large ones.

But whatever they are ….. you have the ability to make them all come true.

Live in gratitude each and every day.

 

Well, I am thinking that I should go and shovel the front sidewalk before my ride comes.

There is lots of time and then Mr. Alvin will need to go out back.

 

Life always amazes me.

Whether it is work or play, it never ceases to amaze me.

 

Wishing you a great day.

Filled with kindness and respect.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

It is quiet in the house and in the neighbourhood at this hour.

We had a lovely visit and supper with Teddy and Aunt J.

Supper was in honour of her visits to Mexico.

Soft tacos.

Nothing like tomatoes, onions, lime, avocado, refried beans, cheese and more.

I love the smell of LIME.

One of my favourite things.

Reminder to pick up some limes on my next grocery shop.

I always enjoy our visits and our conversations.

Always learning something new.

I did not know that she became a certified SCUBA DIVER after the age of 50.

How cool is that for a prairie girl!

Not like there are oceans close by for diving.

It was a great story how that came to be.

Quite by accident.

Won a contest with a trip to a tropical climate.

The forecast was rain during the time that she was to be on the island.

She did not wish to sit around all week in her room; so she booked scuba diving lessons and the rest is history.

You never know what can happen.

Nothing planned.

 

Well today is organizing a book party for Steeped Tea.

With Christmas coming …. my customers will be wanting to pick up some items.

Great gift ideas as well.

I love our Hot Chocolate.

MMMMMM

 

I also see lots of shovelling in my future.

We have almost as much as the first time we shovelled.

The third time now ……

 

If the temperature is okay we might head out for a walk.

Likely will be short as they have not plowed the path around the park.

Not everyone gets out and shovels.

So many folks just leave the sidewalks covered in snow all winter long.

I am fortunate most of my neighbours do shovel.

Some may take a bit longer than others but it gets done.

 

I snapped some photos last night at bed and this morning.

Love taking photos of the SNOW.

Especially the fresh stuff.

 

 

Well I guess it is time to hit the shower.

Might be important to “smell good,” just in case someone comes to visit.

Oh, I am kidding.

I always smell good.

Just freshen up.

Don’t you find that a showers gives you energy?

I do.

Then coffee and breakfast

and

then

SHOVELLING.

Exercise.

Perfect order.

 

Happy Sunday.

With kindness and respect I shall live this day and my life.

 

Always, Carol & Al

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 24th day of July, 2017.

Well less than two weeks until my sister arrives.

I spent the weekend getting the house ready and some time in the yard.

I am so blessed that my neighbour and I split the grass mowing and also snow shovelling in the winter.

She is wonderful and I am blessed to have such a great neighbour.

We work together and that is the way it should be.

Alvin loves her and that is a must …..

We had quite the storm last night.

Lots of thunder and lightning and some rain.

Definitely not as bad as it could have been.

The sky is clearing but there is forecast for a rainy Monday so time will tell.

Good to have the moisture and I only hope that British Columbia has received some moisture.

More fires reported to have started ….

Alvin and I had a walk in the morning which was great as there were storm warnings out in the evening.

So here we go another work week ….. just two until vacation.

I am so excited there are no words.

It will be great to have some time off from work.

YAY …… time to visit, relax and have fun.

 

Special Hello to:  All those folks who are able to and are taking vacation.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 6th day of January, 2016.

Today is the birthday of one of my dear friends back in Regina.

Alvin and I would like to take this opportunity to WISH her an awesome Birthday.

Happy Birthday “L.”

 

On the home front, I picked up my second pair of new glasses last night and I love them.

Now I have two new pairs of glasses that I can alternate.

One of them has custom sunglass clips so that I no longer require to carry around a separate pair of sunglasses.

So much easier.

 

Alvin helped me shovel the deck and driveway last night.

I shovelled the snow from the front by myself.

It was starting to get cold or at least with the wind so the back was enough for Mr. Alvin.

We shovelled our neighbours front and back not obviously not her backyard.

Nice to get some extra exercise.

 

Well for some reason I tossed and turned and was feeling nauseated so did not sleep well.

I feel great this morning but unfortunately I am running a tad late.

How does that happen?

 

Fridays are a great day to show some extra kindness to someone.

Pick up a coffee for someone.

Shovel the walks for a elder neighbour.

Take a friend/neighbour’s dog for a walk.

Have a wonderful Friday and thank you for helping out.

 

Special Hello to: my friend in Regina as she celebrates a birthday today.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 21st day of December, 2016.

Only THREE sleeps till Christmas EVE.

Warm weather continues.

OH my …. I have to finish my projects over the next couple of days to be ready in time.

But I will be.

 

With the holiday season “wrapping up” just a reminder to all of us to show the rest of the world “our kindness.”

Randoms acts of kindness.

Perhaps there is a senior in your neighbourhood who has no family or none than can be there over the holidays.

You could invite them to your home for Christmas.

You could send them a Christmas Floral Arrangement.

You could make a Christmas Hamper up to ensure that they have a nice meal and deliver it to them.

You could clean their sidewalks if there is snow.

You could take them a Christmas Card.

You could bake some cookies and take them over.

If you have a family in your neighbourhood that is struggling perhaps due to job loss or health problems.

You along with other neighbours could provide them with food for the Christmas meal.

You could bake some cookies and take them over.

You could make or purchase some gifts for them.

If they do not have a Christmas Tree …. you could pick one up and fill a box with decorations and have it delivered.

Perhaps you could invite them over for Christmas Dinner at your home.

There are so many ways some that cost money and many that do not.

Take the time to spread holiday cheer by random acts of kindness.

If you baked cookies for your family – share them.

Trust me we do not need ALL the cookies.

Perhaps you know of a pet that needs to be rescued, rescue him or her.

I know a family that recently adopted a beautiful rescued doggie.

Help everyone man and animal alike.

Let this Christmas be the one that stands out in history.

For all of the right reasons.

Well time for me to finish getting ready for work ….. it is calling.

I am so excited only today and tomorrow to work this week and our office Family Christmas party on Friday morning and then we are off until January 3, 2017.

I am so looking forward to some time to recharge these “old” batteries.

Okay they are not that old.  LOL

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Special Hello to: You, thank you for making my Christmas and Holiday Season Special.

Always, Carol and Alvin