2021 – Day after EARTH DAY

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Good Morning ALL! Happy Friday to each and everyone. I hope that you are doing well. We had another sleep deprived night but Alvin seems to be okay so not exactly sure what is wrong if anything. I did clean his ears at 3:30 or so as he was shaking them about. I had checked them earlier and they did not look dirty but there may have been something irritating him that I could not see so the cleanser from the vet is good so I put some in both ears and using the medical gauze squares (not cotton balls) I gave him a little swish about. Nothing was on the square. Anyway clearly something was bothering him as basically we were up from 2:20 till about 5:30, when I must have dozed off and realized that he was not on the sofa so I got up and could not find him on the main floor. So I ran upstairs to find him in the hallway. We went back to bed and slept until the alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. I hopped into the shower and feeling refreshed I should be okay for the day along with some caffeine. Poor guy.

We did have a walk at noon yesterday despite the cold wind and that it was snowing. Yes, it was. Bright sunshiny morning for this Friday. YAY.

I cannot believe that I forgot yesterday was EARTH DAY. Then I got to thinking and thought shouldn’t every day be EARTH DAY? Perhaps reminding everyone the day after the OFFICIAL DAY is even more important. So here are some everyday tips to help the environment – Mother Nature – our EARTH:

1. Pick up the trash from your property.
2. When you are out for a walk pick up trash that you see
3. Organize a garbage/trash pickup in your community
4. Stop using single use plastics (or at least cut down)
5. Stop using the to go coffee cups from your local coffee place, take your own. Everyone has a mug or fifty.
6. Start shopping at Thrift Stores/Garage Sales and the like for clothing and other items for items you need.
7. Use the “Marie Konda” method of organizing in your shopping practices. Make sure you REALLY LOVE the item.
8. Clean out your closets and perhaps swap with friends and family.
9. Check with local animal shelters to see if they need any towels and blankets (if you are cleaning out your linen closet)
10. Old suitcases – contact Foster Homes
11. Be mindful of what you buy (yes, I am repeating myself).
12. We in this country and in the United States – simply buy more than we need. Way more.
13. Live more simply.
14. Only keep what you use.
15. Let us each make a difference.
16. Make sure that you pack your garbage for pickup properly. If you live in a windy location or where there are a lot of birds, ie: magpies and crows – you may wish to use a closed container instead of just putting put a bag. Maybe your municipality is changing to covered bins like ours.
17. Please do not put your loose papers and egg cartons on top of a “blue bin.” They will blow to my house and I will end up putting them into the garbage.
18. Check with your local municipality about what can be recycled
19. Stop using balloons (they are killing our wildlife and birds).

Well it is time for me to sign off and get the coffee on and go to work.

I wish you a wonderful Friday.

Remember each one of us can make a difference. It is each one’s responsibility. This does not just lie with government.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning All. How are you doing this Thursday morning? I am well, we are well. Alvin was whining at the office doorway until I explained to him that we do this every morning and to come in and lay down on his bed. He complied. WOW, I did not expect that but he actually understood. YAY, pack leader.

Have you ever thought about when you were much younger where we would be in the year 2021? Did you think that we would be zipping through the air in cars equipped for off ground travel? Kind of like the Jetsons. Or that we might be able to teleport from our homes to anywhere on the planet that had a “telepad.” That holograms were a household fixture. I guess having the automated vacuum systems that zip about and clean our floors is a start. Also being able to turn lights off and on remotely by using an app on your cell phone. Do you remember the communication devices on Star Trek and how they resemble some of our first mobile phones? From the imaginations of the movie makers to the minds of inventors. Not every item but it gives people ideas. I also thought that by 2021 we would be living in peace worldwide and we are not even remotely close. I do wish for world peace. But is that even possible for human beings? Not as long as we have a need for power and dominance and for material wealth. Also I would have thought that by the time we could fly to the moon we would have conquered disease and many of our day to day issues. A big one is “the use of single use plastics.” The other day on television the ladies on this Canadian talk show were speaking about single use plastics and “tampons” were near the top of the list. It has been many years since I have had to use feminine hygiene products but I totally agree, we can land on the moon but we cannot come up with something to replace all tampons? Some Canadian provinces are banning single use plastics by the end of 2021 and that is a start. But how about we hire some of our best and brightest to come up with replacements for all of these items that are bad for us and for the environment. There has to be a way. I guess 2021 could be the beginning of us pulling together and doing what is right for us, for every creature, for nature and for the environment.

This is a subject much bigger than the time that I have at this moment. We have to do something and sooner than later. Stop standing with our heads in the sand so to speak. Pull off the blinders.

Time to go to work.

Teddy and Kobi will be spending the afternoon with me and Alvin.

Living my life as I hope you are living yours with kindness, respect and compassion for all.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Folks,

Well today is September 19th, 2020.

The sun is supposed to be shining but instead the sky is filled with smoke.

I cannot even imagine the smoke as one continues south.

I cannot even imagine all of the loss of animal and plant life.

We hear about the loss of human life but not often is the loss of animal, bird and insect and plant life spoke about or mentioned in a news article.

My heart breaks for every creature and for the plants and trees.

I have been listening more and reading as of late about climate change.

Sadly we are not doing enough to combat these changes ….. is it too late?

I do not know.

I have also been thinking as of late about all of the disposable masks and gloves that are making their ways to the landfills.

I have seen a great many disposable masks lying on the ground in my neighbourhood.

I can only imagine the increase in to go containers from restaurants that are making their way to the landfills.

This pandemic has increased our “carbon footprint” not lessened it.

If we all work together and use less single use plastics.

Buy masks that can be washed ….. take the time and wash them.

If you are going to eat out ensure that the to go containers are made from materials that are biodegradable.

There are lots of things we can do.

Purchase less items wrapped in layers of plastics.

Buy fresh fruits and vegetables and cook instead of using prepackaged meals.

We have to work together.

Now is the time.

Leave the lights off when you leave the room.

All of the little things that we can do will add up.

We can come together and get things done.

It is not totally the responsibility of governments to save the planet although they should be speaking on our behalf and collectively doing what is right.

This is my opinion.

Food for thought.

 

This morning I saw a video about this Vet from the United States that was mentioning about the dry kibble food that we feed our dogs.

He mentioned if your dog has bad breath, joint pain, smelly and or runny poop that it is due to lack of proper nutrition.

About how the process of pressure cooking the food leaves bad things in the food.

He talked about this supplement to sprinkle on the food that gives them vitamins, omegas and more.

One thing he mentioned was that the length of a dogs life has decreased after the 70’s.

Making dog food is big business.

More food for thought.

 

My head spinning …..

I think about the animals and plant life lost and injured in the fires.

I think about all of our dogs that are not living the best lives due to lack of proper nutrition.

 

So much to think about …..

Where do I go from here and where do you go from here?

 

We should be constantly learning new things and benefiting from the knowledge.

We should be working towards a good future for our children, grandchildren and our furbabies (to name a few).

 

I am working on making a difference.

Do not think you are only one person and that you cannot make a difference.

We can all make a difference.

We can all do our part.

Come together …..

 

 

Trying to live our lives with kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and well here we are today is Thursday.

Almost one week in the newly renovated office building.

I actually kind of like my new workspace.

What is taking a bit of getting used to it is so open.

If we use the stand up desk … you can see your neighbour.

It is loud as there is are upper dividers.

Nothing on the walls to absorb some of the sound and echoes.

But all in all, it is okay.

 

Last night Alvin and I shovelled the driveway and deck.

The stripping on the bottom of the garage door came part way off so I called one of my neighbours to the rescue.

Thankfully their older teenage son was home and came to help.

I am most grateful to have such great neighbours.

After that situation was handled; I went to shovel the front.

As I was shovelling the porch I happen to look down and see that the walk and the front of my house had already been shovelled.

My neighbour shovelled.

So then I went and shovelled Humphrey’s Mom’s front sidewalk and then to the house.

I am so blessed to know and be surrounded by such good people.

Got some exercise and fresh air.

We did not make it out for a walk which was disappointing as the snow was too deep for Alvin.

Not everyone had shovelled when we would have gone for our walk.

 

I have been posting some tips for reduction of Plastics on Facebook.

Especially single use plastics.

Most people are also posting tips.

Which has been nice.

At the end of the day it is not just plastics; it is everything.

We in North America are just crazy over the top consumers.

I look around my house and see all of the “stuff” that I have accumulated over the years.

Most things I never use.

To be honest.

Some things once a year and they remain in storage during the rest of the year.

I just want to be more aware and want others to be the same.

We will not always agree on everything but we need to try to do with less.

 

Well time for me to sign off for today.

Be Kind and Respectful to yourself, to others, to animals, to the environment and to this Planet.

We only have one.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Yes, here we are at the 22nd day of the New Year on this Wednesday.

I just realized this morning that living with Alvin is the longest time that I have lived with a guy, a male.

We just celebrated our 10th Anniversary together.

I have found no matter whether you are canine or human; all relationships require work, consideration and patience.

Respect and love fall into every relationship.

Happy 10th Anniversary Mr. Alvin ….. I love you buddy.

 

We so enjoyed our second regular walk last night.

We also stopped by to see Abi’s Mom.

Abi passed one week ago today.

We will miss that little beagle … she was so beautiful and kind.

 

Last night on a newscast from the United States it was reported that China is banning ALL single use plastics by the end of 2020.

They also are refusing to take the recycled materials that the United States currently ships to them.

I am thinking if one of the highest populated countries on the planet can make this statement and do this; why can’t we?

We need to work quickly on this issue.

Plastics are filling our oceans and soon will fill us as they are marine life.

Then it is only a matter of time.

Life cannot survive filled with pieces of plastics and microplastics.

 

This morning at 3:00 …. the air was warm.

At 5:00 a.m. the air was warm and it was snowing.

Now we have quite the snow accumulation.

 

Well I am running late.

How did that happen?

I just had to have that extra of 30 minutes on the sofa snuggling with Alvin.

Oh, well I would not change a thing.

 

Wishing you a great day.

Be safe and warm.

Treating yourself and all others with KINDNESS and RESPECT.

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin