2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Looks like Christmas outside or at least winter. Alvin and I are well. Yesterday morning when we got up the ground was bare and I raked the front lawn in the afternoon after our walk. This morning when we got up we have half a foot of snow covering the deck, the street, the lawn, rooftops and anywhere the snow could stick. Actually yesterday in the late afternoon when it was looking like a snowglobe outside and the wind was blowing …. Alvin had to go outside to pee …… when I opened the door, the snow blew into the house. The door was covered in wet sticky snow, the house was covered in snow, the lone broom that was standing against the back of the house was covered in wet sticky snow, my two wicker chairs that I had brought back out were completely covered in wet sticky snow, the trees were covered in wet sticky snow and even the doorknob was covered in wet sticky snow. I guess that I have painted a pretty thorough picture of how “sticky” the snow was as it clung to everything in sight. This morning the cars out front are covered in snow as well. Looks like there will be shovelling in my future and I just put away the shovels, argh. Oh well. It is spring in Western Canada and anything can happen with the weather. Just to give you an idea of the temperature on Friday it was plus 15 degrees celsius so a light jacket or sweater weather AND yesterday when we went for a walk in the early afternoon I wore a light jacket and was comfortable at 8 degrees celsius. I raked the front lawn about 3 p.m., I think it was, and I wore the same light jacket and it was windy and starting to cool down. My neighbor that share the front lawn with me … loves to feed the bunnies in the winter and the birds. So there was a massive amount of bird seed, bunny food and bunny poop covering most of her side (especially around her tree) and quite a lot on my side. I was careful and was wearing gloves when I scooped it all into a garbage bag along with the leaves that were covering the lawn. Every fall I rake and rake and rake until I can rake, no more. Usually I would say about 5-7 times. This past fall I raked several times and gave up because none of my neighbors were raking when the leaves fell off their tree(s) or not many of them. So throughout this spring as the snow melted there were leaves that freed themselves and blew around the hood in the wind. We have had a lot of wind this spring. Yesterday was windy as well. Guess what this afternoon is to be +4 degrees celsius so the snow will be melting. What an interesting last 24 hours. Poor Mr. Alvin was having quite the time last night. I told him to just pee in the snow. Poor guy.

Well yesterday I managed to get quite a lot of things knocked off my TO DO LIST. I got to try out my new Bissell Crosswave and it worked. I found that it used a lot of the cleaning liquid (water + cleanser). I filled to clean 350 square and only did the top of the stairs landings and the stairs and it was almost all gone. I cannot imagine that that space is 350 square feet in total. Anyway, the amount of hair that was in the water when I was done and cleaning out the machine was crazy. The water was dark so I know it was working. It was pretty easy to take apart and clean ….. now just putting it back together. I left the components out to dry on the counter as they have to be completely dry. The strangest thing just happened. Right in the middle of typing this post, the computer shut down as thought there was a power outage but the lights did not even flicker. Thankfully WordPress has autosave and I did not lose my whole post. WOW. I did lose some and I don’t remember what that was. So will just carry on. I think that I was about to mention that I decided to submit the tea order today, an executive decision. So I will do that this afternoon. I am also considering giving up selling the tea and Norwex. At this point in time, I would have to reactivate my NORWEX account and it is not worth it to me. I do not have any regular customers. The tea is another story. I love the tea so much but I have not had a “party” for a long time and was just selling to my regular customers and the odd new one. Sometimes I have had to place large orders myself just to keep active or maintain selling privileges. At the end of the day is it worth it? I am not sure. I would have to place an extra large order this time and I simply do not need that much product. So after six years this may be it. I guess time will tell. I do not have to make the decision at this moment. Life, right. Sometimes giving up things can be freeing as well.

Well after the seriousness of that last bit, it is time to sign off and go have a cleansing shower. I always feel differently after having a shower. Clears the cobwebs. Things have a way of working themselves out. I am giving these decision over to the Universe for guidance and will just go about my day. I want to bake a banana loaf this afternoon. Likely will be shovelling. Maybe if I remove some things off my plate it will clear the way for me to start writing more. Sometimes it is good to clean out your “closet” and if it does not “spark joy” as per Marie Kondo, then perhaps it is time to move it out of the closet. I think it may be time to do just that. I am feeling better already. Time to remove some old things and replace with new. Spring, time to grow!!

Wow, that was freeing and rejuvenating. Thank you for listening and helping this girl out.

I wish you a wonderful Sunday. Take care and I hope that you and your loved ones are in good health.

Perhaps this is the day that you “clear out your closets.”

I am feeling a lot lighter at this very moment, thank you.

Continuing to live with Kindness, RESPECT, Compassion and patience.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning All. How are you doing on this fine Wednesday? I am doing great. The Steeped Tea or Sipology order arrived perfectly yesterday. Two friends have already come and picked up their orders. I am so grateful that we were able to have a COVID 19 visit meeting the protocols. Masks and social distancing. Today another gal is coming to pick up hers and I am delivering one to another friend who lives close by. The delivery arrived in time for me and Alvin to head out for a walk during my lunch break. The wind was a bit cool but otherwise divine. Good old fashioned “fresh air” can be so uplifting.

Mid week. I always like mid week. Wednesday is the date that my daughter was born. I even had the pleasure of choosing her actual birthdate. Something not maybe Moms are able to do. She was born by c-section so it was a planned “event.” As she grew up I soon realized that perhaps I should have chosen a couple of days later due to paydays but who knew that was ever going to be a thing. Anyway we, she, me all survived to tell the tale. Life is always what you make it. I am once again reading some books by Mike Dooley. THE UNIVERSE guru. I so enjoy reading his books as he gives us a different perspective on living our lives. Always good to learn new things and then reread books to remind us, just in case a Pandemic has hit and all good and common sense has gone out the window. Because clearly in some cases, this has happened. Always be mindful of what you can do not only for yourself but for others. Our THOUGHTS DO BECOME THINGS. Those things drive your life. “think about it.” If you are continually thinking I am tired – you will be tired. If you are always thinking no one likes me or I am no good or I am unlucky – then you will be all of those things. Experiment, if you don’t think this could be true. Also I am quite certain that in 2020 you have heard of a “little known book” called THE SECRET. Just try – what do you have to lose, nothing. You can even take the book out of the library if you do not have access or the means to a copy.

Well almost time for me to head on back downstairs. This 1.5 hours or so in the morning (sometimes shorter) always seems to evaporate. Most especially when I sit down to write. The words seem to pour out of me some days and then it is time to go to work.

I wish you good health, that you are safe, that you are kind and respectful to yourself and to all others. It is the only way to live your life.

As Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. one of these days I am going to surprise you with some new photos and likely myself as well.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR …. final quarter

Good Morning All. Some of us set our clocks back one hour last night or this morning. When Alvin woke up several hours ago I looked at my phone that I had charging in the bedroom and it said 1:14 a.m. Alvin is not unlike me and has to go pee in the middle of the night so up we got and outside he went. I watched. He did his business and came into the house and then we hit the sofa for more sleep. I noticed that the clocks on the stove and microwave had said 2:16 when we went downstairs. My phone automatically updated to the correct time. I am always confused for the first few days. Reminding myself to change all of the clocks. Anyway the next time we got up my phone said 6:44 and the stove/microwave said 7:44 a.m. and it feels later not earlier. So up we have stayed at the revised time of 6:44 a.m. Alvin had his breakfast. For the second day I have noted that he has not eaten all of his food. Yesterday he ate his biscuits treats, banana and carrots and his supper with no issues. So perhaps he is beginning to get full on less in the morning. I guess we have been eating at different times lately. So important to get back on a schedule for both of us. Eating at same times at good for us and for digestion.

The sky is begin to lighten as the sun starts to rise in the morning sky. Did you bask in the glory of that Halloween Full Moon last night? How / what did you and your family do? Did the kids go treating? Did you hand out candy? I felt guilty as I did not hand out treats however I did pack up large treat bags and personally delivered them to all of the children that I know well in the neighbourhood. We had little visits with everyone and they showed off their costumes and candy delivery systems. I think that I had almost as much fun as other years. Almost. I kept peaking through the blinds to see if there were kids out and about. I only saw three or four total. Some of my friends reported having about 50 which is about half of normal amount of treaters. These friends said their children received huge amounts of treats as a result. I am happy to see that people took precautions for the safety of the children. Warms my heart that people were smart about Halloween in my neighbourhood. I can not speak for other areas but am happy that we did the right thing. In a little while once I am finished writing and dressed and had a cup of coffee, it will be time to go into the basement and start hauling up the CHRISTMAS decorations. Firstly, I will have to take down all of my Halloween decorations and pack them away. Down and then up. My daughter will come around noon and help put up the tree and I hope that by then, I will have most of the main floor decorated and furniture moved about ready for the tree.

I also entered but not submitted tea orders last night. I am so excited to get some HOT CHOCOLATE. The order will be submitted tonight as advised. Just waiting for a few more orders.

Also am excited that I booked tomorrow off as a vacation day. The temperatures for today and the following three days are to be double digits with warmest day being 15-16 degrees celsius which is very warm for this time of year. Must remember to change the calendar as well. Tomorrow will be a good time to give Mr.Alvin a bath and possible little trim.

Walking with Alvin will mean no sweater in these temperatures and light jacket or sweater for me.

Happy November 1st, 2020.

Well time to get this day going …. lots to do.

Living life with kindness and respect and happy to do so.

I/We shall remain, as Always, Carol & Alvin