Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 4th day of March, 2019.

Well here we are – Monday morning.

Alvin and I had a great weekend.

We had company, did some housework and laundry and relaxed.

I had coffee with two of my girl friends yesterday morning.

Love these gals – we always have a great time – laughing and chatting.

A great mix of work and play.

 

We went for a walk yesterday afternoon as I felt it had warmed up.

Alvin started to lift his paws only a few houses away from home.

So we turned around and headed back home.

He enjoyed going in and out to the back yard.

There is a patch of the deck that is snow/ice free near the house that always gets the warm sun, so he likes to sit or lie there, and ponder life.

Or at least that is what I choose to believe that he is thinking.

Or perhaps he is thinking oh this is nice and quiet.

Or perhaps he is thinking where is my girlfriend OR I would like a treat.

He loves to dig in the snow.

Yesterday he was at the top section of the deck near the garage by the railing digging away.

Not sure what he was looking for but he was really getting into it.

Finally he pulled his head out of the snow and cautiously went down the steps from the top part of the deck.

When I say cautiously I mean super cautious.

He goes back and forth for a minute or more before he jumps down.

Sometimes he goes down each of the three steps or he just jumps to the bottom.

I worry about him as he is getting older.

Then he came to the steps on the side of the deck that lead down to the “green area” which is partially shovelled and the other part is a big snowbank.

He has made a path in the snow and very carefully he went up.

They know when it is safe or not.

I could tell.

He went so far and turned around and came back down.

Not reaching the area that was by the railing from this side.

Alvin has so many chew treats buried in the snow and just laying about on the deck in the back of our house.

I love watching him.

Oh, my Alvin, how you make me smile and warm my heart.

Cuteness by the 10th power and more.

 

The boy, Mr. Alvin is laying on his blue blanket waiting for me to finish.

He loves his routine and I try to keep it as close to the same as I am able.

I guess I am a pretty regular routine kind of gal, so we are a perfect match.

There was a reason he picked me on that COLD January night in 2010.

I am so grateful.

 

Well here we go again, time to leave for work.

Almost time.

I hear that spring is on it’s way and is getting close.

We are happy for that news.

WALKS and WALKS ahead of us.

 

Have the best Monday ever.

Smile to yourself and to everyone you meet.

Something as simple as a smile can bring joy and relief.

Happy Monday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, back VEGAS.  Welcome Home and Happy Monday, sister.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 9th day of December, 2018.

The sun is now shining and the sky is clear.

What a Saturday I had …..

Master Teddy slept over on Friday night so I had both of the pups here yesterday.

We were up a few times during the night as I mentioned yesterday.

So the baking and laundry got off to a late start but a good start.

I somewhere along the line decided to change up the cookie menu and make the following:

Raisin Nut cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

After the first two cookies were baked I took a break and we went for a walk.

It was so nice out.

Me and the pups went for the full 1/2 walk and it was great.

Once back to the house after checking and doing more laundry, it was back to the cookie baking.

The time past and then it was time for the boys to eat.

I opened the pantry door which is on the interior wall in the kitchen to fetch the food.

Note: that I had been in and out of the pantry all day long.

The pups did not act any differently than usual BUT when I moved the plastic container which housed Al’s food I saw something move and I freaked screaming so loud that I

almost gave myself an anxiety attack.

The pups stopped in their tracks.

I grabbed the rubbermaid container that is currently housed the excess baking supplies and placed it in front of the pantry door.

Knowing full well that it did not completely block the opening at the bottom of the door.

I need weather stripping.

I grabbed the phone and started calling neighbours and by the fifth one I finally reached someone at home.

It was my friends that helped with the dryer, installing the trap door by the dryer vent on the deck and so on.

My friend “N” came over shortly thereafter.

I wasn’t even sure it was still in the pantry but when he opened the door …. yes it was still there.

It moved.

I screamed.

He tried in vain to catch it with his gloves ( it was very small ) but it ran under the basement door and the chase was on.

I kept the dogs away.

My friend followed it down the stairs and watched it run to the bottom and into the family room.

He asked where the light was and I yelled down where it was …

I got up the courage to go down the stairs not quite to the bottom but I could see over the stairway partial wall what was going on.

I said to close the door to the furnace room as the carpet is so thick he would not be able to run under the door.

There were a few boxes stacked in the corner by the trunk and he gingerly removed each one looking for the little creature.

ARGH.

He said we should try and catch it in the vacuum.

I took the vacuum down and plugged it in removing all of the extensions so it was down to the handle portion.

We did not see it for awhile and then it came out and ran along the wall.

I screamed.

The chase continued.

After several minutes of chasing the mouse from one side of the room to the other.

Under the television stand and around and back, my friend caught the mouse in his big thick gloves.

I ran FAST up the stairs to unlock the back door and back to the living room to keep the dogs away and to be at a safe distant.

My friend, the male friend who is older than me – did not quite get how absolutely terrifying this was for me.

So he went to show me what he had in his gloves – I screamed and he went to the back door and threw it onto the snow bank.

Which in hind sight was likely not the best plan as I watched from the bay window in the kitchen, at a safe distance …. it running down the snowbank toward the house.

I felt coldness fall over my whole body.

My friend had shut the door and was checking the weather stripping to ensure it could not get in that way and determined it likely came in when I had the door open for the dogs.

He determined that it ran under the deck at the house by the garbage can and just told me to leave the door closed and perhaps take the pups out the front if they had to go.

Not really that easy.

Anyway for a moment I calmed down.

By this time, I lost my desire to continue with the baking and felt sick and drained.

I cleaned up the kitchen.

Made sure that the boys had supper.

Made a bit of supper for myself when Teddy’s Mom and Dad arrived to pick him up.

I told her quickly and she said that she could stay with me if I wanted and I gratefully said no, that is okay.

After Teddy left …. I ate supper….. we just left all of the lights on as I heard they do not like bright lights.

I settled down later to watch a movie when the phone rang and it was my friend who was on her way home from Calgary.

He had arrived home and saw that I had called … I had not left a message.

I retold the story and she had some ideas.

After a lengthy conversation I told her that I had been watching a movie (rented one) and it was getting late by then so had to go.

Thanking her for her call.

What a night.

WHEW.

I must get this show on the road as I am once again baking and have a long list of things to do.

 

I know what it is like to be so terrified of something that it stops you literally in your tracks.

So scared that it is hard to think straight.

 

I know in my brain that it is silly to be scared of something so small when I am so big.

Perhaps it is because they are so fast.

Perhaps it is because they can carry disease.

Perhaps it is just because I had two, no actually three bad experiences when I was a child.

Scarred for life.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who have fear for something …. I know your pain.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 22nd day of January, 2017.

Another overcast foggy morning.

The sky looks like a giant snowbank.

Amazing how the sun from its’ distance can actually make it seem light.

Alvin and I are having a great weekend.

Yesterday we took the long way to his vet appointment and enjoyed the walk.

He had his pedicure done and his Momma bought him some food and toothpaste.

We spent the day doing laundry (actually I spent the day doing laundry).

Alvin is no help unless he picks up a stray sock ….. (usually it is because he pulled it from the laundry basket).

Just did odds and ends of things.

I even worked on some more jewellery.

We had a change of plans for today but that is okay because I have lots around here to do.

The new Steeped Tea Catalogues arrived a couple of days ago so I see label writing in my near future.

I love Sundays …..

We can do whatever we choose.

What are you doing on this Sunday?

I am just going to do some odd jobs as my youngest brother is calling this afternoon to catch up.

Time passes so quickly that sometimes we forget or put off conversations with loved ones (family and friends).

So today is talking to my youngest brother day and I am excited.

Even though this is late …. have to get this show on the road.

We were up at 5:00 a.m. (you know “The Alvin” and his internal food clock”); we went back bed until 8:00 a.m. …..

Once downstairs we ended up on the sofa.

I love laying on the sofa because Mr. Alvin just plunks himself down beside me on the pillow.

We just laid there and of course, I fell back to sleep and then it was 9:30 or so.

What a lazy Sunday morning ….. which is okay.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Special Hello to: my siblings ….. Hello …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, the 28th day of January 2016.

Well four days left in the first month of 2016.

Our weather for the first month of 2016 has been amazing ….. so much warmer than an average January in Western Canada.

The one thing that comes with rain and warm temperature in the winter is ICE.

Well that walk for me and so many others who catch the bus to work yesterday morning was so treacherous.

I left my house twenty minutes earlier because of the ice knowing full well it would be a long slow journey to the bus.

I went from my steps to the snow covered lawn and when I made it to the sidewalk out front of my house.

The sidewalk was sparking in a sheet of ice.

Perfect for skating but not so much for winter boots.

So I kicked some of the snow onto the sidewalk and was able to safely cross the sidewalk onto the street.

I managed to cross to the sidewalk on the other side only to find another sheet of ice so very carefully I stepped up and into/onto the snowbank on the edge.

Only one thing the snow was deeper than my boots ….. so I could feel my boots filling …. lucky for me it was warm out so I did not feel the wet right away.

I very slowly and cautiously carried on as far the mailbox.

Here I had to step down and go around …. some of the ground was okay …. I held onto the mailboxes as I crossed to the next snowbank.

Always in between crossing back lanes to the next sidewalk and snowbank.

When I got to the street that I usually take to the walkway to the main street again it was icy ….. so I tried to step in spots where there were chunks of snow and stayed away from the sidewalk.

Managed to get to the walkway.

When I looked down it this is what I saw.

A long sidewalk that gleamed in the street lights …..

One side snowbank up to my knees.

Other side snowbank up to my knees lined with rose bushes.

The entrance to the walkway had the snow piled up so I had to do some climbing and did I mention I had a big bag of teas that I was delivering to work??

YIKES.

I took a deep breath and said a little confidence builder ….. “You can do this.”

Up and slowly stepping until I got down to where the snow was only knee deep.

It wasn’t too bad until I reached the rose bushes and because they were close to the edge I had to gingerly hold on to them and make my way along.

It seemed to take forever but was only a few moments.

The walkway is quite long but I did it.

When I got to the entrance to the main street I took a look about ….. ice everywhere.

Again hit the snowbank and kept on going.

Some places I was able to walk on the street but these streets are busy with people going to work and they are not watching for ME on the street where they are driving.

Plus most of our streets are lined with cars on both sides …. which does not help.

Finally I arrived at the last street to cross before the last sidewalk to the bus.

Just took my time ….. slipped a few times but did not fall.

Sometimes I think that is worse as when I got onto the bus I could feel the tightness in my shoulders ….

Oh well all in the day ….. all in the life.

When I got to to the bus stop I was so relieved.

There were points that I almost turned around and went home but then I thought what am I going to say and besides no vacation days left ….. so I had to go.

When the bus arrived it was an icy few steps but thankfully the driver let down the step so that it was easier to get onto the bus.

When I sat down I was so happy….

My thoughts did go to getting off the bus …. downtown would likely be icy.

When I got off of the bus I saw this small sanding machine being driven down the street and that was good.

I took the long way around to the office as I knew that the entire street by this one company would be in good order for walking and it was.

I managed to get to work with a few minutes to spare …..

P.S. my socks and pants up to the top of my boots were wet …. they dried quickly.

This leads me to the next thing …. one of the girls that I work with offered to drive me to MARKS or CANADIAN TIRE and pick up these rubber pulls on that have spikes on them.

Perfect for walking on ice.

So after work off we went stopping at MARKS first ….. instead of looking about ….. we just asked the CASHIER and she pointed them out.

“Studded Snow Tires for your feet” …. that is what they are called.

It was the best $30 that I have ever spent …. well almost anyway.

I tried them on when I got home and they fit perfectly …..

With all of the melting there was a big pool of water and ice out front of my house (it dips down there to the storm drain)….

Why not, I thought …. oh and yes, I looked after me Alvin before going ice chipping.

Long story a bit short ….. I could walk with them on …. no slipping.

This morning I am excited for my walk knowing that I will be safe and not have to worry about falling onto the ice.

I will be careful of course ….. that goes without saying.

It will be a much different experience than yesterday.

Well time to head out …… have a great day.

If you live where there is ice …. you need to pick these up ….. “Studded Snow Tires for your Feet.”

Have a great Thursday ….. whew almost the weekend.

Special Hello to: all fellow humans who live where there is ice and snow.

Always, Carol and Alvin