A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! How are you this winter morning? It was snowing outside earlier. So nice to have these warmer temperatures but with them comes moisture, meaning freezing rain or SNOW! Well this has been a trying morning thus far. It took me 40 minutes to get likely about 1/2 of Alvin’s medication into him and the rest landed on the sofa or in his fur. So always cleanup after the medicine. This was the least amount that he has ever taken. What a guy! Not sure what else I can do? Thankfully he does not have much left to take. Hopefully there is enough to at least coat his stomach. I don’t know. He will be eating breakfast in a few minutes which is 30 minutes after he had the medication. I am praying to whomever may listen to please make him well. Between the demands to go into the office and Alvin’s health, I am super frustrated. Not the best way to start the work week. Okay, I have vented time too “let it go.” Best line ever and from an animated movie, no less. I know the words were from the song in the movie “Frozen.”

On this Monday, I am grateful to be working from home. I am grateful that we have good food to eat. I am grateful to be surrounded by supportive family and friends. I am grateful to be employed. I am grateful to be living this life.

Is my life perfect? Well, no. Is it pretty great for the most part, well YES! So I will get over these moments this morning and get on with the day. Alvin needs to have breakfast. I will need to finish this post first. I will work and do the best job that I can. I will be a good human being. The best that I can be in any given moment.

This will be short. We did have a great weekend in between the medication episodes. I wonder what he is doing downstairs as I left him. Just needed to put some space and time between him. Yesterday, my friend Signe came for coffee & visit in the morning. It was nice to see her – feels like a long time.

Take a deep breath and have a great day. That is what I am doing.

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

Looking forward to the coffee this morning.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. even though we have our moments, I love Alvin with all my heart. Always trying to do the best for him. Just in case you had other thoughts!

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning,

Wow did we ever sleep in this morning.

We went to bed in good time and I read for a bit but could not settle down.

Not too long after we hit the hay it did begin to rain.

I am not sure what time I finally drifted off to sleep but then Alvin was stirring and we were up.

That was almost 4:30 a.m.

So he ate his breakfast and had his glucosamine chew and went outside.

Then back into the house …… I know we woke up again at 8:00 but I just could not get my butt off the sofa…. next time it was 9:39 a.m.

WOW, latest that we have slept.

The sun was shining bright at 8:00 a.m. but the sky has now clouded over and the wind is getting up.

I also realized that although the food is very tasty with the Good Food package ….. there is a lot of “pan frying.”

Also I had not chosen the meats and am not used to eating much pork.  If I do eat meat it is chicken.

Mostly I eat a vegetarian diet with a bit of chicken.

So my tummy was just a bit upset at bedtime as well.

I have one more meal to cook tonight and I think it is pork meatballs which I am going to bake in the oven.

Will increase the cook time but I can do not another “pan fry” meal.

There was a rice dish and coleslaw with the pork chops last night and corn on the cob.

I definitely had learned a few different cooking methods.

I have found that I am a pretty plain cook.

Using spices for sure.

I guess long weekends are for sleeping in…..

We did accomplish several things from our TO DO LIST.

 

Outside I can hear the geese honking as they fly overhead.

Today.

Yesterday, we were so happy to have our girl here for a good chunk of the day.

We had pancakes for “brunch.”

Then we girls gave Mr. Alvin a haircut and I gave him a bath.

Following she asked if I would like to go to GOODWILL and check things out.

We have a fairly new one about a 10 or so minute drive away so I thought why not.

This was my fifth, yes 5th time out in public since March 19th, 2020.

So basically once per month if you spread them over the time since I have been at home.

But actually five times since August.

I will say that people were wearing masks but the social distancing and following arrows in the store.

Not so much.

Every few minutes an announcement would be made to please keep 2 metres apart and follow the arrows.

No one listened.

I am pretty sure that only my daughter and me were actually paying attention.

Sunday afternoons are not a good time to go checking out GOODWILL.

Not at all.

I was checking out some tealights from Partylite and commenting to my daughter on what a great deal for those who burn candles.

They were new ( I checked to make sure ) and a box of tealights was $5.50 and the price from Partylite would be over $15.00 now for sure.

Anyway this girl was right beside me …. as I was going through them.

She did not give me a chance to finish.

I was not happy.

If there is one thing that I cannot stand is people that do not listen to the rules especially in the middle of a pandemic.

I was thinking sure okay you have a mask on but you are not even six inches away from me ….

So I moved.

Rude people.

We kept away and followed the rules.

Some of the older children that were accompanying their parents had their masks slipped down not covering their faces.

I can only imagine what school will be like.

Unfortunately I have a bad feeling about this fall once all the children have been back in school for about a week or two.

Even though there was some difficult moments or lots of them in the store ….. I thoroughly enjoyed the time with my girl.

We found some great things and then had good choices on what to actually buy.

I bought one package of tealights …. cranberry to burn at Christmas.

I love the cranberry scent.

The other was found at the last minute and it was a Kitchenaid roasting pan with a rack in the bottom.

No lid but had good handles.

It was brand new or looked to be new.

Definitely not used.

I figured that I could use it from time to time.

I use my Princess House Lasagne pan to cook the turkey at Christmas so this would be better.

It was a good price so I decided it was a good find.

 

Well I guess I should get this show on the road.

Yesterday at this time we were out for a walk.

Thinking we will not be walking now ….. maybe later.

Oh, goodness my stomach is making horrible sounds.

I have to take it easy on what I put into it.

Definitely toast for breakfast.

Definitely I will be baking the meatballs tonight.

 

This afternoon I want to continue on my quest to delete emails and photos, more photos than emails at this point.

Also I am going to work on my book this afternoon.

But before we get to that point ….. get dressed, bring up the laundry that was air drying, make coffee and have breakfast.

I have a couple of loads of laundry left to do.

So will do them as well.

 

I hope that you had a great weekend thus far.

Perhaps you are as blessed as I am and are able have an extra day off.

 

Take Care.

Remember when you are out and about …..

Wear the mask…..

Keep your distance……

We are not given these instructions for no reason……

If we want to keep lessen the COVID19 cases …. this is what we have to do.

Also sanitize your hands when going into stores and coming out.

Wash your hands when you come home.

Wash your hands at home.

Wash your hands before you handle food.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Enjoy your life.

 

Well Mr. Alvin is giving me that look and I see it is already 10:15 a.m.

I need some coffee.

Perhaps I will make that first.

 

Take Care.

Be safe.

Living with Kindness and respect….

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 3rd day of April, 2019.

 

Well now that it is past mid morning – the sun is up and shining brightly.

I apologize for not being here earlier but me Alvin was sick last night.

He was sick to his stomach just as we went to bed and continued throughout the night.

When it was time to get up we were just falling asleep.

I decided to take a vacation day and stay home and keep an eye on my boy.

I saw the signs last night as there are usually signs.

He ate his breakfast a couple of hours ago, and all is well.

Just catching up on some sleep.

There is bedding and towels to wash.

So laundry is on my horizon.

Keeping it short for today.

Thank you for your understanding.

 

Hope you are having a great Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to:  You.  You are the best.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of August, 2014.

Overcast with forecast for rain this afternoon.

Alvin is sitting on our bed looking out the window.

I think that is his favourite spot in the house.

 

Well I had an interesting morning.

One of my co-workers who happens to be a vegan was telling me about a home remedy to clean your sinuses.

It called for equal parts of cinnamon and honey …. one tablespoon each.

So I decided this morning would be the time to try it.

So I mixed it up which is really hard to do and when it would blend decided to heat up some water (which they said you could do) and added the mixture.

I slowly drank it and at the same time I had my oatmeal, blueberries and banana in front of me with ALVIN and Miss PENNY ….

Of course, they wanted some ….. and I complied.

Without even thinking I had a couple of small pieces of banana and a couple of blueberries …..

Then I started sneezing …..

Then all of a sudden I had a weird sensation and headed to the nearby bathroom…..

Good thing because next thing I know it I emptied my stomach ……

I feel great …… still congested …… and despite the fact that I didn’t eat breakfast I do not feel hungry and my stomach feels flat.

Interesting.

Perhaps I should have just done the cinnamon and honey ….. maybe in boiling water ……

I do not know ……

Will keep you posted and let you know if in fact, it does clear my sinuses ……

What a morning …… I am going for peace and quiet for the rest of the day.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

 

Thank you to all the new people reading my blog ….

I was so excited to reach the “500” mark and now I am over it.

Thank you so much.

 

Special Hello to: all those people out there who are trying to live a better life ….. naturally ……

Always, Carol

Story Line by line – December 13, 2013

Chapter Five:

December 1, 2013

As we lay there sleeping wrapped in the big white fluffy blankets, I dream of childhood and Christmas; my favourite time of year, and there was one in particular.

December 2, 2013

When we moved into the new two story house on the farm my bedroom was on the main floor just off of the living room ……. I had a birds eye view of the Christmas tree ….  this one year I wanted to wait and watch for Santa ….. pretending to be asleep …. once  I heard noises figuring it was Santa I waited for him to leave ……  slowly opened the bedroom door and getting down on my hands and knees  crawled out toward the tree ….. only to be stopped dead in my tracks by my Mom’s voice “GET BACK TO BED” ….. I had been so quiet …… 

December 3, 2013

My favourite Christmas was 2005  …..  the log cabin in the mountains …. the clear night sky …… the stars shining so brightly …… the food …… the stone fireplace ….. love and laughter ….. feather comforters …… coffee by the fireplace ….. the best place in the world.

December 4, 2013

Kids singing Christmas Carols …… Grandma playing the organ in church ….. our Charlie Brown Christmas tree …… turkey cooking at Grandma’s house ….. snow falling …… baby crying …… sister smiling …… dog barking ….. opening presents . driving to Grandma and Grandpa’s house ….. the trees out front of their house all light up ….. it is Christmas once again.

December 5, 2013

Oh, how I feel alive and happy …… as each scene plays out ….. there is another one just as wonderful as the last …… people and places ……. my heart is full ……

December 6, 2013

Ah, my great nephew, I remember that day so well …… then skipping years ahead to when Alvin came to live with me …… this movie just seems to go on forever …. I wonder when it will end ….. movie, is it?

December 7, 2013

Movie, what …. am I dreaming …… asleep …… awake …… in a coma …… my mind is swirling and then before me is a crystal clear thought ….. YOU ARE REMEMBERING YOUR LIFE ….. 

December 8, 2013

Truly I am going crazy, please someone help me wake up from this wild dream …. HELP ME, HELP Me …….

December 9, 2013

This whole ordeal has seemed to go on forever ….. I do not know what to do …..  just when I think that I may have an answer ……. it all comes tumbling down …… such as life, I guess but why now ……. or did I just bump my head!

December 10, 2013

“Did I bump my head?” I think to myself as Alvin snuggles in closer to me as if to comfort me in my time of uncertainty.

December 11, 2013

As I lay under the warmest most comfortable blanket ever, I begin to devise a plan – I will get home – somehow – someday I will escape and be free.

December 12, 2013

Home, what a wonderful thought ….. I realize how much I miss my house, the flowers in my yard, my Christmas tree ……. whoa ….. what did I think ….. was it spring, was it summer or winter when this first happened and I realize maybe now for the first time that I have literally no idea how long we have been gone ….. a day, a month, years!!!

December 13, 2013

All of a sudden I hear this small gurgling slightly roaring sound coming from my stomach ….. guess it has been awhile since I ate anything …… Alvin, too must be starving  ….. suddenly a banana, some fresh carrots, a piece of chocolate cake, and a cup of coffee are sitting on a table in front of us….a FEAST.