The Next Chapter

Good Morning! I hope that the sun is shining and that there are clear blue skies wherever you may be. The sun is shining here in Edmonton where I live and the skies are a “dusty blue” colour. There is a slight breeze as I see movement in the trees out of my office window. Not my trees as I do not have a tree in the backyard. That would have been nice, if there was the space. I am happy with my backyard. I love my deck. Missing from this picture is my sweet Alvin. My life is not the same without him. My mind is also flooded with thoughts of our last month together. The what ifs will tear you apart if you let them. Something or someone also rescues me from that precipice. Losing someone is not easy. I know that he would rather be here with me and if I only could bring him back, I would in a heartbeat but I do not have that super power. But at the end of the day he would want to be here with me and he remains and will always be wherever I am. To all those people out there who are suffering from a loss, just know this you are not alone. I am not sure that “time heals all wounds” but I do know this that in time, more of the happy memories will start to overtake the last ones. We do not wish to forget these dear creatures, our loved ones and we will not.

Well I thought that I would share some photos of Alvin outside on the deck over the years. He loved to be outside and we were every chance we had.

Enjoying the flowers

Alvin checking things out, making sure it is safe !! LOL

Enjoying a sunny winter’s day!

Alvin in the snow…..

What?

On the deck

Cuteness

Enjoying the outdoors

I need a haircut

Alvin & Bailey

Just chilling

I hope that you have a wonderful day. My day is going to be great. I am coffee with my friend Gillian at 10:00 a.m. at her house followed by a visit from Amanda & Steven & Aspen & Milo. The grand pups will be staying longer while their parents go to see a friend. I am excited to have the pups here. The temperature is going to be mild so perhaps a walk is in our future. Not sure if I can handle both Aspen and Milo. There are a lot of rabbits out right now and Aspen is much stronger than me. She listens but there is always that possibility that she may have a moment. Time will tell. I cleaned the deck as the snow melted and raked what I could in the backyard last night.

Oh, big story. My stove is now working thanks to a young man named John. He called and even was able to come over one hour earlier than the booked appointment. He came from Ukraine as a student over ten years ago. Now some of his family is coming to Canada. I asked about the war and he said that most of the “bombing” is happening in the areas close to Russia and the others are pretty safe. He was such a nice young man and we had the best conversation. I learned a lot as he shared some things about himself. I am grateful to have my stove repaired. Tonight I can once again use my oven. YAY. Oh, it was not the element. Now I have two elements to return. Hopefully that is a success. I may just keep the one from Amazon as it is the right size. You never know.

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

I am working on the “work mindset” as it is not an upbeat place to be. The moral is low. I want to be positive and happy and all of that ……….

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel)

The Next Chapter

Good Morning. Oh, the moon looks awesome this morning as the sky begins to lighten. Half of the moon is visible and the other half is dark. The darkness of night as the sky lightens is revealing clear skies. Sunshine for today? I sure hope so. There does not appear to be a breeze. Today is Wednesday and only two more days of work left for this week. A very good thing. I am very appreciative and grateful to have a job in this economic climate but honestly somedays I could just scream at the audacity of the way things are going.

Yesterday it was a rain snow mix so no walk at lunch break or after work. My neighbour brought over the new element for the oven but alas it did not work. He took the stove apart (back off and looked for noticeable signs of distress and there were none). Looks like I will be buying a new stove and because we ordered the element from Amazon and actually put it in the oven, there is a good chance that they will not take it back. I think the poor stove is just tired and needs to sleep. All done. So I will need to look for a stove shortly. Cannot go without a stove for long. Already going on three weeks without an oven. I will try to call a repairman tonight (tried last night but could not speak to anyone who could answer my question). Just for the odd chance it might be repairable. But appears to be the control panel. I think that is what it is called.

The sky seemed to lighten so much since the time I typed the last paragraph. WOW. I guess spring is really here. I am hoping for some good things to happen. So far 2023 has been “interesting” and “sad” and a few other things which I cannot say on this platform nor would I want to ……

Most of the snow has melted from the front lawn and all from the deck. I will be able to sweep the remaining dust and leaves that were left behind from the melt. I am not sure why there were so many leaves this year. I raked and raked until I was blue in the face but there were still a million in the snow over the winter and now on the ground. Hopefully the back will thaw quickly.

Time to head downstairs. I hope that you have a great Wednesday.

Trying to keep positive as life just keeps tossing “battles” in my direction. Perhaps battles is too strong a word but anyway.

Oh, my Alvin. Missing my boy …….

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel)

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday December 30, 2015.

Today is the second last day of 2015.

I noticed this morning that the temperature seems to be warming.

It has been cold the past few days.

 

Yesterday my friend “P” and her grand-puppy George came for a visit.

Alvin was so excited when he saw them come up the walk.

I opened the door just a crack at first so that he would not escape.

When they were on the porch I opened the door and Alvin ran toward little George growling as he zoomed by me.

I immediately ran and grabbed him as he got close to little George.

“P” picked up George and we all got into the house …. too cold for standing around outside.

 

Alvin continued with the growling and I was confused.

This is not his usual demeanour …. sometimes with bigger dogs he growls but not with little one

 

I took George from my friend so that she could remove her coat, mitts, scarf and boots.

All of a sudden we heard this loud whistle and I realized it was the tea kettle.

I ran to the kitchen to remove the kettle from the burner ….

George squirming all of the time …. it was like holding a wild animal and I ended up with a few scratches.

Once “P” was settled she took hold of George still squirming like crazy …

I grabbed Alvin and held him.

My friend put George outside for a minute.

He just whined.

Back into the house.

Alvin growled.

I put Alvin outside ….

Did not work.

Too cold for one thing …..

 

We were not off to a great start.

 

After only a few minutes my friend decided that this was not going to work and decided to go home.

No tea …. I was sad.

Mr. Alvin …. what came into him.

Perhaps it was the fact that he was small and so full of energy.

I do not think he would have hurt him but then again I could not be certain.

My friend did leave me some treats she had brought over …… so thoughtful.

She gave me homemade meat pies and what her family lovingly refer to as “moose poop.”

It is a sweet treat.

There is a long story …..

Another time.

 

Alas the tea party lasted for less than 15 minutes.

We joked that at least they warmed up before leaving for home.

I was sad.

 

I did manage to snap a couple of photos that George stood still in …. most of them he was moving so much they were blurry.

Isn’t he the cutest little fur ball you have ever seen?

Apparently he will not get much bigger than this.

So cute and so full of puppy power.

George

 

My friend and I post phoned tea for a later time.

George

I was unable to get one of him facing me……

 

Well onto another day …. halfway through the ten days off from work.

I hope that you are enjoying your days.

Looks like another sunny day …..

Have a great Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: everyone who reads our blogs …. thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 17th day of December, 2015.

Only 7 sleeps until Christmas Eve …..

Where has the time gone.

Including today 5 working days until Christmas (the 6th one is our Family Christmas Party at work and then we go home early).

I am so over the moon excited to have 10 days off in a row.

YAY ….. so blessed and lucky.

 

Well this morning I could hear this beep like the noise the vehicle makes when it is backing up.

Only it seemed to be coming from downstairs ( as I am sitting in my office upstairs ).

So figured I had better go and check it out.

Lo and Behold I see the stove showing “END” on the panel.

OH my gosh ….. I had forgotten to turn it off last night.

Hopefully it will work after being on for about 12 hours ….. how bad is that.

Thank goodness it beeped otherwise it might have been tonight before I noticed.

NOTE TO EVERYONE … DO NOT GET DISTRACTED AND FORGET TO TURN OFF YOUR OVEN.

Thank goodness the oven is not too dirty …. although this will make the bit that has splattered as of late, will make it more difficult to clean.

Oh well, lesson learned.

 

Well how are you today?

Are you feeling on top of the world?

I will admit that when I first woke up my inner self was saying “just stay home” and the outer voice was saying “just go.”

You know when you are not feeling 100% but not really sick enough to stay at home but close?

I had that conversation earlier this morning but once I talked myself into just getting ready, I am feeling much better.

Just a few days of work left …. I can do it but sure am ready for a break.

 

Well almost time to don the winter gear and head to the bus to go to work.

Tomorrow is Friday already so that is good.

 

Have an awesome day ….. always listen to a mix of your inner and outer voices….

Compromise …..

Special Hello to: all those folks who take the time to read my blog …. Have a Merry Christmas and all the Best this Holiday Season.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 11th day of November, 2015.

Today should be all about remembering and it would have been that way …. until about 23 minutes ago.

There is a dark shadow lingering in my house.

Alvin and I got up about 4:30 a.m. …. per usual and then once he had eaten and gone outside we hit the sofa for some extra ZZZ’s.

It was about 6:15 when Alvin jumped up off the sofa and tore off into the kitchen.

My heart skipped a beat.

I jumped up onto the arm of the sofa and turned on the kitchen light and found Mr. Alvin in hunting stance by the stove.

He was sniffing and barking and barking and sniffing.

So I know that this is some creature that does not belong in our house behind the stove.

He stood there what seemed like forever ….. then walked back and forth to the fridge sniffing as he went…

He walked over across the room and just starred at the stove.

I quickly moved his water dish into the living room and ran upstairs as somehow I feel safe up here.

We are in my office with the door semi closed so he has to stay with me.

He is whining at the door so I know my day will not be as planned and my near future is scary.

It is too early to be calling my neighbour but we shall hang out here as long as I can keep him here.

My daughter and son-in-law live too far away.

I feel so alone.

Thank goodness for Mr. Alvin otherwise I would not have known.

It is funny one should be here as I just moved some boxes of food from the upper cupboards back into the pantry.

They are up on the higher shelves in the pantry but it was likely not a smart move.

When I can I will be placing all boxes into a rubbermaid container for safe keeping.

Why is it they have to come into my house?

I keep a clean house.

There are not bits of food laying about.

My heart is racing and I just want it gone.

I want my house back again.

I could just cry …. my eyes are tearing up and my throat rasping …

What do I do?

I am afraid that Mr. Alvin will catch it and OMG I do not want it in his mouth.

He is standing at the door to the office … now pacing.

I know that he wants to go back downstairs and but I cannot.

I feel almost glued to the chair.

I wished that I had a solid row of cats that were hunters standing all around my house protecting us ….

It could be an invisible row ….

Please bring magic to me now.

I am afraid.

I have to make a decision shortly before Alvin goes crazy.

Time to call my neighbour …. my saviour.

I just want to be snoozing on the sofa. ….. why today?

I guess better today than tomorrow.

 

Special Hello: to all those folks in my position…. I understand

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 2nd day of October, 2014.

We are in the countdown to Halloween.

Last night with mention of you know what, I decided to quickly move the patio furniture into the garage and to clean out the remaining flower pots.

My son-in-law came out and helped lift the bigger stuff into the garage.

It was cool last night and the wind was blowing so I half expected to see some of the white stuff when I got up this morning.

But alas, Mother Nature decided to give us another reprieve.

Thank goodness.

I would love to have a long warm fall.

Where the white stuff did not arrive until say “Christmas morning.”

It has happened.

Perhaps this will be that year when it will happen again.

We can only hope and maybe dream.

Perhaps I should start visualizing a brown Christmas Eve.

I am excited on Saturday to start decorating for Halloween.

As I mentioned my kids have some great decorations …. now just to find them…..

Yikes, Mr. Alvin ….. we need your nose ….. that wonderful nose.

He is a hunter for sure.

Kind of gave me a scare this morning when we were doing our usual nap on the sofa when he stood on the arm of the sofa looking to the back door.

Very intently, I might add.

I hopped up and turned on the kitchen light from the sofa.

He kept looking and then got up and was sniffing by the back cupboard and also by the stove.

Paw up …. like the hunter he is.

My gosh, this had better not be another you know what ……

We will be keeping a close eye on this things.

We did check the outside of the house and did not find anywhere …

I cannot even fathom saying their name …. no, I cannot.

Well enough of that …..

He could have heard anything or smelled anything, right?

I hope that you have a great Thursday.

Always better when it is a payday.

YAY, now to pay the bills.

Thank you payday.

Special Hello to: all those folks who are preparing their homes for Halloween ….. have fun.

Always, Carol and Alvin