The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this Thursday, January 27, 2022? Alvin and I are well. Dark outside at this time but cannot wait until the sunrise. They are so beautiful. Sometimes filled with shades of pinks and purples other times yellows and oranges. No matter the colour palette – they are so gorgeous. There is something about a sunrise that just brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. I should have downloaded/uploaded the photos that I snapped the other morning with my phone. So pretty.

Well Mr. Alvin has started something as of the past few weeks and that is sometimes he will not drink from his water dish/bowl without me beside him and actually touching him. He barks if I am in another room forcing me to stay with him while he drinks. I am not sure what has got into him. He can see, I am sure of that. But his anxiety level seems to have increased. I will continue to be patient with him and help him through his senior years. Just like he helps me. He has medication for anxiety but I do not want to give him pills all the time because he seems calm most of the time. Anyway, something to monitor. Keeping him happy, relaxed but most of all healthy during these times is paramount. We, I need him to be in good health.

Yesterday a small fleet of small caterpillars with blades were out moving the snow around. They did not have the trucks out hauling away the snow. I am not sure if the City is planning on doing that or not. Should check the City Website and see. A City of Edmonton vehicle was parked out front on the street yesterday and she was checking out the neighbour who parked their truck on their lawn. She spoke to someone on the phone and took some photos and left. It was later when the cats showed up in the neighbourhood moving snow around. One of the drivers got out of his machine and went to their door and spoke to them. The Mrs. came out and moved the truck off the lawn. They pushed all of the excess snow onto their lawn. They have a massive amount of snow on their lawn. Hopefully it melts and does not flood their basement in the spring. Thankfully most of us are up sloping down to the street. So we should be okay. Anyway they can now park on the street. I was wondering if they are going to do that with all of the snow? That would be a mess. Time will tell. There were some of the big graders out here yesterday as well. In all of the almost thirteen years since I moved here, I have never seen that many graders/cats out for this length of time.

Well that is my news for now. I am looking forward to that first cup of coffee this morning. I can smell the aroma floating up from the kitchen and it tickles my nose and warms my heart and soul. I love, love, love COFFEE. Did I say that I loved coffee, lol? Yup, I do.

Have a wonderful day. If you love coffee, I hope that you are able to have a cup or the beverage of your choice. Something that would be a good way to start the day. Be safe and kind to yourself and to others.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. yesterday I helped my neighbour give Mr. Bogart his pain meds and medicine. Not an easy thing to do with a big cat. He weighs I think she said “17” pounds. He had to have surgery to put in shunts as he was playing too hard with his brother and was injured. Yikes. Wishing Bogart a speedy recovery.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning ALL. OH my goodness! we were up at 4:13 and yes, the boy had an early breakfast and then back to the sofa for some more sleep. I woke up just before 7:00 and decided as it was still dark and I wasn’t ready to get up for the day, we laid down and then it was 7:30 and we came upstairs, then we laid down on the bed and I just looked out the window thinking about things and looking at the street lamp. All of a sudden it was much lighter out and I came into the office where I had turned on the computer when we first came upstairs and it was 8:48 a.m. WOW, time flies. Guess I should have stayed up at 7:30 as this post would have been done, a load of laundry would be washed and in the dryer and a second load would have been in the washer, I would have had the coffee on, the bedding would have been changed and I would be starting to eat breakfast. WOW, how can that happen. There is something about it being dark and the weekend that keeps me from wanting to get up and at it. I don’t have this problem during the work week but then again I know that I must get up and work. I guess that is the difference. Likely I am not alone in this but I wished that I would have stayed up. Oh well, it is done. Now to get this day cracking.

Another gorgeous sunrise. I do love when the horizon seems to be filled with hues of pink and orange. So pretty.

Alvin is sitting in the hallway just looking at me and likely wondering why?

We had a great Friday. Alvin’s bestie Teddy and his little sister Kobi spent the day with us from 8 to 5. Kobi is such a little character. Still very much a puppy and so full of energy. Alvin and Teddy well they do have their moments but mostly they are happy to just hang out. Thankfully it was nice outside as she wanted to go outside and just investigate the snowbanks in the backyard. So cute. Despite the interruptions I managed to get lots of work down. Also our parcel came from our good friend in Regina. Chalked full of delicious treats and this very cool cookbook, actually more than a cookbook. I am going to give you all the name as the author and chef is going to give a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book to help support the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. How wonderful is that. The book is “One Loaf at a Time” by CJ KATZ and on the other side “One Bowl at a Time” ….. virtually two books in one. There are stories of the Pandemic and how it affected CJ and her family, the province of Saskatchewan and Canada and the world Photos of the folks who graciously gave their recipes for this worthy cause. She even mentioned the “toilet paper” hoarding, the shortages of flour and sugar and other baking ingredients as those of us who were at home started baking and cooking. Some people had nothing much to do with having to stay at home, so they learned to cook and to bake. Have you heard the term “the COVID 15” which relates to the weight gain over the past few months which I think may have been early on and is likely more more. I heard that phrase somewhere and not note that I have not read that in the book thus far. She mentions how retail placed arrows on the store floors to try and move people in the same direction and keeping them 6 feet or 2 metres apart. This is a great book. The photos of the food are so good that they make you want to start grabbing the ingredients from your cupboard/pantry and start baking/cooking. I am so proud of my friend as she has a recipe in the book as well. They are friends, how cool. In addition to this great book I received a “cinnamon bun loaf”, some little muffins for Alvin which he shared some of which Teddy and Kobi, butter tarts, apple tarts, shortbread, moonpies (I think they are called), and more. There are packages of different kind of cookies and other sweet treats and some goldfish crackers that I have never seen before and more. Totally spoiled we are. One quick story. You know that Mr. Alvin is a master gift opener. If not, he is. I placed his wrapped gift (which was the muffins) on the floor. Of course, Teddy and Kobi, most especially Kobi circled nearby as he very deftly with his nose and mouth and holding the gift with his paw opened it. I took the video and once he got it mostly open, I grabbed it quickly before he accidentally ate the plastic that the muffins were in. So cute. I am so grateful to be blessed with the most generous friend(s) on the planet.

Well I guess it is getting way late here and Mr. Alvin is not changing the bedding nor is he gathering the towels for the laundry nor is he putting on the coffee for his Momma. He is leaving it all up to me. What a great guy!

I hope that you are doing great. We are getting close to DECEMBER now. Only couple more days now. YAY. Next weekend I will start and finish the Christmas baking. Pretty sure I have all of the ingredients that I require as the pantry and cupboards are jammed packed full of items.

Have a great Saturday.

Enjoy your morning coffee, tea or juice. Go for a nice walk. Don’t forget to do something nice for someone. There is not a better feeling than to help someone in need. That way you will have more energy and feel so much better about things. Show some gratitude. It works. Believe me, it works.

Alvin and I will continue to live our lives showing kindness and respect and compassion for all. We might be having a “sidewalk” visit today with our friends Ali and Bailey down the street. Bailey is no longer that little puppy. She is getting big. We see her sometimes out walking with her Grandpa.

Happy Saturday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 11th day of April, 2016.

The sun is beginning to rise in the east and it is just after 6:00 a.m..

Soon it will be light when we get up at 5:00 a.m. and I love that ….

Feels like you have had a day when you get up with sunlight and go to bed with sunlight.

I heard that we missed some snow over the weekend.

We would like some rain …. it is very dry out there.

 

Well hard to believe that it is Monday already ….

We had a great weekend …. very busy.

 

I was thinking …..

Do you visualize your life with your dreams coming true?

Do you see the glass half full?

Do you see the glass half empty?

Positive or Negative.

How do you live your life?

Something to think about.

Even when life is screaming at me, I do try to see the positive.

I think that I see the glass half full.

I am mainly a positive person.

Now that is not to say that I have moments …. we all do.

But I try …..

Are you trying ……

 

Well here we are time to leave for work.

I hope that you have an amazing day.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 2nd day of May, 2014.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton.

The sky almost appears to be a combination of blue and purple, slightly overcast as the sun makes it way up the morning sky.

I love sunrises …. the colours ….. the brightness of the sun as it makes it debut.

We are definitely sun driven beings.

When the sun does not shine we are sullen and somewhat sad.

Our mood definitely changes when the sun does not shine.

I notice it most when it is cloudy and we do not see the sun first thing in the morning.

There is something about that incredible sunrise that just makes your heart soar and your body sing.

Now doesn’t that sound poetic!

The wind is blowing and I can feel a coolness to the air that wasn’t here yesterday morning.

Perhaps the weather people will be correct in their forecast.

Alas spring is here….

Summer is right around the corner.

I know everyone is getting excited to be able to plant their gardens and flowers.

To start mowing grass and going to the lake on the weekend.

Soon ….. very soon.

So I hope that you have a fantastic Friday.

Remember to smile and breathe.

I must take that advice, also.

Special Hello to: family and friends …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…….

It is approximately 6:10 a.m. on Thursday, September 15th, 2011 and it is dark outside …… the moon still glowing and the stars shining brightly.  It always amazes me …. the sky …. how cool is it that when we look up ….. there to our wondering eyes do appear bright shining stars (got you …. you thought I would say “Santa Claus” )……  LOL…  It is pretty amazing how the moon when in full view can truly light up the whole sky.   Should have been an astronomer, astronaut, pilot of some sort……  🙂

I love looking into the night and morning sky.  Between the moon, stars and the sun rising …… well that just makes my day.  Also our sunsets are pretty incredible, too.  I think we have the prefect view, what do you think?  Are you a star gazer or moon watcher?  Do you feel an infinity to the sky?  Somedays I wished that I could fly to the moon and beyond.  Check what is out there.  I always wanted to fly and sometimes in my dreams, I do.

So have an incredible day.  Make sure that you take the time to look up and admire the view. We are truly blessed.

Always, Carol