Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 13th day of February, 2017.

First thing when I started to write this blog – received a message that the keyboard batteries were low.

Closed the message and made myself a note to change the batteries tonight.

But alas kept getting the message.

Checked the time and decided to go downstairs and grab some batteries and do it now.

Better always to do things right away rather than putting them off.

Worked out.

Now I do not have to do that tonight.

Bonus.

 

Yesterday we had the best day.

I did most of my major TO DO items.

Had a great Birthday party for our friend “S.”

Followed by a walk with Alvin.

Followed by tea tasting with my neighbour and fellow consultant “K.”

After all I was going to go out and canvas for the Heart & Stroke but decided to do that another day.

Followed by Alvin and I snuggling.

We had supper early as at 6:00 p.m. I SKYPED with my sister back in Regina.

She told me of even more fellow co-workers that are retiring.

We both worked at the same office.

She remains there and of course, I retired from there in 2008.

After we had a great video chat -I watched the rest of the GRAMMY’s.

Almost forgot that they were on last night.

Great to see ADELE win an award for BEST SONG.

Busy weekend but fun.

Lots of visiting, sharing information and laughing.

My favourite part ….. laughing.

Laughter makes you feel good right to the core of your very being.

I think that we do not laugh enough.

I am always trying to make people laugh …..

Maybe that should be our mission if you will, to share laughter.

Make your friends and family giggle and laugh.

Nothing better.

 

Well that time once again.

Was it really Sunday yesterday?

At one point I thought it was Saturday and then something brought me back to reality very quickly.

Oh well.

I am grateful to have two days off in a row and the same days that most of my friends and family have off, as well.

Happy Monday.

Have an awesome day.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister ….. wow Peru in April ….. wishing that I could go with you guys. But seriously considering Victoria in the fall with my sister.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 12th day of February, 2017.

It is a bright and sunny morning here in Edmonton with promises of warmer temperatures.

Yesterday was beautiful with a slight cool wind but nothing near the minus 30 temperatures in the days before ….

We also had a massive change of plans yesterday.

We left the house for our walk just after the strike of noon and arrived home just before 5 p.m….

We were on our way to the big lake to have a nice leisurely walk when Alvin spotted a neighbour out on her deck and the rest we shall say is history.

We were about ten minutes into the walk, if that, we can never say no to her as she is an older dear living by herself and she loves Alvin so much.

He would not have gone anywhere else after seeing her …. we had to go into the house.

She ended up over the course of the afternoon with a house full so it was lovely.

I had met her son, grandson and his girl friend a couple of years ago on New Year’s Eve.

Just before we were about to leave (then another hour later) one of my neighbours and also a friend and her Jazmine (dog) stopped by.

So instead of having a long walk, finishing laundry before supper and doing some dusting etc.  ….. we spent the afternoon visiting.

Today is almost another version of yesterday.

Starting with coffee at my friend G’s house celebrating another friend’s birthday.

Followed by tea tasting at my neighbour and fellow Steeped Tea Consultant’s house.

Then I shall canvas for the Heart & Stroke followed by walk with Alvin (in a different direction), supper and at 6:00 p.m. it is SKYPE with my sister.

Busy day.

Well time to get going to have some snuggles with Alvin before shower time and leave for the birthday party.

I hope that you have a fantastic Sunday.

Perhaps you will have a change of plans resulting in a wonderful morning/afternoon.

Happy Sunday.

Special Hello to: my friends and family.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of July, 2016.

WOW, how can it be?

The 24th day of July?

Crazy, hey.

Well on this bright and sunny Sunday morning I am enjoying the cool breeze that is wonderfully drifting into my windows.

The office feels delightful ….. cool and warm all at once.

My neighbour and I held a joint garage sale yesterday.

It was not successful by any means regarding amounts of things sold or money made but we had fun.

We ran it from 9 a.m. and closed it down at 2:20 p.m. – we met some nice folks.

Alvin stayed out with we girls all day.

It was not hot by any means and he had water and the house close by.

But he enjoyed with me and the girls.

One family from South America ….. they have only lived in Canada for two years.

The family’s favourite thing to do in our Canadian summers is to go camping.

They go to Banff because it is so beautiful.

After the garage sale the girls went home and I tidied up and had a bit to eat before we went out to run a few errands as I needed a few items for my TEA TASTING.

This afternoon I am hosting a TEA TASTING in my home.

We are going to have four different tea blends.

They are made into COLD / ICED tea beverages.

One with water and lemon, another with ginger ale, one with wine and the other with plain water.

I am not a wine drinker or a drinker period but my neighbour had this wine on Friday with the Citrus Mint Sangria and I knew it would be a good fit.

Will have to check the label and let you know.  It is a popular summer wine around here.

How do these tea blends sound:  Peaches & Cream which is a white tea; Jenna Cherry Jubilee, Citrus Mint Sangria and Summer Berry Sangria which are all fruit teas.

They are going to be yummy.

Will report more about the tea tasting with more details and some photos later on.

Mr. Alvin will be so happy to see his sister as she will be attending.

My leader is coming and he loves her.

We are hoping for a good turnout.

You never know …..

Some say yes.

Some say no.

Some say maybe.

Some say no and come anyway.

That’s okay.

Well I suppose I should hustle as I have a few things to do before the TEA TASTING begins.

There are a few hours but time always has a way of racing by …..

I hope that you are having a great summer weekend.

Looks like today is going to be warm.

Yesterday was a bit cool but refreshing after Friday’s 27 and higher with the humidity.

Take care.

Special Hello to: all my family and friends near and far.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Oh no, I hear some sirens blaring in the near distance.

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 23rd day of July, 2016.

What a whirlwind of activities over the past few days.

Company arriving …. company leaving…… sad for that.

Pancake breakfast at work …… rest of the day off …… errands ran.

Attended Open House for one of my colleagues and neighbours for Steeped Tea ….. mowed grass afterward ….. too  hot to walk.

Garage sale today ….. Tea Tasting tomorrow.

The past few days seem like a blur and then it will be Sunday evening and I will be preparing once again for the work week.

Do you have times like these?

So much to enjoy and the time just zips by.

I so, we so enjoyed the visit of our friend from back home.

We had such a great time.

We found out that we have much more in common that we even knew.

Funny how that works.

I am grateful for that time as is Alvin.

He really took a shine to her.

It is true that he really likes the girls but he has some relationships that are different and it is apparent.

Not the same as mine or his sisters.

I love it.

Life is full of things that are crystal clear and full of things that are mysterious and unknown.

Well just in the last minutes here before my neighbour and her daughter arrive for the garage sale.

She just called and they will be here in the next bit as they were up a bit on the late side.

Went for a late walk and such.

Anyhoo …. time to get this show / ship on the road / on the sea and go.

I think I will take Alvin with me to put up the sign and then he will have a walk.

Things will be fine …..

As there will be two adults …. if something has to be done last minute one of us can always be in the garage to await potential customers.

Wish us luck …. we just would love to sell everything …… then we are done and things.

Good things as usual.   No junk.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

Back tomorrow.

Special Hello to: my sister, yes I am very lucky for sure.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 21st day of July, 2016.

What a glorious past couple of days and I am sad that my friend will be going home tomorrow.

We have one more evening and early morning together.

Alvin has grown quite attached, and even Mr. Elton was happy to have a new friend.

You know him he sometimes takes a while to warm up to people.

Last night when I arrived home from work in the rain I opened the door to find my friend standing in the kitchen starting to make buns.

She had arrived to the house a few minutes before that and was making the preparations for the buns.

So lucky me now has fresh cinnamon buns, cheese buns and regular buns.

How grateful, and happy for those treats am I.

It was another fast paced evening between the kids coming for Elton, watching over my “Cinder” (neighbour’s pet), making supper, we walked, the buns, of course, visiting, clean-up and visiting.

The minutes just zipped by.

It was another 11:30 night but I am so happy to have had this opportunity.

She is such a great person and friend.

Alvin is so smitten with her ….. he lays beside her in the protection pose.

So cute.

He is wondering this morning as she is still in bed as there is no reason for her to be up and out at this crazy early time.

The air is so humid.

So humid in fact that by the time I leave the house my eyebrows have come off.

Okay shall I explain.

Everyone knows as you get older you hair lightens and finally turns white or grey.

Well mine have lightened a LOT.

So I have befriended an eyebrow pencil.

I have been using them for years just to add a bit more depth and colour.

Well now I really need that good old pencil.

So I had better check them out as I fear they have melted in this humidity.

Well almost time to pack my lunch into my back pack and head out to work.

Almost the end.

This weekend marks the beginning of K-Days (big city fair).

We are having a pancake breakfast at work tomorrow morning so that will be nice.

Short day as we close so that everyone can take in the parade.

Busy weekend ahead with Open House for Steeped Tea at my neighbours, garage sale in my garage for a friend, my Tea Tasting on Sunday.

Time to go here.

I hope that you have an amazing Thursday.

Special Hello to: all those people visiting friends and family – we thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 9th day of July, 2016.

It is a bright and beautiful morning here in Edmonton.

Full of light and promise.

As things roll around in my brain all I can think of is: just take it one minute at a time.

Do the best in that minute and the next and the next.

All you have is that minute.

All we really have is that moment to shine or not.

Our strength and determination to get through those moments will carry us on.

Some moments we may have less strength and less determination than others but we will carry on.

Everyone has moments of utter glory and moments of utter dread.

I do not believe that there is one human being on this planet that has not experienced both glory and dread.

It may appear to those on the outside that some people may be only on a path of glory and joy but it is all relative.

What you feel is downright dreadful may not be to someone else.

So on this day ….. feel ….. eat ….. smile……be joyful……listen to music…….walk with your dog…..admire the roses……smell said roses……look up at the sky and see what you can see.

Enjoy your life.

Do what you can to enjoy your life.

I am going to a tea tasting at my Steeped Tea “leader’s house” with another consultant this morning.

What a great way to start the weekend.

Special Hello to: my family and friends all over the world.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 23rd day of May, 2016.

Happy Victoria Day!

I am using this special birthday day to hold a “Steeped Tea Tasting ParTEA.”

What could be more fun on a semi-dreary sunless raining day than sitting around with good people drinking tea?

I think we shall have fun.

Alvin will be excited for all of the company.

Sometimes he gets a little carried away.

Perhaps today he will be more calm upon their arrivals.

We will have some hot teas, some fruit teas with ginger ale and perhaps an iced tea.

Our fruit teas added with ginger ale make a delightful summer drink.

I have to find a recipe for the iced tea.

For treats:

Sweet dip with our Coconut Lime mix (add to cream cheese and condensed milk and fresh lime zest and juice)

having with strawberries, pineapple and nectarines.

Savoury dip with our Guacamole mix  (add to fresh avocados and fresh lime juice)

having with home baked tortilla chips.

 

It has been a quiet weekend with all of the rain.

I hope that people are ready to get outside and that everyone invited comes today for a taste of tea.

I wish that all of you lived closer and could come for a visit as well.

But before I hop into a nice hot bath filled with citrus epsom salts- I am sipping on a hot mug of coffee.

I do love both tea and coffee.

Coffee is my morning drink and tea is my evening drink and sometimes in the afternoons.

Well wish me luck on this Monday adventure of tea tasting and chatting with new and old friends.

I wish you all a very happy Monday.

May the sun shine through even the darkest clouds and brighten your day.

Special Hello to: Fellow tea drinkers.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 22nd day of May, 2016.

Well raining it is.

We so needed the moisture and it has been raining pretty steady since Friday.

Things did not bode well for the two day garage sale but the moisture is more important for everyone.

I will try again next Sunday regarding the garage sale.

On Friday I managed despite the cold to hang in there until almost the end of the sale (7:15 instead of 7:30 p.m.) but yesterday closed it down after just over two hours.

It was 4 degrees celsius and I can still feel the effects of the cold.

I do believe that I was chilled to the bone.

It was an adventure of sorts so it is all good.

 

The grass has greened up lots and looks so good.

You could almost see it changing hues of green as it continued to rain.

 

Alvin came home from his sleepover later yesterday afternoon along with Elton.

Elton stayed with us while his parents went out to friends for dinner.

It was nice ….. I made sure that I snuggled extra with our Elton.

He sure has bounced back with a spring in his step and all.

 

Well I guess I had better get this show on the road after spending two days preparing and hosting and re-cooperating from the garage sale it is time to get this house back in order.

CLEANING day …. LAUNDRY ….. preparing for the tea tasting tomorrow afternoon.

I am so excited as one of my friends is able to come over (usually she is working).

 

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Somedays it is only a broadcast of my day(s) but I hope that some part of it makes you smile or gives you an idea or helps in some way.

It is my life …. most days pretty great although there are times I am disappointed and frustrated.

But I just carry on and always try to do my best no matter what.

Take care.

 

Special Hello to: Tammi, thank you for reading and sharing …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 18th day of May, 2016.

Yes, it is the 18th of May – your eyes are not deceiving you.

I could barely believe it this morning when I saw it on the calendar.

Another month zipping along.

 

We finally had some rain yesterday.

It rained on the way to work and luckily not too heavy until I made it to the bus shelter at my stop.

 

Well I am in the process of preparing for yet another garage sale.

This one is happening this coming up weekend.

My friend “G” was over to help me organize everything.

Still lots to do but a good start.

She made me an iced coffee and brought it over as a treat while we worked.

Good strategy on her part.

It was so yummy.

Not something I normally drink but so good.

I am also hosting a “tea tasting” on Monday so this is going to be a busy weekend.

Isn’t “tea tasting” what you do on the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Birthday?

I thought so.

Garage sale Friday and Saturday and ending the weekend with a Tea Tasting.

I like that.

 

We are excited because Elton is coming to spend the day with Alvin.

I mean he is excited as I will be at work.

First time Elton has been here since his surgery.

I am so excited to see him.

I had a chat with Alvin this morning and explained to him that he had to be careful, treat him gently.

No horsing around ….. no rough housing that sort of thing.

So they will likely just lay around and quietly visit and catch up.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

The kids will be here shortly.

A few things to do before I leave.

 

I hope that you have a great day.

I hope that you are surrounded by loving and caring creatures whether two or four-legged.

I hope that at least one of your dreams comes true this very day.

I hope that you never stop dreaming.

 

Special Hello to: my friends, you rock.  I could not have made it this far without you (yes, sister that includes you).

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 16th day of May, 2016.

Another gorgeous morning, sun shining and blue sky.

There has been smoke in the air due to all of the forest fires in the province.

Well another weekend come and gone.

We have all felt as of late that the weekend seem to be evaporating.

I know that I have mentioning this before but it feels so real.

Feels as though the minutes go by doubly fast on the weekend.

Too many things to do and not enough time.

I must get back to multi-tasking once again.

This coming up weekend I am hosting a multi-family garage sale on both Friday and Saturday.

We have been cleaning our closets, basements and cupboards to remove our treasures from our homes.

We know that there are people out there who love to find new treasures at good prices.

I know that this is going to be the BEST garage sale ever.

Also I am hosting a “tea tasting party” on Monday on Victoria Day.

A good day for a tea party on the Queen’s Birthday.

Alvin is resting on the foot of our bed …. I think it is his favourite spot in the house.

He can look out of the window onto the neighbourhood and see what is going on.

Most days when I come home from work I can hear a thud as he jumps off the bed onto the thick rug and down the stairs.

Well time to go.

I hope that you are having better luck with getting your tasks accomplished.

Other than multi tasking I need to start doing things right away ( I will admit that I have become a bit of a procrastinator at times).

Special Hello to: all those folks hosting a garage sale, good luck to you and I hope that you sell it all.

Always, Carol and Alvin