2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? Well if you live in Western Canada it is very likely you are experiencing extra low temperatures to the tune of minus 30 degrees celsius and colder. My brother tells me it is minus 42 at his house in rural northern Alberta (northeast of Edmonton), my sister from Regina says it is minus 45 with the windchill and my nephew who is working north of Grand Prairie on the oil rigs, says it is minus 50 and in Edmonton it is hovering somewhere around the minus 33 temperature and I am not sure what the windchill is at this time. I do know that when I was out picking up the poop earlier, I noticed frost on the handle of the shovel. I was moving some snow around the deck as the pups have been peeing in the snow. Cannot blame them too friggin’ cold to be out for longer than a second. Last night Alvin’s bestie Teddy came for a sleepover and a minute ago I heard a toy squeaking downstairs, that would be Master Teddy. Alvin of course, if never far from my side and is laying on the carpet on the hallway floor. For the first time other than Teddy barking when someone walks by the front of the house, he barked. It was a low little bark unlike the loud semi shrill bark of Mr. Alvin. Alvin was barking about god only knows what while sitting beside me on the sofa as I was trying to watch AQUAMAN and then Teddy on the other side of me started to bark. I think he was trying to tell Mr. Alvin to be quiet. But I don’t know. They had a good night. We all need to have someone around from time to time. Without going for walks due to these frigid temperatures, I thought it was time for a friend to sleepover (not for me but for Alvin). At least I can chat on the phone and video chat to see people. We were all snuggled into bed last night and I read for a bit. At first Alvin was on the left side of me not real close and Teddy was by my feet …. as I sleep on my side I had to move my legs around a bit to get comfortable. Finally found the sweet spot and on our way to sleep. After I am not sure how long I felt Teddy move ….. he came up to the pillow and laid on the pillow so that he was almost like a warm scarf on my neck. Alvin does not do that for apparent reasons, main one being he is too big but Teddy is small. He spent the rest of the night snuggling close to me and Alvin nearby. Usually Alvin would growl but not at Teddy. Teddy barked a couple of minutes ago so I went downstairs as he had to go outside so both boys went out. He came back upstairs with me and Alvin for a minute and then back downstairs.

We are enjoying our company. I think with this cold weather we shall have just a lazy day. I will bring up the dry laundry from the basement at some point and I will make coffee and have breakfast and we will watch some television. I may even do some writing. I put my books and pens together last night. My hands are so rough and dry and no amount of hand cream seems to be working. The air is dry. Thankfully we are toasty warm inside the house and I am grateful to have heat and to have a beautiful home to live in.

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  Teddy

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I apologize for these not being current photos of the boys. Both the boys just had hair cuts and are looking top notch. But cuteness still prevails no matter how long their fur/hair is. Yes, Mr. Alvin had a hair cut and bath yesterday before his friend came for the sleepover. I did snap some photos last night but have not downloaded them to the computer as yet. I will thought. They are looking super handsome, these boys.

We hope that you are safe and warm.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Teddy

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning from an overcast Edmonton.

There is rain in the forecast and I am hoping that I can get everything done quickly so that I can take Mr. Alvin for a walk.

Blog and then shower and then walk.

 

How are you doing today?

Are you getting enough rest, keeping hydrated and eating well and exercise.

How could I forget the exercise.

 

Today I thought I would take our minds off things by posting some photos.

Yesterday Teddy came to visit Alvin.

I did some baking (yes, I did).

GUESS WHAT?

I baked a banana cranberry orange with coffee spice loaf.

It is the first time in my 62+ years that I have made one that turned out perfectly.

Baked through and through.

I even changed the recipe somewhat.

So good.

The ENERGY BITES ….. made almost 4 dozen of them.

Changing up, using what I had.

Ended up using Chipit Kisses, Cranberries and Sliced Almonds.

WIth the other regular items such as oatmeal, coconut, peanut butter and honey.

They are tasting pretty good.

I managed to get all the laundry done except for one load (that will be for later today).

 

I was trying to capture two friends hanging out each with a chew treat.

Treat kept moving.

Alvin just watching.

 

 

 

This is the recipe for the Energy Bites.

See how much you can mix things up.

Try some of your fav ingredients.

 

My best creation EVER.

Voile, a BANANA CRANBERRY ORANGE COFFEE SPICE LOAF.

First time ever that I have baked one of these and they turned out perfectly.

I have made muffins until the cows came home.

Banana cakes galore but not until yesterday did an attempt at a loaf ever turn out.

I am over the moon.

It tastes so good.

I made sure to try it out when it was still warm.

 

 

I fed the boys and after supper.

Teddy had a boost of energy as he quickly threw most of the toys from the bed.

 

 

Well time to hit the shower.

Freshen up.

Then hopefully head out for a walk.

 

Wishing you a great Sunday.

Perhaps you will go for a walk.

Or maybe read a book.

Watch your favourite movie or a new one.

Watch a series that you have recorded and not found the time to see.

Bake a cake.

Phone a friend.

Colour a picture.

Learn something new.

Check out all the FREE online courses, on the internet.

So much to do….. now you have the time.

 

Take care.

Oh, by the way, I forgot to take photos of my gernamium plant.

It is crazy blooming and growing so big.

This photo was from a few weeks ago.

I will take some photos later and show you the actual size of this plant.

It has taken to the spot that it is home.

The pink flowers are so gorgeous.

So many buds just waiting for the perfect moment to explode in perfect pinkness.

 

Happy Sunday.

With kindness and respect.

We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

True it is a New Year and today is a New Day, Tuesday.

A cold morning here in Edmonton.

We are grateful to be inside a warm home.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket beside me.

This morning while I was in the shower and getting ready he stayed resting on the bed.

Not his usual routine.

He appears to be okay.

He got up and off the bed okay.

Perhaps he is just tired although he did sleep through from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Oh, well.

I feel the same way.

I would have loved to have just stayed at home today.

Just curling up on the sofa with me Alvin under our warm red blanket.

But I have lots of work to do today and if I miss a day it just piles up.

Becoming way too stressful.

So off I go to the office/to work.

 

Teddy went home just around noon yesterday.

The house is quiet without him.

Not that he is particularly loud or anything.

We miss him.

I know Alvin does.

 

Perhaps some photos of cuteness and beauty this morning.

Will help us get through this cold Tuesday.

 

Just close your eyes and visualize laying on the grass ….. just relaxing.

Okay, perhaps I got a bit carried away with the photos.

Too much cuteness, I don’t think so.

Too much natural beauty, be serious.

More words …. well maybe.

 

I wish you a wonderful day.

Filled with love, joy and abundance.

May everyone you see and everything you touch be done so with kindness and respect.

Happy Tuesday.

 

I know the Tuesday after a long weekend, feels like a Monday.

 

Have an awesome day.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday.

The sky is overcast with slight cracks of sunlight peering through.

We had a good night sleep last night.

Alvin did not stir until 4:30 a.m. and we went to bed at 9:30 p.m.

I give Teddy much of the credit for this.

We enjoyed a walk yesterday.

Part of the day I was doing laundry and working on my photo project.

It takes a long time to go through pictures/photos.

Deleting/throwing away multiples or out of focus shots.

Sometimes the out of focus shot may be the only one that you have and you just cannot bear to part with it.

It might have been the only photo of a special person or place.

The project is massive but if I keep with it I will get it done in this lifetime.

 

I just had a refreshing shower.

Nothing like a shower to start your day.

The boys were good as they waited for me.

 

Another part of my photo project is to scan photos to the computer.

Just the single shots.

So that I have them all on my computer.

I figure by deleting the multiple shots from the computer and the out of focus or just plain bad shots, I will have room for the scanned photos.

I have wanted them in the same place for a long time.

Easier to work with and to view.

In my heart there is nothing better than to spend hours going through photos boxes.

 

Well I should get this day on the way.

Lots to do and in the afternoon we shall go for a walk.

Me and the pups.

 

I wish you a great Sunday.

Filled with kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin and Teddy.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and YAY today is Saturday.

It is bright outside but only due to the recent snowfall.

Sky is overcast but the sun is trying to punch through the clouds.

Alvin and his best friend Teddy are laying together side by side on the blue blanket.

What a joyous sight.

Once the photos stop downloading I will snap a couple of photos for my next post.

If there is time before they move.

Last night after work and we were done with Alvin eating etc., we went for a nice walk.

Once home I called Aunt J and she brought Master Teddy right over.

The boys were so excited to see each other.

Me, too.

Seems like forever since they have been here to visit.

Aunt J did not stay but to have a quick visit by the door.

I could tell in her eyes that she was exhausted.

It has been a horrible last couple of weeks for her with puppy KOBI and that terrible parasite.

I know that Teddy missed her last night but soon was okay just to settle in with his best friend.

 

Not long after Teddy arrived last night and moments before I was going to eat my supper, there was a knock at the door.

I opened the door to see one of the little boys from a couple of doors down the street.

He handed me a Valentines Card, a heart shaped red lollipop and two boxes of smarties.

One of the boxes of smarties had only red and pink smarties inside.

What a nice treat for after supper.

He is the most kind and generous of little boys.

He is quiet, sweet and so helpful.

He is the one that always wants to help.

He is polite and compassionate and has manners.

Can you imagine a little boy of “7” bringing a Valentine and treats to your door?

I am not 7 either.

He would not have been prompted by his parents either.

His parents did a great job with him.

 

The pups last night at bedtime.

Teddy was playing a game with the blanket.

This morning he was playing under the blanket (hide and seek) but the camera was downloading / uploading photos to the computer so I was unable to take photos.

Alvin was watching him.

Then he joined them.

Love these little guys.

I had a great evening.

 

My day was mixed.

I had planned to go for lunch with one of my clients.

We did but long story short it was not great ….. the coffee shop we went to had closed (how I had forgot, I will never know).

She with her walker.

Normally was not even a five minute walk but with her walker and recent injury, it took about 20 minutes or so.

My poor friend, I don’t know what I was thinking.

We ended up going to the 7-11 which had a little counter set up.

It was okay but not what I had imagined.

I felt terrible.

Not sure what I was thinking.

The Starbucks would have been closer even though we had to cross more streets and I guess there were a couple of small restaurants close to it.

Next time, I will have my poop in a group.

Also she slept in and did not hear when I phoned her at 10:00 a.m.

She missed the DATS bus when it arrived and caught a taxi which cost her a small fortune.

I called DATS (Disabled Adult Transit System, I think) from the 7-11 but they said would be a two hour wait but at first refused to pick her up.

I kept at them but finally the woman said two hours.

Way too long in the downtown 7-11 which had lots of people coming and going.

I could not leave her there by herself for two hours and I could not wait.

So I called a taxi.

I offered to pay but she said she could pay for it.

Unfortunately it was a costly lunch for her.

I paid for lunch although she wanted to ….

I had a little gift for her and remembered to give it to her when she was in the taxi.

Thankfully the taxi came within ten minutes of calling them.

I was thirty minutes late for work but my boss was forgiving.

It was nice to see my client but not what I imagined that it would be.

She in her grace said not to worry.

She was just happy to have a visit with me.

How lucky, how blessed am I.

Between this client, the little boy from a few doors down and the pups.

I am feeling so special.

 

Well time to get going.

Breakfast is late for me.

Pups ate earlier.

Alvin ate really early just before 5 a.m. and Teddy ate about thirty minutes ago.

I just would like a cup of coffee.

That will happen once I get the first load of laundry into the washer.

I am going to work on the photo project.

Going through my photos and deleting the duplicates etc.

Also I am going through my photo boxes and doing the same.

More the out of focus photos.

For some reason I have a problem throwing them away or deleting them.

So we will have a busy day.

In between we shall go for a walk.

Hopefully the sun will shine.

 

Wishing you an awesome Saturday.

With Kindness and Respect.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Teddy.

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, Good Morning Everyone!

Well we went to bed a bit later than usual and I read my book.

I am reading the book “BIG LITTLE LIES.”

The one that has been made into a television series.

At first I wasn’t really getting into it but now I am hooked.

We are having a great weekend.

The weather has been crazy beautiful.

Perhaps FALL will be warm and sunny.

That would be wonderful.

Today just have to finish a few things around the house and get groceries.

Teddy spent the day with us yesterday.

The boys had fun.

We enjoyed a nice walk together.

I am going grocery shopping with Teddy’s Mom later this afternoon – which is perfect timing so that we can walk and I can get things done.

Unfortunately I seemed to have slept in a bit – okay a lot.

Oh well, we are up.

We were up at 4:00 a.m. – for a outdoor bathroom break (Alvin not me, lol).

Then again at 5:19 a.m. – Alvin had his breakfast (and his Mama refused, that’s me to stay up).

We were awake and awake – until final at …. we were up.

Cannot disclose that time …. as it was LATE.

I can smell the coffee perking.

YAY …. love the smell of coffee perking

 

While I was on the sofa early this morning and in between “snoring” –

I was thinking if you were either lying down or sitting comfortably on the sofa and closed your eyes.

Then just listened to the sounds around you.

Just listen to the sounds only.

Once you have identified them, do you quickly revert to the MILLION THOUGHTS TAKING OVER YOUR MIND?

I did.

I then instructed myself to listen to the sounds only.

After a bit there was only quiet.

 

Now this would not likely work if you, your spouse and children and the dog were up and about the house.

But before your world begins to take over …. just sit back and close your eyes and listen.

Just listen to the sounds …..

So relaxing.

What a great way to start the day.

 

 

Well that coffee is calling my name.

I hope that you enjoy the day and that wherever you are …. may the sun be shining and the air be fresh and clean.

Happy Sunday.

 

With a life filled with kindness and respect – there is joy.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin