2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this beautiful bright and sunny Wednesday morning? Alvin and I are okay. For some unknown reason he was up starting from midnight and every couple of hours until I am up for the day. I am feeling a bit on the tired side but hopefully it does not affect the day too much. Perhaps some caffeine soon will perk me up and I hope that night we sleep through the night.

I was looked through my posts back to near the beginning of this blog and found one that I thought was pertinent today and always and will share it now:

April 2010

I have been thinking lately of family and friends.  About how easy it is to lose track of people.  Recently I have connected with old friends on Facebook, and am thrilled to hear about their lives.  I find people fascinating, and it pleases me a great deal to hear from them.  To hear their stories.

My thought for this day is:  send an email or SKYPE someone you care about, do it right now.  Time is of the essence.  It can get away on you.  Take advantage of this new technology.

Make someone’s day……. you just made mine.

I am not sure how many people still use SKYPE now, likely more TEAMS or ZOOM but the idea remains the same. There is also INSTAGRAM in addition to Facebook and other Social Media platforms.

The point being reach out to family and friends. They might love to hear your voice over the telephone.

Whether you phone, use messenger, FB, Instagram, SKYPE, Teams or ZOOM or something else, the point is our family and friends need us more than ever.

Time can pass so quickly and it is very easy to say “I will call her or him tomorrow.”

Reach out today.

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

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

• 

  Photo by Jou00e3o Jesus on Pexels.com

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well I hear we are finally in the last few days of this “cold snap.”

Both Alvin and I will be happy to be able to resume our walking.

 

How are you today?

I am well.

Do you reflect at bedtime and in the early morning hours conversations that you had the previous day?

I do, most of those conversations are from work.

I always think “why did I say those words?”

I tend to be an emotional conversationalist.

I take things personally when I should not.

Now that is not every conversation that I am emotional or take things personally all of the time.

Just sometimes.

Not emotional that I suddenly burst out in tears or yell and scream.

Not always filled with my opinions.

Not that, but I could do better.

I think that by putting my concerns in writing I can see what is in front of me and hopefully will help me.

I am by nature a kind, generous person OR at least I believe that I am.

But perhaps others do not see me this way.

So I am repeating to myself on a regular basis starting today the following mantra:

“I am kind and professional.”

Perhaps this way I can keep my personal opinions and emotions out of the equation.

Please do not think that I wish to be cold and unemotional either, that is not the case.

I am always trying to do better.

Sometimes it is all in phrasing.

If someone on the other end of the phone is being difficult and emotional; it is not always easy to bring that down.

I always do better face to face.

Phoning is not my favourite way to have a conversation (my family and friends will attest to that).

Anyway, the cards are on the table.

I am going to be better.

Not a resolution.

This is a promise.

Always better not to fuel the flames.

 

Well time to head out and play find the poop from earlier this morning.

When we were first up at 2:30 … it was snowing.

I like a challenge.

Do I really?

Mmm, not so much.

Not all the time, anyway.

Sense of humour, trying.

I love my Alvin so it is all good.

 

I hope that on this Thursday that you are well.

That life is treating you kindly.

That you are treating life with kindness.

See it works both ways.

I know that for sure.

 

Be safe and stay warm.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 28th day of January, 2019.

Temperatures cooling down and we received a fresh light blanket of snow overnight.

What a crazy assortment of weather we have had over the past few weeks.

Up, down and everything in between.

Anything but consistent.

Starting to feel more like Calgary.

 

We had another busy, busy weekend.

Yesterday, Teddy’s Mom called to see if he could come for a play-date as not great for walking, I agreed.

He spent from about 1:15 until 4:00 p.m. with us.

Then Humphrey’s Mom asked if he could come and stay with us from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Earlier in the afternoon I had the most glorious telephone conversation with my sister.

I always love our chats.

We catch up and always, always have a bit of laughter.

I would say this time not as much as other times.

But she always brings a smile to my face.

I miss not having her close by.

Tonight Humphrey will be spending the evening with us.

I would say that Alvin was a tad bit nervous with Humphrey last night …. most especially when he moves fast.

He is a bit awkward when he runs as he has three legs.

But they get along and I am grateful.

 

I can hardly believe that the weekend is over.

The whole weekend including Friday night was jammed pack full of company and outings.

I did manage to get some laundry and tidying up done.

Even transplanted my two poinsettia plants into one point.

I received two beautiful arrangements over Christmas.

One of them had a poinsettia plant and three other plants.

Only the poinsettia and one plant survived in that arrangement.

That one was a red poinsettia, so pretty.

The other arrangement was a yellow poinsettia.

So I put it all together and it looks great.

I hope that it survives.

They are fussy plants.

Not good for pets either.

So have to be very careful, which I am.

 

Well getting close to time to head on downstairs and finish getting ready.

I am getting a ride to work most days with my neighbour as she works downtown.

My carpool is soaking up the sun with her husband in Mexico.

Lucky gal.

 

I hope that you have an awesome, fantastic Monday.

See you tomorrow.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, thank you for our chat yesterday and looking forward to a SKYPE chat with you soon.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Alvin’s friends and mine, too.

Humphrey the Cat

Teddy the Pup

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 21st day of December, 2018.

Woke up to tiny white snow balls covering the ground with more following.

The crunchy ones.

At least it will cover the ice and give us some traction when walking.

We will finally be able to go for walks with no worries of salt or falling on the ice.

YAY, so happy for that.

 

Our move into our new work space went well.

I am unpacked and received my first phone call at 9:20 a.m. yesterday.

We only work until noon today and then the office is closed to the public until January 3, 2019 (staff goes back on January 2, 2019).

After the office is closed we will have a catered Christmas lunch and then we go home.

I was so pleased to hear that I scored two storage cabinets from our old office.

We had a cherry wood furniture and it will not be used once the building has been renovated so we had an opportunity to bid on pieces that we wanted.

We had these stand up storage cabinets with doors (like an armoire) and five shelves.

Very solidly built.

I got them for a very good price and one of my co-workers is going to bring them home with me after work today.

So grateful for him.

He is one of those guys that gives 365 days a year.

He is kind and funny.

J, picked up one for his wife for their kitchen as well.

Last night I cleaned off the IKEA shelving unit that I had by the back door to ready for the new one.

It will be wonderful to have storage with doors.

Keep dust away.

The IKEA one is in the kitchen.

It works.

The second one will eventually make it from the garage to the basement where it will house all of the jewellery supplies and perhaps some crafting items.

So, so excited for these.

 

Tonight is going to be a busy night with final preparations for the Christmas party at my house tomorrow night.

Another batch of fudge for the party.

Some laundry.

Charging camera and tablet batteries.

I think we may even squeeze in a walk this evening.

We can always stay up late.

After work and the cabinet is placed – will head to the grocery store for final items.

 

I am so excited to have the next 11 days off.

Time to relax, have fun, rejuvenate and enjoy.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

Grateful to have another ride today and grateful to be employed.

I am grateful for this life, I call “mine.”

Grateful for all of the people who have entered and exited my life.

Grateful for the kind words and for the lesser ones.

Grateful for the wind and the rain.

Grateful for the sun and the snow.

Grateful for all the creatures that have crossed my path.

Grateful for me, Alvin.

So grateful for YOU.

Day of a gratitude.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who take the time out of their busy schedules to read my blog, means a lot to me.

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of May, 2017.

Another gorgeous morning here in Edmonton.

The sky is a little overcast as the sun rises in the east (like it would rise anywhere else, silly me).

Last night just a second after I arrived home and was going to open the back door for Alvin; the phone started to rang.

For a split second ….. let Alvin out or answer the phone, dilemma.

I let Mr. Alvin out as he had been waiting what must feel like an eternity and then picked up the phone.

It was my darling daughter.

She had stopped by Value Village on her way home from work.

Checking things out.

We are both whenever possible making purchases that are reflective of our values.

Values being reuse and recycle ….

Guess what?

I had found a pair of sandals in a flyer that I really wanted.

She found almost the exact same pair and from the same store in VV.

They were in perfect shape and less than 1/4 of the price.

Awesome.

I asked if she could swing by with them and she said yes, invited her for supper.

Alvin and I had a nice walk and then we had our girl here for supper and a visit.

SCORE.

Lucky Momma.

Well here it is once again time to leave for work.

The mornings go by so quickly.

I hope that you all have an amazing Wednesday.

Tomorrow is Thursday and PAYDAY.

Two good things …..

But first Wednesday.

Thank you.

Special Hello to:  thank you “V” in advance.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 13th day of July, 2016.

Another cloudy raining morning with hopefully sunny patches.

Not much of a breeze which is good in case it rains.

Straight down rain is always better than on an angle especially when you are walking with an umbrella.

We have a field trip today as our office is closed to the public.

So we get to go and learn something new today.

I am excited.

Last night I spent the greater part working on my “Steeped Tea” business.

As of late, I decided that I should have a FB business page and I set out to set up that up.

It is kind of tricky to manoeuvre throughout the set up but I am getting there.

Always good to learn something new.

Trial and error.

Might take me a few days but I will be successful.

Also I have learned that it is important to use social media as a valuable tool in business.

It is the wave of the future.

Never would have thought of that a few years back.

I do remember thinking when I was a small girl about the days when we could see the person we were talking to on the telephone.

I am not sure why I had those thoughts but it has come to pass.

I am tired this morning because one hour on the computer turned into plus four.

Poor Alvin was so patient as we ended up going for a later walk and then when back home I was back on the computer.

Well that is all.

Just learning and spending a lot of time on the computer.

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Perhaps you will learn something new today.

Does not matter what ….. just good to learn something.

Special Hello to: all those folks who take the time to read my little blog, I appreciate your time and your comments.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 10th day of April, 2016.

It is overcast, and if the forecast was correct it is only about 0 degrees with a high of plus 3  for the day.

Sure is strange how the temperatures fluctuate from day to day.

Yesterday was a mixture of sun and cloud and we even had a few drops of rain.

Not enough to do much good.

I am hoping for some rain as we dearly need the moisture.

 

We are looking forward to a relaxing Sunday.

Just a few things to do and then we can go for a walk and perhaps later watch a movie.

Alvin enjoyed the company we had for the TEA PARTY last night.

What a great way to spend a Saturday night.

We even SKYPED an old friend from work who moved away to England.

My first overseas SKYPE and it was awesome.

The only way to talk on the “telephone” so the speak.

 

Happy Sunday to you all.

I hope that you were able to sit and relax or walk and relax at some point this weekend as that is always important after a long work week.

Maybe your weekend does not fall on Saturday/Sunday but always remember to take some time for you.

Without you the world would not be the same.

We need you.

We need each other.

Have an awesome day.

 

Special Hello to: my friends all over the world …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 1st day of September, 2015.

WOW, it is September ….. yikes.

How many days until Christmas?

I guess first I had better look at Thanksgiving and Halloween and Remembrance Day.

All special days in their own right.

How is it that Christmas shines over all of the rest?

Perhaps maybe because of all the lights!

Okay, being silly here …..

Crazy, being funny at 6:30 in the morning.

I guess the “Matcha” must be working (green tea powder).

I don’t think that it makes one funny ….. just feeling better.

Well it is beginning to lighten outside.

Argh …. it is dark now when we get up in the morning.

The sun rises about 7:00 a.m.

Do you have plans for September?

Oh, and how could I possibly forget this weekend.

It is Labour Day.

One of my dear and long-time friends from Regina is coming to visit this weekend.

I am so excited …. can barely sleep or think.

I guess that is why I have not been sleeping proper.

It is always great when I have a chance to visit friends.

The years pass by and sometimes it can be a few in between visits.

Thank goodness for technology other than the telephone.

We can email and SKYPE.

Wishing you the best first day of September.

My favourite season is officially only a few weeks away.

I love everything about fall /autumn (depending on where you live).

The colours / the temperatures / the air / the scents.

Just the perfect time of year.

Well almost time to hit the road to work once again.

I hope that this day brings you closer to realizing your dreams.

Happy Tuesday.

Special Hello to: all those folks out there who love the fall.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of May, 2015.

It is overcast and very windy.

We did however receive some rain overnight which is great.

Perhaps it will rain over the course of the day and that would be wonderful as it is so needed.

Well I had the best start to the long weekend.

Yesterday started off with bootcamp.

This one was very engaging ….

Found out “all of the arms work” really engaging when I went to dry my hair after a nice warm shower.

I could barely lift my arms …… arg ….

This morning they feel great …. not tired ….. they feel strong.  YAY.

My friend “S” and I went shopping/ running errands after bootcamp.

First stop was the VET to pick up food for Alvin and some treats for him.

Our second stop was Home Depot to pick up some more flowers.

OMG, I could have bought every single flower there.

I picked up a ready made pot filled with pinks and white flowers.

Impatiens and I think begonias to plant for the front porch.

Petunias, and some others that I am not certain of their names.

Have to read the labels.

Also small basket of purple pansies.

So pretty.

I LOVE FLOWERS.

I LOVE LOVE FLOWERS.

They make me so happy.

The colours.

There was one tiny white flower that filled the air with the most amazing fragrance.

I made sure that I picked up some of them.

I decided to plant them (was hoping today) later.

Later might be tomorrow.

They are carefully sitting in the garage by the window.

Will check them later to see if they need a drink of water.

After our stop at Home Depot we went to Costco.

Now that store on a Friday was “busy” …..

People were doing silly driving parking things.

Well of course when you go to Costco …. do you ever stick to the list?  NOPE. Never.

After all doesn’t everyone need a ten pound bag of carrots ….

Apparently me and Alvin did …..

One last stop before home.

Save-On for the winning lotto tickets.

P.S. the one item that I really should have picked up was new house phones because apparently mine are not working …. just filled with static when someone calls ….. I did find out that they can hear me quite fine……..

It was wonderful to spend time with my friend “S” ….. we laughed and chatted and laughed.

Great time.

Now on this quiet Saturday ….

The only sounds in the house are the clock tick tock ing in the bathroom, the sound of the keys as I type these words and the wind as it blows through the upper vents.

Friday was great …… exercise, shopping, walk with Alvin and then being at home.

So on this quiet lovely Saturday morning I hope that you too are enjoying your day.

I love being in my home ….. just puttering …. doing laundry ….. sipping on a cup of coffee ….. just being.

I did think however after yet another bootcamp that I had better get out my yoga equipment and get stretching.

It is amazing as you get older how inflexible you become if you do not work at it.

So I am going to ……

I want to be the most healthy almost 58 year old woman…..

So time to go and get at it.

Remember to take time for yourself. ….

If you like flowers….. go to and pick up some to plant or a ready made pot.

If you do not have the extra money to buy flowers today then just go and spend some time at one of the retail garden stores.

Smell them and take in all of the amazing colours.

This experience will uplift and bring you to a great place.

Well I hear the laundry calling and another cup of coffee …. perhaps I will drink it while it is “hot.”

Have a wonderful Saturday …..

Special Hello to: my daughter and family …. we miss you guys.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 15th day of March, 2015.

Today is the Birthday of my great-niece “S” …… Happy Birthday Darling.

Seems like she was just a baby a few months ago….. now she is 12.

I always loved when she would come for a sleepover with her Grandma, my sister.

I barely got over my daughter turning “35” and now this baby niece is 12 and I haven’t aged a bit.

Well okay maybe a bit …. couple years or so.

Time just has a way of getting away on us, and we forget just how important it is to take even though occasional “free moments” to tell those around you that you love them.

To remind each other that we are important……

To remember all of those shiny moments such as births…..

That is going to be my “note to self” …… try to contact in some way shape or form as many family and friends to tell them that I have not forgotten them and that I do think of them often and that I care.

Likely will be via FB or email but still I am going to reach out.

Considering that I work seven days a week now ….. but challenging oneself is always good.

So on this bright sunny awesome morning I ask you to contact at least one person that you have not been in recent touch with to say “Hello.”

Simple as that.

You can write, telephone, text, email, FB, tweet, SKYPE or any other form of communication you can think of ….. okay.

Let’s do it.

Have the best Sunday ever.

Thank you for being you ….

Special Hello to: my great-niece “S”

Always, Carol and Alvin