Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! Well we are certainly coming to the end of August, quickly with no help from any of us. Alvin and I slept right through until 5:00 from bedtime at 10:00 p.m. last night. So great. Then we hit the sofa for a few hours so I feel like I have had some sleep. We are also so grateful for the reprieve from the hot temperatures which by the way are coming back starting Tuesday. This does not seem like normal. Usually August or at least in recent memory has been in the low twenties or late teens. Not this year. Thankfully the house is cool right now and with the breeze blowing makes it actually cool outside. Top temperature for today is 22-23 degrees celsius, Monday is forecasted to be 27, Tuesday 31, Wednesday 32, Thursday and Friday 28. That is the base temperature not including the humidity which seems to be high at the moment. So Tuesday could feel like 34. ARGH. We will be back to leaving the windows open overnight to cool the house and with the fans on throughout the day. Looks like the sky is clouding over. The sun was shining so brightly for the last few hours.

My friend G was coming for coffee this morning but has a migraine so is unable to pop over. Those things are a total bugger. I hope that she is feeling better soon.

Poor Alvin will be back to sporting the cool wet hand towel look for a few more days this week.

At least a person can vacuum the house without working up a sweat and actually do some things around the house without perishing from the heat. I have so many things in the fridge to eat that I have not had to cook all weekend (which is too bad because this would be the time to do some cooking). But there will be enough things to have for most of the week without cooking.

Weather plays such an important role in our lives. We “work” around the weather. Whether raining or sun shining!

Yesterday was great for us as it rained off and on for a good part of the day. The leaves on the trees, the grass and flowers and plants are all looking so much better for that wonderful moisture. I water my flowers but there is nothing like rain water.

Next weekend will likely be clean out more plant pots as they are starting to go. Also time to grab some pots for my geraniums which will need to be brought into the house and repotted along with the canna lily which will winter in the basement. The geraniums, oh I have so many. Might have to consider wintering some of them in the basement. Will google and read up on the process once again.

Lots of things to do coming up. I guess with a house and yard there is always many things to keep up.

Well I should go and pop outside for a walk with Mr. Alvin as it might end up raining, who knows. I love the smell of the morning air although the morning is fast evaporating. Walk or coffee. That is the question? Likely walking.

I hope that you have a great Sunday.

Take Care.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee. Perhaps should add walking to the list. LOL.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: I can hear geese honking in the distance otherwise it is quiet except for the bathroom fan and my fingertips clicking on the keyboard. I think that this heat is starting to show its’ effects on people’s health.

2021

Good Morning ALL! Wishing you all a wonderful Monday, December 6, 2021. Today also happens to be the birthday of a cousin of mine, Happy Birthday Janice. Wishing you a wonderful day and may all your days ahead be happy and bright.

Yesterday was the SUGAR COOKIE baking day. I made 18 dozen of them. They turned out perfect. Now today as I took as a vacation day is ICING / Decorating them day. I think that I should have time to wrap them and also perhaps to wrap some Christmas presents. We shall see how the day evolves. I am actually hoping that the temperature is a bit warmer today so that we can get out for a walk – even if it is a short one – something is better than nothing.

The last FB Live for the FIFTH AVENUE Jewelry MEGAPARTY was yesterday. It was fun. Worked out perfectly that I was almost finished baking the cookies for batch #2 at the time. After the Live, we took a supper break and then after supper I whipped up the third batch of cookies. We even had a bit of time to snuggle on the sofa, me and Alvin that is, lol.

Well I am going to make this a short one this morning so that I can get this show on the road. Tomorrow is a work day and I don’t want to be up late tonight.

I hope that you are well and enjoying this Day thus far.

I cannot believe that it is December 6, 2021. Where does the time go?

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Remember the time Janice that we tried to crawl out of my basement bedroom window when we were teenagers? What a time we had. Cannot help but to smile thinking of it …….

2021

Good Morning ALL! Welcome to Friday, November 19, 2021. Wow, Friday almost the weekend already. Man the time seems to fly. You know how much I love technology. Looks this morning the spacing on my post is different and I did not touch it. What the heck?

This weekend I will be writing up the remainder of my Christmas cards and letters so that I can post / mail them on my next payday. I am also waiting for my photos to be delivered so that I can add our “Christmas Photo” from Thanksgiving into the envelope. Once a year around Thanksgiving, usually in the fall, my daughter takes our (Alvin and mine) family photo. Now that seems strange to say family photo and only for me and Alvin but we have been saying it for years that way. This will be our 12th photo for me and Alvin.

Yesterday I took the afternoon off to take Mr. Alvin to the vet and sure enough he has another ear infection. He has one ear that seems to be more prone than the other but there was a bit of an infection in the other ear so we just had the medicine put in both ears (proactive). The bill was $335.20 between exam charges medicines. Yikes. He hasn’t been rubbing his ear or shaking his head so looks like the medicine is working. I am grateful that we have a vet so close by that we are able to walk. Yesterday afternoon was actually quite nice so we enjoyed the walk.

I cannot think of any wise words this morning or anything witty to say. I think that I am still in sticker shock about the vet bill. Seems like I can never get ahead and feel like I am slowly slipping behind. Also my pay cheque was about $20.00 less than usual due to increase of benefits. So our pay becomes less and everything else increases. I am not alone in this. I turned the thermostat way down in hopes it will help my next heating bill. Time to buckle way down. Way down. When I heard on an U.S. television channel that Americans would be spending records amounts of money this Christmas and holiday season as they saved money over the pandemic, I was shocked and surprised. How can this be? But I guess the prices of things in the U.S. has only recently started to increase. Here we have had high gas prices and other things such as food for a long time. Budgeting, budgeting and budgeting. I will be on a more strict one for sure.

Time to go and put on the coffee. Which reminds me, I am low on coffee and it will need to last until December 2nd, so I am going to make enough for two cups.

Have a great day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! Alvin had a rough morning starting just before 4:00 a.m. (actually a bit earlier). His ears once again are bothering him so that means only one thing – ear infection. So as soon as the vet clinic opens this morning – I will call and make him an appointment. The poor guy and momma’s poor pocketbook. I had one left of his pain meds so I gave it to him with his breakfast at 4:30 this morning and it seems to have taken the edge off as he has not been rubbing and shaking his head for the past hour and one half. Hopefully it is on the warmer side as we will be walking to the clinic which is luckily close by.

Yesterday was really nice and we had a nice walk at my lunch break. You never know once “winter” begins how the temperature will dip from day to day and sometimes hour to hour. So when we the temperatures cooperate we will walk.

I am sorry my brain is a bit on the sleepy side and I cannot think of what to say this morning. So I guess this will be a short post.

I hope that you all are safe, warm and happy and in good health, of course that goes without saying. We always hope that everyone is in good health.

Have an awesome day.

Continuing to live this day with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this fine Saturday morning. Alvin and I are doing well and have been up for hours. We have already been for a walk, watered all of the flower beds and flower pots and did some yard work. I wanted to get in all of the outdoor work before the heat sets in for the day. I really am enjoying our early morning walks. Other than two people out for a walk we were the only ones. Surprised that folks with pups were not out for a walk but perhaps they were out even earlier. Alvin really loves his new travel water dish and usually drinks the whole bottle on each of our walks. I put the coffee on to perk while I am writing this post. Lots to do this Saturday. After this post, coffee and breakfast followed by changing and preparing to give Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath. His hair is not really long but in this next week heat wave a shorter cut will be better for him. Then of course, there is laundry and I think in the heat of the day we will be in the basement. My daughter and son-in-law gave us a leather love seat which fits perfects in the family room in the basement so we have a place to sit for my, lay for Alvin and watch a movie and just hang out and be cool. I have some rearranging to do in the basement so perfect time when it is hot outside. The fans on the main floor keep the temperature at about 80 which seems hot but isn’t too bad. I am not a heat person by any stretch of the imagination. Not at all.

Last night we went to one of our neighbors and hung out in their beautiful backyard. It really is gorgeous. First thing that Alvin does is to roll around on the grass as it is cool and thick unlike ours. He really loves this couple as do I and we always have such a great visit. Laughing and sharing news and information. Alvin made sure that he sniffed every part of the yard. He was fixated on something in one of her flower beds and surprisingly enough lifted his paws as not to squash any of the flowers. We were shocked. It was an deliberate action. What a guy!

Well this is going to be short as I have to get going and get Alvin’s haircut done. At least the fans will help. I need that cup of coffee and perhaps some toast before starting.

I am grateful to have fans for us to be cool. Not much housework this weekend. Thankfully I usually keep things tidy and clean so really not much to do. I am grateful that we were able to go for a nice walk earlier. The roses smelled amazing and the birds singing their morning songs. So beautiful out.

I hope that you have an awesome Saturday. Keep cool and safe. Enjoy the weekend.

Living this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, understanding and gratitude.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Sunday Morning,

The sun is shining and the wind is blowing.

 

I just hopped out of the shower a few minutes ago.

How refreshing to have a morning shower.

Do you prefer before bed or in the morning?

I guess I like either one depends on the timing.

 

Alvin and I had a pretty quiet day yesterday.

I did laundry and cleaned out some drawers in the kitchen, dusted and cleaned.

We went for a nice walk.

The temperature warmed up over the course of the day, which was nice.

 

The air is definitely cooling down as the sun’s rays do not have the heat they had in July or near the beginning of August.

Fall is approaching.

As much as I love Summer for much different reasons; I love the Fall/Autumn.

The different coloured leaves on the trees.

The cool but comfortable temperatures still able to go in sleeves or a light sweater most days.

The smell of fall …. it is different.

Fall is a busy time prepping for the cold season.

Cleaning up the flower beds preparing the perennials for a winter’s sleep.

Eventually cleaning out the pots as the annuals pass their season.

After the frost and before the snow putting away all of the deck furniture.

One more swoosh in the garage (sweeping the floor) before putting away that furniture and odds and ends.

Making sure that the tree is trimmed ( I am going to do that this afternoon unless it rains ).

Washing windows one last time.

Sweeping the porch and the deck again.

I guess that I will add cleaning the blinds onto that list.

Most of the jobs are not huge for me as I live in half a duplex.

Lawn is half the size, front and back.

Which is manageable for one person.

 

Well it is getting time to go and have a quick breakfast before my friend Gillian comes for coffee.

Our other friend is visiting family in Manitoba.

 

Oh, I started another book last night.

“The House We Grew Up In” by Lisa Jewell.

This book goes back and forth between late 80’s and recent times.

So far I really am enjoying it.

 

Well time to go and have breakfast and start preparing for my company.

I just heard Humphrey and Bogart’s Mom talking to them outside.

She sounds anxious.

Looks like Bogart was where he should not have been.

He is quite the character.

Young and fast and curious.

 

We all have stories ….. even if we do not publish them for the world to read ….. we really should write things down ….

Stories to pass on …..

Start a blog ….. keep a journal.

Your children and future generations would be interested in your thoughts and your life.

Really they would.

Your words would be there to read, to inspire, to give retrospect  to future generations.

 

 

Okay time to fly.

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

 

Living my life with kindness and respect to all.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Books give me inspiration to write.

The green room, my office gives me inspiration to write.

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

Oh what a beautiful day!

Two of the lines from an old old song.

It is truly a beautiful morning.

The sky is a crisp blue with a splash of white clouds.

The sun is shining so brightly as it warms up the cool ground and all above it.

Tuesday it is today.

Already June 9th, 2020.

 

Yesterday we enjoyed a walk at lunchtime.

After work our walk was cut short by Mr. Alvin.

For some reason he saw a man coming and wanted to turn for home.

I am not sure if he actually saw the man or if he just wanted to go home.

Anyway 1.5 walks is okay.

The weather report for the next couple of days is 21 degrees celsius.

We shall take that and run.

So incredibly to have sunshine and over 20 degrees celsius.

We have had days recently that did not make it to double digits.

For June that seems out of the norm.

 

This Thursday morning,  Mr. Alvin goes to the Vet to have his annual teeth cleaning.

I am not fond of leaving him but I do know he is in great hands and that they love him.

So that helps.

One thing that I do know for sure is that he will not be a happy puppy.

Hopefully he won’t have to wait long.

When he wakes up – he is always ready to go home.

Usually they keep patients until later in the afternoon.

Not Alvin, they give me a call as soon as he wakes up.

Off, I go to pick him up.

He does well.

Hopefully his teeth are in good health and only requires a cleaning.

Fingers crossed.

 

Sorry have to cut this short as the boss is calling.

Perhaps he has to go outside once again.

Never take chances.

 

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday.

Filled with love and laughter.

 

With kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Happy Friday Everyone!

The sun is rising and is more subtle color wise and vibrancy wise.

But beautiful all the same.

Happy today is Friday.

Today is also the day that I work the late shift.

Once every couple of weeks or so the staff or some of the staff are assigned to work from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m.

It is from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (our office closes at 4:00 p.m. and that is when we have the phones answered by a security company).

So today some of us staff are manny the calls from the public from 4-7 p.m.

Being on the phones is my least favourite part of my job.

Now that we are using our cell phones it is a bit more challenging as at the office I had a headset which made speaking and using the computer easier.

Oh well, I am grateful to have a job and being paid.

I am grateful to have NO commute and to be at home with Alvin.

This is time with him that I would not have had, had I been working at the office.

So grateful for our time together.

I am not certain what the temperature is at the moment.

Perhaps we will have time before I start work at 11:00 a.m. to go for a walk.

Time will tell.

We have five minutes less than three hours.

My daughter brought a chair for me yesterday.

It is way more comfortable than my current one.

That should make my days of sitting easier.

When we went for a walk after work my lower back was giving me a lot of pain so I think that I had better start doing some stretches.

It was a bit brisk but a very enjoyable walk.

Odd how the pain went away when I got home and was not walking.

Definitely not getting as much exercise as in a regular day.

Even at the office I would get up multiple times during the day to pick up letters from the printer.

So have to be careful.

I am going to start including stretches and other exercises into my days.

Likely a good idea for all of us who are sitting most of our days.

I then sit in the evening as well.

So happy to have had some time with my daughter.

Mr. Alvin is resting on his bed beside me in the office.

I will say that it is not nearly as bright out this morning and I think that they did forecast snow for today.

I will check the temperature and I think we may sneak out for a walk in a little bit.

A walk before I sit all day would be a great idea.

 

I know that so many of us are staying home and practicing the social distancing but how many folks are not.

Please unless you absolutely have to go out …. stay home.

I think of all my friends who are in Healthcare, work in grocery stores, fire fighters, police, custodians, and all those jobs that provide essentials to our well being.

So grateful for them all.

Please be safe.

The sooner everyone listens and pays attention to what our health care and government leaders are instructing us to do, the sooner the VIRUS will be gone.

Take care.

 

Well time to get dressed and have some breakfast.

Check the weather.

Clean up the poop.

Yes, someone has to watch after Mr. Alvin.

I have to do some shovelling but will see how much time I have …..

 

Be safe.

Live your lives in kindness and with respect.

We got this.

You got this.

 

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 20th day of June, 2018.

Last day of spring and tomorrow is officially SUMMER.

Our forecast is for +29 degrees celsius today.

Yesterday was another HOT one.

Thankfully we have been getting up and going on our walks bright and early in the morning.

The air was so nice and refreshing this morning.

We are both enjoying our early morning walks.

 

My carpool just called and is sick so I will be leaving shortly to catch the bus.

Have to close all of the windows that I opened which brought the inside temperature down by two degrees.

YAY.

 

I hope that you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

Stay cool.

Be safe.

DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN OR ANIMALS IN THE CAR EVEN FOR A MOMENT.

IT WILL BE TOO HOT.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 9th day of November, 2017.

We had an “interesting” staff meeting.

The lunch and snacks provided were great.

Back to the office today.

Ended up home a bit early so was able to get outside while it was still light.

We found this roll of paper towel close to our friend’s car so we ran it to their house.

Had a quick visit to see how everyone is doing.

Just after we hit the public sidewalk – I heard someone calling my name.

I turned to see Alvin’s girl friend “Miss Abi” and her Momma coming up the sidewalk.

Alvin ran to Abi, just like in the movies.

Abi gave me a kiss …. she loves me.

They got all tangled together …..

We visited, caught up and continues walking together until the pups started to raise up their paws from the cold sidewalk, which did not take too long.

It really was not terribly cold.

I am always aware of the temperature.

But we enjoyed our time together.

Always great to run into old friends and of course, nice for Alvin to see his girl friend.

They are so cute together.

Sometimes madly in love other times a quick sniff and they each go the other way.

Just like people, I suppose.

 

Well time again to leave for work.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Happy Thursday.

 

Special Hello to:  if you have plants, do not forget to water them ( I moved my plants to my office because of the Christmas decorations and almost forgot to water them, I see them every morning).

Always, Carol & Alvin