It is a NEW YEAR.

The morning sky is broken with some lightness on the horizon.

It is time to get motoring as Mr. Alvin has been reminding me for the past hour or so.

Even though he was up at 1:30 and then again at 4:30.

I only wanted to lay on the bed or the sofa and just be.

But that is not to be so up we are and get this day going.

My boy is restless.

At the moment he is resting on his blue blanket beside me as I write this post.

We were heard a crack or a thud, a loud noise a couple of hours ago.

But no idea what it would/might have been.

Last night we went for a walk after work but only went half way.

The sidewalk to the park was so dangerously icy that it seemed to take 1/2 the time of our regular walk.

The air was so beautiful warm for February 7th, how could we not walk.

We even met up with another pup and his Mom.

Always time for visits.

I do love to meet new people.

 

Last night I chatted with a long time friend of mine from Saskatchewan.

I took Grade 12 in Windthorst where she had lived all of her life.

Through the years, there have been times where we have not seen or heard from one another but when we do, it is as though time has not passed at all.

Last night was one of those times.

We figured it had been just over ten years since we have seen each other.

Her sons and my daughter are grown.

She has retired and I am working.

Life continues on.

We had the best conversation catching up on the last decade, so much to say.

I miss her.

Hopefully we can keep in better touch now.

 

Well today I want to give Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath and do the laundry.

Cleaning will be tomorrow.

I took a vacation day on Tuesday so I can go and pick up some groceries if I need to at that time.

 

Well time to get dressed and make some coffee.

Change the bedding and pop on that first load of laundry.

 

Life is always full of surprises.

Wishing you a day full of surprises, good ones.

Take your day with kindness and respect.

Full on.

 

Happy Saturday.

Wishing that Mr. Alvin could put on the coffee or maybe a load of laundry.

Oh well ….. he is a good alarm clock and great company.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, my fellow Canadians.

HAPPY CANADA DAY.

What a glorious bright, sunny, breezy Monday morning.

I am so grateful to have this day off from work and to be at home with “me Alvin.”

He is resting beside me on his blue blanket as I key these words on the keyboard.

 

We have so much to be grateful for in this country.

The list is long but what I am most grateful for are the following:

• peace
• freedom
• clean fresh water
• beauty of our country from coast to coast

 

A day to celebrate the peace that we are honoured to live within our borders.

A day to celebrate the grand beauty of this amazing country.

A day to celebrate the freedoms that we enjoy on a daily basis.

A day to be grateful for the clean water that is easily accessible.

A day to celebrate each other.

Happy Canada Day to all my family and friends.

Happy Canada Day to all CANADIANS.

***************************************

 

Yesterday Alvin and Teddy and I just spent a quiet day together.

We went for a walk.

We played.

We had treats.

We even had a nap.

It was a great day.

 

I did manage to get out for groceries and to see my girl for a visit.

So I guess today that means that I need to get to work.

Well there will always be things to do when you are the only “person” in the household that can clean the house, mow the grass, pull the weeds, cook etc.

But that is okay.

One good reason to keep things clean as you go.

Then it is only light cleaning.

That is my mantra.

Keep things clean as you go.

Put things away …..

 

Okay, time for breakfast and coffee.

Perhaps even two walks today if the weather holds.

That would be lovely.

Great way to spend Canada Day.

 

Happy Happy Canada Day.

Be kind and respectful as you continue on your day.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

My flowers on the deck from my first summer in Edmonton

2009

I can tell as there is grass peeking out from the end of the deck.

Cannot believe it has been ten years since I moved here.

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 15th day of March, 2019.

Last night was so beautiful but not great for walking.

I went out into the back yard – actually on the deck to pick up poop from this morning.

Yup, I know, another poop story.

But this is cute.

Alvin climbed up onto the snowbank that takes up half of the deck to do his business.

Me, in my slip on shoes, decided to go up and pick up the poop.

Everything was going well ….. Alvin turned around and was waiting for me.

I picked up the poop and went to turn to come down …. when due to my weight …. went into the snow and my shoe came off.

Ended up with a shoe full of snow.

Yup, I was walking in the snowbank with one sock and one shoe on.

I delicately balanced a couple of bags of poop and grabbed my shoe that was buried in the snow.

Not impressed but I kept my cool and just laughed it off.

Because really what else are you going to do.

So that was my Alvin story.

Note to self:  wear boots when in a snow bank.

 

We received a phone call from Alvin’s best friend’s Mom last night.

She invited us over for supper and a visit.

We had already had supper when she called and we were not going to walk because of the ice and water.

So Teddy and his Momma came for a visit.

I love the way the boys greet each other with so much energy and joy.

You can feel that energy in the room.

AS soon as Alvin sees their car pull up ….. he starts to wag his tail and bark his HELLO..

Then he runs to the door.

Usually I peek out to see when they are coming up the walk and then I open the door.

Teddy running down the walk and Alvin running from the house.

Just like in the movies.

So cute.

They say hi and into the house.

Run about …. grabbing a chew treat along the way …..

Just makes you feel like a million dollars.

They bring us great joy.

Whether separate or together….

We had such a great visit.

I shared with her one of Steeped Tea’s newest blends, a Rooibos tea called LUSH LEMON.

Oh, it was so nice.

I have been enjoying it for the past few nights.

We laughed and almost cried a few times sharing more of our life’s stories.

I love getting to know people …. we all have such wonderful stories ….. if only someone would listen.

I love to listen and so does my friend …..

Hard to believe it will be four years on July 20th that we met.

Yup, it was July 20th, 2015.

WOW.

We talked about how memorable Mr. Alvin is and that everyone remembers his name and him.

At the end of this month it will be ten years since I moved to Edmonton and into my very first house.

My first house on my own …

It has been and is so very wonderful.

I am a lucky girl.

 

So today is Friday.

The start of the weekend after we put in the day unless you are lucky to be at the end of your shift or perhaps you took today off.

I am excited for the weekend.

Tomorrow Alvin has his first pedicure and regular appointment since his surgery.

We were at the Vet to have his stitches removed a few weeks back.

You cannot see that he had surgery at all.

I also have to hit the grocery store to pick up the ingredients for the FRUIT PIZZA which was requested as my daughter’s “birthday cake.”

We will have to decorate and they are coming on St. Patrick’s Day so I wonder how much green, I have ….. mmmmmm.

Green streamers?

I know that I have lime green ones, yes, somewhere.

Tidy up the house.

YAY, family coming on Sunday.

We are having PIZZA for supper and FRUIT PIZZA for dessert.

It will be a pizza party.

 

Well here we go again …. time to leave for work.

Be careful out there as there is lots of ice, most especially in the residential areas.

Have an awesome Friday.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day early.

 

Special Hello to: all of you ….. you make my life, awesome.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 7th day of September, 2016.

I accidentally typed 2026 and gave myself a quick start.

Can you just imagine what 2026 will be like?

Will be make even more advances in science and technology?

More than the past 50 years?

 

 

Wonder if that chip implant in our arm or hand will become a reality?

With all of our information in one place.

One quick swipe and no need for five thousand plastic cards to be in your purse or wallet.

Although I do think they could have everything on one or two cards.

Personal information on one card and financial on the other.

There would have to be some kind of security with the chip or minimum cards.

Interesting though.

They have started making cars that can drive themselves.

That is likely a good thing ….

With all of the bad drivers or more like bad habits having a “chauffeur” would be more safe.

People could then text to their hearts content.

Will they cure all man’s diseases?

Will we change?

Will we become better people, more compassionate over the next ten years.

Would a few more female heads of state make a difference?

Not sure.

Anyway food for thought.

 

Isn’t it funny how your thoughts can change so quickly.

I was thinking about relating a story about Alvin and his girlfriend and then I accidentally typed “2026.”

Whoops.

Alvin and Abi, a story for another day.

They are so cute.

He was playing kind of hard to get last night.

 

Well here we are almost time to leave for work.

I started catching an earlier bus yesterday so have to leave the house 15 minutes earlier than last week.

Kids are back to school.

The bus was jammed pack full of youngsters both on the way to work and on the way home.

 

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all those bloggers out there entertaining the world with wit, charm and information.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 10th day of March, 2014.

Clocks turned back Saturday night / Sunday morning so my body still feels in limbo.

So grateful that Mr. Alvin seems to have adjusted this time more easily as he did not “attempt” to get by before the alarm went off.

Our weather is springlike with warm temperatures melting the snow.

Spring is on the way.

Hurray ….. so happy for that.

I was just thinking if I turned back the clock ten years where would I be?  What would I be doing?

So that would be March 10, 2004.

Well I would be in my apartment back in Regina.

It would be two days until my daughter’s 24th birthday.

It would be her second year living away from home. (She moved here to Edmonton).

I would be wanting to see her.

I would be working for the Insurance Company.

Likely yearning for spring.

It is funny when you think back how much you really do not remember in the moment.

I have kept a journal for years so I can look back  and find out what my days were like and how I was feeling.

So zip forward ten years to present time.

I retired from the Insurance Company after almost thirty years and moved to Edmonton.

Now I am living back in the same city as my daughter (so happy for that).

I am living in my very first house (very different from living in an apartment).

I have a dog.

I now work two jobs.

So very different from ten years ago.

I do know one thing for sure and that is that life is meant to be lived and changing things up every so often is a good thing.

Sometimes I think living in an apartment with no responsibilities and working at a job that I was super comfortable in, would be nice.

Then again, having my own house, living close to my daughter and having Alvin, and my dog is fantastic.

Perhaps working two jobs ….. I might change that …… who knows.

FORWARD TEN YEARS …. no idea what changes might be …… have to think on that ….

I hope that you have a great week.

Wish me luck in the mouse catching department.

Today is the day ……

Special Hello to: family – I have the best.

Always, Carol and Alvin