Christmas Morning 2020

Good Morning ALL. Happy Christmas one and all. The air is warm outside. The house is quiet as my fingers clack away on the keyboard. Alvin is stretched out on the carpet in the hallway just outside the office door. My daughter, son-in-law and pups are snoozing in “the master suite” (okay perhaps not what you would consider to be a master suite but for me a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom, is pretty master, lol). What a glorious Christmas we are having. The family arrived in the later part of the afternoon on Christmas Eve, that would have been yesterday. We make some snacks, ate some snacks and ate more snacks and more snacks and then decided to open gifts. We always have enough food to feed about 20 people and there are three of us. Likely we should have gone for a walk but it is Christmas and who thinks of exercise when there are presents under the tree and food all over the place. Even before we sat down to open gifts, actually not long after the kids and grandpups arrived – we heard some rustling in the living room. We were busy snacking in the kitchen. Amanda went into the living room and there was the Alvin getting a headstart opening his gifts. He had found one of his gifts that was way back under the tree, without causing disarray to the other gifts or knocking over the tree – he pulled the gift back out onto the middle of the living room and was beginning to tear apart the tissue paper that covered his gift. How he knew that was his gift we will never know. My son-in-law joked that perhaps he knew how to read. What a guy. After we had some goodies, we settled in to watch the Christmas movie “ELF” which is another little story. Steven wanted to watch the movie which I happen to have on DVD in my massive Christmas movie collection. When the kids gave me the new television just before Christmas – we decided to disconnect the DVD player and put it in the basement. We would have had to hook it up which is not a big deal when the light bulb came on and I checked my PVR recordings and voile, I had recorded it. So no need to bring up the DVD player. We chatted and watched the movie. Drank coffee and eggnog. Throughout the movie, someone was whining so much. Not loud but clearly not happy. When the movie was over and we started preparing to open gifts, guess who was the first one to the tree? Three guesses and the first two don’t count. Mr. Alvin. He was so excited. I think with all of the gift opening that we have been doing and the parcels from our friend Val, he is beginning to put two and two together. He definitely understood about the gifts. I will note that he has been going to tree over the past few weeks once I wrapped gifts and we remember when he pulled my son-in-law’s stocking from under the tree and started to open his gifts. Note to self for next year. I made sure that I safely tucked all gifts with food related items and the stockings in a basket in the basement landing until time to open. We certainly were entertained by Alvin. He was frustrated with me at times. What can you do? He, me, we were all super spoiled. The perfect year to be spoiled. I received clothes, books, special pens, several items from my favourite store “Bath & Bodyworks”, chocolates and more chocolates and more chocolates, a hand held blender with more gadgets than I know what to do with and more. Definitely crazy spoiled. My son-in-law received from my daughter one of those projectors for indoors so we did some star gazing for part of the evening. A great night. Merry Christmas.

Well time to head back downstairs and have some coffee. I am going to call my sister and chat. It is beginning to get light outside. Hopefully the sun will shine. We definitely need a walk or two, today.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope that Santa was good to you. Not sure that me and Alvin deserved all the lovely gifts that we received but we are grateful to all those folks who showered us with them this year. We are grateful to have all of you in our lives. Truly, we are blessed.

Have an awesome day. Be safe, go for a walk. We will continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion for all.

Merry Christmas 2020.

Love, Always from Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well folks we made it through another week.

This weekend marks the end of February 2020 and the beginning of a new month March 2020.

March is an extra special month for me as it is the birthday of my daughter.

Also is the birthdate of my Dad’s only sister, my Aunt, son-in-law’s brother, friend’s children, sister-in-law, niece in-law and some of my most dearest friends.

A busy month to be sure.

Which reminds me that I forgot to pop a card and letter into the mail for my Aunt.

I will do that this weekend and even though it may be late ….. always better to send than not to.

She is of the generation that cards and letters were important.

The largest way of communication next to the telephone.

Long before the days of email, texts and video chats and social media.

I have a good stock of miscellaneous cards as I still love to send them from time to time.

 

Last night on our walk …. oh, it was so beautiful.

We bumped into the gal that delivers our flyers down the street at the houses near the park.

We stopped for a chat.

The chat carried on for several minutes when all of a sudden I saw out of the corner of my eye and then did a quick spin …

To see by Alvin and me, this chocolate lab pup off leash.

There was a family coming down the sidewalk and I called out to them.

They explained as they got to us that this pup had just joined them.

He/She walked beside them the whole way.

Now as they were on a busy street they were concerned.

No one happened to have an extra leash.

As we were near the house of a friend, I ran up the walk to see if she could help us out with a leash.

She has two small dogs.

But no one was home.

Quick thinking, I thought of tying some poop bags together but that didn’t seem like a great idea, no one had a scarf (I would have given up my scarf, for sure) but I did have

my Bath & Body Works lanyard on my keys.

So I removed the lanyard and it worked perfectly as the pup did have a collar with a ring for hooking leashes.

We hooked up the lanyard and I asked if they were able to take the pup and contact the appropriate authorities and they said of course.

The pup seemed perfectly happy to be with them.

Alvin did okay with the pup considering there was no leash on the pup and hard to hold him/her.

There was a bit of growling on Alvin’s part but the pup was so good natured it did not last.

I hope, pray and wish that they found the pup’s home or the authorities did.

Such a beautiful pup.

There was no one out looking during the time we were out.

I am not certain where exactly the dog joined them.

Best of luck to you little one.

I should have carried my phone but did not have the appropriate place and my hands were full.

 

Well almost time to leave here.

My neighbour is feeling better and will give me a ride to work this morning.

Yesterday funny story.

I left home a few minutes earlier than what I normally would to catch a bus and when walking by my friend’s house, she was backing out.

She saw me and gave me a ride to the bus stop.

That helped greatly … no dodging ice …. yay, me.

I caught the earlier bus and was to work before 7:30 a.m. ( I do not start till 8 but like to be there early).

 

Well time to fly.

I hope that you have an awesome, amazing, wonderful day.

Isn’t the morning sky beautiful?

Getting more light everyday.

Take Care.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Treating the world with kindness and respect.

Trying …..

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 29th day of September, 2018.

The trees are swaying in the breeze while the sun rises and sky slowly clears from blue rain clouds.

Thank goodness for the weekend.

Time to rejuvenate, relax and also to do some things around the house.

This is a weekend of birthday celebrations.

We are celebrating my Son-in-law’s birthday which was on Wednesday.

No cooking for this Mum as we are ordering in ….. pick-up or take-away whatever you happen to call it.

Sounds like it will be Chinese Food.

My Son-in-law also wanted to have an Ice-Cream Cake so that will come from Dairy Queen.

What an easy party to plan.

The card and gift are done.

Just have to tidy up and have the refreshments ready.

Coffee and Water ….. easy peasy.

 

Alvin and Teddy are in the office with me while I write this post.

Teddy slept well and Mr. Alvin well he woke me up a few times.

Perhaps it was the full moon or the time of year.

I do not know.

He appears to be feeling well.

Or perhaps it is an age thing.

I get up to go “pee” so I guess why couldn’t he.

Oh well.

 

Sunday, it is coffee at a friend’s in the ‘hood.

I love to say that.

We take turns.

This time her parents are here for a visit and she is having a little birthday party for her Mom and invited myself and “G.”

The three of us girls take turn hosting coffee weekend get togethers.

Sometimes it is almost every weekend and other times it could be a month in between.

Depends on what everyone is doing.

 

So this weekend is all about celebrating.

 

Yesterday was the funeral of my friend from work.

It was a beautiful celebration of his life.

He was loved by his family, friends and co-workers.

That was clearly apparent.

He will be missed by us all.

I was saddened to hear that his little dog had passed away just a few days ago.

So much heartbreak in one family.

It is a reminder to hold your loved ones near and tight.

Tell them all how much they mean to you.

Do things together.

Phone them, visit them, text them, face-time with them, spend time with them.

It was a clear reminder that life is SHORT.

Do not take them for granted.

Treat people with kindness and respect.

We may only have one chance to do this meaning you never know the next time that you will see that person again.

Also be kind to your four-legged friends and all creatures.

They deserve your love, understanding, kindness and respect.

All living beings deserve this.

 

To all of my dear friends and family, you mean the world to me.

I think of you all in my waking moments and in my dreams.

Sometimes we are on unusual adventures and sometimes it is just a little visit to say hello.

Take care.

I thank you for being you and for being in my life.

 

One of our long-time co-workers and friend retired yesterday.

Monday is going to seem like we have landed on another planet.

Two of our staff and friends will no longer be there.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

 

Special Hello to:  ALL my family and friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin