Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I hope that you are well. Both Alvin and I are doing great. Another day at the office. We did not get out for a walk after work. The sidewalks on our side of the street are icy and although I have ice picks on my boots, Alvin slips and slides about and I cannot take the chance that he may slip and hurt himself. So we just spent extra time outside on the deck. Not the same but at least some fresh air. We had a quiet evening. We just had supper, cleaned up and then watched some television.

I do like those evenings that are uneventful and quiet. Just snuggling on the sofa with Alvin.

Today is Thursday, November 24, 2022. One month till Christmas Eve. WOW.

Happy Thanksgiving to neighbours to the south. Thanksgiving is bigger than Christmas in the United States. Lots of people travelling over the past few days. I hope that everyone has a great day and is safe.

Someone is giving me that look, so perhaps he has to go poop. I guess this will be really short. Have yourself a wonderful Thursday. When the boss gives you that look – you have to move.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are doing great on this official FIRST day of FALL/AUTUMN! This is my favourite season of all – beautiful colours – warm but not too hot temperatures – sweater weather – fall cleanup – that fresh smell in the air – taking in the harvest of crops and gardens. There is a breeze on this first day of fall, the sun is slowly rising in the sky.

The sights of “autumns gone by”

Our first trip to my daughter and son-in-law’s new home at Lac Ste. Anne – Alberta Beach, Thanksgiving 2021. Home grown green peppers. Wreath on front door which I changed up a bit this year and did not update the photos. One of our many adventures to the park north of where we live, it was a beautiful fall day. Old photos of our tree in the fall – love the colour. I love this colourful candle holder and the way the sun shines on it.

Lac Ste. Anne – Alberta Beach

Thanksgiving 2021

Alberta Beach

Fall Day

Pepper Harvest 2021

Fall Wreath

Adventure with Alvin

Park north of us

Alvin

Fall gone by

Our tree

Reminds me of Autumn

To get us in the mood for the first day of Fall.

I go to the office tomorrow and am thinking of all the walks that I have had at lunch time and right after work with Mr. Alvin over the last 2.5 years. I am sad that we have to go back to sitting in a dreary office where I cannot see the sun shining or the weather changing. Back to early bedtime and up earlier to fit in a commute to the office. Not really sure how this is supposed to be good for anyone. This is 2022 and we have changed our way of life due to a pandemic. So why are we trying to recreate a time before the pandemic? There is no going back, we can only move forward. I will miss those extra hours each day that I had with Mr. Alvin and in my home. We go back to work three days each week starting in October. Back to close quarters and surrounded by germs. YAY. What a life?

Well sorry for the dip in happiness moment. It is the truth and so we must state it.

I hope that you have a great day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning ALL,

I could see my breath outside earlier this morning. Looks like Mr. Alvin may have another ear infection as he was shaking his head lots earlier but seems to have stopped for the last few hours. Will keep an eye on him. We had a good Monday. One of my coworkers stopped by to pick up her Norwex order and stayed for tea. We social distanced. It was nice to see her as I do not work directly with her ….. it has been March since I saw her last. After she left I spent the next couple of hours or so cleaning up, rearranging the garage and then moving in the deck furniture. I also broke down a bunch of cardboard boxes. I had to enlist my neighbour to help with a couple of heavier deck pieces of furniture as I am realizing that I no longer have the strength of my youth. Humphrey wanted to come for a visit as it was his Mom who came to help me with the heavier items. So over he came for a visit.

Sometimes I like to see what happened on this day last year so here goes:

Hello, Welcome to Sunday the 13th day of October, 2019.

We had rain overnight but now the sky is beginning to clear.

Last year (2018) at Thanksgiving it was raining and I believe it turned to snow.

Argh, I surely don’t like to say that word before Halloween.

It would be so wonderful if it would remain “brown” until November.

Change of plans, Alvin’s friend Teddy is arriving this morning instead of for a sleepover.

He should arrive in 30 minutes or so.

Yesterday we had Humphrey over for a bit.

We enjoyed a beautiful walk but were sad to leave Humphrey here at home.

I decided to take my phone so that I could snap some photos and am happy that I did.

My family are planning to come for supper.

We are always happy to have them over.

Keeping this short this morning.

But I wanted to share some photos of our walk late yesterday afternoon.

It was so lovely.

I also raked the front lawn as it was covered with a thick blanket of leaves.

Also cleaned out the middle area that has stones as it was covered in leaves as well.

So many leaves.  I filled two big black garbage bags.

Alvin and Humphrey watched from the living room as I cleaned away.

Here are some of the shots from our walk yesterday.

In the park not too far from our house.

Alvin sniffing away.

The fountain still running.

Leaves covering most of the trees but so many different colours.

So beautiful.

One cute story to share from near the beginning of our walk yesterday.

We had just arrived at the park when a car slowed down and pulled over.

I realized it was some neighbours.

Mom and three small boys.

The boys were screaming with delight at the sight of Alvin.

The older boy was out of his seatbelt and trying to get his head out of the window.

Mom and I were trying to speak to each other but all I heard her say was “I can’t hear anything but ALVIN.”

The boys were all screaming his name.

It was at that exact second that I came to realize something.

“Alvin is a ROCK STAR.”

Everyone loves him.

Everyone knows his name.

The kids get so excited to see him and even some adults.

So I have a ROCK STAR living in the house.

Doesn’t get better than that ….

Unless he had the finances of a Rock Star …. but I am happy that he is so loved and adored.

Makes me proud.

Now I also realize something …. he does have that mindset of a celebrity.

Okay almost time for Teddy to arrive.

Time to get that coffee perking.

I need a cup.

Happy Sunday and if you are celebrating Thanksgiving on this day …..

Well Happy Thanksgiving to you.

I find it interesting that my life has not changed much from last year or the year before except perhaps the weather. Well time to head downstairs and put on the coffee. The sky appears to be clear as the sun begins to rise in the morning sky.

Continuing to live my life with love, kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, Welcome to Sunday the 13th day of October, 2019.

We had rain overnight but now the sky is beginning to clear.

Last year at Thanksgiving it was raining and I believe it turned to snow.

Argh, I surely don’t like to say that word before Halloween.

It would be so wonderful if it would remain “brown” until November.

 

Change of plans, Alvin’s friend Teddy is arriving this morning instead of for a sleepover.

He should arrive in 30 minutes or so.

Yesterday we had Humphrey over for a bit.

We enjoyed a beautiful walk but were sad to leave Humphrey here at home.

I decided to take my phone so that I could snap some photos and am happy that I did.

My family are planning to come for supper.

We are always happy to have them over.

 

Keeping this short this morning.

But I wanted to share some photos of our walk late yesterday afternoon.

It was so lovely.

I also raked the front lawn as it was covered with a thick blanket of leaves.

Also cleaned out the middle area that has stones as it was covered in leaves as well.

So many leaves.  I filled two big black garbage bags.

Alvin and Humphrey watched from the living room as I cleaned away.

 

Here are some of the shots from our walk yesterday.

In the park not too far from our house.

Alvin sniffing away.

The fountain still running.

Leaves covering most of the trees but so many different colours.

So beautiful.

 

 

One cute story to share from near the beginning of our walk yesterday.

We had just arrived at the park when a car slowed down and pulled over.

I realized it was some neighbours.

Mom and three small boys.

The boys were screaming with delight at the sight of Alvin.

The older boy was out of his seatbelt and trying to get his head out of the window.

Mom and I were trying to speak to each other but all I heard her say was “I can’t hear anything but ALVIN.”

The boys were all screaming his name.

It was at that exact second that I came to realize something.

“Alvin is a ROCK STAR.”

Everyone loves him.

Everyone knows his name.

The kids get so excited to see him and even some adults.

So I have a ROCK STAR living in the house.

Doesn’t get better than that ….

Unless he had the finances of a Rock Star …. but I am happy that he is so loved and adored.

Makes me proud.

Now I also realize something …. he does have that mindset of a celebrity.

 

 

Okay almost time for Teddy to arrive.

Time to get that coffee perking.

I need a cup.

 

Happy Sunday and if you are celebrating Thanksgiving on this day …..

Well Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Enjoy your day.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, good morning.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton.

The sun is shining and as I look out of my office window at home, I can see the sun shining through the golden leaves of a neighbour’s tree to the south.

So beautiful.

This is our Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend.

I am thankful for all of the things in my life.

Even the “cold sore” that seems to have landed on my upper lip.

I have so much to be thankful for.

Even the messy stuff is all good.

Every bit of life good or bad is to be thankful for.

My life is certainly not perfection and I sometimes might choose to see life through rose coloured glasses but …

It is my life ….

I am surrounded by the best people and while they are fantastic even those relationships are sometimes not 100% rosey.

But that is life.

Right?

Perfection is sloppy.

Perfection is messy.

Perfection is your perfect.

Different for everyone.

We had a great night with Humphrey over for a visit.

I am always amazed at how well they get on.

The first moment he arrives …. Alvin runs to the door and they touch noses.

I guess that is their way of saying hello.

If one goes outside they both go outside.

If one comes in most times they both come in.

Tonight Teddy comes for a sleepover.

He will spend Sunday with us.

Tomorrow my daughter, son-in-law and grand pups comes for our Thanksgiving meal.

Life is good.

 

Well time to get that life is good thing going …. there is laundry to do and coffee to drink.

Time to change from pj’s into day time clothes.

 

With kindness and respect I shall live my life.

Remembering how blessed I am.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Happy Thanksgiving …

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and WELCOME to Friday ….

Not an ordinary Friday.

But the Friday before a long weekend.

The Friday before we celebrate THANKSGIVING.

One of my most favourite times of year.

The weather …. the people …. the FOOD.

Who does not like PUMPKIN?

Pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin cookies.

Pumpkin cake.

Pumpkin Lattes.

Pumpkin tea.

Pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkins carved for Halloween.

Another fun time of the year.

There is always the contest for the largest PUMPKIN.

Charlie Brown and the gang.

Leaves turning such a vast variety of colours.

Leaves laying on the sidewalks and lawns.

Walking through the leaves …. crunching them.

The smell of the air.

Birds leaving for the winter.

 

We call the day THANKSGIVING but really we should be thankful all year round.

I am so grateful to have good health.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by the most wonderful people on the planet.

They are all family.

I am so grateful to Alvin in my life.

Although there are times that he drives me a little crazy and I’m quite certain that I do the same to him.

I love the little guy.

I am so grateful to have this beautiful house that we can call home.

I am so grateful to live in this great Country.

Life may not be perfect in all eyes.

But it is perfect for me.

 

Life is filled with many rainbows.

They come and go.

Latch on and have the time of your life.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

I am so excited to have this weekend.

Teddy is coming for a sleepover on Saturday.

My kids and grandpups are coming for supper on Sunday.

 

I wish and hope that you have a life filled with great joy, good health,

much laughter and abundance.

Happy Friday.

Respectfully and filled with kindness just for you.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 8th day of October, 2018.

Well winter has arrived or at least one of the main components of that season.

SNOW.

SNOW.

and MORE SNOW.

The rooftops are covered.

The ground is covered.

 

My snapdragons are covered. (Perhaps it is time to remove the seeds and pull the plants).

They have been blooming for a long time now and were so pretty.

Yellows, corals, pinks and white.

The last memories of summer ……

The temperatures are to warm up again.

This will give everyone a chance to do that last minute “fall/winter prep.”

 

We, me and Mr. Alvin had a grand time with our family.

Last night before supper we walked to a nearby park and took some photos.

Unfortunately the wind got up and there were several drops of rain.

But we managed to get some good photos.

We ate, relaxed, visited and played the board game “Sequence.”

A good time was had by all.

Another Thanksgiving on the books.

All done and thank you to my kids for hosting.

It was wonderful.

 

Last day before heading back to work.

Time to get some final loads of laundry done, perhaps some shovelling, get ready for tomorrow and leftovers for supper.

I made a big dinner on Saturday which was Quinoa, chicken, peas, mushrooms and pesto.

So delicious.

I have enough for a couple more meals.

 

Well time to get some work done.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Special Hello to:  all my family and friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 7th day of October, 2018.

One week into October.

The sun is rising in he morning sky and it is light but not sunny bright.

 

THANKSGIVING

This is the weekend that we give thanks.

We get together with family and friends.

Sharing a meal or two or three.

Sometimes we share a meal of turkey, sometimes ham or sometimes even lasagne.

Cannot forget the pumpkin pie.

It is not about what we eat.

It is about spending the time with family and friends, with loved ones.

Catching up on their latest news.

Being grateful for having them in our lives.

Being thankful for our lives.

Being thankful for the food that we share.

Being thankful for where we live, for this beautiful country – Canada.

 

It is also about giving back.

It is about sharing that meal with a neighbour who does not have family or loved ones nearby.

It is about opening your home to a friend of a friend who has no where to go.

 

Thanksgiving is about sharing what you have with someone else.

Thanksgiving is being thankful and being grateful.

 

Often times we go about our lives complaining about not having this or not having that.

But in the deepest of realities we have more than we NEED.

 

On this Thanksgiving Day I am grateful to be surrounded by loved ones.

To have more than enough good food to eat.

To live in my own house, the home I am providing for me and Alvin.

To be in good health.

To be able to watch the leaves falling from the trees.

To hear the songs playing on the radio.

To sleep in my own bed at night.

For all of this and much more; I am truly thankful.

 

Happy Thanksgiving from me and Alvin to You and Yours.

 

Special Hello to: ALL of my FAMILY AND FRIENDS – two legged and four – Happy Thanksgiving.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 6th day of October, 2018.

Yay, it is the weekend.

The weekend that we give thanks.

We should always give thanks.

Our buddy Teddy will be coming this morning to spend the day with us.

Alvin needs a hair trim (mostly his paws) and a bath.

He does not like the hair cut.

Bath he tolerates.

Looking to fulfil my part of our collaborative art project (with my daughter).

Laundry is already starting.

Again Mr. Alvin wanted to get up to stay up at 3:00 a.m. ISH.

ARGH.

But I took him downstairs and he did go outside (so that was good).

Then back upstairs to BED where after many minutes of saying “back to bed” etc. – he finally curled up and stayed there until almost 7:00 a.m.

He is quite the character.

This morning I decided as it is Thanksgiving and part of being grateful is LOVE.

If you are in gratitude you are in love.

I wrote this back in August 2010 and it is in memory of my grand-pups Elton and Penny who have since passed but are NOT FORGOTTEN.

Even Alvin remembers when I mention their names.

Wags his tail.

We miss them every day.

So grateful that they were a part of our lives.

I am so grateful that I lived out here for a few years and was able to spend lots of time with them both.

Have an awesome Saturday.

Supposed to be +10 degrees celsius today.

It was nice when I raked the leaves from the front lawn.

I did both mine and my neighbours to the tune of three bags full of leaves.

I enjoyed every moment of that experience.

Likely the most leaves we have had to this point.

Mostly my leaves.

I love FALL.

 

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WHAT I LOVE

I love my family.

I love my dog Alvin.

I love the rain.

I love the sunshine.

I love the smell of roses.

I love being me.

I love a beautiful fall morning.

I love my friends.

I love people that walk their dogs.

I love the dew in the morning.

I love a knock on my door.

I love that first cup of coffee in the morning.

I love my grand-puppies, Elton & Penny.

I love the smell of babies.

I love a nice long walk.

I love the smell of fresh laundry.

I love the smell of my perfume, CHANCE.

I love my nieces and nephews, each and every one.

I love meeting people.

I love to travel.

I love my hair.

I love my feet.

I love a shiny penny found on the street.

I love “Maggie May” playing on the radio.

I love a fresh strawberry.

I love good conversation.

I love this beautiful planet.

I love the smell of the forest.

I love the smell of my flowers on a hot summer day.

I love chatting with my friends on Facebook.

I love the thought of love.

I love the feeling of love.

I love the grace of love.

I love the action of love.

I love, love.

That’s what I love.

CYLewis, written August 23rd, 2010 (inspired by my doggies who are patiently waiting downstairs for me, hey Alvin, Elton & Miss Penny).

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are inspired to write about LOVE.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 20th day of October, 2017.

Well the long weekend, Thanksgiving weekend is now over.

Back to work, back to the office.

Yesterday was nice ….. warmer than I thought it was going to be.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk.

He was sniffing and I was leaf watching.

The remaining leaves on the trees are incredibly beautiful.

Our tree out front has a handful of yellow leaves still hanging on for dear life.

Even though we have had strong winds the past few days they have managed to remain on the tree.

How strong they are …..

 

I am grateful that I was able to spend this beautiful weekend with my family.

Last year it was snowy and icy and my son-in-law was sick.

This year everyone was well and the roads were dry.

So grateful for our time together.

 

Well here we go …. almost time to grab my coat, put on my shoes and better throw my umbrella into my purse as it may rain today.

Have a wonderful Tuesday (almost said Monday).

Happy Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to:   Good Morning my Sister …… talk to you one day soon …… SKYPE???

Always, Carol & Alvin