Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 14th day of March, 2016.

WOW, they are forecasting +5 degrees for today.

I do believe spring is even closer than we may have thought.

I do hope so.

Last night it was not dark until almost 8:00 p.m.

Oh, what a welcome change from December and dark at 4:00 p.m. or so.

I can hardly wait to see if my spring flowers will come up.

I hope that they survived the winter.

When our temperatures go from the + degrees to – double digits it is hard on the trees and other plant life.

We have snow and then it melts.

Then it gets colder.

More snow.

The cycle continues.

Melts …. snows…..cold….

Been a crazy winter for weather.

 

Well here it is Tuesday and almost the middle of the month.

Tomorrow is my great niece’s birthday.

I believe that she may be a teenager – if my calculations are correct.

OH my goodness.

Truly the time flies.

 

Well the time is almost near for me to don my outside apparel and hit the road.

Catch the bus and go to work.

My bus ride is about one hour in length.

I usually take the time to snooze, relax, meditate and think about my day.

If you take public transportation ….. other than checking out things on your phone.

You could snooze, relax, meditate and just ponder life.

Somedays I think that in future generations children will be born with bent necks and thumbs.

Maybe that is because I do not have a phone ….. no, I am certainly not jealous.

It is the constant contact that people seem to need with that rectangular box.

Food for thought.

 

Gotta run.

I hope that you have an awesome Tuesday.

Just try and put your phone away for a period of time.

There is a whole other world out there just waiting for you…….

 

Special Hello to: my sister ….. Sunday ….. SKYPE, well YES.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 20th day of August, 2016.

The sun was coming up a little bit ago but now the sky is filling in with possible rain clouds.

Yesterday after returning home from work, we did our normal routine only it was one hour early as we are dismissed one hour early from work on Fridays during the summer.

I was really hungry so decided to have supper early.

I had some homemade chilli topped with cheddar cheese and lots of raw vegetables (Alvin’s favourites) and for dessert some of my birthday cake from last weekend.

When supper was finished, I cleaned up.

Then decided to sip on tea and watch a bit of television – something I have not done much of as of late.

Somewhere around 6:30, I became so tired that I could not keep my eyes open so I laid down on the sofa.

Alvin curled up beside me.

The next thing I know I wake up and it is dark.

Oh, my poor Alvin – no walk.

It was too late and I do not like to walk in the dark anymore.

Too many things have happened later in the evening.

I apologized to Alvin, poor guy.

Instead we went onto the deck for a bit so he could enjoy the cool night air.

Then went to bed.

So before it gets hot or rains we are going for a walk.

I owe him a wonderful walk.

So this will be short this morning.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Saturday.

We are going for a nice refreshing relatively early morning walk.

It is just 8:00 a.m.

Special Hello to: YOU, have a wonderful day.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 24th day of May, 2016.

Overcast but has stopped raining for now.

No rain overnight.

GREEN GREEN EVERYWHERE.

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

I always find it funny not necessarily ha ha funny but perhaps strange funny to look back in time on my blog and see what I was doing on this DATE last year or two years ago.

I had a very busy weekend and it was HOT unlike this past weekend.

Always good to see what was going on a year ago or two it can help with your current mind set.

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

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of May, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton, sun shining and a cool breeze masking the heat.

Yesterday felt like a July day ….. HOT.

Weather is a funny thing not funny ha ha but strange.

This morning is what I deem as perfection.

It is warm but the breeze keeps it comfortable to be out and about.

Great for walking.

But alas, Mr. Alvin is on his sleepover at his sister’s house.

His first one at their new place.

I am excited to hear all about it.

While he was away and the reason for his sleepover the furnace was cleaned.

Two of the nicest young men did the job.

Funny though they both told me different sizes for the furnace filter ( I already know which one ).

Perhaps it was the hot day that messed with their memory.

Once they left I got busy …. it was close to 4 p.m. but better late than ever.

I dug out three shrubs from the front “flower bed” ……

It took some work and at one point I was thinking it would have been nice to have had some help.

But I kept at it and got them out.

Got most of the dirt from the roots and then as the shrubs lay on the lawn …..

Now what?

One was quite heavy and with branches how am I going to dispose of them.

Aha, I thought ….. get those big stretchy black garbage bags …..

I managed to squeeze each one into their own bag.

Then lugged them to the back …. up the steps and onto the deck and up more steps and into the garage.

It took me almost one hour to get the shrubs out but I must tell you, I felt like a million dollars.

I did it all by myself …… I am strong and not reliant on someone else.

It was a good thing.

Then after that I raked and moved the dirt around in the now naked flower bed.

Also the neighbour behind is building a huge garage and has a big pile of top soil so I decided to ask him if I would be able to use some to top up my front flower bed.  He kindly said “yes.”

Then I had to find something to put the dirt into …. I found a ten gallon pail in my garage.

Now let me you a pail full of dirt is not light.

But I hauled five of them from his yard across the back alley into my garage down both sets of steps on my deck across the path between me and my neighbour’s to the front flower bed.

What a great workout.

I do believe that going to bootcamp helped me to complete this task.

I definitely could feel my core and arms doing what they were supposed to ….

Here are some photos:  furnace cleaners and the flower bed ….. forgot to take before photos !!

Was so grateful to have my kids shovels and garden tools to use….

Now all I need is a couple of bags of potting soil to top it up and then some flowers.

YAY ….. I did it.

Well time for breakfast and coffee…

Happy Sunday and always remember “do not sell yourself short.”

You are stronger than you think.

You are better than you think.

You are more resourceful than you think.

You can do anything.

Special Hello to: all the single women in the world……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 15th day of January, 2016.

Another round of snow ….

We had the snow globe effect off and on yesterday and overnight.

I love the white fluffy stuff …. easy to shovel and looks so pretty.

Like diamonds shining in the sky …. but laying on the ground.

So beautiful.

Makes me want to lay down and be one with the snow…..

Well maybe …..

Likely at 58 that is not a great idea …. but it is a thought.

Last night after Alvin had his supper and stuff …. we went out onto the deck ….. figured I would do some shovelling.

Once I had the deck shovelled ….. Alvin decided he wanted to play.

Oh, how I wish that I had taken my camera outside and grabbed a quick video of him.

The game is …. I pretend I am a monster ….. I walk with my legs wide apart …. arms in the air and say “GRR GRR ” and so on.

Anyone listening or seeing would be laughing at me for sure …..

He loves it ….. he literally runs in circles and when he goes between the different levels of the section closest to the house and the mid part he does this little hop, skip thing.

OMG, it melts my heart and makes me laugh out loud.

He will do this forever ….. as long as I will …..

I figured after doing this for awhile that would take the place of the walk to the park ….. he definitely got his fresh air and exercise.

He has personality that one …. oh me Alvin …… I love you.

 

I did want to mention and I am certain that everyone has heard of their passings but we lost this past few days:  music genius David Bowie, actor extraordinaire Alan Rickman and Rene Angelil, superb manager to Celine Dion and many others over the years.

We shall miss them all and their creativity.

 

Well almost time to start putting on the finishing touches before I leave to catch the bus to work.

The bus ride is basically one hour and is a wonderful time to reflect and sometimes even catch some extra sleep.

Have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: all those tea lovers out there ……

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 16th day of September, 2014.

I am back …. took a sick day yesterday as I was not feeling well …..

I hope that this finds you well and ready to go for this Tuesday.

I am reminded by those around me that life is precious.

Whether it is a two-legged Father or a four-legged puppy friend.

We need, no we have to treat each life force with love and respect.

All too often we let petty thoughts get in the way of being respectful and full of love.

I am just putting this out there for this Tuesday …..

Let us be grand master of respect.

Let us be grand masters of love.

Let us be grand masters of thought.

Let us be grand masters of feeling with a true heart.

Let us be grand masters of paying kindness forward.

Let us be grand keepers of this beautiful planet we call “Earth” and home.

Special Hello to: all of my dear ones out there ….. you are truly loved and respected.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 3rd day of January, 2014.

Well I am back at it today after being sick yesterday.

It is amazing how quickly you can go from feeling great to not.

 

On this last day of the work week for most people, I would like to pass on this thought.

What would our lives be like if “we lived without judgment?”

We tend to live thinking of each end of the spectrum.

For example: either there is beauty in an object or it is ugly.

Have you ever considered that one could not exist without the other.

 

I am reading an interesting book at the moment.

It has got me to thinking beyond my usual positive nature.

I guess that is always a good thing.

If you are curious about the book.

It is “CHANGE Your THOUGHTS — CHANGE Your LIFE” by Dr. Wayne Dyer.

 

I think it is always good to stretch yourself.

So on this Friday, I am going to be “devoid of judgment.”

My lesson for the day.

See both ends of the spectrum, I believe.

Remember that one cannot exist without the other.

They are both important in the grand scheme of things.

 

Special Hello to: my sister  …. we should SKYPE soon.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

Story Line by line – November 8, 2013

Chapter Four:

November 1, 2013

Oh, how I loved that dress, and my mind flashes back to the junior high school dance where I first wore that beautiful pink and then I see my favourite books floating in mid air and my best friend “Dee” is there.

November 2, 2013

Alvin is staying very close as we begin to take in this enormous space, and our nervous energies feed each other, and I think of Alice in Wonderland, and  what shall our next move be as a bright purple balloon drifts by.

November 3, 2013

It is absolutely amazing the dress, my friend, balloons, family, old boyfriends, my house, Christmas, all of the things that I have loved during my life are appearing as Alvin and I make our way through it all.

November 4, 2013

I realize throughout all of the memories that my “four” are no longer walking with us and have disappeared.

November 5, 2013

“Where did they go?” I mutter aloud as if I half expect Alvin to answer and yet I know that we are “down the rabbit hole and things are about to get very interesting.”

November 6, 2013

What do I do – what can I do – nothing makes any sense – why would they do this – am I a guinea pig of sorts – are they watching us – who are they – are the questions that flood my mind as we just walk not knowing what will happen next.

November 7, 2013

As we walk further into this new world, I begin to notice that we in fact are not alone.

November 8, 2013

I do not see anyone but I can feel “eyes” watching us as we go deeper into this place, and then out of no where the thought of “YOU ARE NOT ALONE” comes to my mind; like something out of a movie.

 

Story Line by line – August 30, 2013

FIRST LINE….July25,2013

As we walk along the water’s edge the coolness leaves my skin with goose bumps and prickles, as if there is someone behind me.

July 26, 2013

Alvin pulls on his leash and brings me back, the fragrance of freshly cut grass fills my nostrils; my heart beat quickens, and I am unable to shake the feeling.

July 28, 2013

The sky is overcast with a hint of sunrise peeking through and the leaves of the trees rustle in the breeze, and I think how did I get here? 

July 29, 2013

What does that mean, and what is making me think these thoughts?

July 30, 2013

All of a sudden the leash tightens as Alvin pulls me forward.

July 31, 2013

My body lurches forward as I fight to keep my balance, what is going on …. “Alvin,” I cry as things appear to be happening in slow motion.

August 1, 2013

Alvin turns his head and with eyes as big as saucers; I suddenly realize what is going to happen.

August 2, 2013

I had no control, and could feel my breath slowly leaving my body as it was happening.

August 5, 2013

As the fog lifts from my brain and I come round; I realize that quite some time has passed as dusk has fallen, and then the horrifying thought comes to my mind where is my Alvin?

August 6, 2013

My thoughts turn immediately to the searing pain in my head as I try to stand the pain is impossible but I must ….. try to….

August 7, 2013

I do not understand what happened;  partially putting things together, realizing my thoughts turn to my beloved Alvin ….. as I try to call out his name…. I feel something warm against my body.

August 8, 2013

Suddenly I hear voices off in the distance calling my name.

August 9th, 2013

As I start to focus on my surroundings, I realize that I am not where I was and things do not look familiar.

August 10th, 2013

I want to cry out but I am frightened, and I do not quite know why.

August 13, 2013

My mind is racing, please let it slow down so that I can concentrate on what I need to do, please.

August 14, 2013

Okay, I will open my eyes again and try to focus on what is around me, and all I see is nothingness, there is absolutely nothing, how can that be?  and where is my Alvin?

August 15, 2013

“This does not feel right” as I manage to pull myself up off the ground and slowly regain my senses realizing that the only thing the same is the coolness to the air.

August 16, 2013

This is absolutely crazy as I look around only to see; it is as if I have been plucked away by someone or something and placed in this spot surrounded by a deep engulfing fog; it seems like there is nothing else here but it, and I feel so alone.

August 17, 2013

As the veil of fog begins to lift from my brain a million questions flood my thoughts, and then it hits me!

August 18, 2013

I am not where I began, and where is Alvin, my dog, he was my dog wasn’t he …. my memories are a blur as I try to piece it altogether.

 August 19, 2013

Okay, as I take a deep breath; wherever I am, I appear to be alone….. one step at a time….. I will find him.

August 20, 2013

I have never been so afraid or so alone in my whole life, I have no idea where I am or how I got here but as I slowly take those first steps I quickly realize my senses are in tune with my surroundings; how strange.

August 21, 2013

It is as if I can feel the dampness of the fog as each molecule strategically penetrates my skin, and I feel … like ….. ah….. there are no words …. what a strange sensation, and I wonder about this place.

August 22, 2013

Gathering myself together I begin to walk around this new place, this new environment, this new what; what in the world or perhaps better asked where in the world am I?  

August 23, 2013

One of the first things I begin to notice is that there appears to be no sound and when I go to call for Alvin, I make the startling realization that I cannot hear my own voice, and I wonder where were those voices that I had heard earlier.

August 24, 2013

Well “Dorothy, it looks like you are not in Kansas, anymore”, I think to myself as I look to my wrist for my watch to see the time.

August 25, 2013

As I look at the time, I find it is almost 8:00 p.m. and my mind goes wild as I realize that a whole day has passed since me and Alvin walked along the path by the water’s edge at sunrise and he is gone, but where?

August 26, 2013

I do not know what to do next, guess just start walking and hoping that I find someone who can shed some light on where I am but as I think about that, I pray that whoever I come across is friendly.

August 27, 2013

As I walk along slowly and carefully placing one foot in front of the other and wondering if I will trip over something that I cannot see in this fog; I am thankful that I can at least see my watch but that is only because I always liked the Timex ones that would light up. 

August 28, 2013

Who would have guessed that my safety net, my sanity in this new place would be a watch, not just any watch but a TIMEX but thank the STARS I had it on and still have it on.

August 29, 2013

As I think to myself how crazy am I to be thinking about my watch at a time like this when my whole world seems to have disappeared; time to take action,but what?

August 30, 2013

I am not sure how far I have gone in this fog, a few steps or maybe a mile; or perhaps I am just dreaming and am really at home in bed (nice thought).

Thought for the day…..

Welcome to Wednesday the very first day of May, 2013.

How are you today?

Feeling great, I hope.

I am feeling wonderfully well.

 

Just was thinking about ideas and money.

I had recorded the “Katie” show and watched it last night.

It would seem that “homemade” is the way to go these days.

All it takes is a “depression” or a “recession” and people not have money pouring in to take us back to those simpler times.

It is quite true, though.

 

I know from personal experience that we can sometimes get carried away and think we need or have to give “material things” to others.

If you live a good life ….. where you are genuinely grateful for others … then buying them something is not necessary.

I at this point of my life “keep it simple” …… I do not buy what I do not need.

It is as simple as that.

How often in years gone by …. did I think  “Oh, I would love that top that I saw in the store window, and even though I did not have the “actual cash” for it but had one of those “credit cards” … I would tell myself that I deserved it and then would buy it.  Please forgive this very long sentence.  But it is an entire thought.  Over time it all adds up and then we find ourselves in a not glorious place.  I think most of the people in North America are finding themselves in that very position.  It does not help matters when retail is advertising like crazy on the radio, television, the INTERNET.

But we need to be realize too and I learned this only a few years ago “money is not your life”  and that you are who you are with or without it.  If you are being real.  Understanding that yes you do need a certain amount to live.

Anyway I think I may have digressed from my original thought pattern but then again it happens.

So back to the top, making things.  Creating your own food, clothing and gifts for starters is so self-pleasing.  Makes one so proud.

Let us share our recipes, share our creative genius.  Help others.  If you have an idea that would help someone – then share.

 

I am going to start posting the things that I do in this current life.

From cooking to shopping and living.

 

So have a great day and I will be back again tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone for taking your precious time to read my words, I do really appreciate it.

Special Hello to:  my fellow bloggers ….. words are so powerful and so much fun.  Keep writing and reading.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Wow, here we are at Thursday, July  7th, 2011.

Hard to believe that 2011 is half over.

My thought for the day is this……

Are you finding that the days pass by quickly?

Are you finding that your “to do” list is partially completed by the end of the day …. or the week?

Are you finding that you are left wondering by the end of each day ….. what exactly happened to those last 12 hours.???

You are not alone.

I am certain that most of us find ourselves in that place.

But we must try and live our lives, daily, moment by moment.

If in that moment – we are doing our very best ….. then I say “to heck with the to do list” …..

Just live your life.

Have a great day.

Keep the energy positive and the motions forward and you will be fine.

Always, Carol