Last Half 2022 – December

Good Morning All! How are you this Wednesday morning? I am grateful to be working from home today. We had a small amount of snow last night, actually I think before I went to bed. So the once cleared sidewalk now has a light sheet not even a blanket covering.

Last night right after I arrived home from work, I set my backpack and work things inside the house, locked the house and then carried on for a walk. It was so nice last night that I thought it would be a great idea to get out for some fresh air and exercise. On the way home, I stopped by the mailbox and picked up the mail. Inside were some Christmas cards from family and friends. I was doing an internal happy dance as I love to receive Christmas cards in the mail. I love to receive them period but most especially in the mail. Once inside the house, I took off my boots, set down the mail and carried on to the garage where I brought in the garbage bin as yesterday was trash pickup. Back in the house, I had a few things to do before supper so got them out of the way. Then supper (leftovers from Saturday’s Christmas party) went into the oven to warm. Once supper was done, I sat down on the sofa and munched away at my delicious supper. Missing my boy thought, it is way too quiet in the house and I have no one to snuggle with and not having him to go to bed with or to wake up to, seems very odd. My daughter sends pictures and videos often and he is definitely thriving in his new temporary surroundings. I think he is loving having two friends (Aspen and Milo) with him all the time and of course, his sister and brother-in-law. No stairs. New toys. Someone home all of the time. Good setup. One more week from Saturday and he will be back home. It was a good idea as I believe that we both needed a break but I will be SO EXCITED to have him home.

After supper, I did the dishes and turned on the dishwasher to wash the load that had been accumulating over the past couple of days. Then I just relaxed and watched some t.v. Quiet evening.

Countdown to Christmas: 10 days until Christmas Eve (and Alvin comes home with Aspen and Milo while the kids go to St. Albert for Steven’s family’s Christmas.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. have a wonderful Wednesday ……..

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone!

Well it is a bright, sunny and beginning to warm morning here in Edmonton.

I can hear the geese honking in the distance.

Last night after work we took our second walk of the day.

Followed by the start of laundry and then the raking of the front lawn.

The neighbour that shares the front lawn with me did her own raking.

She has been feeding the bunnies which we have many all winter long.

So lots of bunny parcels mainly on her half but some transferred to mine.

We cleaned up most of it but I am sure that a little poop left behind would be great fertilizer.

At least it is natural.

 

I had been pondering the thought of having one of those landscaping / lawn companies, you know the ones, like GREEN DROP stop by.

Perhaps give the lawn a well deserved boost.

My neighbour gave her half some extra help and her lawn was so much healthier looking than mine.

I even watered mine some.

But after listening to Dr. Jane Goodall speak on Jimmy Fallon the other night and reading about bees and dandelions (which I usually have a few for sure).

I have decided to take the natural approach.

I will ensure that the lawn is properly hydrated (if no rain, then I will water).

I will leave the dandelions for the bees.

I will not put down any kind of “chemical” fertilizer on the lawn.

This is my pledge.

Now of course, it may be for naught if my neighbours surrounding me fertilize but I will do my best.

I am also planning a “trash/garbage” pick up day in the next couple of weeks.

This is where I take a day of vacation from work OR spend a good part of a Saturday or Sunday out in my neighbourhood picking up the trash.

Right now it is absolutely disgusting.

Might be sooner than later.

I use my own garbage bags (which reminds me I am almost out of the big ones that I usually purchase from COSTCO) and I have the garbage picker tools and disposable gloves.

So all of the necessary and safe equipment for the job.

I do this for my neighbours, for my neighbourhood, for my community and for the natural community most of all.

I constantly worry about birds and animals eating elastic bands that folks drop on the ground by the mailboxes.

I constantly worry about all the crap that people do not pick up.

So with the birds, animals and environment in mind, in my heart, I do this.

Unfortunately I do not go out as often as I used to.

Once upon a time I went out once a week now it is once or twice a season.

This is the time where it is the worst.

I would remind all of my humans out there, please pick up the trash when you see it on the ground.

You are out walking so much more now, why not slip a bag and gloves in your pocket.

Pick up that trash when you are out and about.

Why not?

Why is it that the majority of people just walk on by?

Please I am asking you.

Next time please pick up the trash no matter the size.

When you are packing up your trash to go out for pick up.

Be careful of how you pack it.

DO NOT THROW LOOSE PAPERS, CONTAINER in a BLUE BOX OR

WORSE leave BOXES stacked willy nilly to blow about.

Those are the boxes and styrofoam packing materials that I find on the street all of the time.

The styrofoam breaks down as it hits the curb and corners of the sidewalk breaking into much smaller pieces so of which are digested by birds and smaller animals.

These smaller pieces also end up going into the storm drains.

Easy to to.

PICK UP the trash.

Please.

 

I do apologize if this sounds like a rant as I would rather it sound like a public service announcement.

We all have to work together to make this planet a better place for all of the inhabitants.

We rely on the NATURAL WORLD.

Slowly and now so slowly we are disturbing, changing and destroying the natural world.

Let us come together and do some good.

There is good coming out of this pandemic.

The good is helping the natural world.

Marine life is returning in areas, the sky is clear from smog and pollution as people are staying home and some factories are closed.

This should tell us something.

It is a good reminder.

We have to stop and get things straightened out.

The next time we have a pandemic we may not be so lucky.

I am not taking away from the loss of life globally from this horrible virus.

 

Please have a good safe and happy Saturday.

Given the chance to do something great for the environment in your neighbourhood, please do so.

Do not leave what you can do, for others to do.

 

With kindness and a deep respect for our planet.

I/We remain,

As Always,

Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 4th day of May, 2018.

Happy Birthday to one of my dear friends back in Saskatchewan.

She has always treated me like a sister, one of the family.

Truly a great great family so kind, generous and loving.

 

Looks like the sun is beginning to rise in the morning sky.

There are some clouds but perhaps they will dissipate in the next few hours.

I know we need rain but at night would be perfect.

Tomorrow I must get out and do the Neighbourhood TRASH pickup.

It has to get done soon before the street sweepers come out.

Then some of it gets pushed into the storm drains.

Tomorrow morning NO MATTER WHAT, I will be donning my gloves, old jacket and shoes, a supply of garbage bags and my handy dandy trash picker uppers.

 

Alvin has now made lying on the blanket beside me in the office part of the routine.

I drape the blanket over my office chair and just before I sit down I place it beside the chair for Alvin.

Such a cutie pie.

 

Well it appears to be coming up to be busy weekend.

Lots of work to do.

Regular laundry and cleaning.

The TRASH pick up.

 

The weather forecast is nice for tomorrow and Sunday.

Excited for that.

 

With all of my idols writing books, movies and the like – I am inspired to get my head out of the sand and write more.

There are always those old tapes playing over and over in my mind.

Am I good enough?

Can I do it?

Would anyone read my book?

Stuff like that.

Typical.

But sometimes you just have to get off the pot and DO IT.

Right.

You will never know until you try.

This can be said for most of us.

There will always be that dreaded speech, writing project or deadline of any kind that DRIVES US MAD.

Stop playing those tapes, they have been erased.

They have been replaced.

They no longer exist.

You and I are free to DO and BE whatever we chose.

Go forth …. give ’em something to think about.

 

Well almost time to get going … finish up the finishing up.

My tea order arrived last night and I am delivering to my friends/co-workers today.

So grateful to the folks that help support my business.

 

Special Hello to: the Birthday Girl ….. Happy Birthday Sis.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 24th day of April, 2018.

The sun is beginning to rise in the morning sky.

The air inside the house is on the “cool” side as I turned the thermostat downwards, not off, just down.

Today is to be +20 degrees celsius.

 

Last night Alvin and I thoroughly enjoyed our walk together after work.

Most of the snow / ice has melted.

There was a fairly large patch of water covering the sidewalk but we walked around it the best we could.

My shoes and Alvin’s paws managed to get wet.

Although I was not deliberately trying to get mine wet.

What a guy!

We picked up some trash along the way.

As there always seems to be some laying about.

Next weekend will be my big trash pickup.

 

So happy for this weather.

Finally, I believe that I can put our winter clothing away.

Alvin will no longer require his winter coats.

That will be my Saturday project.

 

I do love going through my closets and containers.

Checking on what needs to find a new home and what to keep and wear for the summer months.

I do need to bring my shoes upstairs and see what I have.

 

Alvin just popped into the office.

He was sniffing about as dogs will do.

I have a little blue blanket in the office which usually is draped over the arm of my chair.

I placed it on the floor, he gave it a couple of kicks and then has curled up.

He almost never curls up on the blanket.

Usually just sits or lays down.

So cute.

 

Well almost time to put the finishing touches on getting ready for work.

I wish you all a Happy Day and as I was reminded that everyday is EARTH DAY.

I love that.

It certainly is …. everyday I do my best to help our environment and I hope that you do, as well.

Have an awesome EARTH DAY.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who love to read.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 4th day of September, 2017.

Labour Day …..

The sun is shining brightly in a so blue almost white sky.

There is a coolness to the air and it is the perfect time for me to get out and do my neighbourhood trash pickup.

In fact, before breakfast of pancakes decided better to work up an appetite.

Strange thing I noticed later in the evening and this morning – Mr. Alvin is limping.

Front paw.

He has not cried out nor does he appear to be in pain.

I carried him up the stairs but forgot when we went down earlier.

Will keep an eye on the boy.

Well this is going to be short as I want to get out into the neighbourhood and the trash done early.

Have an awesome Monday.

Special Hello to: all those people who volunteer their time and energy to help out in their neighbourhoods.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 2nd day of September, 2017.

The sun is shining now as the sky begins to clear.

I was a “bad” girl and slept until just a few minutes ago which was close to 10:00 a.m.

Please bear in mind that I was up with Mr. Alvin at 4:30 a.m. so that he would eat and go outside.

Followed by 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. – so not a straight through sleep.

Sure nice to just be able to get up whenever …..

Now time to have a relaxing breakfast and enjoy a couple of cups of coffee before getting my chores done around the house.

 

I have been faithfully watering my friend’s flowers every night.

Alvin loves playing in her yard.

Last night another friend and her two small dogs joined us …. we were going to go on a walk together and I thought they could play in the yard while I watered the flowers.

Both of my friend’s dogs have gone through recent trauma so to be off leash with Alvin was a good thing.

On leash when we begin our walks they growl, lunge and snap at Alvin, who takes a step back and stays out of reach.

They are both chihuahuas.

So we had fun.

 

Today will be laundry, a few things around the house and outside as the forecast is for rain tomorrow.

On Monday in the earlier morning I am going to go and do a garbage/trash pickup in the neighbourhood in honour of LABOUR DAY.

So many people do not have the luxury of being at home on this day.

 

Well time to get going here.

Have an awesome Saturday.

Take the time on this long weekend to lend a hand to a senior, to someone in need or perhaps pick up the trash in your neighbourhood.

There is always someone or something that can be done.

Share your time.

 

Happy Saturday.

Special Hello to: my sister and brothers ….. thank you for a great time this summer.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 12th day of June, 2016.

It has been overcast and raining off and on this morning.

There have been slight moments of brightness appearing out of small cracks in the deep blue clouds, sun I presume.

It was cool in the house when we first got up this morning.

But no need to turn on the furnace at this time of year.

 

I just returned a bit ago from cleaning up part of the neighbourhood.

A particular walkway to the 62nd Avenue.

One side is our residential neighbourhood and the other is a very main street and on the other side a bunch of fast few restaurants and a strip mall.

So quite often meaning all of the time there are a vast array of cups and fast food wrappers from Starbucks, McDonalds, Dairy Queen and Boston Pizza.

I have asked for a garbage barrel to be placed there but to no avail.

I guess as long as someone like me will pick up the garbage why would you pay for a barrel, bags and someone to empty them.

Oh well.

I do not mind ….. I am helping out my friends and neighbours.

The only one that truly minds is Mr. Alvin as I have to leave him at home and he does not like that.

He likes me to be at home on the weekends.

I cannot blame him.

 

Well I guess time to go and enjoy my coffee while it is warm.

The first cup earlier I only drank a bit of it as I wanted to get out before the rain arrived.

Funny thing it rained a bit when I left the house and started to come down a bit harder on my way home.

Just gave me the perfect time to get it done.

YAY.

 

My neighbours that have been here since I moved to Edmonton are moving out tomorrow into a brand new house that they had built.

Not too far away so I think we will see each other but likely not quite as often, I suspect.

I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know the new people.

I shall miss my neighbours.

“S” was here alone when I moved in and two years later got married.

Nothing last forever and change is a learning process or at least that is what I keep telling myself.

 

Mr. Elton is coming over at 3:00 p.m. to spend a few hours with his Grandma and Alvin.

We look forward to spending time with him.

 

Did I mention that my irises are blooming?

The most perfect purple.

 

Well time to sign off.

I wish you an awesome Sunday.

Thank you for reading.

 

Special Hello to: “M” longtime friend ……

Always, Carol and Alvin