Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! As the month is winding down it is time to reflect on what has been. October was a good month with warm days, some rain, leaves turning colour, meeting old and new friends on our walks, spending time with friends and family, enjoying those days that we can work from home and just breathing in the breath of life. Wow, today is October 28, 2022. Almost Halloween! I am working from home so have decided this year not to dress up. One of the few times that I have not dressed up on Halloween and that may change. I would not dress up until later in the day if I changed my mind. Yesterday at lunchtime, I decided to walk over and pick up Alvin’s two cases of canned food that was specially ordered in for him. Firstly, I stopped at the convenience store close to the vet clinic and cashed in my lotto tickets (won $2.00 yay) and picked up some tickets for tonight and tomorrow. I love money. I called the vet to let them know that I was outside as this has been the protocol for quite some time as they leave the front door locked so they can monitor the amount of people in the clinic at any one time. Makes it safe for the staff. “B” opened the door and greeted me, once inside she grabbed Alvin’s food for me while I picked up a bag of the treats that he is allowed. Do not want to run out of them, lol. The girls were concerned about me carrying two cases home but I reassured them that I had brought with me two bags and could carry one in each hand. I would be okay. Just then I heard a voice and out from the back came Dr. Karen with her coat on and purse across her body “saying that I can give you a ride home.” I was very grateful and of course took her up on the offer. I said goodbye to the girls and made an appointment for Alvin before I left for 30 days from his last appointment for his ears. If he needs to go back soon for his nails etc., then I will take him. On the way home we talked about Halloween. Dr. K mentioned about how they decorated the house (outside) and I was blown away when she told me they usually have over 300-400 kids/people come to see the house and for treats. WOW. She does not live far from me but I was not quite sure exactly the location. Karen said “we can just take a quick trip over and then you can see the house.” Well it is definitely within walking distance for us. Her house was done up to the ten’s. OMG. So well done and they were only 2/3 completed. Very impressive. I told her that we would pop by after work on Monday as I work from home. It will still be light and before the kids come over. She said that she would have something for Mr. Alvin. Then she took me home. I hope that the weather holds for Halloween. It rained sometime after the first time we were out last night and there remain some dark rain clouds in the sky. Fingers crossed for nice weather for the kiddos and parents on Monday.

I took today off and I am so glad that I did, as we enjoying some extra cuddles on the sofa before getting up to start this Friday. One of my friends needs some help trimming her tree and needs my ladder and tree trimming tool so we will do that a bit later when it warms up although it is not cold outside now. My daughter is stopping by after work and a trip to COSTCO to have supper with us. I have planned to have some roasted root vegetables, a salad with raspberries and biscotti for dessert. Almost time to head in the shower and then get this day going. We will have time for a walk this afternoon. I have a few other items on my to do list for today and this weekend. Next weekend the decorations for Christmas begins so I want to clean the blinds and wash the baseboards this weekend, some extra cleaning.

We were outside a little while ago when I noticed that a piece of my neighbours’ siding was loose and blowing in the wind. I ran back into the house and grabbed my phone to take a photo and send it to them. I would not want them to open their patio door just as the siding fell down. It could injure someone and also if they can rescue that piece and with a ladder, move it back into place, then they will not have to buy a new piece. Siding may be hard to find and in this colour.

I hope that you have a great Friday. Enjoy.

Off to have a nice warm shower and then have coffee before getting down to business.

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! How are you this morning? We are doing okay. The sunrise is becoming later with each passing day. Oh, how I miss the sunshine at 6:00 a.m. Perhaps on my days at home now our walks will need to go back to noon and after work. The temperature is +8 degrees celsius this morning although when we were outside just after 6:00 a.m., it did not feel cold. There was a heavy dew this morning.

What are you thinking about this morning? I am thinking about a great many things but I am trying to keep my thoughts positive and on the important things. Sometimes we say things which as soon as they are out of our mouths, we regret. That mostly happens to me when I am taken by surprise. You know when you hear unpleasant news and you react by saying “…… bleep …….” and I normally do not swear. But sometimes I do. I feel awful after I do but that word sometimes slips out. I guess that I am human. At least I did not tell someone to “bleep bleep.” Oh life! Sometimes I wonder. It is way too short to let these situations take over your thoughts. I realize that I am being cryptic but it is necessary. I believe you get my drift? Done with that now.

Mr. Alvin is snoring. I hadn’t realized that was a thing. Much of the things that happen to them are the same with humans. I guess I did not think about it before……

Well this weekend we are over the halfway point for September so I had better finish off cleaning up my flowers and plants. Moving the ones inside that need to come in and thank the rest for a job well done and put them to rest. I have not quite decided what I will do with my geraniums and begonias. I don’t have enough space to keep them by windows so I will have to winterize the geraniums or some of them.

I also would like to finish trimming the tree out front. One of my friends has asked if they could borrow my long pole tree trimmer for their higher branches and of course, I will lend it. In turn, I asked if her husband could please help me with a few of the branches that are reaching out to the house and eavestroughs. There are only a few but the tree has grown so much. I am afraid if I do not get them trimmed soon, we will require a professional to come out with the motorized basket ladder to trim them and I can only imagine the cost of that.

Last night I watched as the casket carrying the body of our beloved Queen Elizabeth made its’ way to Buckingham Palace. I was so moved by Princess Anne as she stayed with her Mother, The Queen throughout her travel within Scotland and then to London.

Well it is getting more light outside, perhaps we can step out for a walk before I start work.

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

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Thank goodness today is Saturday, I love the weekends. I get to putz around my home, perhaps see some friends and family and go for walks with Alvin. I am making a list of all the things that I need to do before you know what arrives, I cannot even bear to utter the words, so I will leave it up to your imagination. If you live in Western Canada or Canada, you will know exactly to which I am referring. Now I do very much love certain elements of that time. Fall arrives officially on September 22, 2022 which is not long off. I have plants to winterize in the house, the big tree out front to trim, the back flower bed to get ready, finish the front (which will be about a five minute job), clean the outside windows that I can reach and show be getting especially the gutter of the porch cleaned as it is full of crap. Anyway that does not include putting away the furniture from deck (which does not take long) and cleaning out the remaining flower pots. So lots of outside things to do. There is one item on my list that I must find someone to give me a hand and that is trimming the tree. The branches are too high for me and even with a ladder holding that long pole trimmer, I can imagine that would be way too much for me. The pole has a bit of weight to it and with the sharp blade tool on the end and having to pull the long string to work the blade, nope not for me. I do trim the lower branches every year by myself. Perhaps later today I will try and do some.

Inside the house the blinds need to be cleaned again, they sure seem to be getting dusty more quickly. I would love at some point to remove and replace them. They have been good to me and done what they needed to do but some of them are discoloured from the sunlight which happens over more than a decade. Another item on my list. Oh that dreaded list! Do you have a list? Oh, I am sorry, I neglected to ask how you were doing this day. How are you? Very well, I hope.

Perhaps with a long list of things to do, it will give me the energy and drive to actually do more than a bit of cleaning and laundry. With the heat over the last few weeks, Alvin’s health issues and the work stuff, I am exhausted. Not burned out, I don’t think. I just need to lay down for about three days and sleep, lol. Okay, perhaps a slight exaggeration!

The temperatures are going to be just perfect this weekend. 25-26 degrees celsius. Cooling off in the evening. My kids and grandpups are camping for one last time. I hope that they were warm and comfy last night and tonight and tomorrow night.

Tonight I am actually going out. Signe invited me and Gillian over for a paint night. She has the canvases and the picture that we are going to mimic. They are always fun. At first, I thought with Alvin and stuff, that I would stay at home with him but I realize that all I do is stay home with him except for the odd 45 minute trip to the grocery store and now the days going to work. Work does not count. That is not for fun. So I am going out. YAY, me. Signe’s folks are visiting from Eastern Canada. I love to see them, her Mom is so much fun. I know her the best from previous interactions. So I know that I will have a good time. Surrounded by friends is a good thing. If you have been just staying home – time to get out for a bit. Have some laughs and special time with family and friends. Yes. Alvin will be okay for a couple of hours or so.

Tomorrow I am having some neighbours over for a visit. That would be Cookie’s family. With the return to work on the near horizon, I am looking at all the possibilities for Mr. Alvin. It does take a village and I am accumulating one. Not much time so I am working on it.

Also I need to get busy and contact the bank regarding the mortgage renewal. Honestly, it would be so wonderful to own the house outright. Just me, myself and I. That is a huge dream of mine.

Well the coffee has perked and I need to get dressed and get this day going although it has been going for awhile. Whoops, time to pay bills as well. Better not forget that. I love to have my bills always paid on time. Also helps to look at it as though you are helping to pay someone else’s salary and not just give money to the owners or shareholders or whatever.

Have a wonderful day. Stay warm and safe. I hope that the fires are going out near Jasper and all around us. I feel for the wildlife that have been lost and injured and those left behind. Humans have a much better chance of getting out of a wildfire. They do not.

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

Fall / Autumn and the new fall t.v. lineup is right around the corner. My fav shows will be back.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have someone to share all of this with in addition to Mr. Alvin. He is not too great at trimming trees or paying the bills. But he sure is darn cute.