The Next Chapter

Good Morning! How are you this Monday morning? Yes, it is Monday already. Don’t you think that the weekends go far too quickly? I had a fairly good sleep but woke up around 4:00 and then dozed off and on until the alarm went off.

Yesterday a flock of medium sized birds of which I did not recognize flew into my tree. There must have been well over one hundred of them. They dangled and say for a moment while I struggled to take a photo or video. By the time I was ready most of them had flown away and to a neighbouring tree (I did get a short video there). It was like a beautifully orchestrated dance. Safe to say that spring is here. Oh, I hope so.

I had been thinking of reading up on the external hard drive and finishing off my taxes but after spending most of Saturday on the computer, I thought “no.” Instead I cleaned. The upstairs. Cleaned the bathrooms. Washed the cabinets, the sinks, the toilets, went through the cabinets (spring clean) and vacuumed. I vacuumed the stairs and the main floor. Just did some cleaning which is good for the soul.

Oh and big news. I had decided to bake a banana pumpkin loaf. Likely should have turned the oven on first to preheat but instead I put together the loaf and then turned on the oven. It did not warm up. I reached out to my neighbour but she did not get back to me and found out a bit later that they had gone out. By that time, I had googled two things. How long can you keep batter in the fridge and can you use the microwave to bake this type of loaf. Surprisingly enough positive searches for both. I ended up popping it into the microwave and after about 12 minutes off and on, it was done. Knife came out without batter. I let it sit for a minute before taking the knife and going around the outside edges to loosen it before turning it over onto a tray to cool. A little while later, I gave it a slice. Voile, it was cooked. Then to taste, well not the same consistency as baking in the oven but it was done and edible. So in case your oven stops working – you can use the microwave and not waste the batter. I had taken chicken out of the freezer so had to pan fry it. Not my favourite way of cooking chicken that is for sure but it works. Now I am oven less until I am able to get it fixed. I think it is the heating element, I had it replaced several years ago. Hopefully that is all.

Time to head downstairs. Have a wonderful Monday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel)

Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! Well today is Saturday and I am happy about the weekend. We were off to a rough start last night as Mr. Alvin was not happy about something and spent a considerable amount of time whining and going in and outside to the backyard. In the meantime, I had taken the ornaments off the tree, removed the lights and unpackaged and tested the new lights for the tree. It was well after supper (we ate very early and I had the dishes done before 5 p.m.) that our “fun” began. I had taken five of the six strands of new lights and plugged them in end to end, I had miscalculated a step and stepped on one strand of lights which broke one of them. Right away I picked up all of the tiny pieces and threw them into the garbage. Then I unplugged that strand from the line and went to see if I could remove the remainder of the bulb. I decided as the instructions were clear about only plugging in five sets of lights in one plug so I decided to just use the five strands for now. It took awhile to get the lights on and then I started to decorate the tree. I was not happy with how it was looking and Alvin was still miserable about something or other. At one point and it was just a few minutes after 8:00 p.m., he barked and then went upstairs, I had to follow to ensure that he made it up okay. Up on the bed he went while I turned on the bathroom light so he would have some light upstairs. I went back downstairs to continue decorating the tree. A few minutes later, very few, guess who was back downstairs. He was not having a good night. He was whining and barking and it is very hard on a person, “me.” Anyway, no matter what I did he was not happy and I was growing more miserable and mad by the minute so I made an executive decision to just stop and watch a bit of television without even the tree lights on. We say in semi-darkness watching television for a bit. I checked my messages and found one from a neighbour. Apparently they had accidentally sold me their Mom’s good hand blender at a garage sale a couple of months ago and were wondering if they could buy it back. I really had to laugh as I had wondered why someone (who cooked and baked a lot) would give up a KitchenAid hand mixer at a garage sale. I replied “of course.” I guess it was a good thing that it was me and not someone that they did not know. She offered me $30 but I texted back that I only paid $18. Definitely not taking more money for something – that would not be fair or even good on any level. We are friends. Sometimes accidents happen. I am just happen that they had not sold it to an unknown. We were in bed by 10:30 and I did not even read. It took me a long time to fall asleep because of the evening’s events but that was okay. Lucky for me, I did fall asleep and Alvin slept through until after 4:00 a.m. and then we were up at 7:00 (I was wondering why he kept bugging me and then I saw the time, well of course, he was hungry). Anyway, I removed the ornaments that I had put on the tree before I went to bed so this morning, I played with the lights and branches, rearranging and such. I reached a point where I was moderately satisfied with how the tree looked before starting to redecorate. I carefully placed the ANGELS all over the tree before starting to put on other of my favorite ornaments. When I looked at the clock and due in part to Mr. Alvin whining once again by the door and realizing that Humphrey & Bogart were outside and that is where he wanted to be with his friends. Even with a fence between them, he wanted to be out there. He is giving me that look so I suppose it is time to head back downstairs and finish the tree. It will likely take me another couple of hours or so. There be laundry to do and cleaning. A walk with the boy later this afternoon.

The sunrise is beautiful. Pale colours fill the sky. I am once again calm and laughing at how I stepped on and broke a light and then this morning I plugged the strand in and only some of the lights are working. Also this morning or was it last night, oh, last night, while removing the decorations I dropped one of the smaller red round ornaments. Back out with the broom. Okay two things have been broken and that is enough. Wish me luck. Perhaps it was not such a great idea on a Friday evening after a full week to be redecorating the tree. I should have just taken the ornaments off and left until this morning but oh well, would a, should a, could a.

Wish me luck again.

Have a great day.

I think that I will wait for awhile before attempting to fix the toilet handle, lol.

Need coffee.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: always brings me back to COFFEE.

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Today is the last day of September, 2022. Wow, how did that happen. We had a reasonably good sleep. Up late but Alvin slept till almost 4:30 and then up again at 6:30 and then a couple of hours later. The first time we were up we felt a few rain drops on our skin as we made our way back to the house and then at 6:30 the ground was wet. The sky remains overcast with the sun peeking through in spots.

Today is a day off from work as we remember and reconcile our Canadian history with our Indigenous peoples. A good place to start and build on a better future for all of our peoples. Each being is important and should be treated with respect and compassion. You never know what is going on with anyone until you walk a mile in their shoes or get to know and to understand them. We all have history.

Today is a day to reflect and of reflection.

Front Porch

Tree trimmed

View of tree from inside

The sky from our deck

a few days ago

I was able to upload a few photos. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of my fall wreath from the front door. This will be the weekend to finish off the fall cleanup. Our tree after my daughter and I trimmed it last Saturday, not even one week ago. This morning the tree is almost all yellow. Will have to have more photos. Mr. Alvin could not wait for me and came upstairs. I was not fast enough. Lately I have been trying to carry him up and down the stairs more often. The photos of the sky and the clouds were taken from our back deck in the morning, if I remember correctly sometime this last week.

Time to head downstairs and have another mug of coffee. Today will be a quiet one for us, perhaps a walk a bit later if it is not raining. I am so grateful to have my own home and to be with Mr. Alvin in his twilight years. We have been together since he was almost one year old. So much history.

Have a wonderful day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning, doing well I hope. Alvin and I had a good morning thus far. I was up and stayed up at 6:20 a.m. – going to make a point of trying to get up at least by 6:00 a.m. each morning so that I can enjoy the early morning sunrises. I can feel the sun on my heart and soul. Erasing the anxiety of days gone by. The sky is blue and the wind is blowing and life is good.

We had a wonderful weekend. Sunday was basically a repeat of Saturday. My friend Gillian came for coffee in the morning and we chatted up a storm. So much good conversation. Friends are the best. I love her, she keeps me thinking and young. Gillian is also going to pop by and check in on Mr. Alvin while I am away at the office tomorrow. So grateful to have such dear friends. Very grateful. The other pea in our pod has a cold and decided to keep her “germs” at home. We missed her. I shared some of the delectable baking that my friend Val had sent to me from Regina. So good. Love(d) the cinnamon buns and my favourite the “biscotti.” I love that word. Sounds beautiful, so Italian. I would love to travel there some day. But for now I go there in my dreams.

The earlier plan had been for my daughter to come for a visit in the afternoon but then she decided to come today and then spend the night. She will come later this afternoon. Makes sense as she is going to drive me to work in the morning. Then we have the evening to get caught up on all things the trip to VEGAS! I am making her favorite supper – chicken stir fry.

With the change in plans yesterday, I decided to go for a walk a bit earlier. Another sweater day. When we got around the park to our friend Lucy’s house, who did I see hanging from a ladder trimming one of her trees, but LUCY! OMG, all alone and doing that. We caught her eye and she happily accepted me to stay while she finished the tree. We had some great conversation while Mr. Alvin sat patiently. She was up and down the ladder. I handed her her trimming shears and the long handled ones. I was wishing that I had those sizes as well. I only have the one on the pole. She likes things to be clear and simple. So all the extra branches some of which had died, she wanted gone. Most people wouldn’t be bothered but not Miss Lucy. Up that ladder and leaning on the trunk of the tree, took my breath away. She kept saying how much she appreciated us being there but we could go as she did not want to interrupt our walk. I plainly said “No, we are not leaving until you are done pruning the tree.” We stayed. There was no way I was leaving her alone. Once she was finished we were on our way. By the time we got home it was close to two hours of walking/fresh air/visiting. I was in my happy place. Alvin was in his and pooped. I think he figured it was suppertime but no too early for that but I did give him a snack. Likely better as he gets older to cut back on the breakfast and supper and give him snacks (his food) late morning and mid afternoon. Keeps his belly full and happy.

I also cleaned out my pantry and discarded and recontained all of my spices. Thank you Val for the new tupperware spice containers.

I made a really delicious pasta with tomato sauce. Was disappointed when I went to put it away and noticed that I had forgot to use the pepperoncini and roasted tomatoes that I had purchased for this meal. Oh well, I can also add them to the leftovers. LOL. The fresh PARM from the Italian store was so darn good.

Well we had a nice evening. Oh and before supper I brought out some of our patio furniture. Now it looks like spring/summer. I am happy.

Time to go and plug in the coffee and soon to start work.

Looking forward to seeing my girl later today.

Have an awesome Monday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I/We are doing well, had a fairly good sleep. That is so important. So many of us do not get enough sleep. It is reflected in everything we do. Shows up in our patience, bigtime. I hope that you had enough sleep so that you can function the way that you are meant to and that you are in your happy place this morning. Little smile on my face. Well Mother Nature gave us a good rain shower yesterday later on in the day and then overnight. Even the lawn that I share with my neighbour is beginning to come alive. I wished that I had some fertilizer to toss on as would likely give it a boost. I keep seeing one of the neighbours across the street tossing on what I imagine to be fertilizer and their grass is a beautiful lucious green. The colour that I dream of and one of my favourite shades of green, actually my top favourite green. Lawn green or Kelly green. This morning the sky is overcast so no beautiful sunrise but we do desperately need the moisture and I am grateful for the rain. Does not appear to be windy which is a good thing.

I was thinking of my dear friend Les N. who came into my mind last night as I was going to sleep. He was giving me support,as always. Les passed away a few years ago and I think of my dear friend often. He was a good friend, husband, father, son, uncle and human being. I miss him all of the time.

Often times we do not realize what we have, until it is gone.

I am most happy that Alvin and I had two walks yesterday, one at lunchtime and the other after work. Walking sure brings down my stress level after a long day of work. The benefits of walking are so important in our everyday life.

I see red flashing lights through the leaves of the tree directly behind my garage across the lane, must be the garbage truck.

Well today is Tuesday. Another day of work. I hope that you are doing well and that this day brings us all great joy, much laughter and love and abundance. This could be the day. Perhaps there will be a knock at the door and you won the Publishers Clearing House Lottery or something like that. Maybe someone left you a thoughtful package at the door. A phone call from family or a dear friend. A special coffee and lunch delivered to you from a thoughtful friend. This is going to be that day …… are you excited, I am!

Continuing to live this day with respect, kindness, compassion and patience.

Time for coffee.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

• 

  Photo by Evgeny Tchebotarev on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Binyamin Mellish on Pexels.com

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you today? Friday, bright and sunny where I am. There appears to be no breeze or gale force winds this morning which is great. I am getting ready to head into the office for the day. This just seems weird. Alvin appears to be wondering as I am doing a few things differently than our usual routine. In less than 30 minutes my daughter will be here to pick me up and Mr. Alvin will be alone. I feel badly for him as I love being able to be home with him. Here to open the door so that he can go out into the backyard to pee or just to lay on the deck by the back door to bask in the warm spring sunshine. He always makes sure he is as close to me as he can be and still do this thing. What a companion. Love my little four-legged guy. The sunlight on the trees gives them a red brown glow. One morning I will wake up and look outside at the trees and they will be covered in green leaves. The process seems to happen overnight. I love spring. I have a dilemma, whether to wear shoes or sandals. I will be sitting at a desk by a window facing east so I am thinking that perhaps I should wear sandals. The temperature is supposed to be +18 celsius today so will be warm enough to do so. Guess I will see what I feel like doing when I leave the house. Time will tell.

My neighbour will be coming over to check on Alvin and let him outside. Thank goodness for great neighbours.

This post will be a bit short as I am quickly running out of time and still have a few things left to do. I guess that I shouldn’t have hit the snooze button earlier.

Photo of my cute boy Alvin from a while back.

Photos of flowers to come and that fence will be painted this summer.

• 

• 

  More Flowers

• 

  My Flowers

Wishing you a wonderful Friday.

Continuing to live with and in respect, kindness, compassion and patience.

Always, love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. Alvin had been trying to get me up for the past hour as I laid on the sofa just being. Looking up at the ceiling taking in the expanse of the popcorn ceiling (why popcorn?) and then my eyes would fall to the living room window as the sun was rising, beginning to shine and lighting up the tree in our front yard. What a peaceful beautiful morning. It was so great to just lay there with every fiber of my being relaxed and sometimes dozing off for a minute or three. A great way to being one’s day. So now I am up. I was shocked to find that I had not completely turned off the computer yesterday. I was so certain that I had turned it off ….. but I guess not. Technology. Alvin is impatiently waiting for me to finish my post. My daughter will be coming at some point likely this morning and we are going to take a trip to COSTCO. She was going to go and pick up some coffee for me and few things for them when I asked to join her. Perhaps people will be at home and not out shopping. It would be great if when we got there it was quiet ….. only a few shoppers like us out and about. I have not been in a public place for quite a long while and thought it may be nice to get out. Besides any chance to spend time with my girl cannot pass that up.

How was your weekend? I am lucky as this is a holiday for me. My arms and shoulders are a bit sore from hauling those heavy garbage bags home on Saturday. The neighbourhood cleanup. Maybe next time I should score a wagon and then pulling it would be much easier than lifting. The bags would have been okay and not so heavy had it not been for the shingles and some wet cardboard boxes. I always believe that I am stronger than I am and not that I am weak but age does remove some of your younger strength for sure. Oh well. The bags are taking up residence in the garage until I put them out for the garbage men tomorrow morning. They are strong so it will not be a problem for them. I wished that I could label them as trash picked up in the neighbourhood so that they would not think it was my trash. I guess I could put notes on them. I could.

So did I get through the list of items that I had planned to do this weekend. Well most things I think. I did not clean the bathroom cupboards in my bedroom or the main bathroom but truly those are small tasks which I could do after work one night this week or next weekend or later today. The big thing was cleaning up the neighbourhood and that is done until next time. I found my journals for 2020 which I will need for my next project. Laundry and some cleaning was accomplished. Walks were done. Yesterday’s walk was cool and I even put Alvin’s sweater on him. Today is to be plus double digits so no sweater for Mr. Alvin.

You may be wondering why I started posting random photos on my posts. Well, I had not realized until recently that those photos were at my fingertips. A click away. So now I am playing with them. So easy and why not share some beautiful work. Very talented people out there.

SUNRISES …. how absolutely beautiful….

• 

  Photo by Simon Berger on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Travis Rupert on Pexels.com

• 

  Photo by Anand Dandekar on Pexels.com

The lighthouse photo above looks like it may have been shot in Eastern Canada. All these photos are amazing.

They transport me away ……

Remembering to live each day with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Love Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

Good Morning All, We were up and down as per usual but up to stay just before 8:00 AM. I marvelled at the way some of the leaves are hanging on as if for dear life on our tree out front. They almost look like upside down umbrellas. These poor pods of leaves almost appear to be social distancing as they hang in groups every so often on the branches. Our tree has almost dropped all of its’ leaves. I can definitely see some raking in my future. The colours of the leaves on the ground look so beautiful against the lighter green/yellow grass as it prepares for winter. The contrast to the sidewalk and street is gorgeous ….. reds and yellows to gray.

The last half of this week has been well should I shall lousy. Likely just as good a word as any. Lost a friend that I used to work with at BBW at the MALL and have others who are awaiting the results of COVID19 testing. Work is off the charts, busy, which is slowly eating away at my “patience” and heart. I like to be busy but not so busy that you cannot see the light of day. This morning I looked inward for some guidance, for perhaps a thought that may get me back on track. There are many blessings in my life and I am truly grateful for each and every one of them. I know that I am extremely lucky to have a decent job in this landscape and that this time. But that does not help me but feel anxiety. Anyway, lots to do this weekend. Today is going to be a particular busy day once I finish this post, start the laundry, already started the coffee, have breakfast, give Mr. Alvin a haircut, boil potatoes and eggs for tomorrow’s potato salad, make a fruit pizza for tomorrow, dust and clean bathrooms, wash floors, pull more flowers that have gone to the other side, bring up the FALL and HALLOWEEN decorations and whatever else I can squeeze into this day. Perhaps the best thing for me right at this moment is to get busy. I know that life is life and there are things beyond my control and that I can get through anything. There might be stop signs and potholes along the road but I will keep on walking until it is my time to leave this earth. Sorry not meaning to be dark. I am so grateful to have my Alvin with me and for my life.

I am going to see later today or this weekend if I am now able to upload photos from my phone to the computer. That would be nice.

Well my friends, I hope that life is treating you well. No matter what is going on in your life and mine, we “got this.” No one ever said it would be easy all of the time but we can in our reactions to the situations determine our joy or sadness or anxiety. I am learning each and everyday and hoping to become more wise as the years go by.

Take Care and Be safe. Live with kindness and respect and laughter. I am going to add laughter to our mantra. We need to laugh. Find the funny in something each and everyday. We must.

Happy Saturday.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning,

YAY, today is Friday.

Always happy to see Friday as look forward to this day and the weekend.

Okay, a few days late.

Here are some photos.

I took the first five of the tree in front of my house while I was waiting for my ride in the morning.

The next four photos are of same tree but the next morning after the freshly fallen snow.

I love my tree.

It looks good fully clothed with leaves or with snow or even bare.

It is amazing how the snow just piles up on the branches with the underneath bare.

Handsome looking tree.

 

Government announced yesterday:

Affordable Housing.

They are going to streamline the information/process that is required for housing.

Making it easier for applicants, clients and in the end the staff.

Sounds like good news for everyone.

 

This weekend it is continuing with and finishing all of the Christmas Cards and letters.

Alvin needs a bath and I am debating as to whether or not I will give him a trim.

Will see.

My new wreath is being dropped off tonight.

I am submitting a STEEPED TEA order this evening.

Bit of shovelling to finish.

There is always the laundry and cleaning.

I want to look through the items that I have for gifts and see where I am at ….

Plan the baking …..

Make a list of those to have over for Christmas treats and visit before the big day.

Lots to do, always.

 

Well life continues to be interesting, amazing and full of surprises.

At this moment in time, I am happy, healthy and excited.

Starting the day with a SMILE is always a great thing.

 

Wishing you the best Friday ever.

Smiling.

Kindness

Respect

 

Three good words.

 

Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin

 

Mr. Alvin is laying on his pretty blue blanket.

He loves curling up on it while I type/key away on the computer.

Which reminds me that I must start deleting photos that are blurry, dark or duplicate from my computer.

Some should be printed or made into albums.

That should be a weekly project.

Spending a few hours every week working on the photos.

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Good Morning and Welcome to A Wintery Morning.

Meaning we have SNOW.

Well yesterday throughout the daytime it was raining and gradually throughout the late afternoon and early evening it turned to wet snow.

The sticky stuff and it has not melted.

We are covered with a thick blanket of snow once again.

The trees look so pretty painted with snow.

It looks like someone took a paint brush and painted the top of the branches with a white fluffy paint.

The last bunny that I saw was almost white.

 

Last night was the GIRL GUIDE SNOWFLAKE TEA/COOKIE SALE.

They changed the location after like forever.

To some HIGH SCHOOL about 1/2 hour away from us.

The roads luckily were okay there and back.

 

The setup was much different than previous years due to the location, of course.

But worked out perfectly.

I purchased 4 dozen cookies and squares.

My favourite purchase was “puffed wheat cake.”

They had them individually wrapped.

We enjoyed a visit along with a cupcake and drink, I had coffee.

I also picked up some Christmas coasters made by one of the older GUIDES.

They were made of ceramic tiles, cannot wait to undo the ribbon and view the other three.

 

 

Alvin was so happy to see me when I arrived home.

 

Well I guess we will not have photos this morning.

I ran into technical difficulties or rather human something or other.

I am quite certain that your vivid imagination can picture the snow covered branches of the trees.

 

Perhaps they will end up here tomorrow.

As if by magic.

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Time to finish getting ready.

Perhaps shovel a bit of snow on the deck.

The rest will be tonight.

 

Travel throughout your days with kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin