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

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 9th day of April, 2019.

Here we go zipping along in the month of April.

Our weather is very much spring-like.

The birds are beginning to return.

I can imagine it will not be too long before baby birds are chirping in their nests.

The bunnies are still partially white.

Alvin and I had a great long walk last night with our friend P who just returned from Victoria.

They were in Victoria to look after their son’s property.

Bad tenants and all.

The sidewalks by our lakes are almost dry.

So Alvin did not get too wet.

To breathe in that spring air is the best.

We absolutely enjoyed the sunshine as the rays touched our faces.

There was a breeze so it helped with drying out the excess water.

The ice on the lakes has almost melted.

By the end of this week with double digit temperatures the excess and ice should be all but a memory.

Now the ice and snow on our front lawn might take a bit longer.

There is a bit remaining.

 

Well we elected to hit the sofa for some extra time this morning.

Not sure why.

Oh, yes we were up a bit later and then I read for a few minutes.

So hard to go to bed as it stays lighter longer.

 

My friend P was telling me about the voles who are small rodents who have made several tunnels just under the surface of their lawn.

Did you know that they continue to have young ones all year long?

Poor Mommas.

Anyway they have taken over their lawn and one of their neighbours.

They will be difficult to evict.

 

Well it is almost time for me to sign off here.

I hope that you are enjoying spring.

Perhaps just returning from a trip ….

Or a snowbird?

Happy Spring …..

Welcome Home.

Have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ….. we have to chat…..miss you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 5th day of October, 2018.

Thanksgiving Weekend ahead.

 

Yesterday was a beautiful day …. even went for a walk at work.

I did not sit at my desk for my breaks ….. went elsewhere.

Need to get up a move during the day more.

Felt good.

 

My daughter picked me up after work and we went to COSTCO.

That is always an experience in itself.

Funny how when people are being rude they do not make eye contact.

I guess they feel as though if there is not eye contact – you aren’t really there?

I do not know.

But there are always those folks in the stores that are just going along cutting people off.

In their own little world.

Quite rude.

We all are in a hurry.

We all are important.

We all have somewhere to go.

We all would rather be someplace else.

There was one gentleman that let my daughter and I go by …. we said “thank you” and he said “you are welcome.”

Yay for manners.

Well enough of that.

 

When my daughter was leaving after dropping me and the groceries off; after we had commented on the cart full, seeming as though we had enough food and stuff for a month, she said

“see you in two weeks” (for another trip to COSTO).

Funny how much food three people can consume in a short period of time.

And other stuff, too.

 

I had a great time with my daughter.

We always have a wonderful visit during the drive.

We came up with a new art project.

I am going to start putting my part of the project together this weekend.

So excited to do something with my daughter.

She is such a creative genius.

It will be amazing.

 

Mr. Alvin continues to sit on his blue blanket.

He continues to ask for massages when I am a captive audience.  (giggling)

I hope that you all have an awesome weekend.

 

I am thankful to be surrounded by amazing, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, passionate, supporting, loving friends and family.

I am thankful to have Mr. Alvin as my trusty companion and sidekick.

I am ever thankful to have this house – this home.  I never thought until 10 years ago that this was even a possibility.

I am grateful to be in good health, have employment and live in a great country.

 

Happy Friday everyone.

What are you thankful for?

 

Special Hello to:  my family and friends all over the world.  Happy Thanksgiving early.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 19th day of August, 2018.

There be some BLUE SKY and a bit of a breeze this August morning.

Last night I figured that we should go for a walk.

We have missed a few due to the poor air quality from the smoke.

The air was surprisingly clear and not much smoke.

We enjoyed our walk.

On the half way part of our walk coming toward home, we stopped a chatted to a gentlemen who is always working in his garage.

A couple of houses away lives Teddy (our little four-legged friend).

As we approached his yard, Alvin pulled me as if his life depended on it.

Across the grass we went and toward the sidewalk.

I had to keep looking down so that I would not lose my balance and trip.

He was a dog with a mission.

Up the front stairs and he started barking at the door just as I was able to ring the doorbell.

Our friend “I” answered the door and said “Well hello, perfect timing, come on in.”

I said, “I am sorry but Alvin just pulled me across the lawn and up the walk to your door.”

So in we went for an unexpected visit.

They had just finished supper.

We had a great visit.

Teddy and Alvin.

They ran and around.

Teddy kept jumping up …. so happy to see us.

Sometimes it is those out of the blue happenings that are the most fun.

We bumped into other friends out for a walk on our way home.

What a great night.

 

After returning home, I decided that I wanted to watch the new AVENGERS movie.

This is the one that my neighbour and I did not get to see as there were technical difficulties at the theatre.

Final it is on DEMAND so I was able to rent it.

Really good movie.

Unfortunately I was so tired that I kept nodding off and there was about 45 minutes remaining.

So decided to stop it and will watch it today.

I guess all of that fresh fresh air.

 

Teddy will be spending a few days with us this week.

We always love having him over.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

Still have some items on my TO DO LIST.

One thing I did between yesterday and this morning is to write a letter.

YES, I hand wrote a letter to my Aunt.

I have not done that in a long, long time.

Felt good.

 

Well I want to do some work on preparing the photos of my vacation for this blog.

Do not want to wait too long or I may forget some important item/fact.

Also have to work on my STEEPED TEA and NORWEX businesses.

Somehow they have been slightly neglected this past while with company and vacation.

 

Have an awesome day.

Life is great.

It truly is.

Family and friends.

All of the fur babies in my life.

Happy Sunday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, ditto my darling.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 15th day of August, 2018.

It is 6:35 a.m. and still dark outside.

What a change from a week ago.

The sky appears to have be overcast but as I lean out the window I can smell smoke.

It is almost eerie.

The lightness of the sky seems to provide light on the objects below.

From my office window it appears as though people have a dim light shining on their decks, in their yards.

Just having the windows open for a short time for the cool air.

Our temperatures have cooler down which is good for sleeping and for our fur babies.

 

Last night my daughter gave me a ride home from work.

We stopped at a local Japanese restaurant and picked up noodle bowls for supper, my treat.

I just wanted something different.

They were really good and neither of us could finish so leftovers for tonight.

 

The birthday cake made by my co-worker has been a HUGE hit.

Carrot cake with cream cheese icing, how can you go wrong.

 

Alvin and I went for a walk last night making a stop at our friend’s home ( I and N).

I had packed up some birthday cake for them.

I was going to call ahead and decided not to.

We walked over with the cake in tow.

Rang the door bell twice.

No answer.

Called out for them by the garage as their vehicle was parked in the driveway.

Nothing.

Walked beside the house thinking they might be in the backyard and did not hear the doorbell.

No reply.

Okay, that was odd.

So cake in tow we walked home and I called our friends.

She answered right away.

They were working in the garage and had the radio turned on and up.

Did not hear us.

So we walked back there (not far) and we gave them some birthday cake.

We stayed and had a visit.

I had not realized that it was still that warm so afterward we walked home.

A short walk but that is okay.

Too much smoke to be breathing in ….

 

My carpool called this morning and they are staggering the entry to her office building this morning so she is picking me up at 7:30 a.m. instead of 6:45 a.m.

If I missed telling you this story.

On my last day of work – my friend’s office building was closed down due to a water main break.

Two weeks later it is being reopened.

Unexpected vacation for some folks.

My friend had most of the time already booked off for vacation.

You never know what can happen.

 

Oh, the smell of smoke is getting stronger.

I will have to close the windows that are still open.

Do not wish to fill the house in smoke, not good for Mr. Alvin.

He is laying patiently on his blue blanket beside me in the office.

 

Well time to go and work on the photos so that I can post about my trip.

Lots to add to my word press library which means I have to delete others.

I am so excited to share both the photos and our trip with all of you.

Coming soon!

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

 

Stay safe.

In the heat watch your children and animals closely.

DO NOT LEAVE in a vehicle.

HOT sidewalks / pavement can burn the pads of a dog’s paws.

 

Special Hello to: my friends and family who make my world turn around.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 13th day of February, 2017.

First thing when I started to write this blog – received a message that the keyboard batteries were low.

Closed the message and made myself a note to change the batteries tonight.

But alas kept getting the message.

Checked the time and decided to go downstairs and grab some batteries and do it now.

Better always to do things right away rather than putting them off.

Worked out.

Now I do not have to do that tonight.

Bonus.

 

Yesterday we had the best day.

I did most of my major TO DO items.

Had a great Birthday party for our friend “S.”

Followed by a walk with Alvin.

Followed by tea tasting with my neighbour and fellow consultant “K.”

After all I was going to go out and canvas for the Heart & Stroke but decided to do that another day.

Followed by Alvin and I snuggling.

We had supper early as at 6:00 p.m. I SKYPED with my sister back in Regina.

She told me of even more fellow co-workers that are retiring.

We both worked at the same office.

She remains there and of course, I retired from there in 2008.

After we had a great video chat -I watched the rest of the GRAMMY’s.

Almost forgot that they were on last night.

Great to see ADELE win an award for BEST SONG.

Busy weekend but fun.

Lots of visiting, sharing information and laughing.

My favourite part ….. laughing.

Laughter makes you feel good right to the core of your very being.

I think that we do not laugh enough.

I am always trying to make people laugh …..

Maybe that should be our mission if you will, to share laughter.

Make your friends and family giggle and laugh.

Nothing better.

 

Well that time once again.

Was it really Sunday yesterday?

At one point I thought it was Saturday and then something brought me back to reality very quickly.

Oh well.

I am grateful to have two days off in a row and the same days that most of my friends and family have off, as well.

Happy Monday.

Have an awesome day.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister ….. wow Peru in April ….. wishing that I could go with you guys. But seriously considering Victoria in the fall with my sister.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 9th day of September, 2015.

Wow, guess what?

It was raining overnight.

Yesterday was warm, and the most perfect evening for our walk.

To be followed by some rain.

Well doesn’t get much better than that.

My flowers are still blooming like crazy.

Sure would be nice if they bloomed until the end of September …. guess it all depends on Mr. Jack Frost.

If he decides to visit us sooner or later.

I love his arrival about mid December or so.

Who knows at this point.

We shall see.

Well another day of work ….. almost ready at this end.

I hope that everyone has an awesome Wednesday.

Are you ready for this mid week day?

It is all down here from here …. just gets better, right?

Of course,

always gets better.

I am always grateful to open my eyes and be awake, to sit up and then swing my feet to the floor.

That is always a great day.

Being alive is good.

Right.

Well, of course.

I am grateful to be alive.

I am grateful to have Mr. Alvin here each and everyday with me.

I am grateful to have awesome family and friends.

I am grateful to have a job so that I can have a house, my home.

I am grateful to be in good health and to be happy.

I am grateful for this day and each one that follows.

Well time to hit the “damp” trail to the bus.

Jacket and shoes and perhaps a scarf and definitely mini gloves.

My hands are already starting to crack (winter eczema).

Have a good great W-day.

Special Hello to: my daughter who is the best ….. excited to hear all about your trip.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 20th day of January, 2015.

We had a great Monday with Alvin’s Birthday and our 5th Anniversary.

Just a bit of a celebration …. with some good veggies as a treat.

Alvin received Birthday Wishes from so many people ….. thank you to family and friends.

He was so happy or at least I would like to think that was the case.

Well another Tuesday.

We girls took the puppies for almost the shortest walk in history.

The sidewalks are icy …. the streets are icy……

Just did not want to take a chance with anyone including the pups falling.

Well time to go …. I was dreaming of Mexico so slept in.

It is not really a place that I dream of going to in my waken mode but obviously I dream of it in my subconsciousness.

Anyway ….. again no passport or bathing suit.

Two requirements of that trip.

Time to go to work.

Have a great Tuesday.

Special Hello to: YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 28th day of March, 2014.

How are you this morning?

WE are wonderful.

Up at 5 a.m. with Mr. Alvin as he has this “clock” and then back to bed.

So great to sleep in and now it is time to write and get to work ’round the house.

After breakfast …… get the basement in order.

Put away the last of the Christmas stuff and reorganize all of the “rubbermaid containers.”

YAY.

THE SUN IS SHINING SO BRIGHTLY ….. that makes me so HAPPY.

Hopefully the temperatures continue to go in an upward motion.

So on this Friday me and me Alvin are just hanging out and doing housework until I have to get ready to go to the store.

He will spend the night with his sister so that makes him happy and me feel relaxed that he is not alone.

I hope that you are happy and smiling and that the “sun” is shining down on your part of the world.

Make your life be happy and rewarding and make you spread your happiness and rewards.

Special Hello to: my sister who is back from Vegas and I must chat with her ….. have to hear all the stories and the shopping??

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

TGIF, as most would say ….. well it is Friday, May 4th, 2012….

The rain has stopped and the heavens are clearing up and it looks like the sun will shine this morning.

I am excited about this day because after work my daughter and I are going shopping to West Edmonton Mall.

She has some items to pick up before her strip to the U.S. later in May.

Me, well there are a couple of items that I am hoping to find….

It will just be great to share supper with her and walk around the mall talking and checking things out.

I hope that we are both successful in our shopping.

So on this day and because I am running a bit late …. I hope that you all have an amazing FRIDAY.

May you be blessed like me to spend some quality time with your loved one(s).

Remember to smile, be happy and laugh.

So have a happy happy Friday.

ENJOY.  Have a great weekend…  🙂

Special Hello: to all the Mothers on this great planet of ours ….. two legged, four and eight ….. or winged.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin