It is a NEW YEAR.

Hello to Thursday.

I just read something as I was signing on …..

“Love is anything but logical”

Interesting.

Heart over Head.

Head over Heart.

 

Last night after work I looked after Mr. Alvin right away.

Outside and then his supper.

While he was eating I ran to the mailbox to retrieve the parcel that our friend “V” from Regina mailed to us.

Alvin watched me and did not eat while I ran to the mailbox.

Now that is strange ….. he always eats.

Anyway, once back in the house, he did eat while I got changed from work to “play” clothes.

After Alvin was done into his harness and jacket so that they we could run over to the Vet to pick up his food.

As per always we played the run around the table for a few minutes.

I even got down on my knees to gently coax him to come out as he nervously shook.

Finally I was able to coax him to come out and put on his jacket and harness.

Outside he always knows exactly which direction to take.

We were about halfway to the Vet when we saw a woman and her small dog in the near distance.

As we approached the doggie got more excited.

We stopped and chatted and ended up walking together.

Her three year old dog Pippa (yup, named after Katherine’s sister, Pippa) was so cute.

Her Mom said how she had recently lost another of her dogs due to dementia.

That was even a thing with dogs.

I guess so.

She said looking back there were so many signs.

The dog that passed was “11.”

She got mixed up with day and night.

She depended on the other dog when out for walks.

Even more subtle signs before the above two.

They walked with us to the Vet, so nice.

I hope that we meet up with them again.

At the Vet, picked up Alvin’s food and toothpaste.

We made his appointment for his regular stuff and the receptionist mentioned that his Bordella (did I spell correctly??) shot was due.

So this coming up Saturday at 11:00 a.m. – Alvin will have a shot, checkup (as that always happens with the vaccines), nails trimmed and anal glands cleaned.

After we got home, I ran over to pick up Mr. Humphrey who spent the evening with us.

The boys were very happy to see each other.

My daughter mentioned that she may visit this weekend (we are certainly excited about that news).

Yes, back to the package.

Alvin lost his mind once again when I brought out the package which I had tucked into the fridge as I wasn’t sure if something needed to be kept cold.

There was a package of homemade doggie cookies for Mr. Alvin.

I hit the motherload.

There were three kinds of buns including my fav “cheese”, apple pie tarts, two kinds of muffins, mini chocolate bars, a organic milk chocolate bar, coconut almond candy and some sauce/spice

mix from Epicure and a hot dog holder and condiment container from tupperware.

My friend certainly knows how to spoil me, us.

 

The boys just chilling….

 

Well it is time to split.

Get back downstairs.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Thursday it be.

Weather it be warming up.

It was so nice after work yesterday.

 

Happy Thursday.

Treating each other and ourselves with kindness and respect always wins the day.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Yay, Saturday morning.

Alvin and I were up at 4:05, then again at 6:00 and then a few minutes ago.

I was tired.

Perhaps it is in part the extreme cold temperatures that causes that sleepy feeling.

Who does not want to curl up under a cozy blanket and just sleep.

Oh well, we are up now and have a full day ahead of us.

That lazy feeling removed my desire to take down the Christmas tree last night.

So today and tomorrow.

Down comes everything.

The temperature is way too cold to go outside unless it is a necessity.

No walking for sure.

 

Last night after watching a segment on one of the shows that I record about LIVING CLEAN; I decided to do this.

I went on social media and challenged family and friends to reduce their household and life usage of plastic.

Every day I will post a tip, something that I have learned to be more GREEN or to LIVE MORE CLEAN.

I also enlisted them to post anything ideas that they had as well.

Within a few minutes several friends had posted a tip to share.

 

Perhaps in 2020 we all need to be LIVING CLEAN AND BE GREEN.

We just have so much stuff that we do not use or need.

So many items are purchased out of convenience or just plain desire.

Even me with my love of Christmas.

I like the tree and all of the decorations.

But is it necessary, no.

Absolutely NOT.

 

Over the years I have mostly ditched the plastic grocery bags and use recycled bags and boxes.

I seldom purchase plastic storage bags and mainly use glass and “tupperware” containers for storage.

But I am still using some plastics.

So many things that we use on a daily basis come in plastic containers.

Shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, laundry soap, cleaners and the lost goes on and on.

Attempting to purchase less grocery items that come in plastic wrap.

I must confess that I have purchased the net bags for my produce, and have not used them.

I WILL be using them for ALL future produce shopping.

 

This year I am going to use up what I have and go as green as possible.

Making my own household cleaners, finding items to replace personal hygiene products that are not harmful to me or to the environment.

Away with the chemicals.

It is not easy and good things seldom are … but I am going to do the best that I can.

I care deeply about the environment.

I care about what we are doing to marine life and wildlife.

It has to end.

Not necessary.

Cut out the conveniences and companies need to step back from the greed that envelopes them and make changes.

 

Okay, time to get this day going.

Please post any ideas that you have for my quest.

Let’s do this together.

Together we can change the world.

Together we can save the world.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

Remember this is the moment to make changes that will give future generations a chance to live on this beautiful planet.

I believe that is not too late.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 16th day of August, 2018.

Today is the birthday of our dear friend “V” who lives in Regina.

Funny story.

She was busy and did not get my “birthday parcel” to me (yes, she is the one who sends the most glorious parcels) for my birthday.

I was away as well.

So I was a day early and she was a tad late.

It worked out perfectly.

I wanted to find her something extra special while my daughter and I were on our trip to AIRDRIE.

Her parcel arrived yesterday and mine arrived yesterday.

TIMING.

I think so.

I found for my friend the most beautiful orange almost flower shaped dish made in England.

Antique.

Small not large.

It reminded me of dishes that my Grandma used to have and use for jam/jelly.

But really you could use them for anything including a spot by the sink to put your rings/watch in ….

Anyway I was pleased and she was pleased.

Happy Birthday to our friend.

Oh, when I mentioned to Alvin that I was going to the mailbox to pick up the parcel from “V.”

He got so excited.

Back to the house and he could not wait until the box was open.

Even before I had my utensil to open the box, he was jumping up, so happy.

I opened the box and the first present was for him.

I set it on the floor and grabbed my camera in hopes that I would get a decent video.

He quickly tore open the tissue paper.

Setting the pieces aside with his mouth as he went.

He got to one point where he needed my help and just stopped starring at the parcel.

Barking and barking.

So I helped him.

He loved his treats.

His Momma loved hers as well.

 

Well I am running late (nothing new, it seems).

 

Wishing you all a great Thursday.

Still smoky here in Edmonton.

That eerie view from the office window.

Wishing rain for the fires.

 

Special Hello to:  the Birthday GIRL …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 9th day of May, 2018.

Some clouds loom in the morning sky as the sun rises to the east.

Cooler today as per the forecast.

Yesterday we had a bit of rain – which we need.

 

Funny story.

After work last night – I let Alvin outside as per usual.

When he was done – back into the house – dished out his supper.

My friend from Regina had let me know that there was a package waiting for me in the mailbox.

I had ordered some tupperware.

So while Alvin was eating his supper; I thought that I would run and grab the parcel.

He was standing on his chair with his front paws on the arm looking out of the living room as I came up the sidewalk to our house.

Quicker than quick – he was off the chair and at the door – jumping up.

You see he knows when a parcel arrives it is always from our friend back in Regina.

He must be able to smell inside the parcel with his extra sensitive sense of smell.

Alvin followed me as I kicked off my shoes and made my way through the living room and into the kitchen.

I placed the box on the kitchen table and went to grab my letter opener which doubles as a “parcel opener.”

He was up on his hind legs and barking.

So excited.

I barely had the box open and he was more than ready to see what our friend had sent to him.

I spotted a package with his name on it and quickly grabbing my camera from its’ perch hoping that I would be able to catch a video.

I did.

Oh my goodness – so funny.

Well I am super disappointed as apparently I cannot put a video on my blog due to security reasons.

But I can post photos – strange.

Anyway as you can see from the blue tissue paper that is what was left.

He shredded it.

It was oh so cute as he held the package with one paw and using his mouth starting to rip at the tissue paper.

He pulled at the tissue paper with his mouth turning his head and causing a thud with each movement of the package.

It was priceless.

At one point when I asked if he needed help – he turned his head and gave me a quick “glare.”

He just kept going.

Finally after ….

a more than valiant attempt to remove the ribbon but that was a bit much after 57 seconds of video, I figured he was done.

So I took his parcel and helped him open his present.

He loved his chew treat.

He would not even eat supper for the longest time.

Finally I coaxed him to eat by hand feeding him.

Okay, spoiled I know.

Then he carried it around and then he buried it.

We went for a walk and met up with friends and got home after 6:30 (we left the house at 5:15 p.m.).

Anyway had a nice walk and a visit.

When we arrived back home – Alvin was all about digging up the treat.

Then hiding it in the cushions of his chair and the sofa.

ARGH, it was dirty but I bit my lip and figured ….. I can clean up when he is done.

He went back and forth between burying the treat and digging it up, hiding it and finding it.

Finally just before bed – he ATE it.

He had several hours of pure enjoyment from that treat from his/our friend.

Thank you again for always thinking of my boy.

Me, well the Momma did not do so badly either.

Did you see the biscotti that I got?

I was only going to eat one but had to have two and put the others away for another day.

Cheese bun was perfect with supper and the dinner bun for lunch tomorrow.

Lucky we are.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who spoils us and we love her for the most wonderful human being that she is …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60.

Today is Monday June 26, 2017 and it is the 45 day until my 60th Birthday.

Okay now what after the 60 favourite things list.

I was thinking about a BUCKET LIST.

What is with all of these lists anyway?

Well truthfully, this would not be a surprise to people who know me as I am famous for writing lists, TO DO LISTS and such.

I like to write things down.

I have often thought a BUCKET LIST would be nice but perhaps today I will do it in reverse.

Not the things that I want to do in the future but some of the things that I have done over the years.

Okay so this is going to be another 60 things list ….. but things that I have done not necessarily favourite things but things that I have done/accomplished, okay.

Because going backwards can be tricky with the counting process I am just going to start at number 1.

 

Here are the next 12 items:

25.  Attended all different schools from Grades 9 to Grade 12 in three different Canadian provinces.

26.  Sold through direct sales:  AMWAY, Fashion Two-Twenty make-up, Tupperware twice in two different provinces and Steeped Tea.

27.  Wrote Eulogies for four different family members and gave three of them.

28.  Started to write poetry at age eight years.

29.  Jobs have done over the years: Babysitting, Berry picker,  Executive Assistant (summer job), Keypunch operator, Bank Teller,  Claims Dispatch Clerk, Mapping Clerk, Reinsurance Underwriter, small town Ladies Clothing Shop, Customer Service Clerk at Retail store with largest sales at West Edmonton Mall, House Cleaning, File Clerk and Housing Clerk.

30.  Wrote Groom’s speech for my friend to give at her brother’s wedding.

31.  Broke handle off new shovel while digging out dead cedar tree from my back garden area two years ago.  Still do not believe that one.

32.  Grateful to have attended concerts for two of my favourite entertainers:  Celine Dion and Sir Elton John.

33.  Good at making meals from virtually nothing.  I love challenging myself to using everything in my pantry and fridge.

34.  Love making up new recipes.

36.   Grew up on the farm and helped with everything from stacking bales when haying, to housework, to looking after siblings, to cooking, gardening and other chores all before age 14.

37.   After moving from the farm in Saskatchewan to British Columbia …. my Mom, Sister and I spent that first summer picking berries.  Hard work but definitely had payoff.

 

Sure is a test of the memory banks.

Always, Carol

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 21st day of November, 2016.

Wow, the weekend is over?

Those hours zipped by for sure.

It was an eventful, fun and good news kind of weekend.

This is a story that I shared on Facebook on the weekend and I thought that perhaps I would share it with all of you.

Just to share my morning with you all and perhaps bring a smile to your face. One of the first things that I do on a Saturday morning is to make coffee in my percolator. I love the way it tastes. Some time ago the little glass piece where the coffee races to the top as it goes through the percolating process BROKE. I was devastated thinking that I would have to go out and buy a new pot. But I was able to “fix it” and life carried on until this morning. Drum roll. I put the coffee on as usual and ran upstairs to get dressed and grab the laundry to start. While I was upstairs I called my neighbour to let her know that coffee would be ready shortly and to come grab a mug, (we do this every weekend). After I hung up I went downstairs to find a dark liquid on the counter and running into the sink and onto the floor and all over the back splash on the cupboard and on and on and on. I did not freak out (which is a good thing). But I did hope beyond hope that there was coffee left but alas it was not fully perked and was only warm and most of it escaped. So I picked up the toaster that had been there earlier so that the moisture would not destroy it. Grabbing the towels that had been folded up on the counter and without thinking started to wipe up the coffee. Argh, they were my Christmas ones that are white with Christmas scenes on them. Oh well now they will be mocha with Christmas scenes on them. I took everything off the counter and quickly cleaned and wiped while all the time watching for my neighbour. I managed to remake the pot before she arrive and we patiently waited while the second pot perked. I WATCHED the pot to ensure that it didn’t BLOW the “glass part” again. We finally had coffee which was good. I pulled out the stove as the coffee had run down there, too. Ended up vacuuming the dust bunnies that always seem to collect there, and washing behind the stove as well. I had pulled out the pot and pan draw underneath and found COFFEE in there so took out all of the 1,000 pieces of tupperware and other containers and cleaned the drawer. Okay this is beginning to look like a book. Ended up moving out the fridge because if you are going to move one appliance then you might as well do them all. Right. I borrowed my neighbour’s steam floor mop and cleaned the floor. The main floor was clean. But was it really. Over the course of several hours I had pulled out the utensil drawer only about five times. It seemed for some reason not to slide as easily as usual. Finally I realized that that drawer had about 1/8 inch of coffee in the bottom which covered every single little gadget in the drawer.
Okay finally got 500 little things all washed up. ALL FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE……. What a morning but on the upside my kitchen is CLEAN, CLEAN from top to bottom and every place in between…. Happy Saturday.

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

So after all of that one of my old friends who happens to live hundreds of miles away in Ontario is having a lid sent to me.  He knows

someone in the “coffee business.”

How blessed am I?

Saturday was busy.

Yesterday was the Christmas Event.

It was crazy fun.

 

Stella & Dot had some beautiful jewellery and other fashion items like purses and this huge weekend tote, very nice.

Scentsy would not like to smell amazing scents, very nice.

Steeped Tea was a hit and I did quite well sales wise and was able to introduce people to our product.

Very proud am I to be Canadian as Steeped Tea is a Canadian Business.

That was my Sunday.

Weekend over.

Good news on the Elton front (my grand-puppy not so much a puppy any longer but he has his days for sure) ….. after a couple of days on some new

medicine he is feeling a bit better.  We wish him pain free days and to have many many more days with his family.

Time to go to work again, seems like I just left on Friday and it is already Monday.

Have an awesome Monday everyone.

Special Hello to: Elton, we love you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

P.S. I was able to restore the towels to their before mocha colour …. white.  Whew.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 5th day of August, 2016.

Oh my goodness there is such an amazing cool breeze filling the house at this moment.

I have all of the windows open to drink in this beautiful air.

It touches my arm and feels so good.

Comfortable for the boy as well.

We should have been up and gone for an early morning stroll as I had planned to do on my vacation days but alas the sofa called with tidbits of dreams that filled my mind.

Oh well, we shall walk later.

Last night later in the evening just as the last bit of sunlight filled the sky, Alvin and I sat outside on the patio sofa and enjoyed the stillness of the night.

It was so wonderful.

He loves to sit there with me any chance he has.

Yesterday was an amazing day every minute.

Started out with Elton and Casey dropping by to spend the day with me and Alvin.

We had a quiet early morning just visiting and going out into the backyard.

Enjoying each other’s company.

I guess it was just before ten in the morning when I head out to mail a couple of packages and to pick up some items to make a pot of chilli.

I was gone less than one hour.

When I was within ear shot of the house; I could see a big multi-coloured cat just leaving our yard and then I heard them.

All three were barking …. all three different voices….. all so cute.

They were happy to see me as I was happy to see them.

We spent the rest of the day doing bits of this and that.

A huge parcel arrived for me from my friend “V” back in Regina.

Some items were the tupperware that I had ordered when she was here to visit (she sells tupperware) and the rest of delectable goodies for my upcoming birthday.

There was an apron to match the one she wore when she cooked the best homemade soup on the planet and a beautiful mug in matching pinks and greens – birds of a feather – flock together.

There was a brownie peanut butter cup birthday cake and three kinds of cookies and I will mention here that two of the cookies were tucked into two of the pieces of tupperware and it was not until I opened them to wash them that I noticed the cookies.  What a delightful surprise.

She gave me a tupperware insulated lunch bag that is of nautical design and so nice.  There were two additional pieces of tupperware to boot and the winning $60 million lotto ticket for tonight’s draw.

What an awesome person she is, so thoughtful and kind and oh so generous.

This has been the week of wonderful parcels arriving at my house …..

In the afternoon my friend “P” stopped by to drop off some apples from her tree and was surprised to see me at home.

I haven’t seen here since I have been on vacation.

She was on her way to get her hair cut and I invited her to come for tea on her way home which she did.

We had such an awesome visit.

She loves puppies as well and they all got many a pat while she was visiting.

Mr. Alvin was just a tad bit jealous of Casey, I will say.

I made the chilli for supper and have enough leftover for the next million years.

I froze most of it …..

The kids picked up the puppies after work and after all their errands.

We had an awesome day.

Later just before our walk we delivered a Steeped Tea Catalogue to one of my neighbours and friends and of course had a wee visit.

Then we walked.

Then after I put the chilli in the fridge and freezer Alvin and I retired to the deck where we enjoyed the late night air and stillness of it all.

What a glorious day …..

I am so grateful to have such amazing family and friends.

I am so touched by the generosity and as I said most grateful.

Well time to get this late morning on the road.

My head was filled with all sorts of odd dreams this morning so I just let them happen.

Sometimes you just have to do that ….. even though there are things I should/could be doing.

After all is that not what vacation is for ???? to dream???

Happy Friday ALL.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” thank you, thank you, thank you.  You should have a parcel delivered today.  I have to check the tracking number.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 8th day of August, 2015.

Today is my niece-in-law’s 39th Birthday ….. Happy Birthday “S” ….. we hope you have a great day.

We have lots of friends and family birthdays in August.

Mine is tomorrow.

I will be “58”

Have you ever just sat and thought about all of the things that you have done and seen in your lifetime thus far?

I have …..

Here are some of the things that I have done or accomplished and seen from birth until today.

• lived on a farm
• had one sister and three brothers
• changed diapers before started Grade one
• went to school, learned to read and to write (loved biology)
• earned first money babysitting for neighbours at age 8 (back in the day)
• wrote poetry throughout my childhood (my Grandma kept ones I wrote to her)
• still writing years later
• drove a tractor and combine
• spent a winter in Texas as a child and swam in the Gulf of Mexico at Padre Island
• taught my siblings school that winter (they all passed with flying colours including me)
• lived in three Canadian provinces (Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta)
• went to four different schools in three different provinces from Grade 9 to 12
• black and white to colour televisions
• computers
• man on the moon
• went in a prop plane to California in the 70’s.
• gave birth to my daughter
• visited Victoria, B.C. (twice) … love antique shops
• Canadian Cities visited: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, WInnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton
• Visited the Rocky Mountains in Canada
• Banff and Jasper, Alberta Parks
• visited the World Trade Center in New York in 1994.
• went to a musical on Broadway in New York
• visited Las Vegas twice
• visited Las Angeles, California and walked in the Pacific Ocean
• belonged to the Downtown Optimist Club in Regina
• was Optimist of the Year (very proud moment) and held various positions within the organization
• visited Montreal, Quebec and Quebec City ……
• continued with Volunteer work in Edmonton – Capital City Cleanup Block Captain (keeping area clean)
• retired early after 30 years (with same company)
• back to work now four years
• worked first real Retail Job after age of 50
• was top seller in said job
• adopted my first dog in 2010 (over 50) – me Alvin
• started my blog after age 50
• corresponded with a Wall St Journal journalist (after age 50)
• saw 58 years of the sun, moon and stars
• always had great friends ….. still do
• raised a gifted daughter ….. photographer ….. artist …. good person
• bought my first house on my own in Edmonton, this house (after age 50)
• started making jewellery with my daughter
• sold different things over the years like Tupperware, Fashion Two Twenty makeup ……
• visited several U.S. States over the years.
• most important, I am alive to celebrate another Birthday.

When you start making a list you suddenly realize that your life has been busy.

If you read this blog and you know me …. can you think of anything else notable?

Well time to have a shower and get ready for my “Birthday party”.

My friends “S” and “G” are having a party for me at our coffee date.

I have very thoughtful friends.

With the sun shining and a cool breeze I shall start this Saturday.

Grand-puppies here to keep Mr. Alvin company while I am out.

It is funny I keep thinking of things and adding them to the list ….. time to go though.

Make that list and see that you yourself have been an important part of this planet.

Have a wonderful Saturday.

Special Hello to: “S” Happy Birthday …… Also my cousin “M” who was born on my birthday.

So many birthdays……

Always, Carol and Alvin