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

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Wednesday Morning.

Full moon still glowing this morning as the sun began to rise in the sky.

The sky is clear as the sun begins to rise.

What a beautiful morning …..

 

Alvin and I enjoyed not one but two walks yesterday.

We also bumped into our friends.

Alvin’s best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi and their Mom.

It was so nice to see them.

The pups were all able to say hello and we Mums kept to the social distancing.

We also chatted with our neighbours out front of our house and yes, we kept to the social distancing.

I will say that I was missing seeing my friends, our friends.

That human contact has been less and less with each week.

I see people walking by our house but that is about it.

I almost feel like sitting on our front porch and greet folks as they walk by.

Might be a bit creepy for folks or perhaps they would join me in the reaching out.

When you are living by yourself with no other adult or children the quiet eventually is too quiet.

I have always enjoyed having white noise in the background.

The television comes on at my morning coffee break.

I am going to turn on some music this morning.

Do a little chair dancing?

Why not?

 

I was thinking as I was getting ready this morning.

What will we be thinking when this is all over?

What will we have learned?

Will we have strengthened our family units?

Will we find children/families that were forgotten and neglected by society/by us?

Will more people continue to work from home?

Will the way we shop, socialize, work and play change forever?

Will we find that we have started new businesses from home?

Will we have become more creative?

Will we learn to be more patient?

Will things go back to the way they were?

Will they find a medicine or a cure to treat this virus?

Will this happen again?

Will this end?

 

There are so many questions.

Are there answers?

Perhaps.

Not likely today or tomorrow or even in two weeks or a month.

 

I hope that this finds you well.

I wish for you and your family no worries and that you go to bed with food in your bellies.

Take time to learn something new.

Maybe read that book that never gets read.

Take time to be still.

 

Time to grab my coffee and get to work.

I have such a long commute.

Between this computer and the laptop ….. oh, miles and miles.

Sense of humour, I have.

 

Happy Wednesday.

I/We remain, with kindness and respect,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to the weekend.

Well this Saturday morning is not quite as beautiful weather wise as Friday.

The sky is overcast and it is lightly snowing.

When we were first up at 4:00 a.m., the snow had already started.

 

How are you doing today?

Me, to be honest going into yesterday I was actually feeling pretty great.

I had a productive day.

We received notice about government decisions that will add a new layer of work with deadlines.

So life goes on.

I am not complaining but this VIRUS affects everyone to some degree.

You may have been laid off from your job.

You may qualify for Employment Insurance Benefits.

You may qualify for other Federal Government Benefits.

You may be on a fixed income.

You may be working from work.

You may have the virus.

Family member might have the virus and you are worried.

You may be self-isolating after an out of country trip.

You may have money invested and see the market downturn.

You might be older or have a comprised immune system and be worried about your health.

You may not be able to get out for groceries and when you do the shelves are empty.

You may just be worried.

You may be what is deemed to be an essential service such as Health Care Workers, Utilities and such.

You may be in Health Care and working alongside people with the virus and worried for you and your family.

You may persons in charge of watching over the populations trying your best to make things right.

Whether a scientist, world leader, doctor, nurse or parent.

We are all in this together.

 

It is snowing a bit harder now.

I wish that I could wave a magic wand and make it better for all my fellow human beings.

For now Alvin and I are doing okay.

He definitely has set into the routine as at the times that I should be leaving the “office” for breaks and after work, he jumped up and stared at me.

I ended up working later as I wanted to finish returning phone calls.

He was not happy.

Even Alvin knows to self care.

I can learn from him.

Anyway, we had two wonderful walks last night.

My neighbours worked on draining more of the water and chipped more ice from our side of the street.

So grateful for them.

We had supper.

I worked for a bit in the evening.

Watched PICARD.

I was not surprised by the turn of events as when the show started I noticed something I had noticed but not paid close attention.

Well it came to fruition during the episode.

I do not wish to release that bit of information for those who may not have seen the show yet.

 

Well I shall be going.

There be laundry to do.

I was thinking that I should be cleaning the light fixtures.

Bedding to change.

After the bedding is changed and the first load of laundry has been started, it will be time for COFFEE and TOAST.

 

We will be okay.

There will be moments.

For sure.

Did you watch PLUTO Living yet?

Oh you must.

The cutest little four-legged (don’t tell Alvin I said that).

Remember to laugh.

Try not to be worried.

We will prevail.

We will get through this.

Things will be different, I would imagine.

But different is not always bad.

So I have found out.

Change seems to be happening on a regular basis.

As this world of ours evolves.

 

Have a great Saturday.

Take some time to relax.

Have a cup of coffee or tea or your favourite beverage.

Hugs from a distance.

Go for a walk.

Do something unexpected for someone.

Do something expected for you.

Be kind and respectful.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to DAY FIVE of working from home.

We have company this morning.

Humphrey is joining us for the day.

Poor boy has a dew claw that is grown in.

The cat that has three legs.

I think Alvin has been talking to him and realized that he is hurting as he is whining.

Poor Humphrey.

Hopefully his Mom is able to get him into the VET shortly.

 

We only managed to get one partial walk in yesterday.

It was messy out and we got about halfway on our new route and Alvin had enough and turned for home.

I did make several attempts to sway him into continuing but alas we turned around and came home.

We received word yesterday that at this point it appears that we will remain closed to the public and continue to work from home until April 30th.

They will reassess the situation mid April and take it from there.

I am slowly getting into this and it is becoming less stressful.

I am grateful to have more time at home with Alvin especially as he is getting older.

I am grateful to have a much SHORTER commute.

I am grateful that I have a job and that I can work from home and continue to be paid.

 

Life goes on.

Yesterday I managed to have a nice chat with one of my dear friends.

She is the one that has the amazing yard and flowers every year.

We had been playing tag for quite some time and they had gone for a cruise at the end of January and home near end of February.

They had no outbreaks on the ship but when they arrived home they made sure to self-isolate.

Her husband has some heart issues so that was important.

 

After supper and clean up was done, I was on FB for a little bit.

Commenting on a friend’s post about her Dad’s birthday.

Another friend also posted.

At that moment, I wondered their connection.

But did not take the time to ask? (privately, of course).

A little while later, the friend asked me how I knew them.

Then we chatted via messenger for a nice long while.

Finding more connections we have …..

What a small world.

The Dad and that friend, I knew the family from my childhood.

One of the sister was a dear friend of mine and has since passed away from Cancer.

The friend that knew this family had so many connections to them herself and through her late husband (who was a dear friend of mine).

 

How wild and wonderful is this time on earth we call our lives!

Well I am running a tad late as I decided why would I get up so early when I could just rest on our nice cozy sofa.

THen the phone rang and it was Humphrey’s Mom.

The coffee pot is calling my name.

It always takes a few minutes to get everything set up on the computer.

 

I hope this finds you well.

Relaxing and less stressed this week than last.

Each day that passes and we make it through is a good one.

We will endure, we always will.

Will things be different after this has ended.

You betcha, things will be different.

Businesses will realize that they can continue business with employees working from home.

New business practices will arise.

Governments will make some stark realizations, and perhaps start working together to have a GLOBAL PLAN in place.

Unfortunately I think this will keep happening.

Humans are a strange creature and always doing things we were not meant to do.

 

Be safe and kind to others.

Fill your days with goodness and respect.

There is always something you can do for yourself and for others.

I think spring cleaning can be started.

Watch the videos of a little doggie named “Pluto.”

He makes me smile and laugh so loud.

 

Happy Wednesday.

Oh, the sun is rising and the sky is clear.

Sunny day, oh I hope so.

 

Always, Carol, Alvin and today with us, Humphrey.

Friends come in all sizes and shapes.

Don’t worry thankfully these are old photos and Humphrey is not wearing the bright yellow cone.

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Day TWO of working at home for me.

Well actually I was pleasantly surprised and most happy that everything went well.

I was able to do my work (there are a couple of jobs that we are not able to do at this time from home but that is okay).

We are able to take phone calls as we have a new phone system that we have had for a little while now.

With this phone system we are able to download their APP and set up on our cell/mobile phones.

So it is okay.

Phone calls are not my favourite thing to do but that is okay …

Our clients need to have multiple ways of contacting us and even more so since our office has closed to the public.

 

Yesterday one of our friends and her daughter came to take Alvin for a walk in the early afternoon.

I got him dressed including his jacket as the wind was cool.

He seemed like he was happy to be going out.

I watched from the living room window as they went down the steps and tried to go onto the public sidewalk.

They were on the sidewalk and Alvin was still half way down the sidewalk looking back at the house.

He has separation issues, clearly.

After a few minutes they walked back to the house, Alvin stood on the porch and whined.

I opened the door and his walk was over.

I felt bad as they were really excited to take him for a walk.

He knows them both really well as we see them all the time.

Anyway what can you do.

We did go for a nice walk after work.

4:05 p.m. the computer was off and I was downstairs and few minutes later we were out the door.

Sure is nice not having the commute.

 

The sky is clear as the sun begins to rise.

I can smell the coffee perking and am excited to have a mug of my freshly brewed from beans coffee.

It is a good thing that today marks the beginning of the weekend.

I am pooped, all of this has been slightly exhausted.

 

Alvin was supposed to have his regular vet appointment tomorrow however, they want to close to all non-essential visits for Saturdays (weekends) and during the week.

As Alvin goes in regular and needs to have his anal glands checked out, we have an appointment today at 4:30 p.m.

I will pick up another bag of his food and his glucosamine chews.

 

Well it is almost 7:30 a.m. and 1/2 hour till I officially start work although I will start a bit early.

Getting set up ….. and all.

 

Please keep an eye on any seniors or friends/family/neighbours that have mobility issues …. checking with them daily by phone, text or even if you set up a way to say hello

by going to their house, ringing the doorbell or knocking and they come to the window and wave or thumbs up.

Something ….

We need to keep an eye on each other.

Another new phrase “social distancing.”

Perhaps it is not new but I had not heard it before recently.

 

Be safe …..

Treat others and yourself with Kindness and Respect.

 

Watch some old movies for fun.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

I got the first day of spring mixed up.

It would appear that spring officially came upon us YESTERDAY.

Oh my ……

I saw a bunny with a brown tail and ears.

That is the best sign ever.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 28th day of February, 2017.

Last day for this month.

Today is the Birthday of one of my nephews.

The second oldest one.

Happy Birthday “D” ….. Wishing you a great day.

We are well into this new year, for sure.

The mornings have been cold but have warmed up over the course of the day.

I have not had a “bad” cold for quite some time now I have the sore throat and runny nose.

Too bad all of those folks who cough into the air on the bus would not take a few more precautions.

Oh well ….

Last night my daughter gave me a ride home from work as she had to come to our area to pick up something.

It was nice to see her and for the ride.

I always enjoy our conversations.

Alvin was happy to see her.

Well this morning my head feels full of cob webs so I shall make this short.

I hope that you are all well and are enjoying this last day of February.

Special Hello to: my nephew “D” on his Birthday.

Always, Carol and Alvin