Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Can you believe that it is the weekend once again? My how the time flies. I have a long list of things to accomplish over the next weekends until Christmas. Alvin needs a haircut but I don’t want to do it too soon or he may need a trim and then he has a vet appointment on December 1st and definitely needs a trim before then. So I have decided on Sunday, tomorrow, in the afternoon I will give him a haircut and bath. I believe that the temperature is too be mild for this time of year. There is always laundry to do. Some of the gals that placed Steeped Tea orders from me are coming to pick up their “teas” this weekend. My daughter said that she is coming for a visit. I have that Christmas project that yes, I have not gained any momentum on that as yet. I put it together and it has sat for weeks. I just got stuck. I have other ideas and now cannot make a decision for love nor money. Oh well, there are still “how many days and weeks until Christmas Eve.” I have not counted as yet and that is likely good. Anyway, I always seem to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat (just so you know I would never place a bunny in a hat like that). I mean that I will somehow magically get the project done. I always do somehow. There be cleaning to do and I always would like to make some “energy bites” and “scones.” I love the versatility of both of these as you can make them your own depending on what you have in your pantry and fridge. The energy bites are: oatmeal, coconut, dried cranberries, almonds (the roasted ones from COSTCO) with honey and peanut butter and likely will throw in some M&M’s leftover from Halloween (tucked away for just this). The scones I will add perhaps blueberries. I still do not have eggs. Remember my last time with making scones. The eggs gone very bad!! Anyway that is part of the plan. Always things to do. I am happy that most of my shopping is done and some of the wrapping. Need to pick up things for the fur babies who in our circle have increased in numbers over the past year. We have the grandpups Aspen and Milo. We have our neighbours, the cats Humphrey and Bogart. We have Alvin’s BF Teddy and his little sister Kobi. Then I cannot forget Mr. Alvin. So lots of babies.

Well the clock is ticking away and it is 9:04 a.m. already. I have only changing bedding on our bed and have written this, oh and I guess I have entered in a couple of contests/draws from store receipts. Who wouldn’t like to win a VISA gift card or free groceries. Me, I would.

I hope that you are well. The sunrise is beautiful once again. When I was outside with Mr. Alvin about 45 minutes ago – it was delightful. Definitely will get a walk in today. Looking at my mid section and Mr. Alvin’s – well we have to get outside more often and for longer when the weather permits. I guess we both have to cut down on our food intake. Pretty difficult when we both love to eat. Isn’t it funny how our four-leggeds are more like us than not.

Wishing good health, some fun and laughter and abundance. I hope as I continue to live my life with kindness and respect that you are as well.

Oh, last night I had a great visit with my neighbours down the street. I snapped some photos of their beautiful decorated yard. Oh, I guess I have to figure out why I am not able to upload / download photos from phone to computer. Yes, that has been on the list for awhile. I have to write these things down so that when I can capture my daughter for help, I don’t forget. My poor girl – always has a long list of things to help her “old” Momma with.

Happy Saturday. Alvin is laying outside the office door waiting “patiently.”

Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning,

Da, Da ….. Welcome to the first day of FALL 2020.

Our skies are overcast with deep blue clouds …. I think there was some rain in our forecast.

The trees are beginning to turn the most glorious shades of yellow, orange and red.

The grass is amazingly still a rich green due to the rain we have been having all summer long.

There does not appear to be any sign of a breeze this morning.

FALL is here.

The rabbits will be starting to turn colour shortly.

The geese are beginning to fly in large flocks overhead.

Thanksgiving is around the corner.

My neighbours are getting married on October 3, 2020.

I am excited for another fall wedding.

My daughter and son-in-law got married in October of 2008.

Seems like an eternity ago.

I am so happy that my flowers on the deck and in the back garden are still doing okay.

Of course, not as colourful and green as they once were as after all it is almost the end of September.

But there is some colour.

My potted tomato plant has a mass of small little green tomatoes with one tomato a bit bigger.

Oh, I did forgot there are a few that are starting to turn red.

I may pull them and ripen them in the house.

This is the time of year where we play a waiting game with respect to the frost.

I do pay attention to the weather forecast.

Once we get a hard frost …. it is most difficult to clean out the flower pots.

Basically you have to cut down the plants and put the roots in the spring.

Now that is okay but I would prefer to prep the pots for spring now but either way works.

I did want to load up the front flower bed with some fresh top soil but with the way that time is passing not sure that is going to happen before spring either.

Perhaps I will leave that although I did want to plant my tulips now.

Decisions decisions, decisions.

 

Quick story before heading back downstairs to grab some coffee,  move Alvin’s bed from the living room to the kitchen.

So yesterday after work we went for a walk.

We had a nice visit with our friend Pauline, her granddaughter and her boyfriend in the yard before heading to complete the last half of our walk.

Her garden, Pauline’s flowers are still as beautiful as mid summer.

Gorgeous.

When we got around to Alvin’s friend Teddy’s house ….. I had to let him go in.

Usually I say when he walks toward the driveway, “not today buddy.”

Perhaps I add “Teddy is at the farm” …. because they have been at the farm lots this summer.

But last night I thought let’s go in for a visit.

So in we went.

Teddy and Kobi swarmed me ….. jumping up ….. so excited to see me, us.

Alvin, of course headed to see if there was some food out in Teddy’s dish.

What a guy.

I could also smell something good and Iris had just baked an apple/raisin pie.

Oh that smelled so good.

Reminded me of fall.

Reminded me of the apply/pumpkin candles from Bath & BodyWorks.

Iris said “come out to the back and we can sit on the deck.”

She had stained it over the weekend and it looked so great.

We had a great visit.

Teddy had jumped up and snuggled on my lap for most of our visit.

Kobi not far away.

Alvin checking every so often.

Enjoying the warm temperature of the late afternoon.

Then before we knew it …. time to go home.

Alvin managed to snag this treat called a “bully stick.”

You do not want to know where it comes from and I am not going to say.

Anyway Alvin had this treat hanging out of his mouth and would not give it up.

Iris said “that’s okay, he can have it.”

So on our way we went.

Alvin galloping ahead with the treat hanging out of this mouth, a man with a mission.

He did not turn his head or stop until we were almost home (by the park) where I was distracted for a second by something but then noticed

he had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, pooped and then started to walk.

Treat still in his mouth.

I stopped of course, picked up the poop and then with some water from his water dish I poured over to clean up the remains.

OMG, I was mortified.

Not on the sidewalk but what can you do.

We were really close to home when we, I noticed some neighbours coming toward us with their dog.

As we approached each other, they both said hello, giggled and remarked about how Alvin looked like a guy on a mission.

That he did.

He did not stop other than that quick little poop and when I stopped.

He was truly a guy on a mission.

Alvin has not really chewed the treat but has carried it around the house even to bed last night.

It is sitting in the hallway waiting to be retrieved on our way downstairs.

Okay gotta go.

 

Have an awesome day.

Take care and be safe.

Living with Kindness and Respect.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning ALL,

Wow, can you believe that it is April 30th, 2020.

Last day of April already.

 

Yesterday was an OVER the TOP FANTASTIC day for me and I will include Mr. Alvin in that declaration.

This is what happened:

1. One of my girl friends picked up some light bulbs that I had been needing.
2. My daughter and one of my grand-pups came for a visit, we did not hug and practiced social distancing and she wore a mask inside the house.  She also brought me lunch and a cold treat which I forgot to have for dessert last night.  My favorite “buster bars” from Dairy Queen.  She also gave me some “dilly bars.”  So great to see them and catch up in real time.
3. EPCOR phoned and arrived just before 2:30 p.m.
4. My friend the plumber arrived shortly thereafter.
5. TAP fixed with only a couple of momentarily hiccups just after 4:00 p.m.
6. Found out that my smoke detectors had expired (did not realize if they were hard-wired that they had to be replaced, but if one thinks about it, makes sense).  Check yours.
7. Went for a walk with Alvin.
8. Another friend down the street who is an electrician happened to be out walking with his youngest son  – so I asked him about the smoke detectors and replacing them.
9. Our friend P and her grand pup Georgie were out working in her backyard and she invited us in for a visit.  Social distancing of course.  We stayed in the backyard.
10. Happy to hear the sound of silence throughout the evening.
11. My neighbour mowed the front lawn and I was so caught up with everything that I did not notice when we arrived home from our walk.
12. Lovely evening …. just hanging out and watching episodes of “Love It or List It, Vancouver.”
13. Perfection and a full day.
14. I also worked in the morning.

 

What a incredible day.

I am over the moon happy to have the kitchen tap fixed.

Now I have a few more things to get repaired/replaced.

YAY.

It is the small things (and not to say that these are small things).

Does not have to be a luxury trip around the world.

Does not have to be a lotto win.

Having a tap fixed.

Lunch with your daughter and grandpup.

Chatting with a friend in her yard enjoying the early blooming spring flowers.

Having someone mow the lawn unexpectedly.

I am so blessed and so grateful.

 

Okay time to grab that coffee and do the poo pick up.

I wish you a world of small things.

Enjoy your Thursday.

With kindness and respect.

 

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin