2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this morning? We are doing great. Bed about 10:00 p.m., first time up at 4:00 a.m. and then again at almost 6:00 a.m. – feeling rested this morning. I hope that you had a good sleep as well. The sun is shining brightly this morning and I feel that it is going to be an awesome day. Today we get an estimate to replace our shingles. It will be a relief to have them replaced as they are in poor condition despite the age of them. They were not a good quality and were not properly affixed to the roof. Most of the folks in our neighbourhood have or are replacing them. Yesterday my kids changed their cell phone provider, one of those “visits” to the door kind of thing and then because something had to be done with my phone in person, my kids had to make an “emergency” trip to my house. They brought the pups. It was great to see them all. What a whirlwind of an evening. After supper I went for groceries as well. All is fixed now and the fridge is full once again. Wow, fruits and vegetables are sure expensive these days. Also a gal from work who placed a tea order a while back is coming for an outside visit and to pick up her tea. We will be walking after work as the shingle estimator is coming at noon. I am so happy to see the sun shining so brightly. My flowers are looking so pretty this morning. A warm day on the way, about +24 degrees celsius.

Now that was a paragraph jammed packed full of a mix of things. No rhyme or reason, just the way things spill out of my brain.

We are watching Cynder, Humphrey and Bogart this weekend while their Momma is taking a weekend trip. She deserves a break as she has been working so hard. I am excited to spend time with them. Might even bring the cats to our house.

Also before I forget. The night before last, I was having a craving for something sweet. So what happened next? I baked some cookies. No chocolate chips? Nope. I made using my base chocolate chip cookie recipe a new cookie blend. I made the most delectable cookies with “raisins and coconut.” Just happen to have lots of those sweet items on hand so that is what I used. The different chew between the raisins and the coconut” made them ultra chewy and mmmm good.

Time to get this show on the road. Get the coffee brewing (premade earlier this morning).

Wishing you a wonderful day. May you laugh and have so much joy this Thursday.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, gratitude always.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 10th day of February, 2018.

The sun is rising and the sky is clearing and it is WARM outside.

What a great way to begin the weekend.

Just about to get ready to take Alvin for his regular appointment at his Doctor’s and to include his slightly overdue vaccinations.

Somehow or other I missed seeing the reminder card in the mail but noticed it on one of the recent receipts.

So today we have an enjoyable walk and also get him back on track.

Also today I am baking a chocolate cake for my friend’s birthday party tomorrow which I am hosting.

I have to research to find out some ideas for decorations, something easy but unique.

There of course is always laundry and cleaning the toilets.

That is one thing that I could do without …. cleaning out the white porcelain bowl.

Oh well, that is life.

 

Last night the City of Edmonton had their big trucks out in the neighbourhood.

They were valiantly attempting to scrap the streets and sand them.

But of course there were so many people parked on the streets, making that almost impossible.

Doesn’t anyone listen to the radio, news or read signs?

People.

 

Well I hope that this finds you having a perfect Saturday morning.

I am so excited to go for a walk this morning.

It is so nice outside for a change.

Nothing tropical but considerably warmer than usual.

 

Happy Saturday.

Special Hello to: You, of course.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 15th day of October, 2017.

What a beautiful morning as the sun rises into a clear blue sky.

The temperature for the next few days is forecasted to be in the double digits….. over 10 degrees celsius …. seems like a cooler summer day.

Looking forward to our walk this afternoon.

 

Today is my eldest grand-pup “Miss Aspen’s” 2nd Birthday and today also is the day that my kids adopted Baby Milo (who was just a few months old when he was adopted).

Happy Birthday Aspen and Happy Adoption Day Baby Milo.

Aspen and Milo – first Christmas with our family – Dec 2016.

 

Puppy watch went great yesterday.

Teddy and Alvin got along just fine.

Alvin of course, if Teddy wanted his chew treat (which at the time he had in his mouth) would growl.

But nothing out of the normal there.

They even played a bit ….. although Alvin is working on his technique.

I played with Teddy some and snuggled as he likes that per his Momma.

It was so cute when he first arrived he ran and ran and when his Momma came to pick him up he ran and ran.

This cute black and white ball of fur.

We enjoyed our time with Teddy.

It looks like we are on for next Saturday as well.

 

Today is the work day ….. finish off the laundry….do some cleaning ….. change bedding……walk…..go get groceries……some other odd and ends.

That is okay we had an awesome relaxing, fun Saturday.

 

Time to get to work.

Even got to sleep in this morning.

Coffee …………

 

Happy Sunday Everyone.

I hope that wherever you are and whatever you are doing that you are having some fun and laughing.

We all need to laugh more.

Tell someone a joke or just have a giggle.

 

Special Hello to:  all those dreamers ….. keep on dream’

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 20th day of October, 2016.

WOW, Thursday.

Dark outside now.

This weekend we change our clocks back one hour.

That will be fun come Monday morning.

It does take a couple of weeks to recover from the change or at least get used to it.

Alvin is ahead of it all.

He started oh about a month now.

Practising.

Argh.

Poor Momma.

Last night we received another sweet delight parcel from our friend “V.”

Alvin went crazy ( I did not realize right away that there was something special for him in the box).

Of course, I should know better.

Of course, he can smell things at a great distance.

This was close up.

Needless to say he loved his treats.

His Momma loved hers as well.

Of course, have not eaten them all or else I would have had an upset tummy.

Not good.

I even received flowers.  The orange ones are called Japanese Lanterns, so pretty.

I placed them on my fireplace mantle.

Truly we are spoiled.

We appreciate the generosity and thoughtfulness of our dear friend “V.”

We are working on something special for her – it is a surprise – don’t tell her.

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Yesterday the temperature was so beautiful, today the same and tomorrow even warmer.

We have fall back.

Most of the snow has melted now and voile there is green grass.

YAY.

So we are happy.

A few more days of nice is always good.

I hope that you have a great Thursday.

Take time for you.

Be kind to others.

Special Hello to: Everyone ….. thank you for reading my blog.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, the 28th day of January 2016.

Well four days left in the first month of 2016.

Our weather for the first month of 2016 has been amazing ….. so much warmer than an average January in Western Canada.

The one thing that comes with rain and warm temperature in the winter is ICE.

Well that walk for me and so many others who catch the bus to work yesterday morning was so treacherous.

I left my house twenty minutes earlier because of the ice knowing full well it would be a long slow journey to the bus.

I went from my steps to the snow covered lawn and when I made it to the sidewalk out front of my house.

The sidewalk was sparking in a sheet of ice.

Perfect for skating but not so much for winter boots.

So I kicked some of the snow onto the sidewalk and was able to safely cross the sidewalk onto the street.

I managed to cross to the sidewalk on the other side only to find another sheet of ice so very carefully I stepped up and into/onto the snowbank on the edge.

Only one thing the snow was deeper than my boots ….. so I could feel my boots filling …. lucky for me it was warm out so I did not feel the wet right away.

I very slowly and cautiously carried on as far the mailbox.

Here I had to step down and go around …. some of the ground was okay …. I held onto the mailboxes as I crossed to the next snowbank.

Always in between crossing back lanes to the next sidewalk and snowbank.

When I got to the street that I usually take to the walkway to the main street again it was icy ….. so I tried to step in spots where there were chunks of snow and stayed away from the sidewalk.

Managed to get to the walkway.

When I looked down it this is what I saw.

A long sidewalk that gleamed in the street lights …..

One side snowbank up to my knees.

Other side snowbank up to my knees lined with rose bushes.

The entrance to the walkway had the snow piled up so I had to do some climbing and did I mention I had a big bag of teas that I was delivering to work??

YIKES.

I took a deep breath and said a little confidence builder ….. “You can do this.”

Up and slowly stepping until I got down to where the snow was only knee deep.

It wasn’t too bad until I reached the rose bushes and because they were close to the edge I had to gingerly hold on to them and make my way along.

It seemed to take forever but was only a few moments.

The walkway is quite long but I did it.

When I got to the entrance to the main street I took a look about ….. ice everywhere.

Again hit the snowbank and kept on going.

Some places I was able to walk on the street but these streets are busy with people going to work and they are not watching for ME on the street where they are driving.

Plus most of our streets are lined with cars on both sides …. which does not help.

Finally I arrived at the last street to cross before the last sidewalk to the bus.

Just took my time ….. slipped a few times but did not fall.

Sometimes I think that is worse as when I got onto the bus I could feel the tightness in my shoulders ….

Oh well all in the day ….. all in the life.

When I got to to the bus stop I was so relieved.

There were points that I almost turned around and went home but then I thought what am I going to say and besides no vacation days left ….. so I had to go.

When the bus arrived it was an icy few steps but thankfully the driver let down the step so that it was easier to get onto the bus.

When I sat down I was so happy….

My thoughts did go to getting off the bus …. downtown would likely be icy.

When I got off of the bus I saw this small sanding machine being driven down the street and that was good.

I took the long way around to the office as I knew that the entire street by this one company would be in good order for walking and it was.

I managed to get to work with a few minutes to spare …..

P.S. my socks and pants up to the top of my boots were wet …. they dried quickly.

This leads me to the next thing …. one of the girls that I work with offered to drive me to MARKS or CANADIAN TIRE and pick up these rubber pulls on that have spikes on them.

Perfect for walking on ice.

So after work off we went stopping at MARKS first ….. instead of looking about ….. we just asked the CASHIER and she pointed them out.

“Studded Snow Tires for your feet” …. that is what they are called.

It was the best $30 that I have ever spent …. well almost anyway.

I tried them on when I got home and they fit perfectly …..

With all of the melting there was a big pool of water and ice out front of my house (it dips down there to the storm drain)….

Why not, I thought …. oh and yes, I looked after me Alvin before going ice chipping.

Long story a bit short ….. I could walk with them on …. no slipping.

This morning I am excited for my walk knowing that I will be safe and not have to worry about falling onto the ice.

I will be careful of course ….. that goes without saying.

It will be a much different experience than yesterday.

Well time to head out …… have a great day.

If you live where there is ice …. you need to pick these up ….. “Studded Snow Tires for your Feet.”

Have a great Thursday ….. whew almost the weekend.

Special Hello to: all fellow humans who live where there is ice and snow.

Always, Carol and Alvin