2021

Good Morning All! Welcome to another hot day in Edmonton. I will be over the moon when our a/c is serviced next week and I am willing to bet that Mr. Alvin feels the same. I certainly am not going to complain about these warm days as our summers are relatively short compared to our winter / cold months. So we do our best to keep cool. I would have escaped to the basement with Alvin but packing him up and down the stairs is not easy. He weighs a good 30 pounds give or take and I have to carry him a certain way so as not to hurt his knee any further. So we just spend our evenings in front of the fans. I do hope it cools down later in the evening.

Last night I was fixing the living room blinds so that Alvin could clearly see outside without having to strain looking through them semi open.
I noticed there was a little robin standing on the top of the front flower bed. It didn’t seem to be too disturbed by me watching through the open window with only a screen between us. It hopped about and into the dirt amongst the flowers, all the time holding something in its beak. I love robins. Partway through taking photos through the screen I decided to go outside and see if I could snap a photo or two. I was able to get a couple of our little visitor. I was thinking that perhaps the little one may be thirsty so I took a clear glass storage container and filled it with cool water. As I stepped off the last step and edged closer to the little feathered one, it semi flew and hopped onto my neighbour’s front flower bed. Surprisingly enough it didn’t fly away but hopped onto the grass. The water is left for any birdie or perhaps a bee needing a drink.

The second photo behind the screen is of the robin and is the first photo I took and then I went outside.

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  Little Visitor

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  Alvin

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  Keeping an eye out

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  Flower power

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  My little piece of heaven

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  Panoramic shot

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  Fav thing on hot day

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  From my vantage point

Well as our life continues to change with our new norm, we just continue to live one moment, one day at a time. Trying to keep some sense of sanity, patience, definitely patience and knowing that things will get better.

I am grateful that our sofa is comfortable but even at that it is not our bed. With the heat we struggle to get comfy and sometimes can make for a long night. But we will get through it, just one day at a time.

Wishing you a wonderful Friday.

Continuing to live each day with kindness , respect, compassion, patience, understanding love an gratitude.

2021

Good Morning ALL! Well another morning where Alvin was up at 4:47 a.m. (going in the right direction). The sky is overcast and there is a bit of a breeze which is refreshingly cool. We will be going for a walk in a few minutes so it will be enjoyable. Starting tomorrow our temperatures are going to soar with temperatures reaching 30 on Saturday, 32 on Sunday, 34 on Monday and Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday and Thursday, 33 on Friday and 31 on Saturday. Yikes. I had not looked that far in advance until now. These numbers represent degrees above in celsius so it will be hot. 30 degrees celsius = 86 degrees fahrenheit and 36 degrees celsius = 96.8 degrees fahrenheit. There will be no walks at noon or after work for the next week or so at that rate. We will make sure that we are up and out early in the morning so that we get that exercise and fresh air in before the heat of the day. If you have a pet please ensure that you are NOT out and about when there are extreme temperatures. You may be wearing shorts and enjoying the heat but they are wearing a fur coat and do not enjoy the heat. If they were in the wild, they would be sleeping in the shade somewhere trying to keep cool. Also do not take your pets with you in the car if you plan to make any stops. DO NOT LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED IN THE CAR. Please. Make sure that both yourself and your pet are hydrated. All creatures whether two or four legged require hydration. WATER, please. Also the asphalt will be hot and can burn the pads of your pups paws and the sidewalk will be hot as well. Take yourself and them for a walk in the early morning. Then stay somewhere cool. If that means the basement – then the basement it is. We may be spending time in the basement.

There is no chance of being overheated this morning and I am grateful for the reprieve from the heat today, this morning. We will certainly enjoy our walk.

When I was thinking that perhaps Alvin’s eyesight may be failing ….. I noticed when he was outside earlier that he was watching a bird in the air. The bird had not made a sound so he had to have seen him. He appeared to be following him flying in the sky. So the water dish thing. Not sure but luckily he likes to drink out of his new travel water dish so perhaps I will just starting giving him water out that way when we are in the house as well. Or try a new bowl. Hopefully this phase will not last. Oh, my boy.

Well it is time to head out for that walk. Stop and smell the roses and then come home and have some coffee.

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday. Be safe and careful. Enjoy each day. Live in gratitude.

Continuing to live this day as every day with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, understand and gratitude.

Always, Love Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you doing this Friday? YAY, we made it to another weekend. Alvin and I are well. He slept good so I slept good HOWEVER, since we came back upstairs for me to shower and get dressed, he has been a whiny pants. There is something about the placement of his water dish in our bedroom that now the past couple of days is suddenly freaking him out. He whines and paws and paws and whines when he tries to get a drink. Now if I was not in the shower it would not have been a big deal but of course, he is barking away when I am in the shower. Not just a matter of jumping out and back in. So I try to talk him down “off his ledge” from the shower. Did not work. He barked the whole time that I was in the shower. I sure hope that our neighbours did not hear him or me. Oh, please. Once I was out he stopped and I coaxed him to drink. I moved the dish over a bit but not sure if that will work or not. As the days, months and years pass, I have noticed that he has more anxiety. He used be anxious but that has climbed. I try to retain my patience and manage other than occasionally raising my voice which I know never helps any situation but when it is you are alone in the house except for an anxious dog …. HELP. Perhaps I should have taken him to see someone when he was younger but I did not. Now we just try to get through one day at a time. If anyone thinks that only humans suffer from anxiety – think again. I was thinking how great it has been for him to have me home for the last more than a year but I do not know anymore. I think that Alvin was sent to me to give me more patience. I would say that patience is definitely not a virtue for me. So I will continue to work on it and he will keep testing my patience to see if I am resolved my issues. What can you do?

I do not wish to complain ever as I have a GREAT life. We live in a beautiful home, have lots of good food to eat, I have a job, I am surrounded by loving, supportive, caring family and friends, we have good health, and we are able to walk everyday and I can do some of the things that I love to do such as writing. So I will plod on ….. plod on.

Well speaking of plodding – I had better get this train back on the tracks. One really has nothing to do with the other, lol. Really need that coffee ….

Please have a wonderful Friday. The weekend is just a few hours away …. some time perhaps to do something special for you.

Continuing to live this life with respect, kindness, compassion, PATIENCE, love and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. it may not sound like it but I love the little guy with my whole heart …. just sometimes the barking is not easy to handle. …… but we will get through it …. one moment …. one day at a time.

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

What a windy, rainy Thursday morning.

The rain appears to have set in for some time.

There is absolutely no sign of Mr. Sunshine anywhere.

No crack, no peep, no nothing.

Only grey ….. only grey….. as far as one can see.

It feels like a day when one should be curled up on the sofa under one’s most favourite blanket next to one’s favourite four-legged buddy.

Mr. Alvin, in my case.

Perhaps sipping on a mug of coffee or hot chocolate.

Maybe reading a nice book.

An actual book.

Just relaxing, enjoying life.

JOLT …. shaking head ….. blinking quickly ….. ARGH ….

 

Reality sits in and now I am dressed for work ….

No coffee, no blanket, no curling up with me Alvin.

Just doing the things that I always do on those mornings where I go to work.

Which seems like always.

Oh well ….

Ride will be here in a few minutes.

 

So grateful that we managed to get our walk in last night before the storm.

 

I am grateful to have a job – do not get me wrong.

The job …. the getting up in the morning …. allows me the luxury of having this house.

Our beautiful home.

Next to family and friends including all of our four-legged family and friends …. my house brings me so much joy.

I am most grateful…..

Even cleaning three bathrooms ….. is wonderful.

 

Well almost time to head downstairs one last time for this morning.

See if Mr. would like to go outside one last time before I leave.

It is raining …. so likely not.

Note to self …. fill Alvin’s water dish with fresh water (downstairs one).

 

I love my life.

My family

My friends.

My grand-pups, all of our fur friends.

Me Alvin.

My home.

My yard.

My life.

My job.

I am so blessed.

Thank you.

 

Kindness and Respect are always the way to go.

Sometimes I know you may think being kind and respectful is too much work or not worth it.

But trust me …

Always better to kind with respect.

Always.

Yes, Always.

 

Happy, Happy Thursday.

I guess I will be going out in the rain, too.

So grateful to have a ride and from work.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 11th day of April, 2019.

Wow, we are having quite the morning.

We were originally up at 3:00 a.m. and then went downstairs.

Alvin had his glucosamine chew and went outside.

Then we hit the sofa for what was supposed to be 99 minutes and apparently the microwave timer went off but I did not hear it.

So I woke up and it appeared to be getting lighter than it should have been.

I jumped up (scared Alvin) and ran to the kitchen.

Where the microwave clock said “5:58 a.m.”.

It took me a few seconds to wrap my head around the time.

Was it two minutes to 5 or what?

Nope it was 6:00 a.m. (or almost).

So I grabbed my pre cooked oatmeal from the fridge.

Threw it into the microwave to heat.

Quickly grabbed Alvin’s food from the pantry and filled his bowl.

Mixed in some coconut melt and clementine matcha and over top some blueberries.

I wrote just a few lines in my “gratitude journal.”

Ate quickly and then upstairs.

Water piked the teeth (as cannot start the day without that and with blueberries, you get the picture).

Brushed teeth,

slapped on some makeup.

Into clothes which thankfully I always lay out including socks and underwear.

Then grabbed rings, earrings, bracelet and watch.

Oh, in between brushed Alvin’s teeth and filled his upstairs water dish.

Laid down his blanket.

Onto the computer.

Here I am ….. just a tad frazzled.

Okay.

Well I have to make this short.

As of course, we are late.

I think Alvin has to go outside because I don’t know if he actually “pooped” or not in all of the commotion.

 

Have an awesome Thursday.

Coffee break??  feel as though I have put in a full day already.

Happy Thursday.

 

Special Hello to: my family …. always in my heart and thoughts….. love you all.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 17th day of March, 2019.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to Everyone.

I love my “green” roots, er I mean heritage.

Someone might think I dyed my hair, which could have been a possibility.

The sun is slow to rise this morning but gradually the sky is clearing.

Happy Birthday to all of our friends who celebrate a birthday today.

TW, DH, BW and AD.

What a great day to have a birthday …. St. Patrick’s Day.

Today we are celebrating my daughter and Alvin’s sister’s birthday.

We are a few days late but sometimes schedules clash.

Excited to be celebrating her birthday today on St. Patrick’s Day.

I am making a fruit pizza for the party so will be getting that going in a little bit.

 

Have to relay some Alvin and Friends stories from yesterday.

Yesterday was a busy day with Alvin’s regular vet appointment, grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning around the house.

I just happened to be outside trying to chip away at some ice later in the afternoon (as had just spent two hours cleaning out my INBOX on email, argh) when I spotted Alvin’s girl friend Abi.

Abi was with her Aunt “A” and they were coming down the sidewalk out for a walk.

We chatted for a minute and then Alvin saw them from inside the house.

I asked if they would like to come in for a minute to say hi.

After a quick visit, I decided that we should just suck it up and go for a walk.

We found that walking on the other side of the street from our house; well it was not too bad.

A bit wet but very little ice.

We ended up going for a really long walk.

The first one of this length all winter.

It was great.

Alvin was so happy to see his girl friend.

Must be an age thing as he was less “engaging” as he used to be in his young.

At the vet they said he is like a 60 year old based on his years and the chart ???

Anyway they walked side by side.

Comfortable.

Just arrived home and received a call to see if it was okay for Humphrey to come now (5:15 p.m.).

Absolutely.

I took some cute photos of the boys (this time was more prepared to get those shots that don’t always come around).

Who knew ….

 

I was not quite fast enough to get Humphrey drinking out of Alvin’s water bowl.

The boys resting on the sofa.

 

Alvin, thinking well I guess he’s laying on my sofa.

Every visit they become more comfortable with each other.

Yesterday Humphrey walked up to Alvin and just lightly touched his face.

Alvin was a bit nervous but it all worked out.

All under the careful watch of the MOMMA.

Can you believe how close they were laying to each other.

Best Saturday night company ever.

Oh these boys.

Alvin and Friends.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

I have toast and coffee to make and drink and a FRUIT PIZZA to make.

Whoops, I had better get out of these pj’s.

 

Have an awesome St. Patrick’s Day.

Special Hello to: anyone celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

Always, Carol & Alvin