Good Morning! I was up in good time just before 7:30. Changed bedding, gathered laundry and then got ready to go for a walk. According to my phone when I checked the temperature it said “10+” so I pulled on a light sweatshirt and my jean shorts and running/walking shoes and was on my way. I will say that one of the best inventions is the little socks that barely cover your foot and that have that non-slip material on the heel. No more having your feet so hot. No more going barefoot and getting blisters and no more wearing shorter socks that fall down. So win/win. I actually bought a few more pairs yesterday at Shoppers Drug Mart when I was taking a stroll on my lunch break. I had to pick up the office winning lotto tickets. I have not checked them but I am feeling good about them. One draw was last night and one is for tonight. Will check later.
The wind is quite strong and there are wind warnings out for later on. My heart goes out to the areas of Alberta and close to Edmonton that have wildfires burning. Most of these fires are caused from careless humans. When will we learn. The loss of wildlife can not be calculated. Insects, birds, small animals and even the large ones. Being spring the babies are at risk. Parents will not leave their babies. Can you imagine? Breaks my heart. If you happen to be a person who smokes, please extinguish your butt into a container that has water in it not on the ground. One spark when it is dry and you have people evacuated from their homes. What about all the domestic farm animals? People have to leave and cannot get all of their animals out? We have to be better. My children are close but not close enough to be evacuated. I have relatives in one of the areas that was recently evacuated. If you ever have to be evacuated from your home for any reason – please take your pets. When people were evacuated from the wildfires in Fort McMurray eight years ago, many of them left their pets behind. They are as important as family. Be prepared. Every life is important. Some of the pets were rescued by different organizations but many died because they were left behind. Another good reason not to leave your cat roaming the neighbourhood. I sure hope that these winds die down soon as this will not help the situation. I pray they calm down, the winds.
I made a detour from my story about the morning walk. It was a brisk walk and was a solid 35 minutes. I feel great. Nature was in her glory. The leaves are starting to come out looking shiny & new. My tree is a bit slow and is just budding. The sunshine glistened off of the water in the park close to my house. So beautiful. The ducks were swimming about and every once in a second one would tip over into the water to grab some food. I love watching them. When Alvin was a puppy he loved just sitting with me on the water’s edge watching the ducks and geese in the water. I remember taking him for walks by the big park/pond and he would stop to look at the water and birds. So I would just sit down on a patch of grass (this was before all of the foliage lined the pond) and he would sit on my lap and watch them swimming back and forth. No barking just intently watching them. We would do this for long periods of time and on many of our walks over the years but mostly when he was young. There were people out riding bikes, walking with and without their beloved pups. I spoke to a couple of people in passing. I saw for the first time a long-haired German Shepherd. Absolutely gorgeous. Glad he was having a walk while it is cooler out. Another gal had a little pup who is 8 and they just found out she has diabetes. My heart goes out to them. I wished the pup a long healthy life. I saw Robins. A male and a female. So great to be outside in nature. A good way to start the day, to start the weekend. Last night after work I went for a walk as well.
Time to head downstairs with my laundry baskets and start that laundry. I can smell the aroma of the freshly perked coffee as I put it on before I came upstairs to write this post.
I hope that you are safe and are having a wonderful day. Remember to go outside and take a walk in nature. Hopefully you have a green space close to your house. Take Care. Thanks for reading my posts. Very appreciated.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning! How are you this morning? I am well. For some reason, I am running later than usual even though I was up at the same time. Argh. Oh well, I will be ready when my ride arrives. Spring is here. Mixture of weather. The sun is higher in the sky and feels warmer. The snow is melting as is the ice.
Dilemma, my ride is leaving work early today so what do I wear to work my regular shoes or do I wear boots. If I get off the bus at the back way to my house, there is ice/snow and mud by the bushes. With the warmer temperature forecasted for today it is likely to be a pool of water. Do I want to take the longer way around and carry my laptop? I do not know. I guess I will make the decision before I leave for work. I could wear my new old pair of running shoes that my daughter picked up for me at the thrift shop. I was always thinking that I need to figure out about the oven. Will need to go and get a heating element or pay someone to look at it and confirm that is the problem? I would love to have one week where everything went smoothly. Don’t you think that is a reasonable request? Perhaps I need to refocus my thoughts. I will admit with the changes to the office,
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning ALL! A bit cooler in the mornings now as the sun rises later with each passing day and dips later as well. The trees are swaying from side to side again that the beautiful glow of the sunrise. So pretty.
Well it is Thursday and I am going to the office today. My daughter came after work yesterday, we had a nice supper together and a lovely evening. My neighbour Sonja is coming over to check on Mr. Alvin. I am proud to report that he has had about four good, no great poops in a row now. Poop as I mention on a fairly regular basis, is oh so important. YAY. Keep up the good work Mr. Alvin. I guess the probiotics and the antibiotics are working, thank goodness. Mr. Alvin is laying on the hallway floor keeping an eye on both his Momma and his Sister. What a guy! I shall miss him and it will be a long day without being here for him. He will be okay, I know but hard when you are used to being here everyday. We have also discussed the upcoming “return to the office” and we will have some major changes but it will be okay. Perhaps it is time to return to fulfilling my dream of being an author. Never been a better time. So I will be working on that very soon. Perhaps the gray skies are not so gray and have more sunshine and rainbows that I once thought. I am feeling better about things. I know that lots of my family and friends were a bit concerned as of late but things are looking up. So happy for that. I appreciate the concern and all of the ideas for our future. I so appreciate and love everyone for thinking of us. I am truly surrounded by the family and friends on the planet. I really am.
Well almost time to head downstairs as I need to make sure that Mr. Alvin has a good drink before we leave and go pee again. We have twenty minutes until we leave.
Wishing you a great Thursday.
Take Care.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities and COFFEE.
Good Morning ALL! We have been for a few hours already which I must say is wonderful. I have done all the usual things with Mr. Alvin by this time and also gone to check in on Humphrey, Bogart and Cynder. They have been fed, watered, photographed, and had treats. I have had a shower and even put on a full face of makeup this morning and am now sipping on my coffee as I write this post. In less than one hour I will be at our friend Gillian’s house for my Birthday party. She is hosting. I love that we do this for each other. Very cool and that way no matter what else is going on in our lives, each of us always has birthday cake and presents. I love this tradition and hoping we can continue for the rest of our lives. It was hard to decide on what to wear and I have no idea why. I guess for my 65th Birthday party- I would like to look good. So I decided on a navy blue short sleeved t-shirt which is long and not super baggy and navy blue dress shorts. I was thinking of adding a coral three quarters sleeve cardigan but I think it may be too warm although I could start out wearing it. I feel good this morning. I wore lots of jewelry, too.
This has been a really busy vacation so far. Yesterday Alvin and I stopped at Susana & Malena’s garage sale while on our way to the park to meet up with our friends Pauline and Georgie (her grandpup). I had spotted something new at the garage sale, it was a macrame wall hanging. Very simple in its’ design and that egg shell colour that really goes with everything. I had a vision as I saw it and immediately said “sold.” I could see in my mind’s eye – a bunch of my antique pins and brooches displayed on it. Alvin knows them well so we walked into the garage. Susana’s sister Malena had been in the house and came out. She said hello to us and then Alvin walked into “the back” going towards the inside door and I should have had him on a shorter leash but I did not pull him back soon enough, and then a flash and the sound of glass breaking as it hit the cement garage floor, as Malena moved back out of our way into the table. They had a table in the centre of the garage with other tables lining the walls. There were lots of glass items in the sale but some huge glass vases and goblets on the table and they went flying. Thankfully the table did not turn over but several pieces were broken. I felt terrible and offered to pay for the glass that was broken but kind people that they are – they laughed it off. Susana made a joke about “putting a second mortgage on my house.” We all laughed but I felt bad. I could not even help clean it up as I had Alvin with me and we had to get out of the garage in case Alvin stepped on some glass. I have to find a way to make it up to my kind and generous friends. I wished that I knew how much she was asking for those items, because then I could just give her the money. After that, we carried on to the park to meet up with Pauline and Georgie. Instead of going for a walk – we decided to walk to Pauline’s house and visit on her patio. The pups could run in the backyard off leash. Alvin loves to run in her yard. So that is what we did. We had a two hour visit on her patio. Catching up about all that we have been doing. They had been looking after friend’s farm (dogs) and such out of the City. Just so happens that these friends live in a community not far from where I lived for a year when I was a teenager. My family lived there for years and my brother still lives in the area. Isn’t it a small world.
After our visit we walked home. I made sure that Alvin had some more water and put on another load of laundry. After that I went to check in on Humphrey and Bogart and Cynder. We had company after supper. I had invited Aunt J and the pups, Teddy and Kobi to come for a visit. What a great time we had. So you can see it has been mainly about visiting and playing so far this weekend although I did clean the main floor including washing the floors. Now to do the upstairs, perhaps tomorrow. Later today we will go for a walk with Pauline and Georgie. Tomorrow night Teddy is coming for a sleepover. Perfect as Aunt J and the pups were coming over to celebrate my birthday on Tuesday. I love when a plan comes together. So this is going to be a busy vacation and I would not have it any other way.
Well time to head downstairs, almost time to go and I want to finish my coffee and see if Mr. Alvin needs to pee before I leave.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: zero time to an early birthday party and 2 sleeps till I turn 65.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing well. Had a great time with our visitors. Mi-Mi AKA Milo was so good with Alvin. They do not see each other very often but they were good together. Alvin let Milo walk ahead of him on our lunchtime walk. The temperature was warm, very warm and I am so glad that I always take a jug of water for Alvin as Milo drank quite a lot as well. They were glad to get back home. We just walked to Pauline’s home and back. Now we are back to normal. Company gone and are back to their home.
Well we are up and ready to go for a walk before the heat of the day sets in. We will be out of the house before 7:00 a.m. I have windows open and blinds closed to bring in the coolness of the air and will close as it begins to heat up.
I have the photos of my Happy Place!
Roses by parkEntrance to parkFountain Entrance to park
Wishing you a great day. If you are out walking please take water. Keep yourself and your pets hydrated.
Continuing to live with life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilites and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am great. Alvin is whining because he has anxiety crossing from the hallway across the laminate floor to his bed in my office. Poor guy. Now he wants me to hold him while he has a drink of water. He is getting some pretty odd behaviors in his old age. I am certain that he can see so that is not the problem. Just has a problem with different textures. He is so darn cute even when he is not happy. Hard to be mad at him.
Well this morning it is snowing. More snow. I was speaking to my sister from Saskatchewan last night and they have so much snow and unbelievably COLD temperatures. We just go from being bitterly cold to warm and snow and then rain. She did say that it warmed up overnight one time and then it rained. Freezing rain. Froze the doors on her car, shut. Oh my goodness Mother Nature has a dark sense of humour to bring us rain in the middle of our coldest temperatures of the year. Why oh why? I guess I cannot really blame her as look what we are doing to the environment. All of this strange/odd/weird weather is more than likely a result of what is happening to the environment. We have to do better and sooner than later.
Another thing I wanted to mention was learning to say “No.” I have a problem with that. Over the years I have become a bit better at using the “No” word but clearly not as much as I should says my dear sister. I love her. Her sense of humour is over the charts. Back to the No. I do have a problem with saying No. I guess I have always been a people pleaser and it makes me feel like people won’t like me if I say no. But I made a personal promise to her to “just say no.” I am practising. Mostly it is to do with having parties or selling something and sometimes when they come to the door with fundraisers. When you have a senior dog as a companion, it can be expensive. So I will be watching more closely. I do pay my bills on time but the saying no directly affects my after bills budget. So that is where I have to be more careful. Whether it is saying no to yourself or to someone else. Always make sure you look after yourself first before saying yes to someone else. Just like the flight attendant who says if the oxygen masks comes down – put yours on first before helping others. Makes sense right. I am not saying to say no all of the time but we have to be more aware of when we do. It is okay to say no. It really is.
Well on that note. It is time to getting prepared for work. Slide over to the next desk and get signed into everything. Oh, Alvin is looking at his water dish once again. Better go.
Have a wonderful day. Be safe and careful.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. You do not have to feel guilty for saying no. That is what I am struggling with and will learn to get through it.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are well this Thursday morning. Wow, the time is flying. I had to click on the SNOOZE button three times this morning so I am running late. Why oh why? I went to bed in good time. Perhaps all Alvin’s early mornings and then this morning he did not settle down. He does not appear to be in pain or anything – just restless. But I guess we are all feeling a bit of that right now. I don’t know where you live or what your weather is up to at this very moment but our weather is yucky. That is the best word that I can think of at this point as I write this post with Alvin whining in the background because he wants a drink of water but he won’t get up off his little bed and go unless I am right with him. I guess I had better go for a moment. ARGH.
Okay, I am back and he is watered. OH my goodness. I guess we both have our quirks as we age.
Looking out the window there is another blanket of fresh snow covering cars, the deck, rooftops and any crevice it can get into. I do love the snow. Just not so much of it. The sky is a grey colour with no sign of a sunrise or COLOR in sight. Not the best way to start the day. You know what the best way to start one’s day is: WAKING UP AND PLACING YOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR. Really does anything much matter after that? If you can get your butt out of the bed in the morning, then life is good. Yes, sure, would I love to see a bright and colourful sunrise, you bet I would. But I am really grateful to be alive and to be able to get myself out of bed in the morning.
Well my friends, this will be short. I hope that you enjoy your first coffee or tea or whatever your morning beverage of choice is. I hope that you were able to get out of bed on your own or even if with help. I hope that you are well and surviving this thing we call life. This is it after all.
Have a wonderful day. Friday EVE. How did that happen?
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. I forgot to turn off this computer yesterday. Not sure how that happened. Anyway!! LOL.
Good Morning ALL! What a beautiful morning as I see the sun rising. Just behind the houses to the east and south, I can see the colours coming up in the morning sky. How are you this morning? We are doing well. This morning just seconds after I turned on the shower, Alvin started barking from the bedroom. I knew why. He wanted me to be with him when he is having a drink, in fact, he won’t usually even drink unless I am right there and stroking his back. I don’t remember when this started but this is our new norm. I have tried to break him of this “habit” but to no avail. So I am not sure what will happen on those days when I go to the office (hopefully few and far between). Perhaps when I am not around he won’t be so fussy. I made an appointment for him to get his nails done etc and he is due for a bordetella shot (did I get that right?) and he needs food, toothpaste and movoflex. What a guy!
I am loving this beautiful weather despite the fact that it is almost impossible for us to walk. The streets are so messy icy in spots and the sidewalks in most spots are glare ice. I found the storm drain on the weekend but it is near impossible for me to get at just yet. Now if I had hours to spend out there chipping and shovelling away, yes, I could certainly do it. But there are so many people that do not even try to get the ice removed. That kind of makes me sad and a little mad. Here I am almost 65 and I am out there shovelling and chipping at the ice and cleaning it so that no one falls. Oh well, I cannot change some people or any people for that matter.
So nice to see it getting light earlier each day. This makes me so happy. Yay, we are one more day closer to spring and closer to clear dry sidewalks so that we can safely and happily go for walks.
I am thinking that I should do a VISION BOARD! Have you tried doing one? I think that I did one years ago but never really followed up and not sure where it ended up. So it is feeling like spring and time to make some changes. Never too late. Besides the world is quickly changing and if I do not make some changes soon, I fear that I shall be left behind. We cannot have that.
Oh yes, quick story before I sign off for today. Yesterday I received an email from one of our staff that receives the mail and uploads to our client files. The email had an attachment which was a photocopy of a beautiful THANK YOU card which was to me from one of my clients. I was so touched. Truly made my day. The power of a THANK YOU card. I am going to grab some THANK YOU cards and with as many stamps as I have – mail them to random people. Of course, I have to have their addresses, lol.
Maybe today is the day that you send your first card, make it a THANK YOU card to someone. I guarantee that you will make their day.
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
We must all say “thank you” to the people in our lives.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? I am well, we are well. Alvin is upstairs with me as I get ready for the day. I even got moving extra early this morning which is great. Had a nice soothing shower and am ready for this Wednesday. I am always amazed, not sure why, as to how quickly the days pass by. Mostly they appear to be moving at lightning speed. It seems as though everyone is living my dream. My dream is to be a published writer. Drew Barrymore’s new book “Rebel Homemaker” debuted yesterday and Dr. Oz has a new one out. So many people that I can think of. I had the idea to write a cookbook with more than just the recipes and it would appear that so many people are writing what I thought of a long time ago. Looks like it was a good idea and I am sad that I did not have the “drive” to get it done. I have started many books but never seem to get further than the first chapter. Over the years I have written quite a lot of poetry and I could definitely add that to a book. I have thought of writing about life’s experiences and what they have taught me. So many idea. I guess as I turn 65 next year there is no time like the present. There are so many books about Alvin that I could write – a complete children’s series, I think. Maybe I will one day soon be coming to a bookstore near you. That would be an absolute dream. But in the meantime I will endeavour to keep writing this post each and every day. It does help fulfil the dream to some degree for sure. I think most of us get stuck in a rut and just marvel at those who seem to have it all. The ones that do everything. When do they sleep? Some of them have help because let’s face it – it takes a village to do most everything in this life. It truly does. Did I mention to you that on Halloween night – I was surprised when someone that I did not recognize said “Hi Alvin.” He has a following for sure. I tried with all my heart to figure out who she was and of course, did not have the gall to ask.
On the days where I feel less than stellar and all days, I am going to continue writing notes and poems and this post. I have lots of recipes and I know that my life mirrors a movie in some respects. So one of these days, I will finish that book and it will be published, but in the meantime, I will carry on. That is all we can do.
Yesterday I learned of a friend whose beloved pup passed on Monday. I could not help but cry most of the day after she told me. She is lonely now as she lives on her own as well. My friend remarked about going for walks but they were not the same without her Sadie. Sending hugs to her.
Well Mr. Alvin has patiently waited for me so I should sign off and get downstairs to prepare the coffee. I love that first cup of coffee and note to self to get drinking more water again. Somewhere along the line I fell off the water wagon.
Have an awesome Wednesday. Be safe and work on those dreams. I will if you will!
Good Morning ALL! I hope that you are well this beautiful Friday morning. The sky is clear and blue and the sun is shining ever so brightly. See what happens when the Momma gets a decent night sleep. I just had a shower and am feeling on top of the world. Mr. Alvin is waiting patiently downstairs for me.
I wanted to mention a topic that seems to have been gaining momentum as of late and that is the number of times one showers/baths. The “stars” are talking about it and I think it may have started with Ashton Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis and the bathing of their children. Honestly, in North America we OVER USE everything and most especially water. There really is no need to most of us to shower or bath everyday. It has become the norm to do so because of the availability and convenience of water. But you know what that is becoming less and less the case as water is disappearing around the globe. Most especially in North America and mostly at this time in the United States. Now that being said we here in Alberta are facing a water crisis when it comes to watering livestock due to the heat wave and the drying up of natural watering places such as sloughs and streams. But think about it for most of us we do not require or need to bath or shower on a daily basis. When I was a child we had a bath once a week on Sundays. If you got dirty in between you simply washed those dirty parts in a small basin of water. We did not waste much when I was growing up but now, totally different story. Something to think about and do it now. I have a feeling that due to climate change our water in Canada is going to become less and less. We must think about the waste, how much we use and when we need to use it. This is going to become a crisis situation in a short period of time. I have started some time ago showering every few days and usually stretch that to four or five depending on how “dirty” I am which really I am never dirty – perhaps sweaty but never dirty. The only things that get dirty on me are my hands from gardening and my feet from walking with no shoes on. Please take the time and think about how you are using this very valuable natural resource as it may not last forever, most especially in the abundance of the recent past.
Okay Mr. Alvin is now awake, he was sleeping when I came upstairs and woke up after I was using the electric toothbrush not sure if he heard it or not. Anyway he is barking now. I do not wish to disturb the neighbours or keep in an anxious mood.
I hope that you have a great day. I am once again so grateful for the good sleep last night.
Stay cool and be safe.
Continuing to live this life with respect, kindness, compassion, patience, understanding, love and gratitude.
My New Life @ 51 