It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday affectionately known as “Hump Day.”

The sun is shining, the sky is that beautiful perfect blue with just the odd wisp of white clouds.

 

Another work day here in just a little bit.

Oh, how I love this commute.

If I went from this computer to my work one it would be not even three steps, closer to 2.5.

How is that for a commute?

I know that I am very blessed to be able to work from home.

Even though there are days, well I should say moments that I could “scream” with my job, I am grateful for it.

I am quite certain that anyone with a job has those days.

I love being here for Alvin.

He follows me around the house from room to room.

I love that I have at a minimum 1.15 hours extra each day to enjoy with Alvin.

That is the difference when working from home.

If I was catching the bus it would 2.5 hours.

So this is a huge time to have at home.

Enjoy this time.

I know that I am.

I have more time to putz in my yard and thankfully it is now spring and soon summer.

I can go for two walks each day with Mr. Alvin.

Just more time to enjoy.

I am loving it.

 

This coming Sunday, I invited the girls over for coffee on the deck (instead of inside the garage).

10:00 a.m.

Hoping the weather would cooperate.

Please no wind and not like the gale force winds at our last coffee get together in the garage.

I was chatting with another friend and she said to enjoy this coming weekend (as I work and she thinks I work too hard) and what would I be doing with my daughter for Mother’s Day.

Whaaaat? I said.

Mother’s Day.

No.

“Yes”, she said.

I ran over to the calendar on the fridge and low and behold “Coffee with Girls @ 10:00 a.m.” and right underneath in fine print “Mother’s Day.”

Yikes.

I cannot believe that all three of us missed that it was Mother’s Day.

Isn’t that a typical Mother thing to do, forget your special Day.

Although everyday should be Mother’s Day.

As I said to my friend just that “Everyday is Mother’s Day for me.”

So after we hung up, I quickly texted the girls.

One of the two just realized the date as her husband mentioned something.

Coffee will be on the deck on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

YAY.

 

Well my friends it is time to grab that cup of coffee and sign onto the computer and get to work.

I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would or could do my job from home.

95%, I can and the remainder we could likely find a way.

 

I wish you a sunny beautiful Wednesday.

Remember to breathe.

Life is always throwing us a curveball or two along the way.

This is just one of those.

So we do the best that we can.

We will get through this.

Hopefully when we do go back to work – we will fit all of our clothes.

I have not tried “button pants” as of late.

Perhaps they will be a thing of the past.

Not sure if that would be a good thing or not.

Okay, yes I am going.

Just so much to say.

Always, happens at the last.

 

Happy Wednesday.

With much kindness and so much respect for you.

I/We remain,

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 Wednesday the 1st day of a new month, April.

Usually people would be playing pranks on one another this morning but alas I don’t think it is likely appropriate this April 1st.

The sky is almost white this morning with a tinge of the palest of blues.

I am hopeful that the sunrise will be visible shortly.

Yesterday afternoon the SUN was so bright against the deep plush blanket of snow it was almost blinding from inside the house.

At one point I was thinking I should put on my sunglass clips but then I was not in the living for long and in my office it was not too bad.

Working from home as been interesting.

Today is our 10th day, I believe.

I do love being here with Alvin, going for walks at lunchtime when we can and the commute.

Nothing beats the commute.

Nothing.

Other than retirement and then there would be no commute, period.  OVER and OUT.

But that is not where I am at this time so a short commute is wonderful.

It is nice dressing how you feel.

Somedays I feel like dressing as though I am going to the office and others it feels more casual.

I have not as yet wore my pajamas or gone without wearing a bra.

But we are just beginning in this new norm.

I have a feeling that it will be extended for us past April 30, 2020.

I have not been watching the news to see how many cases or if the virus has grown substantially in Canada.

I feel that I am doing my part.

Staying home and reducing the chance of catching the virus.

My friends drop things off at the door and when we visit it is in short spurts at the door and I am six feet away.

No hugs even though we really want to.

I wash my hands.

Importantly I get lots of rest, try to remain calm, get some exercise and eat right and keep hydrated.

Speaking of hydrating (kidding), I smell the coffee perking away.

Let me tell you there is nothing short of wild roses lining the path to the park or lilacs blooming or the scent of a little baby that matches the smell of coffee brewing.

I guess the secret is out.

BEST SMELLS EVER:

Wild roses

Lilacs

Scent of a baby

COFFEE

Perhaps after a rain ……

What are you favourite scents?

Maybe you could send me your list.

I am excited to see what everyone likes or loves.

 

Mr. Alvin ….

Even though he has my schedule for starting and ending work and breaks down to the minute, I think he is out of sorts.

I think that he has some pain in his paws due to arthritis.

It was/is a matter of time.

I will continue with his daily regimen of glucosamine.

I do know that when the weather changes, I can see a difference.

This is not news to his Doctor.

Don’t worry I keep her aprized.

 

How about some miscellaneous photos.

I love photos.

Let me see what do I have handy.

 

Oh my darling grand pup MILO closest to the camera and little KOBI in the background.

MILO and Miss ASPEN.

Love my grand pups.

I love the way the tree looks after a snowfall.

Branches gently cradling the snow.

Last year’s birthday …. the most delicious cupcakes.

With Key Lime Icing

Geese near the park by my house, last year or year before.

Time passes so quickly …..

Flowers from my friend’s garden.

I cannot wait to see her garden this summer.

Our friend next door, HUMPHREY.

Thankfully he does not have to wear the CONE often anymore.

But sometimes.

FRIENDS

I wished that I had one of Alvin and Teddy looking out of the bedroom window.

I have some.

ALVIN and TEDDY on the bed.

 

Well almost time to grab my coffee and get the start up to work.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Wednesday, we got this.

Two more days until the weekend.

 

Living in Kindness and with Respect,

I, We remain as,

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time

Good Morning,

We had some rain overnight.

Yesterday or at least in the late afternoon we had a strong COLD wind.

As I was walking home from the bus, I was grateful that I had a warm coat and gloves.

Alvin and I went for our usual walk only it was not so usual.

We got as far as the “poop bag station.”

He had a poop turned to look at me and headed for home.

Okay, perhaps he was cold even though I had put his winter jacket on him.

So we had a short walk.

That might be part of the reason that he was up at 2:00 a.m. and then a few times after that until we were up to stay up at 5:09 a.m.

ARGH.

Definitely need COFFEE this morning.

I also am thinking that the later we go to bed the later he sleeps.

Or it seems that way.

We were in bed before 9:00 last night and five hour later we were up.

I guess we will go to bed later tonight.

I will get this figured out.

We have only been together for almost ten years …..

Relationships always require work …. no matter who or the type.

Work.

I guess everything we do requires work of some sort.

Ah.

 

Just thinking as I glance about my newly renovated (painted) office at all my photos, cards and books ….  how much I love this space.

The bulletin boards that my daughter made me for Christmas a few years back are finally up and filled with photos, ticket stubs, letters and poems.

My bookcases are filled with the books that I love …. each area special.

Books for children in one case with Minnie Mouse and a Bunny sitting atop.

Collectible magazines of Princess Diana and the Royal Family and some of my favourite people.

My purses hang on a rack on the door.

I have bios, self-help, and fiction.

All sorts of different topics and story lines.

I do love to read.

Right now I am reading Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming.”

I feel good in this room.

Best choice of paint colour ever.

I am so grateful to my friend for matching the paint to my handmade curtains “with absolute perfection.”

 

Well it is almost time to hit the road.

Alvin is laying on his blue blanket.

Touching my foot as he is never far from me when I am at home.

For his sake, I wished that I was able to be home with him all day, every day.

This would be a great time to come into lots of money.

Mmm, a million dollars.

That would be nice.

A gal can dream.

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

Living your life always with kindness and respect.

Always.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time

Hello,

Good Morning!

How are you?

I am doing quite well.

What is the weather like at your house?

Appears that it rained overnight here as the deck is wet.

I will find out just how wet when I go to pick up the poop in a few minutes. ARGH.

Too much information.

Sorry.

What did you do last night?

Alvin and I went for a walk with one of our friends.

Remarking on the leaves changing along the way.

We had a great chat, catching up on all of our news and enjoying nature.

After our walk we were back home where I made myself supper.

Followed by a few chores and watching a couple of recorded shows.

I saw the season premiere of “New Amsterdam.”

It certainly took me for a few loops and jolts.

But it was great.

Anything new and exciting in your life?

We are hopefully “voting yes” to our contract today.

I am always happy with the same old, same old.

New and exciting.

Change although it is necessary as we age we are happy with just the same.

Not to say that we don’t want or need some excitement and some new stuff.

But for the most part I am like Mr. Alvin …. happy with the routine.

Well time to head downstairs and gather things up for work.

Pick up the poop, too.

I know “way too much information.”

I hope that this finds you in good health and that all news is good.

Keep in touch.

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Thank you for the chat.

 

 

Showing kindness and respect in every action in every day is living a great life.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, Good Morning and it is Wednesday.

Mid week.

Another workday for me.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket and when I was running / am running a tad behind this morning …. he was quick to get me going into the office to write this post.

He knows our routine inside and out.

Also the timing.

He knew that I should not be getting dressed and that I should be in the office writing.

 

Last night we enjoyed another wonderful walk with great weather.

Humphrey joined us as you can see by the photo below.

The sun is a garage sale find and is perfect hanging on my fence.

Our flowers strangely enough … some of them …. the SNAPDRAGONS have decided to bloom.

There are tons of blossoms and they are so pretty.

I love the photo of Humphrey, I was trying to score a photo and had to call him and snapped this one of him peering out from side of the chair.

Now Mr. Alvin well he was being Mr. Alvin.

I think in the last photo he might have thought he was getting a treat and jumped up.

Hard to tell but is in mid air.

Well almost time to go downstairs and finish putting things together for work.

One last time outside for me Alvin.

I hope that you have a great Wednesday.

 

 

Love with Kindness and Respect.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

As the deep dark blue grey clouds slowly take over the sky; I feel kind of sad.

The trees are swaying in the wind.

I am glad that I moved my flower pots on the deck into the shelter of the house.

Just in case there is a downpour.

Not sure why dark foreboding clouds makes one feel sad but just a little.

Usually I am a happy person.

Content in my own skin.

I can see the sunrise to the far east where there remains a bit of clear sky.

We missed the rain yesterday but looks like today will be the day.

A bit cooler this morning.

I was shocked at how fast it cooled down last night early evening.

 

Well I am running late and have a couple of things to do one of which is outside.

Have to pick up that poop.

There is always poop in our lives.

Oh well …. poop it is.

Now that brings a smile to my face.

How about to yours?

 

I can hear the rain … just back.

Made a mad dash down the stairs, grabbed my jacket and a poop bag and before hitting the door threw on my “dawgs.”

Managed to pick up the poop, yay me.

Without getting wet.

The raindrops are huge.

Perhaps it will be a rainy day.

 

Last night after work on our walk as we neared Teddy’s house – we saw many men scurrying about.

They were on the roof and on the ground.

Teddy’s house was having the shingles replaced.

Teddy’s Mom drove up just as we neared the house and gestured us to come in.

Alvin was a bit nervous with the loudness of the machinery and the men.

But we managed to get into the house safe and sound.

We had a great little visit.

Always nice to see them.

 

Well time to go now.

I wish you a great Wednesday.

Remember to be kind to yourself and to others.

Remember to be respectful to yourself and to others.

Just imagine what kind of beautiful place this world would be – if everyone was kind and respectful.

Kindness and RESPECT.

The two magic words.

Go forth and show the world your kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 8th day of May, 2019.

Semi overcast sky this morning with hopes of bright sunshine throughout the day.

No moisture this morning.

 

Last night after work, Alvin and I went for our walk.

We stopped at our friend’s house and watered / checked on her plants.

Plants doing great.

We continued our walk to Alvin’s best friend’s Teddy’s house.

Everyday we pass by and he always wants to go in and almost everyday I say “not this time, Buddy.”

This time, it was okay.

As it would happen Teddy’s Dad was just going into the house from work, and he was excited for us to come in for a visit.

When the door opened – Master Teddy was so over the moon happy to see his Dad, his best friend Alvin and me, Aunt Carol.

While his Dad went into the garage to put some things away, I let the boys out into the backyard.

After all …. Teddy had been holding it for several hours by this time.

I know what that is like for Alvin.

We were visiting when Teddy’s Mom came home.

I do not know many folks who would be happy to see company upon arriving home from work.

These are such lovely, warm and caring folks, all I can say is that Alvin and I are lucky to call them friends.

Teddy’s Dad suggested that the Teddy and his Mom walk us home while he went for a bike ride.

We ended up walking by the big lake/pond north of us.

It was absolutely wonderful.

So many folks out walking with their pups of all sizes.

Alvin and Teddy made new friends.

We met a couple of old friends, as well.

We saw ducks, ducks building nests and muskrats in and out of the water.

The air was soft and warm as it touched our faces.

Perfect outing.

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

Great night last.

Great day on the way.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ….. hello my girl.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 3rd day of April, 2019.

 

Well now that it is past mid morning – the sun is up and shining brightly.

I apologize for not being here earlier but me Alvin was sick last night.

He was sick to his stomach just as we went to bed and continued throughout the night.

When it was time to get up we were just falling asleep.

I decided to take a vacation day and stay home and keep an eye on my boy.

I saw the signs last night as there are usually signs.

He ate his breakfast a couple of hours ago, and all is well.

Just catching up on some sleep.

There is bedding and towels to wash.

So laundry is on my horizon.

Keeping it short for today.

Thank you for your understanding.

 

Hope you are having a great Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to:  You.  You are the best.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 6th day of March, 2019.

March is just rolling along.

Last night after work my daughter picked me up to give me a ride home.

We made a stop at COSTCO.

Was busy but we found our items and got out in good time.

Alvin was patiently waiting for us at home.

He was as always happy to see his sister.

Sometimes he is a bit cautious as he thinks he may have to leave the house and go in the car.

Poor guy.

But nonetheless always happy to see his big sister.

My daughter stayed for a bit and then was on her way as she had errands to run before going home.

As always I am always grateful to see my girl, for the ride but more than anything grateful to be in her presence and for the great conversation.

Afterwards I got changed and grabbed Mr. Alvin so that we could go for a walk.

He does not really like having his coat and harness put on but once on he is ready to go immediately.

Hardly giving me time to get my coat and boots on.

Even though the temperature was considerably less than the past few weeks, the wind/breeze was cold.

So our walk was short but we got out and that was important.

Some fresh air and we also bumped into our neighbours and friends, also out for a walk.

My friend J’s doggie Jazmine is getting on in years and has some health issues, one being heart.

She was so happy to see Mr. Alvin.

She moved to the side so that he could take the lead.

It was so cute.

There walk was short as Miss J got cold and my friend ended up picking her up and carrying her back home.

Poor girl.

We then carried on but our walk was not long.

Fresh air, check.

Once home, I put Alvin into the house and went to pick up Mr. Humphrey.

He was spending the evening with us while his Momma was curling.

As always those two, Alvin and Humphrey always make me smile.

Alvin is a bit cautious around Humphrey.

He loves him – you can tell but …..

Funny story before I leave for work.

Alvin had been outside and when we came around the corner – guess what we found?

Mr. Humphrey curled up in Alvin’s spot on the sofa.

I could almost hear Alvin’s sudden anguish.

But he jumped up and sat near the end of the sofa.

This is when I managed to snap a photo of them sharing some space.

Afterward when I was drinking my tea …..

Humphrey stayed where he was but Alvin wanted to be beside me and that would be where Humphrey was …..

We managed to get things worked out.

At one point, it was Humphrey by the pillow, then Alvin right beside him laying down and then me.

I so wished that I could have snapped a photo.

It would have brought a SMILE to your face as it did to mine.

 

Wishing you all an awesome Wednesday.

Whoops gotta run.

ARGH, time always goes so fast when I am writing.

 

Special Hello to: smile, it is catching.

Always, Carol & Alvin