The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? We are well. Mr. Alvin slept from bedtime until 4:53 a.m. Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it. But oh so happy. We went outside and then he had his Movoflex chew and then his breakfast. We had some more zzz’s on the sofa till time for me to get up and going.

The sky is semi overcast but the sun is shining. It was warm out. I am always amazed by the difference between looking out of my office window to the south and out our bedroom window to the north with only our house in between.

Well yesterday turned out to be a great day. I did have a minor, I would not say meltdown as it was not that but have you ever had multiple things happening all at once and you lose it, temporarily. Well it was near the end of my work day and I was closing programs, my phone was pinging with some incoming messages and Alvin was scratching wanting up onto the sofa. Just a combination of those sounds made me not happy. Anyway, I didn’t save one of my spreadsheets which would have been an update but needless to say I clicked on “don’t save” instead of “save” as I was riled. I looked Alvin in the eye and gave him heck and poor boy was shaking. I was not yelling but I think he definitely felt the elephant in the room. I felt so bad. So have to change things. No more phone nearby. If I can turn off or down the sound so that I don’t have to listen to the pinging, that would be helpful. I am human but feeling like a terrible one. Hard to make up for bad behavior. I have to forgive myself and move on. I feel so bad for Alvin. Thankfully this did not last long. I guess we all have moments.

Last night I mowed the lawn and pulled some weeds from the back flower bed. The plants on the south side of the house are doing okay but the ones out front are doing great. Our overnight temperatures have been on the cool side. The grass in the backyard is lush and green considering the front is barely green. I wished that I would wake up tomorrow morning and look out of the front window and see dark green lush grass out front. A gal can dream.

Well it is time to head downstairs. I have a bit of a headache. Sign that I need to drink more water for sure.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Don’t give up! Keep on going ahead.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well here we are at Friday, June 5th, 2020.

The birds are singing, the sun is shining and there is only an ever so slight breeze.

All in all, perfection.

Alvin is resting beside me on his little bed.

I am typing these words.

 

Last night after work we went for another full night.

My toes seem to be less purple with each passing day.

Thank goodness as it is one week today.

I am ever so careful on my trips up and down the stairs.

Always using the railing and careful making each step.

No point in tempting fate.

Not this girl.

The walk by the way was incredible.

So nice …. bit windy but beautiful.

 

Tonight after work as I am on the regular shift that would be 4:00 p.m.

Walking, feed Al and then do some gardening.

The weekend forecast is rain.

I would like to take my brand new grass trimmer and trim the grass in the backyard.

Both shrub/flower beds need to be weeded especially the back.

The front I can lean into to weed but the back one I have to actually climb up the stone retaining wall to do any weeding.

I was not feeling very comfortable doing that with an injured foot.

But feeling like I can do that tonight.

Then water all of the beauties.

That will then be that!!

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Somedays I feel like adding a poem.

I wrote this many thirty years ago.

I cannot imagine that now.

Just wanted to share it again.

Maybe it will be new for some of you that read my blog and if not, I hope that you enjoy it.

 

A DREAM

I had a dream late last night,

Of sparkling white sandy beaches,

Palm trees swaying in a sweet scented breeze,

Of clear blue skies and water, clear blue,

Of monkeys, elephants and parrots, too.

When I awoke and looked all around,

It was a dream, so I had found.

The picture is somewhat sadly different.

My sandy beaches are cluttered with garbage.

The palm trees have been removed, replaced with malls.

The breeze smells bitter — terribly so,

The monkeys, elephants where did they go?

We have come too far, too fast,

The signs have been there,

But we did not see, due to our hungry greed

From horse drawn sleighs to gas powered cars,

From tin and glass to Styrofoam and plastic jars,

From all that technology we still didn’t learn

That we’re literally burning our planet — our Earth.

The time has come to join together,

Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters,

If we learn to reduce, recycle and reuse

We can save our planet —

The gem in our universe.  Our Earth!

Written for Amanda’s school play at W.H. Ford School

By Carol Lewis on November 28th, 1990

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Wishing you an awesome Friday.

Filled with much joy, laughter, more kindness and always respect.

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Thankfully a bright sunny Sunday morning sky after much of Saturday was overcast and raining.

Bit of a breeze so comfortable outside.

We had Alvin’s regular 5 week appointment yesterday.

He had his pedicure, nail trim, which is not one of his most favourite things to do.

That is a definite NOT.

Hear a crow “caw” “caw” “cawing” outside my office window.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket as I type/key these words.

My office is as bright as the morning sky.

I love the new paint colour in my office.

Just makes me happy as soon as I come into this room.

Back to yesterday …. when we arrived home yesterday morning …. it was about 11 a.m.

I set to work turning on the laundry, sipped on a cup of coffee before heading outside to do some garden work.

I knew that the window of sunshine would be limited.

Grabbed my garden tools, some dirt that I had in the garage, a plant and went into the back raised garden.

My friend had given me a plant during the week that had to be transplanted.

First pulled the weeds as finally it was mostly dry in that garden.

Transplanted the plant.

Also moved some of another plant that has been spreading like mad to a new location with the garden.

Unfortunately I do not remember the names of these plants.

ARGH.

My “Hens & Chicks” plants which are succulents are now able to see out from under the one plant that I moved as it spreads like wildfire.

Now I only moved a portion of said plant.

Spreading the dirt.

Weeds pulled.

Looks great ….. did some watering…..

Perfection.

Had to run back into the house and grab my phone so that I could take some photos which I will share with you all shortly.

Very proud of my little flower/shrub garden.

Starting to look most lovely.

The other chore that I did was change the garden hose that was attached to the house.

Remember the hose that my friend gave me some weeks ago, finally had the time and good weather to get that changed over.

I could not get the hose round onto the hose station that is attached to the house.

So I gathered the hose and placed it into a rubbermaid garbage can (which was clean and used for recycling bottles etc).

This morning I will have to remove the hose and fix it as the can filled partially with water yesterday after all the rain.

I now have captured some rain water.

In addition to these chores, I weeded and watered the flower flower bed.

My lilies are beginning to bloom.

The ferns are doing well as are the other plants that fill the front bed.

Photos:  in the first photos … the new plant is in the back of the garden … best seen in the last photo … the short light green plant between the two tall green ones.

Which now I cannot remember the name.

This is their second year and they have not bloomed.

Might be due to not so much direct sunlight.

But pretty all the same.

I just could not help but to share my flower pots.

Some close up shots … colours so rich and vibrant.

I love this colour combo.

So pretty.

The rain started just as I had completed my gardening and continued for most of the day.

There was a short break in the rain and we took that opportunity to head out for a walk.

Even had to wear a jacket.

ARGH, July.

 

Well the coffee is brewed and there are chores to do.

Unfortunately Alvin cannot help with them.

I knew that he would if she could.

Happy Sunday.

 

Great to see the sunshine.

 

Kind actions with Respectful thoughts …. awesome.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Oh, now clouds beginning to roll in …..

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 20th day of September, 2015.

Three more days until it is officially fall, September 23rd.

There was no rain when Alvin and I were first up at 4:30 a.m. ….. I have an early bird for a household companion.

Woe is me …… well actually not, because he does lay down after he goes outside and eats breakfast.

Now it has been raining for a few hours not exactly sure how many.

I am so grateful that I spent the time outside yesterday doing yard work.

Mowed the front including my neighbours and the back.

Raked it all including some leaves that have turned and fallen.

Pulled flowers and cleaned out some of the “13” flower pots that I planted.

The impatiens out in the front flower bed are doing well thus far so I left them.

Also left some of the pots out back as they were doing well.

Rearranged and tidied up the garage.

Pulled some weeds between our garages and our houses.

Watered the remaining flowers …..

Even enjoyed a snack and coffee on the deck in the sunshine.

It was fabulous.  So nice.

Back inside: I finally rearranged the basement (after the dry wall now complete); did six loads of laundry, vacuumed and dusted and bathroom…… whew.

Closet in the office will have to wait for another day……

Alvin was outside this morning and he was looking up and barking.

He barked for a few minutes before I figured out what he was barking about ….. it was the lily pad ornament and piece of rock that I had set up on the railing by the garage but had forgot to put away inside.

Mr. Alvin reminded me to put it away …… a bit late but better late than never, right.

What a guy.

I am going to whip up a batch of pancakes.

My daughter is coming for a visit this afternoon and we will have pancakes for a snack/late lunch.

Alvin gets another haircut and bath.

Seems like I just cut his hair …. yes, only a few weeks ago.

Later when my friend finishes her Steeped Party sales I will enter them and submit the party.

I also have to run out for a couple of errands at the store / drugstore.

Then after supper I am going to simply relax and watch some of the new fall line-up.

I hope that you are having a great Sunday and make sure that you take the time to relax.

So important to your well being.

I know sometimes if you are the only one that does the house work, outdoor stuff, you work, children and or pets, part-time job, and whatever else you may have on your plate or all of the above…… taking the time to RELAX does not feel like an option but you must.  If you are not well then none of those things will get done.

Well it is time for this gal to get the show on the road ….. whip up the pancakes and make them so just have to warm them up….. so easy peasy.

Then cutting Mr. Alvin’s hair well that is not exactly the easiest most especially his paws.

But I will do my best as always.

Happy Sunday.

Special Hello to: all the inhabitants on the this planet whether two or four-legged, fish or fowl … Hello.

Not to forget the Ants, LadyBugs, Dragonflies and such.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 17th day of August, 2015.

Wow another August Monday morning to enjoy.

The sun is coming up a bit later each morning …. shorter days.

The air is cool as summer slowly turns into fall.

I love late summer and fall.

Most especially fall.

After last week’s blast of hot hot air it is a good 10 degrees cooler during the day.

Much easier at night for people to sleep as it gets quite cool during the night.

The temperature in the house was 68 degrees F, this morning.

Well Alvin and I had an unusual Sunday as my neighbour in the other half of our duplex held a “front lawn sale” ….

We ended up out front from basically 9:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Few inside breaks as it was kind of cool to be just sitting …..

It was relaxing and fun.

I found some items that I could use so helped with her sales.

Alvin enjoyed all the folks who stopped by.

I had him on a leash and at some points sitting on my lap to help keep me warm.

Ended up with a winter vest on and thankfully I had put on socks (yup socks with sandals).

We even weeded our front flower beds in between customers.

Leftovers of peach salsa and tortilla chips for lunch and a couple pots of hot coffee.

Well time to get going to the office.

I hope that you all had some time to yourself and enjoyed your weekend.

If you were working I hope that you did take some “me” time.

Happy Monday.

Special Hello to: yes, sister …. so far this tea venture has been great …. am loving it.  Lots to learn.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 28th day of June, 2015.

Bright sunny with a bit of a breeze this fine Sunday morning.

I am so excited as in a few minutes my daughter will be here and we will be taking a short road trip.

Today is the day that I go to see my nephew that had been in a coma a few short months ago and has been in a great rehabilitation hospital since February.

He continues to make great progress.

I am so excited to see him as the last time I saw him was when he went into the hospital there.

My sister and brother are meeting us there.

So excited …. mini family reunion.

I was up extra early so that Mr. Alvin and I could go for a nice walk before the heat strikes.

I also watered my flowers and pulled some of the tiny little weeds who keep wanting to share the front flower bed with my flowers….. I cannot blame them.  Location …. location ….. location.

Well today is a pure day of gratitude for us.

I hope that you will have a great day of gratitude as well.

Life is what you make it …..

When someone says things you cannot have …. instantly think of all of the things you can and do have…..

Well time to get this show on the road.

Have a great great Sunday.

Keep cool ……

Special Hello to: family….

Always, Carol and Alvin