It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a Rainy THURSDAY morning.

The sky is gray and it has been raining since before 2:30 a.m.

Likely the thought crossed your mind, how did I know that?

Well because Mr. Alvin was up at 12:17, 2:30, 4:22, 4:52 and then up to stay at 6:19 a.m.

He has breakfast at 4:22 a.m.

Alvin does not like going out in the rain so going to the bathroom for him is always interesting when it is raining.

I have been taking my heavy family size umbrella out each time we go outside so that he feels he has some protection from the rain.

It does help him and also that I am out there, as well.

The boy has not pooped since Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

So safe to say that the pills are working but when is he going to poop.

He is trying to tell me something so perhaps he wants to go out yet again.

We were just out but I had better go and see.

Will return.

Back again.

I am quite certain that if any of our neighbours were outside and saw this huge umbrella moving about on my deck and then on the grass just above the fenceline, they would laugh.

They would most certainly have a giggle if they could heard my words of encouragement to Alvin “please go poop, Alvin.”

So not again.

I think that he wants to go but his bum is sore and he is reluctant.

If he does not go by this afternoon, I might call the vet to check.

I am glad for both of our sakes that the diarrhea has ended.

Life is so funny.

Never did I think that on May 20, 2020 that I would be working from home and able to be with Alvin 24/7.

So happy that I am with him when he truly needs me.

Last time he was sick, which was last September one week after I returned to work after three weeks of vacation only to be gone another week.

This time I am here already so have only had to take small amount of time …. last Friday a couple of hours and Monday morning.

He is laying on his little bed that I made for him in the office.

He usually stays put there while I write my post and then when I am working he lays on the rug in the hallway.

Yesterday he actually left me and laid on his favourite chair in the living room.

Oh, my boy.

I think today will be up and down while he figures out when / how to go.

He is likely nervous.

 

My neighbour fertilized the lawn so perhaps it will be a nice lush green for a change.

Although I am not a fan of putting something on the lawn to kill the weeds, I may have to this year.

My neighbour longs for green grass and mine has some weeds.

Even though it is kept cut it does not look very nice.

I am hoping that can get something that is not harmful to the environment but will rid the lawn of the unwanted weeds.

Our back area by the garage is filled with yellow flowers …. dandelions.

At least it is some colour and most of all, good for bees.

Not everyone in the back lane area looks after that space so it is difficult to do so.

 

Well the clock says I need to get signed on for work.

I got my coffee when we were coming back upstairs.

So ready to go.

 

I hope that you have a lovely Thursday.

Keep Mr. Alvin with positive thoughts.

I hope he is better soon.

So we can walk again and live our regular ordinary wonderful lives.

 

Remember with Kindness and Respect is the only way to live our lives.

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 22nd day of July, 2018.

Happy Birthday to my younger brother’s youngest “Z.”

WOW, another beautiful morning with a BREEZE.

Perhaps more than a breeze but it is keeping it cooler.

Hopefully cooler at least until I have a shower and get out for a morning stroll with the boy.

What a busy weekend.

We, rather I cleaned all the blinds in the house (10 sets of them).

How often do you clean out the window wells in your garage?

Likely not often.

Figured good time to vacuum the bugs and then give them a good washing.

WOW, they look amazing.

So when I decided to that, I first had to move some things around so that I could get into the window properly.

The garage got cleaned up, once again and a good sweeping.

GARAGE done.

PULLED WEEDS, with all this rain they are everywhere.

Weeds between the garage and the fence.

Weeds in with my flowers in the front flower bed and the back.

Weeds beside the driveway in the back.

Now this is more than weeds as some of the neighbours chose not to take care of them.

Now there is grass of all sorts.

I do my best to pull them out but they take hold quickly.

We will have to use some WEED/GRASS control agent to ourselves of them.

ARGH

In between LAUNDRY ( always ).

Just as we were about to finish the garage, I saw that these LARGE rain clouds were looming in the sky so I turned down the umbrellas and moved my tomato plant into the protection

of the garage ….. then back inside to put away my cleaning stuff.

Only it started to RAIN, no time, turned off the light and yelled at ALVIN to run just as the HEAVENS opened WIDE.

We were soaked by the time that we reached the HOUSE – which is not far.

In the house we dried off.

 

I made a big pot of what I will call a CHILLI TOMATO SOUP (a mix mash of things but oh, it tastes so good).

USED up all of the bags of tomatoes left in the freezer.

They were from my friend’s garden last year.

Enough to freeze and to eat.

I have red tomatoes on my one lone plant.

The sunflowers are growing as well.

 

Finally after supper we crashed and watched a movie.

THE Agatha Christie movie “MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS” was to rent for $1.00.

Cannot beat that so that is what we watched before retiring at 9:30 p.m.

 

Good old fashioned “cleaning” can sure play one out.

Good exercise and good for the soul.

So today just odds and ends before back to work tomorrow.

I am making PANCAKES for breakfast.

Just have to shower, walk and then EAT.

PANCAKES with MAPLE SYRUP and raspberries & blueberries on top.

MMMMM

Well better get this show on the road.

I hope that you enjoy your Sunday.

Take some time for yourself.

 

Rainclouds are coming back in ……

ARGH, hopefully we get our walk in …..

Otherwise will have to try later.

 

Special Hello to: my siblings ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for they day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 15th day of July, 2018.

What a gorgeous Sunday morning.

The sky was clear blue until just a moment ago and now there are clouds rolling in.

Just over to check in on my charges:  Humphrey the Cat and Cinder the Gecko.

They are doing well.

On my way into my house I stopped to pull a few of those little weeds that spring up overnight.

The ones that after a rain …. come up just because they can.

Are they not amazing when you come to think about it.

There can be no sign of growth and then voile they are one inch high.

Too bad plants that we can eat do not grow that quickly.

Or perhaps they do and it just does not seem that way.

Alvin and I had a great weekend.

Cleaning the house.

Mowing the back grass patch, tidying up.

Pulling weeds.

Yup those fast growing weeds.

Laundry, as somehow there always seems to be something in the laundry basket.

Washing floors as they do get dirty.

Bathrooms …. yup, them, too.

Made a big supper so that when my daughter comes today, I do not have to cook.

Besides the temperature is to be more warm than yesterday.

Right now the house is comfortably cool.

We both slept well last night.

 

This morning my girls have invited me for an early birthday celebration.

They were checking their calendars and the next weeks where they were both free was in September.

YIKES, I am busy not now quite that busy.

So just on my way to having a shower and get ready to go for an early birthday celebration.

Then my daughter and pups will be arriving for a visit.

Spend the afternoon and have supper.

 

What a great weekend.

Lots of work done followed by lots of play.

Does not get better than that.

Hopefully we will have some more sunshine today.

 

I hope that you are having a great weekend wherever you are ….

I hope that you are in great health and feeling mighty fine ….

I hope that you are working on making your dreams come true …

I hope that you are surrounded by people you love and good energy ….

I hope that you are having a blast being you.

 

Special Hello to: my sister, see you soon.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 3rd day of August, 2016.

We actually went for an extra long walk around what we lovingly refer to “The Big Lake.”

It was funny about half way around Mr. Alvin turned to go back (I guess he figured that was enough).

But I coaxed him onward between gentle words and some water we carried on.

I always carry a puppy water bottle with us on our walks in the summertime.

Even on a cooler day such as today animals get thirsty.

I mean the health professionals are always saying that when you are out for a walk we humans are to take water with us.

Personally I think the poor puppies need it more than we do ….. after all they are sporting fur coats when we have shorts and tank tops on as as example.

Honestly other than my daughter and her husband I have yet in the six years since I adopted Alvin have ever seen one person walking with their dog(s) that was carrying some kind of water bottle for them.

No one does.

I am slightly no I am in total disbelief of this action.

I know that most of the folks I have seen love their animals as they are out walking with them, they are well groomed for the most part …. so why no water.

It truly has been bugging me for a long time.

I even told my daughter I would like to buy a bunch of pet water bottles and hand them out to people when me and Alvin are out for our walks.

Also one time earlier in the summer on a warm day …. it was after work and we were out for a walk.

A man was walking with his dog …. a collie I believe …… long long hair and the dog was panting to beat the band.

We had said hello.

I was giving Alvin a drink and he asked about his water bottle.

I explained to him that when dogs pant they are not only trying to cool down but they are stressed.

They get stressed when they get hot.

I immediately offered some water to the dog but he said they were on their way home.

He asked where you buy the water bottles and I told him.

I sure hope that he did pick up a bottle.

He had talked about going for two walks every day so I know that he cared about the dog.

Just amazes me that no one thinks to carry water with them for the dogs.

Anyway …..

GREAT NEWS.

Sir Elton, my daughter and son-in-law’s boy and my grand-puppy had a check up / follow up appointment with his Doctor yesterday.

My daughter said the appointment went great.

She said that the Doctor was almost giddy with joy over Elton’s amazing recovery.

As are we.

He is a stubborn, old guy that just will not give up.

We are so grateful for that …..

My kids are great parents to Elton and I know their love and support through these past few months have truly made a difference.

More news:

Yesterday I received a necklace that I earned through Steeped Tea.

It is a blue/turquoise glitter ball made for Steeped Tea by Hillberg & Berk, a Saskatchewan Jewellery Company out of Regina.

The necklace is absolutely gorgeous.

Also the new Fall/Winter Steeped Tea Catalogues along with my second last tea order arrived yesterday.

It was an awesome day for good news.

Ending the day Alvin and I walked by our park and met up with our friends and their puppies.

We had a fun walk.

Today let me see:

Agenda ….. clean bathroom fans ….. one thing about having three bathrooms …. there are three fans.

I will also take apart some catalogues and place the individual pages in page protectors and folders for my customers.

I am also putting together a couple of packages to mail over the next couple of days …. I do need the big envelopes, though.

I also am going to continue to pull weeds from back and sides of the garage.

Some of the neighbours have just let the back go and therefore makes it harder for the rest of us to be weed free.

Always cleaning to do.

Also I am going to dig up an area out front by the front sidewalk to the street and make a new flower bed.

It is a big job so likely won’t start it until Friday or Saturday.

Well time to get going here.

Coffee time.

I hope that you all are doing well.

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” ……. gathering your package contents up to mail tomorrow or Friday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 2nd day of July, 2015.

It is absolutely the most perfect morning here in Edmonton.

The sun is shining, there is a slight cool breeze which was perfect for our morning stroll.

I have a couple of days off from the office.  We were up to stay fairly early for a day off.

There were the roses that line our path at the entrance to the lake …. the fragrance was enchanting.

A robin hopped along not grabbing Mr. Alvin’s attention.

The grass glistened with dew looking as though there were diamonds sprinkled everywhere.

What an absolute perfect morning.

I wish every morning would be like this for us.

For now I will take these ones and treasure them.

Alvin just loves to sniff the grass as we walk along ….. not sure what he is finding.

Upon our arrival home and once Mr. Alvin had his harness removed; I grabbed the watering can so that I could give the front flower bed a quick drink. The back side of the bed rests against the house and does not get all of the rain.

My flowers are doing well and so are the little weeds that are trying desperately to find a home.

They are so nice and green.

But …….

We had a great Canada Day …… was just deciding about getting up when the phone rang (deciding factor).

It was our neighbour inviting us over for coffee.

So ate, dressed and went out …. what a great way to celebrate Canada Day….. good friend and coffee.

Mr. Alvin came with me ….. not fair to leave him at home.

Well I had better get on my way ….. breakfast …. make a couple of phone calls and this afternoon ….

I am going to bring out the beads and make some jewellery.

I miss making things …. so much fun and therapeutic.

I hope that you enjoy your day and have time to do something you love.

Happy July 2nd, 2015.

WOW ….. second day of July.

Special Hello to:  all those folks who are on vacation ….. enjoy.

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

Thought for the day….

Well here we are at Friday, July 27th, 2012.

Another month almost coming to an end.

I hope that you are enjoying your summer.

I am ….. been full so far.

Work, garage sale, walks with Alvin, work, visiting, work …… do you see an underlying theme?  LOL

Yes, I do spend a good chunk of my time at one job or the other but I still have lots of free time.

I forgot that I mow the grass and rake it, pull weeds (those little guys are tough) … NEVER GIVE UP!!   GO TOWARDS THE LIGHT.

We should all live our lives like a WEED.

Be brave, tough, persistent, go where nothing else can grow (so follow your dreams).

I guess as of the past few years …. I have been like a WEED …..

Are you?

Well, I am running a bit late and still have a few chores to do before I get picked up for work.

I hope that you are having a great week and that your weekend will be blessed.

Have a great day.

Special Hello to: all those people who are starting to grow like weeds ……

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and welcome to Friday, June 15th, 2012 ( I just typed May, can you believe it).

It seems like the months go by so quickly that I forget which one that I am in.

Guess that I am enjoying my life.

“That I am.”

The skies were overcast and the clouds filled with rain that graciously fell upon my grass and I am so grateful.

Earlier this week I had a company called “Green Drop” come out to give my lawn a treatment.

I felt bad because the grass was a lighter shade of green and had several weeds (even though I pull them on a regular basis).

I cut my grass and try to keep it the best that I can but alas it needed a boost.

So the weeds have gone on to another place ……

Why is it that “weeds” or what we deem to be unattractive seem to thrive in such unhealthy soil.

I am always amazed.

I will admit that I do love the bright yellow colour of the dandelions and if they actually stayed in flower for more than a few days before they start to spread their seed …. well that would be another story.

I wanted to share one more thing before I have to leave for work and that is: I have been attending a two day (today is the last day) of a course called “Verbal Judo” ….. it has been fun and I am learning so much.

It is always a good thing to learn new stuff.

Part of the philosophy of “Verbal Judo” is the common sense stuff like treating people with respect and dignity.  I know “common sense” you say.

But really it is we should all treat others the way in which we want to be treated and that is with respect and dignity no matter the situation, no matter the person.

Sometimes that sense drifts to another planet ….. but I have always said that I treat everyone from the Queen to the caretaker exactly the same.  Your job or title does not define you.

It is how you act ….. how you treat yourself and others.

It does not matter if you have a billion dollars and are royalty or you have two jobs and are a struggling parent ….. we all NEED to be treated with RESPECT and DIGNITY.

So on this day ….. practice treating everyone the same ….. with respect.

Treat people with kindness and you will receive kindness.

This sounds perhaps silly but I definitely believe ” that you reap what you sow” or “what goes around comes around” ….. same thing.

So be nice ….. have manners ….. say “thank you” ……. be a good person and treats others with respect and dignity …..

So have an awesome day.

You are great ……

Special Hello to all those folks who naturally treat others with respect and dignity …. you ROCK.  I appreciate you so much.

 

Always, Carol and Mr. Alvin

Thought for the day

Keeping the weeds at bay:

If you spend just ten minutes each day in your yard pulling out those pesky weeds and of course, those pretty yellow flowers (aka: dandelions) you will save the strain on your back, and have more time to just ENJOY life and your yard.

Have a great summer !!!