The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? The sun is shining this morning so we are off to a great start. Today is Wednesday. Another great thing about having a long weekend. Short work week. The sky is a glorious powder blue. I could see my breath outside earlier this morning which is not great for the plants. My geraniums are not doing great. I should have taken them in and out for a few days. But who knows, maybe they will make a come back. I hope so. I have had those plants for over two years now. They have brought me great joy with their beautiful green leaves and pretty pink flowers. Fingers crossed. Most of the other plants look to be doing okay. I hope that we are in for some nice low 20’s celsius temperatures from now on. Perfection.

Mr. Alvin. He always seems to have it the worse at night. I think he is tired now, too. He can doze on his bed but I have to work. Which is sooner than later. I slept in. The SNOOZE BUTTON is way too easy. Not a good thing either. But anyway, I am grateful that we are both breathing and are here for another day on this beautiful planet. We did get out for a walk yesterday. The whole route. I was a bit apprehensive because of his recent issue with his front paws. I cleaned them immediately upon our return home. I cannot see anything “pink or red” so hopefully all is well. If he licks his paws or is out of sorts today, I will call the vet right away. We should get a “family discount.”

Not much new in this house. I am happy it is Wednesday and that I have ground coffee beans to make myself a wonderful cup of perked coffee. The best coffee ever.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Perhaps you planted your garden and flowers on the weekend or maybe you are waiting until the beginning of June. Our growing season is so short here in Western Canada that as soon as we can – we plant.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? I, we are doing well. Alvin was up a few times but I think we are so used to it and hitting the snooze that it is our norm. Say that three times fast. I just put on some Mary Kay lip gloss and I love this product. Not tacky or sticky – feels good and looks great. My makeup tip for the day. If you need just a bit of a lift – try some pretty lip gloss. Nothing fancy. Especially for those of us who are blessed to be working from home. I know people that have stayed in their pj’s all day but after two years that must get a bit old. I wear comfy bottoms and then dress up the top half. Sometimes I wear what would be work appropriate pants but most times I wear more dressy “sweats.” I don’t always wear a lot of makeup but always do my eyebrows (as they are getting lighter each year) and lips. Usually once or twice a week or if I have to go to the office, then I put on eye makeup and blush. So whatever makes you feel good. I do know that on the days when I have a shower, I am more likely to do the extra makeup like eyes and cheeks. That is just me.

It was cold last night. We had a bit of snow sometime between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Not that we need more snow! Mother Nature, Mother Nature! Gotta love her. Once again there is a light blanket covering the bare spots on the deck, on the rooftops, the sidewalks and the streets. I cannot wait until spring and the ice melts and we can once again resume our twice daily walks. Both Alvin and I are missing our outdoor time. We go outside here and there – mainly on the back deck but it is not really the same. Patience, I keep telling him and myself.

Oh, last night I made another batch of the chocolate pudding. I doubled the batch so had to use one can of evaporated milk and one of coconut milk. It did not get super thick (but thick enough) as night before so perhaps I could have added a tad more corn starch. I am experimenting. It was very tasty. I will write down my changes and the recipes and post them. I love chocolate pudding. I suppose the recipe could be modified to be carmel, butterscotch and other flavours. Will get back to you on that.

Oh, the chili was really good. I have about 100 or so different varieties of chili that I make. I suppose that I should write those down as well. I cook so in the moment that I do not think of the future. Likely not a great idea for passing on ideas and recipes. I love to experiment and to use whatever items that I have at my disposal. Sometimes I may only have one item for a recipe so I really have to use my imagination but isn’t that what life is all about. Trying new things. I must confess that I seldom have everything in a recipe unless I am planning in advance. But I enjoy trying new things and seeing what I can create.

Looking outside it looks cold and dark. No light spots in the sky. Everything looks white from top to bottom. ARGH. Oh well it is February 16, 2022. Winter in Western Canada.

Time to go and have some of that coffee that I have poured into my to go mug to keep hot. I truly love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. LOVE, love, love.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Perhaps you will try something new. Changing things up is a good thing.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I feel like something fantastic is going to happen to us today. Just a feeling!

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Another Tuesday in the NEW YEAR. What a week this has been! Weatherwise, we went from mild plus temperatures to minus to rain to snow with howling winds and then overnight to minus 20 degrees celsius. I hope that everyone driving to and from work and school and appointments on this day reaches their destinations safe and sound. I am so grateful that I can work from home. I do worry about those who do not have this luxury. Please arrive safe in every direction you travel on this winter’s day and every day. This weather seems to be everywhere. Eastern Coast of United States, Eastern Canada, and Western Canada.

I can hear Mr. Alvin snoring from the hallway. What a guy! Tomorrow is his 13th Birthday. We are keeping it low key this year. I explained to him about “low key.” I will figure out a little celebration of sorts of him with just me. That will be just fine.

I am going to make this short this morning. I can smell the coffee brewing and sometimes my thought process gets stuck when it comes to this. No point in babbling about nothing much which perhaps some days I do at that.

One thing to mention, I made this yummy lentil stew/soup last night. Definitely something to consider if you have not as yet used lentils. So good.

I wish you a good day and be safe out there. Whether you are walking or driving, slow down and take your time. Not worth rushing. Leave early if you are driving in this weather. Make sure that you have an emergency kit in the car with a warm blanket, flashlight, chocolate, water and flares. Also have your phone charged.

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

Always, Carol & her Alvin

P.S. slow down …….

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are well. Ready, to begin a new week. The temperatures are warming up and that is so exciting. The possibility of walks at noon break and after work are making me feel wonderful. It has been weeks or likely over a month now since we went for a walk outside. Both Alvin and I are feeling the effects of not much exercise. So this will be good for the both of us, for our bodies and for our minds and souls. What do you do for exercise in the coldest months of the year? Perhaps you live in a place where the coldest months just mean switching sweatpants or some full length pant and a light jacket for going outside OR do you live somewhere with no changes in your weather or very little OR do you live in the Northern Hemisphere where we need to have several different types of outerwear. In Canada, in Western Canada where I live, we actually need multiple winter coats and even sometimes need to wear snowpants (lined outer pants that go on top of your regular pants). We need warm toques to cover our heads with a hood on our coats, warm scarves and warm mitts or gloves in addition to the coats and pants. During our winter months our temperatures can range from plus 10 celsius (not normal but happens) to minus 50 degrees celsius and then there can be the windchill factor. So sometimes the actual temperature outside is minus 20 celsius with the windchill it can feel like minus 30 celsius. We are going from minus 30 temperatures to minus 4 to plus 2-4 this week and into the next week. Now those figures may change. But you see the difference. So obviously you need different outerwear / apparel. I have found that it is a good idea to have your coat a size larger so that when it is so cold outside you can layer sweaters underneath. Not everyone in this country has the means to have so many different pieces of outside clothing so sometimes you have to use common sense or even your imagination. Also winter boots are very important. You have to keep your feet warm. Again, sometimes better that your boots are a little loose to add another layer or socks. Most people have a pair for those cold days and then another pair for those REALLY bitterly cold days. Everything should be waterproof if possible – especially your boots. I have several kinds of mitts and gloves. Another important part of the body to keep warm. The elements in Canada can be brutal in winter and it is easy to get frostbite if you are not careful. Listening to the weather reports before you go outside is also very important. I hope that this does not frighten those folks who read this and are not living in Canada. We have the best country on the planet. Of course, it is not perfect here but pretty darn close. One thing I heard on the weather channel last night that kind of did frighten me a bit was climate change and how much it is affecting Canada. They said two times more than any other country on the planet. I do believe that we are doing serious damage and perhaps even irreparable damage to our beautiful blue planet. On that note, I am going to sign off for today. Food for thought. Do what you can. It is time. If we all work together there is hope that we can save our home, our planet. It is worth the extra work, don’t you think?

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! I hope that this finds you well. Alvin and I are doing well.

On November 12, 2021, an extreme rainstorm and snow was forecast for southern British Columbia. The rain did not stop. It just kept coming causing mudslides, unsafe road conditions and major flooding. Entire regions of the Fraser Valley were and are under flood water. The Fraser Valley is known for its rich farmland. There are many livestock farms (mainly cows and chickens and goats) and berry farms. I worked alongside my mum and sister as a teenager at one of those berry farms in southern B.C. at a town named Agassiz, and it breaks my heart to know that so many of these farms are destroyed. Many towns were completed flooded. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes. Farmers trying desperately to save their animals. The loss of animal life is in the thousands. My thoughts and prayers are with the people and for the loss of animal life in southern British Columbia. Cleanup and repairs will take months to what can be saved. They had a hot dry summer followed by a wet fall and then this!

There is nothing else that I can say after this …… my heart is broken.

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

If you are dry and warm you are lucky, as am I.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. Welcome to Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Last week I was writing the month of May in my phone log and this morning I almost wrote January. Oh well. Could be worse, I could be actually thinking it is January or May. Would that really be worse. Guess it is not doing any harm. Funny, actually. Sometimes our brains go in strange directions. Or at least mine seems to from time to time. Did you have a good weekend? I thoroughly enjoyed my long weekend. Teddy, Kobi and their Mom dropped a piece of “key lime pie” off just before my supper last night. Always nice to see the pups. They bring instant joy to the house. Supper was the last of the Chef’s Plate meals for this go around. Not sure that I will be ordering from them again or not. I think that I will just cook on my own for awhile. Last night’s meal was a roasted chickpea and red pepper dish with a tabbouleh salad and baked feta. It was quite good. I most especially loved the warm soft feta. Never have had that before and I really enjoyed the feta baked. I eat a lot of chickpeas and peppers roasted/baked in the oven so that part was not new to me. The tabbouleh salad I have made over the years a handful of times but I will be making the feta with a similar dish again. After supper, I had part of the key lime pie for dessert. It was different than I have had before …. but good. I watched a couple of my recorded shows and then it was off to bed. We had a good night sleep and of course, we were up a couple of times before the final get up and go for the day but that is okay. Life is what you make it. If I choose to be cranky and miserable and think that I am tired because of our odd sleep schedule then I have no one to blame but me. As we age and the same applies to animals ….. they have aches and pains and need to go to the bathroom at all times of the day and night. Alvin and I are on the same schedule in life so it makes it so much easier. I wouldn’t change a thing. I am grateful that I am working for home as I end up with a couple of extra hours of sleep. So grateful. I really hope that our employer decides to let us continue to work from home. We go to the office once every month of two and that suits me fine. It is great for Alvin ….. most especially as he is getting older. It would be an incredibly long day for him by himself and not being able to get outside when he needs to as he does now. Well looks like the sun is beginning to rise as it gets closer and closer to springtime in Western Canada.

Well it is time to head on downstairs. I put on the coffee when I had to take a quick break from this a few minutes ago to let Mr. Alvin outside. This afternoon at 3:00 p.m. – Alvin has his regular appointment and his two/three year vaccinations. His nails are getting a bit long as this appointment is a week longer I think than his last one and then two weeks earlier to have his shots. Kind of in between. Today is to be much warmer so we will be able to walk to Alvin’s appointment.

Take care on this Tuesday. Remember to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience for all other living creatures.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 1st day of March, 2019.

Well here we are two months into 2019.

The coldest winter for Alberta and most of Canada in decades.

Some areas not only the coldest but broke records for snowfall.

We have a fair amount of snow here in Edmonton but have not broke any records.

Temperature records, yes we have broke a few.

We have been walking whenever there is a reprieve from the bitter cold.

Both Alvin are not 20 something anymore so I am careful walking and being out in the winter months.

I can certainly tell this winter as there are bulges where there were none.

This winter we have missed so many walks.

We have had so many cloudy days.

This all plays a role in less energy and no motivation.

So I once again started to have MATCHA with my oatmeal in the morning.

It has been a week and I am starting to notice that my energy levels are up.

On the days when we can walk I am the most happiest.

I have to / I need to start doing some indoor exercises.

There is space.

I need the motivation.

Looking at my midsection after a shower.

ARGH, what the h— ??

That should be motivation enough.

How is it that one day out of the blue or perhaps more than one day …..

You go from having a bit of a tummy to more???

Okay now that I have admitted this ….. this should give me the MOTIVATION to do something about it.

I am.

Thank you for listening to me.

This is what happens when it is COLD for long periods of time in WESTERN CANADA in the WINTER months.

ARGH.

I want my CORE to be back.

The core needs to be in a functioning capacity.

I no longer have a CORE.

Where oh where, is my CORE.

I am sad.

But I can bring the CORE back.

Alvin is doing much better than me.

Likely because he does not have any REFINED SUGAR.

His sweets are banana and blueberries and some carrots.

So almost time to head downstairs as my ride will be here to pick me up in a few minutes.

One last chance for The Alvin to go outside before I leave for the day.

 

Looking forward to tonight as Teddy and his Aunt J are coming for supper.

She is bringing some scalloped potatoes and I am doing the remainder of supper.

Not 100% decided on the rest but have some strong ideas.

 

Happy Friday.

It is the weekend.

Time to relax and unwind.

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Food is just too hard to resist.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “W” …. thank you for reading my blog and for the email.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of January, 2018.

Brr, it is a COLD one here in Edmonton and most part of the WESTERN CANADIAN PROVINCES.

We seem to be having one week with warm temperatures and then the next bitterly COLD ones.

I am grateful for the break in between this COLD SNAP.

It is funny, no I mean strange that when it is cold all you think about is eating and sleeping.

Bundled up, warm sweater, blankets and next to your significant other or in my case snuggling with Alvin.

He does generate a lot of heat.

On these cold mornings it is hard for him to go outside.

I always wait right by the door to let him back into the house the moment that he is done his business.

There is no taking your time on these mornings and days.

I feel bad for him.

Just keeping warm.

I will be laying layers onto my regular warm clothing today.

Bringing out the big boots.

I just want to sleep …… snuggle up with Alvin under a warm blanket and sleep.

That is the cold weather talking.

Argh, have to leave the house.

Oh well, that is life.

My choice.

To all those folks living in a “deep freeze” please be aware of how you are dressed, your children are dressed, and DO NOT LEAVE your PETS outside.

Make sure as in the heat you keep hydrated.

Well almost time to go and start the layering process.

Need to do this when you are walking and catching a bus.

 

Happy Wednesday.

The next few days are all about the weather and keeping warm.

Take care.

Be safe.

If you are driving – make sure that you have emergency items in your vehicle.

 

Special Hello to: my family and friends all over the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of December, 2017.

Another COLD COLD day for us here in Edmonton and in Western CANADA.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.

Chatted with my brothers on Christmas Day and my sister.

Chatted with our friends from Regina…

Hard to believe that Christmas is all over for another year.

The decorations and our inflated bellies are all that remains.

I tried “Jamie Oliver’s” recipe for cooking the turkey and gravy this Christmas and was happy with the results.

An easy and extremely tasty way to make the turkey and gravy.

SANTA CLAUS was good to both me and Alvin.

My daughter and her family slept over two nights at our house which was so nice.

We ATE and ATE and ATE too much.

We played a new game for the kids but not new for me, “SEQUENCE.”

So much fun ……

 

It feels like early in the morning but here it is almost 8:30 a.m.

The sun is not up.

 

I am most grateful to have this week at home.

Our office is closed this week.

So grateful.

 

Well time to go and have a shower and wake up.

Alvin has an appointment this afternoon at his Doctor’s.

No worries, just his regular pedicure and stuff.

We are grateful that our friend is giving us a ride for I fear a walk in this cold would freeze his paws.

 

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: all my friends all over the world.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to the 22nd day of December, 2017.

The sky is light and the sun is up as it is late.

I used a day of vacation so that I could be at home with Alvin and to give him a hair trim and bath.

There are several things that I need to get done before Christmas so this gives me the opportunity to do so.

Well I was pooped so I did sleep in after our original start time of 4:00 a.m. which was a nice treat.

So just sipping on a up of coffee in my PJ’s at after 10:00 a.m. and it feels great.

Sometimes you just have to do it.

Lots to do but I will get them done.

Nice to be home and chilling with my boy.

Listening to the Christmas shows on the television.

Our temperatures are beginning to drop as some ARTIC AIR blasts through.

Winter in Western Canada.

There was ever so light of a dusting of snow last night.

Fluffy and white.

Mostly ground showing.

 

So time to go and drink my mug of coffee before it gets cold.

I am so excited for Christmas with my family.

Tomorrow morning coffee date with two of my girl friends.

YAY …….

What a great day to hold Christmas on Monday.

Monday will not be blah or dreaded this year.

Enjoy your time with your loved ones.

 

Happy Friday …..

 

Special Hello to:  my friend “I” who lives in Sweden…..

Always, Carol & Alvin