It is a NEW YEAR.

Yes, it has been quite the NEW YEAR thus far.

Good Monday Morning Everyone!

How was your Sunday?

Mine was great.

There were changes to our coffee plans right up until a few minutes before show time.

Originally one of the girls was going to have on her driveway (she has no garage).

Would have been fine but was chilly with HUGE wind blowing.

So then we changed to the other friend who happens to live across the back lane from her.

Then decided it was too windy and cold there.

I have a garage with no cars.

So the coffee party changed to my garage.

We practiced social distancing.

We opened the big door on my garage and closed the regular door to the garage from the house (garage detached).

This shut the wind out as it was coming from the north and west.

It was not too bad ( I was dressed for cool ).

We enjoyed a couple of hours of coffee, muffins and good company.

We laughed and chatted and chatted and laughed.

Alvin was on his leash and spent the time with us.

He would never have stayed in the house by himself.

Also to note the winds were so strong that they were blowing bags of garbage all around.

So many neighbours have recently been raking their yards.

Well you can see where I am going with this story.

Luckily I have an assortment of garden gloves in the garage.

So when a bag would blow down the back lane I picked it up and threw it back to the place of origin.

I cannot believe that people are not more careful.

But I guess why would you if other neighbours watch out for your “trash.”

Anyway, we had a great time.

Our first get together in over 1.5 months.

I missed my girls.

I have seen them individually as they often drop off groceries for me.

But to have so much time together was amazing.

 

I booked this afternoon off as originally EPCOR and my plumber were to come and fix my tap.

Okay, why would I require EPCOR you might ask.

Well the builder of my home put in a very cheap water shut off valve in the basement.

My plumber had to remove the handle as it would have broken off it was so tight.

I have never had to turn it off.

In fact, I wasn’t even sure where it was (my first house).

I should have asked about it and maybe I had in the early years and forgotten.

Anyway, with no shut off under the kitchen sink as that is the leaking tap, it had to be shut off from the main one in the basement.

Had it been working.

He got it half way and decided not a good idea to continue.

My only other alternative was to call EPCOR, the utility company and have them come out and turn off the main water shut off out front.

So I called them.

Firstly, they now charge for the service.

Secondly, they had to send someone out to check things out first before setting up an appointment to actually turn it off.

So they came out on Thursday and then I set up the appointment for this afternoon.

Late after work on Friday, my plumber got in touch to say that he was unable to make it today but could on Wednesday.

I called the utility back and luckily I was able to change to Wednesday afternoon.

Now I have to change the time off.

But then I was thinking that I need to pick up the trash in the hood so I am going to keep this afternoon off and then book Wednesday afternoon off for the plumbing job.

There is possibility of rain this afternoon but because we have been having so much wind as of late and the forecast is slight wind, I am going to keep this time off.

It will be nice to have a couple of afternoons off.

 

Well Alvin is squeaking so perhaps he has to go outside.

Time to grab some coffee.

Oh, Alvin’s BF Teddy came over in the afternoon yesterday for a visit.

So it was a great day.

We had a nice walk after Teddy went home.

Good day for both of us to spend with our friends.

 

I wish you a great Monday.

With kindness and respect we shall make it through another day.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well here we are the first Thursday of March, 2020.

Almost one week into this month.

Today is my Dad’s sister’s Birthday.

Happy Birthday Aunt.

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

March is almost as busy a month for birthdays as February.

 

Well we brought Mr. Humphrey over for the evening.

My nephew stopped in and spent the night on his way back to work up north.

He brought me a DAIRY QUEEN treat – box of buster bars.

My favourite.

We had a nice visit before an early bedtime.

It was nice to see him and to catch up with all of the family news.

There is always a surprise or two.

He was up and away by 5:30 a.m.

 

Another nice morning although I can hear the wind gusting from time to time.

Gusting as it rattles the outside vents and the chimney.

Alvin and I did not make it out for a walk last night.

Our sidewalk/street out front is a big mess.

Kudos to our neighbour in the other half of our duplex who was out during the day chipping away at the ice.

Working to make the water drain from the street to the storm drain and from the sidewalk.

She did a great job.

Only thing is someone drove over the canal from the street causing it to collapse and then the water could no longer make it to the drain.

Oh well, a few more days/weeks of warm weather and it will be mostly melted.

There is snow and cold temperatures on the way for the weekend so that will put an end to the melting for now.

Time.

All we need is time.

 

Well another work day ahead.

How is your job going?

Perhaps you go to school?

Or maybe you are retired and just enjoying life.

Whether you work for someone or for yourself.

Whether you go to school or not.

These are all things we do to fill our days and to earn a living.

This living helps us to have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and clothes on our backs.

Simply put.

These earnings also help us to have cable and internet for connections and entertainment.

Help to pay for vacations.

Car loans.

Basically everything we consume whether internally or externally.

Yikes one of the cards that I have displayed (hanging) from my bulletin board just fell off.

I had only moments just barely touched it so that I could read the words that my daughter had written.

 

Dear Mom

We’re so grateful to have you in our

lives and are so proud of all you’ve 

accomplished.  This year brings lots 

of change but we’ll get through it 

together.  Love you so much!

 

This was from Mother’s Day 2014.

 

Everyday of my life, I am grateful for my kids.

My daughter and my son (her husband).

For my grand pups, Aspen and Milo.

For me Alvin.

For my family near and far.

For my life.

 

We should always take the time to be grateful.

Fill your life with gratitude and your life will be filled with gratitude.

 

Well almost time to head on downstairs.

Hard to believe that my nephew has been gone for almost one hour already.

Time marches on.

 

Have a wonderful day.

Kindness and Respect, always.

For yourself and for others.

 

Happy Thursday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Oh my how the wind is gusting this morning.

You can hear the vents clanging away.

The air is moderately warm for this time of day.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket beside my computer chair.

I just entered the SURVEY from Save-on-foods.

It would be great to WIN a $1,000.00 gift card for groceries from there.

That would last me for months.

Keep positive thoughts flowing …. or how lovely ….. I won free groceries.

 

Back to work this morning.

The weekend zipped by as they so often do.

Yesterday the sun shone for most of the day and the air was warm.

However, it was so icy and messy that I elected for us to stay in the house.

I did go to the mailbox and mail a card to my Aunt in British Columbia.

With hopes it reaches her by her Birthday.

The sidewalks were so ugly that I did not dare to take Alvin out.

We both cannot afford to slip and fall.

He tends to pull a bit at times although he does seem to understand when it is icy out to be careful.

He usually walks until he sees ice and walk and then walks around on the edge of the street where there is snow.

After my one fall earlier this winter … he usually turns around to ensure that I am still there.

What a gentleman, my boy is.

 

Yesterday I spent some time going through this small trunk/toy chest.

Sorting through papers and things.

Also going through containers that have cards etc.

Every so often I go through to see if I can downsize a bit more.

Just trying to keep the most special ones.

I am just catching a glimpse of some cards that my daughter has given me over the years.

There are a handful that I have posted to my wall size bulletin board.

She always chooses the most beautiful ones with the best thoughts.

That daughter of mine turns 40 in a couple of weeks.

Hard to believe.

 

Well almost time to head on back downstairs.

I am catching a ride to work for the next couple of weeks with my neighbour.

Grateful for her.

 

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Filled with kindness and respect and fun and laughter.

We always have to have a bit of the latter.

No fun is no way to live your life.

 

Happy Monday.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 3rd day of May, 2018.

Well here we are ….. entering into the month of May.

Last night was beautiful even though it felt quite cool in the morning.

The wind was BLOWING so hard last night that at one point earlier in the evening, I took down my “spring/summer” wreath from the door.

Thankfully it is calm this morning.

We did receive a few drops of rain last night in the evening.

Not really enough to even settle the dust.

Who knows what summer will be like.

Will it be hot and dry?

Will it be hot, raining and muggy?

Will it be cold and wet?

Will it be cold and dry?

Will it arrive?

I am sure one way or the other that it will arrive.

Time will only tell.

Even the weather forecasters do not seem to know for sure.

I think that weather would be one of the most difficult things to forecast.

 

Well Alvin is continuing to lay on his blue blanket beside me in the office.

I love when he is close to me.

He heard some birds this morning outside in the back yard.

They sounded like swallows, something small but loud.

Anyway he barked three times and that was it ….. went out and brought him into the house.

Cannot stand the chance of someone calling to complain and after all it was about 5:50 a.m. – not sure I would like to listen to a door barking at that hour either.

Anyway he did his thing for a brief while and I think it was important for him.

Good for him and good for me.

Funny though when we have been walking by our ponds every night and the geese are there …. he does not even acknowledge them.

They don’t mind him either.

It is definitely a funny thing …..

 

I have been trying to find out what the temperature is but I am dressed in capris, top and a mid length cardigan.

I will be wearing that no matter what.

I checked weather for Edmonton and got so many hits and then none of them are easy to access.

Gotta love the NET.

 

Oh well, I will soon know.

Thank goodness I will step outside and wait only a few minutes before climbing into a nice warm car.

Oh, I love these days.

Carpooling, it is the life.

Definitely makes this part of the day more pleasant.

Although now I am missing out on four walks everyday.

So am working on a weight routine to do each day in addition to the walk with Alvin.

Have to do something ….. it was a long long long, yes long winter.

There be a tire there ….. argh.

Anyway …. that is what happens when you eat and do not exercise much.

That was this winter.

Even Mr. Alvin has expanded his mid section.

 

Well time to go and put the finishing touches on ….

Have a wonderful Thursday.

 

Special Hello to:  my sister …. HELLO, there.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 6th day of April, 2016.

The snow has melted and we are back to dry land.

The wind is howling this morning so it makes me think of times gone by.

Here is a flashback some 42 years …..

*******************************************

To Windthorst I came late in the fall.

With great expectations – or so I recall.

I looked forward to seeing new faces in class.

And taking the subjects I knew I should pass.

 

My impressions are fixed now, it currently seems

That totally false was each of these dreams.

With all the boys, I’d thought it’d be heaven,

But it hasn’t worked out: so back to Glenavon.

 

The girls are prettier than I’d thought they would be;

Though none but a fool could prefer them to me!

(My vanity comes from the pressures of rhyme –

You know that I’m modest all of the time)!

 

My rhyme is near finished, my brainpower low,

My thoughts have diminished, and so I shall go.

Life, bring excitement! Life, bring romance!

Life, bring me something! Windthorst last chance!

 

Written as I entered Grade 12 in Windthorst, Saskatchewan.

Grandma sold the farm in the summer/fall of 1974 and we moved to the

Village of Windthorst.

Carol Lewis in the year of 1974.

******************************************************

Sure seems funny reading and keying words that I wrote over 40 years ago.

I hope that this brings a smile to your face.

Time to go to work.

Have a great Wednesday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister who is basking in the sun on a beach somewhere in Hawaii …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the Day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 16th day of November, 2015.

Wow, is it really the 16th of November.

The wind is really howling this morning.

The vents are just a flapping.

Pretty noisy inside the house.

I had a really good weekend despite the creature who seems to have eluded us.

One sighting last Wednesday, Remembrance Day at 5:00 p.m.

Nothing that would indicate it is in the house.

Oh how I wish that it were so.

That perhaps it decided with all of the screaming, lights and action that perhaps it would move on.

I am trying to erase the stories that have settled into my brain.

I did move the chair from near the bay window in the kitchen back into the living room so that it no longer blocks the “plug in that emits sound.”

Traps set one in the basement and one in the pantry.

I am so proud of myself …. I have managed to check them both.

Mind you I do not have to get close.

Okay enough about this ……

 

Alvin kept me company yesterday while I logged each piece of jewellery that we are taking to the craft show.

I still have a few of the newer necklaces that I made to price.

There is a list of things that need to be packed other than jewellery so I will work on that box this week.

I am excited for the craft sale to see what others are making – only one other jewellery table that day.

Should be fun.

Any opportunity I have to spend precious time with my daughter I am all in.

 

Another Monday, I am excited.

Always good to be alive and celebrate another day.

Mondays are good as is each and every day of the week.

Start fresh …. first day of my work week.

 

Tomorrow night I am attending a Brownie Cookie Sale with my friend “S” and her daughter “M.”

It costs $1.00 for admission and then $4.00 for one dozen cookies.

You take a container or can purchase one there for $1.00 and then pick out your cookies.

I believe you can pick them one by one.

They also serve coffee and tea …. how fun is that.

I am very excited for the outing.

My only thing is coming home and leaving Alvin shortly afterward.

I guess it is not that I do this very often …. not at all.

So he will be okay.

 

Well time to get this show on the road.

Happy Monday to you all.

Special Hello to: all of the Mothers who have daughters in Brownie’s …. very cool.

Always, Carol and Alvin