Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Thank goodness the smoke has dissipated and the sky was clear a few minutes ago. There are clouds in the sky so perhaps some rain is on the way. I sure hope that they are able to put out the fires in Saskatchewan. I am thinking of all the people, domestic and wildlife that are affected by the wildfires. Always a loss of life and is incredibly sad. We were up about 2:00 a.m. and then hit the sofa until 6:00 (up and Alvin had his last transitional meal with mix of his regular food and bland diet). He has not pooped since yesterday so perhaps everything is coming together. Gross thoughts but it is the truth. An important truth. My truth, my life.

We were up to stay up just after 8:00 a.m. as I thought there is no rush, resting is good. After that we spent a few minutes outside. Bogart and Humphrey were in the backyard, Alvin wanted to be outside sniffing and looking through the fence at them. I was following Mr. Alvin around the backyard waiting for him to poop when I noticed that Bogart, like an athlete in his prime, had jumped onto the top of the fence and was looking down upon us. I called out to this Mom and we had a quick chat.

So today with the cooler temperatures, it is time to get some housework done and some things outside. I will have to check the long range forecast and see when the overnight temperatures begin to dip so that I can bring in some plants. I need to winter my geraniums. Some I think I will put in the basement and others will put in the kitchen. I like the open kitchen window area so I will not fill it up with huge plants that block the light. Look beautiful but darken the kitchen.

I have already cleaned out most of the front flower bed so that is done. The back one can wait until it is almost time for frost and then I can clean it out.

Tomorrow is Mr. Alvin’s ultrasound and that will tell me what our future looks like. I will know what needs to be look for his care and for our future. Scary how one day can possibly change your life. I have ideas but cannot go ahead until I know what his prognosis is, no point in worrying ahead of time. I know that eventually things will change as no one lives forever but I need to figure out with our mandated return to work schedule how to care for him if I am back to work. I am grateful that I was able to spend everyday with him for the last 2.5 years and that would not have happened without COVID. Things may have been a whole lot different. At the end of it all, I have been blessed, we have been blessed. Just more changes to figure out a new plan A, likely a plan B and possibly even a plan C. It will be okay, I have faith and I will remain positive.

So time to head out for a walk. It may rain by the look of the sky. The windows are open to let in the fresh cool air. I had closed them all last night as it was getting so smoky in the house.

Head out and check out the park. Alvin will again sniff out each blade of grass and I will admire the trees, the flowers in the yards that back onto the park, the water that is flowing in the ponds and the sky and life.

Have a wonderful Monday. Today is Labour Day. We are grateful.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. if you have multiple emails and did have old emails – you should read them. I have found some treasures that make me realize how much my life has changed and not changed over the years.

Living … One day at a time

Hello,

There is nothing quite like being ripped out of a deep beautiful sleep than by the loud crack, crash of THUNDER and the room lit by LIGHTNING.

Well that is what happened to us in the middle of last night.

WOW.

Being both wide awake we decided to go downstairs and hit the sofa for the rest of the night.

Luckily it was quiet.

I love my sofa …. always get a good sleep …. no matter the length of time.

Looks like the sky is beginning to clear.

They are forecasting some rain showers for today.

Decision on what to wear for footwear as I am catching the bus for my last four days of work before my vacation.

I don’t want my new shoes to get wet …. argh.

The carpool is on vacation starting yesterday at noon.

Lucky girl.

So excited for mine to begin but at the same time I do not wish to rush it.

Teddy comes tonight for a couple of days.

So will be nice for Alvin to have company during the day tomorrow.

Our office closes at 3:00 p.m. so will be home earlier than normal which will be nice.

 

Last night after work my daughter and I hit COSTCO.

Man did we ever hit COSTCO to the tune of over $700 …. largest amount ever spent there between the two of us.

Not like we bought anything much out of the ordinary ….

Unless you call the one package of underwear that I picked up.

Love the JONES NEW YORK ones.

Okay, perhaps that was a bit too personal but what the heck.

Just between me and you, right.

Gotta have a sense of humour otherwise what does it matter.

My daughter also picked up some moisturizer.

It was one that only ever comes to COSTCO a couple of times a year.

Sold at one of those kiosks.

It was more than the underwear.

Anyway.

 

We even managed to get out for a walk before it rained which I will just say this:  the forecast was way off …. it did not rain at 7:00 or even 8:00 p.m.

Our walk was perfect.

We even saw our friends out for a bike ride …. of course, we stopped and chatted.

Also had time to mow the back lawn (which takes less time than it takes to take the mower out of the garage).

Cleaned up the front flower bed.

There was one flower that was getting a bit straggly.

 

I hope that I made you giggle just a tad on this wonderful Thursday morning.

Alas I must sign off as there are windows to close and have Mr. Alvin go outside one last time before I leave for work.

 

Happy Thursday.

 

With kindness and respect you WILL be joyful.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

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 the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 18th day of July, 2018.

We had a lovely thunder/lightning/rain storm this morning.

Good to have some rain after a blistering hot couple of days.

The clouds look crazy amazing this morning as I gaze out of my office window.

They are deep blue/grey and then there is clear blue sky to the south.

 

We did not go for an early morning walk this morning as Mother Nature had already started her storm dance.

Not a good idea to be out walking when there is thunder with lightning not far away.

Today is to be cooler so we will walk tonight.

 

Last night I gave Mr. Alvin a bath.

He kind of freaked out.

But in the end he was happy to be cooler.

Just got dark outside again and sounds like it is raining again.

 

I was remarking on how great everyone’s flowers are doing including mine.

They are full and brilliant colours.

 

Well somehow I got to this time which is close to the time that I leave for work.

It is strange how somedays you can accomplish so much in a short time frame and then the next day have less to do and get behind.

Really?

Oh well, such as life.

 

I hope that you are taking in the beauty of nature.

Truly stop and smell the “roses” or the trees, the grass, flowers in a pot.

We live on a magnificent planet.

Filled with so much.

Elephants, Lions, Tigers, Snails, StarFish, Bees, Ants, Hummingbirds, Whales, Mountains, Lakes, Oceans and the list goes on.

Appreciate it all.

 

Okay starting to really rain now, I had better go and close the windows.

Good thing I changed my mind and am wearing capris instead of a maxi dress.

That would have been awkward.

 

Have a happy Wednesday.

Be kind to yourself and to others.

 

Special Hello to: my friends all over the world.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 7th day of July, 2017.

WOW, we’re having a heat wave ….. not a tropical heat wave …. a Western Canadian HEAT WAVE.

Oh my goodness, I love summer but sometimes the higher temperatures play havoc with my essence.

I will say thank the Universe for the nightly breezes ….. making the higher temperatures more bearable.

I can only imagine Alvin and all the fur babies of the world.

How do they survive the heat?

This is nothing compared to other locations across the planet.

I do feel for Alvin ……

When I arrived home last night at almost 6:00 p.m. (don’t get me started on that one), it was 80 degrees F. in the house.

It cooled off quite quickly after I opened the windows.

Thank goodness for that breeze ……

 

Our public transportation at this point in time is CRAZY.

Insane for us ….. I cannot compare to any other place.

Part of this is due to summer construction.

It is the only time of year that we can do all those outdoor road and sidewalk projects.

It definitely plays with the traffic flow.

One day the buses run relatively on time and the next day they are over 1/2 hour late.

Now when it is time to get home, it is hot and you have that Mr. Alvin waiting to go outside to PEE and to eat his supper ….. being late is not an option.

Although what can you do when you rely on the buses.

So last night I waited downtown for almost 1/2 hour.

Two buses stopped to say they were FULL …..

Finally the third one had room for us.

It would not have been so bad but I had to stop at the Vet for Alvin’s food and glucosamine chews.

Anyway got home safe and “sound.”

Happy that today is Friday …… another hot one …. even hotter than the last few days.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “M” who is visiting our fair city.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 24th day of July, 2016.

WOW, how can it be?

The 24th day of July?

Crazy, hey.

Well on this bright and sunny Sunday morning I am enjoying the cool breeze that is wonderfully drifting into my windows.

The office feels delightful ….. cool and warm all at once.

My neighbour and I held a joint garage sale yesterday.

It was not successful by any means regarding amounts of things sold or money made but we had fun.

We ran it from 9 a.m. and closed it down at 2:20 p.m. – we met some nice folks.

Alvin stayed out with we girls all day.

It was not hot by any means and he had water and the house close by.

But he enjoyed with me and the girls.

One family from South America ….. they have only lived in Canada for two years.

The family’s favourite thing to do in our Canadian summers is to go camping.

They go to Banff because it is so beautiful.

After the garage sale the girls went home and I tidied up and had a bit to eat before we went out to run a few errands as I needed a few items for my TEA TASTING.

This afternoon I am hosting a TEA TASTING in my home.

We are going to have four different tea blends.

They are made into COLD / ICED tea beverages.

One with water and lemon, another with ginger ale, one with wine and the other with plain water.

I am not a wine drinker or a drinker period but my neighbour had this wine on Friday with the Citrus Mint Sangria and I knew it would be a good fit.

Will have to check the label and let you know.  It is a popular summer wine around here.

How do these tea blends sound:  Peaches & Cream which is a white tea; Jenna Cherry Jubilee, Citrus Mint Sangria and Summer Berry Sangria which are all fruit teas.

They are going to be yummy.

Will report more about the tea tasting with more details and some photos later on.

Mr. Alvin will be so happy to see his sister as she will be attending.

My leader is coming and he loves her.

We are hoping for a good turnout.

You never know …..

Some say yes.

Some say no.

Some say maybe.

Some say no and come anyway.

That’s okay.

Well I suppose I should hustle as I have a few things to do before the TEA TASTING begins.

There are a few hours but time always has a way of racing by …..

I hope that you are having a great summer weekend.

Looks like today is going to be warm.

Yesterday was a bit cool but refreshing after Friday’s 27 and higher with the humidity.

Take care.

Special Hello to: all my family and friends near and far.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Oh no, I hear some sirens blaring in the near distance.

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 19th day of July, 2016.

What a beautiful morning.

From my windows I can see part of the sunrise and that the sky is that perfect light blue BUT ( why does there have to be that word looming over everything ) …???

Well from moment to moment as I was getting ready I noticed that dark shadows or that the sun was not shining as bright.

I guess it could be many things but likely those wretched rain clouds.

Now I certainly do not wish to complain as we did need rain in the spring and early summer but quite frankly some sunshine would hit the spot right about now.

It will not be too long before grass and plants begin to turn yellow.

Although my lawn does not look like it has too much moisture.

Funny thing ….. getting the moisture level just right.

Well I am going to go with Mother Nature knowing what she is doing and leave it at that for now.

I am way too excited to be worrying about that ….

Tonight is the night my company arrives ….. I am so excited.

We are ready …..

Alvin is excited to meet someone new as he always is ….

Mr. Social.

Mr. Community Greeter

Mr. Neighbourhood Welcome Waggly Tail.

Well this is going to be ultra short this morning as somehow the minutes seemed to have evaporated and it is almost time for me to leave the coup.

Work is calling my name once again.

Perhaps one of these days the lotto winning numbers will have my name attached to them.

I hope that you have an awesome Tuesday.

Full of sunshine and rainbows.

They can exist together.

Why not!

 

Special Hello to: my friend who will be here in just a few hours and WELCOME TO EDMONTON.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 27th day of May, 2016.

We had rain overnight and in fact, there was thunder as we were going to bed.

I could hear the wind blowing the rain against the windows.

The sky is overcast this morning but at least the temperatures are warmer than last weekend.

We are getting the much needed moisture and that is a great thing.

 

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk last night.

We changed it up a bit due to timing and went after supper.

It was peaceful and the air was nice.

I love our walks …..

 

I am thinking so much of the weekend and am looking forward to Elton spending the day with us tomorrow and then on Sunday completing the garage sale.

Lots of folks have checked it out on line so I am hoping that people will flock in and buy every last item and for the prices we are asking.

Would that not be nice?

 

Well time to go as this Momma hit the sofa for extra zzz’s this morning.

Part of it is cuddling with Alvin.

Sometimes he will jump up and lay on top of the blanket just behind my legs as I am curled up.

 

I hope that you have a safe wonderful fulfilling Friday.

See you tomorrow.

 

Special Hello to: all those people who rescue animals, thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

P.S. our lawn out front is looking better each day.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 3rd day of May, 2016.

Another beautiful morning.

The air is cool and refreshing.

I left our upstairs windows open last night as to capture that coolness in the house.

We have central air conditioning but there is nothing like fresh cool night air to make you feel good.

For some reason I now have a “cold sore” and it feels like my mouth is out to there.

Oh well ….. no complaining now.

Last night on our walk we ran into old friends.

Some we only see in the summer on walks.

One of them was our friend Shaun and his dog Angus.

Angus is now deaf, partially blind but he certainly walks with fine style and enjoyed himself.

Angus is 15, I believe.

Another dog we saw again is blind but from a degenerative disease but she walked like she could see.

So amazing these babies.

We were glad to see everyone and make new friends.

Someone asked Alvin’s age last night on our walk and was surprised he is 7 ….. he acts so much younger.

I guess there is something to be said for acting younger than your age.

To look and act younger keeps you around longer, I suspect.

Well here we go again ….. almost time to leave.

This morning we, I had to hit the sofa for some extra zzz’s …. not sure why.

We should have gone for a walk but we will try for tomorrow.

I am thinking with this hot weather that we will walk in the morning when it is cooler.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Remember “acting” seems to be a good thing.

Perhaps the art of play is not just an illusion.

Am I making sense??

 

Special Hello to: my sister …. SKYPE Sunday, perhaps?  I am excited to hear about your trip to Hawaii.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 25th day of July, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning here in Edmonton with the sun shining brightly and a cool delicious breeze.

I have the windows open and the coolness gives me goosebumps.

What a wonderful sensation …. to be warm and cool at the same time.

Okay just disappeared into la-la land here.

I am back.

Time for a sip of the nectar meant for the soul …. COFFEE.

There is just something about a good cup of coffee that takes me to another place.

It teases my brain and settles my mind and sets me on a journey.

Really, coffee does all that?

Yes, it does ….

I am a coffee girl and although I love my tea in the evenings and I mean love there is just something about that cup of coffee especially on the weekends that sets the tone to my day.

Without it Saturday is just another day ….. Sunday follows Saturday.

I love the smell of coffee as it brews in my percolator.

I adore the feeling of the warm brew as it dances around in my mouth and disappears down, down, down.

I love a great cup of coffee.

There is no way of knowing just how many cups of coffee I have drank but it would likely be in the thousands.

Just happened to glance out the office window and oh my gosh the roof is now on the garage behind us.

He is a contractor who is building his own HUGE garage.

I swear the roof looks almost as high as the pitch on their house.

By the time it is built and the other neighbour across from them builds theirs we will feel like we are in a cocoon.

Nice and cozy.

I am so grateful for the parks/lakes close by.

At least when a person starts to feel closed in …. you can just go for a walk.

Well I guess it is time to get dressed and get going on this day.

I have relaxed long enough.

The laundry won’t get washed and dried and the tree will not get trimmed if I am sitting here on my “laurels”.

I wish you the best Saturday.

May it be filled with both work and play.

May you be surrounded by love and laughter.

Happy Saturday Everyone.

Special Hello to: all the writers out there ….. it is so wonderful to capture your life and thoughts on-line or on paper.

Always, Carol and Alvin