Last Half 2022 – August

Good Morning ALL! Wow, today is August 18th, 2022. One of the new days that I do not know anyone with a birthday or at least I have no birthdays on my calendar. I have an actual birthday calendar and for anniversaries. It is hanging on my wall size bulletin board right beside the computer.

How are you this morning? I forgot to check in on you? Alvin and I are well. We are just returning from a walk and I have apologized to him for rushing him just a bit. I need to start staying up when we first wake up as I am most rested at that time. It has got to be so much of a habit to lay down on the sofa after we first get up for Alvin’s bathroom break. Habits are not easy to break but I will change this, I have to. If Alvin was consistent in the hour in which he first awakes and it was always 5:00 a.m., getting up and staying up then would not be too bad but if it is 4:00 a.m. – yikes that seems mighty early. Although when it is so hot, getting up earlier and doing some things would not be bad although it is still dark outside so would have to be indoor chores which could be done for sure. Food for thought.

I forgot to mention that on Tuesday I happen to catch some movement on my fence as I was working at my kitchen table. The movement was a squirrel running down the top of the fence. OMG. I grabbed my phone to snap a quick photo but it was too fast and the blinds were in the way, so the couple shots that I took were blurry. Could not make out that it was a squirrel. Perhaps he or she will come back another day for a visit. I love squirrels, so cute.

I have noticed that my flowers are starting to go and I am sad. I guess it was Mother’s Day near the beginning of May that I planted most of them. Still am sad. I love looking out my kitchen window and seeing the beautiful flowers and sitting outside amongst them. Tending to their care brings me great joy.

Well it is getting close to work time. I have to get this getting up figured out as I do not like to rush and I have been rushing me and Alvin. Not a great thing.

It is a beautiful morning and we saw others out walking as well. Perfect time. The sky is blue and there is a bit of breeze. Oh, the sun is shining. COFFEE, I would like some, please. Whoops, I have not started it yet. Yikes.

One more sleep and my baby brother comes for a visit. Cannot wait till the guys arrive. YAY.

Have an awesome Thursday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

One our walk I saw a woman with a large bag slung across one shoulder walking over to the rose bushes, she leaned in: did I think that she was going to take a rose or to smell them? What would you think? This was at the entrance to the park where the rose bushes are.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 16th day of December, 2017.

Yay, it is the weekend.

A busy one ahead but it is the weekend, so looking forward to being at home with me Alvin.

We are puppy sitting “Master Teddy” for the day, today.

We are both excited for that lovely energetic ball of fur.

He so so cute and warms our hearts.

Besides doing laundry and the usual suspects like cleaning the bathrooms, I am working on my Christmas projects for my kids.

Time is running out so I must get them done this weekend.

I will get them done.

Both are started and just require me to FOCUS.

Do you ever have times where you know what you need to do and just cannot seem to settle into the task?

Oh my, do I ever.

Procrastination …… yikes.

Well I suppose we all do.

Sometimes snuggling with Alvin is more appealing than working.

Actually most times but that is okay, I am proud to actually be crafting gifts for each of my kids.

It is fun ….. all it takes is an idea.

Big or small and run with it.

Well Teddy will be here (time seems to be going quickly) just before 9:00 am and already it is after 7:30.

Yikes.

Time to start the laundry, have breakfast, make coffee for me and my neighbour, bring my craft projects back downstairs and we should be ready.

I hope that you all have a great day.

Oh, update on my sprained hand – it is feeling much better.

In between all of the madness that surrounds you at this time of year remember to take some time for YOU.

If you do not do this – no one else will.

Happy Saturday.

Last weekend before Christmas …… no actually we have next weekend or at least part of it.

Breathe, crazy woman, just breathe.

Okay we can do this ….. we can.

Happy Saturday.

Whoops, I said that already.

Well, yes, I did.

That is okay.

Long conversation with myself…..

Time to go.

 

Special Hello to: all my fellow bloggers around the world…..

Always, Carol & Alvin

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 and it is the 9th day until my 60th Birthday.

Getting close now.

I am reminded each and everyday of how blessed I am to have such caring and thoughtful friends.

From the time I was a “wee girl” to today as a grown “mature” woman – I have been surrounded by wonderful friends.

Some of my friends I have known for a lifetime others I met when I moved to Edmonton.

Each and every one of them is special and holds a special place in my heart.

Honestly, I do believe that I have some of the best friends on the planet.

Always thoughtful and always there at each turn.

Sometimes with advice.

Sometimes just to listen.

Sometimes with leftovers.

Sometimes with treats from their garden.

Sometimes delicious treats made with love sent from miles away.

Sometimes just for a hug when life is getting you down.

Sometimes to make you laugh.

But always there.

So on this Tuesday, I am honouring my friends.

I am so grateful to have “friends” in my life.

 

Always, Carol

P.S. I have not forgot about the photos of the cherry blossoms.

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Friday, July 28, 2017 and it is the 13th day until my 60th Birthday.

 

Well as the curtain begins to rise on my upcoming 60th Birthday.

I was thinking what else can I share regarding 60 years of life and experience.

Perhaps ADVICE.

Likely one of the single most pieces of advice that was ever given to me was this by my Paternal Grandmother, Stella.

Now, we did not always see eye to eye on things but likely due to the 56 year age difference.

But we agreed on a great many things.

My Grandmother was educated and very intelligent.

She rarely showed signs of emotion and me, well I plainly wear my heart on my sleeve.

Perhaps we were a good bit of YING and YANG.

I learned so much from her over my lifetime until she passed at age 97 in 1998.

 

So the advice was simply this:  “everything in moderation.”

It applied not only to food but to life.

If you live a life of moderation then you would live a good long life.

Or at least increase the likelihood of such.

 

So that is what I would like to leave with you for today….

Those pearls of wisdom from my Grandmother who was an amazing woman.

“Everything in Moderation.”

 

Always, Carol

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 6th day of July, 2017.

Hot day ahead and over the few days days projected to be in the 30’s.

Too warm for me.

Thankfully I do not have to work outside in the hot sun.

I wish “cool” thoughts to those who do.

 

Last night on the bus ride home I had a conversation with a young man who is in Canada from Ireland on a work VISA.

I so love the Irish accent.

He is a bricklayer by trade.

Said so hot working outside.

He told me that Ireland has not come back from a recession.

No work or not much so he decided to come to Canada.

Came by himself.

We had a great conversation.

He said there is more to do here than back home.

Ireland he said has only about 3 million people.

Mainly Irish as people do not often immigrate there.

Said it is beautiful there.

I told him of my Irish roots.

Very nice young man.

Made the hot ride from downtown to West Edmonton Mall so much more bearable.

Good company always does …..

 

I was walking down the street heading toward home from the bus last night after work.

When I spotted a beautiful dog off leash going in and out of yards across the street.

I watched him to see if his owner(s) were about and there were no humans to be found.

So I tried to coax him over to see if I could check his tags.

He/She came across the street with me watching for traffic and ready to stop any vehicles.

The dog came across and ran onto a lawn and then up the steps of that house and stood at the door.

I followed him/her but the dog growled at me so I backed off.

He/She was panting so bad as it was mighty hot and I had no idea how long the dog had been outside in the heat.

So I ran to the next door neighbours hoping they were at home.

A man answered the dog and happened to have a similar dog in the house (by coincidence).

He said they had two Golden Retrievers next door but they are never out.

So I finally after a couple of minutes coaxed him to come with me to the house next door.

When we got there the dog was gone.

My heart skipped a beat.

I asked the man if they were at home and then he went to the door and rang the bell.

A woman answered and I relayed my story and she said her dogs were at home and I said “Are you sure?”

She came outside onto the porch.

A dog barked and then came around the corner from the back lane.

The woman recognized the bark and called the dog.

The dog came to the house.

I reminded the woman to give the dog water as “she” was clearly thirsty.

She said that her grandchildren had been over.

I was thinking to myself “So you did not miss this big huge dog?”

No matter – happy ending.

Dog and Human reunited.

She thanked me and I went on my way.

I thanked the man who had helped me.

So happy that it was a happy story.

 

So good conversation on the way home and a rescue.

Great way to end the day after a long day at the office.

 

Special Hello to: Family and Friends.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 24th day of April, 2017.

WOW, snow, snow and more snow.

The snow is so heavy …. likely shovelling a load of bricks.

It was so heavy that I could not lift it all to one side of the deck so instead I made a mountain in the middle.

Of course, some on the sides as well.

At this very moment it is snowing and it was raining earlier.

Oh, April …… April showers bring May flowers.

I surely hope so.

 

Question?

I had a good conversation with a friend as of late.

With regards to people and who they are.

Life is such a big question mark?

Are we extroverts or introverts?

Are we good or bad?

Are we smart or so not smart?

Do we care or not?

Do we reflect people and their energy or draw them in?

After much consideration I believe that there are two kinds of people.

One being those people who have ENERGY and people are drawn to them.

Others are the ones that feed off of that energy.

If we really think about it ….. you can be both an extrovert or introvert, we all can be good and bad, we all can be happy and mad, smart and not so smart but when it goes to that naturally occurring ENERGY field …

either you are ENERGY and people feed off that energy or you are the feeder, so to speak.

Interesting thought, right?

Remembering that we all have ENERGY ….

I know myself ….. most people think that I am an extrovert because I am talkative, social, I guess not quiet.

But if you really knew me you would know that I love to be away from people ….. sometimes I feel so drained by it all.

Sometimes I feel more on the introvert side of the coin.

People are usually drawn to me and I guess to my energy.

You know when you walk into a room and can literally feel the energy being drained out of your body.

That is the other half of the equation – some people may be extroverts or introverts and any other combination that you can think of ….. they need the energy.

Doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman.

We all can be anything.

Just my thought on the subject.

I am going to research this a bit further and see where it takes me.

There is no right or wrong ……

We are what we are …….

Just some thoughts at 6:15 a.m. here in Edmonton.

Perhaps I could articulate this better if it were a bit later in the day ……

 

Well almost time to don some winter garb and head out for the bus.

I WISH for sunshine.

Have an awesome Monday.

Take care if you are out and about.

Special Hello to: my sister ….. I want to hear all about your trip.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 9th day of April, 2017.

Well we are now one week and two days into April, our “spring” month.

Yesterday we had a nice rain and then the sun came out.

Always nice to have both.

Alvin and I enjoyed a lovely walk.

We changed it up a bit as our park was just a tad bit WET.

On our way home which was through “the Blue Park” we stopped to chat with a nice woman and her two doggies.

One of the doggies the elder one had a visible medical condition.

She was a paramedic and her dogs were both rescues.

Both of them were bigger dogs one a shepherd and I am not sure the other although I believe he may have been part golden lab.

Alvin initially had a little bark but settled down very quickly and we enjoyed the visit.

The one that was part gold lab as her lady said is very attached and protective of her …. she is learning how to be social.

We had a nice visit before we both left for our homes.

I always love meeting people and hearing their stories.

 

Just have to mention this ….. guess who got out again.

I just happened to look out the living room window and there was a young black dog.

He looked familiar.

I grabbed some shoes and locked the house before heading out.

Checked for traffic before crossing the street.

I managed to easily coax the little guy back home.

There were a bunch of people on the deck and one guy walked over to me when I approached the house.

I explained that this is a very busy street.

He did not really seem overly concerned and was not the owner.

The pup went into the back yard.

I hope that this will not be an ongoing thing.

I did ask what the pup’s name was ….. TUG ….. will make it easier if we meet up again.

 

We had a great day …. not quite sure why I decided to “wash the main floor on my hands and knees” but I did.

That is a work out.

Usually I use a mop of sorts ….. or borrow my neighbours steam mop.

I would love to get a steam mop.

Quick and easy.

 

Well my girl and hopefully the pups are coming for a visit.

I made pancakes yesterday – just made up enough for me and saved the batter to make them again today.

YAY …. pancakes two days in a row.

Does not get better than that.

 

I am excited to have a visit with them and so is Mr. Alvin

 

Have a great day everyone.

I hope that you are able to have some time with your family and or friends or maybe ALL.

Take some time and go on a walk.

Nothing better to clear your head and get your heart beating than walking.

You never know who you may meet.

You never know what you may learn along the way.

 

Special Hello to: all my fellow tea drinkers out there……

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 30th day of November, 2016.

Last November 30th of 2016.

I cannot believe that in three years it will be 2020.

I am excited for that date to come around ….. not quite sure why.

 

Have to share a “somewhat cute story.”

After work I always or mostly always catch a city bus to my home.

Last night I caught the usual bus downtown; we stopped at West Edmonton Mall per norm.

I have got to know one of the bus drivers, an older gentleman and so nice.

So we usually chat from downtown until West Edmonton Mall and then the bus clears out and I can sit down.

We chat about bus schedules, our dogs, family and life in general.

This time I decided to continue our conversation and did so once everyone had hopped on and was seated.

When we got to the bus terminal “Lewis Farms” …… yes it has my last name.

Very cool.

Sidetracked.

Okay back to the story as it will soon be time to leave for work.

So he dropped us off and I walked across to the bus stop where I catch the bus that will take me within walking distance of my house.

I was waiting at the stop …. first in-line ….. wait for it.

Usually I am by myself for a few minutes as no one wants to wait outside.

Last night people started to line-up behind me.

After a few minutes the bus arrived pulling over to where we were standing.

Just before he came to a full stop three teen-age girls walked from behind everyone and came over beside me.

The bus stopped virtually right beside me.

This all happened in a matter of seconds.

They were beginning to cut in front of me to enter the bus, and I said in my most stern voice  ” HOW RUDE” and “nicely” got in front of them; onto the bus taking the first empty seat.

One girl said “We are all going to the same place” as they walked by me on the bus.

I was going to say something like “I know, so why did you cut in front of the line?” and my better self said do not continue this conversation.

Another older woman smiled at me when she got on and said “thank you.”

Why is it that some people think they can get away with bad manners.

Not around this cookie.

I felt like “MANNERS REBEL” ……

Anyway I do not think people should get away with being smart asses and that is what they thought they were going to do “push the old lady out of the way” …. not this old lady.

Perhaps they will think again before jumping the line or maybe not.

Perhaps it will give other people who are constantly taken advantage of “say something.”

Anyway now it is time to leave for work.

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

 

Snow flurries are in the forecast for tomorrow.

Happy Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all those folks who never say anything …. perhaps you should.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 14th day of October, 2016.

YAY, today is Friday and we woke up to dry ground.

Appears we missed the overnight freezing rain and snow mix.

One down “192” days to go.

You are likely wondering what “192” days represents.

Just a quick calculation of the length of our possible winter.

Not so bad.

One less day with a pile of snow or even one morning with less snow is great.

Walking to the bus in a couple feet of snow when your legs are only three feet long is not much fun.

Please be giggling now.

I will admit somedays it is funny watching me wade through the snowbanks.

Last year I had to hold onto the rose bushes for support along the walk way as there was so much snow.

I got to work and was pulling out leaves from my hair, coat and scarf.

In retrospect it was truly funny.

Felt like I was on a winter adventure.

Trying to walk on this snow bank while holding onto the rose bushes.

Trying not to damage them.

The big thing is “snow removal.”

In the wintertime residential areas are the last ones to have the snow removed.

If you have to leave home in the early morning you are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

I have been fortunate as my “adventures” have been few and far between.

Sounds like this might be the winter to change that.

Oh well.

That is okay.

Well almost time to get this show on the road.

I hope that wherever you are …. whatever you are doing……that you are safe and warm.

If you have to drive ….. watch your speed ….. ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTING or TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE….

Your life and the lives of others are so precious.

If you must send a message or take a call – pull over.

Also when you are pulling back out into traffic …. look behind you.

I saw a young woman pulling over the other day in my neighbourhood …. sent a text and pulled out without looking …. sure enough there was

a truck right there and if he had not swerved they would have collided.

Just a reminder to be aware.

Okay time to go.

Happy Friday All….

It would be so nice if there was coffee ready when I got to work this morning.

Thank you.

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

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 4th day of July, 2016.

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends, and to ALL our neighbours in the United States.

Have a great day filled with kindness, love, respect and FUN.

Happy 4th of July, 2016.

 

The sun is shining this morning and there is a breeze.

We had a good weekend filled with sun and rain showers.

A good combination.

Yesterday my neighbour “S” and I managed to get our lawn both front and back cut in the morning just as it started to rain.

It looks so nice.

I pulled weeds in the back as they seem to come out of nowhere.

Job done.

Yesterday one of my posts on a community sale board was answered and a woman came and picked up a free box of toys.

Now if the items I have for sale would sell that would be wonderful.

Nice to have something gone as I am on my way to simple living.

 

Well almost time here to hit the road to catch the bus.

I am going to catch the later one this morning as I did not sleep last night until we hit the sofa for some zzz’s this morning.

Oh well ……

Tonight I should sleep good.

 

I hope that you have a great day wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Be safe, be kind, be respectful and enjoy summer.

 

Special Hello to: my sister ……

Always Carol and Alvin