Good Morning ALL! The sky cleared overnight. We had a dreary rainy day in Edmonton yesterday. Good for the plants and remaining flowers and lawns and trees. The moon was shining brightly when we were up at 4:15 and appears to be crescent shaped. So pretty.
I have been thinking of the Queen. How did she manage to do her job for more than 70 years? I don’t remember her being ill, perhaps she had the odd sick day. Queen Elizabeth did her job with a grace and elegance unmatched in the world. Service, after all was her promise to the people when she was a young princess of 21. Something when asked decades later “Did she regret”, she replied “Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgment, I do not regret nor retract one word of it.” I admired her for keeping her promise for more than 70 years. She worked right up until the end of her life. She definitely had a sense of humour as I have watched some footage taken over her lifetime. Listening was definitely something that she did very well. Thank you for your kindness to animals and to people all over the world.
Thank you Elizabeth, Queen of our realm for doing such a magnificent job and for more than 70 years of service! Thank you.
Today is Tuesday, September 20th, 2022. I also want to make a correction to my post from yesterday. I believe that Princess Catherine’s name is spelled with a C not a K. I apologize.
Two days now until the first official day of fall. I can feel it in my hands. They are drying out. Lotion time.
There are a few days coming up where the weather will remind us of summer. This weekend I will be finishing up outside. Bringing in the rest of the plants and putting away the patio furniture. The cleanup stuff. Wash the deck and the windows.
Appears to be breezy out there as I take a quick glance out of the office window.
Last night started the fall television lineup. I am cutting back on the shows and have already cancelled some of the programs that I watched last year. Too much television.
Well almost time to head back downstairs.
Food for thought! On the weekend my friend and I were out for a walk with Alvin and her grandpup Georgie when we came across this woman and a little beagle. The cutest, most darling creature you would ever want to see. We stopped and chatted for a few minutes. She told us about her little one who was a rescue from a breeding facility in the U.S.A. This place bred beagles in particular and sold them to be used for animal research, testing and experimentation. They lived in horrific conditions and were given food filled with maggots and feces. 4000 beagles were saved from the facility. This pup had only drank water by a drip, I did not want to know what that meant. I can only imagine. The pup did not know how to run or play or even drink water. She was surprised when I offered the little guy a drink of water from Alvin’s to go water dish and he actually drank with no instruction. So perhaps we all need to step up to the plate and say something. Tell our governments to put a stop to this, stop TESTING ON ANIMALS. Do you know why they specifically use “beagles?” Because they are gentle and do not bite. Something else she said that most of the beagles are euthanized after 90 days. I can only imagine why. It is 2022 and we are still testing on animals. We should be SO ASHAMED of OURSELVES. Take a quick peek at some of the products in your medicine cabinet, pantry and kitchen and google to see which companies “test on animals” or do product testing in other countries that allow this cruel and inhumane practice. You will be shocked how many companies and big ones, still test on animals.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this Thursday morning? What a gorgeous morning. I was outside with Alvin just after 6:00 a.m. in my pj’s and jacket and as I waited for Alvin to do his “business,” I realized that I could see my breath. Well it may be a little longer before I can plant my flowers, oregano and tomato plants. I sure hope that it is sooner than later. I cannot wait to see dolops of colour on my deck and in the front of our house. I love summer for the flowers and winter for Christmas. I have a thing for colour, I love bright colours.
Yesterday at lunch time we went for a full walk. Alvin was sniffing and sniffing and sniffing the whole walk. He does love to sniff. I think actually that as he gets older he is loving it even more. I also do worry that he is starting to lose his sight or has the onset of dementia. But these are things that I am putting in my mind and I need to think positively about him. Sometimes googling things is not a great idea. He is eating well and drinking lots of water and pooping and peeing as he should. I am happy about those things. I worry about him.
As I look out of the office window the leaves are quickly becoming noticeable. Green is the main colour on our canvas. So many different hues of green between the grass and the leaves and plants. I love green. Makes me feel good, makes me feel alive, makes me feel renewed.
With everything going on in the world, sometimes it is hard to feel good about things. It is at these times that we must do everything in our power to change, to retain our positive, good, kind thoughts. Somedays I am afraid that we are losing the battle. But I am not going to give up. We must not give up. If there are enough good thoughts in the world we may be able to change the balance. It is a thought!
I was also thinking that I have been going to write a book or books about me and Alvin. I have started many times and have lots of notes and perhaps this would be a good time to get going on them. We need to keep filling our lives with good stories.
Well time to go and turn on the coffee and start work in a little bit. Tomorrow I have to go to the office. Part of me is kind of excited and the other parts are not. Our friend Gillian will come and check in on Mr. Alvin. He has been a bit more anxious and whiny as of late so I certainly don’t want him to be alone. I have been watching him to make sure that it is okay.
I hope that you have a great Thursday. Keep those positive thoughts and stories flowing. Please. I shall do my best as well. Affirmations are great to help us in this regard.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. Hello this morning to Cindy, Val and Gillian. You know I love you all! Thank you for reading these posts, this blog.
Good Morning ALL! I hope this finds you doing well on this Thursday morning. I am pretty sure a few hours ago it was Sunday but somehow the calendar has now changed and it is Thursday, April 7, 2022. I am pretty certain that somehow time has increased its’ speed and the days are really passing as quickly as they feel to me. Am I alone in this?
This is a sad morning as yesterday we received news from a neighbor and friend that her beloved Jazmin passed away. Jazmin was almost 17 years old. We will miss seeing them on our walks and on our visits. Alvin will miss his friend. She was a sweet girl. Her Momma is lost at this time and I can feel her pain. We shall miss the cuteness that was Jazmin and know that she will be running fast through the fields of flowers with others that have gone before her. Good Night Sweet Jazmin.
The sun seems to be higher in the sky this morning. The sky is blue and there is no wind. A beautiful day by all counts.
My daughter is stopping by to see us after her appointment later today in the neighborhood. It will be great to see her. Alvin is appreciative as she is picking up his food, toothpaste and Movoflex from the Vet so his Momma does not have to carry it all home. His Momma is also appreciative.
I wish for us all that today will be filled with good news. I think that we all need some good news for a change. I am not a super religious person but a spiritual one but today I pray for some light to the darkness. I need, you need, the world needs some good news. The weight of it all is dragging us down.
On this Thursday, I wish you good health, joy, lots of laughter and abundance and some great news.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. the you know what has almost all melted and the ground is drying up. We are happily walking twice per day and enjoying it so much.
Good Morning ALL! While it is not a good morning for everyone on the planet, I want to remain as positive as I am able to during this time. My heart goes out to the peoples of Ukraine and also the peoples of Russia who do not wish to be at war with their neighbours. Why is it that after two World Wars and many devastating conflicts the world over we have not learned anything? I know that most people living outside of a democracy have little or no control over who leads their country. Why can’t we do something before there is bloodshed and destruction? My heart aches for the people and my mind cannot turn off the many thoughts that are racing through it. I will say that last night in bed, thinking about the world, I was hoping and wishing that Putin would just quietly disappear. I still hope this will happen today. Sooner than later. To the Russian people who are valiantly protesting the war despite their safety and well being, I thank you for standing up to him. I am not sure that sanctions made by the “west and other countries” are going to stop this war. He doesn’t care. It is all about keeping Russia’s borders safe. With each passing day – his mind and resolve grows strong. He is likely thinking that he is untouchable. That is dangerous. We have seen this before and look what happened!
I was going to write about other things but after this, it just seems flimsy and not worth mentioning at this time.
All I can say is I believe that most of the everyday people on the planet are with Ukraine. We do not wish war. We want to live in peace. We want to have a home for our families. Enough food in our bellies. To be able to live without fear of tanks driving down our streets or bombs going off in the middle of the night. To have our biggest complaint be to shovel the snow from our sidewalks and perhaps not to be able to walk due to the ice. For me, I am grateful for my quiet life with my dog Alvin.
Peace and Safety to ALL.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Good Morning ALL! The sun is shining and the sky is mainly clear. Alvin and Cookie just had a chase going on upstairs as we get this Sunday morning underway. Yes, it is true that we have been sleeping in much later than normal but with the extra four-legged in the house and her being younger she is playing both of us out. So extra sleep is necessary. Besides what difference does it make. This is our time off and we are making the use of it. This is Cookie’s last sleep with us before she goes home. Tomorrow night her family arrives back home. I am going to check the temperature and find the pups outdoor gear and perhaps we should get outside for some fresh air. We have been inside for the majority of the last two weeks with the exception of my shovelling, Alvin going out to do his business and that sort of thing. I think that would be a great idea. I would like to do some laundry today and will do towels and bedding tomorrow. I will have to use my PET Bissell Crosswave tomorrow or Tuesday after work and clean the area rug in my bedroom. Freshen it up. This next week once Cookie returns home, I will take down the Christmas Tree and ornaments. I believe that the temperature is to be cold after today for another week so it is the perfect time to take down Christmas. Ornaments/decorations that is! It sure will be quiet around the house without the little one here. She brings life to us. I cannot remember the last time that Alvin tore through the house like he was 2. Now him tearing around is not so much a great idea after his last surgery in July. He seems to know his limits. Cookie is so funny, she just keeps poking and he just lays down on his belly outside the office door as if to say, “enough already” and knowing Alvin I am quite certain that he has a few further “choice” words to say.
It is hard to believe that we are now on Day two of the New Year and two sleeps until I start back to work. I am so grateful that I can continue to work from home. These past almost two years have been so great for me in that I am able to work from home and be with Alvin. No commute. Has been fantastic. Perfection. I have wanted to work at home for years but who knew it would take a pandemic for that “wish” to come true. Now of course, I would not wish for a pandemic. The loss of life and economics has been horrible. Humans have been talking about working from home since the 1970’s. I think working from home makes a lot of sense. Once we have more freedom to see family and friends – our mental health will improve greatly. For folks like myself that are alone – having contact with family and friends is a necessity. With Alvin, I find that if we are able to walk and I can see people to say hello each day that I do not need to see people for long periods of time every day. So we shall see what 2022 brings to the planet. I guess it all depends on what we do individually and collectively. I shall continue to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities. For that is all we can really do. One day at a time. We need to be good to each other and to ourselves. We need to be good to the environment, to the planet, to all other life. Lessen the greed.
Sounds like Cookie has given up trying to get Mr. Alvin’s attention. They played for awhile (I took some video) and now he has retreated to his position outside the office doorway.
The sun is shining brightly in through the office window. I sure hope that the temperature remains warm for a bit so that we can go out for a walk. I know that from about 10:00 p.m. last night the temperature was minus 6-7 degrees celsius which is a far cry from minus 30-40 degrees celsius. How can the temperature fluctuate that much in a matter of a few hours. Well it certainly did. I went outside last night to pick up poop with only a sweater. No coat. I did put on mitts as my hands are so desperately dry and cracked.
Well I should go. Time for a shower and get some laundry going. Coffee and see about going for a walk.
I wish you a great Sunday.
Continuing to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol, Alvin and Cookie
P.S. Alvin is reaching out for my assistance from the Cookie “Monster.” She is cute but keeps us busy.
Good Morning ALL! Well we are down to the final stretch only FOUR sleeps till Christmas EVE. WOW.
Our little visitor arrived late yesterday afternoon. I present Miss Cookie.
CookieCookie seems to love RudolphHer fav chairShe even sat beside meAlvin
We had our first night. She was missing her family for most of the evening and went to the front door every few minutes. I was pleased to see her go outside with Alvin. She did not want a treat last night. She also did not settle down last night. Up on the bed and down. We were up at 2:00 and then I thought maybe she would be more comfortable on the main floor so downstairs we went. Outside. Then to the sofa, she did lay on the end of the sofa by my feet for a bit. Alvin wanted to eat at 4:00 but I said “not yet” but then again about 5:00 and finally at 5:30 we were up and stayed up. He gobbled his food down and she would not touch hers.
This morning while I was in my bathroom putting on my “eyebrows” – I returned to the bedroom to see looming in the semi darkness a parcel on my white rug. OMG, she pooped on the rug only about two feet from the pee pad that I had put down. I have a few throughout the house. But this would not be the first time a pup has pooped on that rug and that is why I have “pet stain remover.” Alvin is laying on the hall rug and Cookie is somewhere downstairs.
I am not surprised by her actions and reactions, this is a semi strange house for her. In a day or two she will be more at home. She is the sweetest little thing. She seems to like me as she has licked my face more than once.
A cup of coffee will be so good this morning and hopefully tonight everyone will sleep through most of the night.
Continuing to live this life with respect, kindness, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding and gratitude.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. I was thinking last night. Can you imagine what our world would be like if we all looked the same, had the same thoughts, opinions and faith? Our world is so amazing because of our differences. As 2021 quickly turns into 2022 – let us celebrate our differences and know they make our world a better, more interesting and fun place to live!
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am well, we are well, except for being a bit on the sleep deprived side. Definitely sleep deprived. It is awesome having my daughter in the house this morning. Seems like old times. I had a rather typical untypical Sunday night. We chose to sleep on the sofa as I thought we would be more comfortable there than the spare bedroom. I also decided to watch the ADELE special on television from the start at 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. It was so good. I absolutely love her voice. The new songs were wonderful and listening to the old ones was amazing. The people attending the concert which was held in Los Angeles on top of the world at The Griffith Observatory with a star studded audience including Melissa McCarthy, Oprah who did an interview and introduced her for the concert, Ellen DeGeneres, Drake, Seth Rogen and Jessie Ferguson. Part way through the concert she brought out a fan who proposed to his long-time girlfriend. It was a great night and worth staying up. Most times I don’t fall asleep until after 10:30 anyway. But this Sunday my brain would not shut down. It went into hyperdrive thinking about the concert, about work, about this one file that I have to finish tomorrow when I am back working from home, going to the office today and on and on. Then just before 1:00 a.m., I hear these two teenage girls laughing wildly and I at first think that I am losing my mind and then I jump up and go over to the window. What I saw disturbed and scared me on every level. Outside my window, on the street, two young girls were running down the street which was icy, slipping and sliding. Just behind them stopped on the street was a black sedan. Then the girls ran back to the car to the rear of the car. My heart stopped as they held onto the back of the car. The driver accelerated the gas taking the car forward with the girls holding on behind. He kept going a bit faster and finally they slipped and fell. I almost ran outside but I was scared. The car stopped. Then I could hear the girls as they jumped up from the pavement and slipping and sliding they crawled into the car and a few seconds later the car took off. What in the world is wrong with kids? They think that they are invisible. So after that, I definitely was not sleeping. Then it was two and Alvin woke up and I managed to coax him to sleep and then it was 3:00 and we were up and outside. I have my trusty flashlight app on my phone, best thing ever. I did sleep about the time I had to get up but oh well. Should sleep good tonight. Mr. Alvin was happy to come upstairs with me and quickly put his nose to the bedroom door where our girl was sleeping opening the door and jumped up onto the bed where he curled up next to her. Looks like the time is evaporating here.
We had some snow yesterday and I did my first round or two of shovelling. Hopefully the streets and roads are not icy.
Wishing you a great day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter and gratitude.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this Friday, March 26, 2021. It is the weekend, yay. I love the weekends. A chance to do some of the things that you did not have time for during the week. Even though I am working from home, I do the laundry for example of Saturdays and sometimes finishing on Sundays as I have always done. That goes for everything that I have traditionally done on the weekends still is completed on the weekend.
One thing away from the joy of weekends and that I was thinking about earlier this morning is the recent loss of life in the U.S. from shootings in a public place. I will never understand why the Americans keep clinging to the The Second Amendment of their Constitution that reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Why is that a fundamental right of the people? Why has not been amended in 2021. This was ratified on December 15, 1791. I am never quite sure why any country clings to outdated laws. This does not make sense to me in 2021. I know that this is very important to the Americans. We share a border with the U.S. and are similar in so many ways. In fact in the early days many people populated Canada from the U.S. – coming in from other countries. So why did we not have a similar Constitution? I wonder. We do not have a “right to bear arms.” People in Canada can apply for a license to own a gun for hunting and such. But there seems to be a lot more control over guns and a lot less mass shootings. Not to say that we have not had them. When will there be a breaking point where the people just say “enough is enough” or will they ever say this? I wonder? Incredibly sad for unnecessary loss of life. Most especially sad during a pandemic. I have always wondered these questions and perhaps because this is not something I usually write about in a public forum, today seems like the day. I believe that there are always going to be people that are able to obtain guns in some manner or other but why make it so easy for them. Also some of these guns that can spray what seems like a million bullets …. why are people able to purchase them? I wonder how many people are afraid to send their children to school, afraid to go to the mall or go pick up groceries?
Time to head on downstairs and get to work. Excited for my morning coffee. The sun is beginning to rise for a new day.
Always good to think about things that do not make sense to still be an active law, if you will.
Living my life in kindness, respect, compassion and patience.
Good Morning All! How are you on the this fine weekend? I hope that you are very well. In good health and are doing at least some of the things that you love to do. We were up and down last night. First of all, Mr. Alvin was sleeping like a log when I could not even turn off my mind, tossing and turning for what seemed like all night. He woke up at 3:00 a.m. and had to go outside and then we were on the sofa. No surprise there for you or me. If you have been reading my posts on a regular basis you will know about our early mornings. LOL. Anyway, up and out and back to the sofa. He wanted to get up a couple of times after that and I managed to coax him to remain on the sofa until I thought it was a good time for time to eat and that was between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. …… then back to the sofa and for most of the time I just laid there lost in gentle thoughts and occasionally dozing off. I have not done that in a long time. It was nice to just lay there with no immediate place to be. Now we are up and have been for a bit. The poop has been cleaned up from last night and this morning. There was some urgency to do it sooner than perhaps later this morning as the forecast is 80% chance of rain. Right now the sun is shining. Our bedding has been changed and I am now doing this post. I decided it may be a great idea for us to go for a walk now. Then we can come home and I can have breakfast before starting his haircut and finally his bath. I want to get our walk in before the rain and besides not much giving him a haircut and bath only to go for a walk and get muddy again. Nope. Not happening …..
What a week we have had ….. pretty good …… going for walks at noon……unplanned visit with my daughter ….. nice visit with Sonja and Humphrey across the fence last night after work ….. my friend G picked up a few items at Costco including some Hershey Eggies (egg shaped milk chocolate covered in a colored coating. OMG they are so good. I had to place the bag in a spot that I would not have my hand dipped into the bag every five minutes. Hard to believe that Easter is two weeks away.
Well I think that we should get out for a walk while the getting is good. I am going to share some photos …..
From land to sea to air, our planet is incredible.
Amazing how wildlife, the grass and trees have come back in Chernobyl.
Mother Nature in all her glory.
Enjoy.
I hope that you enjoy these photos.
We are going for a walk.
Have an awesome Saturday.
Living in kindness, with respect and compassion and patience.
Good Morning ALL. Thank goodness it is now Friday. Not that I want to wish my life away but what an exhausting week it has been. Sometimes I wished that I did not watch anything on television or visit any social media platforms; the news has been horrific. I know that most people had visions of 2021 being all that 2020 was not but we are not off to a great start. Our restrictions have been extended another two weeks. Other Canadian provinces have placed even more strict protocols than my now home province of Alberta.
All I can say is today is a new day. Hopefully we can do better. We have to, we must. No matter what is going on around us ….. we have to step up and be better citizens of the world.
Yesterday at noon we walked over and picked up Teddy and Kobi to bring them home with us for the afternoon. It was an interesting walk with three pups. Kobi is the escape artist so I was most careful with her. We kept running into people with large dogs but luckily for me they all nodded their heads and crossed the street; I guess an “older” woman with three dogs coming toward them was reason enough. I nodded and smiled with thanks. I had not thought that Alvin would have to poop on the way but we only walked to their house and did not go for the full walk, so really I should not have been surprised. So here I am with an extra strap around one wrist and the leash for Kobi in one hand, and the two on my other hand and trying to open a poop bag and then to pick it up. It was a funny sight! I managed and then we were on our way. I was grateful to get home and to be home with a few minutes to spare so that I could get us settled before heading back to work at my kitchen table. We had a good afternoon. The pups were good.
After work I decided to take the thermostat off the base, and change the batteries as it was giving the message REPLACE BATTERIES. I had it off and took batteries out of my battery container only to find that they were DEAD when I replace the thermostat on the base. So I set the thermostat on the table and figured that I would just ask my daughter to bring some double A batteries with her today as she is coming to drop off some new bras and socks that I ordered. Yup, Momma is getting some new BRAS, yes I said it. They are desperately needed and socks as well. Back to the battery. I was feeling a bit chilled and realized after a bit that the furnace had not cut in so I did what any other modern day woman would do, I googled the situation. I found out that the thermostat talks to the furnace and it will not know that it needs to cut in, with no batteries. Basically it cannot respond to nonexistent temperature commands. So that is why I was getting cold and had actually gone and put on some warmer clothes. It was at that time that I started phoning and texting all my friends and neighbours. After a few calls, I was able to speak to my friend Signe who had some batteries. I was just on my way over to pick them up when another neighbour’s son came bounding up the walk with hand out “Mom, said you needed batteries.” I received other texts and calls to check. So grateful for such caring and wonderful neighbours. I called Signe to thank her and advise that I now had some batteries. The furnace cut in the first second the new batteries were installed and it was back on the base. The air once again felt warm. So grateful. Pups went home just before 7 p.m. and after our battery fiasco.
Well time to head back downstairs and get this work day going. I need coffee this morning.
Living with kindness, respect and compassion for all, please we must.
My New Life @ 51 