Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

Raining through the night and earlier this morning but has stopped now.

Funny how that happens.

I missed watering my flowers on Monday night and then gave them a good drink last night.

Well they are well watered now.

Some of my flowers and plants are beginning to fade.

The nights are beginning to cool now.

I suppose it won’t be too long before I need to prepare for the next season.

Will check the long range forecast for frost.

I will leave everything as long as possible.

As long as the flowers are blooming I like to leave them and sometimes near the end they are beginning to look a bit less than perfection.

 

W for Wind.

Man oh man, have we been experiencing a lot of wind these days.

Seems like every year Edmonton gets more and more wind.

A nice breeze is fine but gale force is not.

Alvin and I have almost blown away on some of our walks and then sometimes we just stay home.

 

This is one of those mornings where for some reason I do not have a lot to say.

Fancy that.

Usually I start and don’t have time to write everything that I am thinking.

I almost never plan what I am going to write ahead of time.

Just sit down and start typing the things that come to my mind.

Sometimes they are silly and sometimes very serious.

 

I want to extend our sympathies to our neighbours on the passing of their beloved fur baby “Capone.”

He was a big guy and so sweet.

I remember when he was a puppy.

My how time flies.

We have lost so many of our fur baby friends and family this year.

Abi (Alvin’s girlfriend), Casey (long time family friend), and now Capone and our Mabel who was my brother and family’s girl.

Rest in Peace my darlings.

We shall miss you forever and keep you forever in our hearts and minds.

 

With kindness and respect for all,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning, Good Tuesday Morning.

 

Alvin and I had a wonderful walk last night.

Oh my gosh, the air was so warm as it touched our faces and the sun SHINING full force.

It was totally a spring day.

Soon the trees will be budding.

The birds will return from down south.

We walked again on the opposite side of the street which was definitely more clear that our side.

I cannot wait until we have dry sidewalks once again.

I am hoping for a repeat today.

 

Yesterday I caught the bus to and from work and met up with a coworker who lives in a nearby area.

We caught the same bus from the main bus terminal to our office.

At first we sat across from each other but at the West Edmonton Mall some of the people got off to catch other connections.

So we were able to sit together and chat on our way to work.

 

Happy Birthday to my son-in-law’s brother D.

We hope that you have an awesome day.

 

I was just saying to Mr. Alvin – what do you think I should write about today?

He just stared at me.

Wondered what that meant.

I have no idea.

Maybe that is what he was thinking or not.

Somedays I wished that he could talk.

I do know that he feels when things are good and not so good.

Tuition – natural instinct.

 

Yesterday was quiet in the office.

We were down to 4 from 8 in our little group.

One was on training and the other three, under the weather, I suppose.

So many things going around.

I am thankful that when people are feeling poorly that they just stay at home.

Especially this time of year.

 

Well almost time to head on downstairs.

Clean up the poop from earlier.

Make sure that Mr. Alvin goes again before I leave.

It is a long day for the little guy.

I do feel guilty about that for sure.

Grab the lunch and out the door.

I guess putting on boots may be helpful, lol.

 

Well I am out of words and thoughts for now.

 

I hope that life is treating you with kindness and respect.

I hope that you are treating life with kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Wednesday, July 5, 2017 and it is the 36th day until my 60th Birthday.

Okay, perhaps I am showing my age, just ever so slightly as I do not remember everything that I have written thus far.

Mm, what I have done over the past 59+ years ….. check.

Mm,  things that are important to living a great life ….. check.

Mm, places visited ….. check

What else did I write?

 

I guess one more thing I can think of at this very moment is:

LIVE YOUR LIFE.

LIVE AS THOUGH YOU KNEW WHAT TOMORROW WOULD BRING, AND THAT IT WOULD NOT MATTER.

IN OTHER WORDS …. BE IN THE MOMENT.

 

I say these words over and over and practice and practice.

I try everyday to live in the moment.

Some moments are successful and others are not.

But I keep trying.

Trying being the operative word.

 

Have fun …. be yourself.

 

Always, Carol

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Well today is Sunday, June 11, 2017 and is the 60th day until my 60th Birthday.

I would say that this has been on my mind, as of late.

Not that I am stressing over this upcoming date.

Just pondering the path behind and the road ahead.

Over my lifetime to this point;  how I envisioned my life is not exactly how it has turned out.

In the early days I wanted the white picket fence, the house, the husband, the four children-two sons and two daughters, summer vacations and to be a nurse and writer.

However that is not exactly the course that my life has taken.

I do not have the white picket fence.

Fences are not all that necessary.

I finally got the house on my own just months before I turned 52.

I do have have a husband, and that is okay.

I was married and have been divorced for several decades.

I do not have four children.

I do however have ONE amazing, wonderful DAUGHTER and a great SON-IN-LAW and GRAND-PUPPIES.

I adopted my four-legged companion, Alvin in 2010.

He brings great joy to my days.

I am not able to take summer vacations.

I am not a nurse.

But I write ….. this I have done since I was 6 years old.

So life changes as the days and years pass.

Our dreams change over time.

I will say that I never thought that I would be single, take early retirement after 30 years with a company and then start another “career” and am now almost 6 years into it.

Time flies.

I kid with folks and say that I am “OLD” but truth is …. I feel young even though somedays my body reminds me otherwise.

I love to laugh and when I find that I am taking life too seriously I change directions and find the laughter once again.

 

I watched a video last night of James Corden doing an interview with Ed Sheeran in a car.

They were driving along ….. singing and talking ….. talking and singing.

Enjoying life.

I must say I love ED SHEERAN and pleasantly surprised by James Corden’s voice (he easily could have been a singer).

You may wonder what Ed and James have to do with 60 days to 60 but in actuality it is partly the choices we make about music and such that keeps us young.

Think young ….. act young ….. be young.

 

Well I guess if I am to write things for 60 days about turning 60, I should stop now.

Safe to say the next 59 days worth of posts will be shorter.

I hope that my journey to 60 will perhaps inspire you, make you laugh, maybe even bring a tear to your eye but most of all I hope that it brings some joy to your day(s).

Now yikes only 59 days till I turn 60……………

 

Always, Carol

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 17th day of April, 2017.

Yesterday we had a group of ROBINS in our neighbourhood.

They chirped and fluttered about in my front tree.

I had heard via FB that they were also in the yard of one of my friends that lives several blocks away.

The Robins are home.

I love Robins.

A true sign of spring.

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

This day is extra special because Miss HODA KOTB is back to the TODAY SHOW.

She adopted the most beautiful baby girl HALEY JOY back in February, and has now returned to work.

Have you ever been so touched by someone that you have never met?

Well I have.

People talk about wanting to meet singers and actors but me, I would love to meet HODA KOTB.

She is the epitome of perfection.

HODA is always smiling and joyful.

She loves singing and knows the words to every song.

She is kind and compassionate.

She is loving and caring.

She is genuine and warm.

She just has this way of making you feel better and wanting to be a better you.

If I am ever blessed to take another trip to New York City, I will make sure that I go see HODA and KATHIE LEE.

They go together like peanut butter and jam, they are perfection.

A great duo ….. the best in morning television.

I am over the rainbow happy for HODA.

So happy that both JOEL and baby HALEY JOY found her ……

 

I share a birthday with Miss HODA KOTB, August 9th.

I am a few years older but born on the same day.

Which is very cool.

 

Also several years ago long before there was the dynamic duo, back when the Italian Charm bracelets were the big thing, I found this charm that said “Today Show.”

Pretty sure that I still had a VCR when I found the charm.

I would sometimes watch the Today Show on my Friday off from work or when on vacation.

I really enjoyed the variety of this morning show.

Who knew that this many years later that charm would have so much meaning.

I love to write and dreamed that I wrote this best selling book and was interviewed by HODA and KATHIE LEE.

A trip back to New York City – the BIG APPLE.

Can you imagine?

No book yet but I still love to write.

 

Welcome back HODA and Congratulations.

 

So time to sign off for now.

Thank goodness for the PVR as I have a coffee date with my friends.

I am excited to watch the girls when I get back home.

 

Happy Easter Monday.

I am so grateful to have had a wonderful extra long weekend.

 

Special Hello to:  HODA ….. Welcome back.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the Day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 16th day of January, 2017.

Our weather feels like spring ….. a reprieve from the deep freeze of the past couple of weeks.

So grateful.

Yesterday Alvin and I enjoyed yet another wonderful extra long walk.

Sun shine ….. so great.

There was a bit of a breeze.

I have not had the “creative feeling” for making jewellery in a long while and when it started to flow yesterday; well I sat right down, and started to make some new pieces.

At one point Mr. Alvin jumped up on the sofa (had to be beside me) and stuck his head in a bowl filled with coloured beads.

(Normally I do not sit on the sofa and make jewellery but the coffee table made the perfect spot to set my things).

When he brought his nose out along came several small seed beads.

There were seed beads flying through the air and all over the floor.

It was so funny … I could not be mad.

I don’t think he inhaled any as he did not sneeze or appear out of sorts afterward.

It was definitely a sight for sure.

It is always nice to be creative.

I love to write, make jewellery and from time to time do craft projects.

Nothing better than creating something.

That was my Sunday …… exercise, laughter and a creative mindset.

 

Also I received a surprise phone call from one of my friends back home.

It was so great to catch up with her.

 

P.S. Forgot to mention I found out where the missing bus shelter went, did I mention that “my” bus shelter went missing.

Apparently a young woman took it out with her car.

They have replaced it with an old one but something is better than nothing (especially when it is windy or snowing).

 

Happy Monday Everyone.

Special Hello to: all those people in the world who like to make things.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 3rd day of December, 2016.

The sky is partially clear as the evening cover dissipates with the morning sun.

Looks like we may have sunshine this morning.

Most of the past couple of weeks have seen our skies blanketed in cloud cover with fog filling the air.

It makes me happy, and I am most certain the other million or so people living in the Edmonton area are happy as well.

We have a busy few weekends ahead of us with Christmas just around the corner.

This weekend I am preparing for the Christmas Event being held at my house next Saturday.

Now while Alvin will not be a part of the Event as he will be at his sister’s house with Milo and his brother-in-law; I felt the need to give him a trim and bath.

So that he is all ready for Christmas.

His fur grows so fast ….. and well a bath cannot hurt.

We managed to do some laundry last evening (we, meaning me), write up some Christmas cards and letters and go for a walk and I rearranged the basement.

Some of the ladies coming next Saturday are bringing their children so will be a good place for the kids to go.

I have a family room with a television in the basement.

Still more cards to do and will just keep writing them whenever there is a spare moment so that they are mailed within the next few days.

After this we, me will have breakfast because that Alvin had his Momma awake at 3:00 a.m. but I explained to him “that it was not time to get up.”

Then again at 3:30 a.m. but I caved and we got up and I let him go outside ( he did have to pee ), so all good and then to the sofa for sleep until breakfast for him.

Up at 4:35 a.m. and he ate and then up again at I don’t remember as it all seems like a blur …. finally up to stay up just after 8:00 a.m.

Anyway off to a brilliant start.

After breakfast we are going for a walk as this will be our only opportunity for the day and plus he will likely go the full distance of our regular walk.

As of late it has been dark after work and he only wants to go about 1/2 or perhaps a little less ….

Can you tell that I am not quite awake yet?  Perhaps I should make coffee before the walk, no better not.

After the walk …. Alvin’s hair trim and bath.

More laundry.

Coffee in there.

Christmas Cards.

Cleaning the bathroom.

Vacuum.

Yikes, do I really have all that to do.

Also have to confirm attendance and invite more folks to the Christmas Event next Saturday.

Oh, and Milo is coming for a visit about mid afternoon as his Momma and Daddy are going to a Christmas party.

Well time to fly here.

Oh, big thing that I have to do is write everything down……. get every detail on my TO DO LIST as without it I may miss something.

The next days are so filled with things to do.

I hope that you are having a great Saturday wherever you are living on this great planet called Earth.

I hope that the sun is shining for you or if it is night time that the sky is clear and the stars are twinkling for you.

I hope that good times are here for you.

I hope that you share those good times with others.

I hope only the best for you.

Have a wonderful Saturday.

Special Hello to:  YOU, truly you rock.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 2nd day of December, 2016.

Due to technical difficulties I ran out of time to write my blog this morning.

Wishing you all a great Friday and I will be back tomorrow.

 

Special Hello to : YOU, thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 25th day of August, 2016.

This morning the skies are beginning to clear after a night of rain.

Likely safe to say at this point that we need more sunshine than rain.

Farmers need sunshine to finish their harvest or perhaps to start in some cases.

 

Today marks the 78th Birthday of my Mother.

We passed away 23 years ago.

Hard to believe that it has been that long …..

We miss her and think of her all the time.

She was an unique being and loved everyone and was loved by everyone.

No matter what.

She gave third, fourth and one hundred chances to those who just could not seem to get things right.

Always, always welcomed everyone into her home and fed them.

People always had a way of showing up at mealtime and I guess they knew she would never turn them away.

When someone says they would give the shirt off their back to someone in need – she did.

She had a wit and charm and wicked sense of humour.

No one could tell a joke like she did.

So on this day – I would like to raise a glass to my, our Mother and thank her for all her 55 years on this planet and wish her a Happy Birthday for eternity.

Thank you Mom.

 

Elton is coming to spend the day with Alvin.

So that means his Momma is getting a ride to work, yay.

So thank you to all those folks who take the time to read my words.

I hear that sometimes those words bring joy, sometimes laughter, sometimes a smile and sometimes further thought.

Today is a day to give thanks.

I like to give thanks and to show my gratitude each and everyday.

But sometimes it is good to write it for all the world to see or at least my ever faithful followers.

Thank you.

 

Have a wonderful day.

Maybe today is the day that you see your Mother and thank her for all that you do.

Perhaps you send her thanks if she has passed by thinking of her on this day.

Happy Thursday.

 

Special Hello to: all those Mothers out there …… thank you

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 17th day of September, 2015.

Another glorious morning ….. no rain overnight or frost.

So we are good on all fronts.

I was going to put all my flower pots into the garage just in case of frost and then saw that it was to be 5 degrees overnight so decided to take a chance.

This has been a long season for them to this point.

Pretty much all of my flowers and the ones in the neighbourhood are still blooming like crazy.

Especially with the rain over the past few days.

Now sunshine and we will be good for another few days or maybe even weeks.

This morning me Alvin decided that he wanted to be a “LAP DOG” …

Usually when I am writing in my gratitude journal he is laying on the sofa in the spot that I was on just a few minutes prior.

We still find time for a few minutes on the sofa before getting up to stay.

Anyway …. he was standing by the chair beside mine and looking up ….

I asked him “would you like up?”

He backs away ….

So I lean over and ask him once again.

Finally he walks over to me so that I can pick him up.

OO methinks that Mr. Alvin needs to cut back on the treats or more walks … yikes.

Footnote to his Momma …. you both need to start yoga ….. “downward dog” …… our cores need help.

As soon as I have him in my lap I place my legs on the other chair so that he has room to move.

With one arm around me Alvin the other one grabs the pen and begins to write.

Meanwhile Mr. Alvin does his “little 360” on my lap so cute.

He then ends up facing the other way with his head facing outward resting on my arm.

I always say to me Alvin and it is my favourite thing to say “cuteness alert” …..

He is pretty cute.

Mr. Alvin goes wherever I go.

He is attached to my hip.

I only hope that he is not too lonely when I am at work.

Hopefully he sleeps and keeps entertained with all that goes on in the neighbourhood during the day.

Anyway …. one more day this week … Friday…. once I start a day …..I am up so it doesn’t count.

I am taking different scheduled buses to find the best one for me to take.

Yesterday the bus got me to work at 7:25 and I start at 8:00 ….

Today I am hoping it works out to be at work by 7:40-45.

I wish you all the best day.

Also today marks the Happy Birthday of my Steeped Tea Leader “C” …. Happy Birthday.

She is an awesome person and I am glad to know her.

Special Hello to: my Steeped Tea Leader “C” …..

Always, Carol and Alvin