Living … One day at a time.

Hello, Good MORNING …. still dark outside.

I brought my remaining plant pots out of the garage yesterday afternoon and placed them on the deck.

The remaining flowers mainly SNAPDRAGONS can survive until minus 8 degrees celsius.

I also have some Trailing Verbena and Marigolds.

They made it through the night which dipped to minus 2 degrees celsius.

The colours are still so rich and vibrant.

The next few days are to be sunny for the most part and warm or at least much WARMER than it has been the last couple of days.

Okay photo time.

I love FALL.

The rainbow of colours on the trees.

I love the leaves on the ground getting all nice and crispy.

I love that yellow blanket covering my lawn.

Yesterday morning the sun was shining brightly.

A breeze arose and then the leaves started to rain down.

I did try to capture that moment with my phone hence all the photos that look the same.

But I cannot help myself.

I love FALL.

I love AUTUMN.

I love that my flowers are still blooming.

I have a SCARECROW watching over my garden and yard.

A few photos from inside ….. the GERANIUM is blooming.

Oh, how I love fall.

NOTE:  the flowers by the fence in the second row were taken as I was waiting for the bus yesterday.

 

Well the checkup went well.

He even cleaned my ears.

I am prone to excess wax building …. isn’t that nice.

It happens.

Went for blood work.

Tomorrow is the Mammogram and dropping off of the STOOL sample (FIT)

to the lab.

Thankfully all within walking distance of my office.

Yup, successful prepared that good old stool sample at 5:30 this morning.

What a wonderful way to begin the day.

Also with the Mammogram (something new for me) …. no coffee (argh), no tea (argh) and no chocolate.

Oh, and no deodorant before the test.

All the best things ….. so I am being a good girl.

The test is the morning coffee at work.

But I will only fill my water bottle or perhaps have some hot water.

Well almost time to leave for work.

I hope that you are having a wonderful day.

If you have not got around to doing your ANNUAL CHECKUP for more than a year ….. do it.

Best thing that you can do for yourself.

If you do not look after yourself …. you know.

It is something you have to do for you.

 

 

Happy Wednesday.

Enjoy the leaves and the day.

Kindness and Respect is what we all deserve, each living being, each creature on this planet.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 26th day of August, 2018.

Happy Birthday to a friend of ours who turns “12”today.

She is almost a teenager ….. hard to believe …. when we met as neighbours you were a little girl….not even in school.

The sky is partially cloud ….. a bit of smoke lingering in the air …. possibly some rain clouds.

Cooler than the average for this time of year but that is okay.

We had a little rain shower last night.

Today will be a quiet day just looking after the boys.

Putting away the laundry that has been drying in the laundry room.

Snuggling with pups and visiting with Humphrey the Cat.

 

I had a start last night.

I went to visit Humphrey and Cinder after 9:00 p.m. last night ….. Cinder was awake and when I turned on the light …. she was staring right at me.

Her eyes are so cool.

Round black with a sliver of lightness going through them.

Geckos are so unique.

I do not see her much when I look after them.

Again this morning she was laying on a stem of the plant that is her in home …. Not sure if she was sleeping or not.

Usually during the day she is in her sleeping pod.

So twice I have seen her in less than 12 hours.

Very unusual.

Well I have Master Teddy in my lap and it is not quite so easy to key with someone who wants you to hold him.

We have had a good few days together.

The boys have played, we have walked and just hung out.

 

Mr. Alvin has been eating grass the past couple of days.

Last night he threw up once and I thought he was going to do so again.

He has no problem eating or drinking.

Perhaps he has been eating too much.

I am watching that carefully today.

Teddy seems to like Alvin’s food AND Alvin will eat his and Teddy’s if given the chance.

 

Well time to go and have coffee.

Teddy is moving about and I do not wish to drop him.

 

His Aunt is picking him up tonight.

His Mom and Dad will remain away on vacation for an additional few days.

He will be excited to his Auntie “J.”

 

Life is good.

 

I heard somewhere the following and it makes sense to me:

“The age that is one’s highest self esteem is “60.”

I definitely can see that.

It has taken me to age 60 to be better in my own skin, to know what I like, and to be confident in myself.

Life is better as we age.

 

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: my all my girls ….. each year you get better and better.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Master Teddy.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 13th day of October, 2017.

Well the ground is dry but there is a heavy frost on the cars.

It is that time of year.

Yesterday was cool but when the sun shone it was quiet lovely.

I love this time of year.

We were asked to watch one of our friend’s doggie for tomorrow.

I am excited and I tried to explain to Alvin and he just looked at me and turned his head this way and that.

Perhaps he understood what I was jabbering on about …..

I hope that we all have a wonderful Friday.

Remember to be kind …. on the phone ….. in person ….. in the written word.

I know that sometimes I can be less than what I want to be ….. always a work in progress.

Always learning to be better and knowing that somedays it is difficult to get to that “better place.”

Have an awesome day.

I am grateful for a good week and look forward to the weekend.

Happy Friday the 13th ……

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who try everyday to be better than the day before …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 26th day of September, 2017.

Today is the Birthday of my Son-In-Law “S” ….. Happy Birthday Buddy.

He keeps us all on our toes, constantly challenging us to be better.

He has a good heart and is very intelligent.

A great combination.

Happy Birthday Buddy ….. Alvin and I wish you a great day.

 

Well back to work today.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day off yesterday.

Ended up cleaning and putting away most of the deck furniture and flowers pots.

Only a couple of things remain.

On our walk in the later afternoon we saw, actually Alvin saw our friend “P” working in your yard.

He can spot her a mile away.

What a guy.

We had a visit and she gave me  some plants.

So upon our return home ….. I again rearranged my back flower bed.

I think that I now have a plan.

Or at least for now.

 

Our weather is incredibly nice.

Bright sunshine …. blue skies ….. warm temperatures.

Of course not near the temps as in eastern Canada.

In parts of Ontario and Quebec the temperatures have exceeded 30 degrees celsius which is way too hot for this time of year.

Breaking all sorts of records.

I like our temperatures …. low 20’s.

Perfection.

 

Well time to put the finishing touches on before leaving for work.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: the Birthday Boy …… Love Mom & Alvin

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 21st day of June, 2017.

We had quite the storm again last night.

This one lasted quite a bit longer.

I am always shocked at how strong our trees are when the winds are blowing them almost to the ground.

They are very flexible.

 

Happy First Day of Summer.

Longest day of the year.

They said we would have 17 hours of daylight today.

WOW ……

Guess it definitely will be light when I go to bed this evening.

Lots of sunshine this morning.

BREEZY.

Very breezy.

 

Do you have any special things that you do on the longest day of the year?

Me, not really other than make certain we go for a walk and then check the sky for the moon.

Love being able to see both the sun and the moon sharing the sky.

 

Feeling quite better now.

Not sure what hit me but glad it is over.

Feeling rested as I slept most of yesterday.

 

Special Hello: to my sister …… not long now.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 26th day of June, 2016.

Wow only a handful of days left in the first half of the 2016.

Crazy hey.

It  has been a crazy first six months.

My neighbour since I moved to Edmonton in 2009 has moved out and shortly new ones will move in.

She married a couple of years after I moved in and now they have built a big new house.

I will miss her as she has become a good friend.

I know that we will see each other but it will not be the same.

We used to decorate our side of the duplex the same for the holidays and always received compliments and views from people passing by.

Well the garage sale was a huge success and we sold the majority of what we have for sale.

Still a few items so will post them on Kijiji or our Neighbourhood FB page.

Alvin enjoyed his visit at his sister’s house.

They are also sitting for a friend so he had “Betty Ann” to play with and a couple of times she got a bit carried away but they managed.

Alvin is pretty easy going but is a DIVA when it comes to having his ears cleaned and paws trimmed.

Oh, he is sporting a new hair cut and is oh so handsome.

Thank you to his sister and brother-in-law for giving him such a good hair cut.

Yesterday at the garage sale I even met several different people from Saskatchewan.

One lady was from by Swift Current I believe and knew one of the girls I knew from SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance).

It was a FUN FUN day.

Started raining and muggy and EARLY (some folks were at the garage sale down the street that started at 8:00 and had seen mine posted on line; they  caught me as I was going out the front door to go and post the sign by the park down the street).

My friend “S” and her daughter “M” always come and sit with and even buy stuff ….. they came once again.

I always appreciate her support.

Well time to get this show on the road.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: my friend “M” – nice to see your sister yesterday when she came to pick up the tea.  Thanks Mo for your order.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 12th day of January, 2016.

Happy Tuesday morning to you all.

We are going into a warming trend for at least today …..

So amazing that overnight it can be minus 20 and during the day minus 3.

The sun certainly makes a huge difference.

We have not seen much of that big ball of fun over the past couple of months.

It seems to be hiding behind the cloud cover.

I miss the sunshine.

Most of our winters we do have more sunshine than clouds.

Oh well ….

 

Mr. Alvin is laying by my chair “chawing” on the chew treat.

He has two or three of them ….. at least one outside.

He loves to bury them in the snowbanks on our deck.

It is so cute after he spends about ten minutes out there he comes into the house with a snowy nose.

He looks so funny and cute all at the same time.

What a guy.

 

Well it is Tuesday … any way that you slice it.

I guess I need to get with 2016 as the calendar hanging up in my office is from 2015.

Somehow this year I only managed to get two calendars …. one is at the office and the other is in the kitchen.

I will just have to watch for some more and perhaps just take advantage of the calendar on my computer.

That would save paper, too.

 

Just wondering how your resolutions are going for the New Year or perhaps you did not make any.

I did not make any as such, and will live each day as full of good healthy choices as possible.

Now there remains some Christmas baking in my house ….. so not all of my choices have been healthy.

I have been giving some away as well ….. must give more.

 

Well I guess it is almost time to put the finishing touches on getting ready for the day.

I hope that you have an amazing TUESDAY ….. with or without resolutions, it is all good.

Thank you for reading my blog and for sharing yours.

One thing I do want to do this year is read more of other people’s blogs.

That is high on my list.

 

Happy Day …..

Special Hello to: all of my fellow bloggers …. keep writing ….. keep reading ….. thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday December 31st, 2015.

Happy New Year’s Eve.

Normally Alvin wakes me up around 5:00 a.m. to have his breakfast.

Not this morning ….

I was laying awake when just after 7:00 a.m. the sound of sirens came closer to my house.

Jumping out of bed, I saw the first fire truck stop just on the other side of our duplex and then a second one stopped right in front of my house.

SCARED ME.

We went running downstairs ….. I could not see a fire anywhere ….

I opened the front door and did not see anyone out front.

We could hear the neighbour (not in the other half) but next door’s dog HOWLING.

I quickly fed Mr. Alvin his breakfast.

I put on my boots and we went out onto the deck and all of their lights were on …. Capone, their dog was pacing on the deck.

Something was wrong.

Alvin howled alongside for support.

There did not seem to be flames and no one from inside the house including the firemen were outside.

So that was a good sign.

I did not want to go out while the firemen were there so I just kept an eye out.

They were there for almost one hour ….. then they were gone.

So I decided to go to D & K’s and see if there was anything that I could do.

D & K and all four of their children and Capone were in the living room ….. reeling from what had just happened.

K said that the alarm detected smoke and went off but they were unable to find the source.

The fireman diligently checked every electrical outlet and the walls and could not find any fire.

While I was there …. we determined that the smell which the firemen said smelled like burnt wax was coming from the furnace register/vent by the front door.

We surmised that perhaps one of the young ones put a plastic figure or wax crayon down the register/vent.

The furnace had not kicked in so they turned up the thermostat and that smell definitely came from the front register/vent.

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

I decided it was time for me to go home and offered my home for them if they needed to have the vents cleaned or whatever.

So home I came …. figured I had better get my blog wrote and have breakfast just in case they come over.

What a morning …. thank goodness everyone is okay.

This is a reminder to folks with small children to make sure that toys do not get put down the registers/vents.

We can breathe again.

Mr.  Alvin was worried for sure when he heard Capone howling he had howled in return.

So glad that all is well.

 

I was going to blog highlights from this year …. or perhaps plans for this next one but instead the Universe decided differently.

So I shall take this opportunity to put the word out:

A reminder for all …… be sure that you have smoke detectors and that they are in working order.

A fire extinguisher …. they have one … I do not, and I will be purchasing one right away.

Make sure that you have a plan in case of an emergency.

DO NOT LEAVE CANDLES BURNING UNATTENDED.

Your life can change so quickly …. make certain that your house is safe on this New Year’s Eve and every night.

 

Take care.

 

Special Hello to: EVERYONE …. Happy New Year’s Eve.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 16th day of December, 2015.

Not sure if I was not counting right but this morning when I checked the calendar including day and not including Christmas Day there are “EIGHT” days …..

Really I thought there were like nine or ten….. with Christmas Eve or without …..

I think I lost a day somewhere ….

Oh well …… will have to practice my numbers ….. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten ….. so far so good.

I guess one just has to have a sense of humour and not be afraid to get the facts/details not quite right.

Sometimes people get so hung up on the facts/details … which I do know are so  important.

But losing sight of what is truly important ….

Why debate with someone over a detail that will not end the world.

Why not let it go …. just move on.

I am a detail person but have found that over the recent years I am slowly letting things go ….

Not getting so hung up that my feelings are hurt if I have to let someone be right even though I know that I am right.

Really what difference does it make.

Something like losing a day when counting.

The fact that it did not snow on this day last year.

Or that Aunt Liz was an avid reader and your cousin thought she was into crafts.

At the end of the day ….. it really is not that important (other than being metrologist and you are really keeping track for historical purposes about the snowfall that is).

I am not sure why … now I remember … I lost count in the days leading up to Christmas.

See 277 words to explain ….

 

Wow, Alvin was just laying down and jumped up and is looking about ….. wonder what that is all about.

I want to keep my house with the only living creatures being Alvin and myself.

 

Well here it is mid week ….

I am always so excited to check the mailbox this time of year to see if I have received any Christmas cards.

I love to receive cards and letters.

Nice to reconnect with family and friends.

Catch up ….. love those letters.

 

Well almost time to get into the bedroom and start to get the “face” on (which is considerably less than in my youth), and dressed for work.

Thank you for reading my blog …. it truly means the world to me.

To be able to connect literally with folks such as yourself from every corner of this planet.

Have a wonderful day.

 

Special Hello to: my friends who always will be my friends….near or far.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 27th day of July, 2015.

It is overcast, breezy and a bit cool this morning but I LOVE IT.

Maybe rain today ……

Only four sleeps until my siblings and I are reunited once again.

Once a year the four of us get together.

I am so excited.

There is nothing like the conversation of siblings ….. no secrets ….. just great talks …..

Always love and much laughter.

I love that part most of all …… the laughter.

My brother “J” is a great “griller” so I am sure that he will whip up some fantastic.

We girls will make sure that the dishes are done.

My brother “T” will lend a hand where needed.

Friday …… I am so excited ….

I hope that you had a great Sunday.

Mine was awesome.

The trip to Costco was good ….. got everything I needed.

At Save-On I found the miracle grow for my flowers ….. they need an extra boost.

Wow, we have had 27 great days thus far in July.

August will be amazing ….. it is always …..

Perhaps because it is my birthday ….  no ….. I love August because fall is right around the corner.

Fall is my favourite season.

Well time to get on the road to work.

The bus won’t wait.

Alvin is in position …

Laying on the floor outside the office as I write these words.

Oh, my baby Alvin ….. love him so much.

This morning he wanted up to sit in my lap …. I love that …..

Have an awesome Monday.

Special Hello to: siblings …… enjoy your time together.

Always, Carol and Alvin