Author: annemariedemyen

Wife, mother, grandmother dogmother - lover of nature, peace and tranquility. RETIRED. Life is good!

Thirteen Weeks – Positive Results 👍🏻

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, May 2022

It is thirteen weeks since I began my fitness routine! I continue to see improvement and to stay motivated. This week I am impressed with the increased strength and flexibility in my joints that I am noticing. I particularly appreciate the notable difference in my knees and hips. You know those old ladies who crouch down to get something off of a shelf in a store and can’t get up without the assistance of their strong armed husband? Yea, that was me a few weeks ago. Even getting off of my chair at home was problematic. Not any more! 💃

My fitness level is not the only positive result that I am celebrating this week.

This is our front lawn…
And this!

It may not seem that impressive to anyone who has a manicured lawn but this is after the first good rain of the season and for the past number of years, we have been pretty much allowed our lawn to devolve into dried weeds and bare patches. Last year we decided that since I was home to give it some TLC, we would work at bringing it back to a semblance of lawn. We spread a couple of containers of hardy grass seed, applied lawn fertilizer a couple of times, I pulled weeds, and I waterer AND watered AND watered! It is a work in progress but I am loving the results so far.

Also, the training of Molly continues and we continue to appreciate the results. No inhouse accidents for two days! And… she will give a paw, touch her nose to a fist (without trying to eat it), and she knows her bed. She is such a quick learner and so anxious to please. 🥰

I am never going to pee on the porch mat again. 🥳

Here’s a link to another You Tube Zumba class I have been using. I still zig when I am supposed to zag and my leg lifts are a bit awkward. In my defense, it is rather more challenging with a growing pup walking around me and between my legs – especially when she is dragging her toys or blanket. 🙄

Last but not least…. One more result that I was super excited about yesterday.

I threw Molly’s disgustingly dirty toy elephant in the wash and he came out better than new! Totally impressed. 😊

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞

Power

by annemariedemyen, posted in May 2022

I begin every day with a cup of coffee and a quick browse through our local paper.  I scan the news (while trying to ignore the comments), skip the sports, check the obituaries, and read the horoscopes.  Honestly, the most interesting find of my morning paper time is often the general horoscope introduction for the day. Today was no exception.

Holiday Mathis our resident astrologer, began the horoscopes of the day with this profound line “True power is the ability to command oneself.” The obvious wisdom of this line is so simply perfect, or perfectly simple, and yet so often ignored.

Throughout my almost sixty seven years, I have seen every extreme of those who are obsessed with having and holding the power to command or control others. I have seen the screamers, the physical threateners, the manipulators, the whiners and complainers, the reactors, the ultra organizers, the bullies, the victims, and the blamers. I have seen it all and at times in my life – I have been it all.

The thing about creating our best life is in knowing that the only real power we have is in the ability to command ourselves.

This is true throughout our lives and in each and every situation in our lives. Currently, one of the most challenging situations in my life is in dealing with our new furbaby, Molly.

As a puppy – a Pyrenees puppy, Molly can be a challenge at times – a BIG challenge. I had some idea of what I was doing going in, and what was important to having a content, well behaved dog in our home. Having a BIG dog, is something I am rather new to and having responsibility for training said BIG dog is something I was not totally prepared for. So… yesterday I turned to Google and You Tube.

I went through a fair amount of advice on training dogs to be well mannered and responsive. The best advice that I found, focussed on training myself to best react to Molly’s good, and not so good, behaviour. I found ways to encourage her good behaviour and ways to discourage her unacceptable behaviour – without turning our lives into a power struggle. 😉

One ‘trick’ I found that works amazingly well with Molly is avoiding eye contact and crossing my arms if she is doing anything unacceptable (like trying to chew on me or jump on me) to get attention. It works like magic almost every time. If she is super wound up, a two minute timeout in the porch and she comes back calm and settled. Another ‘trick’ deals with her propensity to steal and chew on shoes, clothing, furniture and the like. I still say NO and take away what she is chewing on – but then I offer her a choice of something more acceptable (like one of a growing number of her own chew toys). I am fortunate that I am home with Molly all day, so I can praise her when she is doing well and guide her in another direction when she does misbehave.

The bottom line for both Molly and I – and for all of us regardless of circumstances is to remember “True power is the ability to command oneself.”

And… Nobody’s perfect. 🙄

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day. 💞

Raising Molly

by annemariedemyen, posted in May 2022

Molly, the Pyrenees sheepdog, has been with us for (almost) three weeks now. It has been a fun and occasionally frustrating time. It has also been an amazing learning experience – as much for us, as for our fluffy friend.

Day One
Growing Bigger
And Bigger…

Raising a well behaved, manageable dog is the only option when one is dealing with a dog that will soon be able to get the upper paw. Training is an ongoing effort – and one that is, fortunately going fairly well. At almost three months old, Molly is (pretty much) potty trained. She has learned to sit patiently while waiting to be fed. She is a natural at the ‘sit’ and ‘come’ command. She has ACED the ‘stay’ command – staying even when I walk across the yard, out of sight, and back to her. 👍 She understands down, stop, drop it, leave it, bring it, and NO. She doesn’t generally comply – but she understands. 🙄 She is getting better at walking on her leash and doesn’t always chew on it. Sometimes she does, but not ALWAYS. 😉

Molly is shaping up to be a natural sheepdog – not that we have sheep, but she would be a great help if we did. All dogs have their own quirks – but hers are with such purpose. She is always alert to dangerous intruders, but in a very inconspicuous and calm manner.

  • She does her business in one place – the most ‘hidden’ obscure corner of our yard
  • She follows RIGHT behind us – she will not walk ahead of us. (Which would be great, except Dan and I tend to take a step back on a rediculously regular basis).
  • She is SO quiet – we don’t hear her coming or going, and we seldom realize that she is RIGHT behind us – until we take a step back.
  • She keeps hidden when she sleeps. 😂
You can’t see me…

So far, so good! Every day is an adventure with our Molly as she finds her place in our home and hearts. 🤗💟

Love those white eyelashes. 🙂

That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 💞

12 Weeks 💃

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, May 2022

Yesterday, I completed twelve weeks of my daily fitness workout. YAY! Of course, I started a new six week run because I have no intention of slacking off. It is the first fitness plan that I have ever found that works for ME. It gets me pumped and keeps me motivated all day instead of exhausting me and sending me to the snack cupboard for an unhealthy source of energy (or the sofa for a nap).

This morning I went to see my respiratory specialist. I drove myself – downtown – at rush hour, and parked backwards into a slanted parking spot. Yay me! The good news is there is no new issues with my lungs. The bad (questionable) news is that my blood pressure now seems to range on the (bit) high side. No doctor seems concerned enough to suggest medication but since they keep bringing it up, I have started looking for ways to bring it down naturally. 🙄

In Molly news, we are having a challenging week. I planted flowers around the base of the bird bath yesterday. I surrounded my little seedling with a wooden fence to give them a fighting chance. The plants are still hanging in but Molly ate the fence. She is also in hyper play mode. Between her teeth and her nails, I look like I have been crawling through barbed wire and rocks.

Molly with a new rawhide chew treat I got her today.
It seems to have slowed her down. 😉

Anyway, that’s all I have for today. Take care and have a great what’s left of your day! 💞💛💃

Spring Yard Work

by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

My bedding plants are ready for transplanting, so I’ve been busy getting the garden ready for them. It is a work in progress, as is the front lawn, and the patio furniture. I am just happy that spring is here, the sun is shining, and our yard is once again ‘living space’.

Flowers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and onions. 😊
Site Super

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Eleven and a Half Weeks

by annemariedemyen, posted in May 2022, Uncategorized

I am a little late on my fitness report but I have not slacked off on getting FIT. I am just behind on my report this week.

My dancersizing is still helping me to get into shape. I went for a lung x-ray on Tuesday and while I have not seen my doctor yet, I have seen the report. The permanent damage to my lungs is still there BUT there are no new issues so that is great! If I can stay where I am and keep my asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis under control, I can avoid having to use oxygen so that is huge motivation to get and keep in shape. My weight loss is still slow but the fitter and more active I get, the sooner that will improve. I did wear a pair of jeans this morning that haven’t fit for a year, so YAY progress. 🤗. I also carried a heavy bag of yard waste to the back gate this week. Dan was impressed that I was able to lift it, much less carry it that far. 💪😉

Working out is rather more challenging some (most) days, with Molly growing bigger and getting more active every day. When she stops running between my legs (which is challenging enough) she generally takes a nap in my workout space or starts doing something that requires intervention.

Playing ball outside with Molly this morning.
Can’t see her ball because TO HER “Bring the ball, Molly” means “Go hide the ball in the bushes so I have to crawl around to find it, Molly.”

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day! 👍

Mental Health

by annemariedemyen, posted in May 2022

There is more talk about mental health nowadays than ever before, but sometimes I have to wonder if the ‘talk’ does more harm than good.

This morning I ran across a short article regarding Camilla Cabello. I have no idea who she is. I know very little about Hollywood type stuff or the people involved, but I saw this article, read it, and felt I had to share it because it is so dead on right – in my mind.

In the course of our lives, we all struggle mentally and/or emotionally – at least occasionally, and at least severely enough that we need to address whatever issues we are struggling with.

That is exactly what Camilla Cabello discusses in this article. She offers no excuses, no blame, no explanation for how or why or where or when she came to develop anxiety issues. She talks about her anxiety issues, the pain they cause, and her efforts to deal with them. Period.

It is one thing to discuss the cause(s) of our mental or emotional issues with professionals and those closest to us as part of our healing process, but obsessing over the cause becomes more of a problem than a solution in my mind. Too often, that is where a lot of people seem to be stuck and what a lot of the current talk revolves around. It becomes more about justifying mental/emotional issues than dealing with them and recovering from them.

Anyway, this is a link to the article I read. It is short and well worth the time to read it.

https://www.geo.tv/amp/415129-camilla-cabello-confides-in-selena-gomez-about-her-mental-health-struggles

Molly trying to sleep under the sofa. 🤦

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day!

One week of Molly

by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

Molly has been with us for one solid week! Only 94 weeks until she is out of puppyhood and into being the best all grown up doggy we could hope for.

We have had a few minor glitches – chewing is obviously going to be a big one for her to get over, but so far she has not destroyed anything major. Not for lack of trying, but hopefully she will get the hang of chew toys.

Our vet suggested a rope toy, soaked in water, and frozen, to help Molly through her teething. Another work in progress….

Other than the chewing thing, Molly is doing good. She has quit stealing shoes and the bathmat! And she is almost really good at doing her business outside. 💩

It is time for Molly’s lunch and a nap with favourite toy – her very own elephant (compliments of granddaughter Genie💝).

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day!💞