annemariedemyen

July 25th – Magic French Courtyards

July 25, 2021July 25, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

When we went to Gravelbourg, my biggest disappointment was that the Mayfair restaurant was permanently closed. The Mayfair was an icon in Gravelbourg and Sunday Brunch at the Mayfair was the stuff memories were made of. A visit to see my mother always included taking her for at least one meal at the Mayfair.

That being said, amazingly the high point of our trip to Gravelbourg was our breakfast at Cafe Paris. Not only was our meal perfection but we were able to dine in their very unique and secluded courtyard, so that Kat could nap comfortably in the shade while we enjoyed our breakfast.

We have definitely discovered a great place to start making some new cherished memories.

One thing I did not get a good photo of was the ‘ceiling’ of the courtyard, which was a lacy combination of vines and patio lights. It was so pretty and I am sure it is gorgeous in the evening when the lights would be twinkling amidst the vines.

Our trips to Gravelbourg will not be as frequent as in years gone by, but I am fortunate to have my own little magic courtyard at home for when I meditate. Maybe next summer, we can get some vines and twinkling lights for my evening meditation. 💞

**It is hard to get a photo that shows what an overall cool and pretty little space this is.** 😌

Time to head out to my personal little French courtyard! Wishing all a nice Sunday. Take care and I will be back tomorrow!

July 24th – Beyond Magic

July 24, 2021July 24, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

Dan picked up our new computer on his way home from work on Thursday. Yesterday, he unboxed it and attached all of the wires to connect it to all the outlying bits and pieces. Last night I got it up and running! 🎉🎉🎉

The magic in this is that technical skills are not my strong suit. In fact, my technical skills probably rate just south of my ‘handling power tool‘ skills. You know, those skills that enabled me to attach my cell phone to a shipping carton while trying to operate a tape gun. The same skills that saw me almost take out a neighbour with our electric knife. Those skills… 🙄

My technical skills are worse. Setting up an alarm clock is typically a two or three hour process involving cuss words and a couple of glasses of wine. Setting up a software program is worse. The instructions might as well be in a foreign language. Chances are, they probably are and I just haven’t figured that out yet.

However, last night I set out to get our computer up and running and I got the job done! Without wine or cuss words! There were a couple of small hiccups. The first being that it seemed the keyboard was non-functional (operator error). The second was that, despite very clearly asking if Norton Antivirus would be installed on this computer and getting a very clear ‘NO’, it was definitely there. 🤦 The good news is, after my initial meltdown, it seems I was able to totally uninstall that abomination and successfully install AVG! Yay me!

Our new computer is up and running! Now for the beyond magical.

Last night, there was a full moon! A full moon and I successfully completed a complicated technical task. That is indeed beyond magical.

I am not a full moon fixing type of person. In the days leading up to, and including the day of a full moon, I destroy. Vehicles break down. Tools and electronics cease to function. Meals burn. Once during a full moon, I walked through the office where I was working and jammed four printers without laying a hand on any of them. One was a blueprint copier! A blueprint copier is like a giant wringer from the top of an old-fashioned wringer washer. It consists of two massive rollers that feet a giant piece of paper through print heads. There is supposedly no way to jam one. I did it. I did it so well that the giant piece of paper running through it totally vanished. The technician who came out to make things right was amazed.

Anyway, last night there was a full moon and I successfully set up our new computer. I feel so darn magical!

I hope everyone is having a nice (full moon) weekend. Take care and I will see you tomorrow. 💞

July 23rd – Magical Lives

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

Our main priority for our recent trip to Gravelbourg was to visit the graves of my parents and grandparents. We had not been back since my Mother passed away eight years ago, but nothing felt more familiar than driving through the cemetery gates.

There is something so fascinating about graveyards – especially small country graveyards. The monuments are so unique and personal. It is easy to contemplate the lives of those who have been laid to rest in these graveyards. From the tiniest infants to the tots, the teenagers to those who passed away in their prime, to those who lived long full lives, did they feel loved? Were they excited to experience this life? Were they grateful that they lived in a country like ours, a land of peace and plenty? Were they amazed by the changes that took place in their lifetimes? Were they happy?

Growing up, I heard stories of many that now lay in this country graveyard. I heard heartbreaking stories, funny stories, life stories. I heard of their days at small country schools. I heard of horse and buggy trips to socials in neighbouring communities. I heard of their labour that went into the fields and the building of their community. I heard stories of these people struggling and surviving the great (and definitely not so great!) depression and two world wars. I heard of these people celebrating weddings and funerals, Christmas and Easter, and summer picnics at nearby Thompson Lake. I heard a lot of stories!

On summer visits to my grandparents, I met friends and relatives, that now lie in this graveyard. When I see my grandparents’ graves, I always notice the graves of their next door neighbours – in life and death – side by side!

**Cimetier Notre Dame De L’assomption – Our Lady of the Assumption Cemetery**

The headstone my father built for his brother. Uncle Herman died of leukemia when he was only 25 years old. He died in Regina, in my father’s arms. My father brought his body home by train, to be mourned by his family and buried in the **Gravelbourg Cemetery.** (Due to a communication misunderstanding, my grandparents thought that it was my father who had passed away and that he would be returning home with his surviving brother, Herman – making their shock and grief all the more devastating).

**My father’s parents, Uncle Herman, (Kat), and my parents.** (Kat seemed to instinctively know how my Dad and Uncle Herman would have enjoyed her company.)

Those were the best photos I had of the cemetery. I could have posted many more but each one holds so many stories, this blog would have run on indefinitely!

I hope you are having a nice day and anticipating a good weekend! See you tomorrow! 💞

July 22 – Magic on the Prairies

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

Back to our trip home a couple of weeks ago… On Highway 2 just south of Moose Jaw, there is a heritage museum that we pass on our way to Gravelbourg. If you find yourself passing through southern Saskatchewan, I think this is a stop worth making. 😊

The highlight of this museum (in southern Saskatchewan, far from access to any ocean port) is what was meant to be a seafaring steam ship. This ship was built by one determined Finnish immigrant, during the great depression, using a few handmade tools and brute strength. The complete and strangely fascinating story of Tom Sukanen and the Sontiainen can be found here.

What began as a tribute to one of our more colorful settlers, has grown to a sizeable collection of historic buildings filled with relics from our past. One such building is a firehall filled with firefighting items from the early 1900’s. Plans are being made for a building to house and restore the fire trucks that have been collected over the years.

There is also a large display of farming equipment that would have been used by the early settlers to this area.

If you are interested in visiting the Sukanen museum, there is more information to be found on their official website.

I hope you found a little magic in this short tour. We did not have time to go inside the Sontiainen or any of the buildings, only a few of which I have shown here. Maybe next time! I will be sure to share the photos I am able to get at some point.

Have a great day and I hope to see you tomorrow! 💞

July 21st – Sharing the Magic

July 21, 2021July 21, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

My meditation was a bit distracted this morning due to all of the activity in my meditation corner.

**I had a little visitor checking me out.**

**Having a snack while keeping one eye on** me

**While the squirrel was busy watching me, this little guy got cocky and had a dip in the birdbath.**

**All the fascination must have been from Dan’s latest upgrade to my corner. 💞**

Dan thought I should have a peanut in my hand to offer our little visitor. Since he was about three feet from me, I could see him leaping into my lap to grab the peanut . I couldn’t see that ending well for either of us. 😳

Anyway, hope everyone is enjoying such an eventful day. Have a good one and I will see you tomorrow! 💞

July 20th – Kat Magic

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

It is another damp and cool day so we took the opportunity to spoil Kat with a fresh batch of dogfood. It’s a dog’s life!

**Pasta in chicken broth with gelatin and chicken giblets – photo is a bit steamy😊**

**Carrots, turnip, cabbage, parsnips, rhutabega, cabbage and zucchini**

**Parsley, cilantro, lemon balm, and oregano**

**Add a dash of black pepper, Hungarian paprika, and cayenne. Cool before portioning and packaging**.

Thank you for joining us for the most exciting part of our day! Dan did all the chopping and cleaning, while I did the shredding and cooking. Kat took her supervisor position seriously – she sampled every vegetable as Dan cleaned them. They all passed her taste test. 😉

Hope everyone had a nice day! See you tomorrow.

July 19th – Monday Magic

July 19, 2021July 24, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! Dan went golfing yesterday, but while he was gone I had a couple of unexpected visitors. Son Mark came by with his son Dom. We were so busy visiting, and snacking, and splashing in the pool that I forgot to take any photos.

Our day is beginning a bit cooler and overcast today. I started my meditation outside in my special place under our big spruce tree, but it started to sprinkle a bit so decided to come inside. I got comfortable and we had the wildest crash of thunder! I thought the upgrader outside of town had exploded. Then it rumbled on for a bit and there were no sirens, so it was obviously just thunder. 🤷

I have a few new photos of our yard to share. I hope you enjoy!

**Between our cucumbers and our tomatoes, I almost need a machete to get around our garden.**

**Anything but portulaca fries in this planter on the east side of our garage, but, the portulaca thrives all summer.**

We have two lemon trees that we started from seed about three summers. They spend the summer outside and winter inside. They are both going nuts this summer. At some point, wintering them in our house is going to become problematic. 🙄

**First sunflower to bloom and it is twins!**

**I have no idea what these are but they are suddenly thriving. 😉**

**Our money tree finally decided to come back to life.** **Yay!** 👍💵🥂

**This begonia has been struggling but it is starting to come back, as well. 💞**

That is all I have for today! I hope all is well with everyone. There’s a full moon this week, so if you are prone to moonly disasters you might want to lay low and hide your electronics. 😉

Take care and see you tomorrow💞

July 18th – The History of Gravelbourg

July 18, 2021July 18, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

The town of Gravelbourg was founded in 1906 by French settlers led by Father Louis-Joseph Pierre Gravel.

Recently, there has been much negative press regarding the Catholic Church and native residential schools in Canada. This news has somewhat, and I am sure inadvertently, been misleading for many.

There were 139 native residential schools in Canada where native children were placed against their will and against the will of their parents. Of these schools, 44 were operated by the Catholic Church. There was widespread abuse throughout the entire 138 school system – verbal, mental, emotional, physical and sexual. Many children died from disease and other unknown (and frequently nefarious) causes.

I only mention this because, this horrendous part of our Canadian history, has no connection to Gravelbourg or the other French Catholic settlements in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan. There were no such schools in that area and no means by which people in that area (or their particular Catholic clergy) would have been privy to any knowledge of these schools until relatively recent history.

The basic truth is that the Catholic church was instrumental in founding several communities across Canada. They built and maintained hospitals, schools, and churches and provided the opportunity for settlers to build ‘communities‘ by hosting religious services and social events. The church provided safety and refuge to French settlers, especially in this area, as they were often targeted for attack by local member of the Ku Klux Klan. These French settlers were typically honest, industrious, caring people who took care of their own and supported others – all others – in their communities. Which is, to this day, typical of their descendants.

**Louis-Joseph Pierre Gravel – the founder of Gravelbour**g

The beautiful Gravelbourg Cathedral. Built in the early 1900’s it would have taken the dedication of the entire congregation to make this building a reality (especially in rural Saskatchewan). The inside is amazing. The parish priest, Monseineur Charles Maillard devoted ten years of his life to painting the interior walls and ceilings. Nowadays this Cathedral is frequently used for hosting ecumenical celebrations.

**The parish hall is not nearly as grand as other church buildings – but it holds many fond memories for the parish and for our family. I remember taking my teenagers there for a** **humble** soup and bread luncheon one Sunday morning (from Regina) as the proceeds went to charity. However as always, with the amazing cooks in Gravelbourg, the meal was a feast by any standards 😂 And as always, my Mother and her friends were there to welcome us with open arms. 💞

**The elementary school is a part of the Catholic heritage buildings site.**

**Close up of the elementary school to show a sample of the detail on these buildings.**

**These last three photos are of the College Mathieu site (as you drive into Gravelbourg). This building is the pool and recreation centre which is college property but available to the public.**

**This building is the college residence. Many of the students are from outside the Gravelbourg area.**

**This would be the actual college building.**

The Town of Gravelbourg has a rich and magical history, of which the Catholic Church played a major part. I hope you enjoyed this short tour of the buildings that continue to stand at the heart of this unique community. Did you notice how well the grounds of all these buildings are kept up? It is the same throughout Gravelbourg – their parks, their streets, their graveyard. Everything is so well maintained and I don’t think we saw a piece of litter anywhere. It is an amazingly neat and tidy community.👍

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful day. See you tomorrow 💕

July 17th – Loving, Living, Changing

July 17, 2021July 17, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

Growing up, I came to believe that caring for others meant worrying about them. Loving others meant sharing their suffering and feeling their pain when they were struggling or going through a difficult situation. You did anything practical you could to help them, if there was anything you could do. But mostly, you shared their sorrows. I am not sure how this was supposed to help, but you did it. To make sure it worked, you told them how much you were suffering with and for them. Than they could be suffering and guilt ridden for making you suffer from their pain. It was all very complicated and strange but I believed it, without question, for decades.

Eventually, I decided that worrying about loved ones and sharing their pain was not particularly helpful – especially if they had to feel grateful and guilty to boot. I still loved people. I still wanted to be there for them through difficult times but I had no idea how. Sometimes there are no words to say, or ways to say them, nor is there anything practical for one to do.

I could not stay in my current bubble of peace and relative well-being and pretend I was not aware of what loved ones were going through. I did not know what to do – but I knew that I could no longer add more grief to such situations.

Last night, I received news of two such difficult situations affecting family members. My first reaction was worry and pain and grief for all concerned. I knew I had to find something better. When I went to bed, I found a meditation on You Tube and blocked out everything but the voice and the soft background music.

It was rather a long and difficult night but, when I woke up this morning, this hymn from my youth was playing in my mind. It was magical. 💞 I always loved this hymn, and it was always meaningful, but today it means even more on a personal level.

I wasn’t sure about including the last verse, because it did not seem relevant to this situation but I decided to go with it. Dying isn’t always about dying – sometimes it is about changing, about letting go of old beliefs to accept new beliefs….

I have no idea if my sister and her husband or my daughter and her family can feel the love and peace and healing that I am sending them today. I can only trust and believe that they are feeling it on some level. But I do know, I absolutely know, that it is better than sending more pain and worry and guilt and grief their way. 💞

Sending love and peace and healing to any and all who are struggling today. 💞

Wishing all a good rest of today and a nice weekend. See you tomorrow. 💞

July 16 – More Magical Moments

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

Dan and his golf buddy decided to stay home and golf a couple of our local courses this weekend, instead of taking their annual golf trip. I feel bad that they decided to forgo their little holiday, but it is nice having Dan here for the better part of the weekend. 🤗

**Dan made my meditation** **corner a little more magical by adding a convenient little table.** 🙂

**Dan took me to my very favourite restaurant for lunch. We were even able to eat inside for the first time in about sixteen** **months. When I started dating Dan, he asked me what my favourite restaurant was and my kids said “*don’t say Arby’s!”*** Apparently in the dating world in Regina, one is supposed to say Golf’s or the Diplomat. (Which are both lovely high-end steak and seafood restaurants.) We have been married for 22 years now. I doubt that Dan will bail now because my **favourite** **restaurant is Arby’s.**

**Then we went shopping to buy a new desktop computer to replace ours that died during the last full moon. After three or four stops, we got one at Best Buy. I guess they are the** **best. 🤷 Actually, they were the only store with technically knowledgeable sales clerks.**

**And we stopped to pick up a few groceries and some styrofoam bowls. I do not know what was with my hands but I was not getting four bags of styrofoam bowls off of the shelf and into our cart. 🤦**

**Kat scored a few fresh strawberries when we got home. She loves her strawberries and Tiny Tim tomatoes.** **Apparently, she has even figured out how to pick her own tomatoes.**

**Our Buddha statue** **in his little ground cedar grotto**.

We had a nice dip in the pool after we got home. The water is super warm and crystal clear this year. I am lucky that Dan stays on top of all the filter and chemical stuff even when he is on a set of shifts.

Hope you have a nice rest of the evening and have a good weekend planned! See you tomorrow! 💞