annemariedemyen

Day 19 – Crossing Bridges

June 19, 2021July 2, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is day nineteen of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ blog challenge. Today I am dedicating my blog to bridges and to overcoming the challenges that have presented themselves in my life. 👍

One of the challenges in my life that I have overcome was my fear of crossing bridges. (Fear is way too benign of a word to describe my bridge phobia). For the first sixty some years of my life I struggled with anxiety and panic attacks. For the most part, they did not stop me from ever doing what I had to do, but I certainly avoided doing things that I knew would trigger my anxiety. One of the things that I avoided was crossing bridges.

The very first memory that I could ever remember of my life was of crossing a bridge in sheer terror. I was two or three years old and my mother and her friend would take my sister and I on Sunday walks, which would inevitably include crossing one of, if not THE sketchiest bridges on the planet. A few years ago, I decided that this memory may well have been the trigger for my anxiety issues and that it would be helpful if I returned to the scene of the crime and crossed this bridge (as a rational adult). My husband agreed to take me to confront my demons so for our anniversary we headed off to Souris, Manitoba to cross the swinging bridge.

When we got to Souris, I discovered two things. The original swinging bridge had been replaced by a much sturdier and safer looking bridge and a section of the original bridge was kept as a monument of sorts to the brave fools who had once crossed it. It was a narrow, flimsy bit of chicken wire and boards – every bit as bad as I had remembered over the years.

I had come to cross a bridge and I decided that since it wasn’t my fault that the original bridge had been replaced, I would cross the new one and call it a win. So I did it! I crossed the new bridge. It was such a monumental moment that I have loved crossing bridges ever since!

So, in honor of bridges and the crossing of them, I would like to share a few pictures of bridges today.

Rory enjoying watching the traffic on the bridges from our room at the Saskatoon Sheridan.

Little bridge in Patricia Park that I crossed many times last summer when I was walking with Kat. It is not much of a bridge but it was significant as I was crossing over from employment to retirement. 🙂

Nineteen days down and only eleven more days to go! I hope my little selection of bridges provided a positive moment in your day.

Take care and I will see you tomorrow!💞

Day 18 – Pretty Neat!

June 18, 2021June 18, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is day eighteen of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge. I am sure I could easily list eighteen things that I love about being retired, but one thing that I really appreciate is having the time and energy to keep our home and yard relatively neat and tidy.

I love having the kitchen sink and counter cleaned up after supper. That wasn’t always a reality when I was working all day and then coming home to make supper.

Dolly and Dolly lounging in the guest room. (Our guests have tended to be young enough to appreciate them and the wallpaper).

Our room – sometimes in the winter I mess with Kat and spread her fuzzy blanket across the entire bed. She spends the night trying to find the edge of it. 😂

In Saskatchewan, we come from dust, we return to dust, and in between we collect dust. Fortunately, I don’t mind dusting – especially my elephants. 💞

Who let that dusty little dog in the clean livingroom? 💞

Eighteen days down, twelve to go – and our house is relatively neat and tidy!

Wishing everyone a nice day! See you tomorrow! 💖

Day 17 – Out and About

June 17, 2021June 17, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is already Day 17 of my ‘Accent the Positive’ June challenge. For today’s dose of positivity I decided to take you for a walk around our neighbourhood. 🙂

Kat and I have not been walking this year, but it was a beautiful evening yesterday and Dan was working the night shift so I decided it was the perfect time for us to get out for some fresh air and exercise. Since Kat has to stop every few feet to check things out, I had the chance to snap a few photos

Kat was so excited when she saw my sneakers and her leash! Yawn… 😂

We walked past the ball diamonds. There were a few kids out there tossing a ball around.

Kat was so excited to see the path into Patricia Park but I decided to save that for another day.

We walked past the arena. Hockey season is over for this year so it was pretty quiet. Fun fact… I lived on this street with my kids for a couple of years. I almost collided head-on with my son in front of this arena. Good times!

Regent Park Pool – my daughter lived at this pool one summer!

Going past the basketball courts. I can’t believe there were only a few guys playing on one of the courts. Very odd…..

What used to be the Regent Park Par 3. They are demolishing it to build an offleash dog park and a tobogganing hill. Are offleash dog parks a thing everywhere? I can’t imagine letting Kat run loose with the dogs around here. 😳

I love Bobcats! **Someday** I will have my own Bobcat. 😏

Looking at the sky…. Waiting for Kat…. Nice clouds…… They look like they are in a hurry to get somewhere – unlike Kat.

The city removed at least a hundred trees from the golf course and left this one. It is a rather cool but bizarre choice, in my mind.

Home was just around the corner. I hope you enjoyed our little walk. Seventeen days down and only thirteen to go. June is just flying by!

Have a nice day! I hope you get out for a bit of sunshine and fresh air. See you tomorrow. 💞

Day 16 – Now and Then

June 16, 2021June 16, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is day sixteen of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge! Today’s post is all about growing and thriving. That is pretty positive!

Cason hardly recognizes himself two years later!

The little Mother’s Day plant that has a life of its own 🤗

Day sixteen done and fourteen more to go!

I sincerely hope that you and yours are well and thriving💞 Have a nice day!

Day 15 – Smile 😊

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

Today is the fifteenth day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge! To hit the halfway mark, what could be more appropriate than sharing a few smiles among friends?

That is it folks! Fifteen down fifteen to go. 🥳

Wherever you are, whatever you do, I hope you have something to smile about today. 🙂 See you tomorrow!

Day 14 – Trees

June 14, 2021June 14, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is day fourteen of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge. What could possibly be more positive than the mighty and majestic tree? Fun fact… All of the trees in these photos are in Regina, Saskatchewan – a city that was founded on a treeless grassland.

This tree in our yard was planted by Dan’s Mom weeks before she passed away. When I met Dan it was maybe two feet tall.

North of Regina – I love this teensie tiny forest 😂

I never really understood how anyone could hug a tree. They generally seem rather hard, lumpy and scratchy for that kind of intimacy. I can however appreciate their unique beauty, the strength they draw from the earth, and the awe inspiring sight of their branches reaching up to the skies.

That is it for day fourteen! Only sixteen more days to go!

Thank you for dropping by. I hope to see you tomorrow!

Day 13 – Siblings

June 13, 2021June 14, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is the thirteenth day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge. Being a Sunday, I thought this would be a good day to spotlight my siblings.

Lorraine, Elaine, Peter, Jeanne and Denise

Denise was firstborn. She brought stubborn determination to the family, a serious talent for organization, and deep love and compassion for all things innocent or vulnerable – especially dogs, birds, and butterflies. 🤗

Jeanne came second. She brought beauty, elegance, and charm. To me, she has always been a cross between Jackie Onassis and a Disney princess. Over the years she has raised a family, bees, sheep, and a wayward duck. She has lost a husband, remarried, and survived cancer. She has done it all with genuine graciousness and without EVER having a bad hair day. 😐

Pete is my one and only brother. He has always been calm and quiet with a droll sense of humor thrown in. Being ten years older than me, we did not associate much as kids but I do have one memory of the two of us. I was in Grade one so Pete would have been in Grade 11. We had a huge blizzard. The next morning there was tons of snow around so my mother told Pete to walk me to school. He dragged me over or around every mountain of snow between our home and the town school only to find out that all classes had been cancelled for the day. Being brotherly, Pete dragged me all the way back home. I have a feeling Janice walked their daughters to school. 🤣

After Pete, my parents reverted to yet more girls. Elaine brought creative genius and talent to the family. She has done it all and she does it all incredibly well – cooking, baking, crocheting, needlepoint, crafting, plus extensive home renovations. To this day, Elaine tracks every family birthday, anniversary, and the like and sends us all beautiful handcrafted cards. 💝

Lorraine and I grew up more as twins than sisters. (I wasn’t the evil one 😇). Lorraine was, and remains, the firecracker of the family. I have never kept up with her physically or mentally – few if anyone could – but we have always made any time better together. 🥳 🍸

Teenie (Jeanne Christine) – Honorary Sister

Teenie is my sister Denise’s eldest child and only daughter. Since Teenie is only a couple of years younger than me, we have always had a sisterly relationship. When she was young, she would come for extended visits. I got to experience having a younger sibling and she got my favourite dress with the pink pinafore and my Campbell soup doll. She was the sweetest thing and unfortunately I was a bit too young to appreciate her at the time. We are good now!

Teenie and the Campbell doll she bought me a few years ago to replace the one that I always teased her about.

So that is it! Thirteen days down with seventeen to go!

Have a nice Sunday and I hope to see you tomorrow!

Day 12 – Weathering Saskatchewan

June 12, 2021June 14, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

Day twelve of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ celebrates the diversity of our Saskatchewan weather.

We seldom have dangerous weather but we do get damaging hails, occasional tornadoes, and our roads get treacherous during a winter storm.

In the past 14 days we have had +31c days, snow, more +31c, fog, thunder, lightening and rain, flash flooding, and wind! Now it is calm and sunny. 🌞

Wind gusts of 84km yesterday afternoon

After the rain yesterday morning. Our walkway beside the channel. We walk ***BETWEEN*** the two metal posts.

Rain yesterday morning. ☔. We needed the moisture. We also need to mow the lawn!

This snow was actually in mid April (this landing is about three feet off the ground). We did also have snow at the end of May but I did not take a picture of it. Snow is snow. 😬

Fog alert! This photo was taken about one short block to busy train tracks.

Sun shining down on the birdbath. It is usually a busy place on hot sunny days. 🌞

With the weather passed, our squirrel dropped by for a few peanuts. 🤗

Twelve days down, eighteen to go!

Wishing you a wonderful day, regardless of the weather and I hope to see you tomorrow. 💞

Day 11 – Stay A While

June 11, 2021June 14, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

I am not much of a traveller, but when we do go anywhere I try to book us nice accommodations. For the eleventh day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge, I decided to share a few photos of our hotel stays.

Typically we stay at chain hotels that offer a pool, breakfast buffet, parking, and reasonably priced suites with a fireplace, hot tub, and cosy sitting area. Once in a while we stay at a higher end boutique hotel. They are nice when we are looking for something quieter. Occasionally, I manage to book something off the mark but we make up for it with a nice supper. 🤗

D3H Hotel in Saskatoon – I love their suites, their hotels, and their people!

Mariaggi Hotel in Winnipeg, Mb. All of their rooms are theme suites with hot tubs, fireplace, and steam shower. Their penthouse is massive with a pool table, grand piano, and a waterfall in the hot tub.

With grandkids Genie & Rory in the Under the Sea theme room at the Travelodge in Saskatoon. Cool place for kids to stay!

View from our room at the Sheraton on the Falls at Niagara Falls.

Hotel where we spent our anniversary at Sherwood Park, Edmonton a couple of years ago. It was very nice. The sitting area was purposefully retro. 🙂

Convention Centre we stayed at. I don’t think the prison vibe was purposeful. It was nice and clean, though! 😊

Their amenities were ….. and they had a very nice dining room where we enjoyed a good breakfast before heading out in the morning.

Eleven days down and nineteen to go!

Have a nice day and I hope to see you tomorrow!

Day 10 – My Time Within….

June 10, 2021June 14, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

I am ten days into my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge and it is time to go a bit deeper. Today’s post is a peek into my soul, spirit, inner-being exercise routine. Meditation my way. 💞

Through the years, I have made several attempts to start meditating. I was too busy running in circles to slow down long enough to get far with my efforts, so they inevitably petered out.

Last year, after I retired, I took a lot of long walks with Kat. What started as a means to strengthen my respiratory system and take a few pounds off my pooch became so much more. I reached a place of peace and tranquility that I had never experienced before. It was a place where meditation came easily.

At some point I discovered a world of meditation on YouTube. For me, it was meditation made simple! There are videos available for guided meditations, chants from indigenous and religious persuasions, music to meditate by, and more.

The following are a few of the meditations that I have found particularly helpful and effective for me. If you have never meditated before , I suggest you note the following:

1. Never listen to these videos, or any meditation videos or audios, when driving or in an any situation where you need to be awake, alert, or cognisant.

2. I recommend using headphones or earbuds for maximum effect of any of these meditations.

3. These videos are ones that I would recommend trying because they work for me. They may not work for you, but I hope that does not discourage you from searching for something that does. I believe that our spiritual, inner-being, or soul well-being is as important as our physical and our mental health.

4. Meditation does not replace professional medical, psychiatric, or psychological care. Consult your professionals if you are at all concerned that meditating could affect any condition affecting you or any treatment that you are undergoing.

5. These videos may occasionally make you uncomfortable, especially if have very strong religious or anti-religious beliefs. Personally, I find I can easily ignore any momentary discomfort caused and in some cases I have come to realize that I have unconscious beliefs that I am quite happy to rid myself of.

This last meditation, is the one that I found the most challenging for me. As I was listening, I had a flash of memory from my childhood. I grew up in the Catholic Church and attended mass frequently – Sundays, holidays, funerals, weddings and on random weekdays. Like myself, the church has changed along the way. Back sixty-some years ago, there was a place in the Mass when everyone struck their chest three times and each time professed “I’m not worthy…I’m not worthy…I’m not worthy”. That was harsh! It bothered me then and now I find it totally bizarre. Who and why would anyone ever think this was reasonable or rational? Why would any creator place us in a world of trees, flowers, mountains, oceans, skies, and sunshine if we were supposed to feel unworthy? What is more, why would I keep anything so wierd tucked into a dusty corner of my mind? I am glad I dug it out and seriously questioned it. I am glad that this meditation made me feel uncomfortable. For me, it worked. I feel worthy and I wholeheartedly believe we all should! If there was no hope, why would we even strive to be better?

That is it for today. One third of my challenge down, two thirds to go. 😊

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