It is the 25th day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge. My positive for today is photography because “A picture is worth a thousand words” and I have alwaysrun a little short on words. 🤭
I have said that I did not get anything genetic wise from my Mother. I did not get her looks, her temperament, her domestic talents, her singing ability, or her construction skills. (I once taped my cell phone to a crate at work trying to operate a tape gun. 🤦). Recently however, I have discovered an appreciation for my Mother’s love of photography. In her later years, she even started taking pictures of her pictures. (When I take a picture of a picture for my blog, I can hear her saying “Who’s laughing now?”). Actually, most of the pictures that I take picture of were her pictures.
I will never be organized enough to have the dedicated photo albums that my Mother had, but I do have a few new photos to share today. I hope a bit of my Mother’s photographic skill come through.
I don’t know if Dan and I have a running disagreement on where Tinkerbell should be this year, or if she is flitting around on her own, but I am pretty sure she keeps moving.Kat before andafter her grooming. 💞Yea, I put on makeup and jewelry to take Kat to the groomers. Not too wierd. 🤣🤣🤣Where did that pansy come from?Little visitor 💞Grandpa’s Bleeding Heart going through yet another round of blooming. 💝I’ll stick with real grass 🤔
Twenty-five days down and only five to go!
Wishing all a good day and a nice weekend! I hope to see you tomorrow. 👋👋👋
It is Day 24 of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge. I am a bit short of time today so I am going to make this quick by sharing a few of my favourite ‘positive’ tunes. Hope you find one you enjoy!
The only sports tune I love – The only time I got near a baseball field, I walked into a swinging bat and got all my baby teeth knocked out. No real harm done but the tooth fairy was a little miffed.
Dan & Anne – July 1999 – Our Wedding Song
I just love this tune 💛
Have to include at least one Alan Jackson tune. 🤣
My absolutely favourite hymn – I was devastated when my Dad died but when my cousin sang this song at his funeral, it made all the difference 💖
Hope you found something that helped perk up your day! I have to get Kat ready to go to the groomers so that is it for Day 24. Only six more days to go!
It is Day 23 of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge and I have decided to pay tribute to memories. This one is a bit of a trip down the rabbit hole for me, so hopefully it will be a positive experience for anyone who chooses to join me today. 🙃
I have never been one to dwell on the past. At first, it was not a conscious decision. I was focussed on dealing with the present and looking forward to the future. 🌞 After a brutally painful period in my life, I did make a very conscious decision to shut the door on my memory banks and slap a big old lock on them. If a moment from the past happened to sneak through, it was nothing more than a snapshot in someone else’s photo album. I would not relate to it personally.
I was perfectly happy to live in this delusional little headspace, where my past did not exist. I had no desire to relive my past through painful memories, and bizarrely, the best memories from my past were the ones that were most painful for me to face.
Ultimately, this decision to block my past became problematic. I had a tendency to react to triggers that seemingly came out of nowhere – like the time a business consultant snapped his fingers in my face. He was lucky that he got out of my office while he still had fingers! There were other times, many times, when I just drew a blank when someone mentioned the past, even the recent past – like the day Dan and I ran into his boss. They started talking about the time they had been at one of our local hospitals. I could not remember when or why Dan would have been at the hospital. It was only when Dan’s boss turned to me and asked how I was doing now, that I realized that Dan had been at the hospital to be with me. I had been in the hospital with pneumonia/empyema for a solid month a couple of years earlier and I had totally forgotten!
In the security of my relationship with Dan, and the relative well-being of my life in general, I decided it was time to crack the locks on my memory banks and have a peek around. At first, there was a whole lot of ugly memories that burst out. I wasn’t surprised, and I wasn’t that bothered by this. I was expecting them. I did not find a lot of warm and fuzzy memories. I was not expecting to and quite frankly, I was terrified of finding any.
Lately, I have been sorting through our basement and closets. I found a couple of boxes of older photos. I started to go through them and discovered that I have finally reached a point in my life where I am ready to look for the positive anywhere and everywhere – even in my past.
So, without further ado, or rambling on as the case may be, I invite you to browse through a few positively good memories with me. 💞
Lunching out with Jen. For years, we went shopping on Saturday morning. And we went for lunch. And we went walking at Wascana Park or took the kids tobogganing or swimming or to any number of places. We took trips to Gravelbourg and Saskatoon and one memorable trip to Winnipeg. $$$😂First there was one – Genie, back in the day when grandbabies were all sweet little innocents – happy to chase ladybugs and steal Pipsi. 🤗Back in the day with Casey and Susie. Casey was a beautiful American Eskimo/Pomeranian. She was with us for sixteen years before she passed away. Suzie was a tiny blind kitten that Jennifer gave Dan. She lost her owner and all of her siblings in a house fire. The owners family took her mother but could not provide a home for Suzie. We had her for about thirteen years before we lost her to cancer. My first Christmas with Dan and his dad, Nick.Danny, getting ready to head out on his own with his very first vehicle – bought and paid for by his truly. 👍The first home where my ex and I lived in Regina. It couldn’t have been uglier!Until we added our ugly sofa and mirror and fugly lamps! (I spared you the wall of mirror tiles and the one covered with metallic butterfly wallpaper – and the glass and brass orange lamps!)Family visit at our home up north. Without a doubt the best years with my ex.Back in the day with my ex. (Mark Sr.) and our three little ones (Danny, Jennifer and Mark B.)And way back, with my sister Lorraine and our niece Brigette. 💞
Twenty-three days down and seven to go.
Now that I am caught up with my life, I had better get busy with my here and now. That lawn isn’t going to water itself.
It is the twenty-second day of my June ‘Accent the Positive’ challenge. Today I decided to share some of my favourite quotes by the masters – they are positively brilliant, beautiful, and inspiring words of wisdom.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. – RumiWhat lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. – Oliver Wendell HolmesThose who bring sunshine to others, cannot keep it from themselves. – James M. BarrieDo not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly. – St. Francis De SalesCelebrate what you want to see more of. – Tom PetersIf every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness. – St. Therese of LisieuxYou will rise by lifting others. – Robert Green IngersollWhat’s going on the inside shows on the outside. – Earl NightengaleMay all your weeds be wildflowers. 💞
That is all for today! Twenty two days down, only eight more days to go.
Have a beautiful day! I hope to see you tomorrow! 🥀
Since I have retired, the positives in my life are ubiquitous! Today for the twenty-first day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge, I have chosen to express my appreciation for this wonderful time of my life – RETIREMENT 🥳
Time to bloom. 💐
I appreciate that my retirement provides the time for doing what I please, when I please! I particularly appreciate this in the morning. I love having the time to enjoy my coffee, while reading my online newspaper and playing my morning internet game. 💝
My happy morning place.
I appreciate having time to take care of myself and run errands that I need to deal with. I never have to stress about making doctor or dentist or optometrist or hairdresser appointments – I am free – anytime! I can even take Kat to the vet or groomers any day of the week!
Going to the groomers on Thursday 🙂
I appreciate that in retirement the weather is always perfect! If it is warm and sunny, I can spend the day outside enjoying the beautiful day. If it is rainy, snowy, cold, or windy, I can stay inside and look out the window and appreciate what I have the option of avoiding!
Rain, shine, or in-between, every day is lovely!
I appreciate that I SAVE so much money that it is not terribly painful to take a significant drop in income since I retired . I save on taxes, on clothes, on vehicle expenses, on take-out food, and on spending money – just because it was my payday reward for working. 🤦
Money I haven’t spent! 😂
When the weather is lovely, I appreciate that I can spend my time outside – during the best parts of the day. I check up on my flowers and vegetables, do a bit of clean-up, water and take care of my plants. I have even been working on our front lawn this year. Still a ways to go, but at least it is green!
Mostly green 👍
I appreciate that shopping is so much easier! My husband has always, and still does, the bulk of our shopping. However, there are times when I go with him, or without him, for whatever reason. Shopping is so much easier mid-week, when most people are at work!
Wednesday afternoon shopping – far from the Saturday crowds 🤭
The biggest positive of retirement is the time I get to spend with my husband. Although he still works 24/7 shifts, at least when he has time off, I have time off! Time we can actually spend together! 👫
Spending time together, enjoying Dan’s yard projects. 💞
Whether you are working towards it, or already living yours, I hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I enjoy mine. 🤗
Twenty-one days down and only nine more to go! Thank you for dropping in today and I hope to see you tomorrow.
It is the twentieth day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge and today we are celebrating Father’s Day.
I wanted to do something a bit different this year so I have put together a little tribute to my father-in-law, Nick. It has been eighteen years since Dan’s father passed away but I was fortunate enough to share many special days with him while he was still with us.
Nick and Dan’s Mom Elizabeth (Elizabeth passed away before I had the opportunity to meet her.)Nick & Elizabeth at Dan’s graduation.One of the first days that Nick celebrated a special occasion with us. Nick and my Mother were both with us to celebrate my sons’ graduation. I have no idea what Nick and I were doing but I am not too surprised that we were the ones goofing off on this obviously solemn occasion. Later that day….Celebrating Christmas with Nick.Over the years we entertained Nick and his family. (Nick with his niece Kelly and brother-in-law Alex).And Nick spent time with my family. (Nick with my sister Elaine and her husband John).On this day, Nick was honored for having volunteered over 10,000 hours with the St. John’s Ambulance.Always a dog lover, Nick seldom went anywhere without his precious BuffyEven when Nick’s health was failing, he made a point of being with us when we brought our Casey pup home.Nick at his home – sitting beside one of the amazing macrame hangers he had created.
I hope you enjoyed meeting Nick and sharing a few of our special moments together. He was a good man who lived a life of dedication to his family and his community.
Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers out there today – Especially to my Dad who unfortunately did not live to meet Dan, to Dan who opened his life and his heart to my sons and my daughter and to each and every one of our grandchildren, and to my sons and son-in-law. Thank you!
Twenty days down and ten to go! I cannot believe I am already two third of the way through this challenge that I have set for myself. 👍
Wishing everyone a nice Sunday and I will see you tomorrow. 💞
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.
Did it!Souris swinging bridge (new)Precious! 😊Rory enjoying watching the traffic on the bridges from our room at the Saskatoon Sheridan.Genie at Wascana LakeAnother Wascana Lake bridgeLittle 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. 🙂Albert Street Bridge Bridge to the USA side of Niagra Falls
Nineteen days down and only eleven more days to go! I hope my little selection of bridges provided a positive moment in your day.
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. We can even see the table top at times!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. 💞Neat and shiny!Who let that dusty little dog in the clean livingroom? 💞
Eighteen days down, twelve to go – and our house is relatively neat and tidy!
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! SomedayI 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.I like this one better. 💖
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. 💞
It is day sixteen of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge! Today’s post is all about growing and thriving. That is pretty positive!
Our tree – same garage/same tree 🙄Grandpa’s Bleeding Heart Baby Kat/Big Kat 💞Tomatoes & PeppersGround Cedar Cason hardly recognizes himself two years later!Our current bush 😊The little Mother’s Day plant that has a life of its own 🤗Me – Mother, professional, Retired 😉
Day sixteen done and fourteen more to go!
I sincerely hope that you and yours are well and thriving💞 Have a nice day!
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 