Category: 2022

International Day of the Girl 2022

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2022

Today we celebrate  the 10th  International Day of the Girl.   This day was created to draw attention to the challenges that girls face around the globe.  Female children face particular problems dealing with their physical and mental health, accessing education, and experiencing violence throughout their lives.  Specially challenged girls face additional obstacles to accessing services and support.

I find it  sad that any group of people has to have a special day to draw attention to the   lack of basic  respect and regard which they face just because of their sex, age,  race, color, or whatever else they may be  judged on.   Shouldn’t humanity have evolved past that by now?

I also wonder how effective these special days are, if the message is directed to those who are comfortable with the status quo?  To those who feel that there are others who do not need or deserve healthcare, a proper education, opportunities for  employment,  or even personal protection and security.

I believe the answer lies in empowering those who are exploited, abused, or treated as less valuable than others – supporting them and encouraging them in this regard.

This morning I caught a clip on our morning news show.  A number of young women were asked the question “What empowers you?”.   The answers ranged from “Being a woman”, “being a mother”, “my friends and family” to “my education” and “my career”.

It has taken me sixty seven years to decide that my answer to that question would be “What empowers me is being pro-active and  in taking responsibility for myself – for the choices I make, the actions I take, my own mental, physical, and financial  wellbeing.” That has empowered me more than anything and coming to this conclusion has not been easy.  I grew up at a time, in a place, in a family where success meant finding and marrying a good man to take care of me.   🤦 I do not blame anyone.  That was just the mindset.  But it was not a mindset that would serve anyone well.   I can’t think of anything that would be more disempowering for anyone – than to be taught that anyone needs to rely on anyone else to ‘take care of them’ – for their entire lifetime no less.  

My question for the day – What empowers you?   I would really appreciate your answers to this one.  I have ten  grandchildren and one great granddaughter.   Your answers will no doubt help me to help them develop their own power – as women AND men. 

It’s a family sock thing 😂
A family supper thing..
A sibling love thing. 💞

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

Week 33 – Setbacks

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2022, Health and Fitness

It is thirty-three weeks since I started working on getting fit and healthy. Things have gone rather well, better than I had ever thought was possible – and with few set backs.

Back in May, I skipped a couple of days of workouts when we went to son Dan’s for the long weekend and my blood pressure rocketed. Once we returned home, it started to drop and has been getting better and more stable all the time. My husband had a bit of a cold/flu/virus thing this summer and I skipped right through that with nary a sneeze. 🤗

However, this past Saturday I woke up feeling a bit rough and it only got worse throughout the day. By evening, I had no inclination to do my evening weights and after crawling into bed early, suffered through a miserable night. By Sunday morning, I was feeling somewhat better. I puttered around the house all day and for the first time since the beginning of July, I missed walking Molly. She seemed fairly understanding – at least until I tried to lie down on her spot on the sofa. Having a 70/80 pound dog walk back and forth over you and finally flop down on top of you, is not nearly as restful as it sounds. 😧. I survived the rest of the day napless, got a good night’s sleep, and got up feeling even better this morning.

Molly was feeling something… 😮

I got up, fed Molly, made myself a nutritious breakfast, did a sinkload of dishes that should have been done last night, took Molly for a walk, tried to meditate for an hour while Molly tried to sit on my lap, chew on my hands, lick my ears, and half sit on my lap while half standing on the floor while wagging her tail in my face. (That was difficult to ignore.). I persevered and then chased her out into the yard so I could complete a thirty-three minute You Tube Zumba class.

My final challenge of the day will be completing my weight lifts (3 Pound dumbbells) and moving up to 9 sets, 10 reps, of four different lifts. 💪

One of the most challenging aspects of working the last few years before I retired, was dealing with health issues. I was never ‘healthy’ and, more often that not, I was dealing with the effects of chronic health issues and catching every bug that came near me. Calling in sick was seldom an option, so I would generally suck it up. But, I really looked forward to the day that I was retired and would have the luxury of pulling a blanket over my head and just wallowing in misery when I got sick.

Now I am retired and in so much better shape since I started working out in February, that I… A – I almost never get sick, B – When I do get sick, I recover so quickly and easily that I do not have time to wallow, C – Have learned that wallowing does not really speed up the healing process, and D – Have a dog that does not approve of wallowing. So that retirement dream has run its course! And honestly, I am so much happier feeling healthy and fit that I really don’t mind missing out on the wallowing in illness thing.

That is it for today. Another week of making health and fitness a priority and another week of looking forward to a retirement filled with happy, healthy, adventures with my husband and our Molly dog! 🤗

Happy Thanksgiving to any Canadian readers. Take care and have a great day – to all! 💞🌞

Autumn Gold At The Dog Park

January 1st – Happy New Year!

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2022

Happy New Year everyone!  I assume everyone is ready to kick off a brand new year?  I read lately that everyday is the beginning of a new year in one’s life.  I like that concept.  There’s nothing better than a chance to start fresh – new hopes, new dreams, and new energy to push through to the next level.  That is my mission for this year – every day is New Year’s Day. 🎉

First off today, I want to send out a big congrats to son Dan,  daughter-in-law Amanda, Gabby, Lucas, and Cason who celebrated their first anniversary yesterday.   They all deserve the love and  happiness that they have found together.  Obviously I am biased, but they are the poster family for fresh starts, hopes, dreams, and boundless energy.   We are so proud of them all and so happy that they have built, and continue to build on their best lives.

For better & better 💞 (Cason dialed back the energy for this shot 😂)

In keeping with my theme of the month, this month’s theme comes from a suggestion by John of lvphotoblog.com . (If you do not follow John yet, stop by his site to see beautiful shots of the real Las Vegas and surrounding areas).

This month I am going to feature one meal or dish that Dan and I indulge in each day.  This could be a bit of a stretch for me but we’ve got this!  Stay tuned for everything you have ever wanted to know about the basic diet of a basic Canadian – everything from homemade soup, to beefdip,  to how to heat up the perfect tv dinner!  We’ve got you covered.

Day one of our culinary adventure starts with our laid back New Year’s Eve menu. 

Pickles, raw vegetables, and shrimp ring.
Pillsbury crescent rolls – rolled up with thin sliced ham, Swiss and Gouda cheese.
The pièce de résistance of our repast was definitely the crab stuffed portabella mushroom caps.

Dan imbibed in a couple of Molson Canadian beers with clamato juice while I enjoyed a glass of Canadian Pelee Island Merlot.

  • To create your own perfect crab stuffed portabella mushrooms….
  • Clean 4 large portabella mushroom caps, removing the stems and much of the gills
  • Mix 4 oz of cream cheese, 4 oz of sour cream, 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Add 1/4 cup panko crumbs
  • Add finely chopped fresh garlic, green onions, and jalapenos
  • Add finely chopped mushroom stems
  • Add one small can (drained and broken up) crab meat
  • Lightly season with salt and pepper
  • Fill mushroom caps and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of panko crumbs mixed with 1 tsp. butter
  • Bake @ 375 degrees F for 30 minutes and broil @ 425 degrees F until browned
  • As with any of the dishes we make – adjust to suit your own taste!

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