Uncategorized – Page 15 – Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie

Day 21 – Retirement!

June 21, 2021June 26, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

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 🥳

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. 💝

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!

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. 🤦

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!

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.

Day 20 – Happy Father’s Day

June 20, 2021June 20, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

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.)

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.

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 Buffy

Even 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. 💞

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. 🌞