It’s Dan’s birthday today but since he had to work we celebrated last night. Just a quiet evening at home but it was nice. A little food, some tv, and a nice supper.
My sister Elaine and her husband John sent Dan the prettiest card. She makes cards for all of the family for birthdays, anniversaries and the like and they are all so special. I am sure she has everything down on a calendar of sorts but I would still lose track. (My Christmas cards from 2015 are still waiting to be sent.)This beautiful card was the one she sentto us for the loss of our Kat. The inscription was touching, as well. 😢Dan’s birthday supper – with a side salad. He didn’t get a card from me but I did tell him if he wanted any new golf gear, he could definitely buy it from me. 🙄 It is hard for me to buy the right sports equipment for him but I am all for him having whatever adds to his enjoyment of the game. 💞And I made him a cake. Actually, it was Brownies with cream cheese icing but it was cakish. 😊
Today is also Dan’s sister Joan’s birthday – four years apart but on the same day. 🎂 They also have two cousins born on April 12th – a few years apart. That seems like such a bizarre coincidence to me. I come from a largish family, that came from two very large families, and none of us share birthdays. 🤔
That’s about it for today. I got my dancing and walking in today so I am feeling pretty darn good about myself. I haven’t missed any workout days since February 14th. Pretty impressive. 😌
Our weather has improved to the point that I have added an outdoor walk to my daily fitness routine. 🚶
Yesterday I ventured far enough to take in Patricia Park. Due to health issues, I never made it that far last summer, so I was pretty excited about this excursion.
The walk there was a little treacherous because some sidewalks are still covered with snow, ice, and water – not to mention coffee cups, masks, and disposable gloves. 😒But I made it to the park, which will look way better once the grass is green and the trees have their leaves.There were a few little puddles. 🙄And a couple of big puddles. 😳And a spiffy new bridge over the water channel. 😊There is a new playground that I passed on McKinley. 🤗This is what was left of a beautiful wooded Par 3 golf course. The trees were annihilated to make an off leash dog park – because, you know, dogs have an aversion to trees. It is all part of our city’s 12.5 BILLION dollar plan to be a renewable Net Zero city by 2050. 🤦
That was it for my walk. It will be way nicer in a few weeks but for now it is great to get out in the fresh air and sunshine – and my future body will thank me for the exercise that I am getting now. 👍👍👍
It has been seven weeks since I started my spring fitness program! The time is flying by and I am seeing some results.
Physically –
I have lost a whopping TWO pounds, but I continue to tone and tighten up 🙂
My balance is way better
I feel much better
My blood oxygen level is up and my pulse is slower and stronger
I started walking this weekend. I am starting with a goal of 5000 steps per day but I plan to increase as I am ready. I have read lately that 7500 steps is optimal.
Mentally –
I am doing better at the little puzzle games that I play 🙄
And… I installed a router extender to our wifi AND set up our security camera this morning! 💃💃💃
Emotionally – This is where I have noticed the biggest difference lately. I honestly thought, that with spring’s arrival and my efforts to improve my health and well-being, that my life would really get better! I was wrong. In the past few days, we have had family DRAMA, we have been BLEEDING financially, and we lost our little dog, Kat. Our life is one old country blues tune. BUT… I am doing ok. Seriously ok. My family are still the loves of my life, our finances will turn (as they always do), and despite the absolute heartbreak of losing Kat – I am okay. I am not trying to contain or control the pain in my heart. I am just letting it go with the flow of tears and staying grateful for the years we had. 💝
On a side note, my little seedlings are starting to take. I add a few more each week and thin out the ones that are getting a bit too crowded. Our weather is improving, but it will be a while before I can start moving my little garden outside, even for a few hours a day.
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day!💞
PS… Thank you again for all of the kind and compassionate messages following our loss last week. We were very touched by each an every one. 💞💞💞
It is another quiet weekend for Kat and I. The two of us are mostly just relaxing while Dan is at work. I got the sidewalks done yesterday, so today I just have to get out and shovel off an area of the patio for Kat to do her business. Kat will come out to supervise.
The Patio 🙄
I made Kat a new batch of food yesterday so thought I would share that kitchen performance today. I freeze it in small bags and take out enough for a few days at a time. She also gets her dry kibble, although for now we have to soften it for her so she can heal from her dental surgery last week.
Chicken livers fried in a bit of olive oil, fresh ginger, sage, and curry.Chopping vegetables.Cooking orzo in chicken broth – added gelatin for Kat’s aging joints. Cooking vegetables – carrots, parsnips, turnip, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage andokra.I made the mistake of putting the cooked chicken livers through the food processor. Kat doesn’t seem to mind but it is not something I would do again. 🤢
After making Kat’s food and spending a bit of time shoveling snow, I wasn’t too excited about making supper. Chef’s Salad it was, with a glass of Pelee Island Merlot to dress it up.
Lettuce, radishes, green onions, celery, tomato, cucumber, artichoke hearts, boiled eggs, ham, sunflower seeds, homemade croutons, and peppercorn ranch dressing.
That’s it for today! Take care and have a great Sunday! 💞
This is a reblog from some time ago. Just thought these pics were too cute not to reshare. 🤗
I couldn’t get too deep into my June ‘Accent the Positive’ challenge without sharing some moments with our precious Cavalier Kat. Our lives would not be the same without her. 💞 When Dan and I decided (ok Dan agreed😂) to get another dog, I wanted something small and manageable. Dan wanted a ‘real dog – […]
Since I was determined to make this Christmas a reasonably good one, I thought it would be nice to have a tree. Not only did Dan agree, but he thought it would be ever so nice to have a REAL tree. It was ever sonice. 😁
Our real nice tree of 2021 🤗
We got our tree, Dan found the stand, and set it up. Together we strung the lights and I added tinsel and ornaments before Dan moved it to the corner table of the livingroom.
A couple of days later, I happened to spy a little critter slowly jog past Kat. Kat seemed more confused than shocked or upset. I was rather baffled myself . It seemed the size of a mouse but did not seem particularly mouse like – and it was black.
For a day or so there was no further critter activity – no mouse, no poo, no sign of mouse activity in our cupboards. We all agreed to believe that Kat and I had imagined the entire mouse episode. Thank God, because I am terrified of mice. (A story for another day).
Dan went back to work for a couple of night shifts. On night one, I started working on my jigsaw puzzle, and our elusive guest jogged past me. I decided to move into the livingroom. I sent a string of texts to Dan – “we definitely have a mouse in the house… it is in the kitchen… it came into the livingroom… omg it is in the Christmas tree!” Meanwhile Kat dozed on the couch and amazingly I remained rather calm and coherent. Dan was definitely concerned but moreso about my sanity than the actual possibility of my cartoonish mouse.
The second night was much the same – with the guest appearance of a fuzzy grey walnut that peaked out from under the fridge and ducked back just as quickly.
FYI.. as I sit in the livingroom writing this, guest #1 just jogged past my chair. 😳
Last night, Dan was home and he finally saw Guest #1 and… Guest #3 with his own eyes. Guest #3 is a miniature version of Guest #1. Dan agreed that these were no normal mice. I searched the internet and I am somewhat convinced that we are entertaining a family of small shrews who travelled into our house via our REAL NICE Christmas tree.
FUN FACT – Shrews are not rodents but a type of the Eulipotyphlamammal. Apparently rodents are also a form of mammal too – but not a form I choose to relate to. 🥴
Bottom line – Dan is out looking to purchase some mushrooms, bread, and critter catchers – since these little beggars do not seem interested in our regular mouse traps. For the time being, I am at home and “The creatures are definitely stirring!”
Kat is not so inclined to stir. 🙄
That is it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞
For better or worse, the Christmas of 2021 has come and gone. It was definitely nice that Dan had the day off this year. In fact we had a few days together. It was very special to have some quiet time to relax in front of the fireplace (which is conveniently placed under the television) and enjoy each other’s company.
Santa Dan was good to me as always. He was out and about for two days finding me the perfect winter boots – with is no simple task and a new elephant to join our herd.
Short enough to be easy to put on but tall enough to cover my ankles, solid enough to be safe on icy walks but light enough to drive in, warm & cozy but stylish to boot! Latest member of the herd💞
Granddaughter Genie and Alex came by on Christmas morning to drop off a Christmas bouquet and pick up their gifts from us. They stayed for a lovely visit.
Flowers from Genie & Alex
We had a good phone chat with son Dan and photos from Amanda of the kids opening their gifts. Gabby and Lucas were obviously happy with theirs. It was a bit harder to tell with Cason from his ‘butt shot’. 😂 I had a call from son Mark later in the day and my siblings and I exchanged seasonal greetings by email. Dan and I had a nice long video chat with his sister Joan.
Dan and I enjoyed a nice ham supper for Christmas Eve and a beautiful turkey supper for Christmas Day. We have officially perfected the art of making turkey stuffing. It was our best ever! In between ham and turkey and Boxing Day quesadillas, we snacked on an abundance of treats including the gourmet chocolates I picked up a few days ago. 🤢 I saved Dan from the Rose Petal one.
Annual jigsaw puzzle
That it for today. I hope you all had a nice Christmas with the perfect mix of food and family and peace and goodwill.
Take care and have a great rest of the holidays. 🎄
Today, Dan and I are celebrating the ‘Angels Among Us’ – or specifically one angel that came into our lives eighteen years ago today.
While all of our grandchildren are perfectly amazing, Genevieve (Genie) was the first and she changed our lives. From day one, she radiated the sweetest innocence. She became the toddler who loved every ladybug, climbed and crawled and danced her way into every heart.
So tiny and innocent
Precious and precocious
By the time Genie started school, she was the poised and and precious older sister – a Grandpa’s girl who possessed the kindness and wisdom of one beyond her years.
Serious and scholastic
With Maddy, little sister and sidekick
Through the years we have watched our Genie grow, bigger and stronger, but always true to who she is – kind, caring, bright and brave, loving and determined to make this world a better place. And she always will – because she truly is one of those angels who touch the hearts of all she meets and fills the hearts of those of us who are blessed to know and love her.
Happy Birthday, Sweetie – We love you and we are so proud of you. All the best wishes for you, forever and always. 💞
Today I am celebrating a visit from a couple of Christmas Elves (or angels).
Last night we received another dump of the white stuff , along with strong winds. Dan is working today and of course shoveling a ton of snow is not on my recommended post-op activities. Dan left for work this morning, anticipating shovelling when he got home, as our snowblower is presently not inclined to blow snow. For those who have never owned a snowblower, they are seldom inclined to blow snow. 🙄
Here we are snowed in. 😏
So, obviously I felt bad for Dan – until this lovely couple about our age showed up, shovels in hand. They offered to clean all of our walks and the city sidewalk for twenty dollars. I offered a bonus if they cleared a little path for Kat on the garden side patio.
Clean & clear! ❄️
They did an amazing job. They practically cleaned off the patio – I told them it was plenty good. I gave them each twenty dollars and was happy to do it. I have no idea where they put the snow. I went out to check after they left, just out of curiosity, and found that they had even shoveled off the cement in the back yard! Our entire back yard is practically cement. I can hear our neighbour out shovelling now. I sure hope our snow didn’t go over the fence, even if they aren’t our favourite neighbours. Naughty elves? 😏
Anyway, that is it for today. Take care and have a great day!💞
Every day is still a day to celebrate the season! I have gotten a few things accomplished lately and could realistically be ready for Christmas any time now.
We packaged up a few things for son Dan and family. Dan sent it out for three day delivery on Monday and Amanda let me know they got it yesterday. (Way to go Canada Post!)
I wrapped presents – without a single glass of wine 🍷. Not that I need wine to do anything, but it helps if that anything involves rolls of paper, sharp instruments, and sticky tape.
I received the last of the Christmas gifts that I had ordered for Dan and the birthday gift that I had ordered for granddaughter Genie. Dan drove me to ‘Chocolate Regina’ to pick up a small box of gourmet chocolates and we stopped by a the recently renovated restaurant at Casino Regina for lunch. The food and the restaurant were both very nice but the rest of the renovations left a lot to be desired in my mind. I am not a fan of clutter and chaos and that seems to be what they were going for.
Bernard Callebaut chocolates are amazing! Definitely not a treat we buy every day but they are Christmas worthy.
I have done a bit more cleaning up and decorating around the house. I love this little candle and these placemats that I picked up from The Dollar Store.
I also ran to Walmart to pick up a few last minute things while Dan was at work yesterday. Their Christmas displays are running a bit low but they brightened the place up by adding shelves of Valentine’s chocolates and Easter bunnies. That is not too wierd. Who buys Easter bunnies in December? 🐰
Today I am going to try to get a bit of baking done and wrap the rest of the gifts.
That is it for today. Take care and have a great day!💞
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 