Winter is Here

by annemariedemyen

4:30 today and things did not look good. I went out to brush the snow off the Jeep. Damn, the new long-handled snowbrush Dan bought me last week was still sitting at home. I grabbed an oversized work-glove off the toolbox and improvised. The windshield was pretty much out of reach so I started the Jeep and cranked up the defroster to finish what I had started. One of the company installers finished clearing off his vehicle and came to lend a hand. Yay Louie! So grateful for good co-workers.

With the Jeep cleared off and toasty warm, I headed out on the icy roads. Driving through the industrial park has challenges at the best of times. Dodging semis, trains, half-tons and heavy equipment, I made it to the main road safely and was on my way.

You would think that living in a city with icy roads six months of the year, people would know how to drive on them. You would be wrong. I passed several gatherings of police cars, tow-trucks and the like. Sometimes there is a garbage truck to help pick up the pieces. If the weather is super bad, the city parks sanding trucks at donut shops around the city to remind people that the roads are icy.

I made it home and stumbled through the snow in my sneakers. In the porch, I passed my winter boots, sitting beside my new snowbrush. As Dan finished supper, I make a cup of tea and relaxed – until I remembered it will still be cold, it will still be icy and I’m pretty sure it is going to dark when I head back to work tomorrow. 😟

Road Trip In Saskatchewan

by annemariedemyen

My husband and I do not travel very far or very often, but now and then we just decide to get away for a day or two.

I am not a fan of the trip itself, but we enjoy a specific little hospitality chain that has nice hotels in Saskatchewan and Alberta.   If you ever get the chance to check them out, D3H Homesuites are clean, economical, the staff are welcoming, the complementary breakfast is good, they have a pool and hot tub and a small workout room.

We always get the jacuzzi suite with a king bed bedroom, jacuzzi, fireplace, sitting area with nice desk area and bar fridge.

Sometimes all it takes is a day or two, without a care in the world to come home recharged, ready for anything – even a Saskatchewan winter.

My Winter Green Spaces

by annemariedemyen
Little Bit of Summer

We are seven months away from green grass, budding flowers, sprouting vegetables and leafing trees. Although our house is small, I have my areas of greenery to brighten our spirits through the long Saskatchewan winter.

Kitchen Window

Now that I am almost recovered from my outbreak of shingles, I will be returning to work tomorrow. I must make time one evening to work on my kitchen ivy. It is getting a little out of control and becoming a problem when I work at the sink.

Lucky Bamboo

I dusted my bamboo last night. Somehow there is always dusting to be done, even when we are six feet deep in snow. 🤷

Cactus Blossom
Blooming Ivy
Miracle Plant In Bloom

Occasionally, we wake up to random blossoms to brighten our day.

National Cook For Your Pets Day

by annemariedemyen
Kat

Today is a holiday that I can relate to. Today is National Cook For Your Pets Day. Our dog, Kat, gets homemade food everyday but for her it is always something to celebrate!

Kat gets dry kibble but we supplement it with a small dish of homemade ‘soft’ food in the morning. We started this when our previous dog, Casey, was getting up in age and was no longer able to manage enough dry food to keep her at a healthy weight. We wanted to provide her with the best nutrition possible so we studied the subject and started her on a special home cooked diet.  Of course, she had to share with Kat and once she was gone we kept up the practice. 

Casey

We follow the same basic recipe every time – meat, vegetables, and a little filler cooked together with saltless broth and one package of clear gelatin.    (The gelatin is good for her joints.) For meat we generally use a portion from a package we are using for our meal – hamburger, stewing meat, steak, chicken, turkey, or pork loin.  Occasionally we will buy her a small package of lamb or chicken livers.    Kat, like Casey did, loves vegetables and must sample each as we are chopping them.   Her favourites are carrots, asparagus and kohlrabi.  For filler we use a bit of rice, barley or orzo. Then we stew it together with the broth and gelatin, a spoonful of powdered eggshell, seasoned with homegrown herbs like parsley or lemon balm and a bit of pepper. We make a sizeable batch and freeze it in portions that will last her about for days.

Kat, ‘Taste Testing’

Halloween

by annemariedemyen
Dominic at my office

I can’t claim to be the biggest fan of holidays and to be honest Halloween is probably my second least favourite of all. I do however enjoy seeing kids get out and about, as family, just having a good time. Naturally, it is even more fun when it is my family, out with their kids.

Genie taking first place in ‘homemade costume’ grade 9

Being in Saskatchewan, there’s always a question of how co-operable the weather will. This year it will be about 0C and snow. Not great, especially for anyone pushing a baby carriage or wheelchair, but we have had worse.

Maddy & Prim

Here is wishing kids everywhere a safe, happy, warm Halloween. 🎃

Shingles Vaccine

by annemariedemyen
Feels A Lot Worse Than It Looks

I, like most parents, made sure my little ones were protected by the vaccines available for them. I have gotten flu and pneumonia vaccines to protect myself. But shingles vaccine, pfft. This weekend I got an education.

Shingles is hell – I would think it would be hell anywhere but I have it across my face and through one eye – which has been found to lead to dementia (Yay). Elderly people with shingles are subject to stroke or heart attach. If I am fortunate, I will just have a rash comparable to having acid poured over my face, stabbing pains in my head (think icepick) and constant nausea for a week or so.

Shingles will not cause shingles but it can cause chicken pox in anyone who has not been vaccinated – because they are too young or were from the pre-chickenpox vaccination days – like my husband and adult chicken pox is terrible.

Bottom line, if you are fifty or over, have had chicken pox, have not gotten the shingles vaccine – get it now. Protect yourself and your loved ones. 💞