Tag: family

June 28th…

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

It’s been a hot minute but I am finally back to post a bit of an  update..

Family wise we have had a bit going on..

Granddaughter Primrose finished her school year with her Grade 8 graduation..

She’s off to high-school with Maddy this fall..

Conveniently for both,  Maddy became a full-fledged  driver a few days ago!

It doesn’t seem possible!

This seems like yesterday!

This week we had a family barbecue to celebrate the girls’ achievements.   Family, friends, and plenty of food to go around. 

I have had a few chats recently with son Dan.  On the fun side, he is building a pool off of their already massive deck.   Their entire yard is built for enjoying  quality family and friend time.   This pool will be an excellent addition for them.

Unfortunately, Dan had sad news for us as well – one of their little dogs took sick this week and they had to say a very difficult farewell.

Molly will miss Baccardi the next time we get together.  They were friends from the get go. 😢

Health wise, I am doing ok.  It is frustrating that I am still struggling to get back to where I was.  I have little to no  issues doing my aerobics and working around the house and yard.  Walking, treadmill, and weights are an ongoing issue.  Between respiratory issues aggravated by this infection and tendon damage caused by the medication, I can’t seem to get it together.  🫪

But the yard is coming along – including the plant stand Dan set up for me.

The most excitement we have had lately is due to the weather we have been experiencing this season.  We fluctuate between ripping hot and frigid cold (typically on the same day).  Our yard recovered from the intense hail storm we had a couple of weeks just in time for the torrential rain we experienced yesterday.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/14kRk1Bmnoi/

I’m not sure if anyone will be able to see this video.  Our neighbourhood  wasn’t hit this bad!   But while Dan was at Superstore waiting for his chance to make a dash in for a few groceries, I did manage to soak the porch carpet and flood the basement.  Both were preventable but no real harm done.  The carpet will dry and the basement is unfinished cement – with anything of value  up off the floor.   Dan went down to open the floor drain and turn on the dehumidifier when he got home,  so we are all good.  

We are in the midst of a  thunder storm now but it seems to be bringing more noise than anything and Dan is  home, so no worries! 🙂

That’s it for now! Take care and have a good day! 💞🌞

February 26th – Day 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

So far this year, there has been less than an impressive amount of activity in my life!  Things will turn around – hopefully soon than later.

Our weather is improving and with March almost here, it should keep getting better.  Before we know it, gardening season will begin and I am anxious to see it!

I’m not sure what will keep Molly out of the garden this year.  She has had no problem jumping the corner planter this winter, so the fence is more of a suggestion than a barrier at this point.

Yesterday, Genie and Alec dropped by for a short visit.  They are both looking well and still enjoying married life.  Their visit was much appreciated as we haven’t been getting out anymore than we had to during our latest cold snap.  Of course… Molly was besides herself!  With some grooming help from Genie and Alec, she shed half of her winter coat while they were here.  😳

Yesterday morning,  Dan and I did have one short outing.  We went to see my respirologist about the results of my recent sputum culture.  He put me on a heavy dose of a strong antibiotic to deal with my lung infection.  

As usual, I read all of the information available on this medication before I started taking it.   As usual, that was a mistake.  The potential chaos this medication can cause is mild to life threating.  The real kicker is the mental instability they throw in – anxiety, paranoia, delusion, suicidal thoughts… like just reading the information on such medication isn’t stressful enough. 🤦‍♀️

I understand that the infection I have is serious and that if I do not clear it up completely I will be dealing with it for the rest of my life.  But still, you would think by now a pharmaceutical company could come up with a drug to kill an infection that can do it without taking my mind and body down as well.

I cannot imagine how people deal with cancer, organ transplants, heart disease, and the like AND manage the medications that they have to take.   I just can’t!

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

February 12th – Day 38, 39, 40, 41 & 42  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

It has been a few days, but I am back on track.. in real life if not on WordPress.

A bit of family news…

Last night, our granddaughter Prim went to her highschool openhouse.  In September, she will take another leap towards adulthood. 😳

And.. Today is daughter Jennifer’s birthday. She is working the evening shift today but she has some day time off to enjoy herself.   She has taken up building miniatures, so birthday shopping was relatively easy this year.

The top one is one she just finished.  Dan & I gave her the kit on the bottom left and her girls (Genie, Maddy, & Prim gave her the one on the bottom right.)

The detail in these miniature kits is crazy.  The total finished size is no more than 12″ x 12″ x 12″ for each and she assembles every piece of furniture and accessory.

My week has not been quite as much fun. 

On Tuesday, I went for an appointment with my respirologist.  All I went for was a prescription refill.  I left with the prescription AND a requisition for a sputum test.

I can deal with the test, though who knows why it would take six years to decide to do one.  But, these appointments are so freaking stressful.  I get all pumped up, go in feeling GREAT and come out wondering how I have lived this long.

It is rediculous! I know that nothing I have is fatal.  I know I am doing everything in my power to stay healthy – including taking my inhalers as prescribed.  But according to Downer Dave, I have one foot in my grave and the other on a banana peal. 🤦‍♀️  Unless, I actually am sick – then I am fine.

Anyway, I got the test done.  I got over it and I am back to my regular routine of meds, lung clearing, vitamins and supplements, fresh air, diet, sleep, and exercise – aerobics, light weights, and treadmill.

I am feeling great – at least until I have to go back to get the results from my test. 🙂

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

February 3rd – Day 32 & 33  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

Just when I thought we were moving on, Tony Robbins threw in a bonus three hour session yesterday.   I hemmed and hawed and decided that I had gotten enough out of the first three sessions  to invest another three hours to the cause.

Sitting in on the bonus session was well worth the time.  More about that in a future blog. 🙂

I still had ample time to do my aerobics yesterday morning, make a supper of spaghetti and meatsauce with a side order of broccolli and cauliflower, clean up the kitchen after supper and hit the treadmill for thirty minutes.

I even managed to read a few pages of a book that I got on Kobo lately after my sister-in- law recommended it.   It is interesting and surprisingly timely considering it was published decades ago!

I have never had any doubt that our thoughts, beliefs, and attitude affect the quality of our lives.  But, it is pretty amazing to see my beliefs validated by a book that was written and published a decade before I was born.

That’s about it for today.  Dan and I just had our afternoon tea so it is time to head outside for some fresh air before supper.  Take care and have a great rest of your day! 🤗💞

A little snow clearing might be in order!

Daily Food Diary – Day 358 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is the 358th Day that I have posted my Daily Food Diary without one miss!🤩

Today is also Christmas Day so I am going rogue – sharing a bit of our Christmas with you.

Christmas Eve / Genie’s Birthday – Following a full supper of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, roasted vegetables, cabbage rolls, cranberries, buns/yorkshire pudding Brazilian cheese buns, Genie opened her presents and we shared in her birthday cake.
This morning we returned for a quick brunch of pancakes, bacon, ham, and fruit.  Following which, we headed down to Genie &  Alec’s suite to open gifts.

Family Christmas 2025 was a merry,  relaxing, loving, Peace on Earth success.   

Appreciation for Alec’s Mom for opening up her house to all of us for the past two days and for taking the lead in the kitchen to ensure all went smoothly for Alec & Genie’s first run at hosting the holidays.

Kudos to Alec and Genie for the festive decorations, the efficient set up, and of course the hosting duties served up with their sparkling  enthusiasm,  kindness, and consideration.

The wins for the day… it was all wins.  After three days of hosting Baccardi and Cornelius, Molly even ‘won’ a bit of personal time while we were out. 

It’s been exhausting..

My Daily Food Diary roundup win..

The balance and confidence to set aside the calorie counter for Christmas Eve  & Christmas Day.  I am enjoying all of the foods and treats of the season – in moderation and with a reasonable amount of caution. (Unlimited sugar is not my friend 🙄 even at Christmas.

Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours! 🎄🎁

Daily Food Diary – Day 357 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 357 of my Daily Food Diary! Eight more days to go! 💗 

Today is Christmas Eve and we are already well into the holiday wins!

1) Last night we had a final evening visit with son Dan and family.  Amanda and I whipped up a quick supper of comfort foods.  Dan & Dan took over the kitchen to do the after supper clean up. Teamwork at its finest.  👍

2) Today we celebrate granddaughter Genevieve’s 22nd birthday!  Every day that we are blessed to have our sweet Genie in our lives is a win. 🎂

3) Tonight we head over to Genie & Alec’s to enjoy their first official Christmas/birthday supper. 🎄

My Daily Food Diary roundup win is an easy one today…

Despite my Christmas baking and amazing contributions by son Dan… I have been mindful of keeping the treat consumption to a minimum so far!  Moderation is today’s Daily Food Diary WIN.

Daily Food Diary:

Breakfast:

(1)  c coffee (2)

(1) c cheerios (147)

(1/4)  c 2% milk (28)

Snacks:

(1) gin & tonic (130)

(15) Lays lightly salted chips (218)

(1) pc. Chocolate coconut dessert bar (170)

Supper:

(4) Cheemo pierogis (227)

(1/2) Oz onion chip dip (20)

(1) cabbage rolls (120)

(3) Oz Drake sausage (285)

Total consumed calories: 1347

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1347

Net calorie goal: 1208 – 1347 = 139 over 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a beautiful,  loving, peace on earth/good will toward all, Merry Christmas Eve! 🎄🎇🎁

Daily Food Diary – Day 355 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 355 of my Daily Food Diary! 😄

There are 10 DAYS left of 2025 and 10 Days before I meet my goal of maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary for a full year!

Being retired and somewhat of a homebody hermit, meeting my goal has not been that challenging, for the most part.

Trying to do my Daily Food Diary today, with a lap full of small dogs, is a little more challenging than usual this morning.

My WINS for the Day today:

1) Wrapping ALL of our Christmas gifts yesterday!  There are a few things about the Christmas Season that I really do enjoy.  Wrestling wrapping paper, ribbons, and tape is NOT one of them.  But, I am done for 2025 so YAY!

2) Son Dan & Family arrived safe and sound yesterday.  So good to see all of them, including Gabby, who is at the University of Alberta in Edmonton this year (working on completing her Psychology degree).

Gabby, Dan, Cason, Amanda, & Lucas!

3) A feel good yesterday and a great night sleep. (8 solid hours – slept like a rock!)

BONUS WIN – Maintaining peace and joy despite vacuum cleaner dying AND one perfectly aimed fling of Molly’s tail taking out a full can of rootbeer and sending rootbeer foam flying from the coffee table to the carpet, to the wood floor, to the sofa, to the wall, stool, desk, Cason, and Gabby. 

My Daily Food Diary WIN for the day..

Cutting back (significantly) on sugar this year.  For most, this would be a good thing, for me it is great! With multiple lung issues (asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD) plus an allergy to yeast – sugar is a bad thing – and a big weakness of mine! Especially CAKE with frosting! This year cake was minimal. 👍💪😉

Daily Food Diary – Day 355

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) fried eggs (160)

(3) slices bacon (130)

(2) potato patties (240)

(4) slices tomato (11)

Snacks:

(1) butter tart (100)

(3) Oz red wine (75)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1) c Chicken Gumbo Soup (140)

(5) soda crackers (63)

(1) tortilla wrap (170)

(5) slices shaved Pillers ham (60)

(1 1/2) Oz marble cheese (170)

(1/4) sliced red onion (21)

Total consumed calories: 1342

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1342

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1342 = 134 over 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😁💓

Daily Food Diary – Day 348 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 348 of my Daily Food Diary! 💥

Today there are seventeen days until 2026 and ten days until Christmas. 

I am infinitely grateful that we offered our newlyweds, Genie & Alec, the opportunity to host Christmas this year.  And moreso that they accepted the offer with the full support of Alec’s mother Denise.

That being said, it is ten days until Christmas and in two days I am booked for surgery…

And son Dan and family are coming on the 21st..

I am not ready.  Not by a long shot.

But my win for the day yesterday was Christmas baking with granddaughter Prim!

We had a good time, filled a few baking containers and our bonus win was having Grandpa (Dan) making an awesome supper of Shepherd’s Pie.

My Daily Food Diary win for the day was learning in real time the benefit of long term gain over instant gratification. 

I am not good at meeting specific result driven goals.  I get too frustrated if I cannot see my goals getting closer with every passing day.  My power is in commitment and longterm persistence.   I just plug along doing what I know has to be done – one day at a time.  The win is looking back over the year (or years)  and seeing what I have accomplished. ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 348

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) 2 egg scrambled eggs with bacon (415)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(1.5) servings shepherds pie (735)

Total consumed calories: 1392

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1392

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1392 = 184 over 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😍💖

Daily Food Diary – Day 344 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 344 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤩

The win for my December Recap of my Daily Food Diary today is as simple and basic as they come – I started!

My main reason for starting this challenge was to get a handle on foods that were giving me grief and to eliminate them from my diet. 

I decided the best way to do that would be to note everything that I consumed – for a full year.   I figured the best way to keep myself accountable was to post these daily entries on my blog.  Since it was mid December, it seemed to make sense to begin on January 1st. 

It made sense until January 1st…  our house was still filled with caramel corn, chocolates, nuts, and home baking.  And.. I was facing a 365 DAY commitment.

But, you don’t get anywhere without taking that first step – so I started.  As basic and simple as they come, but a BIG win for me!🎀

Happy New Year!

My real time/real life wins for the day today are also pretty basic:

1) I managed a relatively productive day yesterday,  getting in three workouts, starting my Christmas baking, and making an early supper to get ready for Maddy’s band concert.

2) Attending Maddy’s band concert with daughter Jen.  These events are so packed that we get  there an hour early to get parking and seating, which made for some quality visiting time.  The concert was excellent, as usual.  I love that the teachers at O’Neil make these events ALL about the kids, showcasing their talent and their commitment to music.  💝

Maddy – our musical reindeer.

3) I was up at 6:30 this morning to drive Maddy to early morning band practice.  Jen was at work at 6 so could not drive her, walking through their neighborhood, over ice and snow to O’Neil from their house before sunrise is a bit much.🙄   Plus, I got to see Maddy and get some extra driving in… Ok, I missed her school so we did a bit of touring around.   She was still on time – with time you spare. Multiple wins!

4) Bonus win.. I made plans with granddaughter Prim to do more Christmas baking this weekend!

Daily Food Diary -Day 344

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) eggo waffles (270)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(3) tbsp maple syrup (157)

(2) slices bacon (87)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(15) Lays chips (218)

(1) almond roca (67)

Supper:

(2) c pork fried rice (580)

(1) butter tart (230)

Total consumed calories: 1679

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1300

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1300 = 91 over 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😄😍

Daily Food Diary – Day 340 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 340 of my Daily Food Diary. 💝

This month, I am reviewing the past eleven   months during which I was maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary.   I am focusing on the wins that I have experienced. 

(If there have been any losses, they have been few and far between – unlike the period of time years ago when my daughter and I went on a Saturday morning search for the best brunch in the city.  We experienced a few non wins, my worst of which was the smoked salmon eggs Benedict.  🙁)

Brunch at ‘The Cottage’ with a young Maddy and Genie

Getting back on track here … Yesterday, I noted how my Daily Food Diary had inspired communication between Dan and I – which is always a good thing between marital partners.

Today, the win I am celebrating, is how  my Daily Food Diary has inspired my daughter and granddaughters to be more mindful of what they eat.   Not only did my  efforts and results affect them, but “what went around, came around”.   Jen, Genie, and Maddie all work in foodservice.  They have access to a lot of product information which they passed along to me – especially when it came to food allergies and  ingredients used to produce restaurant meals.  All in all – a double win!

Moving on to my current day to day general win for the day…

Today’s win comes courtesy of husband Dan…  With frigid temperatures and snow coming down, Dan ventured out to drive Maddy to work.  On returning to our nice warm house, he bundled on a couple of more layers and headed out to take Molly for her walk – without me. 😁

I stayed warm and dry while they ventured off, hardly for the first time.

For a man who was more than a little apprehensive when I first spoke of getting a fluffy little white puppy – that would inevitably become a huge, hairy, energetic,  loud, stubborn, unco-operative, overly affectionate, Molly dog,  Dan has taken on much more than his share of doggie duties around here.   She in turn, adores him! 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 340

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) eggo waffles (270)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(3) tbsp maple syrup (157)

Snacks:

(11) Hint of Lime Tortilla chips (275)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(4) Oz pork tenderloin (275)

(1 1/2) servings garlic raffaello sidekick (180)

(1) c green beans & peas (98)

(3) LG stuffed olives (22)

(2/3) c caramel praline ice cream (200)

(1) tbsp chocolate sauce (52)

(2) tbsp caramel syrup (52)

Total consumed calorie: 1655

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1276

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1276 = 68 over 👎

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