Tag: granddaughter

Daily Food Diary –  Day 335 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 335 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤩

As the final days of 2025 pass by, I am counting the wins that I have celebrated since I began my Food Diary in January.

When I began this challenge, it was all about becoming  more mindful of what I was consuming on a daily basis.   One of the first things people here noticed was how little water I drank.  🙄

I knew it wasn’t much, but I hadn’t really considered that it wasn’t enough.  I just wasn’t a fan.   I still fall short of what I should drink, but I have improved my water intake to the point where I will take it as a win (with room for improvent.)  Proper hydration is important for everyone, but with my family history of kidney disease and my personal history of chronic respiratory issues, I know that it is one area that I must continue to monitor and improve on.

As for my more recent general life wins…

My morning walk yesterday with Dan & Molly was a disaster of draining sinuses, coughing fits, and Pyrenees attitude.  

1) I tried to take the pressure off of Dan’s back, but even with Molly’s pinch collar on  she was lunching and lunging.  I was choking and sputtering.  It was bad.  I made it around one block, before Dan had to take the leash and we headed home.  Dan headed off solo with Molly prancing  in unison beside him –  as if  this was a fabulous win for her. 😣

While waiting for Dan and Molly to finish their walk, I cleared my lungs with my Airobika and calmed down and regrouped. 

2) When they got back, Dan and I went down to Southland Mall.  I felt better and things went perfect.  We returned with four  Christmas gifts plus a new pair of winter gloves for me.  I saved ten dollars plus taxes on the goves – and I paid for them with Canadian Tire money since I bought them at Mark’s Work Wearhouse.  Wins all around!

3) Later in the afternoon, we had a surprise visit from  granddaughter Prim.   She helped me make supper.   She did all the prep and she whipped up a pan of chocolate/walnut brownies for dessert.   We had supper, and she watched the end of a game show with Dan before he drove her home with plenty of leftovers for her sister Maddy.   Prim’s visit was a win for all of us! 

This morning’s walk went way better.   Molly was still too wound up for me to hold onto her,  but she walked well for Dan.  On our way home we stopped at the dog park for half a hour where she had a good run with her friend Ripple.

Daily Food Diary – Day 335

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

(8) Hint of Lime chips (200)

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) servings homemade hamburger helper (615)

(2) Bicks baby dill pickles (6)

(1) Chocolate brownie with walnuts (101)

Total consumed calories: 1264

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1264

Net calories goal: 1208 – 2264 = 56 over 👎

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

I miss summer already. 💗

Daily Food Diary – Day 292 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 292 of my Daily Food Diary! 🌟

We had a nice quiet weekend.  Husband Dan  was a bit under the weather, but he was back on his feet by the time Maddy was ready to be picked up from work yesterday.

Not her work uniform 😂

Like all the grands, Maddy enjoys her time with Grandpa.  When she called to ask if she could get a ride yesterday morning, she made an effort not to sound disappointed when I told her I would be picking her up.  But, when she called to say she was done work and ready to go, she did not do as well at hiding her excitement when I told her Grandpa was on his way. 😂

To be fair, Grandpa does take a quicker route, let’s her drive home, waits while she runs in to change, AND THEN let’s her drive over to her friend’s house, before he comes home.  🙄

Number 1 Grandpa 💖

Today starts a new week.  I have decided that Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will be for aerobics and light weights (8 pounders!) and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday will be aerobics and treadmill.

Aerobics will always be a solid part of my daily workouts.  The routines that I do help to clear my lungs, are good for balance and flexibility.  Apparently, a lot of people with chronic lung disease cannot lift their arms over their heads.  While that was a struggle for me at one time, I have overcome it and plan to keep it that way.

Plus these routines are just a great way to start the day. 😁

Weights workouts – light or not,  are great at any age but more important than ever as we age.  They provide multiple benefits but helping us to maintain muscle strength and bone density is reason enough for me to keep doing them.

Time on the treadmill (and morning walks with Dan and Molly) are great for cardio vascular health and lung function – which is always my top priority. 

I only take one full day off a week (Sunday), but my favourite day of the week is still  Monday, when I  get back to my weekly workout routine.   😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 292

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(2) potato patties (240)

(2) slices bacon (87)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(9) wine gums (158)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(9) chicken hot wing flats (383)

(1) Caesar salad (250)

Total consumed calories: 1336

Total used calories: 111

(1) hour food prep/cook (111)

Total net calories: 1225

Net calories goal: 1229-1225 = 4 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 274 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 274 of my Daily Food Diary! ❣️With September done and gone, I am 9 months done and 3 months to go.

Every month, I choose one focus for my Daily Food Diary.  For October, I have decided to go with Changing Seasons – and how they affect the foods we eat.

October started with the same seasonal indecision that we have been experiencing in Saskatchewan for a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, it was unseasonably warm.  I spent time outside cleaning our Jeep and enjoying the weather.  After supper, I went to pick up our  granddaughter Maddy from her band clinic.  I wore a sweater and left the air conditioner on.

This morning, I picked up Maddy to drive her to school.  I wore my coat and turned the heater on.  Such is autumn in Saskatchewan.

Last night, we went with some hearty fall Smoked Beans for supper – as well as a couple of summery Hot Dogs and a few potato chips.   🙄

It is impossible to predict which direction  this month will take weather wise.

Hopefully more of this! 😃
And NONE of this! 😢

Daily Food Diary – Day 274

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c lightly frosted Shreddies (190)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (401)

Snacks:

(28) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) serving Crunch & Munch (360)

Supper:

(1) serving Smoked Beans (393)

(2) Harvest Hot Dogs (320)

(20) light salt ripple chips (216)

Total consumed calories: 1890

Total Used calories: 504

(30) min walking (53)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min weights (73)

(1 1/2) hour cleaning (140)

Total net calories: 1386

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1386 = 157 over 👎

Daily Food Diary – Day 271 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 271 of my Daily Food Diary. 😊

Today is also Monday.  Yesterday, we had Prim and dog Sasha over for the afternoon and into a sleepover.

It is amazing how well Molly and Sasha get along.  They are both big dogs, both females, and there is never a whiff of an issue.  I don’t think I have ever heard Sasha bark, and when they are together, Molly is too chill to bark either.  Sasha is like her support dog. 😂

Prim, who is thirteen, was likewise amazing.  She made us all quesadillas for supper – including slicing the chicken breasts and vegetables  and cooking them.  She EVEN helped  with dishes and kitchen  cleanup after supper.

This morning she was up (without being called) at 6:30 so she could have breakfast and get home by 7:30 so do her morning chores, finish her homework, and feed Sasha and the cats BEFORE school. 🤗

Prim!

After cleaning up, we played three games of chess.  I won the first, Prim won the second in three moves (with help from a friend she was on speaker phone with), and she won the third – all on her own.  👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 271

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) scrambled eggs (182)

(1 1/2) oz ham (43)

(1) tomato (22)

Snacks:

(6) Hint of Lime Chips (150)

(1) 355 ml RootBeer (170)

(1/2) chocolate/coconut brownies (74)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) lg quesadilla – 2 tortilla wraps, chicken breast, green onion, black olives, red pepper, jalapeno, banana pepper & taco sauce (713)

(1) butterscotch brownie (229)

Total consumed calories: 1585

Total used calories: 111

(1) hour food prep/cooking/cleanup (111)

Total net calories: 1474

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1474 = 245 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 269 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 269 of my Daily Food Diary. 💝

Yesterday was a pretty good day in the life of.  I did forget to do my weights after my aerobics and never did get back to them but that is okay.  I will do them today, as well as my aerobics and treadmill.

I made the second of two cheesecakes I had planned to make this week.  The first one was Blueberry, this one Amaretto, chocolate, and Skorr Bits.

We haven’t tasted it yet, but it looks doable.

Granddaughter Genie dropped by after work to pick up some baking.  As usual, we enjoyed the visit and Molly was besides herself.

Today, I am making a large roaster of Smoked Beans to be divided between Jen & girls, Genie & Alec, and us.

It must be fall, I am enjoying my kitchen time. ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 269

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk

Lunch:

(1/2) c chicken broth (5)

(1) c Apple crisp (227)

Supper:

(1 1/2) servings nachos w/minced turkey (870)

Total consumed calories: 1279

Total used calories: 287

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

(1) hour food prep/cooking/cleanup (111)

Total net calories: 992

Net calories goal: 1229 – 992 = 237 under

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 95 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today marks  95 Days since I began this Food Diary. 

Today is also my husband’s birthday AND his sister Joan’s birthday.   I find it rather fascinating that, not only do they share the same birthdate (other than a four year  difference), but they have sibling cousins who also share the same birthday (also not the same year) on April 12th. 

Speaking of coincidences,  a few days ago I posted a link to a You Tube video highlighting Buddhist wisdom.  It was one of those things I share on here, knowing that our granddaughter Genie follows my blog.  If it was on here, I thought she would see it,  check it out, and probably find it interesting and unique. 

Yesterday, Genie stopped by to lend me a book that she had recently read.   We shared a  cup of tea, a good visit and my giant bag of mini candy coated chocolate Easter eggs.  She is looking and doing great.

Genie’s book – based on Buddhist wisdom

I don’t have a solid grasp on how evolution works, but I was always amazed at how my three children seemed to naturally possess knowledge and skills that I struggled to learn.  I am even more amazed by how emotionally mature, intelligent and strong, our grandchildren are.   All of them – from the time they were tots.  Is that coincidence or evolution?

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7 mg)

(1) egg (80) (220 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil (40 mg)

(1) sausage patty (190) (430 mg) (1 g)

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice Tea

(44) oz water

Supper:

(1/2) pkg ramen noodles (190) (600 mg) (1 g)

(1) c broccoli w/salt & pepper (60) (291 mg)

(3) tsp butter (103) (95 mg)

(3) oz pork chop (236)

(1) dry gin martini (180)

(2) garlic stuffed olives (32) (620 mg)

Total Net Calories: 1147

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1147 = 122 under 👍

Total Sodium: 2706 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 😳

Total Processed sugar: 2 grams

Processed sugar goal: 25 grams  👍

🍸I spent a fair amount of time choosing an alcoholic beverage last night, looking for the least processed sugar.  Apparently, 2 oz of  dry gin has zero sugar, 1 oz of vermouth contains only natural sugar.  A martini seemed an excellent choice this month, until my lips and knees went numb and I remembered that 3 oz of alcohol is way more than I typically indulge in – during  any week much less one day.

🫒 The garlic stuffed olives were simply a bad decision.

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊

London, Ontario

by annemariedemyen, posted in September 2002

These weeks are just flying by! This whole year has gone so fast, I can’t believe we are in September. I am not done my spring cleaning and here I am chipping away at my fall cleaning.

Likewise, our Genie was just packing to leave for her summer adventure, and in five short days she will be heading home.

She is still making the most of every day of her travels across Canada. Today I am sharing photos that she took a few days ago, while checking out London, Ontario.

I didn’t crop or adjust any of these photo to correct the angle. I don’t know if the streets in Ontario tend to run at a slant or if Genie has a tendency to lean when she is taking photos, but I will just go with what she sent. Either way, with her artistic bent, I can see why Genie would have enjoyed visiting this area and taking photos of these beautiful buildings.

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

Genie Update

by annemariedemyen, posted in September 2002

Our girl Genie has moved on from Toronto to her last stop in London, Ontario.  Eleven more days and she will be back home. 🥰

Genie was supposed to engage in one more special adventure this week – taking a train from Toronto to London. That is not an opportunity that presents itself in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, being one of the exhibition employees who took a first aid course earlier in the season, she was called up for duty this week. Part of being the First Responder on duty meant staying around until the exhibition tear down was complete and travelling with the other employees in the company buses. I keep forgetting to ask her who would take care of her if she was injured while she is tasked with being the First Responder. That is probably one of those things I don’t really need or want to know. 😯

Genie did manage to send me a few more photos to share while waiting for the buses to arrive….

I am not positive but I think the woman beside Genie worked Guest Services in KiddieLand with her in Toronto. She loved working with her because she was so nice that she reminded her of Grandma. Awww…💞
Just a pigeon passing by…
And a little moth stopping for a rest. That ladybug from last week must have given Genie a good review. 🙂
There was a big airshow going on above the exhibition the last few days that they were in Toronto.
Genie said she was bothered by the loud, low flying jets. Since this was the best photo she could get, we will just have to take her word on this one. 😂😂😂

That is it for today. Hopefully I will have more news on how London is going when Genie files her regular Sunday report.

Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Sunday Morning News

by annemariedemyen, posted in July 2022

It is Sunday morning, so that means another update from our wandering girl Genie.  It is the final day of the Calgary Stampede so tomorrow it will be time to tear down the midway and move on to Edmonton. 

Genie’s been working some pretty intense hours in Calgary, but this week she did find the time to follow her heart and visit the art displays.   She sent me photos of  a few of her favourite finds, so hope you enjoy!   All  of these are just amazing and a tribute to the talent of their creators.

This Native chief was done entirely of melted wax crayons.
Wooden Sculpture
My favourite!
I can see how this one made Genies list of favourites.  She has always had a soft spot for angels.  (I think she can relate.💞)
Genie’s first book collection.

A little angel background…. When Genie was too young for preschool, she understood the concept of words and taught herself to read by having us help her to read signs – any and ALL signs.  When she was about seven or eight, we went to Walmart one day,  where local author Henry  Ripplinger was signing copies of the first book in his “The Angelic Letters Series”.   Genie was star struck to meet an actual published author.  He told her she was probably too young for his books but she turned those big eyes on me and of course Grandma indulged.     Needless to say, she read the book, cover to cover barely setting it down, and she was hooked.   She has acquired and devoured every book in the series since. I believe she had gotten most if not all  of them autographed. 

That is about it for today. Molly is sleeping off our morning walk (which went less than stellar), Dan is at work, and it is time for me to sweep and dust for the first of several attempts to keep this place in relative order today.

Take care and have a great day!

Grandpa’s Girl

by annemariedemyen, posted in July 2022

Grandpa’s girl Genie has gone off to join the circus this summer. (She is actually working Guest Services for North American Midway Entertainment, but joining a circus sounds so much better. 😂😂😂)

So far she has been doing her usual best of working hard, taking pride in her work, enjoying her job, and saving the bulk of her paycheques for another year of college courses. She texts every Sunday morning and so far her only downside has been home sickness (being a total home body 😯) and at times being overly busy with guests, guest, guests! (Did I mention she was working Guest Services? 😂)

I asked Genie to send me a few photos from her travels that I could share here. I’m not sure if it is because this is the Calgary Stampede or if it is just her typical love of animals, but she does seem to have a theme going here.

Probably the view from their bunking quarters.
Probably the view of a truck she liked. 😂
Almost a horse…
The real deal!
A cow?
Has to be a bull… Or a cow with horns? 🙄
Piglets 💞
More piglets.. 💞

Genie will be off to Edmonton in a few days. I’m anxious to see what her focus will be there. Their annual exhibition is called Klondike Days so we might see some gold.👍

Following Edmonton it will be Buffalo Days in Regina! I’m not sure how many buffaloes we will see but there will definitely be updated photos of Molly and her favourite human.

Molly was SO little. If we do this shot again, she will have her paws on the top of Genie’s head. 😳

That’s it for today. We finally had a good solid rain last night – with thunder and lightening. The risk of more of the same has finally passed so it is time for Molly and I to venture out.

Take care and have a great day!