nature – Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie

Patience

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in life

I have struggled for years to overcome stress and anxiety. In the past couple of years, I have turned things around and have learned to focus on living a life of inner peace. This has made all the difference in the world. My life has become so much easier and better in so many ways!

I have, for the most part, learned to appreciate the NOW. This present moment. I have released the pain and grief of the the past. I have released the fear of the future. I do my best to make each day, hour, each moment a peaceful oasis.

One of the aspects of this new lifestyle is a tendency to be far more positive and hopeful than I have ever been. Now is good, so I know that there are even better days to come!

With this positivity, a new devil is spawned. My patience is being sorely tested as never before! One cannot be truly at peace NOW when one is totally focussed on the future – regardless of how bright and beautiful that future may be.

Today I awoke to a new cactus blossom. It is spectacular, if only for today. I checked on my little seedlings and they are growing larger and stronger by the day. I watched Kat bounce out to the yard to chase the birds and harrass the squirrels.

It is a good day! It is a great day! But wait…. Soon the the grass will turn green, the trees will leaf out, our garden will thrive, flowers will bloom and temperatures will soar. We will spend countless hours outside. Days will be spent walking Kat along meandering paths and floating in our pool. Evenings will be spent barbecuing on our patio and sipping wine as we relax on our deck chairs.

But we have to wait. 🤦 We have to appreciate today. And we have to be patient. Summer will get here – eventually!

Natural Beauty

January 5, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in nature

Even the easiest winter in Saskatchewan finds me missing the natural lush, green beauty of summer. Regardless of how small our house may be, I will always find space for a few houseplants to see me through the season

When I moved in here with Dan, he had one plant sporting one brown leaf. I nurses it back to health and it thrived for years before it totally failed. When my son in law Charlie, lost his Mother, he brought me her little plant to take it’s place. This is what was that little plant.

I go to the same nursery every year to get my bedding plants. One year, I got this little succulent when they were clearing out their perennials. It goes like crazy, I cut it down, and it grows like crazy once again.

My daughter bought me this little tree a couple of years ago for mother’s Day. It was about 3″ tall. Now it is 27″ tall. If it ever reaches it’s full height of 30 feet, we will for sure need a bigger house. (The elephant was from granddaughter Genie for Christmas)

Have a naturally beautiful day!

Bits and Pieces

August 6, 2020August 6, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in life

It is hard to believe how busy one can be doing very little of consequence. In my quest to putter around to keep occupied – without actually investing a lot of effort into my mission – I managed to snap a few random shots to share.

Dan refinished another garden ornament – originally a hummingbird feeder from Jennifer.

A painting from Genie – I love the colors and the ELEPHANT! 💗

Keep well and have a great day 💖

Tranquility

July 22, 2020July 22, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in dealingwithstress, nature

Nature makes peace and harmony and tranquility appear so easy. When I look at a bed of ferns and and clover, I see peace. When I see trees, I see peace. When I look up to a crystal blue sky and watch fluffy white clouds drift by, I see peace. When I see gentle ripples on a body of water, I see peace. When I see a perfect blossom, I see peace. I can hear and see and feel peace throughout nature. More than anything, I want to look within my mind and body and soul and find peace. I am a part of nature. It should be so easy. 🤦

I hope that today, whether you look without or within, you find what you are looking for. 🕊️

Summertime Gratitude

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in nature

There is so much to appreciate about summer in Canada. Sunshine, rain, trees, green grass and flowers – summer is nature’s most glorious season. I just love a Canadian summer!

I love being able to walk out the door in the clothes I am in. No jacket, scarf, snow boots or gloves. I can just walk out the door. When I have young children in my care, it is even more of a blessing as I do not have to wrestle them into winter outdoor wear.

I love summer clothes in general – shorts, t-shirts and sandals versus bulky sweaters, heavy pants, socks and solid footwear. Life is so much easier.

I love being able to jump in a vehicle and go wherever I want to be, whenever I want to go there. No heating the Jeep for fifteen minutes, no scraping the windows, no climbing over snowbanks to get into the Jeep and NO icy roads.

I love the hours and hours of daylight. I get up in the sunlight and it is practically light until I go to bed. Darkness is highly over rated in my mind. A bit of time to admire the stars and the moon is fine – but I do not need to see them at nine o’clock in the morning or five o’clock in the afternoon.

I love the wildlife. I love watching and hearing the birds and the bees, the squirrels and the occasional moose or deer by the side of the highway. There is very little wildlife to be seen in Saskatchewan during the winter months.

Everything is easier in the summer. Our cost of living is lower. Our meals are simpler. Recreation and exercise, as basic as taking a walk, is easier. Living is just easier!

I wouldn’t want to live in any country other than Canada, but summer is definitely the best season to be Canadian.

Canada Day 2020

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in life

Happy Canada Day!

For the Love of Trees

June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in nature

There are at least a dozen moments a day when I realize I am so absolutely happy to be retired. My favorite moment is when I walk out the door – any day, any time to enjoy my walk around our neighbourhood with Kat.

My favourite thing about our neighbourhood is the proliferation of trees. Trees do so much to dress up a neighbourhood and make it appear strong and healthy. I never get tired of the trees.

Trees shading the basketball courts and the pool.

A little path between one of the ball diamonds and a row of trees. I can actually walk through there without knocking myself out on a tree branch.

Dan prefers this path – it is a bit roomier.

The city cut down dozens of trees in our little golf course last summer. I have no idea why these two were saved but they do stand out.

I have no idea how many trees we have in Regina – definitely thousands (several thousands). When settlers first came here there were zero trees – just flat land with a creek (Wascana Creek) sitting beside a pile of bones. (Which is why Regina was originally named ‘Pile of Bones’). I am not sure why the settlers thought this would be a good place to settle, much less be the capital city of Saskatchewan, but I am grateful that they were industrious enough to start planting the trees we enjoy today.

Stone Elephants

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in life

I am not the biggest fan of artwork – especially abstract art. I do not really understand it. I do not care who painted it, I would never pay millions of dollars for a red dot on a white canvas.

I do however love the beauty of nature. I feel the pulse of the universe in the sky, the ocean, the earth, plants, animals, and even in each and every one of my little stone elephants. I love the material from which each was carved. Each is unique and mesmerizing in its own way.

Peace

December 7, 2019December 7, 2019 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

There are a lot of posts on social media these days about the power of happiness. Happiness is today’s key to prosperity, health, love – all that is to be strived for in this life. I have nothing against happiness. Being happy is pleasant, but personally I am a huge fan of peace, above all else.

I love silence. There is nothing as soothing and spiritual and beautiful as silence. Peace exists in silence.

I love the infinite depth of peace, that feeling of absolute immortality.

I love the security of peace. I cherish opportunities to spend peaceful, happy, quality time with loved ones.

I love the kindness of peace. I love those moments that touch your heart with sweetness.

I love the simplicity of peace. I love how easy it is to focus and think and create when there is peace.

I love the strength and power of peace. I love the ability to rise above all challenges to the place where everything is natural and stress free.

Wishing all a beautiful, happy and peaceful day💖

Alberta Devonian Gardens

December 4, 2019 by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

With snow on the ground, this seemed like a good day to share a few pics of our trip to the Devonian Gardens just outside of Edmonton Alberta. Set in a backdrop of natural evergreens, there are acres of cultured gardens, unique architecture and even a small butterfly house.