nature – Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie

Natural Beauty

August 23, 2022August 23, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in August 2022

Our weather is overcast today and a few degrees cooler than it has been. Other than the adorable GoldenDoodle that Molly got to play with on our walk this morning, our neighbourhood seems to be just a little gloomy.

Fortunately, our Genie is out and about taking in the scenes in Toronto with her new iphone 13 Pro Max. I am not sure how anyone gets that excited about using any new piece of technology, but I am grateful that she sent me plenty of new photos to share.

Today I decided to focus on a few of her nature shots….

I think she is doing great with her new phone but these kids were born into technology. I remember Genie sitting on my knee playing games on our computer, when she was too small to reach the top of the desk on her own. I also remember the day my boss bought me my very first calculator. 🤣

Anyway, that’s it for today. Take care and have a good day! 💞🤗

Molly’s First City Walk

June 26, 2022June 26, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in June 2022

We finally did it! I took Molly for her first official walk yesterday. We went around our block and to say it went badly is an understatement. She had two speeds – fast and stop and she insisted on walking right in front of me or right behind me (perpendicular to me of course 🙄).

This morning Molly seemed bored. (Sometimes, it is hard to tell if Molly is bored or tired, but when she stole the bra out of my drawer and went racing around the yard with it flapping in the wind , she didn’t appear to be tired). I decided this could be as good a time as ever to try walking her again. I traded her a Milk Bone for my bra and got her into her harness and leash.

Today went much better. I took Molly to the ball diamonds across the street (a ways) from our house.

***Past the housing complex and seniors building and across the open field to the ball diamonds.***

Molly did fairly well on the way to the ball diamonds. I took her into one of the diamonds and walked the bases with her, teaching her to walk nicely on my left side. It took about 30 sudden u-turns but she got the hang of it and walked home like a pro – even when we had to walk past the scary miniature dachshund (in the fenced in yard ten feet from where we were walking).

***I stopped to chat with a neighbour. Molly politely said hi and proceeded to roll into the one patch of mud on our block.***

We practiced sitting to wait before crossing our street. Finally, I stopped for a chat with Liam and Molly sat (occasionally rolled) patiently.

All in all, today went pretty well. It will be interesting to see if she remembers the lessons tomorrow and fun to see how things progress on busier and more distracting paths.

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

February 11th – For the Love of Trees

February 11, 2022February 11, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in Updates - February 2022

Back in June of 2020, I shared a post dedicated to the trees around our neighbourhood. For my update today, I give you – more trees!

https://seclusion101withannemarie.com/2020/06/17/for-the-love-of-trees/

There is nothing more perfect than the beautiful imperfection of trees. 🌲

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

February 5th – Ontario

February 5, 2022February 5, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in Updates - February 2022

While going through my archives looking for today’s post to update, I came across this one highlighting our trip to Ontario some years ago. Every photo in this post still holds the happiest of memories for me. 😊

Along with the beautiful Ontario scenery and sites, I will always carry the fondest memories of the people that we met during our visit. From the time we stepped off of the airplane at the Pearson International Airport, to our visit to Construction Specialties Inc., to our time spent at restaurants, hotels, shops, and tourist attractions, the people of Ontario were exceptionally friendly, considerate and helpful. They made our visit truly special.💞

https://seclusion101withannemarie.com/2019/12/06/ontario/

I have only one update for this post – Dan’s sister has moved back to Ontario and I cannot wait until we can go to visit her and this beautiful province! 😊

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

November 12th – Inspired Life

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Wisdom - November 2021

Life is so short and precious, that we should always strive to be inspired. Unfortunately, that is not the reality for most of us – or at least it is not my reality. I have days when I am tired or stuck or bored or impatient for something to come along to inspire me. At times such as those, rather than just waiting helplessly, I turn to words of wisdom to re-inspire me.

Today, being one such day, I searched, I found, and I decided to make this my wisdom share of the day.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud”
– Maya Angelou

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
– Albert Camus

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
– Leonardo da Vinci

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it”
– Edith Wharton

“Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.”
– Eckhart Tolle

“Within all of us is a divine capacity to manifest and attract all that we need and desire.”
– Wayne Dyer

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.”
– Henry David Thoreau

That is it for today! Take care and have a wonderfully inspired day. 💞

November 9th – Canada

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Wisdom - November 2021

I have been Canadian for all sixty-six of my years. Canada is not everything that I was taught to believe. Canada is not what it once was. Regardless, I am beyond fortunate to be Canadian and to live in this safe and bountiful and beautiful country. Today, I chose to share some words of wisdom from and about Canada.

“When I am in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like.”
– Jane Fonda

“Canadian pride may not rest on our sleeves, but it resides deeply in our hearts.”
– Steve Miller

“We have it all. We have great diversity of people, we have a wonderful land, and we have great possibilities. So all those things combined, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
– Bob Rae

“On a positive note, I haven’t seen a mosquito for months.”
– Every Canadian from November to May 🇨🇦

“If you don’t think that your country should come before yourself, you can best serve your country by livin’ somewhere else.”
– Stompin Tom Connors (Canadian singer/song writer)

“You can’t buy happiness but you can live in Canada and that’s pretty much the same thing.”
– Anonymous

That is it for today.

Take care and have a great rest of your day!💞

September 26th – More Advice

September 26, 2021September 26, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in A Piece of My Mind - September 2021

My sister Lorraine sent me this post yesterday. I am not sure it is (all) advice that I would take but I think it is cool that someone came up with it – and it has a strong ending. 👍

I don’t know how well I would do, living right off the grid. I do enjoy watching the survival shows on tv. I am not a fan of ‘Survivor’ as it is too contrived for me. I prefer ‘Alone’ or ‘Naked and Afraid’, especially the latter. I think they should do a senior season. Put a bunch of wrinkly, droopy, naked, old folks like us on there and everybody would be afraid.

**I could probably survive living off the grid here. 🤗**

That is it for today. I don’t have any particular ‘piece of my mind’ to share today. We had young Dom last night. He was well behaved for the most part, but woke up several times during the night. He was inclined to share those moments so I didn’t get a lot of sleep. 😴

Take care and have a great day💞

July 21st – Sharing the Magic

July 21, 2021July 21, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

My meditation was a bit distracted this morning due to all of the activity in my meditation corner.

**I had a little visitor checking me out.**

**Having a snack while keeping one eye on** me

**While the squirrel was busy watching me, this little guy got cocky and had a dip in the birdbath.**

**All the fascination must have been from Dan’s latest upgrade to my corner. 💞**

Dan thought I should have a peanut in my hand to offer our little visitor. Since he was about three feet from me, I could see him leaping into my lap to grab the peanut . I couldn’t see that ending well for either of us. 😳

Anyway, hope everyone is enjoying such an eventful day. Have a good one and I will see you tomorrow! 💞

Day 29 – Canada

June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Accentuate the Positive - June 2021

Today is the 29th Day of my June ‘Accent the Positive’ challenge and today I am celebrating my country ‘Canada‘.

Although Canada is not immune to the issues currently affecting most other countries in the world, there is much to celebrate if one is Canadian.

In my mind, we are the perfect blend of nature’s glory and modern convenience.

**We have publicly funded state of the art health centres. (University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton)**

**Manicured gardens backed by natural forest. (Canada ranks third in the world for total forest cover!)**

**Modern shopping centres offering variety and abundance at affordable prices**

**Four distinct seasons – winter is not Kat’s favourite!**

**We have more surface area covered with lakes than any other country. #1**

**We also have the longest coastline of any country in the world.** #1

**Virtually every type and size of sports arena that any athlete or fan could hope for!**

Canada truly has virtually anything one could hope for – from vibrant city life to laid back country living. We have coast to coast highways and your choice of international airports. We have a vibrant economy and extensive social programs. We have strong support for arts and sciences.

I feel very fortunate to be Canadian. I may hope to travel to other countries one day, but I will always want to come home to Canada! 🇨🇦

That is it for today! Twenty nine days down and only one more to go!

Have a great day and I hope to see you tomorrow! 💞

Day 28 – Sunday

June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Accentuate the Positive - June 2021

It is already Day 28 of my ‘Accentuate the Positive’ blog challenge. My positive for today is all about the Sunday! Every day is special but for myself and I am sure for many others, Sunday is extra special.

Sunday is typically a day of rest and relaxation, gratitude, and healing. My yesterday Sunday was fairly typical.

**Since Dan worked nights** **this weekend, he brought me a treat for breakfast with my coffee.**

**It was beautifully warm out so I relaxed in my outdoor rocking chair to do my morning meditating. I was a bit distracted by all of the little birds who were around** **me chirping and peeping but they kind of added to the ambiance.**

**I visited with my plants and** **garden critters.**

**I had** **time to do some work on my crocheted blanket. It seems to be a horizontal overachiever. I may have to dismantle it and reassemble it as something more manageable – like a crocheted tent.**

**I watered the vegetables and I broke my plastic watering can. I do have a super nice bronze metal one that I will switch to.** 😉

**The sand between the planters and around the pond was great when we had grandbabies playing in the yard. Now it is an ongoing sifting project – but the perfect relaxing past time** **on a warm summer evening.**

**Nothing like a good book on a warm Sunday afternoon. This one is about fishing, family, and life. It is available on Amazon** for the Kindle Reader and the author can (Allen E. Rizzi) can be found on WordPress.

**Sunday’s are perfect for** contemplating life in general – like why Dan’s weeping pussy willow tree (Tree of Enchantment) seems to be shrinking instead of growing. There is a ton of new growth on it – the branches pretty much fill and spread out of a 6′ x 6′ planter and the trunk is getting super thick – but it is vertically challenged!

That was my Sunday yesterday – and that is it for Day 28! Only two more days to go. I think I’ve got this one. I have not really found this too challenging, but enough so that I have thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

Have a great day and I hope to see you tomorrow! Have fun and take care – especially if you are in the path of this heatwave that is moving our way. 💞