summertime – Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie

Toronto

August 21, 2022August 21, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in August 2022

It is Sunday morning and a beautiful day to be alive! Being a Sunday, it is a rest from my more strenuous activities, but Molly and I began the day with another good walk. We only had one encounter, with a biker passing through the neighbourhood, but he did stop for a chat and the opportunity to give Molly a good petting – without being jumped on! 👍 We made 2.5 km before Molly was ready to get back home, take a splash in her pool, have a Sunday snack, and an extended nap.

Being Sunday, it was time for another check-in by our Genie. She is settled back into her bunk and behind her Guest Services desk at the CNE (sporting a new haircut for the occasion). She is enjoying working with her three local co-workers, who all seem to be quite a bit her senior. I think she is ready for a bit of homey-ness parenting/grandparenting type company. Her first impressions of Toronto, the CNE, and her immediate surroundings? HUGE !

She hasn’t had time to take many photos yet but she did manage to pass on a few for me to share.

I am pretty sure these next three photos were taken for her brother Rory. This is one massive gaming room.

**I’m not sure if she was sending proof that she IS eating or just that she really misses her kitchen and home cooking.**

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

Genie’s Travels Through Ontario

August 20, 2022August 20, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in August 2022

It is another beautiful summer day here in Saskatchewan. Molly and I went for our morning walk and it was pretty decent. We didn’t go far but Molly (and I) got in some prime socializing so it was definitely a win. We met a young man with a two year old pup, an older man, and two women we see regularly on our route. Molly played nicely with the pup for a few minutes and she was very good with all of the people. She didn’t jump up on anyone 🌟 she was very polite and affectionate when people petted her 🌟 AND she sat quietly beside me while I would chat with them🌟.

Our granddaughter Genie, who has been working Guest Services with North American Midway this summer, drove from Saskatoon to Toronto this week. She alternated driving with her friend Chelsea and they were joined by a couple of other young girls who work with them. They are now at the CNE exhibition which opened yesterday.

Being the sweetheart that she is, Genie has been sending me some photos to share. These ones are all from their drive through Ontario.

***Google translated as “report driving with affable faculties made on 911”***. I think I lost something in the translation – It should probably mean “Call 911 to report drunk driving”. 🙄

***Flying saucer over roadside lake. 😂***

**Watch for snowmobiles crossing – and charming horse drawn buggies!**

They were fortunate enough to have a good trip, miss any bad weather, and experience a whole lot of gorgeous scenery. Genie sent me a short video that she shot as well but for some reason I cannot save it to my phone in order to share it. It showed some beautiful sights, and from the soundtrack, it would be safe to say the girls were having a good time singing along with the radio and enjoying the views. All in all a pretty amazing experience for Genie and her co-workers!

The girls came by way of Regina to take the TransCanada. 2900 km (1800miles) from Monday afternoon to Wednesday evening. I would love to make the trip one day but I am pretty sure one overnight stop would not do it for me.

Genie is in Toronto until moving on to the exhibition in London, Ontario beginning September 9th, then flying home on the 20th. I am sure I will have more photos to share before she is done her wandering ways.

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

Scoping Out Playgrounds

July 17, 2020July 17, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in family

Now that I have my grandson every Wednesday, I am on the search for nearby playgrounds. The one we went to this Wednesday had an abundance of great equipment for him to enjoy. The only problem was that the walk was a bit much for Dom. On the way there he asked me twice if we were still in Regina and on the way back he asked if we were still in Canada. 🙄

I do not think the park I went to this morning even had a name but it was a relatively short walk with a few points of interest for Dom along the way.

Beside a splash pad – it has four jets like this.

Of course there is always a police car, complete with lights and sirens, on the adjacent Lewvan.

I think this walk is worth a shot with Dom. The worst he can do is clutch his heart, drop to his knees and tell me he is not going to make it. That is a whole other story. 🤦

Have a great day. I hope you our enjoying the same beautiful weather we have today!

Kiwanis Waterfall Park

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in nature

Dan took Kat and I down to the south end of the city for our walk today. There is still nature to be shared and we had a lovely time but it is sad what is happening to our greenspace in this city.

It was very windy so I could not get a picture that does the waterfall justice. The water just would not flow properly🤷

Albert Street Bridge – the longest bridge over the shortest span of water in the world. It extends for blocks on either side of Wascana Creek. More photos of it in a future post.

Kiwanis Park runs into Rotary Park. Rotary Park was beautiful when we got married there twenty years ago. There was a massive water fountain, a bandstand where we had the ceremony and lush manicured lawns.

Now there are a few picnic tables, barbecues and garbage cans. 🙄

Back at Waterfall Park – there used to be several gorgeous flower beds😟

Hope you are having a beautiful day🦋

Getting Out and Getting Fit

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 by annemariedemyen, posted in nature

Since the snow melted a few weeks ago, Kat and I have resumed our daily walks around the neighbourhood. It was tough going for a while as neither Kat nor I were in great shape going in. After a few weeks at it we are starting to struggle less and enjoy it more.

Off the beaten path there are the cutest little purple butterflies in the weeds. This little guy tried to hide by folding up his colorful wings. I am pretty sure it didn’t work. Kat snuck her nose into the pic and the butterfly vanished.

A mother duck and her ducklings in the storm channel. Fortunately, Kat can’t get close enough to cause them any grief.

She did manage to startle a redwing blackbird.

We made it past the arena, past the pool, past the basketball courts and around the golf course.

Hopefully after a few more walks around this neighbourhood, we will both have the stamina to make it across Elphinstone to walk the paths that run through Princess Park. That is a nice area.

When Dan is on holidays we might even convince him to join us on a few hikes around Wascana Lake, the Wascana Trails outside of Regina and Evraz Park.

Have a great day – here is hoping everyone has the opportunity to get out to enjoy some nature and exercise this summer🌞