Happy Day...

The beginning is always today....

Good morning everyone.  Waking up to a bit of a tumultuous morning, weather-wise.

The wind is howling, the skies are dark and the rain is already coming down.  Good

thing is that most likely it will not last for too long.  At least I hope so.

Nice to have my coffee in the balcony and feel the wind on my face.  The morning is

quiet and all one sees are the palm trees swinging and making swishing sounds.  Now

you can also hear the thunder roll.  Guess not so quiet after all, but very relaxing on it's own.

Brutus has decided that this was not his kind of morning.  Neither is it Arvid's.

They are both still tucked away in bed under the covers.  Part of Brutus' fear is

that I might just grab him and give him medicines.  He's still very wary about that.

There are still a few brave enough to come out.  Like this dolphin

I just spotted.  Yes!  I always go out to the balcony with my camera in hopes

of getting a picture of something interesting.  As you can see not disappointed at all.

You never know what can happen even on the days that seem to be not so so good at first glance.

Wishing everyone a good day and may your Easter be filled with love.

As they say, all I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!

When was the last time you woke up

 and realized that today could be the best day of your life...

~Nadiya~

Moments...

Things could be worse.  

You remember that and you go on with your life...

Life is made up of moments, be it good ones or not so good ones.

Does not matter, I believe in capturing them and having a good time.

Like many we do things sometimes we don't want to.  I guess it's called

compromise.  Even so, there is always something to look forward to.

Today I was not so happy about the way things turned out, but then I got to 

thinking and realized that there are many worse things than doing something you

really are not too happy about.  Guess I just have to put it all into perspective.  Life!!

One just has to learn to make the most of what life offers and try not to complain too much.  

This is advise I really need to listen to.  Try to make the best of a not so good situation!

Remember:

It is not fit that every man should travel; 

it makes a wise man better,

 and a fool worse.

Things are NEVER so bad,

they can't be made WORSE...

~Nadiya~

She's Gone...

Missing someone is your heart's way of reminding you that you love them...

Reshma left yesterday and I feel as if something is missing.  I know it will pass, but for

my heart is sad.  It happens all the time.  Someone visits and when they leave a little

piece of my heart goes with them.  Guess that's something we can't change.

I have had great time with Reshma.  On her last night we watched Disney's

animated feature film Frozen.  All three of us had a good time with it.  Surprisingly,

Arvid did not even complain.  Well he did say he does not care for the singing parts.

I think he was as caught upp in the movie as was Reshma and I.  Pizza in front of the TV

and we had us a really good night.  

Reshma and I were awake at 5:30 to make it to the airport for her early flight.

Yes, she was happy to be going home and a little sad.  Her friends were

disputing if to throw her a welcome home party.  She told me she was able to talk 

them out of it.  Seems like they will all hang out at the movies instead.  Sounds like fun.

Back home it was a busy day.  As things calmed down Arvid said to me,

"care to go listen to music this weekend?"  Guess I am now better so soon 

it's back to our regular stuff.  Music sounds good, especially since we have not

done too much lately.  Arvid is getting restless and needs to be on the move again

Today Lilian comes over for lunch.  Have not seen her in a while and

looking forward very much to cooking for her and to be spending some

time with her.  I know it is going to be quite entertaining.  Liliana is SPECIAL!!

Good morning everyone.

Sun is shining.  It's a beautiful day to be happy.

My daily routine, get up.  Be amazing.

Go back to bed...

~Nadiya~

Time alone can be time well spent...

It's been a long day.  I'm a little sad because Reshma left, so I decided

to take a trip to the beach and just sit down and have a moment to myself.

From the restaurant where I sat and had something to drink, life

continued as usual on the beach and everywhere.  People all over.

For an hour or so, I was all alone and it was very relaxing to watch people 

go by and carry on with their lives.  One sees quite a bit just by sitting and observing.

Hope you all had a good day so far.  Our home is quiet and feels 

like it's missing something.  Always this way when someone leaves. It's called life.

Life is the greatest journey you will ever be on...

~Nadiya~

A Busy Day...

No matter where life takes me, you'll find me with a smile.

 Presumed to be happy, always laughing like a child. 

I never thought life could be this sweet! 

It's got me cheesing from cheek to cheek!...

As Mondays go yesterday was no exception.  Arvid is definitely NOT a morning person.

I feel sorry for the one who tries to call him early in the mornings.  Of course if your're 

calling about business then he is all smiles and ready to go.  Yesterday, he had to deal

with the airlines.  Boy that was not a pleasant 45 minutes, on the other hand I can relate to 

that because even I when speaking with a booking agent can get nutty.  Good thing is we got tickets.

Once we got over the trauma of booking our flight things progressed more

smoothly.  Arvid calmed down.  He is fast to get "hyper" as he is to calm down.
As I have always said, "to know him is to love him" otherwise.....  hmmm

Lunch yesterday for a change was at home.  So good to eat at home. 

With Reshma here, we are on the move all the time so it is also more convenient

to eat out.  Today she and I will also be shopping and doing stuff all day long, lunch out.

Reshma is such a good girl.  Like I've said quiet and not a bother at all.  She did have

two requests.  She wanted to have a Henna Tattoo and try BurgerFi.
  As you can see not bad at all.  She's happy.

We also visited the Galleria Mall.  Always good things happening at The Apple Store.

Reshma needed a few new gadgets for her Mini Ipad, who better to go with her than her aunt?

Like I said it was a busy day, but so much fun.  More of the same today.
First I take her out to breakfast, then malling some more and lunch out.
Says she likes steaks.  Will see if that's true.  It's her last day and
already I am missing her.  In the meantime, good morning everyone.
Already it promises to be a beautiful day.

Reshma, to have a niece as wonderful as you
makes me one of the lucky few.  I'm 4 times lucky...

~Nadiya~

Monday...

Life is all about having a good time...

Weekend is now over.  It's back to work and business, but since we still

have Reshma with us, I still have a few more days of half work only.  If lucky,

and I usually am maybe even less than half a days work for the next couple of days.

Having her here has been so far great.  The little girl is now all grown up at 14

years of age.  She's quiet, polite and very easy to have around us.  That makes now

two out of two so far that we will be looking forward to have visiting us in the future.

My eldest niece Danielle is already our "mascot"  She knows her way around us and we

around her.  Now Reshma is starting to fit in quite easily as well.  

Just last night Arvid introduced her to some new television shows. 

 Reshma has never seen them before and now she is a fan.

Yesterday it rained just about the entire day.  Had to rearrange some of our plans, 

but lunch was still a go at one of our favorite's PF Chang's, where Reshma introduced 

Arvid to a new entree.   This is not easy to do because once Arvid likes something he 

sticks to it. I believe next time we are there Arvid is going to have it. 

 He tried some of hers and I think he's hooked.  Interesting.  

Another good thing, we have lots of leftovers for tomorrow!

As the two of them watched TV last night Brutus and I played some games.

Can't ignore Brutus' needs because he gets a little jealous and starts biting

on his paw.  Don't want that to happen.  

Reshma and I went a little to the mall, but due to a huge beach festival going

on all weekend long it was pretty difficult to get a parking space.

Tortuga Music Festival

There is always something happening right in our backyard.  Arvid and I did not

go because as Arvid says, "it's too wild" and we also have Reshma with us.  Either way

we would not have gone, but we did mention it to Arvid's brother and his family.

Have a good start of the week everyone.

Remember, good things don’t come to those who wait.

Good things come to those who pursue the goals and dreams they believe in.

What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while... 

~Nadiya~

Happy Weekend...

The weekend is upon us, and I think we should all take time 

to do the things we love and be around our most 

cherished family and friends! Happy Sunday! ...

Someone said that the only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can

 tell them about our own weekend..haha.  Maybe true especially when one's weekend is full

 of fun and lots of excitement.  One does not necessarily have to go any place special to have such a weekend. 

 For us just knowing it's the weekend brings on a whole different attitude.  It's like you know it's OK to slow down

 and just do whatever you like.  We have been very busy and like most we look forward to the weekends with anticipation...

one never knows where it will lead us.  So friends whatever you do enjoy and always have fun!

  We are....it is after all Sunday and the weekend is still on.

Weekends are a bit like rainbows;

 they look good from a distance but disappear when

 you get up close to them....

~Nadiya~

Day One...Via Pictures

Life is short, live it.

Love is rare, grab it.

Anger is bad, dump it.

Fear is awful, face it.

Memories are sweet, cherish it....

No rest for the weary is what they say and in this case, no rest for Reshma. 

Bright and early awake and ready to start the day she was.  The first thing on

our agenda was a little trip to visit Arvid's family and of course take pictures.

A girl after my own heart.  She LOVES taking pictures as much as I do!!

Then it was off to Everglades Holiday Park.

Of course after every tour there is the obligatory picture.  I am a sucker for pictures.
So of course I had to buy it.  I do think it's a good one and will always remind me of the day.

After the tour we went a little to Galleria Mall.  Not enough time so will continue
on that today.  Then it was a little rest back at home and in a few hours we were at the
beach sipping Pina Coladas and listening to background music.  Arvid and his brother
stayed out much later than we did.  For us it was lots of girlie stuff, light dinner
and definitely lots of pictures.  Reshma is like me in that respect.  She loves getting
her pictures taken.  Just like her aunt.  Happy times.

It's not often I get to spoil one of my nieces, but when I have the chance,
trust me I will go all the way out.  They are the closest I will get to having a
daughter. I love them all and whatever I can do to make them happy I always will.

Another packed day today.  Reshma and Arvid  still sleeping.  Boy
now I'm hoping that I don't wear the girl out too much.  As for me,
I am taking lots of  medicines to see me throughout the day.

Wishing you all a good day and do take time to have some fun!

A moment lasts all of a second,
but the memory lives on forever...

~Nadiya~

Reshma Here...

Happiness is like jam. 

 You can't spread even a little without getting some on yourself...

Picked up Reshma last night.  Reshma is my niece.  She is almost 15 years old

and travelling alone made her feel as she puts it, "like a grown woman."  But even so,
she was not allowed to walk out of the plane all by herself.  She was escorted out by
the flight attendant.  She is after all just 14.  Arvid and I were there waiting for her.

When she arrived the first thing Arvid said was "wow you are all grown up"
Of course I had to snap a picture of her and send it to her parents so that they
could go to bed and have a good night's sleep.  Their little girl was safe and sound.

We came home and the first thing Reshma did was take out tons of toys for Brutus.

As you can imagine everyone was happy.  This morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise.
Reshma was already texting friends and family.  She said she had forgotten how warm
Florida was.  She also said she liked the temperature during this time of the year, but
can do without the sweltering summers.   Kids they remember everything.

Breakfast is a change of our usual.  Bacon and eggs because Reshma is here.  Today we
all go for a trip into the Everglades.   Hopefully we will snag a few pictures with alligators.

Good morning everyone.  Hope your dad is as wonderful as ours is going to be.
Reshma is here and for me that makes for a great day.  I'm happy!
Remember, happiness is not something ready made.
 It comes from your own actions.

They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: 
someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for...

~Nadiya~

Reshma...

All my nieces are brilliant and beautiful,

and obviously take after their aunt...

Reshma comes today.  She's 14 years old and I plan to enjoy every moment I have 

with her. Long time ago she lived in Florida of course with her family.  Those

were good days.  I knew they were close by and could visit whenever I wanted.

The day they left Florida, I was heartbroken.  Reshma did not help, as you can see from the picture.

  She was excited and at the same time sad to be leaving their home, friends and us.

Now her life is in Vermont.  I don't see them as often as I want, but I do

keep in touch with all of them.  Thank goodness for technology.  I was fortunate

to have visited them in May of 2013.  I got to see her new home and new surroundings.

Yeah their life in Vermont is not bad at all, but I want them closer to me.

I know, I'm being selfish but I do miss them so much.  That's why when

Reshma gets here anything she wants she will have.  That's what aunts do they SPOIL!!!!

Wishing you all a good day and remember always take time

to show someone you care. My day is already perfect!

Only an aunt can give hugs like a mother,

can keep secrets like a sister,

and share love like a friend...

~Nadiya~