Tuesday December 9th~

You cannot change what you refuse to confront...

Another beautiful start of the day.  Sets the mood 

for whatever comes next.  Not to mention a perfect 

ending yesterday.  Sunrises and sunsets, and I get

 to see them everyday, mostly from our balcony.

I am already missing Gabsy.  He is such an easy

 person to have staying with us. I am not sure I would 

be as relaxed with anyone else staying with us.  As far as 

we are concerned Gabsy is always welcomed here.

Our time together was very good.  In such a short time

 frame we managed to do quite a few things.  Aside from 

the funeral stuff of course. Gabsy coming to attend the funeral

 was a good thing.  Most of the relatives remembered him

 as a baby.  Now they saw a grown man.  It was very

 good to see everyone and reconnect again.

Sniff coped very well with having Gabsy here.  

The first day he was a little scared to eat, but eventually

 he braved it and hunger too over.  After that it was easy. 

 Gabsy is an animal/nature lover which made it so

 much easier for him and Sniff.  I was worried

 Sniff might hiss, but that never happened.

 Sometimes you need to distance 

yourself to see things clearly...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 8th~

Good things may end, but

 the lessons and love never do...

 Gabsy's stay with us is coming to an end today.  

We have had a very good time together, something I don't

 see happening with just about everyone.  Gabsy is easy going, 

and with him it's stress free.  We will miss him, but 

we also enjoy our time just the three of us best.

I have had a lot of  time with Gabsy, and for

 that I am very happy.  Arvid has also made time for 

him and Gabsy to do things without me.  They have

 talked for hours without me present.  They have watched

 a few soccer games and  movies together because

 I happen to fall asleep.  TV puts me to sleep. A guy 

thing Arvid said.  I am just happy they did.

Yesterday we went downtown again.  We could

 not not take Gabsy to Ford's Garage.  It's a must

 for everyone who visits us in Fort Myers.

 Ford's Garage is a nostalgic, 1920s-inspired

 casual dining restaurant chain known for its burgers,

 craft beer, and vintage automotive theme, operating

 under license from Ford Motor Company.

Founded in 2012 in Fort Myers, Florida, near 

Henry Ford's winter home, it features decor like 

gas pumps, classic cars, and "shop cloth" napkins, 

offering comfort food and a unique, family-friendly 

experience for all ages. It's just a very cool place.

As always we had a very good time.  We were 

delighted with a few decked out trucks doing 

their thing and everyone having a great time.

Sniff has found a new sleeping spot while Gaby was here.  

For all you know he will probably continue to sleep there.

In the meantime, Arvid has taught Gabsy 

how to play Solitaire.  Arvid said that Gabs beat

 in in all the games. Not bad for a beginner.

 We spent the remaining of the evening watching 

TVand chatting. Overall it was a very good day.  We 

have enjoyed having Gabsy with us.  We still have all 

day today with him.  Will be a relaxing day and we look

 forward to it.  Seems we have been on constant move

 for the last ten days.  Nothing new here for us.

To all a very good day and a good week.

  Christmas is just around the corner.

A new day: Be open enough to see 

opportunities. Be wise enough to be grateful. 

Be courageous enough to be happy...

~Nadiya~

Sunday December 7th~

If we were all the same, it would be boring...

 As the week draws to an end so is Gabsy 

time with us.  Soon Gabsy will be back in 

Virginia where they have already had snow.

  Gabs was born in Broward County, Florida.

 I asked him if he would like to once again live in 

Florida.He actually said no.  Gabsy loves nature, and

 nature in Virginia is beautiful.  While in Fort Myers

 it's city life for him, and he seems to enjoy it also.

On his walks he says he sees so much 

more than we do during our walks.  He says

 he sees deers, chipmunks, squirrels, and all

 species of birds among other things.  

Virginia has many streams and rivers, and

 Gabsy lives nearby.  For him he says it's his

 heaven.  The place for him right now.  

Arvid and I enjoy life in Florida during the

 winter months. No place else for us.  For the 3 

of us it's home, and there's no place like home.

Sunday, time to relax and enjoy the day.

To all a very good day.  Today Arvid and Gabsy do 

some stuff on their own.  Arvid said it's a boys day.

In diversity there is beauty

 and there is strength...

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 6th~

 Anyone can come into your life and

 say how much they love you.  It takes 

someone really special to stay in your life

 and show how much they love you...

Yesterday Gabs and I decided to go to Manatee 

Park right here in Fort Myers.  When Arvid found 

out we were going he told me that he wanted to 

take Gabsy there on Sunday as a surprise.  I felt

 a little bad, but we had already made plans.

On a good day you will definitely see a lot of manatees, 

but it all depends on the temperature of the water.

After the park we went to visit my mom and dad. 

 Mom made foodies that Gabsy loves.  Needless 

to say we had the best time.  Gabsy is funny.

Once back home we rested a bit and then we

 headed downtown.  Arvid insisted that when he 

came from Sarasota, he would just take his stuff 

out of the car and meet us there.  Arvid of course

does not want to miss out.  Always when we

 go downtown I stop first to feed Legacy.

Gabs and I started out early downtown so by the 

time Arvid got back home I told him not to bother 

coming since we had shopped, dined and already 

walked everywhere.  So we went back home 

and we all watched a few TV shows together.

Sniff is going to be happy when he has us all 

for his own.  He does not hide, but he is different 

when company is here.  On Thursday night he slept

 the entire night curled up by my side. I could not

 move at all, but I loved it.  At some point I had to 

make sure he was breathing.  He was so still.

Wishing everyone a very good day.  Arvid got Gabsy

 into soccer so today they will watch a game or

 two and we will all do something together.

Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, 

wear the fancy lingerie.  Don’t save it for 

a special occasion; today is special.

~Nadiya~

Friday November 5th ~

 Be happy.  Be yourself.  If others don’t like 

it, then let them be.  Happiness is a choice.  

Life isn’t about pleasing everybody... 

As mentioned before, Arvid came home on 

Wednesday. He was not supposed to, but with 

Arvid everything is possible.  He then left 

again yesterday morning for Sarasota.

Yesterday Gabs and I went on the dolphin 

tour from Fort Myers Beach.  It’s a hit or miss 

if you will see a filling, but so far, the two 

times I have done it I have seen dolphins.

On yesterday’s tour we saw manatees as 

well and of course many species of birds.  

The captain told us that about two weeks ago

 they saw a crocodile.  This is not normal,

 but seems to be happening more and more. 

The below pictures taken by yours truly🐬

The dolphins are really fast so it’s really 

difficult to get a picture of them.  They did

 put on a good show by flipping several times 

for us.  Was amazing to see. No pictures 

because I was busy watching them.

Gabs loved every minute of it. On the tour 

I spoke to several people of course. A couple

 came from St Louis, Missouri, another family

 was from Chicago. A lady came with her girlfriend 

from Idaho and there was another young couple

 from California.  Quite interesting.  Gabs

 of course came from way of Virginia.

Not sure what it is about Gabsy, but the

 older ladies like him. Maybe it’s the way he talks

 to them.  Very respectful of just those gorgeous

 brown eyes, but whatever it is they like him.

After the tour Gabs and I had lunch at

 Parrot Key. Lunch was delicious and 

we had a good time. So relaxing.  

Afterwards we went to Publix, picked up a 

few snacks for the evening and some other stuff. 

 Sniff as usual is very cautious when someone else

 is around. Sniff does not like us having company, 

but at least so far, he has not hissed at Gabsy.

It was a very beautiful day. I am loving the time 

we have with Gabsy.  I even went to feed Legacy 

so this made for an even better day.  Afyer that we 

watched movies and chatted. A good day to all.

When you’re up, your friends know 

who you are.  When you’re down, 

you know who your friends are...

~Nadiya~

Thursday December 4th~

 Don’t look for someone who will solve 

all your problems; look for someone 

who will face them with you...

Back home from the funeral.  Though a very sad time, 

it was also a time we will forever remember.  Meeting 

family and friends which it seems we only see at funerals

 or weddings was good.  What a beautiful time it was.

Rima showed up and many cousins we have not seen in 

such a long time.  It was as if the distance meant nothing 

once we were all together.  We even talked to one of my

 cousins in Canada and sang a little happy birthday to him.

Seeing so many family members felt so good. 

Reconnecting with them even better. The most 

cherished moments will be the evening we shared 

with my mom’s siblings after the funeral services.

 We all stayed at the same hotel. We sat chatting,

 and enjoying a few treats my mom and an aunt 

provided, until the light were turned off in the wee 

hours of the morning. I even had a few glasses of 

wine making the evening even more memorable.

  It was a time we will forever remember.

Coming back home is always my favorite thing to do.  

Gabs and I were just getting ready to go to the movies 

when Arvid surprised us and walked through the door. 

 We skipped the movies and Arvid then went to show

 us (mostly Gabby) all the things he traded for.

A beautiful sunset greeted us and of course I 

did not forget to go feed Legacy.  She was there waiting, 

but not necessarily hungry.  Many take care of her.

Gabs took these pictures of Sniff and I yesterday. 

 I love them.  My Sniff is my happy place.

If you expect the world to be fair with you because 

you are fair, you’re fooling yourself. That’s like expecting 

the lion not to eat you because you didn’t eat him...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday December 3rd~

So much of life, it seems to me, 

is determined by pure randomness... 

 I can hardly stay still, and if there is nothing

 interesting to take pictures of, I just randomly 

take pictures of passing cars. Makes me happy.  

Most get deleted by the end of the day.

Obviously that means I also take pictures of boats,

 motorcycles you name it, I have a picture of it.  

I like these Nor-Tech boats.  We see them very 

often when we go to Fort Myers Beach.

My most favorite "person" to take 

pictures of is my Sniff makes me happy.

The world is governed by chance. 

Randomness stalks us every day of our lives...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday December 2nd

Wherever a beautiful soul has been,

 there is a trail of beautiful memories...

 Today is a very sad day.  We bid our final goodbyes

 to my mom's eldest sister.  I loved her very much and 

will miss her.  I hope I will still hear her voice in my 

head throughout the years.  She was sure not perfect, 

but she always treated me like her own daughter.

When Gabsy was a baby, my aunt Savi and Uncle Paul 

took care of him.  Gabsy is a Florida born boy.  Gabsy 

is now 27 years old and its been too many years since he

 last saw our aunt.  He came from Virginia to attend the 

funeral, and at the same time spend a few days with us.

Today is a sad day, at the same time it is also a day so 

many family members are here at the same time.  Strange 

how a funeral brings us all together.  A little gathering with 

food and family will cheer the soul during this sad time.

Although it's difficult today to see 

beyond the sorrow, May looking back in

 memory help comfort you tomorrow...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 1st~

To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake,

 it is necessary to stand out in the cold...

 A new week and a new month begins today.  

December is one of my favorite times of the year. 

 I love seeing Christmas decorations everywhere 

and I enjoy seeing the Christmas joy is people.

It is was a heavy heart that the December begins 

with a funeral.  One of my favorite aunts died almost 

two weeks ago.  At the same time having Gabsy 

stay with us for a few days is good for the soul.

 Today is the wake and tomorrow the funeral. 

 I am going with my parents for both. Arvid and 

I had planned to go to Tampa and Sarasota for

 one of his meetings, but I will be attending a 

funeral instead.  Life is unpredictable.

The last month of the year.  Christmas is just 

around the corner.  I love December because 

 my mom's birthday is on Christmas day and 

our niece Danielle's birthday on the 26th.  

Looking forward to what the week holds because

 even though we are going to a funeral we will also

 be seeing relatives from all over.  I have relatives coming

 from England, Canada, Guyana and of course all over 

the United States.  Yeah a little family gathering.

To all a very good day and may December 

be good to all of us.  We can sure use some good

 will. You can have whatever you want if you

 believe in yourself and keep your feet

 firmly planted in the ground

December is a month of lights, snow,

 and feasts; time to make amends and tie

 loose ends; finish off what you started

 and hope your wishes come true...

~Nadiya~