Sunday March 16th~

The present time has one advantage

 over every other – it is our own...

 He's been looking forward to this day for months now. 

Just the other day he said to me, "I am so ready to go."

 It's almost here.  Missouri is calling and we will be going. 

 Arvid believes that Branson is where he is or can be most 

busy.  This was true when we ran the hotels.  Fortunately,

we no longer run the hotels 🙏We're just silent partners.

Yesterday we had a very good day.  We went to a 

car show.  Let me tell you it was extremely hot.  

Beautiful day but so hot and it's only March as 

Arvid said.  Can tell the summer will be torture.

Of course there were some very cool looking cars.

And yes, Arvid did fancy owning a few,

 but at the end of the day he concluded that 

we have no more room for another car.

Last night was movie night.  We all enjoyed snacks and a Pepsi.

Wishing everyone a relaxing and enjoyable day.

We're not here for a long time.

  We're here for a good time...

~Nadiya~

Saturday March 15th~

Sunsets are nature's way of soothing 

your soul and gladdening your heart...

On our way home from Fort Lauderdale we encountered 

another stunning sunset on Alligator Alley.  Arvid was 

driving so I was able to get a few pictures.  Not too 

clear, but still you can't miss that bright orange sky.  

One of my favorite parts of the trip as well.

Yesterday I did a few little things on my own. 

 The stores, my favorite Cuban Cafe and as

 always a stop at Trader Joe's where I have 

now found a better bread for Arvid.  

Before it was always Whole Foods.  Trader Joe's is

 closer and the bread so much better.  Happy about that 

because they are located in a strip mall so aside from bread

 I can also do some browsing/shopping if I so please.  

Sniff is still in bed with Arvid.  These two 

are not morning people.  Sniff woke up with me. 

 Had his foodies and back to bed he went.

To all a good day.  Enjoy the sunshine 

and all that the day has to offer.

May every sunrise hold more promise 

and every sunset more peace...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 14th~

Never look back, there is nothing there for you...

 The weekend is upon us and it is sure looking to be 

a good one.  My day begins with watching the sunrise 

and enjoying my cafe while Arvid is still sound asleep. 

 I so enjoy my quiet mornings and my alone time.

Yesterday was another very good day.  We 

all enjoyed a good meal, and good company

 in a beautiful setting by the intracoastal.

  The best was getting back home to Sniff.  For

 me nothing will ever compare to that.  I think Sniff

missed us, even though we were just gone for the 

day.  Also we really don't like that long drive. 

Nothing beats a Friday downtown Fort Myers. 

 We're home and we're ready for the weekend.

The world is full of magic things, patiently

 waiting for our senses to grow sharper...

~Nadiya~

Thursday March 13th~

It is our choices that show what we

 truly are, far more than our abilities...

 Today we head back to Fort Lauderdale to spend 

some time with Victoria and Michael.  We also use this 

opportunity to go to a favorite restaurant we all like.  

I don't look forward to the drive nor the traffic, 

but now that we live in Fort Myers and they are

 staying in Ft. Lauderdale we alternate the visits.

Last time they came our way.  Now it's our turn to 

head their way. At the same time, we always take

 care of a little business.  Worth the drive, but the

 best is always coming back home to Sniff.

To all a very good day.  Most folks are about 

as happy as they make up their minds to be.

If you love life, don’t waste time, 

for time is what life is made up of...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday March 12th~

 Some of the best experiences

 are the most unexpected ones...

Not sure what or why, but yesterday Arvid was again 

busy all day.  Granted a large part or that day was watching 

soccer.  With the time change, soccer was an hour later than

 usual. Interfered with our afternoon walk.  Especially after 

the game went into overtime, and then penalty kicks.

Our condo building is having some beautifying work

 done to it. Dangerous job, but these men and women do

 it with such ease.  There's one lady in particular, and she's 

really good.  Arvid watches her sometimes while she 

works and always says how fast and good she is.

Snidd is already on his heating bed.  That's his

 morning routine.  I love him more than I can explain.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to 

make you something else is the greatest accomplishment...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday March 11th~

Don't be afraid of being different, be

 afraid of being the same as everyone else...

We finally got a little rain yesterday.  So happy for that.

  Of course I wanted to go for a little outing and run some 

errands, but Arvid had just washed the cars on Sunday so

 according to him I could not go out in the rain and "mess"

 the cars up.  Of course I didn't listen to his nonsense. 

 Those who know Arvid, know that he is very "special" 

 He makes me laugh like no other, and at the same time makes me 

mad like no other.  Gotta love him 😂  He says that I am the only 

one so far who he has not "tamed"  Everyone is used to agreeing 

with Arvid.  He wonders why I always have to contradict him.

We have a good time together.  Makes life always 

interesting.  At times more than we bargained for.  If that 

is even something.  As for Sniff he is getting bored with the 

same cat videos.  Right now is newest favorite is Cocomelon. 

 After all, I have played the songs for him for years.

Nearly all the best things that came to me in 

life have been unexpected, unplanned by me...

~Nadiya~

Monday March 10th ~

 Don't let someone else's opinion 

of you become your reality...

After yesterday's fog cleared up the day was beautiful.  

Arvid and I enjoyed dining outdoors by the water. 

 It was peaceful and as always very relaxing.

Looking forward to a quiet start of the week. 

 Not much planned to do today as of right now, 

but then the day has only just begun.

A very good day to all.  A happy life must 

be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in 

an atmosphere of quiet that true joy can live.  

Sniff is all I need for calming times.

If you can do what you do best and be happy, 

you are further along in life than most people...

~Nadiya~

Sunday March 9th~

Just a reminder for your weekend:

 Monday will be happening an hour earlier...

The morning is covered in fog which 

should be clearing up in a little.  As they say, 

foggy mornings lead to sunny days.

Sunday.  Our day to just do a few things we both enjoy. 

 Together.  May your Sunday be filled with love and 

all things good.  Have a restful day everyone.

Fog is a good metaphor for those

 places in life where we find ourselves uncertain,

 unclear, and just afraid to face the unknown...

~Nadiya~

Saturday March 8th ~⏰

My favorite holiday is Daylight Saving Time 

⏰ because we get an extra hour of sleep...

 Arvid has been waiting anxiously for this day.  We all

 have, but he voices it more than everyone.  More daylight 

hours coming.  Don't forget to turn your clocks ⏰ forward

one hour on Sunday, March 9th at 2am local time.

Well, there is an easy way to remember if you put your 

clocks forward one hour or back one hour. Just remember the

 simple rhyme: 'spring forward, fall back'. Of course, you need to 

know that 'fall' is the American word for autumn. As long as you 

remember not to fall forward and spring back, you'll be fine!

Our days will be filled with sunshine for a longer time. 

 Hope you're ready for it, because we sure are.  But curious,

 is this the one where I get an extra hour of drinking or lose

 an hour of drinking?  The hour I lost today was the hour 

I was planning on going to the gym. Darn it!

Yesterday was a very good day.  We had Michael and 

Victoria over for lunch.  After that we showed them the 

house and then it was a trip to Downtown Fort Myers. After

 all, it was Art Walk and the place was buzzing with life.

To all a good day.  Just twelve more days until spring🥀

Don’t forget to adjust all the clocks you 

never look at because you have a phone...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 7th~

The present time has one advantage 

over every other—it is our own...

 The weekend is soon upon us. It's starting out a bit on

 the "cool" side, but as the day progresses hopefully the warm 

up will not disappoint.  For those living in colder climates, the 

"warm up" is like summertime.  For us, it's still chilly.

Yesterday was my no cook day.  Arvid and I went to

 Fort Myers Beach for lunch.  I have to say that it was very cold, 

but as the sun came over us it got a bit warmer.  Not much.

The sun is already shining bright.  It is looking to be a beautiful 

day.  To all a very good one, and may the upcoming weekend 

bring you happiness, and finds you at peace with yourself.

The time is now, the place is here. Stay in the present. 

You can do nothing to change the past, and the future 

will never come exactly as you plan or hope for...

~Nadiya~

Thursday March 6th~

Complaining is draining. Complaining only

 takes away energy from today and never

 solves the problems for tomorrow...

Yesterday Arvid and I celebrated 25 years of being 

together.  For 24 of those we have been married.  Of 

course I did not remember the date, or more like I 

didn't think of it.  Arvid never forgets it.  In our

 relationship Arvid is definitely the romantic.

We enjoyed a drink at home together with Sniff. 

 Though we did not get the rain I was hoping for, the day

 was gloomy and grey.  Made for good times indoors.  

Wishing everyone a day filled with all things good. 

 Our day is looking better and better already.  Trooper is that

 dog abandoned in Fort Myers during Hurricane Milton. 

 Who's having the last laugh now?  Go Trooper!

Every morning you have the choice to wake up with

 a grateful heart or a complaining tongue.  Your choice 

will set the tone for your day.  Choose wisely...

~Nadiya~

Remembering Lil' Shadow~❤ March 5th

Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us...

 This morning I was going through my so many pictures

 of our kitties and I came across some of Lil Shadow.  It took 

me back to his feistiness and to the horrible way he died.  

Today is exactly five years since our Shadow died.

Those eyes.  The seem to look at me and ask me why I wasn't

 there to help him.  Guilt is something I will never be able to rid 

myself of.  Guilt of trusting someone to take care of my Shadow

 and instead because of negligence he died.  I live with that.

When we adopted Shadow he was just six months old.  He 

never lived to be even one year.  He died on March 5th 2016.

  Just four months after he came into our lives.  Arvid and I 

just can't even talk about how he died, it's too horrible.

After Brutus died, Shadow came and filled our days with his 

feistiness and his zest for everything.  Like all kittens he got into 

"trouble" all day long.  Arvid and I were grieving Brutus, at times

 I have to admit we failed to always appreciate Shadow's antics.

Life has and is good to me.  I have experienced many 

a sorrows.  Truth is who hasn't?  We all learn to carry on 

and move on.  Life does not stand still for anyone, and if we do, 

we may just get "blown" away.  A good day to all and may we 

never forget to be grateful for all our blessings.  I have many

 reasons to be grateful, and I try to not take it for granted.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens;

 but often we look so long at the closed door that we do

 not see the one which has been opened for us...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday March 5th~

It is your life and it is worth risking 

everything to make it yours...

 One foot in front of the other... day by day.  Step

 by step... be gentle with yourself along the way.  Your 

dreams are out there... don't let them get away, even if

 it's just a small step keep going forward.  Always.

Today we expect rain, and by the looks of it, I think

 we will be having some 🙏 Hopefully we will get it. 

 As I keep saying, we really need it.  They need it. 

Not much happening here today.  Arvid of course has

 a few soccer games later on in the day.  Hopefully take

 care of a few things that need to get done at home also.  

I have a ton of laundry to do.  Seems like I do laundry 

everyday.  I keep reminding Arvid that when he was alone in

 Norway he did laundry, he did housework.  So my question

 to him is, "what happened?  Did you forget how to do 

those things?"  My inquiries always go unanswered.

When I was 5 years old, my mother always told 

me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to 

school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. 

 I wrote down ‘happy’.  They told me I didn’t understand the

 assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life...

~Nadiya~