Wednesday Evening At Almost Home ~

Life is like a camera... focus on what's important capture the good times,

develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out take another shot...

Yesterday Almost Home hosted a spaghetti dinner night.  

Let me say it was a total success, and definitely there

 will be more dinner nights in the future.

Dinner was a joint effort between yours truly and one of our tenants. 

 The idea originally originated from 'Chef" Jen and we ran with it.  It

 brought together just about most of the tenants and I even invited some 

that used to live there and had a close relationship with everyone.

Dinner was simple, but so very good.  Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, 

a salad and of course a variety of desserts provided by a few of the tenants.

Arvid who is not much into "social" gatherings was the one who helped 

set up the game room.  He organized the tables and chairs and

 even put tablecloths on the tables.  Very helpful.

While I chopped and cooked, Sniff just relaxed but always keeping 

an eye open just in case.  Bonnie from Almost Home is all smiles 

in her tie dye T-shirt I got for her.  Made by my nephew.  If you

 haven't checked his page please do so.  He's really good.

Tie Dye Manatee

On our way home the moon was in its glory.  I could not help pulling

 over at times and getting a few pictures.  From our driveway it was 

just an amazing sight, and yes, I took these pictures last night.

To all a great day.  Looking forward to another day full of promises and 

all things good.  Either that or will do my best to make it a great day. 

Life is about laughing and living, in good and bad times.

getting through whatever comes your way, looking back and smiling at it...

~Nadiya~

One Day At A Time...

A strong person is the one who knows how to be quiet, 

shed a tear for a moment, and then picks up their gloves and fights again...

 My day was cold. Just very cold. Went out a little to do a few errands

 and by the time I got home I was frozen. My hands were numb and my 

ears had frostbite. At least that's how it felt to me.  No warm from my Starbucks cafe

 was enough to really warm me up at least not then.  Hot chocolate in the evening did the trick.

Today is not expected to be any better.  Two days ago it was sunny and "warm".

 Boy did that change fast.  Good thing for magazines.  For a little they keep one occupied.

Our Sniff is doing really good. I sometimes have to stop and remind myself 

that though Sniff is not Brutus, is is an adorable little kitty who loves us and

 just wants to be loved in return.  We love him.  He gets lots of play time. 

Lots of brushing and lots of chasing the laser light.  In between he bird watches and

 sleeps. His life is pretty entertained.  Sniff is a good kitty and I'm so happy he's ours.

Soon it will be a year since we've had Sniff. Means Shadow has also been dead 

for a year and our Brutus a year and 4 months.Yesterday was also 5 months since my 

sisters doggie Jaxen died.  Sachin and all of them were sad.  Just like I miss our 

Brutus, they miss their golden boy Jax.  Breaks my heart to know that

 my sister and family are hurting as well.  Knowing Sachin and Reshma

 are sad is just too much for me.  Their sadness tears me apart.

Time flies.  So much had happened, but the one thing that has not nor will ever 

change is how much I miss our Brutus.  Shadow was with is for such a 

short time, even so he did leave his paw prints in our hearts.

I miss my little kitties very much.  My Brutus took my heart.  Sniff is now the one

 we share our lives with and the one who keeps us on our toes every day.  

We do love him very much.  He has inserted himself into our hearts 

and has made our lives and for that we are grateful everyday.  

To all a very good day.  Always remember to appreciate what yo have, for you

 never know what tomorrow holds.  I have learnt that more than once. 

 For me everyday is a promise of better things to come.  And I remind

 myself to never take anything nor anyone for granted.

It will be the little things that you will remember.  The quiet moments,
 the smiles, the laughter.It will be the memories of these little things 
that helps to push away the pain, and bring the smiles back again...

~Nadiya~

Home To Brutus, Shadow And Sniffer...Goodbye Norway

When writing the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen....

I have learned that Goodbyes will always hurt, pictures never replace having been there, 

memories good or bad will bring tears, and words can never replace those feeling.

Everyday is a new challenge.  Waking up was a challenge...just making it through 

the day was exhausting.   When my first husband died, one of the truest things

 anyone ever said to me was "time does not take away the pain but makes

 it more bearable"  It does, but that's not something one believes in 

at that moment.  When one is hurting NOTHING makes sense.

Time was my best friend back then.  Now with the death of Brutus and Shadow

 time is not yet my best friend.  I am not sure time will ever take away the 

grief I have in me.  My Brutus was all I ever had that was close to having a child. 

 He was my baby and my baby is dead and moving on is difficult most days.

Whenever we were in Noway or anywhere for that matter, my heart was singing with
 joy at the thought of going home to Brutus.  He was what I wanted to see first
 thing as we entered our home.  The he died.  Then it was Shadow who we 
saw as we walked in the door.  As you know Shadow died as well.

Now we have Sniffer and I can't wait to see him.  Home is where my 3 kitties are. 
 Home for me has been always Arvid, Brutus and I.  Home is now Arvid, Sniffer,
 my memories and I.  Home is where we are heading and where my heart is.

We have had a good time in Norway.  Seeing everyone was good, but now it's time 
to go back to where we belong back to the USA and back to being at home. 

To all thank you very much for making this summer a very good one.  Thank you for 
the memories and for the fun times.  VM, Michelle,Emil and Molly thank
 you always for your hospitality, kindness and friendship.

 Michelle, thank you and Emil for allowing us to enjoy time with our granddaughters. 
 Honestly they are the 2 we will be missing the most as we leave Norway.  I take
with me memories that will forever stay, and I look forward to making more.

It it were  not for all of you all, Norway would hold no interest to us.  You make 
our stay here special and memorable and for that there are no words to 
express my gratitude to all of you.  All I can say is thank you.

A memory lasts forever, never will it die..
true friends stay together and never say goodbye

~Nadiya~

To Travel...

Traveling.  It leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller...

To travel is to experience life in it fullest.  To meet new people.  To see new 

things and places.  To experience new adventures.  It does not matter so much where you go,

 what matters it that you live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment as you go along.

My favorite places have been right here in the USA.  This is a beautiful country and 

every time we visit a new State I discover and learn more about people and about these

 United States. I love the Caribbean, but I will take the USA any day as my place to visit.

Arvid and I go many places that takes us out of the USA, but in all honesty

 I always look forward to coming back home.  Home to the USA.  Where
Brutus once lived, and where we now share a home with Sniffer.  

It's now vacation time in Norway for us.  We've lookd forward very much to it,
at the same time we also look forward to the day we will be coming back home.
 Arvid has already made plans for us to go to Buddy Guy's on the day we return.

To all a good day.  Remember that the real voyage of discovery consists not in 

seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.  Whatever you do make it a amazing.
It's time to continue to have a good time with friends and family here in Norway,
 land of the midnight sun.  The days are now going by fast.  Very fast.

Missing my little Sniff Sniff.  In my heart there is a hole that only Brutus can fill,
and a heartache that will never leave because of Lil' Shadow's short life.  Love you all.

Here in Horten it rained yesterday, but even so the view is unbeatable.
I like to watch the rain fall and see how it makes people act.  Just entertaining.

Good morning everyone.  Temperatures are dropping a little.
Makes for cooler days and cooler nights.  I'm loving it.

I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list.

Once a year go someplace you have never been before...

~Nadiya~