Today ~ Sunday May 23 ~

Some days are like this...

Where has my sunshine gone?  Not a great start of the day, 
but hopefully will be getting better as the day progresses.

This is looking out from the front towards my trail.

This is looking out from our balcony towards the sea and the marina. 

 Sundays I don't go walking, but I usually look out for little 

Fluffy.  Too much rain today so was not happening.  Fluffy 

has not been coming for food since Saturday afternoon.  Now 

he has missed three feedings.  Counting this mornings 4 😭

Sniff is not taking too much to this gloomy ☔

weather either.  He usually basks in the sunshine every

 morning behind the cortinas.  Not happening today.

Still raining.  Does not look like it's going away anytime soon. 

 In the meantime, I think I will cozy up with Sniff and enjoy

 my reading.  Sundays are relaxing days after all.  Actually 

everyday is a relaxing day.  I want a non relaxing day soon.

Each new day is better than the last...

~Nadiya~

Saturday May 22nd ~

 Be the reason someone believes 
in the goodness of people...

I am so torn between wanting to go back home and

 knowing that when we do, and wondering what will become

 of the kitties I feed.  And yes, they can survive in the wild, but 

now that I have gotten to know many I feel as if they 

won't.  Little MacGyver, growing stronger every day

Reshma officially graduated yesterday.  It was lived stream

 and Arvid and I saw some of it.  We waited until Reshma showed up. 

 Cheered her and made us happy.  She's officially entered into the 

world of grown up, even though she has been in it for years.

Sniff is sleeping in late again.  No surprise here.  

Today he is all covered up on the bed.  Sniff loves towels and 

blankets everywhere.  Our home  is full of them everywhere

   Every chair, sofa everywhere has a sheet or towel 😂.

The boat is officially sinking.  Either the owners know 

nothing as yet, or they have really good insurance.  Who knows 

maybe they got tired of boating, or just want a new boat.

Saturday.  The pay is looking good and possibilities abound.

So much of life, it seems to me,

 is determined by pure randomness...

~Nadiya~

Thursday April 8th ~

 At this point I'm just going with the flow. 
 Whatever happens, happens...

I got my walk in early this morning.  The mornings are

 beautiful for walks.  Temperature is still on the "cooler" side

 and there is always a little breeze.  Best of all I get to feed all 

the little hungry kitties on the way.  There are so many.  

The truth is not only am I helping them, but they are
 also helping me.  The kitties motivate me to get up early every 

morning and go walking.  Because I know they are hungry and

 they are waiting for me.  Mutually beneficial is how I see it.

Arvid and I stay busy by doing a little something everyday.

Sniff is once again "acting" up.  Suddenly he won't eat.  Of 

course I get stressed.  I don't know if he's missing home 

or is just being fussy, with Sniff it can be anything.

One thing for sure, Sniff sure loves his siesta time.  That has

 not changed, if anything he sleeps even more than before.

Thursday already.  Arvid and I will be trying out something 

different today for lunch.  There is a sandwich restaurant not far

 from us.  Supposed to be very good.  Will see later today.

To all a very good day.  April is breezing away from us.

If you can't control the current of the river 

then don't fight it just go with the flow...

~Nadiya~

Road To Naples, Naples Florida That Is ~

 Family is a gift.  Take time to see them...

On our way to see Max, Kelsey and Rogue today.

  Will also be seeing Nina, David and Texie if he can make it. 

 Texie is now older and his arthritis makes it very difficult

 for him to move and sit for long hours in the car.

  Texie of course is their doggie.  I love Texie, guessing I

 am about to fall in love with Rogue as well.  Max and Kelsey's 

doggie.  It's been a very long time since we last saw everyone.  

So very excited right now to see them as you can imagine.

Max, Kelsey and Rogue live in Naples, Kelsey also has a 

place in Miami. Kelsey hails from Kentucky, and together

 she and Max have sure shared many cultural differences. 

 Kelsey grew up in a farm with horses, so when Max first

 went with her to Kentucky his only fear was, "I hope the horse

 does not throw me off while I am on it."  Yes, Kelsey's 

parents have horses and she's an excellent rider.

I am so excited to be seeing them all today.  Hopefully this 

summer Arvid also gets to see his family in Norway.  It's already 

18 months since Arvid last saw his mother COIVID!!!

Wishing everyone an better day than yesterday,

 and let's not forget to make our "someday" today.

My mother used to tell me that when push comes

 to shove, you always know who to turn to. That being a

 family isn't a social construct but an instinct...

~Nadiya~

Sunday...Funday

Life is like a camera, focus on whats important and you will capture it perfectly...

Glad that Sunday is here we consider it our "rest" day.  The week and even Saturday has 

been pretty busy.  Work and work.  I'm happy to be busy and to be tired by night so that

 it makes sleeping much easier.  Even so, I am still up early in the mornings. I love 

mornings.  I loved them with Brutus more than anything, I had a brief time 

with shadow and that was also special.  Now mornings with Sniff  are

 something I look forward to.  Mornings are peaceful and so quiet.

Yesterday I  woke up at 5am.  As I used to do with Brutus, I now do with Sniff.  I brush 

him every morning and throughout the day.  Brutus loved brushing, but Shadow never 

got into it.  Maybe he was still too little and just so very active.  Up until a few 

months ago Sniff was not so into it either, but since coming back home

 to Florida he basically "begs" to be brushed.  Of course I oblige.

Arvid has been super productive and on the go all week.  We had a warehouse to sell

 and in just a few days he sold it.  If there is one thing Arvid really excels in it's real 

estate and selling.  My part of the job this time was to of course do the research and the 

comps on the warehouse.  We also did lots of cleaning and there is still more to be done.

Like I said, today we hopefully will just relax at home and not do more warehouse stuff.

That being said it is a cleaning day here at home.  Basically everyday is cleaning day.  

Having a little kitty kat makes it even more imperative that I clean all the time.

Honestly when we had Brutus I was even more frenetic about cleaning.  

With Shadow I relaxed a bit.  Same with Sniff.  My excuse..they are healthy

 and not so easily prone to infections, even so today is cleaning day again.

Yesterday I had another of my walks on the beach.  As always it was relaxing

 and very therapeutic.  I was there by 7am to watch the sunrise.  Arvid was

 still asleep and Sniff was already fed, brushed and onto his morning nap.

The beach was quiet.  Just a few people, a surfer to catch the waves, a few birds and

 the sound of the waves.  Just perfect.  Before I knew it, two hours had already gone

 by and it was starting to get a tad bit busier.  The breakfast crowd was showing up. 

For the four months we have been in Chicago quite a lot has happened in our neighborhood.  

There is construction going on everywhere.  On Las Olas not far from the Las Olas Grand,

 ICON Las Olas luxury condominium in the heart of downtown is currently under 

construction as are many more condo and apartment buildings in the downtown 

and beach areas.  Real Estate market is back in full swing again.

Yes in 4 months that we have been away quite a lot has happened.  I love exploring and 

sometimes it is much better when done alone.  I can take my time.  Arvid almost always

 is rushed.  For one reason or another.  My walks on the beach are just me alone.

On my walk on the beach my thoughts always roam to Brutus and Shadow.
I always wonder what if?  What if?  Not a day goes by that I don't think of them.  No
one will ever be able to fill the void Brutus left in me.  I love Sniff.  He's good.
  But my Brutus took my heart.  My little Shadow was here for such a short time.

Yesterday I had a request.  A friend of mine in the Netherlands just got 2 kitties and asked
 me if it was OK to call one of them Brutus.  Arvid and i saw the kitty and as Arvid said,
"he looks a little like our Brutus."  Yes, you can name him Brutus we told him.

Also Lilly Vade had her birthday party and as she requested, rainbow cupcakes and a rainbow
cake to celebrate with her friends.  Lilly makes me happy.  Seeing her I can't help but smile.

Hello Sunday.  Looking forward to just relaxing and taking it easy today.

They say you don't know what you have until it's gone.  The truth is you knew
 exactly what you had.  You just didn't think you were going to lose it...

~Nadiya~

Sunday...

A Sunday well spent brings a week of content...

Was hoping for another sunny day, but not so.  Raining, wet, and ugly right now,

but at least the temperatures are warm.  Much warmer than most places right now.

These are the places our families live in.  As you can see winter is harsh to them.

At least one family member will soon be visiting the Sunshine State.  Arvid's eldest

daughter and boyfriend come every February and stay for several weeks.  

Summertime we live in Chicago.  At that time it is beautiful.  Not right now.

We also have a condo in Mexico where the weather is stable throughout the year.

Arvid and I had a very pleasant evening with friends.  A few drinks and before you know

 it everyone was in a very jolly mood.  Good time with friends always the best.

We also enjoyed dinner with some Norwegian friends.  At our latest steak restaurant.

It is still wet here.  We have plans to go somewhere and sit outdoors for our Sunday 

outing.  If this weather holds, a change of plans is called for.  Lots of soccer today so Arvid

is happy.  I plan to do some indoor work and who knows maybe a little outing.

Shadow finds all the smallest places to crawl into.  Somehow Arvid's paperwork is always

messed up.  So far Arvid has been pretty cool about the "mess"  How long will it last?

Happy Sunday to all of you.

We can choose to be grateful no matter what.

Relax and have a peaceful Sunday...

~Nadiya~