Happy Tuesday ~

The secret is keeping busy, and loving
 what you do.   In life, all good things come hard, 
but wisdom is the hardest to come by...

Wishing everyone a good day and hope that is is better than yesterday.

Soon we will be heading back to Florida where Sniff is patiently
 waiting for us.  Can't wait to open the door and see his little face.
 Yes, now we start making memories in Florida with Sniff.  Good times
 await us all and time to get back into the lifestyle we left behind.

It was good to be back in Chicago, especially to
be back in our own apartment.  It still needs a little more work to get
 it all ready, but come next summer we have something to do.

 The most important part of the apartment is all set up.
  Sniff's spot is ready for him, and that's what matters.

A long drive back home awaits us.  NOT looking forward
to that, but the reward that awaits us is well worth the drive.  Both
Arvid, and I take turns driving so as to not get too tired.  Somehow
 as soon as it's my turn I am sleepy.  How strange is that?

Wishing everyone a good day.  Remember life is
to be lived and experienced.  Whatever it is you do do it
with a smile and a grateful heart.  Have a rocking day.

One of the things I learned the hard way was that
 it doesn't pay to get discouraged.  Keeping busy and making
 optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself...

~Nadiya~

Back To Chicago ~

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, 

but anyone can start today and make a new ending...

Seems we can't get Chicago out of our minds.  This is the 

fourth time buying an apartment in Chicago, and always in the

 same building.  You can say we really like not only the city,

 but the building as well.  The building is smack in the 

middle of downtown.  Our views are of the lake,

 city and park.  Sure does not get any better.

This was our view from our last apartment.  We bought

 it back in 2015, right before we made the move to Branson,

 and became hotel owners.  Brutus did see it for a little.

  Sniff lived there also for a couple of months 

Yes the view was spectacular.  But once our life as hotel 

owners started we realized we were not going to be able to use it much.

  We had given ourselves a timeline of 5 to 7 years to be in Branson, and 

make the hotels flourish.  Luckily for us it took less than 2 years,

 by then we had already sold our place in Chicago.

With the hotels sold, the obvious thing to do was move back to

 Chicago for the summers.  Of course we visit Norway,

 but Chicago is where we want to be most of the summer.  

Wintertime it's definitely Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Arvid has become quite good at buying our homes online.  

He bought our house in Branson online, so when we bought in

 Chicago it was no big deal for him.  You see he has studied every 

stack in the building and knew exactly which one we would like.

When he went to Florida a few weeks ago, I guess he had too 

much time on his hands, because when he came back he 

said to me, "pack your bags we are moving to Chicago." 

 He had already bought us an apartment.  He said to me,

 "it's your fault because you did not want to come to Fort Lauderdale

 with me.  You know what happens when you leave me alone."

I never know what to expect with Arvid. Life with him is 

very unpredictably, but as he said, "never boring."

I guess we are moving back to the city.

As our families have all said, "life is back to normal for us." 

 After all that has happened in the last 2 years we are 

picking up and starting back where we left off.

Let me tell your something.

 I'm from Chicago. I don't break...

~Nadiya~

Sunday To Remember...

The most beautiful things are not associated with money; 

they are memories and moments. If you don't

 celebrate those, they can pass you by...

We relaxed.  We packed  And we did a few fun things. 

Each place we went, we both said, "this will be the last time we

 will be here."  Then Arvid would say, "at least for this year."  

We do plan to come back to Branson every summer.

Today we checked out a floating restaurant called Paddlewheel.

  The views were magnificent and the food was good.

Yesterday we went for drinks at Chateau on the Lake.

  Definitely one of the best views in Branson.  We enjoyed a little

 something to nibble on, listened to the music, and soaked in the scenery. 

 Another place we will not be going back to until next summer.

Wishing everyone a Happy Labor Day.  Have fun, but be safe.

Remember to always live for the moments you can't put into words.

It's sad to know I'm done. But looking back, 

I've got a lot of great memories...

~Nadiya~

Nashville ~

There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going...

I would love to one day visit all of the United States.  

It is beautiful, and we still have a lot of grounds to 

cover, but hopefully we will one day get there.

Our journey today takes us to Nashville.  Arvid and I have 

not been here as yet, so I look forward to checking it out.

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee

 and home to Vanderbilt University. Legendary country music 

venues include the Grand Ole Opry House, home of the famous

 “Grand Ole Opry” stage and radio show. 

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and 

historic Ryman Auditorium are Downtown, as is the District, 

featuring honky-tonks with live music and the Johnny 

Cash Museum, celebrating the singer's life.

In Nashville, if people don't like someone, they say, 

'I don't really like him,' 
then add, 'bless his heart.'

 In Hollywood, they kind of leave 
that last part off.

To travel is to take a journey into yourself...

~Nadiya~

One Of Those Days ~

We are never further apart from those we love

than our ability to remember their presence...

No matter where we are, you are never far 

from my thoughts and my heart.  When you were alive, going to Norway was always traumatic for me. 

 Why?  You always needed to be medicated and I 

was just about the only one who

 knew how to give it to you.  

Brutus it always broke my heart when we had

 to go away from you.  

Travelling these days is easier.  Sniff is healthy.  I 

would do it all again

 just to have you back with us.  Brutus how I miss you.

I want you to know that we love Sniff.  He is such a good boy.  

I wish you could have been here to play with him, but for now you

 are with Shadow.  Please take care of each other and always

 know that mama loves you both and misses you.

Not a day goes by that my thoughts do not include you.

I know life goes on, but it's not the same without you.

I miss you so very much my Brutus.  You took a part of me with you...

~Nadiya~

Beautiful Norway ~

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit...

I have been looking forward to seeing someplace different 

in Norway for years.  Seems like it is finally happening and I could 

not be more excited.  I can't wait for the treat that awaits us.  

The most I have seen in Norway has been Arvid's home town 

and some nearby areas.  Not bad, but I know there is so much more 

to this beautiful country, and finally I will experience some of it.

Norway is beautiful and finally I will be able to see some of it.

For me this is one of the most exciting trips to this country.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

Wishing you all interesting and happy times.

You might want to decide fast. We live in a 

dangerous world.  If you see a chance to be happy,

 you have to fight for it, so later you have no regrets...

~Nadiya~

Hello Sunday ~

Don't compare yourself with anyone in this world,

if you do so you're insulting yourself.  I'm not 

weird, my reality is just different from yours...

It has been a very beautiful week in more ways than one. 

  Almost Home has been visited by many past tenants wanting

 to return for the season.  The weather could not be more perfect.

  Arvid and I have been having lunch at home a few days in 

the week, this may not seem like such a big deal, but for us it is.  

We have been eating out everyday for the last year and a half so

 anytime I can make lunch at home is definitely a great day. 

It's soon coming to that time again.  Yes, soon it's time for Norway.

I have not been there for two years, Arvid was there last year but not 

for too long.  The hotel has taken up all of our free time, but now with 

good people in place we have more freedom to do a little more.

Arvid being Arvid, we have already talked about what we will be doing 

when we come back home from Norway.  He has been checking

 out the music scene in Chicago and so far has found some pretty

 interesting concerts.  If it was up to Arvid we would be heading

 to House of Blues the same day we land from Norway.

Michelle, Arvid's youngest daughter, as I have mentioned 

before is getting married on July 21st.  Less than a month to go. 

 We're excited. I am still hunting for that "perfect" dress.  I have

 2 to choose from but not overjoyed with either.  The way 

it's going I will have to decide on one pretty fast.

I already have the accessories, but even with those I am not thrilled.

I ended up giving my sister the little evening purse I had.  

Way too  small for me.  Now I am stuck without one.  

The good thing is I don't care about accessorizing too much,

 and I have never cared about what others think or will say.  Makes it

 so much easier to just do as I like, and never feel guilty about it.

Woke up to thunder and lightning.  Sniff is very scared, but he knows 

to come to either Arvid or I for comfort.  Happy Sunday to all.  For us its 

a good day to stay indoors all morning long.  Later on...who knows

I'm aware that I am rare.  Being different isn't a bad thing. 

 It means you're brave enough to be yourself...

~Nadiya~

And So The Week Is Almost Over ~

All work and no play is not good for the soul...

Another week that is soon over. I guess when you’re busy one 

hardly notices how fast time goes by. Good and a little sad 

also because I feel that we just work, work and work and

 we have sort of forgotten to do much more than that.

Maybe with that in mind, last night we decided to actually say "yes" 

to an invitation.  We were invited to a cheese and wine gathering.  

Just a few select people, so made it easier to say yes.  

We got to the gentleman's house.  While everyone flocked to the

 wine, and hors d'oeuvres table, Arvid and I were just mesmerized 

by the view.  It was breathtaking and for a very young couple 

the house was an astonishing and spectacular mansion

 As Jake the owner said, "it's just one of 3 he owns."  

Let's just say for a second there both Arvid and I were 

rethinking our living accommodations here in Branson.

Arvid keeps telling me that soon we will be doing more living again.  

Says soon it will all change.  We will soon be heading to Mexico.  

Now I’m getting a little excited about going away for a 

couple of weeks. Work has been great, but it’s nice to take

 some time off and enjoy life and each other.

Sniff is also much better has not had the sniffles yesterday and 

so far his sneezing is gone.  I will feel better when we’re gone

knowing Sniff is OK.  At the same time I know I will be missing 

him and wondering if he’s OK.  It will always be like this.

This has been one very wet week.  Starting to get tired

 of it. It has also been extremely cold even though the

 temperature has been in the mid 60’s.  Still cold.

Arvid is always busy.  He has this knack of just knowing 

how to stay busy.  He has perfected this.  Being busy makes 

him happy.  Don’t get me wrong, I also love being busy, 

but somehow both Arvid and I can do the same thing but

 he makes it seem like he's always being busy.

This past week you can say I have been working part-time only.

  Having Tiffany and Chris, and the hotel being full and all 

is running smoothly, it does not seem necessary

 to be there all day long.  I am really loving it.

As mentioned before, Arvid has his own office within the office.

 He’s happy meeting people and doing “other” stuff.  He 

lives for trades and everything that is not conventional. That’s when 

he’s happiest.  He loves the fact that in Branson there are so 

many opportunities to do all the rings he loves.

The hotel running is left to me, but when he’s needed he’s there.  

Since selling 76 Inn I’m happy to have him help me out at Almost Home. 

 Now he can take care of all the paperwork.  This leaves me more

 time to help the tenants and to make sure they are all good.  

Yesterday was grooming day for one of the kitties. Part of my job, 

and of course and I love it.  I go to the tenants room, play with the kitty

 and before they know what’s happening I clip their claws.  Everyone happy.

Yesterday it was Sissy's turn to be groomed.  With some treats,

 she was an easy one.  Always is.  I really love them all.

This morning we woke up to deers in our backyard.  Sniff was going

 crazy running from window to window as they moved.  Both 

Arvid and I love the sight of them.  They are beautiful, and when 

they look straight at you with those big brown eyes all we can do

 is stand still, hope they won't run away and enjoy the sight.

Happy Friday all.  Remember,
life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Life is not the way it is supposed to be.  It is the way it is.
The way you cope with it is what makes the difference...

~Nadiya~