January 11th Puerto Rico ~

I want to be wild, beautiful and free.  Just like the sea...

This beautiful island that I once called home,
and is still home to my sister has been going through
more tragic times than it can handle.

As we vacation here, we know we will soon be
going home.  For many this is their reality.  There
 is no other place to go. This is their home.

Sky above our heads.  Sand beneath out feet.  Life is good...

~Nadiya~

Hello Sunday ~

Believe in yourself.  Listen to your gut, and do what you love...

Open House again today.  Always positive 

that the right buyer for this house will show up.

Open House days are fun.  We meet lots of interesting 

people.  Even if not the right buyer for the house, 

they become potential buyers in the future.

February is a busy month, but good busy.  With friends 

and visiting mainly from Norway one stays busy.  It's

 been 2 years since we were last in Florida for "winter"  

It will be nice to see everyone again here at home.

Sunday is looking good.  Last night Arvid and I checked
 out a new place.  Not the Blues, but Jazz.  Reminded us a little
 of living in Chicago. Good ambiance, great food and drinks. 

To all a good day. happiness is enjoying the good things in life.
 Live for the moments you can't put into words.

Just play.  Have fun.  Enjoy the game...

~Nadiya~

January 2nd 2019 ~

One small positive thought in the 
morning can change your whole day...

Another beautiful day.  The sun is peeking out and we are together.
Having time with two of my nieces makes it a good start into 2019.

Have my two nieces staying with us.  For Arvid and I this is
not "usual" We are used to just being on our own with Sniff.
Have to say he, Arvid is handling it pretty good so far.

We have Reshma and Danielle with us. Danielle is 24,
and Reshma is now 19.  The years are going by fast.  Kimsy is now 21.

Wishing everyone a great January 2nd 2019. It's about time to head
 out with the girls and see what kind of trouble we can get into.

Good Morning.  Today is a new day, don't let 
anything stand in your way!  Make it all it can be...

~Nadiya~

Thursday Mood ~

The greatest happiness of life is the

 conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves,

 or rather, loved in spite of ourselves...

Lots of small errands to do these last few days. Most 

have to do with finding the right doctor.  As mentioned

 before, it is not as easy a task as one would think.  

Other than that we have been experiencing 

“cooler”temperatures.  I love it. Arvid not so much. 

Hard to believe that we spent 2 winters in Branson, and he 

hardly said anything about the cold. I guess when

 you’re busy you just carry on like nothing.

Sniff is doing really good. He loves Arvid and follows

 him everywhere.  Sometimes Arvid says to him, 

“leave me alone for a little now. I need to work.”  

Arvid used to have similar conversations with Brutus.

  Brutus. How I miss him.  We talk about him often.

 But when it comes to Shadow we don’t so much. 

It’s too painful to think of how Shadow died.

It’s Christmas time. The air is alive with the Christmas Spirit.

  I love it Arvid not so much.  Oh well. That’s life.  The 

next few days will be busy ones but “nice” busy. 

 Wishing everyone a great day and hopefully 

the Christmas spirit is in your hearts.

There is no life as complete as

 the life that is lived by choice...

~Nadiya~

Hello Thursday ~

Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters...

Another week has flown by..way fast.  Already Thursday and the 

warm up we were having has suddenly disappeared.  Cold days are

 back and I think I am getting the flu again.  Not sure if it is, 

but I have the symptoms.  Not happy about that.

Yesterday we had to throw a young girl out of our hotel.  Nothing against
young people, but many have an attitude and just don't seem to know
right from wrong.  Truth is I liked her, she paid on time, but she
was more work than we needed at Almost Home.

  Within an hour of us telling her she has to pack and leave,
 I get a phone call from one of the tenants on the waiting list.  Needless
to say, I have already rented the room.  The tenant has paid upfront for

2 weeks even though the first week he will not even be here. 

As he said to me on the phone, "I'm coming all the
 way from Arizona to work in Branson like I do every year
and I was told to stay at Almost Home."  I love the
 fact that our hotel has a great reputation.

Most of the long term stay hotels advertise a $99 move in special. 
This special runs all year long.  I am happy to say that at Almost Home
we have never had to do this and we still stay full.  I did try the $99
move in special, but before the day was over I took it away because
 the clientele it brought was not the one we want at Almost Home.

Thursday is looking good.  Chilly start of the morning but already
warmed up with my cafe and chasing Sniff around.  Arvid still sound
 asleep.  Quiet, peaceful.  Mornings are my favorite time of the day.

Hello Thursday.  You sure got here fast.

There comes a time when the world gets quiet 
and the only thing left is your own heart...

~Nadiya~

Hello Saturday ~

Life is like a camera.  Focus on what's important.
Capture the good times.  Live it to the fullest...

I took Sniff Sniff to the vet the other day.  He hated being in the car,

 and getting him into his carrier is a chore all by itself.  Once we got

 into the examining room and the vet assistant took him to draw blood

 and do a few other things he was calm and hardly made a fuss.  

When the doctor was done, Sniff jumped down from the examining 

table and came straight to me.  As if seeking reassurance.  This 

was the first time I have held Sniff for more than a few 

seconds without him jumping down.  It felt very

 good.  I do love our little Sniff so very much.

Yesterday he was not feeling so well.  He hardly ate anything and he 

did throw-up a couple of times.  Not the usual happy Sniff.  I of course 

fretted and worried, but the doctor did say this may happen.  After all 

Sniff had 2 shots and they made him queasy and lethargic.

Hopefully today he will be up and about.  Chasing birds and watching

 squirrels.  Not happy when our little Sniff is not feeling well.

Almost Home is full.  Thankfully everything is quiet and calm. 

 We do have 14 people as of yesterday on our waiting list. 

 Yes, this is Branson's start of the tourist season.  

Everything is open again and the town is full of people on Spring Break.

  Traffic is horrendous and the lines to go to the restaurants and grocery 

stores are a nightmare, but if you own a business ~ this is the best

 to times.  From now until December 31st the city will be booming.

Good morning world.  Spring is here.  I see it and feel it.

Give everyday the chance to become the most beautiful of you life...

~Nadiya~

Colder Days Again ~

There is just something beautiful about walking on snow that 

nobody else has walked on.  It makes you believe you're special...

Sundays as mentioned is just our day.  came Sunday we went out as

 usual for our outing.  We left home and it was cold, but aside from that 

no rain no snow.  We come out of the garage and as soon as we got 

to the main road the snow just started coming down.  It was not 

sticking to the ground, but it was coming fast and a lot.

That night temperatures dropped way way low so that the snow that 

was already on the ground turned to ice.  Monday morning the news

 reported that many had died in Springfield from accidents due to icy

 roads.  Of course Arvid said, "there is no way we are going out."

I did go outside to check the driveway and the road.  There was

 no snow on the driveway, but the road had icy patches everywhere.  

Decision made.  I did not go in to work.  Arvid did go in for a 

little because he had a few "other" errands he had to take 

care of.  I spent the day at home with Sniff guilt free.

Still cold today, but no more icy roads.  Off to work it is.

Winter, either bites with its teeth or lashes with its tail.

We're all like snowflakes unique and one of a kind...

~Nadiya~

Hoping For A Better Day ~

No matter how old I get, I always want my mom when I don't feel good...

I'm guessing it's just a sinus headache, but boy I have had it since Sunday

and nothing seems to work.  I have tried a few sinus medicines, but the headache

still persists.  Feels like my left eye will soon pop out of my face. 

Yup, that's how bad it is.  Even so, there is no time to stay home and take

the day off.  Have to go to work and do what has to be done.  Right now

wish I was a little girl once again and mom and dad were there to take

care of me and tell me everything is going to be all right.

Our lives have gotten so busy we hardly can afford to not feel well,

much less take time off.  I know that I can take the day off if I wish,

but I feel guilty about that.  Guess we were raised to be extra

responsible.  Good and sometimes not so good.

I see the weather changing.  I feel it as well.  Cooler in the mornings with fog
rolling in.  Dark skies with a bit of rain.  That how it has been the last few days.
  The good part though is that the sun comes out everyday and warms us up.
  Feels really good right now.  No humidity, but I believe there is something
in the air making allergies kick in.  Take the good with the not so good.

Rima and family are settled in.  As she says, "California just feels like home."
They are all happy.  The kids are in school and life continues for everyone.

Here in Branson we are doing good.  Business is great, Arvid, Sniff
and I have each other and for that we are grateful.  We do miss some of the
lifestyle we had before, but I know one day we will be enjoying it again. 

Puerto Rico, my once home and now home to my sister and family
 is destroyed. The devastation is more than anyone can imagine. For me
devastation was hearing my sister crying as she said to me,
"I lost everything.  The island is destroyed."

This was yesterday after Hurricane Maria devastated then.  They are
 without water and electricity.  This can be anywhere from 4-8 months in
some parts of the island.  As of yesterday we have not heard from her.
Ask me how we feel.  Ask us what is going through our minds.

We know they are alive.  Grateful for that, but I can't get over how broken
down she was.  Nirvana is strong, and everyone is allowed a little
 weakness, but as the new day begins, I know my sister.  She
is a fighter like all of us.  She is probably helping the ones less
 fortunate right now. I want to be there with her.  For her.

For now wishing everyone a good day and keep making memories.
Be grateful that you were not affected by all these natural disasters, and if
you can find t in your heart to help in any way the do it.  There
 are so many that will be living a nightmare for years to come.

To all my friends and family in Puerto Rico.  It is only you and you alone
that knows what you are going through.  I can say how devastated I am, and I am.
But you are living the devastation and the horror.  You know what it is to
wake up to water in in homes and watch everything you own in ruins.

 I can only imagine it and it's horrible.  You live it.  I am so relieved my sister
 and loved ones are safe.  Yes, I am selfish right now.  All my focus is
 on the ones I love, but I know there are millions as well who are so
 less fortunate.  For today I just want to be grateful that my
sister and loved ones are safe.  The island is destroyed,
.
 Puerto Ricans are the people with the most heart in them.
Together they will overcome this and they will become stronger.

Never give up no matter how much
"you gotta be freakin' kidding me life throws at you"...

~Nadiya~