Cold Florida Day ~

What good is the warmth of summer, 

without the cold of winter to give it sweetness...

For us here in South Florida this is a pretty cold 

spell we are having.  For many it is just a warm winter day.

  That being said, Broward County declares cold weather 

emergency ahead of deeper drop in temps.

Arvid, Sniff and I bundled up with extra blankets 

for the night.  Sniff was so cold he ended up coming to 

the bed and staying under the covers next to me. 

Arvid still asleep under his set of blankets.  

Sniff who woke up with me, was brushed and has

 eaten is already back in bed under the covers.

The cold has not affected time spent with family.  Yesterday

 we had another very good day.  Doing what we like best, and 

in between, trips along the beach and our favorite place for

 tropical fruit.  Yesterday was warm compared to today.

It's not going to warm up too much today. 

 That's OK, it gives us a chance to wear cute sweaters,

 scarves and boots.  For a couple of days it's cool.

Good morning everyone.  It's a cold day just about 

everywhere.  Stay warm and bundle up.  Like us have 

some hot chocolate to start up your day.  Always good.

Cold! If the thermometer had been an inch longer 

we'd have frozen to death.  It was so cold today that I 

saw a dog chasing a cat, and the dog was walking...

~Nadiya~

End Of Her Summer Here In Branson ~

A mind that is stretched by new experience

can never go back to its old dimensions...

Through the course of the last few months, Branson has seen quite a number

of international workers.  Our hotels have housed students from many countries.

  Every summer Branson has an agreement with different countries

to bring in foreign students into their work force. 

I have seen quite a few and have met even more.  I have been in contact

with one young woman from weeks before she was leaving Romania

to come to Branson. We messengered and we talked making

arrangements for her and some friends to stay at 76 Inn.

This young woman, just to use he as an example, came to Branson. 

Worked 2 jobs and in her spare time visited just about everything

worth seeing and doing.  Her job in Branson has come to

an end, but she continues to see as much as she can

in her last two weeks here in the USA.  

Her first stop has taken her to The Bellagio in Las Vegas. 

From there on as she puts it, "anything and everything is game" 

Boy I know when I was younger we did not have these opportunities. 

This young girl just barely 24 years of age has probably seen more

of the USA than most people living here in the USA.  She has visited

just about every country in Europe and she is just 24.

Today's destination takes her to Arizona.  The Grand Canyon.
She and friends are definitely in for a treat.  An amazing sight awaits them.

Back in Romania she is a software test engineer.  Summertime she

chooses a different state to visit and to work.  After she is done with work

she takes 2-3 weeks to visit as many other places here in the USA as

possible. To be young again... No matter age, opportunities are endless.

  All it takes is for us to want it enough and determination.

Life is a journey with problems to solve, lessons to learn,

but most of all experiences to enjoy...

~Nadiya~

Missing You...

The heart remembers most what it has loved best.

Someone asked if I missed you.. I didn’t answer.  I just closed my 

eyes and walked away.  Then I whispered “so much”...

It's been one year and one month since our Brutus has died.  Our lives changed that day. 

It changed so much to the point where both Arvid and I wanted a change in scenery.  

This change brought us to Missouri.  Away from all that is familiar.  

Away from all the things that breaks my heart, but you know what?  I was just kidding

 myself thinking that distance from the familiar will ease the heartache.  Distance

 has in many ways made me think of other things a little more.  That's true.

  We are getting used to a new place.  Getting used to living in a house instead of a 

condo for now, but distance has not erased the fact that my Brutus is no longer with 

us.  If I could go back and change anything it would be to bring Brutus back.  

I miss him so very much.  My heart knows he is never coming back, but my heart does 

not know how to stop hurting.  They say the heart remembers most what it has 

loved best.  Not a day goes by that my heart does not remember my Brutus.

Our Shadow has also been dead for 9 months today.  He was only a baby.  For him I

 agonize every time I think of what happened.  For me a change was necessary.

  But this change is rather drastic and no matter the distance between 

what's familiar and what's not my heart never stops asking why.  

We fell in love with Brutus from the minute we saw him.

Brutus, it took me only a few moments to fall in love with you, but it's taking me
 forever to move on.  Mama misses her Brutus and her Shadow so very much
.

The heart remembers most what it has loved best.

You are  part of my life that will never come back but existed 

and will continue to exist and live on in my heart...

~Nadiya~

Saturday In Branson...

Dear Saturday, you are my favorite.
On Saturdays we wear pajamas without guilt...

It's not often I get to take a picture of Sniff Sniff and I.  Unlike Brutus, who used
to love being held and carried around, and having his pictures taken, Sniff
 is just not ready for it.  He's getting better.  I still pick him up everyday 

and every so often I get lucky and get a picture with him.

Recently he has been waking up very early and trying to get into everything.
Arvid has a plan as he says.  He has a flashlight and from 4 in the morning he starts
flashing it at Sniff.  If that does not work he has the spray bottle with water.

Usually he just sprays close to where Sniff is and it's enough to scare him away.
For a few minutes.  He then comes back and starts to try getting into the
cabinets, or trying to rip apart the door stoppers or something else.  He also
loves to race on our bed.  All of this by 5am. No rest for the weary.

As Arvid tries to get some more sleep, I am already awake by that time.
I get out of bed.  Give Sniff some food and by then he calms down and goes back to
 bed with Arvid.  I think Sniff gets hungry at 4 in the morning and starts "misbehaving."
  As soon as he gets his foodies he is calm and peaceful again.  He like a child.

Mornings, noon and nights are cold here.  Our bed now has lots of covering.
 Even though we keep the temperature at 71F in the house, you will find Arvid
bundled in a turtle neck, warm pajamas, socks and at times an extra
sweater around his shoulders.  Definitely a big change.

Like everywhere one goes, if your're in the right spot at the right moment
you can capture amazing sights.  The other evening as we were coming home from
 dinner I did just that with the sunset.  Just amazing anywhere and always.

Good morning everyone.  Wishing you all a good day and a good weekend.
All is good here.  Sniff is adorable, but right now I am missing my Brutus quire a
lot and I just saw a few pictures of Shadow.  As always I can't get over what happened
to that little kitty. This thing called grief comes i waves and this very moment I feel
 like I'm drowning.  My friend Anna says it best, "this too shall pass."  I can hope.

In life we loved you dearly.  In death we love you still.  In our hearts you
 hold a place, no one else will every fill.  I'm not sure which is worse 
missing you or the fact that there is nothing I can do about it...

~Nadiya~