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~