Monday September 25th~

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it...

 The new week begins and there is a lot of things going 

through my mind.  I am excited to soon be going home with 

Sniff.  I am not looking forward to the plane trip because Sniff 

howls from the start to the end of the flight.  Non-stop.

I aa happy but at the same time I am a little sad.  Every time

 we leave Branson I leave a part of my heart.  For me the hardest

 thing to do right now is leaving my wildlife.  Although I am attached 

to Almost Home, I know good people are now caring for it.

Arvid and I have a busy week.  I have already said my 

goodbyes to a few of the people at Almost Home, and that was sad.  

Thank goodness that no matter where I am I am always reachable.

We have made many friends here in Branson and 

no matter where we go, I hope we maintain the friendship.  

Yesterday we had our last Sunday at The Landing.

  For this time.  It was a beautiful day.

Animals are so smart.  Sniff can sense a change is coming

 and he's being super cautious.  Love him so much.

I believe that the only courage anybody ever

 needs is the courage to follow your own dreams...

~Nadiya~

Florida Is Calling ~ Sunday September 24th

It's been a long time.  I'm so glad to be coming back home

Getting myself re-oriented to be back in Florida. 

 A little Florida humor sure sets the mood.

Florida is calling and we must soon go.  Looking forward

 so much to being home in Florida again.  Walks downtown

 and more. And that's our building in the middle of it all.

Looking forward to Art Walk, Music Walk and just being 

downtown again.  Had a good time in Branson, but it's time to head 

back to winter wonderland.  Back soon to the Sunshine State.

Sniff has had a good run also in Branson, but back home in Florida 

the sunshine awaits him.  He will soon be basking in it for hours on end.

I'm all excited about going back to Publix.  My favorite grocery 

store in Florida.  Looking forward to Friday night pizza, sunrises

 on the balcony and those amazing sunsets.  Yes, it's soon 

time to go back home to Florida, the Sunshine State 🌞.

Here in Branson Sniff knows something is going on, and every 

so often he gets into this "playful" mood and just tries to bite.  He's not

 really biting, but Arvid still thinks he is, Arvid is also learning.

The thrill of coming home has never changed...

~Nadiya~

Saturday September 23rd~

Time waits for no one, even though things in life

 may end, the memories of them will continue to exist...

Time.  It won’t stop for anything or anyone, and our time in Branson

 is soon coming to an end.  Winter in Florida next.  I have said it, and I

 will say it again; I am going to miss Branson.  Specifically my wildlife 

friends.  They have become a very huge part of my life here 🦌.

Everyday Sniff is getting a little more "concerned" as to 

what's going on, but even so he never misses nap time.  Life 

of a cat.  If you're Sniff it's slack off time all day long.

No matter what, Sniff gets his relaxed time at all hours of the day.

Yesterday I made a short visit to Almost Home.  This

 place and its people will always be special for me.

Our Friday would not be complete without a little outing 

at Branson Landing specifically, Landshark Margaritaville.

Between soccer and chores, we have a busy Saturday.  Wishing 

everyone a good day, just remember whatever you do do with joy.

How did it get so late so soon...

~Nadiya~

Friday September 22nd~

 You'll start to worry a little less, believe a little more, 

and find sunshine after even the darkest of storms. That's 

not to say there won't be a few puddles on the road...

Every time I go into the basement I am amazed at the amount

 of work Arvid did. Mostly all by himself.  I helped a little,

 but he worked non-stop to make it the way it is today.

What a difference a few months and plain hard work makes.

Yesterday was my no cook Thursday.  Surely liking Thursdays 

more and more.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy cooking, but the clean up

 afterwards not so much.  Almost everyday I make 2 different meals.  One

 for Arvid one for me and I have many pots as the end result.  So eating

 out on Thursdays is a treat.  Yesterday it was a delicious one 🍔.

We have had heavy rain most of the night.  At least the deck

is nice and clean for a little, but pretty soon it will be filled with

 bird seeds again.  Can't not feed the birds nor the squirrels.

As mentioned previously, Branson has 

some pretty cool waterfront dining options.

To all a very good day.  Friday always something exciting happening.

How I start my day.  Everyday.  I love this so much.

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy 

not on the fighting the old, but on building the new...

~Nadiya~

Thursday September 21st~

Always believe in yourself and keep going...

Yesterday I spent a few hours dicing carrots and sweet 

potatoes for the deer.  Apart from corn, they also love carrots

 and sweet potatoes.  The Grealds preparation is much easier 

because I do not have to dice them in bite size.  They can

 pick it up hold it and gobble it up, whereas the deer can't.

Sniff and Arvid continue to keep me happy.  Just watching 

the interaction between the two of them warms my heart.

Yesterday was a busy and a little stressful day, but now it's done. 

 Today promises to be less busy and definitely not stressful.  

Arvid and I are keeping busy.  To all a very good day.

My mornings here always begin on a beautiful note.

Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams 

according to your vision and purpose instead of 

the expectations and opinions of others...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday September 20th ~

Sometimes life takes you on a journey that

 changes everything you thought you wanted...

 Arvid, Sniff and I wish everyone a good day. 

 Our time in Branson is nearing to an end, but we still 

have quite a lot to do. Still many busy days ahead.

I continue to be delighted every morning with my wildlife.  

My wildlife keeps me happy.  Here is mama deer and her

 now two grown up babies.  They love corn and carrots.

Arvid keeps himself busy most of the time 

with trips to Almost Home.  I go in sporadically.

Last week as I was helping out at The View, our second hotel I

 was "rewarded" with a painful blister.  It's healing pretty well so can't 

even complain.  Yesterday as I was cooking I got careless and sliced

 my finger with the scissors.  That bled quite a lot and did hurt a bit.  

I hope today I do not break any bones or injure some other 

body part.  I'm running out of body parts to injure.  On a good

 note, I heal fairly fast, and if I don't it does not really 

matter I still have to do all of the exact same things.

A good day to all and let us not forget that no matter 

what, there is always something to be grateful for.

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you 

reap, but by the seeds that you plant...

~Nadiya~

Wildlife and Some ~ Tuesday September 19th

The love for all living creatures is the most

 noble attribute of man. Each species is a masterpiece, 

a creation assembled with extreme care and genius...

 I never have a dull moment.  My wildlife keeps me 

entertained and super busy.  I spend more time preparing

 food for them than I do for Sniff, but I love them so.

I am already missing my mornings in Branson 🐦

My Gerald keeps me laughing all the time.  Just the other day

 I watched him gobble up all his carrots and sweet potatoes.  I then

 gave the turtles some brad, next thing you know Gerald steals the

 bread.  As soon as he saw me he ran behind his concrete wall. 

Lately the vultures have been "visiting" they just sit 

on the tree for hours then fly away.  Even when I go out

 and take pictures of them, they don't seem to be bothered.  

I find them interesting to watch.  The seem pretty calm.

My days are full of all sorts of entertainment from my 

wildlife friends.   I love watching the birds spread their wings 

and just sun.  The squirrels are always up to some mischief, 

and here is the turtle before Gerald stole some of his bread.

The black kitty I have seen has babies.  We have seen 2 so far. 

 Together with mama there are 3 black-gray kitties roaming, but

 I found out that many of the neighbors also feed them.  I have 

bought them water and food bowls.  Everyday between 4-6pm

 they usually show up for soft foodies.   The last couple of 

days I have not seen them, but I still leave food and

 by morning it's gone I will NOT get attached 😺

Every morning I also wake up to amazing sunrises.  

Well most mornings.  They never fail to leave me in awe.

And then we have those sunsets.  I have to say, I am

 one very lucky girl.  No matter where we go, I seem to find 

the right spot for sunrises and sunsets.  Makes me happy.

When all is said and done, Sniff is always my happy place.

Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is

 the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it...

~Nadiya~

Monday September 18th ~

 Don't let what you cannot do

 interfere with what you can do...

A new week upon us, and many things are happening. 

 Some good and of course some not so good.  Just deal with

 it and keep moving forward and give it your best shot.

We have had a busy few weeks and it continues, 

but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and we are

 seeing a glimmer of it.  Hope you also find your light at the end 

of your tunnel.  A good week to all and may everything you 

do take you closer to accomplishing your goals/dreams.

The weather is changing.  You can feel it in the air.

  Just the other morning we had heavy fog while the sun

 tried to make its presence felt.  Was a pretty morning.

When the week begins, think of how you will end it...

~Nadiya~

Sunday September 17th~

Now it's the little moments that stop me in

 my tracks, because that's what life is all about...

 Arvid and I enjoy every moment we can at Branson Landing. 

 Yesterday evening we were pleasantly surprised when we got there.

  There was a band playing, so we we spent a few hours listening 

to the music and enjoying the beautiful scenery and weather.

Soccer break is over so Arvid has a lot on his schedule right now.

  Between the games, Almost Home and The View it's busy.

Sniff and I have been awake since 3am.  Another one of those 

long days for me.  Sniff is already napping so he will be just fine.

Pretty soon my wildlife will be showing up. 

 Still dark outside.  Together with Sniff, my wildlife it 

the best part of my mornings.  Arvid sleeps in 😂

A happy day to all.  Always be yourself. 

 Everyone else as they say is taken.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead 

where there is no path and leave a trail...

~Nadiya~