Wednesday August 11th ~

Happiness comes from contentment...

Not a day goes by that Brutus is not in my thoughts.

Feeling good because I have now caught 12 cats.  They

 have all had the sterilization surgery.  Fewer babies will be 

in our are 🙏 one can always hope.  Still have a few more

 to trap, and who know how many more will show up.

These are the 14 cats I feed every morning. 

 Out of these 14, 12 have had their surgeries.  

Just missing Milo and Mama.  Hopefully soon.

Yesterday was a very dark and stormy looking day. 

 We did not go walking because of the rain coming from 

the tropical depression.  Some boats still ventured out.

Sniff was mostly staying put between Arvid and I.  He's not 

worried about no tropical depression because he knows we

 are here, and I will always protect him from everything that 

could possible harm him.  Sniff is after all our little boysie.

A happy day to all.  May you always find 

the good in everything and also in each new day.

Being happy is the greatest form of success...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday August 10th ~

 I have always been delighted at the prospect of 

a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a

 bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning...

Another beautiful day here in Puerto Rico.
  Looking out from our balcony.  Not so bad, 

even with a tropical depression on its way.

A stormy looking day, but I have to say it sure is picture perfect.

The Tokyo Olympics came to an end on Sunday with team

 USA atop the medal table after trailing China for several days. 

This morning I trapped Taina.  Sibling to Rocco. 

 Mom is Spitfire and dad is Poo Poo.  She/he will be

 home on Friday.  Was not easy, but worked out good.

When something is important enough, you

 do it even if the odds are not in your favor...

~Nadiya~

Monday August 9th ~

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully... 

Sniff is so happy.  He just can't seem to get enough 

of his dada.  He makes sure he's never too far from 

his dada.  I love to seeing them together like this.

Routines.  So very important sometimes. 
 For Arvid, for Sniff and even for me.  Keeps us happy.

Wishing everyone a week filled with positivity and better

 things to come.  Let's not forget that small positive changes

 to your morning routine can transform your entire day. 

Today I waited 2 hours trying to trap either Milo

 or Taina 😹.  No luck.  The both walked into the 

trap several times.  Ate everything then casually 

backed out.  Let's see what tomorrow holds.

Every new day begins with possibilities...

~Nadiya~

Sunday August 8th ~

 No matter what yesterday was like, 

birds always start the new day with a song...

Sundays are our take it easy day.  Just like most of our

 days 😂, but somehow it seems a little more relaxed that 

our usual weekdays. Also, I don't go out walking at 5:50 in 

the mornings 😟  This makes me always a little sad.

Not much planned.  Usual Sunday outing 💛. 

 Soccer has begun so now our outings will be 

based on soccer's schedule, but that's OK.  

Arvid has something to do, and I have alone 

time to do what I like.  Happy both of us.  Maybe 

I can even go see my sister one of these days on 

my own while a game is going on 🙏😍

Don't make things too complicated. Try to relax,
 enjoy every moment, get used to everything...

~Nadiya~

Saturday August 7th ~

 Everyday is a good day,  just some days are better...

Yesterday Arvid gets a call from a guy he knows in

 Fort Lauderdale. He is visiting Puerto Rico and is 

thinking of maybe moving here permanently.

Next thing I know, Arvid says he will be 

showing Dave around.  I didn’t want to go, 

but did agree to meet them for lunch. 

 

Dave is a non stop talker.  He knew everyone 

and everything.  Reminded us of a few people we

 know 😱, even so it was an entertaining time.

I also learnt a brand  new expression (for me it's

 new)  It’s called catfishing.  Of course this also 

made me laugh because I do know a few people who

 when you see their online profile it's NOTHING 

compared to what they look like in real life😂.  

As Arvid said, “our nephew J knows all about this."  

He experienced it first hand.  J was the one who 

first mentioned it to Arvid a while back.

Seems like these women touch up their pictures 

so much that when you do meet, it’s as if

  you’re meeting a totally different person.

Dave said that many online profiles are this way

  Facebook, dating apps etc.  I also know a few people

 like this   Their profile picture and the real them is 

like night and day.  They're some people I have 

no clue what they look like without makeup.

I love all the Apps that can edit pictures and

 stuff, but when it starts to get too unrealistic

 then something is definitely wrong here. 

 It's like how can a person look the same way 

today as they did 5-10 years ago.  Face totally

 smooth to the point it's really shiny.  Not a single

 wrinkle,  that is until you see them in real time.

  Dave really made me laugh😂 yesterday.

Another warm day here.  Arvid is back to 

checking the daily cases of Covid.  Not so 

good right now.  It's starting all over again.

A very good friend of ours back home in Florida 

has been tested positive for this new strain.  He's

 vaccinated, but at the same time he is in his 80's.

A happy day to all.  Arvid and I do enjoy our balcony time.

At the end of the day, I am thankful my 

blessings are bigger than my problems...

~Nadiya~

Friday Feels ~ August 6th

Every morning starts a new page in your 

story. Make it a great one today... 

I almost didn't get get out of bed this morning. 

 For a change I thought 5:15 AM was a little too

 early today, but then I thought of the kitties, and 

especially Rocco who was probably really hungry. 

 This is his first morning back after surgery, so I got up,

 prepared my VERY HEAVY food bag and out I went.

J is still in Colombia working and at the same time 

enjoying the country.  Below is his view from his rental

 place.  The pandemic has allowed many to work from 

home giving us more flexibility.  J is making the most

 of it, and at the same time he's working.  Win-Win

Another hot day in Puerto Rico, but always beautiful.

Today I also brought Bandit home.

  He took off like the bandit he is 😂.

Wishing everyone a happy start of the weekend.

Look for the magic in everyday...

~Nadiya~

Thursday August 5th ~

 Take a small step everyday.  No one is
 perfect, that's why pencils have erasers...

My dad is adorable always.  This was him yesterday 💙all 

set to go to a meeting in their neighborhood.  My dad loves to

 be a part of the community he lives in.  From little I remember

 him to always organizing the neighbors and to bring everyone

 together.  Everyone loved him then.  Every one loves him now.

Arvid is always finding things to do, and he has an

 avid "helper" in Sniff.  Yes, I also help with whatever

 it is he has going on.  Never a dull moment here.

Today Rocco is back home.  Happy as can be.

The days are beautiful, but hot.  Island life is good.

The most beautiful people wear their hearts on 

their sleeves,  and their souls in their smiles

~Nadiya~

Wednesday August 4th ~

Having a positive mental attitude

 is asking how something can be done 

rather than saying it can't be done... 

My Mondays and Tuesdays are busy. 

 Both days are possible to trap a kitty, and

 this week I have been fortunate to trap Rocco 

(Reba) on Monday, and Bandit on Tuesday.  

On these days my mornings start at 5:30 and it's

 not done until about 10:00.  Between trapping and 

waiting at the vet makes for a pretty hectic morning,

 but as long as I can trap a kitty I'm very happy.

As Bandit was fighting to get out of the trap, Marbles was

 freaked out.  She was looking and keeping her distance.  

After this I hope Marbles and the other kitties do

 not try to go into the trap for the food.  Baby for sure is 

probably going to get herself trapped all over again 😂.

Bandit will be home on Friday.  Rocco tomorrow.

Beautiful day here.  The water is back to being 

crystal clear and blue.  The seaweed is gone and sitting

 out on the balcony is still a favorite pass time. 

Halfway into the week.  To all a happy day.  

Take if from Sniff, don't worry be happy.

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking 

more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less...

~Nadiya~

Monday August 2nd ~

 Attitude determines the altitude of life...

On Sundays I do not go out early in the mornings 

😔 though I am awake I have made the difficult 

choice to not feed the kitties on this day. Though

 it's difficult I make the effort to stay in 😔

 Both Arvid and I agreed that in the long run this 

will be best for them.  It really was Arvids suggestion.

 One day when we leave they need to know how to get

 their food and not depend on me so much 😔. Trust me, 

I am ready to jump out of bed and go. This is every Sunday. 

When Arvid was in Norway I went out 7 days a week and 

gave them foodies. Now I stick to our agreement 😟

Saturday we went to the movies. I wanted to go 

see it when Arvid was in Norway, but he said to wait

 for him 😊 always better when we do it together.

It was so cold in the movie theater that Arvid 

choose to wear his mask. Said it keeps his face warm.

  He also had on a long sleeve sweater,  some heavy 

jeans and another sweater over the sweater.  

Said next time he’s also taking his leather

jacket 🤐It was really cold  even I have to be

 better prepared next time.  The movie was 

entertains and completely unrealistic 😀

This morning I trapped Reba, who is actually a

 boy so is now Rocco.  He's already at the vet 

and I will bring him home on Thursday.  

Already a productive week for me.  One cat a week 

 is what I aim for.  If I trap more, then I am happy.

To all a great week.  Looking good on our end 😀

The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday

 regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day...

~Nadiya~

Sunday August 1st ~

 Take a positive look at mistakes of the

 previous month, because they can teach you and

 make you wiser and stronger this month...

August starts with a good vibe always.  It's the first 

day of a new month and it's also Anna's birthday.  

Anna and I met so many years ago in California under very

 sad circumstances.  Her mom had just died, and my first husband 

had just died.  So began a bond that holds even stronger today.

Today is the first day of a new month.  Means that 

no matter where you've been, today you get to start again.

  Make sure you seize this opportunity and and make 

each day count.  Make this an amazing month.

May this new month be the beginning of 

wonderful things to come.  And may each day bring 

contentment to your/our lives. Remember it's not

 how much we have but how much we 

appreciate the things we do have.

Happy new month! May the upcoming month

 makes you wiser, kinder, and happier...

~Nadiya~