Thursday, A Cold December 9th

 Yesterday I was clever.  I wanted to change the world.  
Today I am wise 🙈 so I will change myself...

Yesterday my sister Nirvana sent us a picture 

of her Christmas tree.  She was ecstatic and was loving

 her little tree with its tiny decorations and baby lights.

  It was the tree we gave her when we left PR.  

Of all the things left in our apartment when we bought

 it, I loved the tree best, and couldn't be happier 

to know that Nirvana loves it as well 🎄. 

 Last year according to Arvid, was the first time he 

ever decorated for Christmas.  Well he and Kimsy

 decorated together.  Sure it's not happening again. 

 PR is magical, and I miss so much about it.

Sharon is back in Pena Mar (Fajardo, PR) she has already

 seen Marbles, MacGyver and Shygirl.  I chatted with a few 

people there in the complex and was told all the kitties are

 still alive (as far as they know)  Made me super happy. 

 Sharon calls Shygirl Freckes and MacGyver Tiger. 

 Made me sad for a while, but at the end of the day

 happy because they are still there.  Rascal was also seen. 

 The others not confirmed sighting, but hopefully soon.

Sniff is loving it here.  Not so much being cold, 

but checking out the different windows from the condo. 

 His favorite spot (and mine) is still his room/my office/guest room. 

 We do spend a lot of time there just looking out.  But this 

one is from Arvid's office.  Looking at the squirrel.

Good morning all.  Was hoping to go walking this morning, 

but I chickened out because of the cold.  I miss my 

mornings so very much in PR with the kitties,

 but will brave it soon enough here as well.

Sometimes in life, a moment in time, alters your whole life, 

forever changes the road ahead. Start where you are. 

 Use what you have.  Do what you can...

~Nadiya~

The Simple Things In Life ~ The Beach

 One day your life will flash before

 your eyes.  Make it worth watching...

Looking back to when we were there.  So beautiful 💛

Even with the rain, you can't take away the beauty of a 
place, and Fort Lauderdale is definitely a beautiful place.

As we drove by the beach at nights, it was always raining, 

but every so often there was an opening for a picture. 

 I did get wet occasionally as I put the window down.

This is the new display on the beach.  

Arvid does not like it too much 😂.

Mr Snowman and his selfie stick.  Kinda funny if you ask.

Even with travel opening to Europeans, the beach 

was still fairly deserted.  I did ask the taxi man if he 

has seen many European tourist, and he said not

 so far.  Mostly Americans are there right now.

I'm sure in the next couple of weeks the

 beach and Fort Lauderdale will be packed.

For now I and enjoying looking back at 

these quiet times and a fairly "deserted" beach

Christmas is everywhere and it sure looks beautiful.

Could not miss a photo shoot with Mr. Snowman.

Wishing everyone happy times and a happy day.
  Make everyday count and make it amazing.

Every day, I like to wake up and remind 

myself to be grateful of the simple things...

~Nadiya~

A Cold Day Here ~ December 7th

 Faith is taking the whole step even 
when you don't see the whole staircase...

Shock to Arvid's system. He said the temperatures switched

 from one day to another.  On Sunday it was 73F, yesterday

😎 morning it was 37F, the numbers just switched around.

  He's cold 😂, and it keeps getting "better"  the temperature

 is dipping, and Arvid keeps our place hot as a sauna 😲

Sniff is also cold, based on the fact that every night he snuggles 

up really close between Arvid and I.  He never moves, and 

only gets out of bed when I do.  I'm earlier than Arvid.

During the day there is so much to do.  Unpacking does 

not seem to ever want to end.  On Sundays we still take 

some time off to have a relaxing outing and a good meal.

  Also there is always some time left in rediscovering 

one of our favorite places, The Landing in Branson.

  Beautiful time of the year right now.  Everywhere.

To all a very good morning.  The good thing is that 

after today we will be warming up again.  Weather in Branson

 is very strange.  One day is freezing and a few days after it

 feels like summer. Warm weather is coming soon again.

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes...

~Nadiya~

New Week Here ~

The world awaits you this week.
 Go show it the stuff you’re made of... 

Our second full week begins here in Branson.

  So far we were lucky with the weather, but I think 

this is about to change a little even so, I still think we

 are still on the "warm" side for winter.  Liking it.

Sniff is getting more and more comfortable in our

 new place.  My so called office/guest room is now 

Sniffs room.  It's still my office 😂, but it now has 

more as many things of Sniff's as it does of mine. 

I love my new space.  When not working I spend 

most of my time here.  I have a little window, and

 Sniff loves to sleep on my desk and watch out.

Arvid and I have been enjoying a few things we

 never had much time to do when we lived and worked 

in Branson.  Feels good to just enjoy and not have to be

 disturbed by a phone call at all hours of the day.  

I loved every moment at Almost Home, but I am also

 loving this new experience in Branson of just living.  I guess 

we did make the right decision after all to come here.

Our families are a little surprised. on the other hand they

 do know us by now.  Anything goes and we make decisions 

on the sup or the moment.  I'm not saying always goes, but 

we run with it, and being in Branson was just one of those.

Arvid said it was not that cold, so I told him we should go

 and have ice-cream.  Andy's frozen custard, a place I have

 wanted to go ever since we lived in Branson.  Tis was our 

first time, and it sure won't be the last.  Was very good.

Fort Lauderdale is always in our minds, unfortunately

 not in a good way in Arvid's mind.  He sees only problems

 there 😂, but as time goes by he will change his mind.

Yesterday one of the ladies living in Pena Mar

 (the complex we lived in PR) told me she saw Marbles, 

but not the others.  Hoping as the week progresses she 

will see the others.  I really miss my PR kitties. 

Time to get busy again.  Still more boxes waiting for me.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead.  Stay warm.

Three things you shouldn’t lose this week; your faith,

 your courage, and your smile. Happy new week...

~Nadiya~

Sunday In Branson ~

Behind you, all your memories. Before you, all your dreams.
 Around you, all who love you. Within you, all you need... 

Waking up to a chilly but pretty morning.  The unpacking 
continues, but there is always time for Sniff and soccer.

Sniff is getting better, but he really has a bruised nose.  

Yesterday I gave him his sweater because it was a little

 chilly, believe it or not he did not struggle to take it off.

The agenda for today.  Same as the last few days.

  Unpack as many boxes as possible.  Happy Sunday all.

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy 

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

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 4th ~

 I close my eyes and the flashback starts...

I am awake early every morning.  Some mornings if 

I am lucky I fall asleep again, most mornings I look at the

 clock, and it's the time I would usually get up and go feed

 the kitties.  When we lived in Puerto Rico.  I will never

 see them again, and that weighs on me everyday.

During the day we are so very busy.  Unpacking is a non 

ending job, and there is still so much to do.  The good thing 

is that everyday it's getting better and better. One box less.

To break up the "work" day we always try to do a little 

something in between.  Not everyday, but whenever possible.

Sniff has the cold.  He's been sneezing for the last 2 days. 

 Change of temperature is also getting to him.  Somme how 

Sniff seems to be much colder than Arvid and I.  He's always 

snuggled up in his bed or close to us.  I think it's been

 a little too much change for the little dude.

Arvid and I had a very nice outing yesterday. We

 visited one of our many favorite places.  The weather

 was beautiful and the views sure were spectacular.

Saturday morning and my thoughts are somewhere else 

right now.  Good morning everyone.  Wishing you a happy day 

and a great weekend.  There is something good in everyday.

Life is like a camera.  Focus on what is important, 

capture the good times, develop from the negatives,

 and if things don't work out take another shot...

~Nadiya~

December 3rd ~

Amazing how manageable life can feel
 with only one blanket and the right two arms... 

We wanted cooler temperatures and we are having it. 
 Snuggles with hot chocolate and warm clothes.  Right now 

it feels good.  Let's see how it goes from here on.

Yesterday my sister sent us a very beautiful picture of the

 Christmas tree 🎄from Rockefeller Center in NYC.  The tree 

was lit on December 1st and she goes there every year to see it. 

 Long, long time ago when I once lived in NYC, I did the same.

Sniff is not 100% his self as yet but getting there. 

 Last night he slept most of the night snuggled up to us,

 mainly to Arvid who loved it because he said Sniff 

is so warm.  Sniff still in bed all covered up.

Back home in Fort Lauderdale, I just saw a friend posted this.

  No questions about it, it's a beautiful place.  Happy Friday to all.

What consumes your mind, controls your life... 

~Nadiya~

December 2nd ~

True life is lived when tiny changes occur...  

Once again looking for a change in life and that brought

 us back to Branson.  A place where we have good friends

 and attachments.  For now it is home again 💚

For the last year Puerto Rico💜 was home.  I love it,
 and always will.  It has many memories and loved ones. 

 We will always go back.  My PR kitties are there and they

 will forever have a special place in my heart.

We wanted cooler temperatures, but are we sure 

we are ready for this much cooler temperatures?  It has 

already hit freezing temperatures since we've been here.

  In PR it was always beautiful blue skies, and warm 

weather.  Sometimes a little too warm for us.

Sniff has had a very difficult time since we came home.  

Yesterday he slept all day long.  This morning he was a 

little more "alive" and getting back to his "normal" self.  

In a couple of days he will definitely be all good to go.

Moving doesn't change who you are. It only

 changes the view outside your window...

~Nadiya~

December 1st ~ New Month

 December, being the last month of the year,

 cannot help but make us think of what is to come...

Looking forward to some exciting changes in our lives.

  Arvid and I are always thinking up of ways to make our lives 

more interesting.  Hopefully one day we find that right spot.

2021 has gone by faster than I can imagine.

  Pandemic and all it was a good year for us.

2021 has left me with beautiful memories and a hollowness 

in my heart.  Time will be a good healer.  It always is. 

 My thoughts still finds its way to my PR kitties.

Bringing Sniff home to Branson yesterday was 

very difficult.  Sniff used to be a good traveller, 

but on his last 3 trips on an airplane he has 

been "bad" and yesterday was the worse.  

But it was all worth it, because now he has many 

places to be and to explore.  All over again. Also 

the sunset on our way back home was a beauty.

No matter what happens, or how bad 

it seems today, life does go on, and it will be

 better tomorrow.  Happy December to all.

Whatever the new month is bringing for you, be it good

 or bad; always keep that smile on your face no matter what...

~Nadiya~