Saturday At Home ~

I can't wait for all of this to pass, so I can 

return to social distancing on my own terms...

The new norm is like living an adventure.  From day to

 day you never know what to expect.  But I am surely getting 

excited because I can finally catch a glimpse of the what's

 coming next.  COVID  cases are going down in Florida. 

For me this is a new high.  Means soon we can

 start living again.  Doing the things we want.  Yes,

 it's like an adventure.  Don't know what to

 expect, but always ready to deal with it.

  Latest is that restaurants in Broward County have 

extended their opening hours.  Instead of closing at 10 PM

 they will now be closing at 11 PM.  Sounds like a small deal,

 but everything is pointing to better days ahead.

I can feel the tide turning as the saying goes.  It will

 be nice to see family again, go to a restaurant.  Just

 go out sit and have a Pina Colada at our favorite 

Friday spot.  I can feel the excitement already.

Not much gong on today.  From the balcony we 

spotted a cleanup crew sucking up sewage from the canal.

Then another truck came to do the clean up.  Always something 

going on.  Yes, lately there has been lots of sewage seeping

 into the canals here in Fort Lauderdale.  The tide is high, 

and pipes are busted.  All's good in our world 😲

Saturday.  Hmmm what can we do?  Sit on the

 balcony.  Arvid has his last soccer game, Sniff and I 

will always find something to keep us busy.  Sniff will 

probably sleep for the next few hours.  But first he 

has to do his daily cleaning.  This takes some time.

As we prepare for another Tropical Storm, this time it's Laura,

 we are being kept entertained with all the boats seeking 😎

shelter inland.  Boat after boat is passing by.  Life is good.

Florida.  Life is always interesting.  Never a dull moment. 

 I love it and it's home.  I can't picture myself living anywhere else. 

 At one time I thought I would like to live again in California, but

 not any more.  This is where we are happiest.  This is home.  

No matter where we go, we always come back 🌴

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy weekend.

  For those in the path of Laura, take your precautions because

 you never know what can happen in the blink of an eye. It's 

better to err on the side of caution in theses situations.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity...

~Nadiya~

Friday August 21st ~

Don't think of introversion as something that 

needs to be cured... Spend your free time the way you

 like, not the way you think you're supposed to...

We finally went walking yesterday.  Though it was hot, 

it still was not as hot as it usually is.  A nice wind made for 

a good walk.  Our walk is scenic, but even so, there is garbage 

scattered everywhere.  Be it on the ground or above ground.

Our mornings on the balcony suddenly became

 even more interesting for me.  My little squirrel friend 

reappeared.  He keeps me busy and entertained, jumping

 from tree to tree.  Very acrobatic little dude.

Arvid was happy to report to me that everyone on this little

 boat was wearing a mask.  COVID sure has taught us all in more 

ways than one that it's the little things in life that really matter.

I get restless at some point everyday.  More like bored

 and fed up with the situation we/everyone is living right 

now.  I look forward to the day it will be better.

It's Friday and we will be staying home once again.

 It's been over 5 months now that we have been isolating

 at home.  It's getting tiring.  I need a change soon.  Just 

like everyone else.  Hoping for that change to be here soon.  

 COVID cases are decreasing in Florida 👏.  Still high, but 

not as they used to be.  Better days are around the corner.

Hello Friday.  What do you have in store for us today.

  Better make it good.  Don’t worry about the world coming

 to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia

You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.

Without great solitude, no serious work is possible...

~Nadiya~

August 20th ~ Just Because

You and I have memories longer 

than the road that stretches out ahead...

Many years ago Arvid and I lived in the Bahamas.  

We have a home there it's called the Lil Red.  One of my 

favorite spots in Eleuthera, Bahamas is the Glass Window Bridge.  

Look at the picture below and dare to tell me I'm wrong.

You can clearly see the dark blue waters of the 

Atlantic Ocean on one side and the turquoise 

waters of the Caribbean Sea on the other side.

One of nature's true wonders, The Glass Window

 Bridge will certainly leave you breathless as you

 drink in the magnificent panoramic view. 

It is one of the few places on earth where you 

can compare the rich blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean 

on one side of the road and the calm Bight of Eleuthera

 (often incorrectly called the Caribbean Sea) on the other 

side, separated by a strip of rock just 30 feet wide.

The 'Bridge' is about two miles east of Upper Bogue

 and connects the Northern and Southern points of 

Eleuthera by a paved road. The land here is high 

on both sides, falling away abruptly to nearly sea

 level, and is the narrowest point on the island.

Another great adventure Arvid, Brutus and I experienced. 

 Now we will be having new adventures with Sniff.

Looking forward one day to going back 

when this COVID is over, and travel is once again 

allowed.  For now pictures take me back.

Reminiscing.  Not always a bad thing.  We have

 made beautiful memories and it's nice to look back 

at them.  Makes me smile.  In each of these memories 

I see Brutus.  Now Sniff, Arvid and I will be

 making more memories together 💛💚💜

Today's agenda, balcony time, TV, more balcony and 
more TV.  A walk this afternoon is also looking good.

Life brings tears, smiles, and memories. The tears dry,

 the smiles fade, but the memories last forever...

~Nadiya~

Life ~ August 19th

Smile.  Life is too short to be unhappy...

Soon soccer will be over, but while it's still on 

these two are sure making the most of it.  Seems like

 Arvid and Sniff have discovered what a powerful

 sleeping aid TV is.  I sure have.  Some of my

 best sleeps have been while watching TV.

The other night the sky lit up once again with lightning.
The "show" went on for hours.  Of course I was out
 on the balcony trying to capture it on camera.

 In between his TV shows, Arvid was also coming out to watch.
 It was a beautiful sight.  Even Sniff enjoyed the "show"

A new day begins.  Filled with expectations and the
desire to begin something new.  I'm really tired of
COVID, and some days I feel extremely bla.

I know everyone is also tired of it.  Here in
 Florida the number of COVID cases are going down.
  Eventually life will be better again.  Can't wait.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy days 😛.
 Let's not forget that everyone you meet is fighting
 a battle you know nothing about.  Be kind.  Always.

In a world where you can be anything be kind. 
 Have a kind heart, fierce mind and brave spirit...

~Nadiya~

Something to Think About...

We spend the first twelve months of our children's
 lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next
 twelve telling them to sit down and shut up..

Yesterday as I was in the grocery store I saw a mother
 and her child.  Probably 4-6 years old. The kid was acting up,
and really putting on a "show" for anyone who would look.
Of course I was there and I was looking.  I could not
believe it. I have seen this behaviour before, but
still was as amazed at it all the same.

The kid was screaming bloody murder and the 
mother just stood there patiently.  Doing nothing 
just looking embarrassed and kinda lost. 

 I know kids are kids, and from time to time
 they have these tantrums, but I also believe that
 as parents one should be able to discipline their kid.

I thought this would just go on and on until who
 knows, but then all of a sudden the mother lets out 
a scream.  Just four words, "shut the **** up."

To say I was stunned at the use of the word would be
 an understatement, but I was more amazed that the kid 
just shut up.  It was like magic.  One moment he was 
screaming and the next he was as quiet as a mouse.
What a transformation.  You had to be there to believe it.

I'm not sure what happened, but boy if it were
 that simple to make others shut up then I would
 love to try it out.  I can't say I agreed with the mothers 
choice of words, but I have to say she got the desired
 effect. Hmmm...I'm an adult, maybe I can get 
some annoying people to shut up also...

Remember silence is golden. Have a nice day and
 please respect others and learn when to shut up!

It's very important in life to know when
to shut up.  You should not be afraid of silence...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday August 18th Humor Speaks ~

A sense of humor is a major

 defense against minor troubles...

As the new week progresses, I find it best to approach
 it with a good sense of humor and a carefree attitude.
 With all that's going on it's the best way to survive
the day.  That's my attitude these days.

Humor can be one of our best survival tools, 

and right now with all that's going, on Floridians find

 lots of time to be creative and to see the humor in

 every situation. It's not only a Floridian thing, but I 

live in Florida so my focus is Florida 🌴🌴.

I've reached that age where my brain goes 

from "you probably shouldn't say that." To 

"what the hell, let's see what happens."

 To all a very happy day.  Just remember everything 

is gonna be all right.  Just have to give it some time.

A well developed sense of humor is the pole that adds

 balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life...

~Nadiya~

Monday ~ New Week ~ New Hopes ~

When life gives you Monday dip 

it in glitter and sparkle all day...

Mama said that we will be starting a new adventure 

one of these days, and that I will love it.  As long as

 I am with my mama and dada I am always happy. 

 Does not matter where we go.  They love me.

Almost sunset from one of our walks in our area.  

It's beautiful and I can't imagine living anywhere else.

  This is and will always be home.  The Sunshine State.

I love being around everything I know. The convenience

 of getting around and just being on the move whenever 

I want to and feel like it.  I love new adventures,

 but most of all I love being where we are.

Arvid and I have moved so much since we have 

been together.  We loved every move we have made. 

 We made it a habit of moving, but now I am ready to stay

 in one place and call it home.  Does that mean we

 will do it?  With Arvid you never know.

A new week begins.  We reflect.  We plan and we prepare 

ourselves for what it holds.  You never know what happens 

from day to day in our lives.  Definitely not predictable 😁

The week is yours own it.  Whichever memories 

you have from the weekend, say goodbye to 

them all and take advantage of the start

 of a new week. Hello Monday. 

Life offers you so many doors, it is up to 

you which to open and which one to close...

~Nadiya~

Sundays ~ August 15th

Every day is a new day, and you'll never be

 able to find happiness if you don't move on...

I said to Arvid,"Sniff waits patiently for you to get 

up before crying out for his foodies."  He said to me,

 "anyone can be trained except you.  I've tried for

 20 years now"  And so begins our Sunday.

Arvid loves breakfast.  His favorite meal of the day. 

 On Sundays I make him bacon and eggs.  He sure looks 

forward to this, and if one Sunday I don't he pouts.

I'm not too crazy about bacon so for me it does

 not really matter, but for Arvid it sure makes

 a big difference.  He always plans for it.

Nothing much planned for the day.  Soccer is on.  

balcony is awaiting us.  Yeah all is good with us.  

Best news of all the COVID cases are going

 down.  Better days are on their way.

I've seen better days, but I have also seen worse. I don't 

have everything that I want, but I do have all that I need.  

I woke up with some aches and pains, but I woke up.

  My life may not be perfect, but I am blessed😍...

~Nadiya~

Lazy Saturday ~

People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing 

every day.  I have done nothing at all today...

Wherever the sun goes that's where we will find Sniff. 

 Afternoons he enjoys the sun coming into the living

 room next to one of his many mats and scratch pads. 

 Our home is designed around Sniffs needs 😻.

Certain boats pass all day long by us.  It's almost 

impossible to not take pictures of them.  This particular 

boat passes anywhere from 3-4 times a day everyday.  

Another boat passing every day is the Broward  County Sheriff.

When I have nothing to do, I take the same pictures again and again.

Today not many big yachts passed by, but does not matter, 

we enjoy it all the same.  Always something to see.

One of the many things I love about our view is 

that no matter what we see, we are always surrounded

 by palm trees 🌴.  Florida living at its best.

As we watched the soccer game today, all 3 of us napped.

  That's how interesting the game was.  Plus TV puts

 me to sleep always.  Today even Arvid fell asleep.

Lazy Saturday at home.  Not bad at all.  This 

pandemic situation has made me sort of lazy.  Lazy

 meaning I get tired doing absolutely NOTHING!

Happy day all.  Hope you have had a great one so far.

There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want...

~Nadiya~