March 5th~🦅

We weren't prepared for you to go, you were too 

full of life to be, taken away from us so soon...

 Today is ten years now since our little Shadow died.

  Shadow only had four months with us before dying a 

painful and horrible death while in the care of someone

 we trusted. Our hearts will forever grieve for this fierce

 little one that never stood a chance.  I don't spend

 my days thinking about it, but when I do I am 

so angry and my thoughts are not the best.

Humor works for me all the time.  When I'm 

down I always try to look at the funny side of

 things.  It helps.  At least for me it does.

My heart is still heavy with sadness.  Time 

is a good healer and I know with time everything

 feels lighter.  I know because I have lived it a

 few times already.  So much death lately.

Both Shadow and F23 were gone too soon

from this world.  Life continues whether you like 

it or not. We continue to do what we have to do,

 hoping that one day soon the tears will stop.

The heart was made to be broken.

  Good humor is the health of the 

soul, sadness is its poison...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday March 4th~

No matter what happens or how bad it seems today,

 life goes on and it will be better tomorrow...

 One evening Arvid and I went to Snook's 

Bayside Bar and Grill in Key Largo.  We

 went tof drinks, the sunset and music. 

 We got there and the place was packed. 

Those who know rvid can imagine his reaction. 

 I wanted to stay so we did.  We enjoyed a beautiful 

evening and though it was a bit cloudy to start 

with we did manage to get a little of the sunset.

One of the things I really wanted to do was have the all

 you can eat crab legs (AYCE).  I found the restaurant before 

we left.  Arvid did not like to eat seafood at a restaurant,

 and this being part of the Keys there is seafood galore. 

 I enjoyed all my meals because all I ate was seafood.

In between meals and our outings we enjoyed delicious 

tropical drinks.  Not any different from what we do back home,

 but being on a beach setting does make a lil difference.

The main pull for Arvid to go to Key Largo was 

when he found out that a blues band would be playing at

 a place called Carribean Club.  I was the one who 

found it and sent him the link to check it out. 

I needed him to be interested enough.

We did go and it was packed.  Of course we 

enjoyed delicious drinks, the music and for

 me the highlight was watching the sunset.

After seeing all these sunsets from different 

locations, I have to say that we in Fort Myers have

 just as beautiful if not more beautiful sunsets.  I was 

not disappointed with the Key Largo sunset, but it is not

 any more beautiful than the ones I see from our balcony, 

from our walks and from those posted on social media.

 Below are sunsets taken during our afternoon walks.

Yesterday I saw Legacy twice.  She looks well 

fed and healthy.  Was starting to worry about her as

 well since I did not see her on Monday afternoon.

Today my heart is heavy. F23 is presumed dead. 

So far we do not know the details of how she died. 

 It's just heartbreaking.  She was a healthy momma. I am 

very sad, my Sniff is by my side keeping me company.

My heart feels so heavy and

 I don't know how to carry it...

~Nadiya~

Rest in Peace F23- Also Known as Lady March 4-2026

Eagles come in all shapes and sizes, but you 

will recognize them chiefly by their attitudes...

 When we moved to Fort Myers in September of 2022 

I was not an eagle follower. I love cats and that was mostly

 all I followed, little did I know that I would become

 one of the millions that follow the lives of eagles.

Arvid and I would see every night on the news 

clips of The Southwest Florida Eagles.  At that time the 

reigning couple was M15 and Harriet.  Harriet the female 

eagle laid her last clutch of eggs in late 2022, specifically

 on November 29 and December 2, 2022. This was her 

11th nesting season with her mate, M15, and the 

resulting eaglets were designated E21 and E22.

Harriet disappeared on February 2, 2023, leaving M15 to

 raise the eaglets alone.  From that day on I became a true eagle 

follower.  We watched M15 raise those 2 babies all by himself. 

Despite Harriet's disappearance, M15 successfully provided

 for and protected E21 and E22 until they reached fledgling.  

He became everyone's hero eagle dad.  Mine for sure.

I did not "know" Harriet for long, F23 is another story.

  I saw her "romance" with M15 take place. She appeared

 in his life in late 2023.  From that point on I loved her and 

they became my favorite eagle couple. She established

 a close relationship with M15, even snuggling with

 his offspring from previous seasons.  I loved her.

F23, disappeared from her nest on February 27, 2026, 

and is now presumed dead.  I did not know I would grieve

 this much again for an eagle.  I grieved when their 2 eaglets 

died last year of the bird flu. Imagine watching them

 die slowly on camera.  It was just horrible.

  She and M15 grieved and grieved.  Now she died 

and the grief is back. Arvid says I get too emotionally 

attached.  He's right, but when I love I give it my all.

There was something about F23 that touched 

my soul, now my soul grieves.  She and M15 are the 

first pair of eagles I started to follow.  I saw this fierce eagle.  

Protective over M15, her babies and her territory. I never

 saw this coming.  No one did.  What a heartbreak.

May you soar on eagle wings, high

 above the madness of the world...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday March 3rd-

Sometimes the most important 

thing in a whole day is the rest we 

take between two deep breaths...

 Arvid and I are back home. It’s where we

 are happiest. Yes, it may sound weird, but 

home is where we always long to return.

 No matter where we go, home calls. 

We had a very good time in Key Largo 

 we did a few things and met people from 

all  parts of the globe.  I talk to everyone so 

I know. Many are yearly returning guests. 

This one guy, Charlie has been coming to the

 same hotel for the last 15 years.  He stays for 

two weeks then goes to a different place. He

 says he mainly does cruises all year long.

I will say that when we were driving into 

Key Largo I was a bit disappointed. Everything

 looked so beat up and sketchy 🥺. This is not

 stopping people from coming. It’s just my point 

of view. Different from what I remembered.

I wanted to go on the glass bottom boat. I 

love marine life and was very hopeful we were 

going to see some amazing marine life. I was 

disappointed. We say reefs, but no marine life.  

We saw more from the beach at our hotel.

  I saw a dolphin a manatee, many saw a pod of 

5 manatee. I also of course saw iguanas, cats,

 birds, a squirrel and an emancipated raccoon.  

I fed all of them because I came prepared 

with food from home.  I did not bring food

 for the raccoon but he was also fed and I

 brought him leftovers from my lunch

 (snapper) and sausage from breakfast.

Will post more about our Key Largo weekend

 tomorrow   Right now I am very concerned and

 very sad because F25 🦅 or Lady as she’s also

 know; she  has not been seen since Friday morning; 

I am not a negative person, but I am already picturing 

the  worse case scenario.  I really love her and I 

am really sad right now. She's been gone too long. 

 So not like her.  She loves her baby E26.

Yesterday afternoon I went to feed Legacy

 but she was lot there.  Sniff on the other hand

 won’t leave our side.  My Sniff is my

 happy place.  Today and everyday.

A good day to all.  Please say a prayer 

that F23 returns safe to the nest.  I am so sad.

It is better in prayer to have a heart 

without words than words without heart...

~Nadiya~

New Week~ March 2nd~

The Florida Keys- because you

 don't have to shovel sunshine. 

The drinking here starts early...

 Starting the week refreshed and relaxed, and with 

some very good times shared over the last few days

 in Key Largo, Florida.  Now we are ready to go

 back home to Sniff and yes, get busy again. 

I know a busy week awaits us.  Just a normal

 thing for us, and I think we are happier when busy.  

When I get really stressed out Sniff calms me.  I am

 also quite entertained with all the Ai kitty videos.

To all a very good day and may the new

 week be a productive and happy one.  A little 

progress each day adds up to big results.

You've got to get up every morning

 with determination if you're going

 to go to bed with satisfaction...

~Nadiya~

March 1st~ A New Month Begins

 Weekend getaways offer a necessary, quick
 escape to recharge, offering a blend of adventure, 
relaxation, and precious, short-lived freedom...

March begins and sure is looking to be much 

better than February, at least weatherwise.

  Warmth is back.  I've missed you a lot.

Arvid and I are enjoying our little getaway in 

Key Largo. It's been a while since we were last

 here.  Never disappoints.  Perfect way to start the 

new month.  We needed this little time away from 

everything that has/is going on with our lives🌴

A few days away and we will be back as new

 ready to face whatever comes.  Hopefully this will be 

a better month.  Maybe we get to see some family. 

 Arvid sure is excited and all we do is make plans.

March has many birthdays in our family.  

Today is Gabsy's birthday.  Both Arvid and I

 love this boy like a son.  There is something 

about Gabby that just melts your heart.

To all a very good day and a great March.  If all goes 

according to plans, Arvid and I will be doing a glass bottom 

boat tour today. I love doing the glass bottom tours.  We did it

 when when we lived in the Bahamas and it was amazing.  

A good day to all. May this month be good to us all.

Find me under the palms.

Sunshine and piña coladas...

~Nadiya~

February 28th~

When your head says one thing and your whole 

life says another, your head always loses...

Alligator Alley lanes reopen following 24,000-acre brush

 fire at Big Cypress National Preserve, Alligator Alley. The

 fire started on Monday and is still not fully contained. The smoke 

has reached us here and will continue.  Today Arvid and I will

 be driving through some of it on our way to Key Largo.

Alligator Alley Fire

Key Largo, the first and northernmost island

 of the Florida Keys, is a 33-mile-long, tropical 

destination renowned as the "Diving Capital 🤿of 

the World". Located about an hour from Miami.  As

they say, if you know you know🌴I'm excited.

Had Arvid not agreed to going, I most likely would 

have taken a solo trip this summer.  Happy he's coming.

  Always better when we make memories together, but I

 have no problems doing it alone as well.  Happy.

We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. 

 Beautiful sunsets and a lotta Piña Coladas 😂

Key Largo, you have the "key" to my heart...

~Nadiya~

Friday February 27th~

 Hope is a powerful force, often described

 as a light in darkness, a motivator for

 the future, and a resilient spirit...

Hope is the thing with feathers," MLK Jr.'s 

advice to "accept finite disappointment, but never 

lose infinite hope," and the reminder that "the 

darkest nights produce the brightest stars"  

This definitely applies to what happened to 

Punch, the little monkey. Abandoned by his mother,

 Punch was given a stuffed monkey to cope with because

 the other monkeys wouldn't accept him either.   

We humans also cling to anything that would give us

 hope.  For many it's our beliefs.  Whatever it is, this 

little monkey clung to a stuffed toy until one day his dim

 future became a better one.  He was accepted and he is 

loved. They say, monkeys are superior to men in this:

 when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey.

Punch the monkey finally got the love he wanted.  

He let go of his little stuffed toy/mom, and finally 

found love in a real mom. Now if this does not

 pull on your heartstrings, you're not human.

Yesterday E26 branched. That's the stage where young 

eaglets (usually 9–14 weeks old) move from the nest 

to nearby branches, flapping their wings to strengthen 

muscles, improve coordination, and build confidence

 before their first flight (fledging). This behavior 

prepares them for independence. Our little girl

 will soon leave home.  It's a happy day and sad 

day at the same time. Soon she will be gone.

A good day to all.  For many the weekend

 has already begun.  Enjoy and keep making 

those memories that will last forever.  

When the going gets tough, put 

one foot in front of the other and

 just keep going. Don't give up...

~Nadiya~

Thursday February 26th~

 You must work with what you

 have, accepting that some games are 
unwinnable, but trying anyway...

Yesterday was the funeral for my cousin 

followed by the cremation.  Nina and David 

were also supposed to be there just like me,

 but for them also it did not happen 😔

The drive from Pennsylvania to  New York 

did not look good because of the snow. The 

family has no more tears to shed, and then to top it

 all so many relatives from Florida did not make 

it to the funeral.  Weather, so unpredictable.

Each time I go to a funeral, and it seems like it is 

quite often.  I think of my parents.  They are also

 getting older, and fear grips my heart.  Yesterday we

 went to mom and dad's for a little.  Always good.

This cold spell is coming to an end.  Florida

 is back to being The Sunshine State.  Yesterday 

was supposed to be a "non stressful" day.  Sure 

didn't turn out that way. Today will I am sure.

If tears could build a stairway, and 

memories a lane, I'd walk right up to 

Heaven and bring you home again...

~Nadiya~