Friday December 12th~

Take things as they are. Punch when you 

have to punch. Kick when you have to kick...

The day once again begins on the cooler side.  

Us Floridians not too good dealing with it.  Today

 we will definitely pull out some "winter" gear.

 Yesterday we spent a few hours at mom and dad’s. 

 Once again dad had many things for Arvid to fix.  I 

felt sorry for Arvid because he looked tired, but he 

keeps going no matter what.  I told him he has to 

take a break, so did my parents, but he does not

 listen.  He says he thinks of it as exercise.

Arvid was too tired (and I don’t blame him) to

 go for a walk.  I went to feed Legacy around 4:40 

in the afternoon.  She was there waiting,

 but still won’t get too close to me.

In the early evening I decided to make me a 

watermelon Cosmo. I had all the ingredients.  I blended 

the watermelon.  Extracted the juice and used some

 of the pulp. Best watermelon 🍉 Cosmo ever. 

 You know I will be making this soon again.

As always our evening are spent with the three of 

us watching some TV.  It was a good day until it wasn’t.

 As we were leaving my parents’ home Nina, 

my sister texted.  David’s mom had just died. David 

is Nina’s husband, and like a son to my parents. He 

is one of the kindest most generous persons on this 

planet. David always gives. My heart breaks for him.

My family has had many deaths and tragedies 

this year. 2025 has not been good to my relatives. 

Not good at all😢One hopes 2026 is a better year.

Good morning and a good day to all.

The life of the dead is placed 

in the memory of the living...

~Nadiya~

Thursday December 12th~

The human capacity for burden is

 like bamboo – far more flexible than 

you'd ever believe at first glance...

Another quiet day at home yesterday. Loved it. 

Arvid had a couple games (soccer) going on 

and after the last one we went for our walk.  

Of course I took food for Legacy, the squirrels 

and the birds.  When we got to Legacy someone had

 already beaten me to it. She was eating. I was so 

happy because so many of us take care of her. 

 We continued our walk.  Arvid took off to

 feed “his” squirrels and I to feed mine.  We both

 found our lil buddies and they were well fed.  

It was a bit on the cooler side, but we also had

 another amazing sunset.  Not sure what I enjoy most 

when we go walking the sunsets or the wildlife. 

 I love it all and am always grateful for it.

Back home we settled in for a cozy night with

 some of our favorite TV shows.  Sniff of course

 snuggled up next to us but then slept went on 

his bed which is just a stretch from us. 

 All happy and content.  Today we go to mom and

 dad’s. More stuff to fix.  Arvid is sure working

 hard for them.  He's now known as the fixer.

Strength grows in the moments 

when you think you can't go on 

but you keep going anyway...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday December 10th~

Kindness is like snow—it 

beautifies everything it covers...

 Yesterday was a quiet day at home. Arvid and I 

did some house cleaning and I also did a lot of laundry. 

 By early afternoon the temperature began to drop. 

It will be much cooler the next few days. 🥶

Well for most people it would not be really cold, but for 

Arvid and I it was/is cold so we decided not to go for a walk. 

Even so, I went to feed Legacy Kitty.  I went an hour earlier

 than usual.  She was not there, but I clean up her area. Gave her

 clean water and waited an hour before going out back again. 

 Then she was there waiting patiently for her soft foodies.

By this afternoon we should have a little warm up. 

 Hopefully we go for a little walk, at the same time I feed 

Legacy Kitty, otherwise I will just go on my own and

 feed her later.  She waits patiently for her foodies.

For now a few more chores to do, and some errands

 to run.  Arvid of course has to wait until it warms up before

 stepping out.  Did I forget to mention he's from Norway

 😂where this temperature is a regular summer day?

December is a simple wish that

 brings spectacular moments...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday December 9th~

You cannot change what you refuse to confront...

Another beautiful start of the day.  Sets the mood 

for whatever comes next.  Not to mention a perfect 

ending yesterday.  Sunrises and sunsets, and I get

 to see them everyday, mostly from our balcony.

I am already missing Gabsy.  He is such an easy

 person to have staying with us. I am not sure I would 

be as relaxed with anyone else staying with us.  As far as 

we are concerned Gabsy is always welcomed here.

Our time together was very good.  In such a short time

 frame we managed to do quite a few things.  Aside from 

the funeral stuff of course. Gabsy coming to attend the funeral

 was a good thing.  Most of the relatives remembered him

 as a baby.  Now they saw a grown man.  It was very

 good to see everyone and reconnect again.

Sniff coped very well with having Gabsy here.  

The first day he was a little scared to eat, but eventually

 he braved it and hunger too over.  After that it was easy. 

 Gabsy is an animal/nature lover which made it so

 much easier for him and Sniff.  I was worried

 Sniff might hiss, but that never happened.

 Sometimes you need to distance 

yourself to see things clearly...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 8th~

Good things may end, but

 the lessons and love never do...

 Gabsy's stay with us is coming to an end today.  

We have had a very good time together, something I don't

 see happening with just about everyone.  Gabsy is easy going, 

and with him it's stress free.  We will miss him, but 

we also enjoy our time just the three of us best.

I have had a lot of  time with Gabsy, and for

 that I am very happy.  Arvid has also made time for 

him and Gabsy to do things without me.  They have

 talked for hours without me present.  They have watched

 a few soccer games and  movies together because

 I happen to fall asleep.  TV puts me to sleep. A guy 

thing Arvid said.  I am just happy they did.

Yesterday we went downtown again.  We could

 not not take Gabsy to Ford's Garage.  It's a must

 for everyone who visits us in Fort Myers.

 Ford's Garage is a nostalgic, 1920s-inspired

 casual dining restaurant chain known for its burgers,

 craft beer, and vintage automotive theme, operating

 under license from Ford Motor Company.

Founded in 2012 in Fort Myers, Florida, near 

Henry Ford's winter home, it features decor like 

gas pumps, classic cars, and "shop cloth" napkins, 

offering comfort food and a unique, family-friendly 

experience for all ages. It's just a very cool place.

As always we had a very good time.  We were 

delighted with a few decked out trucks doing 

their thing and everyone having a great time.

Sniff has found a new sleeping spot while Gaby was here.  

For all you know he will probably continue to sleep there.

In the meantime, Arvid has taught Gabsy 

how to play Solitaire.  Arvid said that Gabs beat

 in in all the games. Not bad for a beginner.

 We spent the remaining of the evening watching 

TVand chatting. Overall it was a very good day.  We 

have enjoyed having Gabsy with us.  We still have all 

day today with him.  Will be a relaxing day and we look

 forward to it.  Seems we have been on constant move

 for the last ten days.  Nothing new here for us.

To all a very good day and a good week.

  Christmas is just around the corner.

A new day: Be open enough to see 

opportunities. Be wise enough to be grateful. 

Be courageous enough to be happy...

~Nadiya~

Sunday December 7th~

If we were all the same, it would be boring...

 As the week draws to an end so is Gabsy 

time with us.  Soon Gabsy will be back in 

Virginia where they have already had snow.

  Gabs was born in Broward County, Florida.

 I asked him if he would like to once again live in 

Florida.He actually said no.  Gabsy loves nature, and

 nature in Virginia is beautiful.  While in Fort Myers

 it's city life for him, and he seems to enjoy it also.

On his walks he says he sees so much 

more than we do during our walks.  He says

 he sees deers, chipmunks, squirrels, and all

 species of birds among other things.  

Virginia has many streams and rivers, and

 Gabsy lives nearby.  For him he says it's his

 heaven.  The place for him right now.  

Arvid and I enjoy life in Florida during the

 winter months. No place else for us.  For the 3 

of us it's home, and there's no place like home.

Sunday, time to relax and enjoy the day.

To all a very good day.  Today Arvid and Gabsy do 

some stuff on their own.  Arvid said it's a boys day.

In diversity there is beauty

 and there is strength...

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 6th~

 Anyone can come into your life and

 say how much they love you.  It takes 

someone really special to stay in your life

 and show how much they love you...

Yesterday Gabs and I decided to go to Manatee 

Park right here in Fort Myers.  When Arvid found 

out we were going he told me that he wanted to 

take Gabsy there on Sunday as a surprise.  I felt

 a little bad, but we had already made plans.

On a good day you will definitely see a lot of manatees, 

but it all depends on the temperature of the water.

After the park we went to visit my mom and dad. 

 Mom made foodies that Gabsy loves.  Needless 

to say we had the best time.  Gabsy is funny.

Once back home we rested a bit and then we

 headed downtown.  Arvid insisted that when he 

came from Sarasota, he would just take his stuff 

out of the car and meet us there.  Arvid of course

does not want to miss out.  Always when we

 go downtown I stop first to feed Legacy.

Gabs and I started out early downtown so by the 

time Arvid got back home I told him not to bother 

coming since we had shopped, dined and already 

walked everywhere.  So we went back home 

and we all watched a few TV shows together.

Sniff is going to be happy when he has us all 

for his own.  He does not hide, but he is different 

when company is here.  On Thursday night he slept

 the entire night curled up by my side. I could not

 move at all, but I loved it.  At some point I had to 

make sure he was breathing.  He was so still.

Wishing everyone a very good day.  Arvid got Gabsy

 into soccer so today they will watch a game or

 two and we will all do something together.

Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, 

wear the fancy lingerie.  Don’t save it for 

a special occasion; today is special.

~Nadiya~

Friday November 5th ~

 Be happy.  Be yourself.  If others don’t like 

it, then let them be.  Happiness is a choice.  

Life isn’t about pleasing everybody... 

As mentioned before, Arvid came home on 

Wednesday. He was not supposed to, but with 

Arvid everything is possible.  He then left 

again yesterday morning for Sarasota.

Yesterday Gabs and I went on the dolphin 

tour from Fort Myers Beach.  It’s a hit or miss 

if you will see a filling, but so far, the two 

times I have done it I have seen dolphins.

On yesterday’s tour we saw manatees as 

well and of course many species of birds.  

The captain told us that about two weeks ago

 they saw a crocodile.  This is not normal,

 but seems to be happening more and more. 

The below pictures taken by yours truly🐬

The dolphins are really fast so it’s really 

difficult to get a picture of them.  They did

 put on a good show by flipping several times 

for us.  Was amazing to see. No pictures 

because I was busy watching them.

Gabs loved every minute of it. On the tour 

I spoke to several people of course. A couple

 came from St Louis, Missouri, another family

 was from Chicago. A lady came with her girlfriend 

from Idaho and there was another young couple

 from California.  Quite interesting.  Gabs

 of course came from way of Virginia.

Not sure what it is about Gabsy, but the

 older ladies like him. Maybe it’s the way he talks

 to them.  Very respectful of just those gorgeous

 brown eyes, but whatever it is they like him.

After the tour Gabs and I had lunch at

 Parrot Key. Lunch was delicious and 

we had a good time. So relaxing.  

Afterwards we went to Publix, picked up a 

few snacks for the evening and some other stuff. 

 Sniff as usual is very cautious when someone else

 is around. Sniff does not like us having company, 

but at least so far, he has not hissed at Gabsy.

It was a very beautiful day. I am loving the time 

we have with Gabsy.  I even went to feed Legacy 

so this made for an even better day.  Afyer that we 

watched movies and chatted. A good day to all.

When you’re up, your friends know 

who you are.  When you’re down, 

you know who your friends are...

~Nadiya~