Saturday March 7th~

You came into our lives unexpectedly, and 

it turned out to be the most beautiful surprise...

 Ten years ago today Sniff came into our lives. He was 
already one year old.  Our Sniff is 11 already.  I love him more

 than words can express. He is my happy place.  Always.

Ever since my Sniff came into my life, something

 inside me softened in the most beautiful way. 

Yesterday I had most of the day to myself. I really

 loved it. I didn’t have to cook.  I had lunch out with

 mom and dad and did what I wanted without having

 to rush to get home.  It was very relaxing stress free.

Wishing everyone a good day.  I still cannot bring 

myself to check on our eagles much, maybe once a day 

instead of several times a day.  Since F23 died I just need to 

get used to not seeing her.  Weird you may say how a person

 can get this attached to wildlife.  That's me.  WEIRD!

The day you came into our life, I

 knew what my purpose was: to love and 

protect you with everything I have...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 6th~

The hardest battle is between what you know in 

your head and what you feel in your heart... 

 One of my favorite things to do throughout 

the day was to go on Facebook and check out

 the new posts on our eagles. It gave me pleasure

 seeing them together and how much they, M15

 and mama F23 love their baby E26.

  Since F23 died I find it too painful to go there.

I did check and all it does is break my heart again and 

again.  I know I will check sooner rather than later because 

M15 is still there.  Alone again taking care of his baby.

  M15 mourned the loss of Harriet in 2023.  

Last year he and F23 also mourned the loss of their 

two babies E24 and E25, and now again he mourns.

 Losing F23 is hard. She was fierce in everything

 she did. I so loved her 🦅💔My heart needs time.

Arvid and I did a little shopping yesterday and

 then decided to have pizza for lunch. Where else but 

DHOP, downtown house of pizza. Definitely we have to

 take brother there if only for a taste, if he gets here 🙏

Sniff is being difficult again. He’s not eating the

 food he so loved. Of course I stocked up on it from Chewy.

 Hopefully Legacy will like it.  She’s also been getting a 

bit picky.  She won’t eat her Fancy Feast, but when I

 gave her cooked chicken breast she gobbled it up.  

Arvid went to a social gathering last night.  I was

 not in the mood to go and socialize so I stayed home 

with Sniff.  Today Arvid also has a real estate trade 

meeting most of the day. I am going to meet with my 

mom and dad and take them out to lunch.  That will

 cheer me up.  Being with them is always good.

I still can’t believe that F23 is dead, and it seems 

under some very questionable circumstances. I forgot

 to mention, yesterday was 26 years since Arvid and

 I met.  We’ve been married for 25 of those years, 

and I look forward to a lifetime together.

At the end of the day, we can endure

 much more than we think we can...

~Nadiya~

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~