Saturday November 22nd~

Happiness is mother and daughter time...

 Yesterday was a very good day. I got to spend a

few hours with my mom. Just the two of us. We shopped

 a bit and enjoyed a pleasant outing together. Now that

 they live close to us I look forward to morning this. 

 Every girl needs time with her mom.  I’m grateful 

for all of it and I never take it/her for granted.

In the evening Arvid and I did what we like the most.

 We walked downtown and enjoyed Music Walk.  

In between we also enjoyed our favorite drinks. 

 We were even graced by Jesus' appearance.

 Of course at Hideaway. Definitely our, well Arvids

 favorite place.  They have his favorite beer.  Landshark

 on draft.  Nothing beats that according to him.  They

 also have many delicious drinks I enjoy. Yummy!

A stop for a slice of pizza before returning

 home, and our evening was complete🍕

A happy Saturday to all.  One of my favorite aunts

 died yesterday.  She was my moms eldest sister

 and has always been kind to me.  I loved her.

It's so much darker when a light goes out 

than it would have been if it had never shone...

~Nadiya~

Friday November 21st~

You were born to be real not to be perfect...

 Yesterday Arvid and I had a fairly quiet day

 at home. Always so nice and then for lunch we

 went downtown to one of our favorite restaurants.

It's a very small place, but we love the food.

Before lunch we went walking in search of Arvid’s

 squirrel.  Yes, that’s what he called the squirrel. His squirrel. 

 The day before Arvid went for walk alone, my knee was 

too painful.  During his walk he told me that a squirrel

 approached him really close and just looked at him.

  Because I didn't go, there was no food for the 

squirrel.  That’s why we went back yesterday searching

 for his squirrel.  We found him and he did get really

 close to us.  Of course I had peanuts for him.  I

 was so happy because I fed a few more as well.

On our way back home I checked in on Legacy. 

 That’s the name of the kitty we saw one day last 

week living on the grounds of Legacy Marina. 

 From that day on I have been giving her food

 and water.  I have not seen her again, but the 

food is always gone so I replenish it daily.  

We also noticed that someone else has been

 feeding her. In a different spot and that someone 

else made her a cozy little bed with soft blankets. 

 Legacy Kitty is being cared for by a few of us.

Work continues on the marina. This will take

 some time before it becomes the marina we had for

 about 8 days before Hurricane Ian destroyed it. 

It’s Friday. There’s Music Walk tonight. Our 

plan is to take a trip downtown and check it out. 

Today mom and I have a few things to do.  Mom

 wants to do a little shopping so that's what we will

 do. A little girl time at the mall is always good.

Sniff is doing good. Sleeping a lot as usual.  

Lately he has been very needy.  He just cried and 

does not want to leave us.  I love when he’s close 

to me, but Arvid tells him that he (Arvid) needs

 some space.  Like Sniff understands 😭

To all a very good day make it a great

 one and whatever you do donut with joy. 

 Christmas is right around the corner.🎄

Always take some of the weekend

 to do whatever brings you joy...

~Nadiya~

Thursday November 20th~

 Excellence is doing ordinary 

things extraordinarily well...

My mom and dad are amazed by Arvid and his 

capacity to work.  Almost non stop and without breaks.  

Arvid after all is 72 years old, but seeing him on the go 

one would think he was in his 20's.  He never gets tired 

and he works like no one I know, or have ever known. 

 Nina says that Arvid is her hero.  Mom worries all

 the time.  Telling him he needs to take a break.  Dad 

tells him it's enough for the day, but when Arvid

 has a goal in mind nothing stops him.  Yesterday 

Arvid hung more pictures and did a few other

 miscellaneous things that needed to be done.

Here at the marina the boat was removed

 on Sunday.  Arvid watched to the last minute.

To all a very good day.  Rise and shine!

Successful people do ordinary

 things with extraordinary consistency, 

commitment and focus...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday November 19th~

Family time is not a matter of 

convenience; it's a matter of priority...

Today we go back to mom and dad's.  Arvid 

still has more paintings to hang on the wall and a few

 other miscellaneous things to take care of.  First stop 

Home Depot to pick up what we need for the house.

Mom will be making lunch, so we get to spend 

some time chatting and laughing at stories told 

by my dad and Arvid.  Always a happy and good

 time.  So happy they moved to Florida 🌴

Yesterday Arvid and I went to the mall.  For some

 reason🙏 Arvid came to his senses and realized 

that what I have been telling him for quite some time

 is actually true.  I have been telling him he needs some 

new clothes.  He agreed and to the mall we went.

It did help that there is a Black Friday sale was 

 everywhere.  We shopped at Macy's and Dillards 

and found some good buys. I do not shop when 

Arvid is with me.  I like to do that on my own.

The feel and spirit of Christmas is here.  As I

 have always said, Christmas is my favorite time of the

 year.  Now it's even better because mom and dad are 

here.  Mom's birthday is on Christmas day 🎄

To all a very good day.  I leave you with a

 few more pictures from Fort Myers Beach.

Happiness is homemade 

when shared with family...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday November 18th~

Life is short. Be silly. Have fun. Love 

the people who treat you right; forget

 the ones who don't. Regret nothing...

Arvid and I stayed is a cute little place called

 Casa de Playa in Fort Myers Beach. Right on the sand. 

 All I had to do was step out of our unit, take the elevator 

down and my feet hit the sand.  I loved the feeling of

 sand between my toes and the smell of the salty air.

We spent some time just sitting on the balcony people

 watching and watching the boats pass by.  There were

 many boats and everyone was having a great time. 

 The day was warm and the sunshine felt good.

As always in a very short time we did quite a lot.  

Arvid and I are more city people than beach people.  I love 

going to the beach, walking in the sand, but at heart I

 am a city girl.  Always have been  Arvid as well.

Arvid and my dad worked yesterday as a team.  

Dad was the helper and he could not have been 

any happier.  Mom and dad are very tired.  They 

really are pushing themselves too hard, but their 

new place is looking like home already 🏡

Like everyone who goes on a getaway/vacation, 

I also have way too many pictures.  Eventually

 I will delete most, but for now it's difficult

 to decide what to keep and what not to.

Always grateful for the life we live/have.  It's 

far from perfect, but Arvid and I always try to

 make the best of every situation.  Sharing

 it with Sniff makes it almost perfect 🐾

Goals are the road maps that

 guide you to your destination...

~Nadiya~

Monday November 17th~

 Challenges are what make

 life interesting; overcoming them

 is what makes life meaningful...

Monday is upon us again.  A brand new week begins and 

we once again will be going to mom and dad's.  Arvid still has

 pictures to hang on the wall.  Mom and dad are doing an amazing

 job unpacking.  They have a goal in mind and I think they will

 be done way before that.  I'm just so impressed by them.

Arvid and I enjoyed our little getaway at 

Fort Myers Beach.  Amazing sunsets were 

enjoyed by young and not so young.

Seeing the sky change color from a pale orange to

 blood orange never ceases to amaze me.  I was happy as

 can be.  For me just seeing the sunset was enough.

The beach was extremely busy.  Getting there was not

 easy.  Too much traffic already.  The snowbirds are back.  

Once there of course everything was better.  We tried to get

 into a few different restaurants, but the wait was way to

 long.  Good thing we had many to choose from.

Arvid and I enjoyed live music in several different 

locations, but ended up listening to a band playing under the

 stars.  Though it was 71F (21.6C) he and I were freezing.

We had lots of sweaters in preparation for the "freeze."

We also enjoyed delicious food, drinks and ambiance.  

The beach is rebuilding quite nicely after Hurricane Ian.  

There is still has a long way to go, but it's coming.

I also saw eight dolphins swimming close to shore 

during my early morning walk.  I was so excited.  A man 

walking his dog told me that they swim every morning 

this close to shore.  He said it was their feeding time.  

 

More about out time in Fort Myers Beach another day.  

It's time to get busy and prepare for the day ahead. 

 Good morning all and a good week as well.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but 

to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some

 compassion, some humor, and some style...

~Nadiya~

Sunday November 16th~

The fierce beauty and proud independence 

of this great bird aptly symbolizes the 

strength and freedom of America...

 I'm so happy that our Eagles M15 and F23 are going

 to be the focus on my Facebook page from now on.  They

 have so many followers, me included that I wake up and

 it is as if I was right there with them.  Posts after posts 

of the happy new parents.  I love them so much 🦅

Arvid and I have been enjoying our little getaway. 

 As far as I am concerned, the beach never disappoints.

Going back home today and happy about

 that as well.  Missing my little Sniff-Sniff.

  I've grown accustomed to his little face.

The last few days crews were in the process of removing

 the last remaining boat at Legacy Marina destroyed by 

Hurricane Ian.  Based of what we saw, it is not an easy 

job or as Arvid says, the crew is not up for the job.  

Woke up this morning, checked on "my"

 eagles, and Egg #2 was laid yesterday.  Happy 

times here at the North Fort Myers nest.

This Sunday, take time to recharge

 and prioritize your goals for the week...

~Nadiya~

Saturday November 15th~

An ocean breeze puts a mind at ease...

 Greetings from Fort Myers Beach, Florida.  Arvid and I

 decided to take a couple of days at the beach. The last time we 

were here, it was so beautiful we almost ended up buying a 

place, fortunately we came to our senses (for now)

 and decided to first try it out with an Airbnb.

So many places have re-built after hurricane Ian.  

Checking them out makes me happy.  We are staying right

 on the beach, and I love it.  Temperature is a bit cooler 

than we would like, but that's what jackets are for.

To all a very good day.  Greetings from sunny Florida.

Let the waves carry away your worries...

~Nadiya~

Friday November 14th~

Meet me where the sky touches the sea...

 Arvid and I will be taking a couple of days

 to ourselves.  I'm sure by the pictures you can

 tell where we are going to be going.  We have 

never had a bad experience at the beach.

We will be having a little late anniversary celebration.

 We have been together for 25 years.  Married for 24 of

 those.  It has had its ups and downs, but there is no one 

I would rather spend my forever with than with Arvid.

We are both looking forward to some relaxing 

days.  I'm looking forward to walking on the beach

 and getting salt in my hair.  I love the beach.

Sniff is home, but well cared for by Gail.  To all a very

 good day and may your weekend be a happy one as well.

  They say that A day at the beach restores the soul.

My sense of direction leads me to the beach...

~Nadiya~