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~

Thursday November 13th~

Everyone must take time to 

sit and watch the leaves change...

 The colors of Fall, just beautiful and since we also 

have a place in Branson, Missouri I am always happy 

when someone posts a picture that takes my breath away.

  In fact most do, but this one posted by Scott Pratt in 

Branson is a favorite because Arvid and I have 

frequented this place several times.  

Big Cedar Lodge.  Beautiful spot and it's also 

where we always enjoy a good frozen custard.  

We enjoy the scenery and how relaxing a time

 it is.  It is also where we always see deers.

The day ended with another gorgeous sunset and 

best news for the day, F23 laid her first egg for

 the season.  Hopefully another egg to come.

To all a very good day. Everyday with these 2 is a good day.

If a year was tucked inside of a clock, 

then autumn would be the magic hour...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday November 12th~

We are here to add what we can to life,

 not to get what we can from life...

 Today is still going to be a really cold day

 for us Floridians, but come tomorrow it will 

gradually warm up again.  Florida in the 

winter time, the place to be. Can't beat it.

Yesterday we went once again to my mom and 

dad's home.  Arvid finished assembling my dad's 

office, we had a delicious lunch, and then Arvid 

began hanging pictures/paintings on the wall.  

The house is taking shape.  Thankfully it is 

not as big as their home was in North Carolina.  

Less work and easier for them to take care of.

Today hopefully we will just stay at home.  I 

have a few things to take care of as does Arvid.  Also

 I want to spend some time with Sniff.  Seems like we 

are constantly on the move even when we aren't.

To all a good day. Still chilly but it is surely

warming up nicely already.  Looking forward to

 a day "off"  Yesterday's sunset from our balcony.

The Northern lights, seen in Florida, Branson 

and many other places last night.  What a sight.

Whenever you want to see me, always

 look at the sunset; I will be there...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday November 11th~

A successful marriage requires

 falling in love many times, always 

with the same person...

 Yesterday Arvid and I celebrated 24 years of marriage.  

It has been a very good run so far.  I will not lie and 

say perfect, nothing in life is perfect, but together

 we have learnt so much from each other and best

 of all is that we complement each other.

Neither one of us is easy.  We come from different

 backgrounds.  I am Indian/Hindu. Arvid is Norwegian. 

Whereas I am outgoing, Arvid was an introvert, but 

much better now.  I talk to everyone, he usually

would try to "pretend" they are not there.

With all our differences, and yes there are 

many more, yet we somehow see eye to eye on 

what's really important in life.  Like I said it was 

not always this way, but through the years we 

can actually tell what the other is thinking.

One of the biggest turning points in our 

relationship was when we got Brutus.  I saw

 a side of Arvid I had not seen before. A softer,

 gentler side. Brutus made him a better man. 

The way Arvid loved and cared for Brutus will 

forever be one of the main reasons I love him 

so much.  He is the same today with our 

Sniff.  Brutus will always be special.   

Temperatures have dropped a good 30 degrees

 from what it was yesterday morning.  Everyone here 

is bundled up and Sniff is no exception.   We woke 

up to 42 degrees F (5.5C)  For us that is very cold.

The greatest marriages are built on 

teamwork, a mutual respect, a healthy dose 

of admiration, and a never-ending

 portion of love and grace...

~Nadiya~