Saturday May 31st~

 It's the last day of the month...finish strong..

A lot of not so good things have happened in May. 

 Lots of  very "bad" stuff going on with our families 

right now.  Illnesses, deaths and many medical issues to 

deal with.  May has not been good in so many ways.

My mom always tells us that a good laugh can

 sure take away the blues.  That being said, more

 from Florida and its' unique sense of humor😂

I had to share this picture of Missouri wildflowers. 

 At this time of the season they are mostly white with 

little yellow next to it.  Next they become yellow

 followed by multi colors.  Nature is beautiful.

As I have mentioned before in a prior post, 

Max proposed to Kelsey, and Kelsey's sister sent 

this cute handkerchief.  Rogue is their baby.  

Yesterday was beautiful day here.  Typical of 

how it should be at this time of the year.  Arvid and 

I made the most of it and enjoyed it immensely.

 To all a very good day.  Another beautiful day awaits us.

A joyful month's legacy is the 

laughter that resonates through time...

~Nadiya~

Friday May 30th~

Discovery is seeing what everybody else has seen,

 and thinking what nobody else has thought...

 There are many "new" places to be discovered since 

we last lived here.  The other evening as we were driving 

around we saw a new restaurant/pub.  Yesterday we decided

 to give it a try.  And yeah, still excited the Florida Panthers 

advanced to the Stanley Cup finals!  Let's go Panthers.

Also in one of our outings, Arvid spotted a car, more 

like he heard the car.  The sound of the engine caught his

 attention and he did not rest until he found the owner and 

found out a little more about the car.  It was a very plain 

looking Chevy SS 4 door sedan with 900 horsepower.  

It sure sounded good.  Of course I took pictures.

Yesterday Sniff once again jumped up on the railings

 in the loft. This time he also choose to explored more

 of the railing.  I was a bit afraid he would fall so I just 

stayed quiet and waited until he jumped back down.

It did rain again yesterday.  Thankfully we were 

not caught much in it, even so it was a good day.

  Arvid is busy, busy just don't ask with what.

Me not so much, just the usual cooking and 

cleaning.  I also try to promote both hotels and post

 ads regularly on Craigslist.  Someone's gotta do it. 

Friday and no rain is in the forecast.  Hopefully

 it stays this way and who knows maybe we can do

 something fun later today.  Sounds like a plan.

Things don't turn up in this world 

until somebody turns them up...

~Nadiya~

Thursday May 29th~

The key to life when it gets tough

 is to keep moving. Just keep moving...

 May is coming to an end.  This month sure went by fast. 

 The last few months has not been easy for our family. Hoping

 that June will be better for everyone. My dad, my sisters and 

I are going through some very tense moments right now 

 Our mom is going through quite a lot right now.

Our mother is the embodiment of strength.  In her quiet,

 calm way she has taught us everything we need in order to 

make it in this world.  She is a true warrior in my book.  My 

mom is a fighter. You have within you, right now, everything 

you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.

 All of that being said, I sometimes have not so good days.

Last night the 3 of us watched us some Florida Panthers hockey.  

Panthers kicked the Carolina Hurricanes' butt to become the 

Eastern Conference Champions.  Next stop is the Stanley Cup 

finals. Hopefully this year the Panthers will win it again.

A good day to all.  It's not raining as yet, but sure looks 

like it will. Never has there been so much rain during the

 times we have lived here.  Climate change is real.

Sometimes in life, we need a few bad days in 

order to keep the good ones in perspective...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday May 28th~

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and

 look around once in a while, you could miss it...

 In between taking care of what needs to be done 

here at home, Arvid and I also find some time to do

 a few fun things.  We have been driving around

 quite a bit checking out some favorite places.

One of our most enjoyable drives has always been to 

Branson Scenic Overlook.  It's a scenic spot with views in 

all directions.  Popular for sunrise and sunset photos.

This is a beautiful spot to just stop, take in the 

views and enjoy Branson's beauty. Right across there

 is a cute little cafe called Vintage Paris.  Even more

 enjoyable to watch eitter the sunrise or sunset.

As always I find humor in just about any and everything. 

 Florida's humor never ceases to crack me up.  People with 

a good sense of humor are happy people.  I miss home

 in Florida.  Arvid's overjoyed here in Branson, if it were

 not for the heat,I would rather be home in Florida.

Sniff keeps checking everything, he also keeps

 getting into "trouble" if you listen to Arvid, I don't. 

 One things for sure, he sure is learning all the "good" 

spots and feels so much more at home already.

 To all a very good day.  No rain as of right now.

  Just cooler temperatures which I do like.

I like people that enjoy life, 'cause I do the same...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday May 27th~

Life is very interesting...in the end, some of your 

greatest pains become your greatest strengths... 

It rained all day yesterday, and it is still raining 

right now. Even so, Arvid and I decided it was still a good 

day to go to the movies.  I love going to the movies,

 and if it's the "right" movie Arvid is also game.

Arvid is not the type to do anything in the rain, 

but somehow he does.  Like I said say to him, "that's

 why we have umbrellas."  Arvid dislikes rain more

 than most people.  My dad also dislikes rain.  It's

 not so much the rain, but the getting wet by it.

I don't mind the rain as long as my phone does not get wet 

I can live with it.  I also love taking pictures of the rain.

 Arvid always tells me to hurry up.  Most of the times I 

do not listen, if I feel I really need to do something.

We are waking up to cooler temperatures.  According to Arvid 

yesterday's temperature was 20 degrees cooler than normal.  

Today is predicted to be another wet day.  Thankfully I will

 be indoors.  Arvid of course has a ton of things going on. 

 He will be on the move.  To all a very good day.

When it comes to luck, you make your own...

~Nadiya~

Monday May 26th~

It’s better to fight for something 

in life than to die for nothing...

As always Sundays are a bit more relaxing than most

 days.  Both Arvid and I watched the last soccer game. 

 The one where Liverpool was "crowned" Premier League 

champions 2025.  Arvid is a happy man.  His team won.

We have also been watching the Florida Panthers hockey.  

The Panthers are kicking butt and we are loving it.

Yesterday we had a very nice outing.  We went to The Landing. 

 As I always have mentioned before, it's our favorite place.  Since 

the weather looked stormy we opted for indoor dining, and 

walked around a bit afterwards.  Always a good time.

Sniff is adjusting really well.  He now has his 

condo, a bed in the bedroom next to ours, and a 

bed in the loft.  He has already used them all.

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day)

 is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and

 mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving 

in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last

 Monday of May (today),  is also considered the unofficial 

beginning of summer in the United States of America.

This nation will remain the land of the free only 

so long as it is the home of the brave.  To all a happy 

Memorial Day. A day to remember and honor those

 who have died in service to the United States.

May we never forget that freedom isn't free.  Our flag

 does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the 

last breath of each soldier who died protecting it...

~Nadiya~

Sunday May 25th~

The things that make me different 

are the things that make me...

 Yesterday we had no water when we woke up.  

There was a main water break somewhere.  Of course

 it was raining like crazy, so I decided to go down and get

 water from one of the gutter sprouts.  Worked like a charm. 

 Arvid thought I was crazy to go in the rain, but bottom line 

we had water.  Within an hour or so of getting buckets 

of water, the water was restored in our building.

Sniff is getting used to his new home.  He runs

 up and down the steps like a pro.  He has also found

 many "safe" spots.  The condo is one of them.

After the rain stopped the day turned beautiful.  Of course 

we were ready to go out and check out our old stomping

 grounds, and Arvid wanted to show me all the places he 

"discovered"while I was away for 2 and a half days.  

Every place we went was packed with people.  Always 

good to see.  As I have always mentioned, Branson sure draws 

a crowd in the summer.  Arvid and I could not resist a stop for

 frozen custard.  Our favorite of course being Andy's custard.

 The helicopter tour was busy. People kept coming and going.

Right now it is raining cats and dogs as they say.  

There is also lightning and thunder.  Somehow Sniff is not

 so bothered by it.  He just lays there waiting to be petted.

To all a good day.  The rain we are having here in Branson 

would be a great welcome right now in Fort Myers.

When it rains in the morning, it will be fine at night...

~Nadiya~

Saturday May 24th~

Challenges are what make life interesting and 

overcoming them is what makes life meaningful...

 When Arvid and I went to Karaoke night the other day

 I was talking to an older woman.  She was very interesting. 

 I asked her where did she move from.  She said Las Vegas.

  She said for the last 35 years she's been living in Vegas 

and only been in Branson for seven months.  

I of course then asked her why she moved left Vegas.  

Her answer made me smile.  She said, the last time she was

 in Vegas the temperature hit 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51C). 

 She then said that it was a Sunday and she was all dressed

 to go to church, but then thought of the heat and her drive 

through all the criss crossing roads and decided she

 was not going to go to church in that heat. 

 She then told me, "the fact that I can't go to church 

was my indication that it was time to move."  That and

 the heat.  Said she had visited her sister in Branson

 and decided that this was the place for her.  

She told me that she's never going anywhere else but 

Branson.  She then got up, went to her car and my guess is 

drove home.  She was in her mid-eighties and alert as can be.

  What made the night so  interesting was that no matter the 

age of the person, they were out doing something they 

loved, and most were single.  I loved seeing this.

Yesterday we also went shopping for Arvid.  He realized

 he had no black jeans to wear at the concert.  He sure experienced 

some tense moments.  Right away we rushed to The Landing and 

lo and behold they had the jeans he wanted.  He was happy again.

Last night we went to a concert in Springfield, Missouri.

  Horrible weather was predicted, but we were lucky we

 did not get it.  At least not going.  On our way back home

 it was horrible.  Torrential rain, lightning and thunder.  I was 

driving in that all the way back home.  Arvid drove to go.

The theater we went was built in 1926.  

The owner managed to secure a 100-year lease 

on a property which borders U.S. Route 66.

Somehow I was not in the mood for this concert. 

 To say I was somewhat bored is putting it mildly, 

but the theater was beautiful and we met some 

very nice people.  So not so bad after all.  

To all a very good day.  We are having torrential

 rain right now.  Perfect for being indoors.

Don't sit down and wait for the 

opportunities to come. Make them...

~Nadiya~

Friday May 23rd~

 Let the weekend vibes guide you...

Friday, and if all goes well we hopefully will be doing

 something fun.  Bad weather is predicted, as in tornadoes

 and hail again.  Will have to wait and see how it goes.  

So far it still looks good, but it's still early as yet.

Arvid and I are still catching up on little things 

here and there than need, to be done.  Keeps us busy 

and by the end of the day it is always good to just

 sit, relax and watch some TV with Sniff.

Arvid already has a tan.  This man does not know how

 to sit still for a minute.  After running around all day, he goes 

for a walk in the afternoons.  Right now I can't go with him.  My 

knee is still not good enough to do walks.  Can't wait for it to soon 

be better.  I'm fed up with not being able to do the things I did 

before, but I will be patient.   Not as if I had a better choice.

Right now we are not missing Florida.  It is extremely 

hot and humid and will be so for the next5-6 months.  What

 I do miss is downtown Fort Myers and our outings, but

 here in Branson we also have favorite outings.

Our day is starting out beautifully. 

 Hopefully it remains this way.

A beautiful day starts with a beautiful mindset...

~Nadiya~