Tuesday December 16th~

There are 9 more shopping days until 

Christmas. So, guys, that means 8 more

 days till we start shopping, right?...

 Christmas is right around the corner.  It's the most 

wonderful time of the year.  Here in Florida we may not

 have a white Christmas, but we sure have a beautiful 

Christmas season.  My favorite time of the year.

Everyone has their special take on Christmas.  Florida

 is no exception to that.  It's all about having a good time.

Back in Norway our three granddaughters are 

loving the Christmas season and going to lots of fun

 parties at school and with friends.  It's a jolly time.

To all a very good day.  May you 

find joy everyday.  My joy is my Sniff.

Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us

 to think of others rather than of ourselves.

 It directs our thoughts to giving...

~Nadiya~

Monday December 15th~

I may not be there yet, but 

I am closer than I was yesterday...

The new week begins, and I have to tell you this

 past week sure as not a good one for our families.  

Tragedy does not distinguish.  It hits us all the same. 

 Our family in Norway is having a rough time, 

and our family here in the USA as well.

Positive thought for the day.  We always

 tend to see faults in others, rarely do we look 

close enough to see our own.  How about 

we give ourselves a closer look?

We have to all remember that if we think

 positive then positive things are more likely

 to happen.  Why not start right now?

Have a great day and may the rest of the week

 be even better.  Sniff is loving his Florida home, 

and we are happy about that. We are also loving

 it right now as well.  Perfect weather everyday. 

 We enjoy watching Sniff chase around 

everything and love the way he constantly "talks" 

to us.  A new day with new opportunities begins

 for all of us.  Let us make the most of it.

We all enjoyed a good day yesterday with my parents. 

 As always our time together we relaxing and lots of laughs

 going around.  Easy going, just the way we like it.

To all a very good week.  For all our

 sakes, may this be a better one than the last.  

Another beautiful sunset yesterday🌞

A bad attitude is like a flat tire.
You can't go anywhere until you change it...

~Nadiya~

Sunday December 14th~

The key to immortality is first 
living a life worth remembering... 

 Sunday once again. Today mom and dad are 

taking us out to dinner. Going to Pinchers. We all

 really like it and most of all mom also enjoys the 

sangria as much as I do.  It’s a win win outing.  

Yesterday was grocery shopping day. As always

 I went to a couple of different places to get what 

we needed. Walmart is the only place that carries 

Sniff’s Sheba pate that he likes.  Thank goodness 

that yesterday was a pretty “easy” Walmart day.  

I love going to Publix; I go there 2-3 times a

 week for just about everything else. I love their 

buy one get one free deals. Mostly because

 I use most of what they have on sale.

As usual I went to feed Legacy around 4:30,

 but she was not there I waited around. Cleaned 

her area but she didn’t show up.  Instead I met Abe.

 We chatted and I find out that he also feeds her. 

 Many people do.  She’s probably over fed.  

Sniff is just spending a lot of time sleeping. Nothing

 unusual.  He loves all his beds and he uses them 

all at different times. A few games today and

a lot of relaxation time as week.  

Always be yourself, express yourself, have

 faith in yourself, do not go out and look for

 a successful personality and duplicate it...

~Nadiya~

Saturday December 13th~

 Keep it simple and focus on what matters. 
Don't let yourself be overwhelmed...

Starting off with some interesting statistics.  Be it 

true or not, I cannot really verify, but I saw it posted so I 

decided to share it.  I believe most of it is true because

 very often we do see this being reported on the news.

Yesterday was an interesting day.  Arvid met an 

older gentleman in his last trade meeting in Tampa.

 The man is a smooth talker, but invited us to go

 and see his trade collection in Naples, Florida.

This gentleman can definitely talk/brag.  As soon as

 he started to tell how much money he has, I believed nothing

 he said.  Nothing much impresses me.  Least of all when someone

is bragging about how rich they are.  He showed us this coin,

 said it was worth 7M dollars.  Like I was born yesterday.

No questions that he was an interesting man.  Very

 likeable, but boy he sure made himself to be the richest

 man on the planet.  He went so far as to say that he and

 Donald Trump, as in President Trump spoke 3-4 times a 

week.  He also claimed to have sold a huge piece of real 

estate to the president.  By then I was really bored.

The best part of the trip was being chauffeured

 in his bulletproof Rolls Royce.  The car was real and 

the ride was smooth.  Granted he has some money.

Arvid and I were just happy to be passengers for the day.

  Granted we had to put up with non-stop bragging.

Once we got back home we decided we needed

 to get out a bit and clear the chatter in our heads

😂  Downtown is always our choice place.

Back home we all enjoyed Arvid's Friday shows. 

 Gold Rush and The Woodsmen.  Mostly Sniff.

Happiness does not consist in having what 

you want, but in wanting what you have...

~Nadiya~

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~