Wednesday July 13th ~

 Look for something positive in every day, even 

if some days you have to look a little harder...

Yesterday while Arvid was busy doing stuff around 

town, I had the opportunity to have lunch with two of the 

ladies in our subdivision.  We met before for dinner at one

 of their homes, and yesterday the three of us had Indian food.  

It was just delicious.  Better than the Indian food I have had in 

New York, Florida and not so long ago in North Carolina.

I have been going to AHL for the last week now.  

Mainly to help take care of Pookie whose mama was taken to 

the hospital.  Pookie is really happy when I show up and wants me

 to stay with her petting and stroking her.  I do, and I feel very

 sad when I leave.  She looks at me and meows.

Yesterday was cloudy so after lunch I took a little 

time and went to the Tanger Outlets.  Was a good day.

Arvid, Sniff and I.  Living our best lives.

I challenge myself everyday to be the most

 positive and enthusiastic person I know...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday July 12th~

 Everyday brings new choices...

Gerald the groundhog has gotten bolder by the day. 

 He now comes out every day for longer and longer periods.  

I watch him from above and he just stares right back.

He moves around the backyard, and comps away on whatever 

it is he finds.  I buy him carrots because I read somewhere that

 both chipmunks and groundhogs eat carrots and fruit.  Every

 so often he gets apples and grapes as well.  I think he's happy.

Waking up to a cloudy morning.  Maybe a little rain

 today, but that's only good because we need it.  Everything 

is getting dry, plus the deck can use a little washing 😂

Sniff get lot of time again with us, and we are all loving it.  

Wishing everyone a good day.  make it an amazing one.

Find the little things in everyday life that make you happy...

~Nadiya~

New Week Begins ~ Monday July 10th

Monday is a state of mind.  Put your 
positive pants on and get stuff done... 

Arvid's way of relaxing is by doing the breakfast dishes.
  He does them everyday, and willingly. Says that's when

 he makes plans for the day.  He's happy, I'm happy

Sniff has been sitting on the table with us during breakfast 😅.  
So far if he stays in "his" corner Arvid has not said anything.

To all a good start of the new week.  May it mark the 

beginning of a wonderful and very productive week ahead.

Never let the sadness of your past, and the fear of 

your future, ruin the happiness of your future...

~Nadiya~

Sunday ~ July 10th

 No story is the same to us after a lapse of time; or rather

 we who read it are no longer the same interpreters...

Everyday is "me time" for Sniff.  Whenever Arvid 

or I sit Sniff curls up right next to us.  Anytime for 

him is a good time.  We all love these moments.

What shall we do today?  Good question.  Maybe a little

 more relaxation is called for.  With this much relaxation,

 I will probably/most definitely be exhausted before noon.

Could it be possible that I am missing AHL?  I 

know I miss all the people and all the chats that we had. 

 I miss people contact.  I am after all a people's person.

Sniff, getting brushed every morning to the tunes of Cocomelon

When you feed your soul by spending time on

 things you love, that you are excited about, 

your enthusiasm becomes contagious...

~Nadiya~

Saturday July 9th ~

 Some days you just need to lie on the floor and call it meditation...

Just another day with not much to do.  Really liking it, 

well most of the time.  Other times, I a little restless wanting 

to do more.  I need to look for a job.  Maybe I can do some 

work in one of the many thrift stores here in Branson.

I spend a lot of my time taking pictures of Sniff.  He sees 

the camera and runs the other way.  Sooner or later I get him 😂

Arvid and I had our Friday outing.  Was hot, but was good. 

 Love these short but yet enjoyable outing we have.  Good

 drinks, always something to nibble on , and of course 

the water view always relaxes us.  Perfect times.

To all a good and happy day.  As the saying

 goes, do what makes your soul happy.

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.

 Remember when you're talking to the Man upstairs that

 just because He doesn't answer doesn't mean He doesn't care. 

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers...

~Nadiya~

Friday July 8th ~

Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it...

Just before I was about to go to bed last night, I came 

a cross a picture that brought back beautiful memories of our

 life in Puerto Rico.  I remember we spent almost every weekend

 at the beach with our parents.  It was a wonderful time. 

 No wonder Puerto Rico holds so many memories.

Rima was not born as yet.  It was just the four of us, mom

 and dad.  An old picture.  Faded, but I remember so much just 

by looking at it.  I remember mom and dad this young 💛.

We woke up to some rain, not much but the thunder

 and lightning was loud enough to scare Sniff.  Now he feels 

better because he's huddling close to us.  Mainly to Arvid.

Sniff adores his dada, and feels most safe when 

close to him.  Another warm day in store for us, but seems 

like a little cool down at the end of it.  Happy for that.

Not much happening here today.  Plan to go to Almost Home. 

 Hopefully see a few tenants, chat with them, help with Pookie.

  Just everyday AHL stuff.  I'm happy any chance I have.

"Our" groundhog has been identified as Gerald.  Seems like

 he's well know in our community.  Fortunate for us, everyone 

says he likes to live mainly by our backyard.  He's actually 

"famous" with the neighbors.  His face has grown on me.

Good morning and to all a happy start of the weekend.

Not in doing what you like, but in liking 

what you do is the secret of happiness...

~Nadiya~

Thursday July 7th ~

 The best way to predict the future is to create it...

Yesterday it was too hot to cook 😂at least that's

 what we told ourselves.  I have been craving Thai food

 for the longest time, so Thai it was.  Not bad, but a long

 shot from the one i usually have in Fort Lauderdale.  

I'm not complaining.  Just comparing 😂

Since coming back from Chicago the birds have not

 been around like they used to.  Maybe they thought I

 have abandoned them.  The squirrels are still around, 

even more of them.  Also, Chippy is back as is baby 

Chippy.  Birdies are slowly coming back as well.

I think of Chicago and smile.  What a wonderful time, and 

what a beautiful city.  The view from our bedroom was amazing.

Made you not want to really leave the room for too long 😂

No matter the time of the day, the view is always spectacular.

Good morning everyone. Soon another week is over.

  Leisure time is really killing me.  Now I am back to 

not sleeping well, and way too much time to think.

Enjoy the day, and stay away from the heat.  We will.

I was going to do something today but I 

haven't finished doing nothing from yesterday...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday July 6th ~

The end of labor is to gain leisure... 

Arvid and I have been fortunate to have experienced 

some wonderful times in some very pretty places, and

 we look forward to doing so again.  Hopefully in the

 not so far future.  We are back to being semi-retired.

It's been said that leisure time is when your wife

 can't find you😂, another very hot day awaits us.

It's not a man's working hours that is important, 

it is how he spends his leisure time...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday July 5th~

 When it's not always raining there'll be days like this.

 When there's no one complaining there'll be days like this. 

When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch. 

Well my mama told me there'll be days like this...

The Chicago we love

A very HOT week ahead, even hotter than I thought,

 but on the bright side there is no humidity so to speak of.  

At least not like in Florida nor Puerto Rico.  That being 

said, I wish we were back inn Puerto Rico.  I miss

 my sister, Kimsy and my PR kitties very much.

Last night as the fireworks went off, Sniff was being brave.

  Instead of running off and hiding he stayed close to his dada. 

 Tucked tightly between his body.  Home with Sniff and 

Arvid.  The best way to spend everyday/any day.  

Nirvana is having a good time in Miami with her son J.

Mom and dad are having also a good time in Texas at a family's 

wedding.  My dad's family is very kind, generous and caring. 

 All my sisters and our families were also invited to this wedding. 

 Unfortunately we could not go, but it's the thought that matters.  

Whenever my dad's family has a "function" all of us are always

 welcome, even if we don't know everyone involved 😂

Tuesday.  Already warm, but not the worse as yet.  

Happy because today we will be going to Almost Home. 

 I get to help miss Jennifer and to take care of Pookie. 

Whether it's the best of times or the worst 

of times, it's the only time we've got...

~Nadiya~

Monday July 4th ~

 In America, nobody says you have to keep
 the circumstances somebody else gives you...

No place we would rather be than home.  

A little of of time in Chicago.  A beautiful city, 

but we sure were happy to return home.

Dreams are the foundation of America.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy July 4th. 
 In the face of impossible odds, people 

who love their country can change it.

America was built on courage, on 

imagination and an unbeatable determination.

This nation will remain the land of the free 

only so long as it is the home of the brave...

~Nadiya~

Sunday July 3rd ~

Life is like a road trip – enjoy each day 
and don't carry too much baggage...

Arvid and I finally found the time to do a little weekend

 trip, and the place we choose to go to was Chicago. Maybe

 our favorite city of all times.  Summer only.  No winter.

Sniff had his first pet-sitting adventure, and he did

 pretty good.  Now I feel a little better leaving him with 

Brandy.  She's a professional and he's well cared for.

Even though we were only gone for a few days, Sniff missed us.

  I know I missed him a lot as well.  It's good to be home again.

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Sunday.

No matter where we go, coming back home is best.

Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week..

~Nadiya~

Saturday July 2nd~ Leisure Times ~

 Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only

 thing we know that we have for sure is what

 is right here right now. Don’t miss it...

A little more time in the morning to sleep in and not rush, 

even so both Sniff and Arvid always want that "little extra"  

Makes their day begin better and everyone's happy.

When Sniff gets up early he just watches birds, other

 times he's just chasing or attacking one of his toys.  Today 

I found him in his bedroom slacking off again.  Life of a cat 😂

Still getting used to the idea of having a little more 

free time on on hands.  Loving it, but at the same

 time why do I also feel as if I am slacking off?

Happiness, not in another place but this place,

not for another hour, but this hour...

~Nadiya~

Friday July 1st ~

 The first step towards getting somewhere is to 

decide you’re not going to stay where you are...

Half of the year is already over.  Not exactly sure how 

it happened so fast, but it sure did.  Being busy also 

played a big role in time just getting away from us.

Everyday is just so different from the last

 three and a half months.  We wake up a little later,

 have breakfast together.  There is no rushing right 

now to be somewhere at a certain time.  So

 much relaxation is sure wearing me out 😂

As the first sun rises in this new month, 

may your fortunes begin to raise one after

 the other until you reach your goals.

Make every minute of this month count. Embrace 

every second with enthusiasm. Live your days 

with excitement. Have a blissful month.

Life is always interesting.  You just have to look.

Every now and then go away, have a

 little relaxation, for when you come back to

 your work your judgment will be surer...

~Nadiya~