Thursday June 20th~

The world is governed by chance.

 Randomness stalks us every day of our lives...

 Here are a few random facts that no one really cares 

about.  Truth is if you have to fly, you have to fly.

One might wonder why I "pick" on Florida.  Well I don't, 

but we happen to live here and this is the news/humor I see.

Living in Florida has its own entertainment and I just can't get enough of it.

Since living in Fort Myers, we have never 

seen an iguana.  A few days ago this was spotted.

Heat or no heat for Sniff it's all the same. 

 He's home, safe, protected and always loved.

No matter how sophisticated our choices,

 how good we are at dominating the odds, 

randomness will have the last word...

~Nadiya~

Back Home~ June 19th

The mark of a wild heart is living out the paradox of love in

 our lives. It's the ability to be tough and tender, excited and scared,

 brave and afraid -- all in the same moment. It's showing up in our 

vulnerability and our courage, being both fierce and kind...

 I just got back from an early morning walk.  

Just me my Spotify playlist and glowing colors of 

the morning.  I have made Arvid his own playlist,

 but the truth is we almost never listen to it.

 He only listens to Sirius Radio.  Truth be told 

when we're in Norway he gets enough of his playlist

just about everywhere we go🙉.  Everyone is always

 trying to please Arvid, I may be one of the few that

 does not agree with everything he says and wants 😂  

My guess is that's why life is always interesting.

Hurricane season began June 1st, and here in Florida we sure are ready.

The Florida Panthers lost game 5 (NHL) to the 

Edmonton Oilers.  In Florida's own backyard.  Next 

game is back in Canada.  Now I am starting to get 

nervous.  The Oilers are kicking the Panthers butt.

Sniff is so happy to see us as we are to be back home 

with him.  The idea of getting away is always so very

 tempting, but getting home, nothing will ever beat

 that.  I've missed this little dude so very much.

We have enjoyed out little trip to Branson,

 but home is where the Wifi connects automatically 

oh yeah, and it's where your heart is, too.  Not so

 happy when it comes to the unpacking 😒.  Yup, 

vacation is over.  Back to reality and I love it.

Life takes you unexpected places, love brings you home...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday June 18th~

I don't take for granted, for one minute, what I do...

 Going back to familiar places.   Seeing familiar sights.  Life 

has been and is good to us.  I hope I never take it for granted.

Branson is a very spiritual community, and a very familiar

 sight is this cross. The cross is made of 1-inch thick plate steel

 and was assembled in eight sections. It is 218 feet tall, 

making it the tallest cross in North America.  

This cross is also the world's largest walk-through cross

 and currently one of two crosses in America requiring

 (FAA) Federal Aviation Administration obstruction

 lighting at the top to ensure aircraft visibility.

In the short time we have been here we did quite

 a few things.  Granted Arvid was busy everyday,

 but in between we made the most of our time.

We have enjoyed delicious foodies and yummy drinks at

 our "usual" spots.  Best of all, we did not have to rush

 to go back to the hotels or get a call about the hotel. 

 A really pleasant experience.  One we enjoyed.

On our outing to Big Cedar Lodge we were lucky.  

We saw 2 Geralds (groundhogs).  Once I got out one

 ran away.  They were just babies. Made my day.

Big Cedar Lodge

Big Cedar Lodge is a huge property.  Beautiful and

 well maintained.  Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops,

 created Big Cedar Lodge as a unique destination for families 

and friends to connect in the great outdoors.  I love that 

they have bird feeders all over the property.

One last sunrise, another trip to our favorite spot,

 and just like that our time here is soon over.  We are good

 with that.  We did what we came to do and all's well.

As a last minute thought, we decided to go back to 

Maria Bonita.  More like I wanted to go back.  Arvid  

tends to agree.  Not a fan of margaritas, but theirs was 

just delicious.  Yesterday I had the Mango Margarita.

This morning I had my last morning walk.  I saw a rabbit,

 I fed some squirrels and caught some of the sunrise. 

 I'm happy and now so very ready to go home🐾

Now all our thoughts are on being home.  I can't wait to 

see our Sniff-Sniff.  He is my happy place.  Always.

Simple things ought not to be taken for granted...

~Nadiya~

Good Times~ New Week

 Life is better when you're laughing and having a good time... 

As they say, "let the good times roll" and we're doing just that.  

It's a very different feeling when you come back for a visit 

rather than coming back to run the hotels.  I like this feeling.  

We do what we want when we want and have a good time.

As the new week begins, I am glad we came to Branson, 

but I am happy to soon be going home.  I miss my Sniff 

and I miss our routines.  Especially our morning routines.  I 

love waking up and having a few hours to myself without

 having to worry about disturbing Arvid and his sleep.

I woke up early hoping to catch the sunrise.  I did get some

 of it, and it was beautiful.  I feed the little birdies in the mornings

 and I keep looking for squirrels, but they are not coming out.  I saw 

one, but when I threw the peanuts he took off like a bat outta hell.

No matter where we go, home is where we want to 

return to.  For me home is where Sniff is.  Can't wait to

 see his little face.  Arvid and I are ready to go home.

 In good times and bad times, never comprise who you are. 

~Nadiya~

Sunday June 16th~

 If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun...

 Arvid has found soccer once again on TV.  Currently the

 Europa Championship is on.  He's a happy man.  In between 

of everything he had "down" time, and gets to watch soccer. 

I like signs, and I take pictures of as many as I can😂

So far we have been having a very good time.  Work and 

fun is a good combination.  There is no time to get bored, at

 the same time there is time to always do interesting things.

Arvid makes many trips to the hotels during the day. 

 I don't go with him all the time, just once in a while. 

We are doing many things we never had the time to

 do when we lived here.  Back then all we did was run the

 hotels and work! work!  Today Kurt runs the hotels.  We took

 a step back and we love it this way.  Helping out while 

here is OK because we know it's just for a few days.

A trip to Branson Landing is always a must.  Hope

 to go back one more time.  We do miss this spot.

Arvid and I always have a good time here.  We even met 

our server from last year.  He's actually from Miami, Florida,

 but chose to leave three years ago.  He said it was too crazy and 

that people were all dishonest.  He said he loves it much 

more here in Branson.  He's just 25 years old 🙈

At the end of each day, I mark off my calendar the days

 until we are home.  Home where Sniff is waiting for us. 

 Arvid keeps saying how he see's Sniff everywhere, even said, 

"I felt him in bed last night, but then realized it was you."

On a not so happy note, the Panthers got their butts kicked

 really bad by the Edmonton Oilers.  The Canadians came to

 win, and win they did.  The Panthers never stood a chance. 

The Canadians wiped the floor with the Florida Panthers.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed 

by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did...

~Nadiya~

Saturday June 15th~

I always had that get-up-and-go to work for

 myself - I never wanted a nine-to-five job...

Arvid is "on the job"  Is he happy about it?  Yes and no. 

 We didn't really come here to be working all the time, checking

 up on stuff yes, but to actually be handed a job, that's something 

else, but as Kurt said, "you're still an owner so you work" 😂

Yesterday morning I went out for a little walk looking for some 

wildlife friends.  I brought with me peanuts for the squirrels and

 the groundhogs.  I also have carrots and bread for the birds.

  I saw just one squirrel.  Still was happy, and many birds.

Yesterday was a lot of running back and fort to 

The View (hotel) mainly for Arvid.  As Kurt said,

 "we have to keep an eye on our investment."

Last night we were out listening to live music.  Same place

 we checked out the day before. Rock Island Tiki Bar,  

Table Rock Lake's most iconic Tiki Bar! Featuring popular drink

 specials, popular menu items from our Tiki Food Truck, 

Tiki Hawaiian BBQ food specials and home of Rock

 Lane LIVE Summer Concert Series. 

Yesterday we did many things.  We ran back and fort

 to the hotels a few times.  In between we went to the outlets. 

 We both ended up with something for ourselves.  

I had a cool encounter with the guy by the dressing room 

in one of the shops.  He asked "how do I spell your name?"  

I said anyway you like.  And he said, "you'll like this."

Of course we had to stop when there is a car involved, 

and Arvid has had his eye on the Excalibur since last year.

We also took a trip to Table Rock Dam.  This picture is from 

two years ago.  Yesterday the dam was not releasing water.

After a few more checks at the hotels Arvid and

 I had the evening off, and it was a good one.

On this trip everywhere we have been someone has 

shouted out, "is that you Miss Nadiya"  It's good seeing people

 we know some were our tenants back in 2017 as well.

Missouri is known for its beautiful lakes.  

We definitely are impressed with them.

After all is said and done, the place I would like to

be is home with Sniff.  I sure miss that little dude.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; 

but often we look so long at the closed door that we 

do not see the one which has been opened for us...

~Nadiya~

Rock Lane Resort and Some~

Take it all one day at a time and enjoy the journey..

Yesterday evening Arvid and I took some time

 and we went to check out Rock Lane Resort.  Arvid 

had researched it before we came, and the fact that there

 is live music most nights made it a must go.  Yesterday 

was just to check it out.  The music is tonight. 

We have been here before when we lived here and we

 really like the place.  Yesterday was only supposed to be a 

scouting of the place, but once we got there Arvid realized

 that they have Landshark on tap.  Well that was that.  I told 

him we needed to hang out a bit longer.  Of course  we did.

After we were done at Rock Lane we went to on of the

 hotels where we are going to be taking care of some business 

for the next three days.  Mainly Arvid.  He said he does not

 wish to be in the heat all day long so he will be more like

 the supervisor for the job.  This means so will I 😂

After we were done we went to Andy's custard,  

I told Arvid that I wanted to go there very early in 

our stay.  This way we can go one more time.  Of 

course I had to get a few pictures of the wheel.

We've had another good day.  Looking forward 

to more of the same.  Even though we have to work, 

we always find time for some fun and relaxation.

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do...

~Nadiya~~