New Year New Goals:))

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.

Soon we will be heading into 2011.  Not sure how and where time has gone but it sure flies.
 

Chicago home:)


 2010 has been a good year for us.  We were finally able to get our apartment in Chicago something we have wanted ever since going there for the last 6 years.  We love it there and can't wait to go there again:)


Las Olas Home:)



night view Las Olas
Home:)

 We were also lucky to have sold our condo on Las Olas.  This was good and also sort of bittersweet.  We do not regret the selling of the condo... was too big for us and with over 6K in expenses a month it was time to let it go.....





bird watching:)



We do not miss the condo itself, Arvid actually misses nothing of downtown.  I am the only one who misses the area we lived in, the convenience to everything and I really miss my friend Liliana.   Not only is she my friend  she also loves Brutus and took great care of him when we were not around which was more often than not.



loving it here:)



I don't get to see her that much anymore which is a shame because we are only about 30 to 40 minutes away from her.....but we don't go that way so often anymore:(

 2010 was also good in that we acquired some houses.  A new living experience for us (even though we both had houses of our own before).  Looking at Arvid you would think he was born to be in living in a house and not condo.  Both he and Brutus are super happy:)  I am working on it:)) 

As the year comes to a close we take stock in what we have.....we have each other and Brutus, we are healthy, we have our families, and we have a wonderful life.  We do as we please when we please and whatever we do we give it our best shot.  As someone said: Life isn't about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.....

May 2011 be an even better year to all of you than 2010.  May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions...

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits...One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this:  To rise above the little things...

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL:))

until next time....

Holiday Season:)

not happy with
Santa

Attitudes are contagious.  Are yours worth catching.......?

Christmas came and Christmas went:)  Some look forward to this day for a whole year others (like Arvid) could care less and are super happy when it is over.  Even so, we had a very good Christmas (as always).  It is the best time of the year after all.

Although we could not be with my family (tradition) we spent a very nice and relaxing day on our own and for the first time with Brutus since having him. 

We had a nice drive before dinner and of course could not miss out on a Pina Colada.  We even went over to some friends' place for a change on Christmas Eve and curious enough we enjoyed it.   We had good food, company was very enjoyable and just a very warm and relaxing feeling altogether.  Exactly what Christmas should be like.  It was so good I am looking forward to hopefully having Dieter and Eileen over at our place sometime soon:))





staying warm:)



checking his toy box:)



On another note the COLD is back!!  We are freezing right now so that is not so nice.  I am in 3 layers of clothes, winter socks and still cold.  Last night Arvid did not sleep much because all he did was wake up to cover Brutus with his T-Shirt.  Kitty was just too cold.  Have to give in and get him some kitty clothes:)

 Best of all presents is having my parents here for a very long time.  They are in Puerto Rico with my other sister and family but, will be here with us and we will bring in the New Year together with them:)



they have a great time
ALWAYS:))



Life is good and we are sure enjoying it:)  Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.  If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one.....

until next time....

Happy Holidays:))))

Christmas is a time when you get homesick – even when you’re home

May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with warmth and love. Christmas is the time of giving and sharing.  It is the time of loving and forgiving.  Merry Christmas to Everyone!

It goes without saying that Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  People seem to be merrier and there is so much love going around that the warmth engulfs you and for that brief time known as Christmas everyone seems to live in harmony.

All over the world there are happy faces waiting for that day just to open up their presents....for some it may be a ton of presents for others maybe just one or sometimes not a thing...

Growing up we were not wealthy.  Our presents were not many if any at all  but the love we shared as a family was more than enough to make each and every Christmas better and better.

Many may have forgotten the true spirit or meaning of Christmas.  Remember it is not always "I want" , I want" but sometimes the best of times are those spent sharing with family and friends and just enjoying each others company.. One of the nice things about Christmas is that you can make people forget the past with a present....

From our home to yours: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy

your heart with love and your life with laughter:)

Nadiya, Arvid & Brutus….
The best Christmas of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up with one another.....


    A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world...

until next time....

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Windmills...The Future??

High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.....

Arvid and I do many things and recently something that has has caught our attention is the growing interest in Windmills.  A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails.


We own quite a bit of land in Texas a prime location for setting up Windmills.   With this in mind we have been doing our research and have read that a Texan Veteran has set up a S10 billion clean energy project.

Over the next four years he plans to erect 2,700 turbines across 200,000 acres of the Texas Panhandle.  The scheme is five times bigger than the world's current record holding wind farm and when finished and when finished will supply 4,000 megawatts of electricity....enough to power over one million homes.

Of course nothing is for sure but on the other hand we being risk takers decided to little by little learn more about Windmills and compile as much information as we can in order to garner interest...you see we own enough land to lease it to people like this Texan who wants to do the actual putting up of the windmills....this being a long term project has to be taken into consideration but....should it work out then all we have to do is sit back and collect royalties.

This veteran Texan has set about convincing neighbouring ranchers to join his scheme:) promising between $10,000 and $20,000 in annual royalties for every turbine they allow on their land....OUR ADVANTAGE...WE HAVE THE LAND:)))  Of course they have all signed up eager to cash in on this win-win set up:)

Because we own quite a bit of land we have been bringing partners who one day together with us will do something similar to what the Texan is doing....so far it is going well that we have been approached by a very big company wanting to lease our land and set up Windmills on it:)  We even have an Ad in Europe which has brought us lots of interested partners.

http://www.finn.no/finn/realestate/abroad/homes/object?finnkode=20324111&sid=sid/2010/12/22/15/xz0861293026847746y

Nothing concrete but for those that have joined us in this project the payback can be ENORMOUS...for those thinking of being part... well don't wait too long because if this should take off as expected we will no longer sell any more of our land:)

 A risk taker fails 999 times, and if he succeeds once, he's in. He treats his failures simply as practice shots....

until next time...

Life Is Good:)

The living moment is everything...

our sunset

Our time in Eleuthera is soon coming to an end.  We have had a much needed vacation, rest and are now totally relaxed ready to face the craziness of life in Florida:)  Don't get me wrong we enjoy both lifestyles...when in Florida we are constantly on the go...hardly stopping to take a breath.




loves it here also:)

totally relaxed:)

 When in Eleuthera we relax, go for walks, enjoy sitting on the deck watching the sunsets, reading a book or just gazing into the blue skies and let our senses take over.

Arvid LOVES being here.  It is as if when he's here everything is better and he has no worries.  He loves the fact (more than me) that he does not have to get phone calls nor does he want to make phone calls.  We enjoy just walking the beach and together we just collect shells and do absolutely...NOTHING:)  The only other place we are this relaxed is in Chicago:)



happy here:)

This trip we did not bring Brutus because we needed official papers for him which Arvid went and got in Nassau.  As of next time he will be coming with us and we plan to spend much more time in his beautiful island....something like 2 weeks in Florida 2 weeks in Eleuthera....



Our next visits are actually already planned.  January we have a customer coming to look at the island.  He has some lots up North and hopes to one day be able to also come more to the island:)  January - February already booked for Eleuthera:)



good food always:)

March we also have another batch coming so we will also be here with them for 2 weeks with Brutus of course....

Life is good we have the perfect balance.  When things get hectic in Florida we come to Eleuthera..when we have relaxed and de-stressed we head back to Florida:)  Enjoy life everyone for we never know what tomorrow holds:)

Why live for tomorrow and not be enjoying today.......Live with no excuses and love with no regrets

until next time....

Happy Holidays:)

Mate & Jenny's:)

Food should be enjoyed rather than endured.



was raining:)



Mate and Jenny's



We cannot come to Eleuthera without going at least once sometimes more to Mate and Jenny's Bar and Pizza Restaurant....known for the best pizza in the island.  Like most places in the island the atmosphere here is very relaxing and inviting.



Mate:)



As you enter into the restaurant you are greeted by Mate himself.  No matter how busy the place is he always takes the time to personally greet each person and to welcome them:)

In all the years we have been coming to the island this is one place we never miss out on going....as far as Arvid goes this is the best pizza he has ever eaten.

 

We have had many friends visiting from different parts of the world and we have taken them all to Mate and Jenny's...they always leave satisfied and with the desire to come back.

For us this is just another example of good food and great people to be found on the island.  Cannot wait for our next visit knowing for sure we will be having our favorite pizza again:)



waiting for dinner



As we were sitting waiting for our dinner Arvid just looks at me and says "you know we have the best of all worlds, we come and go as we please and we have our little boysie (Brutus)"  He is right we are very fortunate to have each other and to be able to enjoy life the way we do....

It does not really matter what you have but what you do with what you have:)  Live every day as if it were your last and then some day you'll be right....

 You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can decide how you're going to live now....Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever....

until next time....

Sky Beach:)

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way...

Bar @ Sky Beach:)

   Arvid and I have been coming to Eleuthera, Bahamas for quite some years now.  This beautiful island has enchanted us so much that for the last few years we have been fortunate to call it home also:)

We have our own Island Home here and even though we don't live here full time we enjoy every moment we have here.  We try to make it once a month and now we hope to spend even more time.

There are many things we love about the island but, today I will talk about Sky Beach Club.....This happens to be one (we have many) of our favorite spots on the island...

To quote from their site

 http://www.skybeachclub.com/

as far as accommodations go, "each residence is characterized by spacious suites, infinity edge pools and spas, gorgeous patios and an abundance of glass for capitalizing on the breathtaking views. Every detail is dedicated to modern luxury, comfort and total privacy. Feel the cool breezes as you relax on your spacious balcony. Enjoy secluded nights and colorful days".


Bistro @ Sky Beach



Sky Beach has a wonderful ocean view infinity pool with a swim up bar...the food in the Bistro is excellent and their drinks are to die for.  Whenever we are in the island this is a must go place for us.  I enjoy most of their drinks but am particularly fond of the frozen ones.  My usual is their famous Pina Colada....maybe on our next visit I will try their Banana Daiquiri:))

Arvid normally has the Kalik or a vodka and coke...for him always the same also.  Today was no exception.  We went to Sky Beach.  Everyone there is always super friendly and always ready to please.  Some of the nicest people we have ever met have been the people of Eleuthera.  We are very fortunate to say we have made some really good friends in this island.


always happy here




loves eleuthera:)



Our life is much more relaxed once we are in Eleuthera:)  Arvid is an entirely different person.  Here nothing bothers him, he is rarely on his computer and the phone forget that .....if he could stay away from it all the time while here he would:)  I am a bit different.  I need to talk to my family so for me it is a necessity:)  Even  Brutus our kitty loves Eleuthera:)

We are very fortunate to be able to come to this beautiful island, have a home here and to find peace, relaxation and know that whenever we need a refuge from the stress and hecticness of Florida we can always be assured we will find it here in Eleuthera.....CHEERS ALL:)

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away .......

until next time.....