Wednesday July 31st

 A happy person is not a person in

 a certain set of circumstances, but rather 

a person with a certain set of attitudes...

Sniff continues to stay close to me.  Here he is early 

this morning not wanting to get out of bed.  I stayed back 

with him until I didn't.  Then he ran right after me.

Sometimes the right capture is just a few steps away from you.

  Early in the morning.  The streets are quiet and peaceful. 

 I love my mornings, okay and also my evenings.

Yesterday was another very good day.  I started out early

 going to have a sonogram of my head and neck.  Done yearly

 just to make sure that I do not have any thyroids remaining 

and to also make sure the cancer has not spread, as in the

 thyroid cancer I had some years ago.  No feedback as yet,

 but I'm sure all is well.  If not back to the drawing table.

Yesterday I also checked out a place Arvid is not keen on. He 

does not like craft beers, and this place only has craft everything.  

I tried something new called pineapple mango crush.  First time I am 

having a drink that has turmeric. Not for me, but pretty cool place.

A new day begins and I just don't know what it hold. 

 Not as yet.  Good day to all and live life always to the 

fullest.  Another beautiful sunset from our balcony.

Go after what you really love and 

find a way to make that work for you, 

and then you'll be a happy person...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday July 30th~

We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and 

honestly - spending quiet time alone gives your mind

 an opportunity to renew itself and create order...

Sometimes all it takes to calm your soul is a quiet moment.  

No need for explanations or anything.  Just a moment of 

reflection with yourself makes a whole lotta difference and 

it sure is calming.  Sniff knows it as well.  He spends lots 

of time just looking out the window.  Just like his dada.

Different shades of the morning captured from our 

bedroom window.  I know I repeat the same pictures, 

but every morning I am just amazed at this sight.

Also this morning there was a sliver 

of the moon.  My camera is always ready.

Yesterday I checked out another place Arvid is not so keen on.  

Glad I did.  That Summit Seeker is calling me again.  I'm listening😂

To all a very good day, and remember, whatever

 you do make sure it makes your soul happy.

Life's most precious moments are not all loud or 

uproarious. Silence and stillness has its own virtues...

~Nadiya~

Monday July 29th~

 No one is so brave that he is not 

disturbed by something unexpected...

A new week begins and I am home with my Sniff. 

 It does not get any better than this.  I have really 

missed blue skies. palm trees ,and the sunshine 

so much, but now I'm back and all is good.

I had a very good weekend, but am still not totally 

over the jet lag as yet, but as you know everyday it just 

keeps getting better.  Sniff continues to sleep all night 

with me.  Very close to me to the point that I have no 

covers.  I'm loving it all.  Also stocked up on some of 

my favorite fruit from the farmers market.  I love it.

The new week begins and I look forward to what it holds.  

My Sniff and I packed on a few pounds these last few weeks. 

Now the hard part begins.   Again.  Getting rid of it 😩

Resilience is all about being

 able to overcome the unexpected...

~Nadiya~

Sunday July 28th~

What I love most about our home is who I share it with...

 I am so happy to be home.  Sniff has not left my

 side since returning. On the first night back I was so tired.

  I went to sleep at 5pm in the afternoon.  If Arvid was here

 he would say something like "fight it" so that you can 

get back into the rhythm faster.   I will do it my 

way and still accomplish the same results.

My flight back home to the USA was a good one.  The 

flight from Norway to JFK was not that full and I had the entire

 emergency exit row all to myself.  Nice and roomy, but the flight

 from JFK to Fort Myers was over booked. Nope did not have

 the entire row this time, but a nice young man sat next to me.  

When we were not freezing to death and awake, we chatted all 

the time.  I almost thought he was going to ask me out😰 so in the 

conversation I gently reminded him of our age difference.  Both flights

 were freezing cold.  This was him.  I also had on a similar hoodie.

I brough back from Norway the best chocolate you will 

ever taste.  There is nothing like Norwegian chocolate.  Don't 

care what you have tried, if you love chocolate, unless you've 

tried Norwegian chocolate you are really missing out.  

Now a few friends and family can also enjoy it.

I'm loving being back home.  Doing what I like, how I like

 and when I like 😂, and having my Sniff close to me.

A good day to all.  I'm back in my favorite time zone.  

Remember to be happy with what you have.  There are 

some people with nothing who still manage to smile.

Where we love is home, home that our 

feet may leave, but not our hearts...

~Nadiya~

Saturday July 27th~

Every day is a new opportunity to make

 a difference. Go out there and shine. Have 

a wonderful day and make it count... 

Morning walks at home.  I've missed this view.

Waking up and hearing Sniff's meow is the best sound.

Waking up in my own bed with Sniff next to me. I'm home.

May your day be as bright as the sun and as beautiful 

as a field of flowers. Embrace the goodness that life

 has to offer and have a truly wonderful day...

~Nadiya~

July 26th~

Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home...

 In just a few hours I will be in Florida.  Back home 

with Sniff.  I can't wait.  Little tired, but that's all part 

of this thing called vacation.  I now need another

 vacation to recover from my vacation 😂

I am tired, but I am also very happy.  Happy because 

our granddaughters finally are getting used to calling me 

bestemor.  Happy also because soon I will hold Sniff.

Summer in Norway was mostly wet and cold, but in many ways 

it may have been the best time I have had so far.  You see I bonded

 with our granddaughters, and nothing can take that away.  I just hope

 they don't forget me because for me they are always in my heart.

As I wait to board the plane, I think of 3 little girls in

 Norway, and yes I think of going home to Sniff.  Life, but I 

am so grateful for all the joys it has and continues to give me.

No matter who you are or where you 

are, instinct tells you to go home...

~Nadiya~

July 25th~ Homewards Bound

A man travels the world over in search of 

what he needs and returns home to find it...

 I am soon on my way back to the USA.  Home. For me there 

here will never be another place like the USA.  I love it, and I

 miss it.  It is where Sniff is.  It's where my heart yearns to be. 

 Thank you Norway for the beautiful memories and a wonderful

 time. Though the weather was terrible, I had the best summer 

with family, and lots of bonding with our granddaughters.

 I will be missing three little faces more than anything.

Home is Sniff and that's where I an going.  

I'm going home and I could not be any happier.  

It's been an amazing time with family.  Wonderful 

memories have been made.  It's a bittersweet feeling, 

but I'm going home, and that makes me happy. 

I'm already missing three little faces.  Life 😔

Next stop is JFK, New York. In a few hours I will be

 back on American soil.  After that another few hours

 and I will be home with my Sniff.  I am happy.

There's no place like home, and I'm finally 

heading back. Home is where the heart is, and 

my heart is racing back to my happy place...

 

~Nadiya~

July 25th ~

What's wonderful about life's simple pleasures

 is that they are everywhere around us....

Life's simple pleasures, they are the most

 unassuming moments, but things I truly find immense

 pleasure in.  Like an early morning walk or just alone 

time with Sniff.  Relaxing with Arvid yet not having

 to say anything.  Content with just enjoying life.

Yesterday ended with a very beautiful glow.

As Benjamin Franklin said, "Happiness consists more

 in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day,

 than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but

 seldom to a man in the course of his life😁

Yesterday we had the best meal of the entire stay 

right at Victoria and Michael's. Everything they made 

was scrumptious, and they made quite a bit.

Today of course is a beautiful day.  I had my last 

early walk by the harbor and enjoyed a pretty morning for 

a change.  Sun was and is shining.  What a difference.

Soon I will be seeing and holding my Sniff.  

The simplest pleasures are 

sometimes the most extraordinary....

~Nadiya~

Wednesday July 24th~

If you go anywhere, even paradise, you will miss your home...

 My summer in Norway has not been that good,

 weatherwise.  If we had a "warm" day we were lucky.  The

 sun rarely came out, and if it did it disappeared just as fast. 

Right now it is also wet, and cold.  Hoping the day get better.

 It does help with a cup of tea at nights to help keep us warm. 

 Hopefully August will be a better month for everyone.

The grey kitty is Leo.  He belongs to Michelle and family. 

 He's super loving, chunky and cuddly.  The black and white as 

mentioned before is Felix.  He's more suspicious of everyone.

The view from the apartment.  Always a

 good one, and better when it's clear blue skies.

Arvid and I took another trip to the cemetery. 

There he trimmed the grown grass around the grave, 

something his mom always did when she was alive.

I am missing home.  I am missing my Sniff so very much.

Maybe that’s the best part of going 

away for a vacation — coming home again...

~Nadiya~

Some Days Can be Beautiful~ July 23rd

 Every morning starts a new page in your story...

On a good day I see the sunset from the balcony and 

as you can see from this picture, pretty impressive.

What a perfect ending to the day.  Sunsets no matter

 where I am are always beautiful.  Sadly, this was not

 yesterday.  Yesterday we only had gloom and rain.

From the living room I see the sunrise, so far

 when there is a sunrise it's has been before 4:30 am.

  And of course also very beautiful to say the least.

Right now there are pretty flowers everywhere. 

 I am so easily distracted on my morning walks😂

  But I sure have a good time smelling the roses.

Right now I'm missing my little Sniff.  He's always with me when

 I'm awake in the mornings "begging" to be fed before going back 

to sleep with Arvid.  Aww this little face sure makes me happy.

A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the

 pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness...

~Nadiya~

Monday July 22nd~

 Today is a new chapter in the story of your life. Fill

 it with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments...

A new week begins again and I will be welcoming 

it in Horten, Norway once again.   The weather

the last few days has been very good, but today

once again it's back to the gloom and rain.  

Beautiful weather makes life and everything

 so much more pleasant.  After a while the gloom can 

and does get to everyone no matter where you are.

Yesterday we had a really good time with Michelle

 and family once again in Daftö.  This place caters for kids,

 and its good to see how much they enjoy themselves.

We took everyone out for lunch at this Pirate restaurant.

  The kids really like it there.  Usually there is a pirate show, 

but we did no see it.  It's on specific days and times.

In Daftö the girls have so much to do, makes the place

 a dream for parents.  Plus the Aleah and Vanessa have friends

 visiting so they are in seventh heaven.  Amelia is always happy.

 There is the beach, pools and kids entertainment of all sorts.  

Like all kids, the girls have endless energy and some. 

 Arvid and I were tired in a few hours and truth be told 

this was the day we did the least running around.  It was a 

very warm day so the heat didn't help.  Especially when 

Arvid once again did not dress for the weather.

So far I will say this has been my best summer in Norway.  

I have not been to see much outside of Horten, but I have bonded 

with our grandchildren more than had imagines happening.  

I am happy and I keep telling myself that I must have done

 something right to deserve their love, and the love of Arvid's 

daughters and their spouses.  Yes, my best summer.  It goes without

 saying that I love them all and right now I am a little sad now.

Wishing everyone a new week filled with endless possibilities.  

My Sniff is home in Florida waiting patiently for me 🐾

Wishing you a day that brings you closer to

 your dreams and fills your heart with joy...

~Nadiya~