Thursday April 3rd~

No animal has more liberty than the cat...

 Sniff continues to be enthralled with these crime/drama 

TV shows.  Who am I to deny him anything?  Together as I continue

 to get better we spend time in the bedroom watching TV while Arvid 

watches some car show or a soccer game.  Everyone is happy.

I try to shield him from the very worse, but he's

 not having any of that.  He wants to see it all 😂

Mark Twain said,  "If man could be crossed with the cat, 

it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."

There is, incidentally, no way of talking about 

cats that enables one to come off as a sane person...

~Nadiya~

April 2nd ~

 Sometimes when we are generous

 in small, barely detectable ways, it can 

change someone else's life forever...

Mornings and evenings are the most "painful" 

right now.  The cough I have seems to be hyper active 

at these times.  It does not help that I talk too much.

It's already record heat here in Southwest Florida,

 but that's part of living in Florida.  Don't like it.  As soon 

as we can it's Missouri for us.  Less humidity for sure.

I could not ask for anything else.  I have everything I 

need and for that my life is full and I am grateful.

You're a force of nature, Aries!  I'm not 

always calm, but I am always an Aries...

~Nadiya~

April~ Welcome New Month

April is the path to brighter days. May 

it be a time of relaxation and renewal...

 Spring weather is a welcome relief after months of 

cold, dark winter days.  Here in Florida it's summer just 

about everyday, but for those in the colder climates, 

April signals a green light to summertime🎕

Yesterday Sniff spent a lotta time watching TV

 with me.  We were binging on Lifetime movies.  Lots of 

suspense and some screaming.  No not horror.

April is special.  My Sniff and Arvid

 are April boys and I am an Aries woman.

As the new month begins I am looking forward to 

having a knee surgery to repair my torn meniscus.  My knee 

has been hurting since August of 2024.  Right after

 I got back from my trip in San Francisco.

Arvid is mostly on the mend from the flu. 

 He still has the cough, but he sounds better and 

has started to get restless.  That is the best

 indication that he’s getting better.

As for me the cough is worse especially 

when I speak.   As you can imagine, I cough all 

day long 😂 My throat is sore from coughing. 

That being said, it could have been worse.

On April Fools Day, believe nothing, 

trust no one, just like any other day.

  Goodbye March, hello April...

~Nadiya~

Monday March 31st~

 Real generosity towards the future

 lies in giving all to the present...

I saw this on the news the other day.  Just 

a reminder that we are not alone on this planet.

  If we don't protect our wildlife, who will?

Yesterday Arvid and I tried out a new restaurant

 not too far from us.  We both agreed that it is already

 a favorite.  Not fancy, but right on the water and 

with a breeze that is always so welcoming.

We saw people on jet skis, a family of ducks, a

 few sunbathing in that tiny little man made beach 

with very white sand.  We saw people enjoying life.

 We liked it and will be going back there fairly often.

 

Wishing everyone a productive and happy week ahead.  

Life will lead you on unplanned journeys.  Enjoy the ride, 

and trust that your final destination will be a great one.

Happiness is not made by what 

we own.  It is what we share...

~Nadiya~

Sunday March 30th~

Always remember, you are braver than

 you believe, stronger than you think, 

and loved more than you know...

 Today our second granddaughter, Vanessa turns 10.

She is a little firecracker and to know her is to love her. 

She's always on the go and never ceases to entertain us.

As mentioned in a previous post, this year we will not be

 going to Norway for the summer.  Instead we have treated,

 Michelle, Emil and our granddaughters a vacation here in

 Fort Myers, Florida.  Looking forward so much to this.

Arvid and I are still "suffering" from the flu.  I coughed 

most of the night, but I am very lucky that it has not so far 

developed into asthma or pneumonia.  Sniff is constantly by

 our sides.  Very aware that we are not doing quite as well.

The day has started out a bit gloomy, but even

 so the sun is on it's way out.  Can only get better.  

To all a happy Sunday.  Gloom and darkness are

 temporary. Joy comes in the morning.

Life can never promise you to be always happy, but life 

gets better after you accept things you just can't change...

~Nadiya~

Saturday March 29th~

Rough day, but I'm still here to caption the chaos...

 Arvid and I are not feeling that great.  Arvid 

got the flu when we got back from Branson and I 

got it from him a few days later. I think of all the 

things have been through the flu is the worst.  

Most of this past week we have been home just

 trying to get better.  I did go to my uncle's wake/viewing 

and that took a lot out of me, but I would do it again.  

That being said yesterday we had a very nice 

outing in Naples with Victoria and Michael. 

 Always a good time with these two.

It's a beautiful day here.  I was up early but tired. 

 I saw the sunrise and I have already done a few chores

 that needed taken care of.  That is all I probably do 

today.  The rest of the day will just be a lazy day.

A good day and hope you are feeling 

better than we are right now.  Tomorrow is 

another day and hoping for a better one.

Today, just focus on being 

a little better than yesterday...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 28th~

The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living...

Yesterday was a very sad day.  It was the wake/viewing 

for my uncle Paul who died on Saturday March 22nd. 

Families scrambled and came from all over the world.  

Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

My uncle left legacy that I doubt anyone can match.  As 

I said to Arvid, "if we lived 10 lifetimes, I do not think we 

would ever do half as much as my uncle did for his grandkids." 

  His grandkids were his life and he was a huge part in all of it.  

Uncle Paul even played a part in Gabsy upbringing 💜

To uncle Paul's family: although it's difficult 

today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking

 back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.

  His legacy of kindness will always endure.

Why does it take a minute to say

 hello and forever to say goodbye...

~Nadiya~

What Are You Grateful For~ Thursday March 27th

Sometimes the most important life lessons 

are the ones we end up learning the hard way...

I came across this the other day just as I was going
 through some not so happy times.  I read it, but did 

not really pay much attention to it.  I also saved it.

A few days ago, a wonderful man I called uncle died.  

I realized that what was bothering me was nothing 

compared to what happening to his loved ones.

Going through my stuff I once again came across

this thought.  Today I read it; I reflected on it and I realized
 how fortunate I am and whatever it is that was causing
 me to have a few not so good moments (now forgotten)
 is really nothing when put into the big picture.

I always know that I have a good life.  I try to never
take anything for granted because I know how it feels
 to be on the other side.  I know that there are others
 who are having much harder times.  I am grateful
and I appreciate the little things in life....

Remember never forget to be thankful for what

you have. It is NOT always better on the other side.

Life is one long, continuous race. It is only
when you reach the finish line do  you realize
you were your only competition.

Mistakes made in life are our lessons in disguise. 

And sometimes, the best lessons learned,

 came from the worst mistakes made...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday March 26th~

 My mission in life is not merely to survive, but 

to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some 

compassion, some humor, and some style...

Some days, nothing seems to go right, no matter 

how hard you try. We all have days like these, and 

that's okay.  Life is not perfect and we are all allowed 

to wallow in nostalgia a bit, but not stay there.

I saw this the other day and it made me laugh 

because it is so true.  A good sense of humor is very

 helpful in life.  If we can't laugh at ourselves or with

 ourselves, life becomes so much harder on us.

Another early start of the day.  At least today I did 

not get out of bed until 4am.  Lucky me.  Sniff of 

course is with me.  Asleep on his heating bed.

To all a very good day.  It's already looking good here at home.

The day is what you make it. 

 So why not make it a great one?

~Nadiya~

Tuesday March 25th~

 I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give 

you a recipe for failure: try to please everybody...

A little more about our time in Branson.  This time 

we made it to Andy's frozen custard.  For me a trip to 

Branson is not complete unless we have some of 

Andy's frozen custard.  It is the absolute best.

The last days were so cold, Arvid made us hot chocolate. 

 Also I took some peanuts for the squirrels.  Lucky me 

they showed up and enjoyed them right on the deck.  Both 

Arvid and I said how Sniff would love this.  No matter

 how cold it was, the sunsets were always amazing.

Here at home in Fort Myers the day has begun on the 

cloudy side.  Rain is predicted, but so far there is none.  

We really need some.  Good morning and a good 

day to all.  Below is Sniff in his happy place.

The excursion is the same when you go looking for

 your sorrow as when you go looking for your joy...

~Nadiya~

Monday March 24th~

 Never believe in a one sided story. 
 It always has some missing pages...

Monday again.  I have been awake since 2am.

 Sniff is also awake with me.  He scarfed down some dry

 food and then puked it all up.  Great start of the day.

Hopefully today will be a quiet day.  I know that I

 will be exhausted by mid afternoon, but nothing new

 there 😂  I used to be able to sleep so well, but it's been 

some years now that sleep keeps eluding me. Today it was

 mainly because my knee was hurting way too much.

Yesterday Arvid and I went to Fort Myers Beach for lunch 

to my favorite restaurant there.  We waited close to an hour to

 get a table.  It was packed.  All the restaurants were packed.

The wait was long, but the food and drinks made up for it.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead.  May your 

coffee be strong and your Mondays be short.

If you don't like the road you're

 walking, start paving another one...

~Nadiya~

Sunday March 23rd~

 Only the pursuit of happiness 

is guaranteed. The rest is up to you....

Yesterday we said we would just relax and take it easy.  

After all we did have a pretty busy week in Branson. 

 The first couple of days there was lots of running around 

and places to see.  Guessing we got restless fairly fast.  

If course we went downtown.  First to some festival

 on the park and later on our favorite pit stop.

It was a sunny and fairly warm day.  At least warmer 

than Branson.  Although I have to say that 2025 has 

been pretty cold so far.  At least according to Arvid

 and I.  As always, Hideaway never disappoints.

Yesterday as we got ready to Facetime with Aleah 

in Norway, Sniff 😭was as always not a happy camper.

  Not sure why, but I think he's jealous.  Whenever it's time 

to chat with the girls he knows and he gets really antsy.

  Today our eldest nephew Max turns 32. Those 32 years

years did go by fast.  Too fast Sunday. Looking forward to 

another relaxing one.  Wishing the same to everyone.

You just have to take a deep breath,

relax and let the game come to you...

~Nadiya~

Saturday March 22nd~

I love my cat more than I love most 

people. Probably more than is healthy...

 It does not matter where we go, as far as I am 

concerned if Sniff is not with us it's not home.  But 

now we are home again.  It's strange, but Sniff 

completes our life.  Sure completes mine.

I may be biased, but as far as I am 

concerned, Sniff is the cutest of them all.  

Today our eldest granddaughter Aleah turns 12 years old.  Boy 

where did those years go by?  This year Arvid and I will not 

be going to Norway.  Instead we're treating Michelle, Emil

 and the three girls to a vacation in Fort Myers.  Can't wait.

Arvid and I got back to Florida/home late last night from

 Branson.  We really had a good time, but as always the weather

 was "acting up"  We arrived to temps in the  80's F almost 27C for

 the first couple of days, after that, it just got colder and colder.

That being said, we had a really good time.  We met 

with good friends and had a really good evening 

out together.  We all enjoyed it, and look forward 

to doing it again next time we're in Branson.

The first two days we had to have the air conditioner going.  

After that we had to keep the heat on.  Branson, unpredictable

 in its weather, but we keep going back.  So yeah we like it.

We visited a few of our favorite places.  Starting out of 

course with The Landing.  No trip to Branson is complete 

without a visit to Landshark Margaritaville at The Landing.

Always a good time in Branson, but nothing beats

 coming home.  Home is wherever Arvid, Sniff and I are.

To all a very good day and to our granddaughter, know we 

love you very much, and look forward to seeing you all in July.  

Happy 12th birthday Aleah.  You're growing up too fast.

Granddaughters are angels sent from above 

to fill our hearts with endless love...

~Nadiya~