January 17th~

There is nothing like returning to a place 

that remains unchanged to find the ways

 in which you yourself have altered...

Our search for a place in Branson began almost four

 months ago.  Once Arvid got back from Norway he just kept

 talking about Branson.  I don't always pay attention to everything 

he says because many is just because he's restless or bored.

But then every so often (too often) he would say "we need

 a place in Branson so that we can get away from the summers 

in Florida."  I just looked at him and said, "that's why we have

 the apartment in Norway."  From what I understood when we 

got the apartment in Norway, Arvid was going to spend most 

of the summer there.  To get away from the Florida heat.

I love Branson, but Arvid had it really bad this time. 

 Everything he talked, everything he did was Branson related. 

 He was so busy looking for places for us.   I thought it was 

just another of his phases, so I just went along with it.  

Of course I wanted to go back to Branson, but at

 the time I was not sure I wanted a place there.  I was 

happy with Airbnb, but then Arvid started talking about 

being there for months.  I started to get concerned.

  My first thought was Sniff.  No way was I leaving 

him that long.  Going to Norway for almost three weeks is 

long enough.  I do not like being away from him for so long.  

He's my baby.  I miss him too much and worry about him.

After much back and forth I said okay to an apartment 

only because then Sniff would be with us.  Otherwise I told

 him I would only go for about a week and he can stay on 

alone if he so wished.  Compromise.  We bought a little

 condo in Branson because now Sniff can come as well.  

Everything in Branson is so familiar.  It feels like we 

came back home.  When Arvid asked if I would like to have 

a hotel again, there I drew the line.  Absolutely not.  It was 

good while we did it, but now we are older and it's gotten 

tougher to do the things we used to do.  Well almost.

Though it's winter, the weather has been amazingly

 good to us.  The sun is bright and the skies are always 

blue.  Makes winter feel like a permanent vacation.

To all a very good day.  Always the simple life is the best.

 A home is a place where we feel safe; it is our fortress

 that shields us from the troubles in the outer world...

~Nadiya~

Thursday January 16th~

The only time you should look back is to see how far

 you've come. Looking back can be a helpful way to 

learn from past experiences, both good and bad...

 The other day Facebook reminded me of some of our 

times when we lived in Branson.  Arvid and I became hotel

 owners by the end of 2016.  We were in for a surprise. 

 Not only have we never done anything like this, 

but that was the least of our worries.

The shock was how cold it was.  Of course this 

was January.  Winter is in full swing, but everyone had 

said how mild the winters have been in the last few years. 

 Seems like no one had told winter that back in 2017.

We were definitely not prepared for the cold much

 less snow and sleet on the road.  I would wake up to go to 

work in the mornings and the windshield of the car was iced. 

 I remember Arvid telling me to start it up and let it sit there 

for a while so it could heat up.  Took forever it seems.

Definitely do not miss it.  No maybe about it, but we 

sure had a great time when living in Branson even when it 

was so cold.  We were busy and we were doing something

 different.  A new challenge it was for us and we both learned

 so much.  Not all good, but the experience is one that will 

always be cherished and remembered.  To this day we still

 think of Branson as home and because of that we would 

always go back for visits.  Of course when it's warmer.

It's okay to look back once in a while.  We have done so 

many different "stunts" that it does get complicated at times 

to remember it all, but Branson is one we will never forget. 

 My wildlife is there and I miss them.  To all a good day.

You never know what the future holds.  We both agree 

that Branson has left a huge impact in our lives.  That's why 

our families are not surprised that we have decided to call it 

home again, at least for a few months in the summer.

It is cold here, but the weirdest thing is both Arvid and 

I were much colder this summer in Norway.  I know

 I was and when I mentioned it to him he agreed.

Our pasts may not be perfect, but there are

 lessons there that we can carry for a lifetime. The 

past may be gone, but it lives on as we look...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday January 15th~

Life is short, and every moment is precious...

Arvid and I decided to leave the Sunshine State for 

a few days and head to Branson, Missouri.  I know it 

is cold in Branson, but as I always say, "something

 about Branson somehow keeps pulling us back in. 

So far we wake up to extremely cold temperatures, 

but as the day progresses the sun shines brightly and we 

have a "warm" up.  Winter is definitely not to our liking.

We have been busy the last couple of days  Cleaning

 and cleaning making everything ready for when

 we return.  Only when it's warmer of course.

To all a good day.  Today we had our first breakfast

 at home.  Arvid did the honors and made his famous

 hot chocolate.  Good start of this cold day in Branson.

At the end of the day, you'll regret not trying

 something far more than you will ever regret trying 

and failing. After all, if you never try, you'll never be

 able to find out what could have been possible for you...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday January 14th~

Collecting moments, not things.  

Life's too short not to smile...

I cannot wait for summer to be here again.  Hopefully I

will have a few weeks on my own to do something adventurous 

again.  It was the best summer/time I have had in years.

 This morning I woke up and I was just thinking of the 

time I had this past August while Arvid was in Norway.  I did 

so many things.  One of my most memorable and favorite was

 San Francisco.  I just love this city and would go there again in

 a heartbeat.  Who knows maybe when Arvid is is Norway this

 summer I will have the opportunity to revisit San Francisco.  

I also loved my afternoons discovering different places 

and sampling different drinks.  Good thing Arvid came 

home when he did 😂otherwise I may have ended up 

being an alcoholic🍸.  But I won't mind doing it 

again this summer.  It was just so much fun.

I have to say I am very fortunate for all the blessings I

 have in my life.  It may not be a perfect life but it is enough. 

 It makes me happy and I makes me realize that there is always

 something to be grateful for.  There are so many not as fortunate.

Wishing everyone a very good day.  Looking back at 

beautiful moments always makes me smile even at times when 

some of these good memories are also very sad memories.  Life

 is not predictable, best to live and enjoy the moment we're in.

Some very beautiful moments in your 

life will be unplanned.  Be open to that...

~Nadiya~

January 13th 2025~

It might look like I'm doing nothing,

 but in my mind I'm very busy...

 January is already halfway done almost.  The month

 is going by a very fast pace.  As they say, "time waits for no 

one."  Life goes on and just like that another week begins.

As the new week begins we will be busy as usual.  

As I always say, Arvid sure has mastered the art of busy, 

and somehow he likes to draw me into this busy circle 😂

I only allow it if/ when I have nothing better going on.

Wishing everyone a good week ahead.  And always 

remember to do something that makes your soul happy.

That's our motto and we try to keep up with it 🙌.

I'm holding a cup of coffee so yeah, I'm pretty busy...

~Nadiya~

Sunday January 12th~

Memories.  They allow us to carry the lessons 

and experiences of the past into the present... 

 As always we take it even more relaxing on Sundays.

  We asked mom and dad out lunch with us, but they 

said not this time.  My parents prefer their meals 

at home rather than eating out.  I keep trying.  

I did see them a little yesterday and as always I 

came back home with food for a week.  I keep trying to 

tell them no to cook extra for me, but they alyas do.  Arvid

 is always amazed at my mom and dad's generosity

 and the amount of food I bring back home.

It a chilly start of the day, but it sure is warming up fast.

Treasured memories are like soft melodies, echoing

 the beauty of the past in the silence of our hearts...

~Nadiya~

Saturday January 11th~

Love the life you live.  Live the life you love...

 January is flowing smoothly along.  Pretty soon the

 New Year will not be so new.  So far it has been good to us. 

 We have a lot of exciting things to look forward to and the 

best is that my parents are still here in Florida.  This 

winter they will have spent almost three months.

Arvid and I continue to do little things that make 

us happy.  Food makes me happy.  Combined with 

a nice evening out that's enough for me.  We've tried 

to get my parents to do a few more things with

 us, but they are happy to not do that much.  

Still waiting for them to come to us for

 dinner.  Arvid keeps asking me when will they 

come over or more like "they have to come before 

they leave."  Truth is we go to them very often 

so it's not like we don't see each other much.

As always the weekend has soccer games, best 

of all it's warming up nicely again. After all this is

 Florida and we do not need more "arctic"weather.

I follow a few pages in Branson, Mo plus I get some 

updates from previous tenants.  Yesterday it was winter 

wonderland there like so many other places.  Nice to see, 

but being there and dealing with it not as glamorous.

Arvid and I took a little trip downtown to our favorite 

Friday hang-out.  It's the perfect spot for people watching.  It 

was a bit cold, but judging by the way people were dressed 

you could not really tell unless you were there.

As always Arvid was bundled up more than anyone

 around us. He's from Norway and when I say to him, 

"you're a Viking," he says, "not anymore."  He's a Viking 

when it is convenient.  As in when he wants to brag a bit😂

Wishing everyone a good day.  Here it started out great. 

 Liverpool (Arvid's team) has already won their match for

 the day.  This game went by smoothly.  Not much cussing

 and directring from Arvid.  Yes a good day indeed.

Take in all the little moments that this

 season of your life has to offer. You'll never

 get this exact moment or season again...

~Nadiya~

Friday January 10th~

Native in one place, invasive in another...

 With the cold weather comes the freezing/falling of

 the iguanas.  Iguanas are cold blooded.  They slow down or

 become immobile when temperatures drop into the 40's F 

(4C)  They may fall from trees but they are not dead.

These green iguanas arrived in Florida from Central and

 South America in the 1960's and have become a huge 

"nuisance" doing lots of damage to South Florida.

Sniff has found another spot to call his bed.  Right

 on the dining chair next to me.  Now I also have to cover 

it with towels to make it more comfy and cozy for him. 

 Our place right now looks like we're camping out  There's,

 sheets, blankets and towels all over the furnitures.  Not 

only for Sniff, but for Arvid and myself as well.

Friday.  Not sure what the day holds as yet, it depends 

on how restless Arvid and I get; but if it's anything like the

 week we have had, then I know it's going to be a good one.  

To all a very good day.  If you see something that's not 

right do something to correct it, it you can't then say something. 

 Every little bit helps.  As Albert Einstein said, "The world 

will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by 

those who watch them without doing anything."

So, we can't save the world by playing by the rules, 

because the rules have to be changed. Everything 

needs to change and it has to start today...

~Nadiya~

Thursday January 9th~

Be grateful for what you already have while you pursue

 your goals. If you aren't grateful for what you already have, 

what makes you think you would be happy with more...

I keep saying it's cold, but then I look at Rima's weather

 in Virginia and realize how fortunate we are to live in the 

Sunshine State.  Especially during the winter months.

 Everyone is talking about the weather.  Here in 

Fort Myers, Florida it's no different.  We Floridians do 

not want this cold anymore.  In North Carolina Mala 

and family are also having an artic blast, but Rio 

is prepared.  No messing with this boy.

 Yesterday was cold.  We even turned on the heat. 

 Even so Arvid had on a sweater and then he had another 

sweater draped over him.  We're wimps if you ask me.  Sniff

 spent most of his day on and off his heating bed as well.

I'm tired today.  I'm tired of cooking cleaning and 

doing all the chores at home.  It will pass, but I wish Arvid 

could help me a little more with the household chores.

Sniff refuses to eat his grass.  He just sits by it and watches it.

To all a beautiful day.  Another cold day for us, after that comes

 the warm up.  There is always something to be grateful for.

I choose to be grateful - that gratitude allows me to be happy...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday January 8th~

 Every experience holds within it a blessing

 of some kind.  The goal is to find it...

I bought this fairly "high end" type of grass for Sniff 

hoping he would like it.  After all, most cats love to eat

 grass.  It's good for them and for their digestion.  Sniff is

 not your "typical" cat.  He approached the grass tried 

2-3 then walked away giving me the stinky eye.

I have not given up on it as yet.  Will buy another

 variety of it.  Hopefully Sniff will like it.  He's been acting 

up again for the last five days.  He refuses to eat his soft foodies. 

 Thank goodness he still nibbles every once in a while on the 

hard one.  He knows always when something is going on.

While Arvid groaned about how cold it was, I made

 myself a nice cup of hot chocolate.  He didn't have any,

 but said he will make some today for us.  Even with the chill, 

you can't stop a beautiful sunset.  Of course I was right there.

We went to the house yesterday.  While Arvid and my dad 

took care of business, mom and I went to a Cuban bakery.  

We had our café con leche and a pastry.  Plus we had 

some time together to just chat.  It was very nice.

A few things to do today, but overall it's a stay in kind of day.

  Maybe a little walk in the afternoon, but I doubt it because 

Arvid will not want to venture out in the cold.  I would because 

I am sure the sunset will be amazing as well.  To all a good day.  

Stay warm and stay in if possible.  It's too cold outside.

Look for something positive in each day, even

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

~Nadiya~