November 20th~

Indulgence in every bite, a moment of pure decadence...

 We all have our weaknesses and chocolate happens to be 

one of them.  No matter how much I tell myself to not have it, 

I never seem to be able to listen, and of all people I do not need

 chocolate.  But it's so good, and of course I indulged. Again.

Some say that chocolate is a symphony of flavors 

that ignites the senses and delights the soul.

Arvid and I spent the day doing a little exploring of a 

few familiar places.  Places we never went much to

 but because everything is decorated for Christmas 

it was just nice to be “tourists” for the day.  

For lunch we tried out a burger joint everyone’s been 

talking about on social media here in Branson.  The place

 was packed with bus loads of tourists.  Posted big on their 

door is a sign that says, “cash or checks only.”  Worked

 for us since that’s the only way Arvid pays 🙈.

In the evening we went to The Landing again. 

Our favorite spot.  I love Christmas and wanted to see 

the lights, trees and just all the merriness around us.  Of 

course we had to stop in at Landshark Bar and Grill.

I'm already missing my Sniff  a lot.  I get an update 

everyday, and he does not seem to be too happy right now.  

He's still mad we left him.  The temperatures have dropped 

drastically. It's really cold, but the good thing is that the sun 

shines all day long.  The skies are bright and the air is CRISP.

To all a good day.  Can't wait to see what Arvid and I do

 today.  So far we have been just enjoying ourselves checking

 out familiar places.  Can't wait to see what today holds for us.

It's extremely cold especially for us coming from Florida.  

At one point I thought I liked the cold, today I am not feeling

really it.  I guess it also has to do with how prepared you are, 

clothes wise.  Last night at the Landing I treated myself

 to so more indulgences, and I am enjoying it right now.

Missing you my lil" Sniff.  You make me happy.

It will not always be easy, but it will always be beautiful....

~Nadiya~

Branson November 19th~

We were born to live, my dear, not to merely exist...

 I am already enjoying the colors of fall here in Branson. 

 Everywhere we drive I see beautiful colors on the trees.  I sure 

have missed it, and am very happy to be here. The not so good 

side is that it is going to get very cold the next few days.

We arrived to a beautiful evening.  The temperature was 

perfect.  Not hot not cold.  Yes, we have missed Branson a lot.  

We're staying in a very cute and modern Airbnb in a place 

called Fall Creek.  When we were here in June we also stayed in

 Fall Creek.  Arvid seems to be very happy with these Airbnb's.  

 The mornings so far have been very pleasant. 

 I have my coffee while I watch the ducks.

Yesterday as we drove by a few familiar places I saw a  fruit tree. 

 Happens to be one of my favorite fruit.  Persimmons.  I had Arvid

 stop the car, park, and I got out and shook the tree, and got me about 

seven persimmons.  The tree was on public property.  We also had

some delicious foodies, and again I enjoyed the colors of fall.

Yesterday was not the coldest as it will get, but it

 was a wet day.  We were lucky we missed the heavy rain, 

but at some point we did get a little wet.  Over all it

 was a good day.  It feels so familiar to be back.

Good day to all.  Wish our Sniff was here with us to see

 the birds.  He would have loved it.  We are in a unit that has 

lots of windows and we see the birds flying by all day long,

 but he's happy also at home, and being cared for by Gail.

The most glorious moments in your life are not the 

so-called days of success, but rather those days when out

 of dejection and despair you feel rise in you a challenge 

to life, and the promise of future accomplishments...

~Nadiya~

Branson November 18 ~

The light is what guides you home, 

the warmth is what keeps you there...

Many may wonder why it is you miss Branson?  It's 

difficult to explain, but Branson was good to us.  Arvid,

 Sniff and I enjoyed life there.  Yes we worked really hard, but 

that may also be part of the reason Branson is so dear to us.

Does this mean we want to run the hotels again?  

Absolutely not.  We still have ownership in the hotels, but

 no longer majority, and we like it that way.  Now when we visit 

we can take care of a little business and enjoy leisure time. 

We Love the people, but do not miss running the hotels.

Looking forward to our time here.  Like I have 

said before, it feels like we're home.  All we need to

 complete the feeling of being back home is Sniff.

It's a brand new week and can't think of anything 

better than spending it in Branson.  Good morning and 

a very good day to all.  One of our favorite Branson location, 

The Landing.  Hope to go a few more times before we leave.

To all a very good day.  Arvid and I have been

 looking forward to this trip to Branson for quite some 

time now.  I keep thinking that it feels like home. 

 As soon as we landed and we started to drive 

towards Branson Arvid said to me, "it feels like

 we're going home."  My thoughts exactly.

Sniff is not here, but he's wishing everyone a happy 

Thanksgiving from now.  Already missing him.

We're having a little fall weather in Branson.  Happy

Another aspect of feeling at home

 is the freedom to be fully ourselves....

~Nadiya~

Road Trip - Sunday November 17th~

Sometimes the most scenic roads in life

 are the detours you didn't mean to make...

It's been a long time since Arvid and I were on a 

road trip.  After giving it much thought we decided on 

where we wanted to go.  Something about Branson, Missouri 

keeps calling us back.  It's as if there were some kind of 

pull and neither of us seem to be able to resist it. 

Arvid and I have been looking forward to this trip for 

some time now.  Very excited.  Not many would understand 

why, but Branson for us has great memories and of all 

places, it's here where we have been most busy.  As 

everyone knows, if we're busy we are happy.

For the next few days we plan to enjoy many of the 

places we frequented while living in Branson.  Meet many 

of the people we consider friend.  I hope I will see some wildlife 

where we're staying as well.  I sure miss my little friends.

Branson. there is something about it that keeps pulling us back.

  Looking forward to our little getaway.  Of all the places we 

could have gone to, we chose Branson, Missouri.  Happy.

The magic thing about home is that it feels good

 to leave, and it feels even better to come back...

~Nadiya~

Sunday November 17~

Live life with no excuses, travel with no regrets…

 So yesterday evening we went lout to listen to  

some music.  It was a little Blues Fest.  The main 

act was a guy called Lil’ Ed. Arvid and I have seen 

him a few times at the Blues Festival in Chicago.

He’s lively and very colorful.  Always interesting to see 

him. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and since is was a 

concert under the stars made for a beautiful time, but within a 

few hours it got cold for Arvid and I.  It was a chilly 73F 

(23C).  Yeah it was cold for us, so we called it a night.

Sunday and for us it’s a busy day for us.  Good busy. 

 Looking forward to the next few days. Sort of a little 

mini vacation for our 23rd wedding anniversary.

Both Arvid and I are very excited for the little 

trip we are about to embark on.  Sniff will be home 

alone, but Gail his pet sitter will be checking in on him 

once a day.  Good morning and a good day to all.

Here is Florida we are having a "cold" spell.  Mainly in 

the mornings, but what Floridians consider cold is

 a heat wave in many other places right now.

~The world’s big and I want to get a 

good look at it before it turns dark ~

~Nadiya~

Saturday November 16~

Happiness is seeing life for what it is in all the 

little moments.  Simplicity makes me happy...

 Yesterday we went to visit the eagles. Unfortunately 

they were not visible.  F23 was in the nest but the

 nest is so deep that it was impossible to see her.  

This is our second try and both times we have 

missed them.   There were photographers sitting there 

waiting for  her to pop up and for M15 to come back. One 

told me that he was there for three house and that M15 was

 due to come back anytime. Of course we did not wait. 

We were off to the next chore on our "busy" agenda.

The Eagles have four camera feed that monitor their

 movements in the nest area and around the pond that surrounds 

them.  These feeds are on 24/7 and like I have said before,

 people from all over the world follow them. 

 Just the other day a couple from Australia was visiting

 and one of the first places they wanted to go was to see the

 Eagles nest they have been following for years.  Kinda cool.

  Lately I have not been able to do anything alone.  

Arvid wants to go everywhere with me.   It’s making 

me feel a little claustrophobic 😂right now.  

We were going to go downtown but then 

decided against it since we will be going to listen 

to music today and to visit mom and dad again.  

Today there is lots of cleaning that needs to be done. 

Another load of laundry and Sniffs room needs a little 

spiffing up.  He’s really fussy 😃Been out before 5am again 

to look at the moon.  It’s just beautiful.  I love mornings.

A good day to all.  Do something that makes your soul happy.

 Happiness isn’t a goal… it’s a by-product of a life well lived...

~Nadiya~

Friday November 15th~

The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude 

of blessings that continually surround us...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  This year is 

extra special because we will be spending it with mom and 

dad in their hopefully one day soon to be Florida home🙏 

Since they have been here we have seen them

 quite often.  Arvid even more than me because he snuck 

over one day without telling me.  We saw them again

 yesterday.  Mom and dad took us out to lunch.

Arvid has been telling them about a place called 

Rum Bucket which is close to their house.  My dad said 

we had to go there and check it out because according 

to Arvid it will become a cool hangout for us while 

mom and dad are here.  The drinks are very good.

The best part though is spending time with mom

 and dad.  After lunch we went back to the house with

 them where Arvid and my dad enjoyed a few more drinks 

and we got to spend more time with them.  I am always 

so grateful for all the time I can spend with them.

After we got home last night we got a message from 

Michelle in Norway.  Their fur baby Felix was hit by a car.  

His injuries were too much so he did not make it.  I don't know

 but I cannot stop crying.  I feel their pain as if it were mine. 

 All over again I am also grieving for Brutus and Shadow.

It's a beautiful day here in Florida, but in Norway Michelle,

 Emil and the girls are heartbroken.  I am heartbroken.

My day has not begun that well.  My thoughts are

 with Michelle and family.  Three little girls too young,

 but already know about losing a loved one 💔

A good day to all.  Yesterday a friend of mind also lost

 her four legged companion.  The loss of a pet who is your 

everything is almost impossible to get over.  I know.

No matter how far you travel, you

 can never get away from yourself...

~Nadiya~

Thursday November 14th~

Even if we don't have the power to 

choose where we come from, we can 

still choose where we go from there...

 It was another beautiful sunset as we were 

leaving mom and dad's home.  I will never tire of these 

sunsets.  No matter where in the world we are, the 

sunsets and sunrises are always impressive. 

 It's the most perfect time of every day.

So my dad is going around meeting the neighbors.  

He has a knack for that.  Everyone loves him.  He took my 

mom around and started to introduce her to the neighbors.

  Yesterday he introduced her to one of his new buddies.  

A Brazilian man.  The Brazilian asked my mom and dad 

if they drink tea or coffee.  Right away my dad said, "beer."  

The Brazilian said, "I like your style.  Come over anytime." 

 And this was only day 3.  Arvid says in a few days 

my dad will have the neighbors in ship shape.

Another pretty sunset.  This is from downtown 

Fort Myers.  We really love this little downtown.  

It's cute and has absolutely everything we need. 

We're going to see mom and dad again today.  

In the meantime we do some cleaning in the 

apartment.   Sniff as usual is slacking off.

My life is good because I decided to make it 

this way, not because I was handed it this way...

~Nadiya~