Aug 26, 2025

Tuesday August 26th~

A photograph keeps a moment from running away...

 Reshma, our niece who lives in Tacoma, Washington has
 a knack for taking beautiful pictures.  Her specialty is nature 
pictures, and since we were just there with them she shared
 a few she took that day we went to Mount Rainier.  I still am 
in awe of this place, and so happy to have seen it.  These were 
taken by Reshma.  She has a better camera than my Iphone.


The things I see as we drive.  Some catch my 
attention more than others.  Why I don't know.


Yesterday felt almost like a fall day.  It was perfect.  
Arvid went for a walk around the neighborhood.  Sadly
 I was not able to go.  My knee hurts like crazy. 
 I believe something is definitely not right.


Sniff spent most of the day watching birds and
 squirrels. We now have three squirrels that come
 to eat.  The little rascals even eat all of the food 
I leave out for birds plus all of their peanuts.


Our morning is looking really good.  A bit cooler
 air is always welcomed. Feels so good. A few things to
 do, so makes for a really good start of the day.


Morning is an important time of day because 
how you spend your morning can often tell you
 what kind of day you are going to have...

~Nadiya~

Aug 25, 2025

Monday August 25th~

 If you have to choose between being
 kind or being right, choose being kind
 and you will always be right...

The new week begins and my "job" for today is to
 try and reschedule all my doctors appointments in October. 
 I have already made them, but plans have changed.


 Arvid and I had a very nice outing yesterday.
  Temperatures are cooling off a bit, so of course 
we took the opportunity to dine outdoors.  Always 
so beautiful by the lake. Peaceful and relaxing.


Still no Oliver.  I know he's gone, but I still
 keep looking out for him.  Just in case.  I miss him, 
 on a good note I got a call early yesterday morning
 from Dave our neighbor.  Oliver was taken in by our
 maintenance guy and now has a forever home.
I felt such a big relief after talking to Dave🐾


 Sniff is already on the prowl for the birds and 
squirrels.  Life goes on.  Happy, happy for Oliver.


Time is the only currency you spend without 
ever knowing your balance.  Use it wisely...

~Nadiya~

Aug 24, 2025

Sunday August 24th-

People will never truly understand
 something unless it happens to them...

 I know Oliver is no longer here in the neighborhood,
 but I still have a bag with food and water just in case 
he shows up.  I know he would not, but I keep looking
 for him.  Maybe whoever took him brings him back. 
Unless of course he has a good home.  I miss him.


Yesterday I went to 3 stores to do my grocery 
shopping, by the time I got home I was tired, but I 
still had to unpack and make lunch.  In between I
 look for Oliver. You see our breakfast table looks 
out straight to where Oliver always was/lived.


Sniff has been on the prowl on and off. When he
 gets tired he just goes to sleep. Then up again looking
 for birds and squirrels. I keep putting peanuts out
 just so that the squirrels can entertain Sniff.


Yesterday we went to the movies. As I have 
mentioned before, I love the movies. It relaxes 
me and it gives me a chance to just sit and not
 have to do or think of anything.  So relaxing.


Wishing everyone a peaceful and relaxing day. 
Sometimes all we need to do is just sit and do
 nothing.  Sundays are time to recharge your
 battery in preparation for the week ahead.


At the end of the day what really matters is that
 your  loved ones are well, you've done your best, 
and that you're thankful for all that you have...

~Nadiya~

Aug 23, 2025

Saturday August 23rd~

The only impossible journey is the one you never begin...

 Arvid and I had a good time in Columbia, Missouri. 
 The concert was good, best of all Tab sang “my” 
song  right away. Sure made my day better.


Before the concert Arvid and I went to the pub. 
 A few cold ones as he likes to say to warm up for the 
main event. Arvid had quite a few Bacardi and coke.
Doubles while I was still struggling to finish my one
 raspberry cosmo, which by the way was delicious.


We were there for a few hours before the concert started,
 so by the time we were ready to go to the concert Arvid 
was quite tipsy.  Didn't help that he had a few more at the
 concert.  I had water.  One is my limit.  Most times.


While I Columbia, MO I once again realized 
that Missouri has a lot of very wealthy people.  Just 
by talking to a few, we learnt that many have s vacation
 homes on some very beautiful destination.  Some 
have it on the beautiful lakes of the Ozarks.


  Others had a place on the beach in Florida.  People
 are definitely interesting.  The downtown of Columbia 
may have been small, but boy was there a lot of people there. 
The party was going on even as we were leaving the concert
 a little before midnight. It's seemed like a university town.


Arvid was so tipsy that the next morning he said, 
“I have no recollection of how we got back to the hotel.” 
 Thank goodness the hotel was not a long walk to the venue.

Next morning we had breakfast, and after a bit we checked 
out.  Sniff after all was home alone waiting for us.  I still 
look out for Oliver, even though I know he’s no longer
 around.  I’m so sad.  Like I said, I hope he was taken 
to be given a good home.  Sweetest boy he is 🐾


Once I got home yesterday, I just could not stand 
the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to Oliver.  
I called the Humane Society in two towns, neither had Oliver. 
 Makes me think that someone gave him a home.  I have to
 think this way, because you see, I already love Oliver.


Yesterday evening Arvid and I met with Roger for
 drinks and to catch up on his trip to Minnesota and
 Boston.  Roger visited his siblings, but was very 
happy to be back home.  He said he missed us.


Sniff is good.  I am happy to be home.  Home is 
where I am happiest, even though my mind is always 
trying to thing of what places I would like to go to.


If everything was perfect, you would 
never learn and you would never grow...

~Nadiya~

Aug 22, 2025

Friday August 22nd~

 Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence...

Yesterday Arvid and I went to see Tab Benoit in
 concert all the way to Columbus, Missouri.  Just
 a short three and a half hours from Branson.


  It is always good to get out and do something 
we like, and I do like a couple of songs of Tab Benoit. 
 My favorite being Nothing Takes the Place of You.
  I loved it the from the very first time I heard it.


Yesterday ended with a beautiful sunset.  Picture taken 
from our deck.  Still no Oliver.  I am so sad.  So sad.


My Sniff is home alone waiting for us.


Music is the only thing I've ever known 
that doesn't have any rules at all...

~Nadiya~

Aug 21, 2025

Thursday August 21st

Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you
 something to do but never gets you anywhere...

 As usual I go out every morning between 
6:30 -7AM to feed Oliver.  Even if don’t see him 
from our window I know when I go he will be there. 
 Yesterday morning he was not there I looked and
 called for him for some time but no Oliver. 


I waited patiently for Dave our neighbor to take 
Jackson, his dog out for a walk so that I could ask if he 
knows where Oliver is.  He always takes Jackson out 
by 7-7:30 AM.  Not yesterday.  I sat by the window all
 day long waiting for Oliver to show up.  He didn't.


The food and water bowls we leave for Oliver 
were all gone.  So worried.  It’s not his usual routine
 and cats are creatures of routine.  I just hope he is 
okay. By 10AM I was really freaking out.  Last time I
 saw him was on Tuesday the 19th in the morning.


 They say that worrying about things you can't control 
is useless and immobilizes you. Worry is interest paid 
on trouble.  I wish I was able to not worry.  Seems as if 
I spend a huge chunk of my time worrying about one thing
 or another.  I wish I were more like Arvid, he usually never 
worries about much.  Life is so much easier his way.


At 6PM I finally gave in and knocked on
 Dave's door.  He also said he has not seen Oliver 
since yesterday. I hope he is okay.  The apartment he 
was living in had people coming to clean it.  Oliver 
was in and out with them. I hope they took him and
 will give him a forever home.  I am so so sad


A beautiful day begins here.  Skies are blue 
and the sun is shining.  Sniff is keeping a keen 
eye out for birds and squirrels while relaxing.


To all a very good day.  No Oliver. Hopefully 
someone took him home with them.  I am so sad not 
knowing what happened to him.  He just disappeared. 


It was only 22 days Oliver was in my radar.  I keep
 looking for him, but I know he was taken by someone.  I just 
hope it was to give him a forever home.  He's is just so very 
affectionate.  Charlie did show up almost to ouu building today. 
 Of course I fed him, but he has a home and he's not Oliver.


Every man has his secret sorrows which the world 
knows not. The heart was made to be broken... 

~Nadiya~

Aug 20, 2025

Wednesday August 20th~

Life's most precious moments
are not all loud or uproarious...

 I am still in awe of Mount Rainier National Park.
  The picture below was taken from one of the restaurants we 
went to.  You see it from all places. Quite impressive.


Reshma and Torin were a little worried about Apollo meeting us. 
 She said he would probably bark a lot and jump on us.  Well none
 of that happened.  Apollo never barked at us.  Could be because
 Mala took him so many presents and treats.  Apollo is the most 
sweetest dog.  He loved his grandma and aunt (me) right 
away, and we love him. I actually miss his cute lil' face.


This trip reminded me a little of the time I had last summer 
in San Francisco.  In both places we used every minute
 of our time to try as see as much as we could.  Reshma 
and Torin are tireless.  The perfect tour guides 😍


Reshma and Torin got Apollo a "human bed" 
as they call it, and yes, he does sleep in it.  Apollo loved 
his grandma.  He always wanted to be close to her.


His human bed.  He like all our pets is super pampered,
 and has everything and more he can want.  Happy boy.


Yesterday Arvid and I went walking at the RecPlex. 
 I only did a mile before it became unbearable on my
 knee, but it is always good to do some walking.  
With the heat index it was a pretty HOT day.


I have been awake once again way too early.  Sniff 
has been brushed already, and is now on the lookout
 for the birds.  It is still very dark but he is patient.
A good day to all. A "cool down" is on its way.


Whoever is happy will make others happy.
Happiness shared is happiness doubled...

 ~Nadiya~

Aug 19, 2025

Tuesday August 19th~

Make memories; leave only footprints...

 Mala and I left Seattle yesterday.  What a wonderful
 time we have had. We had the best tour guide anyone could
 wish for, my niece Reshma and her better half Torin.


They took us everywhere.  We started our days very
 early in the mornings.  To say I am a bit tired right 
now would be an understatement, but it was 
so worth it. Would do it again in a flash.


We’ve seen many things/places but two that stand out 
are, first Mount Rainier.  One of the things off my bucket
 list.  Impressive.  Massive.  Just incredible, and we hardly
 touched the surface of it.  It’s a humongous National Park.


I have decide that when I go someplace I want to go
 and see and experience it all. Well as much as “all” means 
and to do so I have to do much of it om my own. With Arvid 
we do different things.  Not bad, but I want to see more.


On my own I experience everything there is to 
experience and to see for the amount of time we have. 
I have seen enough beaches and oceans, not wish to see
 more, but I wish to see more than just a beach now.  
Mount Rainier left me speechless.  It is an active
 volcano, and while it has not erupted recently, 
it is expected to erupt again in the future.


One of the other very cool places we visited was 
Pike Market Place in Seattle.  A must see if Putin Seattle. 
I have to add that  thought Seattle would be all rain.
  Well it was not. We had gorgeous weather. Just perfect
 for what we needed to do. It was another good day.


 At Pike Place Market we actually experienced 
blue skies and within a few hours the fog came.  Pretty
 amazing and spectacular.  I loved it. Same happened 
at Mount Rainier.  The skies change in minutes.


In between all of these places we went out to many 
cool spots for drinks and appetizers, then another
 for dinner.  We ate so much food I don’t know how
 it was even possible. But it was so much fun.


I have had Chinese food in many big cities,
 New York City being one, but the meal we had in 
Seattle was the best Chinese food I have ever had.
 I would visit again just to go to that restaurant.


Another special evening was when we had dinner 
at sunset. This is not something Arvid would do.  We 
have a routine, and it's rare that he deviates from it. 
Our main meal is in the middle of the day.  We do 
miss out on some "better" dining at times.


  I'm good with it, but sometimes I love doing
 it differently.  I also enjoy watching the sunset at 
dinnertime, and on this particular evening we did just
 that.  We also enjoyed a very good meal, at great
 location and had a great time with loved ones.


I got to know Torin so much more and I have to say he is one
 of the calmest, kindest persons I have had the pleasure of
 knowing at such young age. Together he and Reshma are 
just perfect.  AsTorin said to me, “we are a team you know.” 
 Together with Apollo they are one very adorable family.


Getting back home from Seattle took a long time,
 but it was an easy flight. I had a stopover in Chicago; 
our old stomping grounds. Not enough time to do
 much, but it felt familiar.  I love airports.


Always the best part of any trip is getting back home.
 Seeing Arvid with his big smile, and then coming back
 home to Sniff.  Sniff was a tad bit aloof with me most of 
the day, but by evening he was back to loving me.


I also saw and fed Oliver. He had lots of food 
anyway I refilled his bowl, but I always give him a 
can of soft food.  I had a great time, but am happy
 to be home again.  I have had a busy day so far.


The day is halfway done and I still have a lot to do.
  Hope everyone is having a great day so far.


The best things in life are the moments captured in photos...

~Nadiya~