Tuesday March 24th~

The longer you have to wait for something the 

more you appreciate it when it finally comes...

 All the waiting is finally over. Arvid’s brother is

 here and we could not be any happier. Arvid is 

over the moon.  He has talked non-stop about how

 good it will be for his brother to visit. I am happy

 they will get to spend time together on their own.

  Yes, we have planned a few things to do😍

Arvid and I spent most of yesterday cleaning.  

We did an even deeper clean because Arvid's 

brother is allergic to cats.  As you all know, 

Sniff rules our home.  Just had to make sure 

we dusted the place a little more than usual.

Arvid's brothers journey from Norway to Fort 

Myers was not an easy one.  From start to end the

rip took more than 24 hours.  Delays included.  Arvid's

 brother started in Oslo to Frankfurt, from there

 he travelled to Ontario, Canada and from there 

finally to Fort Myers.  A very long day.

I took a break from cleaning and went to

 feed Legacy.  Today she was there.  Yesterday 

I went a bit late and she was not there.

For the next few days we have a full schedule.  I'm happy.  

Family: A little bit of crazy, a little

 bit of loud, and a whole lot of love...

~Nadiya~

Monday March 23rd~

Start your week with high energy and

 purpose,  focusing on new opportunities, 

growth, and a positive mindset... 

  The other day we got a flyer in the mail stating

 we won $2500 from a car dealership.  Right away Arvid 

pulled out his magnifying lens to properly read it.  He read 

what we won, but not the fine print. They get you there.

Before I knew what was going on, Arvid took off

 faster than lightning to the dealership.  In less than an

 hour he was back saying it was a scam.  I looked at him 

and said, "I thought by now you would know better."

If all goes according to plans we have a PACKED

 week ahead of us. Both Arvid and I are looking

 forward to it and very excited to see how it goes.

Yesterday we had our usual Sunday outing.  We went 

to one of our favorite spots, and one of my favorite 

restaurants.  We always have the exact same thing. 

 I go for the whole red snapper fish and Arvid has

 the steak.  Maybe it's more my favorite than his.

Having company is always a great incentive to 

really clean.  More cleaning today.  The place

 will smell fresh and will have to be spotless.

May the new week bring us all closer to our goals.

May your week be filled with good

 thoughts, kind people, and happy moments...

~Nadiya~

Sunday March 22nd~

Every moment with you has been a 

treasure. You've brought joy into our lives

from the moment we first held you...

Today the one that made us grandparents 

turns 13.  Aleah, the first of three girls. She stole 

our hearts the minute we saw her. I keep saying 

where has the  time gone by; and why so fast. 

 Today she's a beautiful young teenager now.

The first time we saw Aleah was December of 2013. 

 She came to Florida with her mom, Michelle and 

Michelle's mom, Elisabeth.  It was a beautiful time. 

 For that short time we got to spend all our time 

with this little one.  She even met our Brutus. 

When we were downtown the other day it was 

packed.  One table was occupied by a couple, but

 it had 2 available seats. We asked to share and of

 course I started up a conversation with them.  

The couple was from Canada and have been

 snowbirds in Fort Myers for over 16 years.  They

 said they had checked out out parts of Florida, but

 Ft. Myers was the one they always came back to.

.

When they left another couple asked to share 

the 2 open seats.  I chatted and found out they 

were from upper Michigan.  The wife specified the 

upper part.  Also snowbirds from October to May. 

Downtown, always something for everyone

 Then they left I saw a couple standing and asked

 if they wanted to share the table.  Found out they were 

from Ohio and also live in Fort Myers from October to

May.Was a very interesting evening.  By the time we 

left another couple was already waiting for the seats.

We did make it to Fort Lauderdale, I was happy 

because I got to go to the Swap Shop and get some 

of my tropical fruit.  I do find them here in Ft Myers, 

but not so much the coconut already prepared.

Wishing everyone a very good Sunday. Today

 we have a lot of cleaning to do, but for good reason. 

 All is good with us. Sniff decided he did not want 

to eat this morning.  Sure knows how to stress me 

out, but it's Sniff 💜and he's my happy place.

A very happy birthday to our granddaughter Aleah who

 turns 13 years today, also to Max our nephew whose birthday

 is tomorrow.  Max is on the way to change the world 💜

Happiness is not a goal...it's a 

by-product of a life well-lived...

~Nadiya~

Saturday March 21st~

The difference between men and

 boys is the price of their toys...

 There is always something that 

catches our attention.  This time it was 

a car parked on someone's property.

Arvid and I have seen it a few times, but never

 stopped.  It was too much to resist so he decided it 

was about time to check it out. He's a car aficionado,

 but at the same time now a bit more cautious and

 not so keen on just buying everything he sees. 

Yesterday was Music Walk.  Being true to ourselves, 

we took our usual Friday trip downtown. As always at

 this time of the year everything is packed.  It's good to see 

businesses flourishing and people having a good time.

 Once again we begin our day on the road again.  

Not looking forward to the trip today as much as I was 

on Wednesday.  It's been a long week and I am tired.

All is good at home.  Sniff is not eating his soft

 foodies, but at least yesterday he did not puke. While

 downtown this kid had a bald python as a pet.  Everyone 

was horrified yet fascinated at the same time.  Me included

 of course. Legacy was there waiting for foodies.

To all a good day.  Hope your first spring day

 was a good one, and the sun warmed you up.

Every Saturday should come with 

a pause button.  Enjoy your weekend...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 20th~

Unexpected, moments are an inevitable part 

of life, often forcing growth and requiring us to

 adapt when plans fail and things go wrong...

 On Wednesday we never made it to Fort Lauderdale. 

 There was a crash with fatalities involving three vehicles. 

 We take I-75 and this was closed for about eight hours.  Exactly 

our route.  We had to turn around and head back home.

  As I said in my post yesterday, Sniff was happy.

So Arvid was looking at concert tickets a few months 

ago, but not sure we would go.  I said to him, "why don't 

you get the tickets.  If your brother comes the two of 

you can go alone.  If he doesn't, we can go together." 

 Fingers crossed his brother comes to visit us🙏

Today is the first day of spring, and our sunset

 here in the Gulf Coast sure did not disappoint.  What

 a great way to say goodbye to winter.  I know there is

 technically no winter in Florida, but this year has been 

way too cold for comfort.  So yeah we did have winter.

Yesterday after finishing doing what we had 

to do at mom and dad’s, the four of us went 

out to lunch at he “famous” Rum Bucket. 

Mom and Arvid had baby back ribs, dad

 always has a grouper sandwich.  I had the Cesar

 salad.  Food wa good as was the company.

Afterwards Arvid and I went back home,

 fed Sniff who decided to puke again.  I also went 

to feed Legacy. Early because we had to go to a 

meeting afterwards. Thankfully Legacy

 was there.  Waiting for her foodies.

Afterwards Arvid and I went again to Port 

Charlotte for the real estate trade meeting. First

 time going to this one. Sure it won’t be the last.

 At the venue we had something to drink and I 

had some nachos.  It seems like you have to eat 

something. Makes me like this place already.

To all a very good day.  Enjoy the first day of Spring. 

 Hopefully it is already warming up for everyone.

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first 

spring day is another. The difference between

 them is sometimes as great as a month...

~Nadiya~

Thursday March 19th~

Life is a succession of lessons which 

must be lived to be understood...

 I miss this little Lady.  F23 for me was a special

 eagle, and I still can't believe that this fierce momma 

died.  Her baby E26 is doing exceptional thanks to 

all the teachings of the best eagle daddy, M15.

Petitions have been signed (mine included) 

for full transparency surrounding F23's death. 

 Still more questions than there are answers.  

Sniff of course was super happy when we got

 back home early. Yesterday as Arvid was cleaning his 

office he came across the song he wrote for Brutus and I

 in 2015 after he died.  He showed it to me and his eyes

 were all teary.  As he said, "Brutus was a special boy."

Days like this that I really am missing our Brutus. 

 It only takes a flashback of a memory to bring 

it all back into focus.  We miss him and we

 are grateful for the time we had with him.

Today we go to mom and dad's for a little visit,

 and at the same time Arvid has a few chores to take care of.  

Thank goodness for these "chores" means more frequent 

visits to mom and dad.  Not complaining at all.

Sniff is so very possessive over Arvid.  Yesterday as 

Arvid was talking to his brother, Sniff had a "temper tantrum" 

 again.  Same thing happens when we Facetime with the girls. 

For a almost an hour Sniff just meowed, scratched things,

 tried to fight with me.  All of this while Arvid was talking 

to his brother.  Before the conversation was over, Sniff 

puked a few times.  He does not act up this way 

when I talk to my family.  Very strange.

Don't look back; you're not going that way...

 ~Nadiya~

Wednesday March 18th~

Reminisce is to capture the nostalgic, often 

bittersweet, act of looking back at cherished

 memories,and moments, highlighting how they 

shaped our lives, present, past and future...

 Today we take a little day trip to Fort Lauderdale, 

our old stomping grounds. The other night we were 

watching a show on TV and it takes place right in Fort 

Lauderdale.  For a moment there we sure missed it.  

The beach looked beautiful, and the drive 

along A1A invoked so many good memories. 

 Fort Lauderdale is definitely a beautiful place.  

Do we miss it?  When we see pictures of the places 

we've lived and are familiar with, yes we do.  I still

 keep in touch with what's happening.  With the new

 restaurants, buildings.  I don't always tell it to Arvid

 because he's not always interested, nor does he pay

 attention. Most of the time his mind is elsewhere.

Fort Lauderdale

Going to Fort Lauderdale and that goes for any

 of the places we go to, it give me an opportunity to go 

down memory lane for a little.  I like what I see, at the 

same time I like where  .  I know once we get into the

 traffic in Fort Lauderdale, we will be happy we don't 

have to deal with it on a daily basis anymore.

Some of our best times living in Fort Lauderdale 

was having Brutus with us.  I sure miss his so much.

  We both do.  I love my Sniff more than I can say, 

but my Brutus took a part of me with him.

To all a very good day.  The air is cooler, and it

 seems like the rain we do not get here in Fort Myers, 

we will sure be getting it in Fort Lauderdale.

The biggest adventure you can

 take is to live the life of your dreams...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday March 17~

May your blessings outnumber

 the shamrocks that grow...

 First of all Happy St Patrick’s Day to all.

  After all I was once called “one of those dark

 Irish girls”  You see at that time my last name was 

Riley, and of course I was the newbie in NYC

 EMS and the cops liked to joke around. 

Me I did not mind it one bit.  In fact those

 were some of my most memorable days. I loved

 every minute spent with EMS, and I loved my life 

also in NYC.  Now I love our life in Florida.

Yesterday was hectic. We were out and about

 from early in the morning.  I have to say my knee 

was not doing great.  Before we took off in the

 morning I went to feed Legacy hoping to also see

 Newbie.  Legacy was there and someone had

 already left her foodies.  I just cleaned up 

the area and gave her fresh water.

The afternoon was not as busy, but Arvid kept 

himself busy. When he needed time to think he played

 solitaire.  Afterwards there was a soccer game. 

I once again went to feed Legacy but this

 time she was not there. The weather was bad.

 The wind was just blowing everything away, 

and the rain came. Tornado like winds.

As always the evening was spent watching TV

 with Sniff snuggled up net to us.  Not a bad day.
To all a very good day. Our temperature has dropped

 a bit, but nothing radical. Well Arvid claims it’s 

way cold. He’s weird. He’s after all from Norway

 and should tolerate the cold better than me.

Gold is money. Everything else is credit.

May the hinges of friendship never rust...

~Nadiya~