Thursday August 6th~

Tired minds don't plan well. 

Sleep first, then plan later...

 I’m sorta panicked right now. The days are 

going by so fast.  I’m looking forward to seeing 

everyone, at the same time I am NOT looking forward 

to leaving Sniff all alone.  I mean he will be cared

 for by Gail. It’s not as if he’s all alone.  I have all 

his foodies ready, extra, extra of everything.  

I took a little outing downtown. Just to get

 out for a bit. Made lunch at home, but then got 

bored and headed out.  Although I move around 

quite a bit, my knee really hurts. I think it 

hurts even more when I just sit still.

Today I go see my endocrinologist again. 

Hopefully good news  would be a bummer to be

 told that my thyroid cancer has returned, but not

 to anticipate anything  will wait for her to explain 

to me what’s going on.  Most likely it’s nothing.

Sniff slept quite a lot yesterday. Wish I could

 have napped with him, but I had a busy day once

again. A lot to do today also.  Fed the kitties in the 

morning already. Whitepaw is the bravest.  He's 

always peeking at me while the others hide. Will 

feed them later as well.  To all a very good day.

The best cure for the body is a quiet mind...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday August 5th~

 Rules for happiness: something to do, 
someone to love, something to hope for...

I feel as if I could use some rest. Like a lotta 

rest. I’m so tired. I have not slowed down since

 Arvid left and it is for sure catching up with me,  

As always, I feed the kitties early in the morning

 and around 5 in the afternoons. The only reason I do 

it twice is because there are now so many babies and 

the thought of the you hungry is unbearable.  I am 

not always able to get their pictures, but I see

 them. They are so fast they just run like hell.

After doing a few chores I bought lunch 

and took it over to mom and dads. We all

 had lunch and a good time together.

Sniff and I are up early again.  Every morning

 as I open the window shades Sniff get up

 and checks out the start of the morning.

Not having the best situation, but seeing the 

best in your situation is the key to happiness...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday August 4th~

The present moment is

 filled with joy and happiness...

 Right now I am just happy to be home. 

As I always say, no matter where I go, home

 is always the place I want to return to. 

Sniff and I spent a lot of the day just being

 close to each other.   Where I went he followed. 

 Even thought I was tired I still had a lot to do, 

but knowing I was home made it better. 

I didn’t get to sleep until around 2am on the

 day I arrived. Even so, I got up early to go feed 

the little kitties.  They were not starving. They 

had food all around them, but I cleaned up their 

bowls, gave them fresh water and felt better. I

 was happy to see that Newbie was still there.

I fed Legacy on her spot by the marina.  I 

walked across the road to feed the other babies.

 I got there. There was a baby Legacy and another

 adult kitty looked exactly like Legacy.  Had I not fed

 Legacy on the other side, I would have never known.  

They are just identical, except baby is smaller.

To all a very good day. A few things to do 
today so I am soon on the move again😒

To find happiness, look halfway

 between too little and too much...

~Nadiya~

Monday August 3rd~

Man starts over again everyday, in spite

 of all he knows, against all he knows...

 A new week is again upon us.  I got home very

 late last night from Massachusetts, and even though

 I had a very good time with Nina, David and our

 cousin Maya, home is always where I want to be.

 There is nothing like coming home to Sniff. 

Flying is a nightmare. This flight took all day 

long when you count the several delays involved. 

Pretty soon I will be flying again not looking forward

 to that flight, but looking forward to getting there.  

This trip took me through several airports.

Our weekend getaway was filled with a lot of 

good food, and margaritas galore.  In Vancouver

 I discovered a taste for wine.  In Massachusetts I 

renewed my taste for margaritas.  I also introduced

 them to vodka and coke.  Arvid introduced me to it.

My cousin lives on an enormous property of

 some 32 acres with several properties on it  At one 

time she used a few of them for Airbnb, but she 

told us that it got to be too crazy and she was 

taking a break from doing Airbnb.

I had initially thought we were staying in 

one of the Airbnbs, but it’s actually her private

 property.  Enormous and we definitely needed 

a “road map” to find my way around.

For this short visit she bought the entire

 grocery store. It seemed that way. I like food but 

even I could not eat so much. On top of that Nina 

and David brought delicious desserts and appetizers 

and of course the margaritas.  My cousin by the way also 

has a stocked bar in several parts of the house so alcohol 

was never an issue.  Pity we don’t drink that much.

One of the highlights of this property is my cousins

 garden.  She has taken a lot of time to create her 

zen place.  Even though they just had a terrible storm

 a few days before we got her, so many of the flowers

 were still intact.  The colors and the smell of the 

flowers just just an extra treat to our weekend.

Back home now and a busy week ahead. Arvid

 called me while I was running to catch one of my

 connections  once again he sounded so sad again.

 He said, “it’s so boring and lonely here without you.” 

I am sure he’s having a good time with family.  

My little getaway trips are now done for the summer.  

 I want to be home with Sniff and just take it easy. I

 have sure enjoyed the summer so far.   I now look

 forward to seeing everyone in Norway soon, and 

to being held by my blue eyed Viking 😎

A good week to all.  Always best being home.

The best journey takes you home...

~Nadiya~

Sunday August 2nd~

Life is not a problem to be solved, 

but a reality to be experienced...

 So far it has been a really good time.  Boy have

 we laughed a lot.  We got caught up with each others

 lives and some. I think this cousin bonding thing is a 

very good idea.  I want to do it more often.  I have more 

cousins than I know, and they are all over the world.

  Some I have not even met.  Hope one day I will.

My little weekend getaway is coming to an end, 

but I have enjoyed every moment of it.  I still have

 all day to continue having a good time, but also

 I am sure looking forward to seeing my Sniff.

Keep some room in your 

heart for the unimaginable...

~Nadiya~

August 1st~ Hello New Month

August days are long and bright,

 allowing dreams to soar high and far...

 And just like that July is gone.  Hello August.  

August is famously known as the "Sunday of

 summer". It is a bittersweet, golden time when 

the heat lingers but the days begin to shorten.

Many good things happening in August.

 Soon I will also get to see, hold and hug our 

grandkids.  Arvid has been doing it for the last

 month, now I will join him. Looking forward so 

much to that. Just hope they dont forget me.

 Looking forward to that very much, on the 

other hand, I am not looking forward to leaving 

Sniff home alone for so long.  Yes, he will have Gail

 coming in each day to take care of him, but I always

 worry when I am not with him.  For now, I am

 enjoying time with my sister, her husband 

and our cousin.  I love the life I live.

Just like a new day gives new hopes, a new

 month gives us new opportunities.  Welcome 

August.  Be good to us all.  May your new month

 be start of many wonderful things to come our way.

To all a very good day and may the

 new month be even better than the last.

 I am enjoying my time in Massachusetts 

Life is what you make of it,

 a new month gives you the perfect chance

 to create magic.  Welcome August...

~Nadiya~

Friday July 31st~

You have to conquer every obstacle before

 you can reach the top of the mountain...

 Once again I am on the move.  This time heading 

to visit a cousin in Massachusetts.  My sister Nina and

 her husband David will also be there. So excited. This

 is my eldest cousin on my dad’s side. When my sisters

 and I lived in New York she was always there for us.

My goal is to try and get to know my dad’s side 

of the family better.  They are extremely kind, and 

always welcoming. My cousin owns an Airbnb and

 for our visit she has “reserved”’the entire place.  All

 five bedrooms five baths.  Looking forward to this.

My day began very early. Was awake since 

1AM. Of course so was Sniff. Hopefully I can

 sleep a little on the flight. I left home too early

 so did not feed the kitties, but did give them a little 

extra food yesterday afternoon.  Hopefully Abe

 will feed them while I’m gone.  He always does, 

as does Cindy.  She would feed Legacy.

Sniff is home alone, but Gail comes in once a

 day to check on him and take care of him.  He's in 

good hands, but I never like leaving him alone.

Knowing you have the next day off is actually

 more relieving than the actual day off...

~Nadiya~

Thursday July 30th~

Our human compassion binds us the one

 to the other—not in pity or patronisingly, but as

 human beings who have learnt how to turn our

 common suffering into hope for the future...

I have always said I loved my mornings, and I really do.  

I enjoy the leisure time.  I look forward to being able to 

walk out every morning and feed all the kitties.  Today  

 I also took Abe out for coffee and a little something to

 eat.  Abe is the guy who feeds all the kitties as well. 

Yesterday I did go out after all.  By afternoon I got 

a bit bored being in and just decided to take a drive 

to a restaurant not too far from us.  Weather was

 good so I just enjoyed and had a good time.

My alone time is now limited.  Soon I will be

 going to Norway.  Looking forward so very much 

to seeing everyone.  Can't wait to hug the girls

 and see Arvid's smile.  Not happy about leaving 

Sniff, but I know he will be alright with Gail.

A happy day to all.  It's Thursday, and I 

do not plan on cooking.  Getting lazy.  Coffee with 

Abe was good.  He's struggling to make ends meet, 

and of course I just can't sit quietly and watch.

Love and compassion are necessities, not 

luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday July 29th~

It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that 

wears you out; it's the pebble in your show...

 I had a very busy morning yesterday.  Another 

doctor's appointment.  Very early so had to make sure

 I went and fed the kitties before my appointment.

  There were a total of 5 kitties.  Legacy, Newbie, 

WhitePaw, Blackie and a baby that I was told was 

Legacy's.  Baby is a clone of Legacy. Newbie and

 Blackie are too fast for me to get their pictures.

I had a few errands to take care of.  After that 

I bought a pizza and took it over to mom and dad's 

for lunch.  The pizza was a hit.  Dad is doing great.  

More energized than ever.  Happy for that.

On the way back from mom and dad I saw

 a turtle in the middle I the road. Cars were speeding by. 

 I just stopped my car in the middle of the road got out, 

waved them the other way, picked up the turtle and

 set him on the grass heading towards the pond.

  I was so worried he would be killed.

In the afternoon I went to my current favorite 

coffee shop and on my way back went to feed the kitties 

again.  This time I saw Blackie next to the supposedly

 baby of Legacy.  Then I saw Legacy and I could not for a 

second tell the difference between the two.  WhitePaw 

was also there. I’m always happier after feeding them.

Back home Sniff and I took it easy. Watched some 

TV.  Sniff's idea of watching TV is to sleep by my side.

 Talked to Arvid and had a relaxing evening.  Already

 Wednesday. This week is going by too fast. Today I really

 would like to just take it easy and just rest. Truth is I 

am tired.  I just need a day to do absolutely nothing. 

To all a very good day.  I am already so tired.

 It's already been a very long, but productive day.

Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday July 28th~

Thankful for everything - seen and unseen,

answered prayers and silent battles won...

 I had two doctors appointments yesterday. but 

only managed to get one done.  Because of a little glitch, 

I have to reschedule one of them, but worked out good 

because I was able to go to the hospital to be with my 

mom as we waited for my dad in the recovery room.

  My dad had a "minor" procedure done.  All went

 well and in under four hours he was back home.  

While dad was recovering from the anesthesia 

mom and I went browsing around some of the

 shops around the area.  Had to kill some time.

  We both snagged a few pairs of socks, which 

we did not need, but really had to have.

Once back at the hospital dad was ready 

to leave.  I got him something to eat, but the 

doctors said he needed to wait at least 3-4 hours 

before leaving.  Boring, but what can you do.

After leaving the hospital I decided to go out 

for lunch.  I went to another of my favorite Cuban 

restaurants. Had the ropa vieja.  and a few appetizers 

while waiting for the food.  Always a good meal.

Once back home did some cleaning then it was 

time to go feed the kitties again.  I also went early 

this morning before going to my doctors appointment.

  They were fed before 7am and later in the afternoon 

after 5pm.  I saw Legacy, WhitePaw, Blackie #2 and I 

saw Newbie.  If not Newbie looked exactly like him. 

 They hide when I am there but I leave the food and

 they come and eat.  I also feed some more kitties 

at the house next to these.  Just saw him-her 

yesterday, so now my kitty food bag got much

 heavier, but I'm happy and feel so good.

Sniff knows how to pull my strings and he 

does it all day long.  He just stares at me, meows 

and continues to do so unless I brush him. 

 Of course I do.  Several times a day.

Have gratitude for all that you have, and

 you can be happy exactly as you are...

~Nadiya~

New Week~ Monday July 27th

Mood for the week: I and do it.  I 

deserve it. I will get it.  End of story...

 Where did July go? I can’t believe this is 

the last week of the month.  Like I have said 

before, July just disappeared into thin air.  It 

went by too fast.  Not happy about that😂

The week begins with a few doctors appointments.

  Yup starting again. I don’t mind going because it 

gives me a chance to stop by Whole Foods Market. 

For me it’s a win-win. I get to pick up a few goodies.

I was just thinking about our time in Vancouver.  

What I miss is that coffee break in the afternoons with my

 friends.  It was so good, and the coffee was excellent.

I was not sure if I wanted to do anything yesterday, 

but at the last minute I felt like having my fried whole red

 snapper.  That's where Arvid and I would go for it.  I always

 have the exact same thing everytime.  No regrets ever.

Lots going on this week.  Hopefully everything

 turns out all right.  Wishing everyone a week filled 

with happiness, good health and most of all peace.

A little Monday reminder that you can handle

 whatever the new week throws at you...

~Nadiya~