Thursday October 22nd~

Sunrises offer a powerful symbol of hope,

 fresh starts, and the beauty of a new day...

 Unless you see it you may not believe it.  

Same day just a few minutes difference.  Sunrises 

are amazing to watch and I am grateful that I am 

able to appreciate them no matter where we are. 

Every sunrise is special in its own way 🌅

Our time is nearing an end, in the meantime Sniff 

keeps a good eye out for his wildlife friends.  Keeps 

him busy and also gives him more time to be 

"active" rather than sleep all day long.

It's Thursday and I do not cook today, but since 

we had quite a few things to do yesterday, so 

it became my "no-cook day."  Lately I have

 been craving pizza a lot.  It was very good

Wishing everyone a very good day.  Quiet day today.

 I like it.  Be honest.. is it perfectly acceptable to wear

 pajamas all day if you're staying home?  I say yes😍

Happiness is a quiet day at home. 

 I am exactly where I want to be. 

 At home, avoiding people..

~Nadiya~

Wednesday October 21st~

 Remember to include yourself in the list 

of things you need to take care of today...

Yesterday we both took it easy. Neither of us

 went out.  That’s not so usual for us.  Rested my 

knee.  Made lunch at home and we watched some TV

 during the day and of course our evening shows.

Sniff slept quite a bit, as always.  He missed 

all the birdies that showed up. Lately he has not 

shown such great interest in them.  It was a beautiful

 day. Temperature just perfect. Sunny with blue skies. 

This is a very good time to be here in Branson. 

October is soon over.  Before you know it, 

Christmas is here.  I love the whole Christmas 

season. It's such a happy time.  For now we have

 to finish with Halloween and Thanksgiving.

We have a few things to do today.  Will be good 

to get out of the apartment for a little and enjoy 

the beautiful weather.  Wishing everyone a good

 day.  Below, one of the first Christmas trees to

 be up here in Branson, not far from us.

Whatever you do today 

do it with the confidence of a 4 year 

old in a Batman T-Shirt...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday October 20th~

It's not the miles.  It's the moments...

 Arvid and I still have ownerships in Almost Home Lodge

 and The View.  Two extended stay hotels here in Branson, MO.  

We do not do any active running of the hotel, but when help

 is needed and we are in Branson, we show up. Arvid was 

once again there, trying to help out with a few things.

  He says it keeps him busy. Even when Arvid is not 

feeling well, he wants to be busy.  It's in his DNA.

Every so often I have this craving for something

 sweet.  Maybe more often than I would like to admit 

to myself. I felt like having a donut.  Nothing too

fancy, just a plain glazed donut.  My to go place

 in Branson is Hurts Donuts. Definitely hits the

 spot, and best of all, I got Sniff's approval.

It is warming up nicely already.  The sun is out 

shining and both Arvid, Sniff and I had a good night's sleep;

 so much better than the day before. Today is going to

 be a good day. Wishing everyone a good one also. 

One small positive though in the 

morning can change your whole day...

~Nadiya~

Monday October 19th~

Everyone stumbles; what 

defines your character is how you 

react and learn after it happens...

 As the new week begins, I just hope that

Arvid does not get the cold. I want us to do

 a few things before leaving Branson, but

 now I am not too sure how that will go.  

Arvid is not feeling well. All I can say is that men 

handle pain differently, and not in a good way.  

Arvid not feeling good means Sniff and I have

 to be tippy toeing around until he's better.

This time however, Arvid is definitely not

 over exaggerating.  He's uncomfortable, achy, 

and if you can't sleep that in itself is a huge

 problem. Arvid is not used to not "being 

well."  Makes it more difficult on him.

Julius Caesar once said, "It is easier

 to find men who will volunteer to die, than

 to find those who are willing to endure pain 

with patience."  From experience, I can

 tell you men do not handle pain well. 

Sniff is always hovering around even 

more so when Arvid is not feeling well. 

 He (Sniff) always knows when we need 

him.  He does not leave Arvid's side.

The week is wide open.  Anything can

 happen it all depends on how Arvid is feeling.

 For the sake of all three of us I really hope 

Arvid feels better soon. We did go to urgent 

care yesterday and he was given some 

medication to help with pain.  As of right

 now, he claims to not have pain.

Arvid and I did have a Sunday outing after all.

 We did not sit outdoors, too cold right now for that, 

but we did enjoy another of our favorite places. 

 The food is always good, never disappoints.

To all a very good week  Make it a good

 one. In the end, it's not the years in your 

life that count. It's the life in your years.

 Fill your days with purpose, deep 

relationships, and meaningful moments rather

 than just counting the passing time...

~Nadiya~

Sunday October 18th~

One of the best lessons you can learn 

in life is to master how to remain calm...

 Yesterday we had another quiet day at home.  It 

was actually very nice to not have to run around.

   I did go out for a little in the morning while Arvid

 stayed in watching a few soccer games.  Arvid went 

back to Almost Home in the afternoon.  I did not 

feel like going so I stayed in and read a bit.

Another cold morning is here, but the day will be

 sunny with bright blue skies with a definite warming up. 

Another really beautiful fall day in Branson Missouri.

Last night we stayed in, watched a movie, 

Tulsa King and had snacks with a Pepsi. Was 

pretty good.  I also made popcorn. Arvid, Sniff

 and I had a good time.  Sniff likes popcorn also.

Not exactly sure what we are doing today.

 I'm ready to do something, but it all depends on 

how Arvid feels.  Hopefully today he is feeling better.

  That being said, it does not interfere with all his soccer

 games😂 So far he has not missed a single one.

  Truth is he does not sound that good right now. 

The most beautiful way of life

 is to be grateful for what we have

 lived every day, without regrets...

~Nadiya~

Saturday October 17~

It's officially cold weather season! Do

 you know what that means? It's time to prep

 the cozy sweaters and the warm drinks...

 Finally the birdies started coming; I guess they

 were also waiting for the cooler weather to get here.

 We saw so many pretty ones flying g around while

having breakfast.  Sniff slept through it all. So happy will

 get to see them for a bit before we leave.  Daisy, Fatboy, 

Sparrow and some I don't know their names.  Pigeon 

also showed up, but stayed on the grass.  Happy day. 

Arvid and I were invited to take a tour of what 

used to be 76 Inn.  One of our hotels on The Strip.  The

 one Arvid used to be in charged of.  We were very

 impressed with what they have done to the place.

Today it's called Retro Hotel and looks very 

different than the old 76 Inn.  Much better looking.

 Was very interesting to see what we once owned

 has become today. We liked what we saw.

The cool down is here, and yes we complain 

when cold, we complain when hot. Life.  Yesterday 

we had a quiet evening at home.  Arvid says he's

 getting the cold, and when a man gets the cold/flu

 anything; everything has to stand still😭

My guess is that it's going to be another quiet day, 

depending on how Arvid feels. Arvid said that it is cold 

enough to make hot chocolate today. He even told it to 

his brother yesterday when they chatted. For Arvid

 everything has to fall in place.  For me, if it feels right

 I go for it.  Good morning and a happy day to all.

Men do not 'moan' when they have Man-Flu. They 

emit involuntary groans of agony that are entirely

 in proportion to the unbearable pain they are in.

Manflu: An illness that causes the male

 to be helpless and sicker than any other

 family member. In females: a cold...

~Nadiya~

Friday October 16th~

 People wait all week for Friday, all 

year for summer, all life for happiness...

Yesterday was a good day, most days are good 

days, but when I don't have to cook the day is even 

better. Since it was Thursday we had lunch out.  

No cooking, no cleaning.  I do prefer home

 cooked meals, but it is also nice to go out.

The most difficult part of cooking is figuring

 out what to make for Arvid.  Since I can have

 chicken most days, that leaves me looking for option

 #2 for him. Making two different meals every 

time makes for a lot of clean up afterwards.

Today 11 years ago Brutus came into our lives.

 We had gone to the Broward County Shelter 

a few days before and on this day in 2006 we

 picked him up and our lives changed forever.

 I will never forget that day nor all the 

happiness he brought into our lives. Today

 I am thinking g of him a lot and missing

 him.  Brutus took a piece of me, of us.

Yesterday Arvid and I went to Almost Home. 

I got to see a lot of my old tenants and had time

 to talk and catch up with everyone. I also met

 new ones while Arvid helped/showed Kurt 

with a few things.  Overall it was a good day. 

The temperature has dropped.  Big difference

 from yesterday afternoon to right now, and it 

will continue dropping.  Nice change from the 

heat; of course now we are "complaining" that it

 is too cold. Thank goodness for the weather.

It gives us all something to talk about😂

Yesterday we went once again to Andy's. Who

 knows we may not be able to go back for this year. 

May be too cold for us, and you know we are not 

fans of the cold.  To all a good day and a happy start

 of the weekend.  No plans here. The temperature will 

drop quite a bit; staying warm and cozy at home 

sounds like a good way to spend the evening.

Friday: The golden child of the weekdays...

~Nadiya~

Thursday October 15th~

 When life gives you rainy days wear 

cute boots and jump in the puddles...

Yesterday it sure rained a lot, but in between

 we had a few rays of sunshine and bright skies.  

Weather in Branson is not exactly what one expects. 

 Within minutes it changes.  Truth is the same

 happens in Florida.  You go with the flow.

Sniff is doing his thing. Looking for birds. 

 Watching the squirrels.  Running and hiding from the 

thunder. He's loving it all and having a good time.

I woke up this morning and found Sniff in time out. 

 Yup, he chose it all by himself. After a few hours he got tired

 and decided to take a "proper" nap on one of his beds.

As we sit and have our meals, I get to watch

 the color change on the trees around us.  Fall, 

just a really beautiful time of the year 🍂

To all a very good day. More rain in 

our forecast today.  We do need it☔

Thursday is the bridge between 

the hard work of the week and the 

sweet reward of the weekend...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday October 14th~

How beautiful it is to do nothing,

 and then to rest afterward...

 Yesterday was a quiet day spent at home. Was 

very relaxing. Though the day began on a bit of the

 cooler side, by afternoon it was very hot. By  6 pm 

yesterday it was still very hot to be outside.

Even being in the heat for a short period wears

 you out.  I had to go out for a little, and by the

 time I got home I was so tired.  Does not help 

of course that my knee hurts all the time.

Sniff loves the sun, and wherever it goes he 

finds it and takes a little nap.  Sniff is a happy boy,

 and enjoys every aspect of his life in Branson.

My days are made even better by watching a 

few of the Ai cat videos.  They are cute, funny and 

full of love and tenderness.  They make me smile.  I am 

also enjoying fall colors right now.  By the weekend 

I probably will be saying that it's too cold 😂

Already halfway through the week.  Time is

 going by way too fast.  Just the other day our niece 

Lilly Vade turned 19.  I remember holding her as a

 baby.  I have no idea where 19 years went so fast.

The morning begins with rain and thunderstorms, 

which will be going on all day long. Though not cold

 as yet, the cool down is coming.  For now we enjoy

 a cozy day at home.  Sniff is already running back

 and forth not sure if to hide from the thunder or stay

 close to me.  He has a bed under our bed as well.

The best part of the day is

 before the world gets loud....

~Nadiya~

Tuesday October 13th~

And when it rains on your parade, 

look up rather than down. Without the 

rain, there would be no rainbow...

Another very beautiful sunrise at the 

start of the day followed by a sunset with 

rainbows. How lucky I am to be living in 

a world of sunrises and beautiful sunsets.

Not much going on so by afternoon we were a 

little restless, so we decided to pay Andy's a visit. I 

sure will miss this place when we go back home,

 but for now we get to enjoy it a few more times.

Sniff as always catches up with lots of sleep during 

the day, and he also sleeps all night long.  He has

 not had the zoomies since that last time.  I'm sure 

it will be back. Sniff is my happy place always.

As always the mornings are quiet.  Sniff ate and 

is back in his bed with Arvid.  Yesterday was a fairly 

quiet day.  Today looks to be the same.  To all a very 

good day.  Remember, even the quiet days count.

Everyone needs a place to retreat; a spot where 

the world grows quiet enough for the soul to speak...

~Nadiya~

Monday October 12th~

It's not what happens to you, but

 how you react to it that matters...

 Another week begins.  Another chance for us

 to right the wrongs we did last week, and another 

chance to shine and give it our all.  Life is simple,

 sometimes it is us who make it more complicated than

 it should be.  It is a series of natural and spontaneous 

changes. We should spend more time being happy.

Arvid and I had a another very good outing 

yesterday. We sure are enjoying these beautiful 

days here in Branson. Fall at its best 🍂

As the new week begins we don't have much 

planned to do as of right now.  I am hoping to go

 to Almost Home one of these days, and hopefully

 see a few of our old tenants.  Also, to meet the 

new office manager.  Aside from that, the usual 

chores, but with us that can change suddenly.

 Some days we simply need a reminder to be

 gentle;  with ourselves and with the people

 around us. Be Kind To People For No

 Reason - Choose Kindness Always...

~Nadiya~