End Of Daylight Savings Time ~

 They always say time changes things, but you

 actually have to change them yourselves...

Daylight Saving Time in nearly all of the US ends in 

2020 at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, marking the time when clocks

 “fall back” and we gain an extra hour of sleep. Daylight Saving Time,

 often incorrectly referred to in the plural as Daylight Savings

 Time, started in 2020 on Sunday, March 8. When the

 clocks are turned back an hour on Nov 1st.

Hawaii and most of Arizona does not observe 

Daylight Saving Time. The time change is also not

observed in U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, 

American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Puerto Rico currently observes Atlantic Standard Time.

(AST) all year round.  Lucky us Arvid says.  Daylight 

Standard Time (DST) is no longer in use on the

 island. Clocks do not change in Puerto Rico.

The previous DST change in Puerto Rico was 

on September 30, 1945.  Another reason to move

 here according to Arvid. He likes his sunlight.

Just a reminder to turn back your clocks tonight.

Unfortunately only one hour, not twenty years.

White lips, pale face, breathing in
 snowflakes.  Winter is on it's way...

~Nadiya~

Halloween In Puerto Rico ~

 It's as much fun to scare as to be scared. 

Halloween is opportunity to be really creative...

We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

Hello Halloween.  What do you have in store for us today?

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.

In my heart Brutus is included in everything, Shadow was with 

us for such a short time, but he was also a part of our lives.

I'm not sure there will be big celebrations anywhere this year.

  COVID has changed everything, but that does not mean you 

can't get into the spirit.  I'm not one for Halloween, but does

 not mean I can't have a little fun like everyone else 🦇

Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it's 

about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves.

Happy Halloween to all.  Make it a safe and fun time.

If human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their 

costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween...

~Nadiya~

What Are You Grateful For Today ~

 What separates privilege from entitlement is

 gratitude.  Wear gratitude like a cloak, and 

it will feed every corner of your life...

When they say life is not fair some people sure know

 exactly what this means  Yesterday Arvid and I were 

out touring San Juan. We walked around some shops 

and checked out a few things. In one of the gift 

shops we met a woman from England.

 Of course I started talking to her and before

 you knew it we had a picture of what her life has

 been since hurricane Maria hit the island. 

She has now been living in PR for 13 years, and

was doing really well.  Good job good home, and a 

comfortable life.  Maria came.  Destroyed her home. 

She lost her job because there was no job to go

 She used all her savings while looking for a job.

 Savings are all gone, but she found a job in a gift shop. 

She said she was so grateful for this job and 

that suddenly life is looking up again.

She like so many lost everything yet she was pleasant,

 helpful, cheerful, and positive about her outlook in life. 

Today once again I am grateful and thankful even though

 sometimes I think that life has not been fair to me, 

Then I hear about the “other” side and I realize 

once again that I may not have everything I

 want, but I sure have everything I need.

Friday here again. This has been one very rainy week,

 and today does not seem to be any different, but on the

 other hand all of our Friday outings have had rain.

Every so often we should all take a reality check and

 be thankful and grateful for all the blessings we have

 in our lives, for what we do not realize is that what 

we take for granted someone else is praying for.

An attitude of gratitude. This is not only a great rhyme

 but a great way to live. You should always be grateful

 for the things you have. Thankful for everything big

 and small  that fill your life and make it special.

Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t 

pray when the sun shines. We can choose 

to be grateful no matter what...

~Nadiya~

Thursday October 29th ~

 No one can ever take your memories 

from you – each day is a new beginning, 

make good memories every day...

I was fortunate again today to have seen "my" kitties and

 to ensure that they were fed for the day.  My heart is happy.

  It reminds me of a kitty in Fort Lauderdale called Luna. 

 She is Vitoria and Michael's kitty when they are home away

 from home.  Like me they feed her and they are even luckier

 that they get to touch and cuddle with Luna.  The kitties here are

 feral, but at least they are not going to starve while I am here.

Evenings on the balcony is probably our favorite time 

of the day.  Breezy, peaceful and lots to see and hear.  

The most beautiful moon shows up right in front of us.  

The nights are star filled and we are lucky because ★ 

every night we see Mars shining bright above us.

Thursdays are always interesting in that Arvid 

looks at the map and does a lot of Google searches. 

 Makes me think that something new and 

exciting awaits us.  One can hope 😂. 

Wishing everyone a Happy Thursday.  Sniff says

 he can't wait for Halloween to be done with. 

 He's tired of being photographed 🐾 .

Darkness falls across the land, 

The Midnight Hour is close at hand...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday ~

Make my happiness, I will make yours...

 Every morning I make the biggest decision of my

 life: be happy today.  All I know is the here and now. 

 What happened yesterday, and what may happen 

tomorrow is gone or hasn't happened as yet.

Yesterday I talked to one of my previous tenants at 

Almost Home.  Our conversation made me very sad. She

 barley scrapes by.  I asked what do you eat after paying 

your rent.  Her answer "noodles and butter." And then

 she said, "don't worry Nadiya, I am used to it."

Of course I am worried.  I mean how can I eat knowing

 she has nothing.  Arvid says I can't help everyone.  I say

 "I can try."  At least I feel a little better knowing that

 soon she and her doggie will have some food 🥫.

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, 

but small ones surround us every day 😍

Happiness isn't about getting what what you

 want all the time.  It's about loving what 

you have and being grateful for it.

~Nadiya~

Rainy Tuesday In Puerto Rico ~ ☔

 You (Sniff) have no idea of the amount of

 happiness you brought into my life...

Sniff does not like being photographed, yet I manage to

sang a bunch of pictures of him everyday.  He is photogenic 

and adorable, it's as if I'm compelled to take his pictures.

As soon as I say "no more" he assumes another pose and there I go again.

Snapchat makes it so much more fun.  I can accessorize

 him to my hearts content.  And of course I do 😂.

Tuesday is not looking so good.  The other morning I 

found "my" alley kitty and was able to feed him.  Also

 a few more showed up in different spots again, I also

 left foodies for them.  Happy start of the day.

Rain and more rain this morning.  I started my walk, 

but boy did I get caught in the rain. Had to call it quits, 

but not before being soaked. Even though I did not see any 

of the kitties, I had food for them, but did not leave any 

because it will be washed away with this rain.

Was hoping we could go to the beach today, unfortunately 

looks like it's not happening, and here comes the rain

 again.  Happy Tuesday all, stay dry and be happy.

When life gives you a rainy day,  play in the puddles...

~Nadiya~

Monday October 26th ~

Don't let the sun go down without

 saying thank you to someone, and without 

admitting to yourself that absolutely

 no one gets this far alone...

 A new week is here again.  The days are going by so 

very fast, and that means that our time here in Puerto Rico is

 coming to an end.  Not right away, but it's happening.  We love

 it here, but we also have a beautiful home in Fort Lauderdale.

In life, there is always something to be thankful for. 

It’s easy to complain about how chaotic the world is and how

 people can be so evil towards one another, but complaining 

without action just doesn’t change anything. If we start to be 

thankful for everything we have, instead of what we do not

 have, we’ll start to appreciate our life on this earth more.

I try to always focus on the good in people.  I know

 in life that there is "bad" all around us, but I

 also know that there is more good as well.  

There are days when I feel like nothing is going right,

 I feel as if the burden of the world is on my shoulders,

 but then I think of  my mom.  A woman who has

 gone through more than most, yet has never in

 her life complained about anything. Never.

 If there is anyone who I can learn from, it is her. 

 My mom lives in CONSTANT pain, and I don't

 mean pain like what you and I have.  

She endures it without ever complaining.  She never

 has a day "off" from pain, yet she's always there to offer

 us advise, unconditional love and to listen to us.  My

 mom never judges, she listens even when sometimes

 she disagrees with us.  She listens.  My mom is

 the definition of kindness and compassion.

I feel a little sad today.  I would have loved to be there 

with my parents right now.  I am also feeling sad because,

 my thoughts are with Brutus, who died too soon.  Soon it will

 be five years without him.  I miss him so much right now, 

but life goes on, and in my heart there stirs a quiet pain.

We all have someone we miss.  I am not unique in that.  As we

 all know some days are more difficult that others, but most

 days are good days. Today is one of those not "good" days.

Sniff on the other hand is patiently counting down

 the days until Halloween.  Then he can rest again.

I miss you in ways that not

 even words can understand...

~Nadiya~

That Sunday Feeling ~

If there is a heaven for me, I'm sure it has a beach attached

 to it. Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on the beach...

Puerto Ricans love the beach.  For them to

 be on the water is the only way to live.

Growing up in Puerto Rico we lived the same way.

  Any chance we had we were at the beach.  All our weekends

 were spent on the beach with our parents and friends. 

 It was what one did when you live on an island.

Back then you took your hammock set it up and enjoyed 

the ocean.  As you can see, that has not changed.  People

 are still enjoying the beach with their hammocks.  

That being said, Arvid and I bought 2 hammocks last Friday. 

 I told Arvid that it would be really nice to have one on the 

balcony, before I knew it he was all into it times two.

Quiet day here.  relaxed and just enjoying the peacefulness of it all

Sniff is sound asleep.  Arvid has already watched one of his 

soccer games.  All is good here.  Wishing everyone the same.

It is not how much we have, but how

 much we enjoy, that makes happiness...

~Nadiya~

Saturday ~

Happy are those who take life day by day, complain   

 very little and are thankful for the little things in life...

Early mornings.  The temperature is cooler and the ocean

 breeze makes the walk so much better.  Not many people

 are out at this hour, and I like it.  When I go walking

 I usually just walk only within our complex.

It's just me, the birds, the mountains and some stray kitties.

  I have taken to feeding the kitties, but I have to do it in such a 

way no one sees me.  It's sort of not allowed to do so, but they look

 so hungry, I just can't bear to see them this way.  Every morning 

I carry dry foodies and a canned food.  I leave it in a designated 

spot, and as of now just one kitty goes and eats.  I'm happy.

Some days when I just want some additional quiet time

 I go to the pool area and read or just listen to music.  Very

 relaxing and also very quiet.  Unfortunately, the pools

 and the gym are still closed.  COVID! 😱😕

Sniff is counting down the days to Halloween.  He sure 

hopes it passes fast so that we can start to count down to

 Thanksgiving.  Living the life of a leisure kitty he is.

Saturday is already warm and sunny.  Not complaining

 because many have it cold already, and would be glad to have

 the warmth we are experiencing.  Always grateful.

  We should always remember to not always brood over

 our misfortunes, but be thankful for what we still have.

Life in Puerto Rico is never boring.  Always something 

interesting going on.  Even the chickens find the "scenery" to

 their liking.  Happy Saturday all, and may it be a great one.

When asked if my cup is half-full or half empty, 

my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup...

~Nadiya~

Friday Again 🍹~

 Sometimes the little things in life mean the most...

I wake up to a beautiful sunrise everyday, and everyday 

I feel the need to capture it.  There is always something amazing

 to see and to be grateful for.  My mornings are my alone time 

and for that I am happy.  Me and my thoughts, sometimes

 they also make me sad, but won't change a thing.

Yesterday we visited my sister and Kimsy, I'm happy.  

Some of my happiest times here is when we get to see them. 

 Because of that I am also grateful.  So many have not been 

able to see their loved ones during this pandemic times. 

On a side note, Arvid and I spent quite a while admiring 

Kimsy's car.  I don't go all batty over a car, but when I saw this 

little red hottie 506HP, I sure wanted one just like it quite badly.  

Just imagine the speed.  I was daydreaming for a while there.

Arvid has not seen his mother since summer of last year. 

 That's a long time and I hope that can be remedied soon. 

 She's old and she would love to see him, and he her 💙.

I have been fortunate to have seen my parents in May 

of this year, and even so, I miss them very much and would

 love to see them again.  Mom and dad usually come to 

Florida for a couple of months in the winter, but not

 this coming one.  Thank you COVID 😒  NOT!!

Friday here in Puerto Rico 😎.  Relaxed, happy times and

 doing much more than if we were back home in Florida. 

 We are once again enjoying life, while at the same time

 keeping our distance and being safe.  Life has changed 

 and we are all adapting to this change.  Like it or not.

The day is looking good.  The sun is out and we are busy. 

 Sniff is getting into the Halloween spirit, or at least

 I want to think he is 😂 Happy Friday all.

 

I’m thankful because all the hard work 

and sacrifices were worth it in the end...

~Nadiya~