Soon Home To Sniff ~ July 31

The best journey takes you home...

Soon home to Sniff and to my wildlife friends.  Yes a happy

 day.  My 4 Geralds (groundhog) and birdies are waiting for their 

foodies.  I have missed their little faces and beautiful sounds.

Come tomorrow we will be heading home to the USA.

I can picture my little Sniff waking up from 

his bed on the table in the dining room and just slacking

 waiting to be fed and brushed.  He takes is easy.

It is always nice to go places, but the best part 

is coming home, and coming home we are.

Today we all gather at Michelle and Emil's for dinner.

  Michelle makes a dish her dad likes, and this has been going 

on for many years now.  A little tradition.  Michelle is an amazing

 young woman, mother and wife.  She never ceases to impress me.

Good morning to all and a great week as well.  Mornings

 are always better with a good cup of coffee.

It's been a good summer so far and the day is still young.

  Still many memories to make with family💛.

This summer has been a little cooler than I can remember, 

but at the same time so much better than the heatwave 

we will be going back to.  I do like the cool air.

Life takes you many places, love brings you home...

~Nadiya~

Our Gjøvik Weekend ~

Weekend vibes, all day every day.

Weekends are for making memories...

 It was a weekend with Arvid's brother and girlfriend.  We were

 treated to a little music festival and a variety of Norwegian 

dishes buffet style.  I got to try a few different foods.

We checked out the town a little and of course had a little 

hotdog before the concert and our meal.  Cute little town.

Norway is just scenic.  Everywhere you go the nature is stunning.

Of course Arvid and I found a little restaurant by

 the water as we were exploring.  Nice little stop for 

something to drink and to enjoy the view.

The music was a variety of all types. Not bad at all.

Back in Horten, time for one last pizza for this summer.

After all is said and done, all I want to do is go home.  I have

 had enough vacation and I am missing my Sniff so very much.

Maybe that's the best part of going away 

for a vacation- coming home again...

 ~Nadiya~

Sunday July 30th ~

The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it...

 A new day begins, and it seems like winter is still lingering

 in Norway, even though it is summer.  We have had rain, 

wind and very cold temperatures this summer.

We have also had beautiful days.  Even though on

 the cooler side, it was much better that the heatwave

 most are experiencing, so yeah, grateful for that.  

Whenever we spend time with the little ones we are

 always happy.  We have had a wonderful times with family 

and nothing can change that.  That will always

 remain as wonderful memories made.

Never a dull moment.  They sure know how to keep

 us laughing, and being able to spend time with

 them definitely makes up for everything else.

My heart is full and I am happy.  Even with a language

 barrier I have been able to bond with the girls.  I love them 

and I know they love me also.  For me that's happiness.

 Life's most precious moments are not all loud or

 uproarious. Silence and stillness has its own virtues...

~Nadiya~

Saturday July 29th Gjøvik ~

There is a whole world out there.  Right outside

 your window.  You'd be a fool to miss it...

 Today I actually see a different part of Norway,

 thanks to Arvid's brother.  He has surprised Arvid with a 

birthday treat involving music 🎶 Let's see how that goes.

Today we go to a place called Gjøvik.  Yeah, I can't 

pronounce it well either.  Norwegians have three extra letters

 in their alphabet, and they all come at the end, after the 

completely unnecessary (for Norwegians) letter z.

 The extra letters are all vowels: æ, ø, and å.

No matter where you go in Norway you are bound to 

find beautiful scenery, and while looking online I did

 find beautiful scenic places in the town of  Gjøvik. 

Looking forward to seeing what the day holds.  A good 

day to all.  As for me, I'm still in food coma 😍from all

 the deliciousness provided by Victoria and Michael.

New places always help us look at life differently...

~Nadiya~

Missing My Sniff Sniff ~

My first thought in the morning is always you...

I'm missing my little Sniff-Sniff,  Even though we are

 having a good time, I can't wait to get back home to 

this little dude.  He is my happy place.  Always.

Mama misses you very much Sniff Sniff.  I will be home soon.

My eyelids are heavy, but my thoughts are heavier...

~Nadiya~

Time Spent With Family ~

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,

 but of respect and joy in each others life...

 Our eldest is Aleah.  She is ten years old, 

and is already into being a teenager.  

Our second granddaughter is Vanessa.  The middle child.  

She's a little joker and still a little girl, also a little chatterbox 💛

The youngest is Amelia.  She was born October 31st 2020.  She's a baby doll.

They are 3 of the reasons why I look forward to coming to Norway. 

 Then there is Victoria and Michael, Michelle and Emil.  I always wonder

 how I got so lucky to be a part of it all.  How proud I am to say I am 

grandma to these three little girls.  I love them with all my heart.

Yesterday we had a very good time at Victoria and Michael's place.  

They have an amazing property, with a little zipline for the kids.

  Going to them for the kids is like going to Disney World.  Zipline,

 the pool, rides on the golf cart, pond filled with fishes, and so

 much more.  A treat for kids and grown ups.  Not to mention

 food is always delicious.  They go WAY out for everyone.

That being said, I am looking forward to soon going home to Sniff.

I am so blessed to have you all in my life, and

 I want you to know that I love you all dearly...

~Nadiya~

Sunset from Horten, Norway ~

The sun may set, but the memories will last forever...

The beginning of what promises to be another gorgeous 

sunset here in Horten, Arvid's homeland.As the saying goes,

 you'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down.

After the rainbow the beginning of the sunset.  As we 

all know sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, 

every day can end beautifully.  And it sure did 🌞

The sunset from the second bedroom.   Sunsets are the canvas of the sky.

I am missing my Sniff and I would like to be home, 

but not today because today we go to Michael and Victoria's.  

One of the highlights of my summer in Norway.  Always 

such a beautiful time.  Victoria never fails to impress💚

A good day to all, I'm sure looking forward to ours.  It is still 

cold and darkish right now, but there is no rain predicted, and 

this definitely makes it a good day.  Here in Norway the 

weather dictates quite a lot of how your day goes.

Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn,

 and a daily reminder to live life to the fullest...

~Nadiya~

Days Like These ~

 No man needs a vacation so much

 as the man who has just had one..

Vacation 😂.  No one need a vacation more than the ones 

coming from a vacation.  You get to enjoy time with everyone, 

and at the same time wear your self out.  Livin' the dream.

Arvid and I have had a couple of crossings on the ferry. 

 Bastø Fosen is a shipping company that operates the Moss–Horten 

Ferry, is the most trafficked ferry route in Norway.  Annually, 3.8 million 

passengers and 1.8 million vehicles are transported on this route.

The world’s largest all-electric ferry yet has gone into service in

 Norway on a route across the Oslo Fjord. Bastø Electric is the first of

 three battery-powered ferries operated by the shipping company Bastø 

Fosen to enter Norwegian waters with more in the making in Turkey.

The route is scenic and our crossings are usually 30 minute each way.

Also yesterday was really the first day we actually did 

something on our own, and the first day the sun actually came

 out and it was warmer that the previous.  Definitely the afternoon

 turned out to be beautiful, and we sure made the most of it.

Back at home my Sniff is waiting for me.  He

 knows his mama will soon be there with him. 

A good vacation is over when you

 begin to yearn for your work...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday July 25th ~

Even though you're growing up, 

you should never stop having fun...

 Our week began beautifully.  We had and still have

 our two eldest granddaughters here with us.  We took them 

out to lunch, and to the movies.  Good for all of us. 

Last night was their first night with us in Norway.  There 

will be many more to come.  Maybe not this year, but in the 

years to come.  Something we look forward to as well. Wishing

 everyone a good day.  In Norway it feels like winter right now.

Norwegian summer at its best.  Sure feels like winter.

Meanwhile at home, Sniff is patiently waiting for me.

 I am going to keep having fun every day

 I have left, because there is no other way of life...

~Nadiya~

Monday July 24th ~

A new week rolls in.  A week full of promise,

 potential and endless possibilities...

 As the new week begins, I am grateful for all 

the good times I have had so far with family.  I have 

enjoyed it all and am very satisfied.  I now look forward

 to the new week and what it holds.  There is always

 something good waiting right around the corner.

The new week brings us new strengths, 

new possibilities and hopefully better attitude.

Spending time with the ones you love is always good for your mental health.

The best part of it all, the new week brings me closer to being 

home with Sniff.  After all is said and done, he is my happy place.

To all a very good day.  We are looking forward to

 some good times with our two eldest granddaughters.  Today 

we go to the movies with them and then they sleepover with us.

Whenever I think about you being my granddaughter,

 I'm filled with overwhelming pride and gratitude...

~Nadiya~

Sunday in Horten ~

 Every good morning sunrise is a chance to start fresh...

A beautiful morning here in Horten, Norway.  I love my 

sunrises everywhere we go, and today's did not disappoint.

I feel very grateful to be able to experience such 

beauty.  This is looking out of our living room.  

Good morning all and greetings again from Horten, 

Norway.  Welcome new day.  It's a good day to be happy.

Every good morning sunrise is 
a reminder to live life to the fullest...

~Nadiya~