Thursday October 31st~

Having you as our granddaughter

 means having a lifetime of love and joy...

Our youngest granddaughter was born today three 

years ago.  Lil' Amelia is "our" Halloween baby.  She

 is just a joy to be with.  She gives the tightest hugs

 and no one makes better faces than she does.

I love her so much.  We love all our granddaughters. 

 They bring joy and happiness to our life's and being able 

to hear them/her call me grandma is one of the biggest joys

 in my life.  When I think of Amelia I just want to hold her.

She's growing up too fast.  They all are.  We do see 

them every summer and who knows maybe in the 

future more so.  After all we do have an apartment 

in Norway.  We can go anytime we feel the urge.  

Three years have gone by so fast.  Amelia is just 

growing and growing and with each passing day 

she's becoming more and more a little lady.  

Today is also Halloween in the United States.  Now 

many places have also adopted this celebration.  In Norway 

our granddaughters will also be going trick or treating.

I love taking pictures of everything and Halloween stuff

 is no exception.  I find humor in just about everything.

Wishing everyone a good day and a happy birthday

 to our youngest granddaughter Amelia.  Grandma 

and grandpa in America love you very much.

When black cats prowl and pumpkins shine, 

when shivery shivers run down your spine, when 

ghosts and goblins ring the chime, beware

 and be scared – it's Halloween time...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday October 30th~

 Be careful what you wish for, 

especially during the season of the dead...

Every day is a day closer to Halloween.  Like I have said

 before we do not really do much, but since moving to Fort Myers 

we usually head Downtown and check out the "scene"  Hopefully

 we do the same this year.  Last year we saw some crazy as in 

very cool stuff.  Shouldn't be any different this year.

Yesterday I had two follow up doctors appointments.  

October and November are busy months.  Meaning they

 are "packed" with doctors appointments.  Nothing critical,

 merely follow up checkups since the diagnosis of breast cancer. 

 You just have to do what you have to do.  The way I see it, 

I get to go out on my own and after the doctor, I get to do

 a few things I like.  So for me, it's just a fun day.

To all a very good day.  I used to dress up our Brutus 

for every occasion.  Sniff is not a fan of "dress up."

You have brains in your head. 

You have feet in your shoes. You can steer 

yourself any direction you choose...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday October 29th~

There are nights when the wolves 

are silent and only the moon howls...

 There is always something to see no matter where we are. 

 On the road we saw this big boat on a trailer.  The owner 

was having quite the time making the turn.  Everyone just 

looked on wondering will he or will he not get it right.

  It's a good way to pass the time when in traffic.

Everytime we go walking we see the neighbors car in 

the garage.  Every single time Arvid stops to admire it and

 then he says to me, "maybe I should get one of theses?"

I know Arvid so I never pay attention to his "ranting"

A good day to all.  October is soon done 

and so far it's been a really good month.

Yesterday we went to M15 and Lady's home/nest.  

Sadly when we arrived a photographer who was there for a 

couple of hours (he told me) said that the Eagles just left the nest.  

They have been "home" everyday at all hours, but not when

 we got there.  They are fortifying the nest preparing for baby

 eaglets.  Can't wait.  Another time it will be, after all 

these only are about 15 minutes away from us.

To all a very good day.  If you are a Halloween fan

 then you do not have much longer to wait and to indulge

 in a night of "horror."  Just be safe and keep your pets safe.

 No matter how good or bad your life is, wake up each

 morning and be thankful that you still have one...

~Nadiya~

New Week~ Monday October 28th~

All great achievements require time...

 As the new week begins Arvid and I are ready

 again to tackle working in the house.  It's a brand new home,

 but it needs a little help here and there with installing stuff and 

hanging stull.  Things that are "fun" and not burdensome.

On one of our trips to Downtown I always stop to 

admire one particular mural.  It represents the Eagles 

and the Florida big cats.  It makes me stop and 

think of how cruel humans can be at times.

October is soon over.  We have done quite a bit so far 

this month.  The temperature is getting cooler and it makes 

being in Florida right now the paradise everyone always 

says it is.  No place like Florida when it's winter in other 

places.  Our friends and families are already having very

cold weather.  Whereas we are having beautiful days.

Yesterday we had a very good time with Nina and David.  

The meal was delicious, but the drinks were the clear winner. 

 No one makes cocktails/frozen drinks like Puerto Ricans.  

Being raised in a Latin culture makes you realize that 

nothing compares to Latin food, specifically Puerto Rican food. 

 That and Indian food are my two very favorite cuisines.

To all a very good day.  Embrace the new week with a

 positive mindset and watch your potential unfold.

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going...

~Nadiya~

Sunday October 27th~

Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of 

kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end...

  Today we see Nina and David at the house and 

take them to lunch.  Just like Victoria and Michael, 

Nina and David always go that extra mile.  We are always 

invited to their home and they make a feast as well.  

Today it will be a pleasure to treat them instead.

In preparation that they may also stop over and 

visit us here at home, Arvid is cleaning like crazy. 

 As he says, we need to have company every so

 often so that we can do a deep clean 😂

We have not seen them for a while, even though they do 

come to Florida quite often.  Nina and David also have a home 

in Tampa.  They fluctuate between Pennsylvania and Tampa.  Not

 bad if you ask me.  That used to be us at one time.  Florida and 

Branson, but now it's mainly Florida, and nothing wrong 

with that except that the summers are too hot and humid.

Now for us getting away from Florida's humidity it's

 Norway.  Talking about Norway, I finally get to give 

them the Norwegian chocolate I bought.  I brought a 

lot and one by one as I see everyone, they get theirs.

Yesterday Arvid and I went out and listened to some 

music.  A new venue for us, and I have to say it took us 

back to good old Chicago.  We say someone called 

Toronzo Cannon.  According to Arvid we have 

seen him before in the Chicago Blues Festival. 

 I take Arvid's word on this 😂 When it comes to 

these venues Arvid knows best who we have seen.  He 

keeps a little book of all the places we have been to 

and even from before we met.  Very organized🙊

Of course at that time Arvid was saying, "we have 

to go back to Chicago next summer for the Blues Festival. 

 Truth is Arvid says many things, now I know that if I really 

wanted to go or do something I will plan it on my own 

and have to do it when he's not home.  He protests

 too much when I say we  should do this or that.

To all a vey good day.  Looking forward to seeing 

my sister and her husband later today.  Now to have 

breakfast and do a little more cleaning.  Sniff say 

hi to all and that he's soon ready for Halloween.

After silence, that which comes nearest 

to expressing the inexpressible is music...

~Nadiya~

Saturday October 26th~

Compassion for animals is intimately associated with

 goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted

 that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man...

 So yesterday after our flu shot, I did manage to feed a 

few ducks and some birds.  I'm always happy when I can feed 

the wildlife.  Makes me feel good.  At times like these I really 

miss my PR kitties and my wildlife buddies back in Branson.

Both the ducks and the birds all like Sniff's cat food and 

according to what I've read, it's not good to feed the ducks bread.  

It makes them heavy and unable to fly.  What I give them now is 

cat food, bird seeds and oatmeal.  Those are recommended.

Everyday is one day closer to Halloween.  Not like

 we will be doing much, but it's fun to see all the places

 with their decorations out.  Sniff is getting excited.

Arvid and I did decide to go for our Friday outing Downtown.  

As always it was a good time.  Perfect weather and always 

interesting to do a little people watching.  We did also end

 up having a slice of pizza.  As always was delicious. 

Today Arvid has many soccer games.  I may go to 

the mall for a bit, but as of right now I'm not feeling it. 

 It's been a while since I last went to the mall, and the 

truth is I don't miss it one bit.  To all a good day.

Life is a succession of lessons which

 must be lived to be understood...

~Nadiya~

Friday October 25th-

In the midst of chaos, find a lazy day...

 It’s Friday. It feels like this week would never end.

 I’m a little tired today. It’s not as if I have done so much, 

but I’m tired.  Humor though is keeping me laughing.

Hoping for a "lazy" day if there is actually such a thing.

Yesterday Arvid and I got lots done at the house. 

 We finally took the shutters down.  Happy about

 that because it was so dark in the house. Now it’s 

nice and bright again.  Such a difference.

Today we got the flu shot. It’s worked really 

good for us.  Since we started doing this every year 

neither of us has really had a cold.  At least not a 

bad one.  I’m not as consistent as Arvid in getting

 the shot yearly, but will do this year. Can’t hurt.

Usually Fridays we go downtown, but not sure 

if we will today.  As of right now we are undecided.

  Today is cleaning day here at home.  Depending on how

 we feel we may or may not go to the house  today.

Wishing everyone a good day, after all it's Friday.

A lazy day is a productive day for the soul...

~Nadiya~

Thursday October 23rd~

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries 

or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself...

It felt so good to have a few hours to myself.  It reminded

 me of the time I had in August.  I really miss doing so many 

things like I did, but yesterday gave me a little feel of it again.  

While Arvid was busy doing his thing, I did mine.  Both happy.

Over the weekend Arvid and I decided we would take a day 

off working in the house and head to Fort Lauderdale. We looked

 at each other and at the same time we both said, "but we're not 

spending the night."  The truth be told we would both rather 

come back home after taking care of what we need to.

As Arvid did what he wanted I checked out a few places

 that I like.  Of course we also ended up at the Swap Shop where 

I always get fresh coconuts and some hard to find tropical fruit.

 By the time we were done with all we had to do, there was no

 time left to go to the Norwegian store. Next time it will be.

We always go to lunch at Houston's.  One of our 

favorite restaurant.  The food is extremely good and 

the views are not too shabby either.  Makes for a relaxing 

time before heading back home to Sniff.  Sniff is home.

On our way home the sun was already setting.  It's 

very difficult to get a picture when the car is moving fast.  

When Arvid drives he just drives, he said he just wanted 

to get back home.  We both did, but still I tried.

It was a good day.  Good to do something different 

than just work, but today we are back to the house

 taking care of business.  To all a good day.

  Sniff is getting ready for Halloween.  

My mama always said, life is like a box of 

chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get...

~Nadiya~

.

Wednesday October 23rd~

If the only prayer you said in your whole 

life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice...

Every morning Arvid starts his day reading the news, 

and as always I get my share of it from him.  Usually it's 

always about climate change and how the world is doomed. 

 Maybe, maybe not.  I like to think that we humans may find

 the way to save ourselves 🙏.  Just a positive thought. 

 As Arvid always says, "It's not looking good for the 

younger generation as in our grandkids."

 A few more pictures from our Sunday outing. It was 

another very beautiful day.  The weather was good, food

 and drinks were good and the palm trees were swaying.  

Of course there is Halloween decorations everywhere.

There was also a nice breeze coming our way.  Made for 

a perfect outdoor dining experience.  As we were dining we 

overheard the people next to us talking to the waitress.  

Both the couple and the waitress were transplants 

from Fort Lauderdale.  They were discussing the pros 

and cons of both places, but they all ended up with, "that's

 why we're here."  That's the same I can say for Arvid 

and I.  After all was said and done, we chose to 

live in Fort Myers, and we have no regrets.

It is always a treat when we do go to Fort Lauderdale. 

 After all it's where both Arvid and I have lived most of our lives.

  It's beautiful, there are many restaurants we love, and we get

 to see a few people and do a few things we like, but at the

 end of the day it's good to go back home.  Strange how when

 we think of home, we now think of Fort Myers as such 🌴.

Sniff's having one of those "I'm not ready to face the 

day "kind of day right now.  Yup he need more sleep 

and he sure gets it.  We have a few things to do today 

again, so it's a happy busy day once again for us.

A good day to all.  Remember that humor makes 

everything better.  “Have you ever noticed that 

anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and 

anyone going faster than you is a maniac 😂😂?

Never regret anything you have done with a sincere 

affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart...

~Nadiya~