Lava flow on the Big Island takes its first house…

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1109usgsLava01
The lava flow broke out again on the Big Island and took it’s the first house yesterday.
It’s hard to believe this finally happened, the lava flow from Mount Kilauea has taken its first house on the island. Still miles from the houses we rented on the ocean and with the lava flow otherwise stalled, we’ll be moving to the first of the two houses in less than three weeks.
Oddly, we aren’t worried. We’re paid up in full, hoping and praying all will go well and our family holiday will not be interrupted other than the detours required in order to get to the road to the houses.

We take possession of the first house on December 1st and the second house, next door on December 20th.  Worrying does us no good.  Our family members seem accepting of the potential risk that we’d have to evacuate, although highly unlikely.  The lava flow is still a few miles away.

Life continues on, as we so well know. Still worried about the health of my sister as mentioned in yesterday’s post, the last thought on my mind right now is sightseeing.
Here are a few links to videos of the house burning from yesterday’s lava flow:
 
 
With less than three weeks until we leave Maui for the Big Island, also known as Hawaii, we’ll have time if we so choose to see more of Maui than we’ve seen thus far. 
Honestly, with so much to begin preparing for our family member’s first arrivals beginning in less than four weeks, our heads are wrapped around the excitement and preparations for their arrivals.
Adding the current worrisome state of the health of actually both of my sisters, one has just come out of the hospital a week ago and the other soon going in with big surgery on the horizon (which will most likely transpire while our kids and grandkids are with us), we realize that no matter the quality of the lives Tom and I live, life still happens to have an impact on how we feel.

View across the ocean to another area of Maui.

I do not take lightly our frequent comments about “as long as we have our health.” Its everything. Add the love of the people in our lives and a reasonable sense of financial security and we have it all.  As far as we’re concerned, these are the “big three.” The rest is a bonus for which we are so appreciative and humbled.
No romantic full moon in the night sky or break of a wave on the sea or the joy of watching wildlife at play can have much meaning without the “big three.” At any time, any of these can change and suddenly our lives are upside down.
 Last night’s view of Maui just before sunset, as it makes an “L” shape from our vantage point.
Is it by chance that the three aspects may change?  In part, no. We have control in our relationships, our financial security, and our health to a degree.  And, yes, circumstances may prevail over which we have no control. We always have control over how we choose to respond to life’s challenges, however hard they may be.
None of us are exempt from loss of health, love, and financial security in varying degrees. Some people, although few, sail through life with little strife.  But, most of us, are faced with challenges.
As we age, at times, we worry over the mortality of those we love. And, of course, our own mortality and potential lack of good health as time marched on.
For us, that is a motivating factor…live life to the fullest…while we can.
 View of pool house and ocean from our lanai.
As we continue to travel the world we continue to make every effort to keep a tight hold on these aspects of our lives over which we do have control. That’s why we focus so much “conversation” on our health and our budget. 
Soon, we’ll get out and further explore Maui and be back with more of our photos.  Until then, we grasp the realities of life with hope, prayers, love, and aplomb!
Be well, dear readers.
                                              Photo from one year ago today, November 11, 2013:
 
 This was the only photo we posted one year ago, as we recalled our first cruise on January 3, 2013, on the Celebrity Century through the Panama Canal, a memory we’ll always cherish. For details from this date one year ago on the nuances of booking hotels worldwide, please click here.

Stuff happens…Plans change…

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A catamaran at the pier.

Today, we’d planned to go to Kaanapali Beach for the day, after we finished posting here. In close touch with family, today I want to be nearby for a Skype call regarding a beloved family member’s serious medical issue. That call trumps all else.

As a result, we won’t have photos from Kaanapali Beach until I feel more at ease not being available by Skype for my family. No matter where we may be, life goes on and the trials and tribulations of daily life continue, perhaps harder when we’re so far away.

An old boat awaiting restoration or the junkyard.

Then again, in our old lives, all of our family members didn’t live nearby.  Instead of a Skype call, it was a call on a scratchy cell phone, the signal often less clear than on Skype, but the significance of being there for one another was always as clear as day.

That hasn’t changed in our travels. Love continues on. We worry. We wait. We anticipate. Our hearts still ache with concern and sorrow for those we love wherever they may be, whatever they may need, and however we may be there for them, as close as a computer click away.

The Maalaea Beach Marina on a cloudy day.

And moments later, there’s a familiar face on the computer screen and a familiar voice, knowing that we are together once again and can be loving and supportive in good times and bad.

As we often have written here, health and emotional well being are vital for happiness. Whatever one must do, however difficult, must be done to maintain and grow our own highest level of health and strength.

An invitation to s fishing expedition.

But, we humans are imperfect. We’re not like a flower, give it water and sunshine and it will flourish. Many of life’s challenges stand in our way. Many of our own inequities and lack of willingness to stay strong stand in our way.

And then, there are those situations that are beyond our control when we’re held captive to an illness, injury, or circumstance at which point our only control is how we respond to the graveness of our situation and how much we’re able to fight back.

The expanse of the oceans the islands and the sky never fail to inspire.

Who am I to know the answers?  I’m not more qualified than the next person. But, I do know one thing…we can never give up. In doing so, we release the power to cope, to grow, to change, and ultimately, to heal.

So, this morning, I run out for a quick visit to the store in Kihei for a few grocery items, returning in plenty of time for the call with the time difference in mind and praying for a good outcome.

A waning moon lighting the sky and sea.

With that, I’ll close for today to be back tomorrow, hopefully, a little bit stronger, a little bit wiser, and ready to tackle whatever life throws our way.

Have a good day!

                                            Photo from one year ago today, November 10, 2013:

Pufferfish are deadly if not cleaned properly. Luckily, this pufferfish was fried with batter so I wasn’t tempted to try it. Puffer is the second most poisonous vertebrate in the world after the Golden Poison Frog, the most venomous creature known to humans. For details of that date, please click here.

A little on Maui’s history…Upscale hotel in Kaanapali Beach or a condo in quiet area?

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As we stood at the cliff, the ocean was swirling at the shoreline. The color, difficult to see here, was a beautiful aquamarine.

Maui, as well as the other Hawaiian Islands, has a rich history:

“Legends say the demigod Maui pulled the Hawaiian Islands from the sea and lassoed the sun atop Haleakala, the island’s highest peak. The island of Maui was named after this mythological being, perhaps because the shape of the island is said to resemble his head and body.
King Piilani was the first ruler to unite all of Maui under a single family of all (royalty) in the early 15th century. In 1790, King Kamehameha, I defeated Kahekili, Maui’s last king, after a fierce battle in the iconic Iao Valley. Kamehameha took control of Maui and made Lahaina the new capital of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom.
For nearly five decades, Lahaina served as the center of government for Hawaii. Simultaneously, the town experienced a surge in its whaling industry. At the height of the whaling era (1840-1865) as many as 500 ships anchored in Lahaina’s port.

Maui’s first sugar mill began operations in 1828. As the sugar industry in the islands grew, an influx of plantation workers from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, and Europe arrived in Hawaii. These immigrants became the foundation of the multi-ethnic culture of Hawaii today. You can experience these influences at places like the 

Lahaina Jodo Mission and in the fusion of flavors found in Hawaii Regional Cuisine. “

A pleasure boat at a distance.
For more details on the history of Maui, please click here which we found to be some of the most comprehensive histories on Maui we found online.
Although on this visit to the islands, we’ve only been to Oahu and Maui so far, having been to the islands many years ago, I am certain, my favorite will continue to be Maui. On December 1st, we leave for the Big Island, also known as Hawaii, and later on January 15th, we head to the island of Kauai until May.
A simple reflection of the sun on the sea.
There are many aspects to Maui but the two most appealing to tourists is as follows:
  • The busy, shopping, restaurants, nightlife hotel row of Kaanapali Beach, Kapalua, and other resort sections of the exquisite beaches of Maui as found at this link
  • The quieter beaches with less tourist activity such as where we are in Maalaea Beach and dozens of other similar areas, easily found online
It’s simply a matter of personal preference.  In my younger days, Kaanapali Beach was the place to stay, although many tourists in the over 50 crowd prefer to stay where the “action is” in Kaanapali staying for perhaps a week or two, can better afford to pay the high prices in the hotels along the beach. 
It would have been prohibitive for us to spend the six weeks we’re in Maui in that area. Although truth be told, had it been affordable, most likely, it would have been impossible to resist.
Had we spent six weeks at the Hyatt in Kaanapali Beach we’d have paid $288 per night plus another $250 per day in meals, taxes, and tips for a total of $538 per day for a total of $24,210, no car needed.
For our entire 45 days in Maui, we paid  $5788 for six weeks ($128 per day) in this lovely condo, plus $20 a day for a car at $900 and averaging at $40 per day at $1800 for groceries and dining out.  Our grand total (estimated as of today-will post total when we’re ready to leave) is $8488 at $189 per day.
In other words, by forgoing a fancy hotel, we’ve saved $15,722.  Of course, one wouldn’t usually stay in a hotel for such an extended period.
Many shorelines in the Hawaiian Islands consist of lava rock.
The question becomes for the retiree considering a visit to Maui – to stay a short time with the convenience of a resort strip on a beach with one hotel and restaurant after another or, choose a quieter location at considerably less cost away from the more popular areas, cooking one’s own meals, renting a car and being away from the hustle and bustle. It’s a matter of personal preference and finances.

For the younger tourists staying for a week or two, the hotel’s fabulous beaches are popular choices if prices are affordable. And, there are numerous condo and resorts in Kaanapali, many at affordable rates that may appeal to a tourist for a short term stay. Maui has many vacation/holiday options available from vacation rental houses (expensive) to studios (less expensive) all over the island.

For our current six week stay, we couldn’t have been more content in another location. We have the beach outside our door, a beautiful pool with views, impeccable grounds, a mid-sized rental car at an affordable rate and easy access to visit Kaanapali Beach, where…by the way we’re hoping to visit tomorrow with many photos to share on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The humidity was heavy when we took this photo as shown in the brush.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more photos and a post before we hopefully depart for Kaanapali Beach later in the morning. 

Today, as soon as I hit “upload” we’re on our way out to the pool where we’ll lounge for an hour, eyes peeled on the ocean for signs of life. 

Have a wonderful Sunday!  We plan to! 
                                           Photo from one year ago today, November 9, 2013:
On this date, one year ago, we visited the goats in the backyard of the house in Kenya, always laughing over how they’d stare at us. Check out those “bedroom eyes.” For details of that date, as we began to wind down our time in Diani Beach, please click here.

More countryside photos…Lava update…

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Full moon over Maalaea Beach. Check out the shadows of that crazy trimmed tree in the condo’s yard.

Last night, we paid the balances on the two houses on the Big Island. The lava flow has stalled as indicated in this article and video from the local news, although it could begin again at any time.

The shoreline is a photographer’s dream.

We’ve decided to take our chances. Worse case scenario? While we’re all in the houses, the lava flow heads our way and we have to evacuate. However, there are numerous less disturbing scenarios that could occur as an alternate.  We’ll take our chances.

The Hawaiian Islands, like many other tropical islands, is an ever changing weather phenomenon.

Talking back and forth with our grown kids, everyone seems OK about forging ahead. In a mere 28 days, on December 6th, the first four of our family members will arrive. The remainder are coming around December 21st, most leaving by January 3rd with two staying until January 9th. 

Its hard to believe the time is almost here. It was two years in the making. It was last March that we began purchasing airline tickets as I was reminded yesterday when I found myself doing revisions for March while we lived in Morocco, mentioning the challenges of booking the many airline tickets.

The subtle colors in this hills is breathtaking.

Maybe now, for the next few weeks until Tom and I fly to Big Island on December 1st, we can relax in the knowledge that we’re moving ahead with our plans without a worry in the world. 

If the lava flow rears its ugly head again, we’ll deal with it at the time.  In the interim our goals are simple, spend quality time with our loved ones, maintaining our theme of low stress, easing our way through each day.

It’s odd at times to find lush vegetation in what appears to be arid and desolate areas.

Today, the revisions continue as I’m now midway through April 2014 with only seven more months to go. Doing this task has been painstaking in some ways but enlightening in others. I have had the opportunity to read back through every post since beginning mid March, 2012. 

The swirling ocean below the ravine where we stood and watched.

I’d assumed when I began this daunting task that I’d giggle over how naïve we were in the beginning. In some ways, we were. In other ways, we prepared ourselves well with the tremendous amount of research we’d done before ever leaving Minnesota, let alone leaving the US. 

The views of these hills is appealing to our desire for more remote locations.
It’s been rewarding to be reminded of where we’ve been, what we’ve seen and that which we’ll see and do in the future.
It’s raining now, an oddity for early morning in Maui and the sky remains totally overcast, another oddity. Usually, we can see the billowy clouds moving through the sky with the promise of sunshine on the horizon.
This orange buoy is a marker for a nearby scuba diver.
Rain or shine, we’re content with each day for the simple treasures we’ve been blessed to behold.

Have a happy weekend!


Photo from one year ago today, November 8, 2013:

The humidity in Kenya was so high that mold began growing on our deck of playing cards. For details on that date, please click here.

Maui countryside photos…

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Entrance to a private ranch.

Yesterday afternoon, we jumped into the car and took off. Earlier, we’d noticed a narrow road leading off the highway toward the hills and wanted to check it out.  We weren’t disappointed as shown in photos over the next few days.

I‘m still busy every afternoon working on the revisions on all of our past posts. With over 800 downloaded posts so far, I’ve put a good dent in it, now with only about 300 to go. At this time, I’m trying hard to get done so I’m free of this task when the first of our family members begin to arrive on the Big Island on December 6th.

A bit of blue sky was trying to peek through.

At the rate I’m going, I’ll be done within a few weeks, a week before we leave Maui in plenty of time to pack and get ready for the next move, the big move to the Big Island to be with our family members for the holidays and more.

Need I say, we’re very excited. I must admit I was a little concerned about cooking big meals every night for so many of us. But, everyone has chimed in and will cook as well, reducing the load, leaving us more time for fun time together. Who could ask for more? 

Hills in Maui on a cloudy day.

It looks as if the lava flow has stalled. It could start back up on a dime, but we’re proceeding at this time as if will be OK. Hopefully, we’ll be able to maneuver the roads in and out of the area. If not, we’ll find an alternative. We’re not worried at all.

We contacted both owners of the two houses this morning explaining we are ready to pay the balances for the rentals today. We’re all in.

Even in more remote areas, the scenery is impeded by power lines.

As for now, I’m excited at the prospect of speaking to one of our readers today, Staci from Texas. She’s going to call soon so I can walk her through, step by step, of how to make the low carb, starch, grain and sugar free pizza crust. How fun it will be to speak live to yet another of our readers!

Having had the wonderful opportunity to meet and subsequently stay in touch with Liz of Bristol, UK when we were in London in August, we look forward to speaking to Staci and to later meeting her and her husband in person on an upcoming cruise in Australia in 2016. 

Amid the arid hills, flowers bloom in Hawaii.

We’ve been fortunate to meet many people as a result of this site and always welcome hearing from YOU!!!  Please don’t hesitate to email or comment at the end of any of our posts. You can do so anonymously if you’d like. I used to be a “lurker” and surely appreciate that some readers prefer to remain in the background and yet, may want to share thoughts and ideas. Feel free.

Within a month the whales will return to Hawaii. Believe me, we’ll be posting photos and videos as soon as we capture their presence. Seeing the sea turtles sent us to the moon. I can only imagine our enthusiasm in seeing the whales.

Another view of the ranch entrance.

Today, we’ll spend our usual hour at the pool enjoying the warm sunshine and an occasional splash in the pool.  When we’re situated in the chaise lounges which face the ocean a mere 25 feet from us, our eyes are peeled on the sea in hopes of seeing more wildlife.

Tonight, again we’ll check out the moonlight. I’ve yet to learn to take good photos of the moon but I’m working on it, especially when last night’s haze impeded the view.

We wished we could have driven down the road to see the ranch. Although with no ocean view, the scenery is breathtaking.

For tonight’s dinner, we’re making coconut chicken tenders, roasted vegetables, green beans and salad. We haven’t had this particular meal since we were in Madeira almost three and a half months ago. 

As always, it will be a wonderful day and evening. Gosh, we love this life!

                                         Photo from one year ago today, November 7, 2013:

Tom was doing well in the heat in Kenya. The mosquitos and flies didn’t bother him. Most often, they were too busy dining on me to pay attention to him.  For details from that date, please click here.

Wonders in the sea…Video….Delicious low carb fudge recipe after several requests…

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Here’s our video of sea turtles swimming near the shore outside our condo in
Maalaea Beach, Maui.


On Tuesday, we spotted a number of people standing on the shore with cameras and cell phones in hand taking photos.  Curious, of course, and hoping they’d seen whales soon to arrive in the Hawaiian Islands, we dashed out the door with camera in hand.

Hard to see, we were still excited.

Slightly disappointed there were no whales, our enthusiasm was revived when we saw sea turtles, many sea turtles, swimming near the shore.  What a sight to behold. 


Looking carefully, one can see the outline of a sea turtle.  They are huge, much larger than we’d expected.

Wildlife fanatics that we are, I couldn’t wait to get a few decent shots. However, they move so quickly it wasn’t as simple as clicking away for a couple of good shots.  Tom spotted for me while I fervently attempted to get at least one decent video and a few good photos. 


We could only see their shells or an occasional flapper popping above the water.

We wish our photos could have been more clear.  One would have to have been on a boat or in the water to get good shots.  Please bear with us for our well intentioned but somewhat feeble attempts.


The water was shallow here when the turtles came close to the shore.  It was high tide.

We’ll hope you’ll stop by for more tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day!


Lava rock from lava flowing to the sea.  How familiar.

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Yesterday, after mentioning our low carb fudge recipe, we’ve had several email requests for the recipe, including one request by a comment.  As a result, I’ve put together the recipe and have posted it at the bottom of today’s post.  Feel free to copy and paste it to any format you prefer. 

I realize many people are adamantly opposed to the use of Splenda (sucralose) or any other artificial sweeteners.  I understand your concern.  But, some people cannot have real sugar and don’t care for the taste of Stevia and other sweeteners, myself included.

Some have serious health concerns grossly effected by consuming real sugar, again myself included.  There are no valid studies confirming that sucralose is dangerous, including reports from the Mayo Clinic.  Although, there are 1000’s of internet pages devoted to the dangers of sucralose. 

There is a small faction of the population that is sensitive to artificial sweeteners in any form.  Obviously, I don’t suggest they try this recipe or any other recipes that anyone may post using artificial sweeteners.

However, there is a faction of us, that sacrifice many enjoyable foods and snacks for health reasons and an occasional treat such as this is definitely uplifting and pleasurable, especially when they suffer no ill effects from doing so.

Most of us enjoy the taste of sweetness, one of the many causes of rampant obesity and diabetes worldwide.  Please see your physician with questions as the appropriateness of artificial sweeteners in your diet.  If you have an aversion to sugar substitutes, please don’t try this recipe.  Thank you kindly for your understanding.

Jess’s Low Carb Fudge Recipe
(to be enjoyed in moderation – no more than four pieces per day)

(Using parchment paper is a must).
1 cup butter
8 oz. unsweetened chocolate (Bakers is fine), broken into 1” cubes
3 cups powdered Splenda for baking (or 80 drops of liquid sucralose which I use) or equivalent of other sugar substitutes
4 tsp. real vanilla extract
4 – 8 oz. packages full fat cream cheese (not light or low fat), cut into chunks, softened for one hour on counter
1 cup chopped nuts (may be omitted if desired) 

Butter cake pan (9×13) then place a piece of buttered parchment paper on top of the buttered pan for parchment paper to stick to the bottom of the pan. 
Melt butter on low heat in large saucepan.  (Don’t brown butter).  When completely melted, add chunks of cream cheese, stirring constantly until all are melted.  Don’t turn up heat, just keep stirring.  They will melt in about 10 minutes.  

Once the chocolate is melted remove pan from burner and add Splenda and vanilla, continuing to stir until smooth. Add nuts after smooth, if desired.
Pour mixture into the buttered, parchment lined pan.  Smooth with spatula for an even layer.  Place pan in freezer for three hours.

Remove from freezer and cut into 1” cubes.  This batch makes 80 cubes.  Place in plastic containers with lids, separating layers with parchment paper.  Keep frozen, taking out desired amount as needed.  Serve immediately.

Each piece has 80 calories and 1.4 carbs.          

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Photo from one year ago today, November 6, 2013:

The post a year ago was regarding health concerns for travelers of any age that we gleaned for considerable research and a modicum of experience.  For details on that post, please click here.

First package arrived yesterday…Second today with Tom’s laptop…Tonight’s superb dining experience!

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This was the only grass fed ground beef I could find at the grocery store.  I purchased two one pound packages which I’ll use tonight to make taco salads.  See ingredient list below.

Its concerning that wherever we may live we may not receive a package of supplies we’ve ordered. Its happened a few times, once in Italy, another in South Africa. When packages have to go through customs shipping may be precarious.  This time in Hawaii, I’m less concerned.

Here’s a photo our friend Linda in South Africa posted in Facebook last week of the post office in Johannesburg, South Africa. with packages backed up to be delivered.  Is it any wonder one of our packages never arrived?

The first of two packages we were awaiting arrived yesterday with my two new pairs of shorts which I needed desperately in this warm weather and six tee shirts, a brand I love.


The unsweetened chocolate in this photo was for making low carb, sugar, grain and starch free chocolate fudge which I made on Monday.  Tom has a sweet tooth although I’ll also have a few pieces as an evening snack.   If you’re interested in the recipe please let me know and I’ll post it tomorrow. The blue and white packages of cream cheese are used in making the fudge. 

Yesterday, I threw away the six old worn tee shirts and one old pair of capri pants to offset the weight in my one large suitcase of clothing.  Now, I’m about a half pair of shorts overweight (the capris were longer than the shorts and weighed more).  I’ll find something else to toss to make up the difference before we pack again in a little over three weeks.

Zucchini is one of the most GMO, pesticide grown vegetables on the market.  As a result, I only purchase locally grown organic zucchini when available as shown here.  All prices for items are listed on receipt posted below.

Also, the box contained a few “girlie” items, cosmetics I just can’t find in any stores anywhere, a favorite “stay-put” lipstick that was discontinued long ago but I can still purchase from a remaining stock at Amazon.com and a few other items that would bore our male readers.


These two fillet mignon were priced at $23.36 at $18.99 a pound.  In Minnesota, over two years ago, these steaks were priced at $22 per pound.  We grilled last night and Tom had one of these steaks, freezing the other for a future meal. I had the mahi mahi listed below cooked perfectly on the grill on a piece of foil.

Another item we ordered was a ear bud splitter into which we can each plug  our own pair of ear buds since there’s only one port in my laptop in order to better hear downloaded shows which always seem to have low volume. We always watch shows together and often and the volume s just too low. 


Ear bud splitter we purchased online which arrived in the box of supplies.

With Tom’s 42-years-on-the-railroad hearing loss, we can both hear through our own set of ear buds.  Good idea, huh?  (Yes, we’ve done everything to increase the volume on the laptop to avoid this necessity).

Today’s arriving parcel will be Tom’s new laptop.  My job is to transfer all his data to the new laptop from the old, a job I don’t look forward to.  Never have.  Last time, we had it done professionally for around $50.  Here in Hawaii, it would be three times as much. 


This piece of mahi mahi was expensive at $15.49 per pound but would be no more expensive on the mainland.  My serving was a total of $10.07 and was delicious.  I could eat this every night for dinner! 

As I write here now at 8:00 am, Tom’s still sleeping, an oddity, and I have the AC off and both doors open to ensure we hear the UPS guy.  Yesterday, the first box was left outside the door when we were here and we didn’t hear a thing.  Surely, a laptop would require a signature.

Today, I mentioned posting these grocery items photos, prices and receipts for those who may be interested or curious as to the prices in Hawaii should they ever consider living here.  Honestly, food prices aren’t higher here than they were in Minnesota over two years ago.


The two 18 packs of eggs are free range, cage free, organic at $12.49 for both packs.  Not too bad, considering.  We use zero carb mayonnaise to make our salad dressing.  Although it has a few questionable ingredients, it doesn’t have an effect on how I feel.  Also shown are organic uncured hot dogs at $7.49 made without icky body parts and fillers.   Below are Kielbasa for Tom.  He won’t eat the “healthy” dogs.  The Italian sausages were on sale, one for $5.49, the other for $8.49.

As we’ve perused prices of commodities in Hawaii, we believe the cost of living is high due to high rental fees, utilities, fuel and transportation, not so much on groceries.  Plus, the way we eat, although we buy no processed or junk food, makes the cost of buying groceries higher in general.

Buying grass fed meat when possible and organic produce in the US is pricey. For many items I cannot choose grass fed and organic when neither are available or far surpass a price I’m willing to pay, such as $7.95 for one organic sweet red pepper.  Not worth the price.  Wash, wash and rewash, the non-organic peppers in the bag as shown, still knowing that evil may lurk therein.


These two packages of pork chops, unavailable in grass fed, were $6.53 and $6.79 enough for two meals for Tom.  On those nights I’ll have something else, most likely a huge dinner salad with chicken and avocado.

Tonight, with little prep time available for computer transfer-day, I’m making taco salads, minus the awful shell with a huge bed of lettuce for the base using the following ingredients:

1.  Grass fed ground meat, drained and cooked with sugar, wheat and starch free taco sauce I found at the store
2.  Organic romaine lettuce, shredded into bite sized pieces
3.  Organic tomatoes, diced
4.  Celery, diced
5.  Organic avocado, small chunks (me, only)
6.  Shredded cheese
7.  Sliced green olives



Notice the total for this week’s groceries at $271.08. Next week, I’ll get $22 back when I return to shop bringing this receipt using my Safeway shopper’s savings card which I’d forgotten to bring.  Next time I shop, I’ll be on my own and will bring my wallet. This receipt is wrapped around my Safeway card in my wallet ensuring I won’t forget to get the credit, especially when the cashier always asks for the savings card.  Essentially, the credit makes this total $249.08.

Does this ever make a great low carb, grain, starch and sugar free meal!  A dollop of sour cream on top for me and I’m in heaven.  Tom, plain food Tom, won’t do the sour cream. 

In all, we have enough meat from yesterday’s shopping for approximately 10 nights of dinners and we also had some steaks and lamb on hand from the last trip.  Eating fabulous homemade meals in Hawaii for under $25 per day is all we can expect.

I’d better hurry and wrap this up.  Before too long, according to the UPS tracking number, that laptop will be here soon and I need to go chop and dice for tonight’s dinner.

Tomorrow, we have a great wildlife video to share.  Please check back.
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Photo from one year ago, November 5, 2013:



Jessica L. Grain Brain Success Story
A year ago today we posted this photo that appeared on Dr. David Perlmutter’s website, regarding his new book, Grain Brain.  To see the full story he had on his website, please click here.

Dentist disappointment…Didn’t get our teeth cleaned…

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There were three doors.  The dentist was behind Door 2 as shown.  Tom had no interest in playing “Let’s Make a Deal!” Notice the disgruntled look on his face.  He wasn’t happy.

We’re waiting for two packages; one of supplies we ordered which our mailing service sent and two, Tom’s new laptop.  Based on the fact that we’re in a condo building, we’ve decided we’d better stay here to collect both boxes, one today, another tomorrow.

In our old lives, the UPS guy would set the packages inside the kitchen door or in nice weather, outside the door with never a concern.  However, while living in OPH (other people’s homes) we feel we’d better stay close at hand for the deliveries. 


This is the room we waited in at the Senior Center across the courtyard, until we decided to leave.

Most likely, they won’t leave the packages and we’d have to figure that out, not so easy in this relatively remote location.  Remember?  We’re into stress reduction.

Speaking of stress reduction – the dentist appointments yesterday?  A total bust!  We left in plenty of time for to find the somewhat obscure location in the town of Kihei, the only nearby town with a majority of businesses one might expect in a larger town.  It has a little of everything; banks, post office, stores, and a variety of medical offices.

In our research we sought a dentist office that appeared to be the closest to the town but find only a few reviews online, all good.  Our two cleaning appointments were to occur back to back with one of us waiting while the other had the cleaning as we’d done two years ago in Nevada, the last time we had our teeth cleaned.

Once we found the tiny office building that turned out to be quite a way from the other business areas in Kihei, we followed the kindly receptionist’s instructions as to how to find their suite.

This photo illustrates what we found.  Tom cringed.  I thought nothing of it and went inside prepared for the teeth cleaning.  Once we entered the tiny waiting room shared with the receptionist, with not so good AC, she told us she’d been trying to reach us to tell us the doctor was running an hour late.


Access to these hills is blocked by a fence.

Tom’s hesitancy about the environment was set on a tailspin when we were informed our appointments would begin at 12 instead of 11.  Sensing his dismay, the receptionist took off to some obscure other location to ask the dentist if she’d see us earlier.

The receptionist came back saying she’d be ready for us at 11:15.  Tom still wasn’t feeling right.  He rarely hedges like this.  I paid attention without criticism other than saying that perhaps we should wait the 15 minutes and proceed.

In order to be cooler, the receptionist sent us across the courtyard to wait in the “Senior Center” which had better AC.  This didn’t feel right to Tom either.   These circumstances weren’t any worse than having a haircut under a tree in Belize.  Click here for that story with photos.  Tom thought so.


This sign indicated Hawaiians frustration over GMOs.

As we sat on benches in the senior building, I sensed his discomfort, not only from the disgruntled look on his face but his general demeanor, unlike him.
After waiting five minutes, I jumped up and said, “I’ll meet you at the car. I’ll go tell her we’re leaving.”

He couldn’t have stood up more quickly.  It wasn’t easy explaining Tom’s disdain for the surroundings, so unfamiliar after year’s of highly professional dental office buildings and surroundings.  For me, I’d get my teeth cleaned under a palm tree.  I didn’t care.

But, the magic of our relationship is our ability to empathize and respect one another’s concerns, needs and wants.  If one isn’t happy, then the other isn’t happy.  Moments later we were on our way to grocery stop which we hadn’t done in two full weeks, when I drove for the first time in two years.

Since we were close to the supermarket, it made sense for me to shop while Tom read his Kindle book in the car. I’d forgotten to bring my wallet so we set a time, 40 minutes later, when he’d come inside and pay.  Well, he did more than pay.  He loaded the groceries onto the belt, not letting me do a thing.  Typical.


View from the car on the return drive.  Cloudy day.

Why didn’t he like the dentist’s office?  For a few reasons;
1.  The small office didn’t look or feel professional
2.  It was too hot in the office to lay there for an hour having one’s teeth cleaned.
3.  At $300 for both of us, it seemed high based on the sparse surroundings.  Had it been a more professional venue, the price wouldn’t have phased him.
4.  The fact that we had to wait somewhere else to stay cool while we waited.
5.  The late starting time exacerbated his above frustration.

We have no idea as to the quality of the dentists.  For all we know they may have been the finest in the land.  But, if they are, why don’t they have a more professional environment? 

When we returned there was a message from the dentist with an apology asking us to schedule another appointment.  We declined.  We’ll wait until we get to Kauai in January where we’ll have plenty of time to do more research and find a dentist with a more professional setting making Tom feel more at ease.


Its odd to see a refinery in Maui, Hawaii.

We’ll be back tomorrow with some surprising prices and photos from yesterday’s shopping trip. 

Have a happy day!

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Photo from one year ago today, November 4, 2013:

We believe a power outage prevented us from posting in Kenya one year ago today.  Tomorrow, we’ll have a one year ago post.  Thanks!

Updates…Lava…Laptop…First trip to the dentist in two years!…

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Yesterday’s view when we’re lying in the chaise lounges by the pool. Not too bad, We prefer to stay inside on the cement as opposed to outside on the grass. Fewer flies.

The news about the lava flow is encouraging. The lava flow has stalled over the weekend. Although the experts say that it continues to flow underneath the crust. So we shall see. Please click the link below for updates:

http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/11/02/video-morning-lava-flow-update-sunday-nov-2/

In four short weeks we’ll be on our way to the Big Island to move into the first of the two houses we rented on the ocean for our upcoming family reunion over the holidays. With the lava flow stalled, we’re hopeful that this won’t be an issue. We wait cautiously knowing that at any moment it could begin flowing again and the risks could return.

Yesterday afternoon.

Over the weekend there had been some talk about trying to divert the flow. We didn’t know this is possible until we read the following news story about the potential of doing so:

http://www.npr.org/2014/11/01/360719232/diverting-lava-flow-may-be-possible-but-some-hawaiians-object

Although we can’t directly see the sunset, we can see the cloud impacted by the waning sun.

We doubt this will transpire due to the objections of the locals about upsetting Pele, the Goddess of Volcanos.  The above link explains the story in detail.

Are we worried? No. We leave it in the hands of Mother Nature, God, and Pele, whomever each of us chooses to hold responsible for this very reason that the Hawaiian Islands exist today…volcanic eruption.

There is Bird of Paradise in South Africa and Madeira. It not surprising to see them in tropical Hawaii.

Yesterday afternoon, we ordered Tom a new laptop from Costco online. It will arrive by Tuesday or Wednesday right to our condo. I transferred all of his files to a 32 gig flash drive and we’re ready to do the transfer once it arrives. We’ll keep the old laptop on hand for a week or two ensuring he has everything he needs and then we’ll return it to Costco for a full refund. 

Gosh, we’ve had our share of laptop problems in the past year; both of us dropping them and breaking the screens. Hopefully, this will be behind us soon. It’s an annoying waste of time. 

Each direction we look, there’s the ocean.  Heavenly.

However, in the realm of things, the laptops, the lava, the inconvenience is just that, inconvenient. It’s the safety, health and well being of people that matter. That’s all.

At 6:30 this morning from our veranda.

This morning we’re off to the dentist in Kihei, not far from the grocery store, where we’ll shop when we’re done having our teeth cleaned. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, we haven’t had our teeth cleaned or any dental appointments in two years. I’ve always dreaded the dentist and feel no differently now. It’s a necessary evil.

Another Gold Dust Day Gecko. 

Of course, we’ll take photos of our outing today sharing them here tomorrow. With the time we spent this weekend trying to get Tom’s laptop working we have few photos to share today. 

We still have four more weeks in Maui and surely will be back with more local stories and photos.

Have a great Monday!

                                           Photo from one year ago today, November 3, 2013:

It was a year ago today, that we booked the hotels for both Paris and London. We were excited about the opportunity to visit these two major tourist cities.  After doing so this past August, we were disappointed in many ways as we shared in our posts. The bottom line is simply that we just aren’t big city people.  For details from that date, please click here.

What a morning!…

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When we walked to a local beach, this bird was hanging out in a parking lot. It’s a Cattle Egret.

Nothing makes me hotter and sweatier than dealing with computer issues. Last night, Tom started having trouble with his computer regarding proxy settings.

At this local beach “park” an area is being renovated to “grow soil” for use as a future community garden. Note the backhoe in the bottom right of the photo which was in use when we were there.

He’d had similar issues, although not specifically the same since he purchased this laptop and I’m in a quandary as to how to fix it. I’ve spent hours trying since last night. We have to do something today or tomorrow. He can get online to some sites but not all, which is weird. 

Colorful pairing. This is a Golden Trumpet and I suppose Pink Trumpet.

Well, I won’t bore our readers with the depth and breadth of these convoluted issues. A resolution is what we’re after today.

After looking at hundreds of photos of tropical trees with berries, the best I could come up with is that this is some type of coffee tree. If you know otherwise or more details, please let us know.

Tom admits he’s had issues with this PC since he purchased the floor model in Boston in September when they didn’t have a model he wanted in a box. Costco people explained that we could return it at any time, no questions asked, as long as we did so within the 90 day period. It is.

Many nice beaches in Maui are located in parks with seating, outhouses, and parking as is the case here.

I’ve been trying to resolve these issues since last night and then again this morning at 5:45 am. It kind of kept me awake for a period of time last night trying to think of a solution. Neither of us cares to go through another data transfer again but it looks like we may have no choice.

Shortly after Costco opens at 10:00 am this morning we may be on our way or we may decide to go tomorrow after our appointment at 11:00 am on Monday. Unfortunately, Tom is an Outlook user which makes the data transfer all the more complicated when it requires we purchase Outlook again after we just purchased it online through a dealer in Vancouver. Ugh!

We walked this beach.

Either I do the transfer which I know how to do but despise doing, or we take it to a computer shop to have them do it with no choice but to purchase yet another copy of Outlook. Performing a transfer of files is not easy for us with the massive amounts of information we store on our laptops. Yes, much of it is online so there’s no issue there. 

Honestly, I don’t like doing it. Most definitely, Tom doesn’t enjoy doing what he’ll have to do either, creating all the new tiles in Windows 8.1. Oh, I know, lots of people hate Windows 8 or 8.1. We’re used to it and both like it now. The issues he’s experiencing now have nothing to do with Windows 8 or 8.1.

Walking in the other direction on a cloudy afternoon.

The alternative is to take the laptop to a pc repair store tomorrow morning when we go to the dentist in Kihei.  Most likely, it could be back working by the time our appointments are over at noon. 

It’s actually exciting to be getting our teeth cleaned after a two-year hiatus. The last time we’d done so was in Henderson, Nevada in December 2012 when we walked out of the dentist’s office at Christmas time with a huge, speaking of Costco, apple pie, an odd gift from a dentist…you know, sugar and all. 

With many varieties of palm trees, we see a wide array of hanging clumps of berries and pods, many difficult to identify based on what is available online.

Tom ate the entire pie in three days while I watched the liquid at the bottom of the pan grow juicier each day, gagging me. I don’t suppose we’ll get a pie tomorrow.

Today, Tom will decide what he’d like to do…buy a new computer by returning the old or, have the current computer repaired most likely for around $50. Purchasing a new laptop could result in an extra $300 – $400 since the floor model was greatly reduced in price and we’ll have to purchase Outlook again.

Although it’s currently not the blooming season, many varieties of Plumeria are growing throughout the island.

Whatever he decides, I’ll support. I have the external hard drive ready to go to transfer his files. We shall see how it rolls out. In any case, he can watch the Vikings Game on my laptop while I busy myself with making dinner and doing laundry, my favorite.

I can’t find the name of these little flowers.  Any suggestions?

We’ll be back tomorrow with more tales of the lives, albeit mundane, of two world travelers experiencing the same dull problems that everyone else experiences from time to time. 

Have a happy Sunday

                                          Photo from one year ago today, November 2, 2013:

Tom with a Python around his neck while we attended a reptile show while on our three-day mini-holiday on the one year anniversary of our travels. For details and more reptile photos, please click here.