Tuesday, February 21, 2023

 It has been awhile since I typed on my blog.  I have been busy but I must admit maybe I was just a little lazy!  A lot has happened!  The biggest event is Miss Kaylee Scarlet Schlie was born on February 8.  Talk about exciting!  I was sitting out front and suddenly Richard comes to me with his phone.  Emily had been trying to call me.  Her water broke a whole month before her due date! We have been in a whirlwind ever since!  I'm typing different and maybe even look different now that I'm a grandma.  Kaylee weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.  That's a nice size for a 36 week baby!  I have been giddy everyday since!  We are finally flying to DC to meet her on Thursday.  We had to change our flights for earlier ones and the big day is finally near.  

Our weather has been perfect here in paradise and we are loving it.  Luckily, I didn't forget how to snorkel. We have been enjoying the crystal clear waters and this relaxing atmosphere.  

Richard has kept us supplied with Tuna and we have been eating pretty well. Our grocery store is still offering intermittent food and I find it is a job trying to shop there.  We have hope it'll improve soon.  

It sounds crazy but I'm sure enjoying doing the laundry now that I have a clothes dryer.  What a gift!!

Well, I'm signing off! I have to go look at pictures of sweet baby Kaylee again! 

Monday, February 6, 2023

 I have big news here in paradise!  My washer/drier is installed!  Saturday was the big day! They finished up the project at 6:30 pm and I started laundry right away.  Who would think I would be so happy to do laundry!  

Richard went fishing this morning and caught 7 tuna.  Exciting!  We will not starve!  His bad news was one of his big fishing poles went overboard!  A giant fish jumped up and took it right out of the holder.  The strap to secure it even broke.  It was one strong fish. Probably a shark!  Now he gets to buy another new pole and reel.  

At lunch time today we enjoyed a rain shower.  What a lovely surprise! The sun kept shinning and we loved the fresh smell of the rain.  An hour later our weather was back to normal. Hot, sunny, and perfect!

Looks like it's time to start that tuna supper. Yum!

Friday, February 3, 2023

Here we are in the month of February already.  We have been enjoying endless sunny, beautiful weather here on our paradise island.  We have been busy enjoying our days and also working.  Richard has been employing his new electric chain saw.  There is always some tree or shrub that needs cutting.  My order from Grand finally arrived yesterday.  It took nearly 3 weeks.  I should have specified a size on my olive oil as they sent a two liter size!  Holy cows!  

Richard and I still have our laundry piling up.  That will change as my new machines arrived today!  So exciting!  It is quite a project to get them installed but tomorrow the guys will work on getting it accomplished.  

Wednesday evening Iggy's had an "Open Mic" night and we went.  It was a lot of fun and once again I am amazed by the number of talented people on this tiny island.  The moon shone down on us and there was a lovely breeze blowing.  When the people weren't performing, one could hear the waves breaking on the shore. The bugs weren't invited, so it was perfect.  

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Time flies when you are having fun!  It is Thursday already. I'm sitting here typing this in airconditioned comfort.  Yesterday, I gave in and turned on the air!  Usually we don't turn it on until sometime in March but I guess its Global Warming making me too warm this year.  Our weather is so perfect but somehow it's hot in the house!  

I went grocery shopping to our tiny store today.  They had eggs and bananas so it was a big deal! I placed an order by email to a store on Grand last Saturday and still haven't heard a word.  Seems everything has changed since the pandemic happened.  One has to really slow down and not expect things to happen while here.  Richard ordered lumber from Grand. It was supposed to arrive on yesterdays barge. We got the bill by email from the barge (90.00CI). But no lumber.  Turns out the shipping company didn't want to put just one flat of lumber on.  It was the only lumber that week.  So they just let it sit!  Richard was anxious to work!  We are replacing all the decking around our house.  It is not a small amount of lumber! The shipper said not to pay the bill until it arrives. Well yes!!

Last Sunday my molar broke off while eating.  Monday was a holiday here, so on Tuesday I flew to Brac to see a dentist.  He put a temporary filling and said to eat only a soft diet until I get home the end of April. I need a crown. Turns out the dentist is coming here tomorrow (Friday).  I could have seen him here and saved a lot of money!  What a riot! 

Richard and I are still running around in dirty clothes!  The next barge arriving will bring my machine and the lumber.  It'll be like Christmas! 

Saturday, January 21, 2023

 The weather continues to be perfect here in paradise.  Back home it is cold and snowy so am I in the right place at the right time!!

I've been very busy getting back in the "swing of things" here.  Our store is empty so I placed an order to Brac and it finally arrived.  I forgot a lot of things though. I guess I panic ordered!!!  So I placed a big order to a place on Grand tonight.  It is kind of scary not having a grocery store on island.  What is going on?  

Today, I started my first load of laundry.  Richard had a ton of things already.  My washer broke down.  I luckily went back there for something else and discovered water flooding everywhere.  What a disaster.  It is not the hoses but somehow the actual machine.  I ordered a new stackable from Grand.  It will be here in 2 weeks if the barge makes it.  Guess I will wash clothes in the bathtub???  Fun! Just another adventure while living on a tiny island in the Caribbean.

Richard took the boat out this morning and came back with tuna!  We had tuna for supper tonight and it was so yummy!  This is living! 

Thursday, January 19, 2023

We have finally arrived back on island!  Seems like we have been gone forever and yet as if we never left.  The weather is so perfect, it is indescribable.  How I've missed this beautiful sunshine and the gorgeous waters.  It is so quiet here, one cannot help but relax. 

This was the first time our trip was postponed.  Richard went on his proverbial ski trip as usual and came home with Covid!  We were super careful not to spread it but somehow I managed to catch it too.  We finally arrived on Grand Tuesday the 17th.  Spent that night at the Holiday Inn.  It was lovely!  After getting up at 3:30 in the am we were ready to relax. We ate dinner at the Wharf Restaurant and boy was it yummy.  Watched the sunset into the Caribbean as we ate. It is our tradition to eat at the Wharf whenever we are on Grand Cayman.  We both slept great but had to rise again at 4:00 in the morning to get a 7:00 flight to Little Cayman.  I took a photo of the sunrise on our flight over!  Our luggage all arrived too.  Once we loaded up the truck we headed to Seahorse Boutique/Coffee Shop for a yummy breakfast.  

We arrived at our house and everything looked great.  It is good to be home! 

April 16, 2022 Saturday

 I haven't posted for a long time.  I'll have to think back to update things.  Emily and Sheldon both arrived and we had a wonderful week together.  Very hard to say goodbye.  They did a lot of diving and hung out at the pool and just enjoyed the island.  They seemed pretty happy and were sad to leave. 

The other day, when I returned from my morning walk, I was down on our beach.  I looked in front of me at the water and there about 2 feet from the edge was a hammerhead shark!!  He was probably 5 feet long or a little more.  First I thought it was a nurse shark but there was no denying it was a hammerhead!  When Richard got back later, he said other people on the island have reported seeing them too.  I guess they come in to have their young. Glad I wasn't in the water then!  

Richard has been catching tons of fish.  He is happy!  The day before yesterday, he caught a record size Tuna!  Very exciting!!  We donated it to CCMI.  Central Caribbean Marine Institute.  They are having a fish fry.  

We are flying home on Tuesday.  Monday we have an appointment to get Covid tested.  One still has to test negative to get into the USA.  The weather here has been spectacular!  We have been snorkeling tons of times.  Our reefs here are in perfect condition.  The water is smooth, warm, and lovely.  I've seen every fish imaginable and turtles and sharks and on and on!  So fun!.  

Our truck did arrive.  I was surprised how nice it is.  We never saw it before purchasing it, so I was relieved.  The air conditioner works which is great since it has been very hot here.  I've started getting some things ready for our return home.  Today I cleaned ceiling fans and of course, did laundry.  We went to the Little Cayman Trust House Easter Auction this afternoon and evening.  They have a live and silent auction.  Richard made off with a really special bottle of rum.  A private stock bottle! 

April 19 is fast approaching.  We will get home about midnight!  It's a long day of airport world.