Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Another great day in paradise!  Today was the day my big grocery/supply order was to arrive from Grand.  How exciting!  I went to the airport at 3:00 to pick it up.  The plane was full of passengers with lots of luggage.  This meant there was no room for my groceries.  After waiting around, I got an email from the store saying this was the first time this happened in four years.  My order was sent back to the store for storage until Friday morning for shipment.  I don't know why it can't be sent tomorrow.  Darn!  That's island life!

A few of our friends were arriving on the plane while I was there.  It was fun to be there to greet them.

Today I worked on the beach for a couple hours.  Beautiful beaches don't just happen.  They need upkeep.  Especially if stickers want to show up.  They are a curse!  I am going to find someone who will maintain the beach while we are gone who will really do it.  Making that happen while not on island is difficult. 

Richard has bought a new motor for the boat.  They were unsuccessful today with their repairs.  So we invested almost $8,000 repairing the thing only to have to buy a new one.  Oh, to be able to see to the future!  It's a good thing money grows on trees!!!

Tomorrow morning work will continue on my kitchen.  I called the contractor today and he said parts are in.  I'm crossing my fingers as I type! 

Tonight I fixed spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner.  It is a good comfort food!  We ate it on our porch overlooking the lovely Caribbean sea.   

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Here I am in paradise!  It is wonderful!  Today I did a lot of odd jobs around the house and relaxed a lot.  I had a great time resting and reading after lunch in my hammock on the beach.  It was pretty spectacular. 

Richard tried to put the boat in the water today and had a great launch.  The boat failed to perform once in the water, so out it came!  Late this afternoon he got a call that all his parts are ready and the motor guru is arriving on the morning flight to perform miracles!  He has already been investigating new motors so this guy better do his job!  This boat saga just goes on and on. 

Last night we enjoyed lobster for dinner.  Friends invited to share with them.  How generous is that!  After dinner, we played Trivial Pursuit.  I need to gain more knowledge if I am going to play that game. 

The Super Blue Blood Moon is coming!  It looks like it is here already in all it's glory but it is actually tomorrow night.  We are certainly seeing the results of it here on the island.  The tide went out super far today.  I have included photos to show how dramatic it is.  Normally, our new kayak boat dock is completely in the water.  Holy batman!!

That is Richard standing where water normally is.  Always the water is very close to the leaning coconut tree behind him.

He is a closer shot of the area.  It looks bumpy.  The crabs make those big mounds in the sand under the water.

Here is our kayak dock.  Normally the whole thing is in the water.

A good shot from the distance.  This is just so awesome to see!

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Today we got up early to go on our Bike/Run/Walk fundraiser for cancer.  We left the house a little before 6:30 on our bikes.  It was windy!  The wind pushed us along down to SCC.  The course the event took us on was the same as last year.  It was great until we had to go against the wind!  Wow!  My knees were hurting! 

It was all worth it!  Breakfast was at Southern Cross Club following the race.  Every fruit and berry you can imagine was served.  The real treat is everything is cut up and served, ready to eat.  Waffles, pancakes, breads, bagels, rolls, cereal, bacon, sausage, omelets with tons of choices of additives, eggs any way you want them!  I'm sure I am missing something!  All kinds of fresh squeezed juices and hot drinks.  Boy, did I eat!  The cost was $13.00 CI per person.  This was a special lower price because of the event. 

Pedaling home was against the wind and at times I literally was not moving.  Some times I walked my bike instead of riding.  We have never had wind like this!  What the heck!!  Our property is kind of sheltered from this wind.  Still a strong breeze but not bad.

I expected our tile guy to be at the house when we arrived.  That was the plan when he left yesterday.  He didn't show today.  Tomorrow is Sunday, so I can plan he won't be here.  Today we spent time looking for furniture pieces for the living area and a new mirror for the bathroom.  All this is done on-line and per phone.  Very time consuming and frustrating. 

We ate lunch and dinner out on the porch.  Hard to believe I could eat again after that huge breakfast.
It's amazing how much I eat while on this island paradise!

Friday, January 26, 2018

This morning Richard and I took the bikes down to SCC.  We needed to pick up our shirts for tomorrow mornings bike/run/walk fundraiser.  Afterwards, we walked the beach.  That is one of my favorite things to do here.  Maybe Richard will want to do it more often now too. 

When we arrived back home, the tile guy was working away in the kitchen.  What a wonderful surprise!  He was installing my knobs on the cabinets!  Boy, do I love having knobs!  He also started the grout work on my tile.  We are using white grout.  I actually liked the no grout look as it looked like gray grout.  I am still not sure about this.  I think it gives some contrast and goes good with my knobs.  The white is beautiful, and I will get used to it.  He will be back tomorrow to work on tile again.  He is very meticulous.  The silver trim piece was the wrong size so we are waiting on that and my cabinet door is still not fixed.  Waiting on a new hinge. 

Richard built a little dock for our kayaks today.  Now we don't have to drag them into the water.  I went out on my floaty this afternoon and lounged afterwards on a beach chair.  I am in paradise!

Here is a picture of the kayak dock.  Poor double kayak has to stay on the sand.  

I couldn't resist taking another picture of the tiki torches on the porch.  Richard is caught resting in the hammock after dinner.  It was such a beautiful evening.

Here is a blue heron checking out our mangrove.  He was over by the kayak and slowly crept close to the bush.  

Thursday, January 25, 2018

There are no photos yet of my completed kitchen!  The tile installer didn't show today!  I am very disappointed.  So close and yet so far away!

Today was a sunny and beautiful day with a good strong breeze.  Perfect to work on our jungle removal.  We are making great progress on clearing both sides of our driveway.  It is exciting!  I should have Richard take a picture of me dressed for this excavation work.  First of all, my face is white with zinc oxide, sunglasses are on along with my hat.  I wear a long sleeve PFG protected shirt and long pants also with PFG protection.  I tuck my pants into a pair of scuba boots no longer used for diving.  Of course a good pair of gloves too.  All this is because of skin cancer issues and this year I am having a reaction to bites from tiny ants.  I have to be all tucked in all roasty toasty!  I look like I am ready for an Iowa winter instead of working in hot 85 degree sun.  It is working for me and that is good.  I sweat a lot so I am drinking plenty.  The locals who work outside all day here dress just like me.  They don't fart around with this sun and biting critters. 

We have been eating outside this year again and tonight enjoyed another beautiful sunset over the water as we ate. 

A little relaxing has been done in a hammock but this year has been pretty busy so far.  Soon work will be finished and I will do some serious lounging. 

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

What a gorgeous day in paradise today!  We got up early this morning to be ready for the tile installer.  He started yesterday putting up my backsplash in the kitchen. It is beautiful and changes the whole look of the kitchen.  He worked all day today and will be returning in the morning to hopefully finish.  Maybe my knobs with arrive tomorrow.  I also have a bad hinge on one of my cabinet doors I am still waiting on. 

I rushed early to the grocery store this morning as the barge finally came in and the shelves were freshly stocked.  We had been waiting 3 weeks for the barge! 

After lunch I went swimming in the sea until I shriveled up and had to get out.  With the water so beautiful, Richard and I decided to take the kayaks out for a paddle.  What a wonderful afternoon!  This life is the best!  I was able to fix dinner after the tile guy left and we ate outside on the porch with our tiki torches lit.  This is like a dream! 

Last night was Ladies Night on the island.  It was fun to see everyone and visit again.  There is always a lot going on around here for such a tiny island.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Here is Cutie Pie visiting us.  He is just to the left of the two new coconut trees.

Tonight we ate dinner on the porch while watching the sunset over the Caribbean.  We moved our Tiki Torches to the porch.

We have been very busy here on Little Cayman.  Our property is looking good, as we have been working diligently.  I still do not have knobs on my cabinets but today my backsplash tile arrived.  Soon it will be installed.


Last night we went to the Hungry Iguana for dinner with friends and to watch the Vikings play the Eagles.  Sadly, the Vikings lost.  We all wanted them to win as they are hosting the Super Bowl this year. 

All our friendly critters have been getting used to our arrival.  Yesterday Cutie Pie posed for a photo by our new coconut trees.  We were excited to find three of the coconuts we "planted" last year have made significant growth.  They are in the back, not on the beach.  Our beach ones continue to struggle.  They just don't like our beach.  Who knows why?? 

Our sweet, friendly Bananaquits are visiting on the porch and back patio looking for their water and bird bath.  Today I ate an orange while sitting in the back and several came and flitted around me.  They needed attention, so I went and got a dish for water.  As I was sitting there one really tiny bird came and sat right on my knee!!!  It felt so weird!!  I couldn't believe it! He stayed for a long time and didn't even poop on me!  One of the birds took a super long bath.  It was adorable!  After such a wet season, I didn't think they would be looking for our water.  They are just the cutest things. 

Our little iguanas have grown up and are so cute.  Today the tiniest one walked on to the beach with me and stood up against a great big rock and looked over the top of it.  It kept gazing out at the water turning its head back and forth so it didn't miss a thing!  They have such personalities!

It is so much fun to be back on island.  This environment is so different than back home in Iowa. 

Friday, January 19, 2018

Today was very windy on Little Cayman.  The sky was cloudy all day, which meant a perfect work day.  We worked clearing a wider driveway on our property.  We have a lot of property and some of it is still jungle.  We like the canopy, but want the underneath clean.  Things are really taking shape! 

I am sitting here typing as my dishwasher is washing dishes for me.  I LOVE my new dishwasher!

I have been having a problem with bug bites this year.  They are swelling badly and itch like crazy.  I cover up and spray deep woods off on me but it doesn't work.  Benadryl to the rescue!  Maybe I'll have to quite working.   

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Hello world!  I finally have Internet here at my island paradise.  We have been here for 9 days already.  the first day was spent in airport world, of course.  We arrived on Little Cayman at 5:30 P.M. and the first thing we did was get to the little grocery store to pick up supplies before closing at 6:00.  We got to the house via Marks truck as ours was being worked on by Neil and his cousin.  The truck needed a part that arrived on the flight just before ours.  They worked until well after dark fixing our truck and we are so grateful.  To this day, the truck is still running.  Neil is a "jack of all trades" and does so many things for us.  Also, how nice is Mark to loan us his truck! 

We put our food from the store and from our cooler away and headed to The Hungry Iguana to eat some dinner.  We hadn't eaten since breakfast at 3:30 in the morning.  I had made our lunch food but sadly forgot it and it is still in the fridge in Ames!  How I forgot it, I do not know!!

My bed was so comfy that night, I slept like I was dead! Actually, every night since I have been here, I have slept great!  Most nights we have gone to bed super early so far. 

Thursday was a busy day.  We had a very messy house.  The kitchen/master bath remodel was not finished and I had my work cut out.  They had installed cabinets with no knobs.  The dishwasher was not installed, nor the microwave.  I had temporary counter tops.  I still have no knobs. It is a job opening a drawer.  First I open the door below and then break knuckles trying to get the drawer started.  Needless to say, we are thrilled our project is finally started.  This "island time" thing can get annoying when one wants something done.

Richard went right to work and installed my microwave.  Luckily, he is a "jack of all trades" too!  We began cutting and clearing our property of all the regrowth that occurred over the months we were gone.  This was excessive as the island had its rainiest season on record!  Last year was the driest on record!  The vegetation is so lush!  So are the mosquitoes!!!  Luckily, they are 99% male buggers so they don't bite!  But it is gross! 

I quit working in the afternoon and jumped in the beautiful Caribbean waters right outside my door!  Boy, was that fun!  The next day, Richard actually joined me.  He wanted to try out his new goggles and water dive boots. 

We ate at LCBR for dinner on Thursday evening as I had worked so long and my kitchen just didn't want to be used yet.  Man, was that good.  I had the best fish taco ever!  I dream of eating it again.  The next day, Brian generously donated some Wahoo that he caught that morning.  I fixed it for dinner that night with chopped potatoes and broccoli on the grill and it was to die for!  I have managed to keep us fed every night so far. 

Yesterday, Wednesday, they came from Grand and installed my granite counter tops!  What an exciting day.  Richard hooked up my dishwasher and I am in business!!  I will post pictures of my kitchen when it is finished.  I still have no knobs. Nor do I have a back splash.  Hopefully, it won't be another year for these.  We need to get a big mirror and new lights for the bathroom yet too.  I will need some luck getting those items over here on the barge. 

We have been working hard getting things done around here but are amazed how fast it is moving along.  A couple days ago I bleached all the white painted railings and everything painted white as I am going to repaint.  There is maintenance that needs to be done in this environment.  We want to keep it looking nice. 

Of course, I have been working daily removing stickers on my beautiful sandy beach.  Where do they come from???  Almost sticker free!  Such devils!

Tuesday was ladies night.  Marcia picked me up and I was excited to catch up with everyone on the island.  As we were driving, it got darker on the road and when we arrived at Beach Resort it was really dark and they had candles lit.  Turns out, the power on most of the island was out.  A power pole had come down!  Power would be out for 4 hours at least.  Luckily, the power was still on at our house.  Marcia and I left and we ate at home.  Disappointed.  We will go next week.

It is fun to be back on island.  Things are different this year, as they are each year we return. One has to enjoy every minute as things can change at any time.  Stop and smell the roses, talk to an iguana, gaze at the beautiful sky or ocean.  Enjoy an adventure! 

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

 Arrived on the 10th of January.  No internet yet.  Will post on blog hopefully on Wednesday the 17th.