We Learn More About Molokai Everyday

[slip]

My wife has been saying we should make a trip out to Molokai Livestock. I didn't know where it was but she said we drove by it a hundred times. I wanted to go to Kumu Farms anyway so we headed out at about 9am.

She pointed Molokai Livestock out to me as we went to Kumu. I never really noticed the sign before but it was right where she said It was. It's just before the turn to the airport as you are going west. It's on the Makai side.

Kumu's was crowded but we got a nice variety of items. The Papayas there are awesome and cheaper than Oahu. Plus they are a lot bigger.

So we stopped at Molokai Livestock on the way back. No one was there. The people there were great. There is a board there with what they have and what is sold out. They were cutting some stuff up so some items where being brought back from Sold out status. At times they even have venison there. None today though.

The girl there told us many people on the island think they only butcher and they don't know they sell meat. Like most things on Molokai, they don't have a regular schedule for butchering but it is approximately every 2 weeks but she said we can text them and let them know what we want and they will tell us when it will be ready. We're starting to learn some tricks of Molokai living.

We got a Chuck Roast, Ribeye Steaks and some Hamburger. Next time we want to get some Pork, Porterhouse Steaks, Kalbi Ribs and hopefully some venison.

We went straight home after that and when we got close to home we saw a UPS truck so I figured we probably had something coming. Sure enough, we got the table my wife ordered for under the TV. Another thing to do, put that together.

Before I brought that upstairs, my wife wanted to wash the car. So I took out her scooter and we drove over to the wash station here. It was nice getting some cold water sprayed on us because it was a warm day. There's only a couple spots that didn't come off. It looks like it was where the car cover was rubbing from the wind. It does seem to scratch off so my wife wants to try one of those magic erasers. Kim did good helping with the car. She drove her scooter right up to it and helped wash off quite a bit.

So another busy day. I even got most of the kitchen countertop cleared off. Here's some pictures of out food haul and adventures from today.

 

[Passepartout]

Looks like you guys are really getting the hang of island life. The meat market and produce look wonderful. Better'n food service, huh?

 

[slip]

Looks like you guys are really getting the hang of island life. The meat market and produce look wonderful. Better'n food service, huh?

Much better than food service.

I do remember us getting some Papayas from Kumu Farms at work. We actually sold quite a few of them.

 

[Passepartout]

Much better than food service.

I was just funnin' with you. Working a long time for a HUGE refrigerated carrier, I spent an inordinate amount of time carrying to and hauling for various food service firms- including your former outfit. Unfortunately I was never called upon to Hawaii.

 

[slip]

I was just funnin' with you. Working a long time for a HUGE refrigerated carrier, I spent an inordinate amount of time carrying to and hauling for various food service firms- including your former outfit. Unfortunately I was never called upon to Hawaii.

That would have been a heck of a drive to Hawaii so I'm glad you didn't get that load.

 

[Passepartout]

That would have been a heck of a drive to Hawaii so I'm glad you didn't get that load.

Woulda need the 'High Flotation' tires and extra fuel tanks.

 

[DaveNV]

Jeff, may I make a suggestion for your kitchen? Invest in an over-the-range microwave. It'll give you great service, and also give back the countertop space the current microwave is taking up.

I like the idea of using Molokai Livestock for your fresh meat. Island-raised beef can be excellent, and the extra bit of cost is well worth it. And again, you're supporting local businesses.

Dave

 

[slip]

Jeff, may I make a suggestion for your kitchen? Invest in an over-the-range microwave. It'll give you great service, and also give back the countertop space the current microwave is taking up.

I like the idea of using Molokai Livestock for your fresh meat. Island-raised beef can be excellent, and the extra bit of cost is well worth it. And again, you're supporting local businesses.

Dave

We actually thought about that a couple of years ago. The countertop microwave went out and we had to get a new one. I mentioned the over the oven one but my wife decided to go with the cheaper countertop model. I figured we could always upgrade later. But now when I brought it up she doesn't think she wants to go that route. She has had 2 rotator cuff surgeries and she would have a problem lifting anything that high.

She just told me last week that she thought her shoulder was giving her problems again. So hopefully that won't get worse.

It's funny, after the apartment on Oahu the counter space we have here is a luxury.
There's actually a lot of room to the right of the microwave and the airfryer is flipped up in the picture. In front of the airfryer there is a tray in the picture so that space is usually open and to the left of the airfryer there is room there too but we have cleaning stuff out in the picture.

My wife really doesn't like the sink in the corner. She wants it in the straight part of the counter but that's a whole other conversation.

 

[Passepartout]

We actually thought about that a couple of years ago. The countertop microwave went out and we had to get a new one. I mentioned the over the oven one but my wife decided to go with the cheaper countertop model. I figured we could always upgrade later. But now when I brought it up she doesn't think she wants to go that route. She has had 2 rotator cuff surgeries and she would have a problem lifting anything that high.

She just told me last week that she thought her shoulder was giving her problems again. So hopefully that won't get worse.

It's funny, after the apartment on Oahu the counter space we have here is a luxury.
There's actually a lot of room to the right of the microwave and the airfryer is flipped up in the picture. In front of the airfryer there is a tray in the picture so that space is usually open and to the left of the airfryer there is room there too but we have cleaning stuff out in the picture.

My wife really doesn't like the sink in the corner. She wants it in the straight part of the counter but that's a whole other conversation.

Forgive me, Jeff, but that is one of the worst designed kitchens I've seen. You could extend the peninsula to the right of the microwave, put it under the countertop put drawers at the end. Eliminate the lower cabinet and move the stove, dishwasher & sink to the left, put a lazy-susan in the corner lower cabinet. Get rid of the tile countertops with something without grout lines (even laminate). You'd gain undercounter space, have more usable counters, get the micro off it, Kim would have the sink on a flat wall. It'd be a kind of fun project and wouldn't need to be torn up for a long time because all the plumbing stays fairly close to where it is now. You'd enjoy the result for a long time.

I'll butt out now. Apologies if I'm outta line.

Jim

 

[slip]

Forgive me, Jeff, but that is one of the worst designed kitchens I've seen. You could extend the peninsula to the right of the microwave, put it under the countertop put drawers at the end. Eliminate the lower cabinet and move the stove, dishwasher & sink to the left, put a lazy-susan in the corner lower cabinet. Get rid of the tile countertops with something without grout lines (even laminate). You'd gain undercounter space, have more usable counters, get the micro off it, Kim would have the sink on a flat wall. It'd be a kind of fun project and wouldn't need to be torn up for a long time because all the plumbing stays fairly close to where it is now. You'd enjoy the result for a long time.

I'll butt out now. Apologies if I'm outta line.

Jim

Nope, your thinking along with what my wife wants to do except for the microwave, she wants it on the counter now.

This was the one thing we wanted to change and we will. We just don't know when yet. We had planned on having it done before I retired and we would move in but we all know what happened there.

She always wants a solid surface counter top and then either get rid of the peninsula or make it bigger. In changing any of that we would have to redo the floors. It's a fairly big project and being on Molokai I'm sure it will make it interesting.

So for right now, we are going to wait, see how our income is when we get our sources set up and then see where we are. Really the only other project we would have after that would be a new shower. Both the shower and kitchen are functional and a huge upgrade over the Oahu apartment so we'll make it work for a while.

One thing we noticed is that a lot of the kitchens here have funky layouts. The refrigerator has to be on the other side which is kind of like across the hallway. We have seen a lot of remodels here but they still all seem a little different. We're just happy to have the extra space and we don't want it filled up with crap.

When we start that will be another thread.

 

[slip]

I surprised my wife last night and put together her table. It was actually pretty easy and I was able to lay it on the couch so I wasn't on the floor. I was able to do the whole thing standing up.

We move the desk to the corner and I do like it for doing bills and things on the computer but it may be too much. We'll leave it a while and see how it goes.

It will take my wife a few weeks to decide what she wants on the table and where she wants it bit my part is done for the most part. I just have to bundle and hide wires.

 

[slip]

Kim wanted to stay home today. Her back has been sore so I went into town to get some groceries.

I stopped at Ace first to surprise her with some potting soil and some pots for plants. She was disappointed when we moved because we couldn't take her plants. We just had no room so we had to leave them.

She had a Plumeria and a Pineapple. She started both of them and they were growing well. I got a Maui Gold Pineapple so she is going to start it from that. When we go to Kauai in May, she wants to get a Sugar Loaf Pineapple and try to start one of these too.

She was real happy to see what I bought and she was glad I got a few different sized planters.

I was able to get everything on her shopping list plus a few things on sale. I keep picking up a few other staples each time I shop so we are starting to get stocked up.

On the way home I took a few photos of the ride back. I really like the drive home, especially with the cliffs here on Molokai.

 

[DaveNV]

Jeff, I can't decide which island your pictures remind me more of: Oahu back in the 1960s, driving up the Windward side from Kaneohe to Haleiwa, or the Big Island currently, along the south shore from Na'alehu toward Pahala. Very similar scenery. Can't wait to see Molokai next year!

Dave

 

[slip]

Jeff, I can't decide which island your pictures remind me more of: Oahu back in the 1960s, driving up the Windward side from Kaneohe to Haleiwa, or the Big Island currently, along the south shore from Na'alehu toward Pahala. Very similar scenery. Can't wait to see it next year!

Dave

I would have loved to have seen Oahu in the '60's.

 

[DaveNV]

I would have loved to have seen Oahu in the '60's.

It was nothing like it is now. Lots and lots of wide open space back then. That drive up the Windward side of Oahu was truly "going Country." We'd cut out of school, (I graduated from Kailua High School), and drive up the coast, checking the surfing beaches for good waves, or leaping off Jump Rock in Waimea Bay. In those days you could still hike to Sacred Falls (before the big landslide), and then grab a cheap plate lunch from some of the first food trucks.

For a haole boy from the rainy Pacific Northwest on the Mainland, moving to paradise to live when I was 14 was like going to heaven. To this day, every time I get off the plane in Hawaii, I feel like i've come home. It's a tangible feeling I've never gotten over.

Dave

 

[slip]

It was nothing like it is now. Lots and lots of wide open space back then. That drive up the Windward side of Oahu was truly "going Country." We'd cut out of school, (I graduated from Kailua High School), and drive up the coast, checking the surfing beaches for good waves, or leaping off Jump Rock in Waimea Bay. In those days you could still hike to Sacred Falls (before the big landslide), and then grab a cheap plate lunch from some of the first food trucks.

For a haole boy from the rainy Pacific Northwest on the Mainland, moving to paradise to live when I was 14 was like going to heaven. To this day, every time I get off the plane in Hawaii, I feel like i've come home. It's a tangible feeling I've never gotten over.

Dave

That would have been awesome. My first 17 years , I Iived in South Chicago and I have only been back twice since I left.

Things are starting to settle in now that we are home. It didn't take long.

 

[slip]

We have officially dubbed Sunday our stay at home and do nothing day. Since most places are either closed or close early on Sunday, we are just going to plan on relaxing on Sundays and stay home.

It's a lazy peaceful morning here so I am enjoying some Papaya for breakfast and Kim already has the Chuck Roast and veggies in the slow cooker.

We are down to a couple of projects. We have to go through the kitchen cabinets and get rid of some things. Our slow cooker came with the condo and its a small avocado green Rivel, probably from the '70's. It works but we may need something a little bigger.

We also have to get some pictures hung. That will take a while to decide where we want everything.

Then clean off the railing on the lanai. We have to mop the floor out there too but Kim ordered a mop so that will have to wait.

 

[Luanne]

We have officially dubbed Sunday our stay at home and do nothing day. Since most places are either closed or close early on Sunday, we are just going to plan on relaxing on Sundays and stay home.

It's a lazy peaceful morning here so I am enjoying some Papaya for breakfast and Kim already has the Chuck Roast and veggies in the slow cooker.

We are down to a couple of projects. We have to go through the kitchen cabinets and get rid of some things. Our slow cooker came with the condo and its a small avocado green Rivel, probably from the '70's. It works but we may need something a little bigger.

We also have to get some pictures hung. That will take a while to decide where we want everything.

Then clean off the railing on the lanai. We have to mop the floor out there too but Kim ordered a mop so that will have to wait.

View attachment 49035View attachment 49036

That is our favorite breakfast when we're on Maui.

 

[slip]

My wife just got done with putting Bee's wax on our Turtle. It sat up the sun all the time on Oahu. She'll probably have to give it another coat or two.

Top is before and the bottom is after.

 

[slip]

Another busy day. I set up the laptop after I put Kim's table together so the desk can now be used as a desk.

Our laptop is a few years old and was pretty cheap. I had issues getting it going a few months ago on Oahu. I plugged it in over night and it started right up the next morning. It was perfect timing, Kim wanted to pay some bills and clear out some old bills off her bill payer.

When she was doing that, I wanted to work on getting our Echo's and dot set up. First problem was remembering our WiFi password. We got new phones since our last trip. They used to hook up automatically. Then when we rented out our condo, the paperwork with the password was always here. When we stopped renting, the management company took all that out of the condo.

We were finally able to hook the phones up with a QR code but that wouldn't work for the Echo and dot. So I went on the laptop for about a half hour until I found it in there.

For the first one I had to use my wife's phone because I forgot my Alexa password and when I went to setup a new one, it wanted to send a text to my old work phone. So I ended out calling Amazon and got that old phone number off and reset my password.

So I did get the Echo setup in the living room and the dot setup in the bedroom. So far so good.

Then I went to install the smart outlets we had when we were in Wisconsin. This way we can control our pluggin lights with an ap or through Alexa.

These were pretty old and we haven't used them in about 3 years so when I was having trouble I thought I may have to toss them. Then I remembered the reset switch and that was the key. They all went on easy after that.

All those installs cleared off our dining table and the coffee table too. So we are getting more organized.

We are down to mopping the lanai, going through the kitchen cabinets and hanging some pictures. Almost there.

We got more packages in the mail today and we had to go to the post office to pick some up. Kim got some cloths and I got some extension cords and other things for the condo.

My son surprised his mother and sent her some steak seasoning that she loves from a local meat market in Wisconsin. She was sooo happy.

While In town I stopped at the tax guy but he is on spring break and won't be back until the 22nd so I'll go next week.

We started out the day moving our living room furniture around. So far we like it but we'll give it a other day or so before we decide of it is permanent. We angled the sofa toward the lanai door and move Kim's recliner by the lanai door instead of by the kitchen. I'll take more pictures if we decide to keep it this way.

 

[slip]

The post office was really crowded. We went late and everyone was picking up packages. When I finally got into the main room, they must have a rooster in the backroom or at least by the door. It was so loud. I ran a short video. Only on Molokai.

 

[pedro47]

Love you photos of the island. Paradise.
Jeff, so you guys live in the country, looks very peaceful. I liked it peaceful and not many folks hanging around.

 

[slip]

Love you photos of the island. Paradise.
Jeff, so you guys live in the country, looks very peaceful. I liked it peaceful and not many folks hanging around.

Yes, it is rural life. Just my speed. We are getting close to being stocked up here with things. I know we have some packages coming so when we have to get them in Kaunakakai town we make other stops so we don't waste a trip.

Because out pantry is starting to fill up, once the packages slow down we should be able to reduce our trips to town. I'd like to keep that down to 2 trips a week. But we'll see.

 

[slip]

Here is how we changed our living room around. The sofe used to be under the painting on the wall and the recliner was by the kitchen peninsula. We moved one end table out of the room also.

So far so good. Kim likes the new view she gets from the recliner. It's slightly tilted to the lanai. It actually works well for the TV also.

So far so good. Now we have to hang pictures. We have a shoe organizer coming too.

 

[slip]

Bedroom is all done to.

Kim is going to drive her scooter up to get the mail. She got a notice that we got a package from Amazon.

It seems to be that anything delivered through UPS gets delivered to the office here at WaveCrest and anything shipped USPS we have to go get at the Post office.

Beautiful morning too.