Category Archives: A Little Bit of Everything

Going Home

June 27, 2017 JP 2 Comments

Aloha

It has been quite a while since I posted to this blog. It was no accident. We have been waiting for this special day so that we could share it with our readers.

I usually include other topics, recipes, reviews and such in our blog magazine. But this post is about saying goodbye to the mainland and setting off to pursue our new life in our old home of Hawaii, specifically Maui.

Since moving to the mainland from Oahu, we have gone back and forth to Hawaii for both business and to visit so many times that I’ve lost count. But this morning is different from all others. Our plane tickets are one way, many of our possessions have been sold or given away and there is no turning back. If ever there was an act of faith, this is it.

It is the morning of June 27th. We chose this time of year because it was this month 30 years ago that we met in Hana and 23 years since we were married in that same place.

The time is 7:30AM in Los Angeles. Our cars are in the loading lot at Matson Navigation. Our dog Teddi is in the holding area of Hawaiian Airlines and we are at gate 57 in Terminal 5 of LAX. The adrenaline is high and our hearts are racing. In a little while Hawaiian Flight #33 will be coming to take us home. At 11:30AM HST it will be wheels down at Kahului Airport and the end of a long journey that was set in motion 3yrs, 3 months and 17 days ago. After our dog Teddi clears quarantine at Kahului Airport and is released to us we will go and get our rental truck and head off to our new home to pick up our lives where we left off so many years ago.

An important lesson has been learned, at least for us. What we have come to realize is that it is so much easier to leave Hawaii than it is to find your way back. Has the mainland been good to us? From a material standpoint life on the mainland has been kind. We accomplished everything we set out to accomplish and more. Was it worth it? Speaking only for myself I would have to say no. Moving to the mainland from Hawaii was an adventure and a great ride, but we won’t be coming back.

If you ever lived in Hawaii for a very long time and had to leave for whatever reason and after many years returned home, then you know what we are feeling on this exciting day. I can’t really explain it. All I can say is aloha to what was and aloha to what is yet to be.

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While we are moving, our online stores will not be filling orders until August 1st

A Little Bit of Everything

The Road Ahead

January 10, 2017 JP 1 Comment

Aloha,

I usually publish this blog at the beginning of the month. However, this month is special and I wanted to hold off on this post until we closed on the sale of our Scottsdale condo. That closing took place on January 9th. We are now on the entrance ramp to the road (or should I say the ocean) ahead to Maui, Hawaii.

We have been working on our dream of returning home to Hawaii for the last three years. It has been a long haul and a heavy lift but all of the planning is now bringing things together. I will post more on this journey as the months and years unfold.

One of the things we acquired to help get us going when we get settled is a 2017 Ford Edge Titanium which I will review on a separate page. There is also a section for some favorite inspirational quotes and sayings that helped keep morale up while setting this plan in motion. And once again we included a favorite recipe that we hope you will enjoy.

Whatever awaits you and yours on the road ahead you choose to take, may the journey be safe and fruitful.

Peace, love and happiness in 2017!

In This Month’s Issue

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A Little Bit of Everything

September 2016

September 1, 2016 JP

Wow! It’s already September and the year is almost gone. Is time flying or what? Here in Arizona the heat is finally starting to break. We hope all of our readers had a fantastic summer.

We are now in the final phase of selling our condo and expect to be back home in Hawaii by May 2017 no matter what. This process has been a long haul but we never took our eye off the prize. When all is said and done and we are re-settled, I plan on writing a special post on what it took to achieve our goal of returning to Hawaii. If you already live in Hawaii, don’t leave! Going home is harder than you think.

We are subscribed to the group “Hawaiian History and Culture” and some inspiration for this month’s posts is from the group.

We hope you enjoy our blog magazine.

Happy Labor Day!

In This Month’s Issue

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Editors note

On Sunday, September 11th, please take a moment to remember all of our brothers and sisters who were lost that day.

A Little Bit of Everything

July 2016

July 1, 2016 JP

Ahh! Summer, that magical time between Memorial Day and Labor Day. No matter how old or young you are, summer is the time to kick back, close your eyes and imagine that school is out.

The month of July marks our 240th birthday. In the scheme of nations that makes us pretty young. This is a good time to think about who we are, where we all came from and where we’re going.

We hope you enjoy this month’s blog.

Have a great summer! See you all after Labor Day.

Happy Birthday To Us!

In This Month’s Issue

Dec — We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal……

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A Little Bit of Everything

May 2016

May 1, 2016 JP

Aloha! So we’re in Scottsdale, AZ in the middle of April and the temperature has already hit the high 90’s. But hey, most of the month was in the 80’s so we really can’t complain.

In this month’s blog we will be carrying over the theme of the Spring 2016 post. That is, Discoveries and Useful Gadgets and Other Stuff. We have also scoured the web for some Inspirational Quotes and Sayings.

Monday, May 30th is Memorial Day so please take a moment to remember.

In This Month’s Issue

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A Little Bit of Everything

Spring 2016

March 1, 2016 JP 1 Comment

Aloha,

Spring is just around the corner and, as always, it signals a season of renewal. I am sure everyone is looking forward to the pleasant weather ahead.

In this month’s issue we thought we would try something new. Discoveries will highlight some information and websites that you might find helpful and Useful Gadgets and Other Stuff will highlight products and services that we tried and found to be outstanding.

We hope you enjoy this month’s blog. If there is anything you would like to contribute, please email us at: [email protected]

In This Month’s Issue

Visit Katie’s Memorial Residency

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Of Interest

Rainbow Bridge

March 1, 2016 JP

If you or anyone you know has ever lost a non-human family member, you know what a heart wrenching experience this event can be. Recently, we lost Katie, our 14 year old Bichon Frise. In some of the many Facebook condolences we received, The Rainbow Bridge was mentioned.

Rainbow Bridge Graphic — The Rainbow Bridge Gateway

Now, I had never heard of this before so I decided to look into it. Turns out it is a wonderful web based memorial site to honor your lost family member and find some comfort in the grieving process.

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A Little Bit of Everything

Happy New Year 2016

January 4, 2016 JP 2 Comments

To all our friends and subscribers we wish you a very happy 2016. May the new year be filled with happiness and prosperity for you and yours based on your notion of the meaning.

For our first blog of the New Year we decided to re-post some of our favorite articles and postings from 2015. If you are a new subscriber you may be reading some of these postings for the first time. If you’ve been with us for awhile, thanks for giving them a second read.

2015 In Review

From our family to yours

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Of Interest

Puppy Love

January 4, 2016 JP 1 Comment

In case you never met them, let me introduce you to Katie and Teddi. They are the sun and the moon with distinct personalities and boundless spirits.

Katie is almost 14 years old, a pure bred Bichon Frise and has been with us since she was an 8 week old puppy.

Teddi is a mixed breed, probably a Maltese and a Poodle. Teddi has been with us since September 2012, He is 8 years old.

Katie is determined. If she were a salesperson she would bug you until the close. She never quits and rarely complains. Her strength is amazing given her 20 lbs.

Teddi is a gentle soul who has had many homes. He was taken from a shelter, frightened and apparently abused. When his adopted owner could no longer care for him he ended up with my mother who nursed him back to health and happiness. He then came home with us. He visited with my mother until the very end .

At first, Katie didn’t take too kindly to Teddi. But, they are now inseparable and do everything together. They have become fixtures in our little village development.

There are some lessons to be learned from our pets:

Don’t be too quick to judge but, still trust your instincts
Love and kindness can heal just about anything
Good food leads to good health
Never give up
Play as much as you can
You get as much love as you give
And remember, it’s not how cute your pets are that counts but, how happy they make you

Peace!

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A Little Bit of Everything

Holiday Season 2015

November 1, 2015 JP 1 Comment

A Note From The Editor

Whether you have religious beliefs or none at all, the holiday season is the time of year when the hope for peace is front and center. This season we find the world in a relative state of chaos. A flood of refugees is moving across Europe as a great wave and there seems to exist a permanent state of war throughout much of civilization.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of bad people out there that need to be dealt with and dealt with severely. But good far outweighs evil so, try not to lose sight of the the good.

Is there anything that any one person can do to change the world? Probably not. However, there is plenty that you can do to change your world, and, who knows, maybe your small gesture will be contagious.

What can you do?

Well, here are a few suggestions:

Engage in a conversation with someone from a different culture or religion.
Say “good morning” to a stranger that you pass on the street.
Tune out angry politicians and negative influences, they are a vexation to the spirit.
Think before you speak. You can’t take back something said in anger.
Buy a lottery ticket for someone. Just because!
Give an unsolicited compliment.
Joyfully do a favor for someone who asks.
Make a donation to a food bank.
Call an old friend that you haven’t spoken to in years.
Most of all, remember that hatred is insidious and the choice to end it or spread it is yours and yours alone.

In This Month’s Issue

From our family to yours

Visit us at: www.puamele.com

Happy Birthday To Us!

In This Month’s Issue

In This Month’s Issue

Visit our online stores at: www.Etsy.com

In This Month’s Issue

Visit our online stores at: www.Etsy.com

2015 In Review

A Note From The Editor

In This Month’s Issue

Hawaii inspired art, art wear, music and other stuff