Julie Barefoot 2026, (‘Puke Punaewele, (Blog)

2026

A Morning Aloha

(Hawaiian Kona Coffee)

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Brodie In Our Backyard Plumeria Tree in Ewa Beach, 1996

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E Komo Mai

Welcome to My Aloha Julie Barefoot 2026 ‘Puke Punaewele (Blog)

Ready for 2026

This year will be a more eventful one from in the past few years. Traditionally we are home bodies as it is, but with Gordon working overseas for the past few years, and with me keeping the home fires burning, I am also my Grand-Daughter’s main caregiver. I don’t really have a lot of free time anymore. Especially when it comes to working on my websites.

You will find out as I take you along with me, and my Ohana throughout the year, what we have in store.

We lived in Hawai’i for 13 glorious years. Hawai’i means a lot to us. Both of our children were born there.

My Grand-Daughter Isabelle calls me Tutu, the Hawaiian word for Grandmother.

I sometimes call her Peanuku, (Peanut) because when we first saw the scan of her before she was born she looked exactly like a Peanut.

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This year our son Brodie Keith Kanakaleo Whann will be getting married in Hawai’i on the North Shore to his betrothed Mackenzie Meers Parish.

Click Here For: Mother of the Groom

We are all looking forward to it! Going back to Hawai’i, visiting our old stomping grounds. Brushing up on my Hawaiian Pidgeon, Da Kine! Eating our old Plate Lunches, and Shave Ice. Eating at Duke’s. Visiting The Aloha Flea Market at The Aloha Stadium. Visiting the Arizona Memorial Museum, and the site of the U.S.S. Arizona, perhaps if Gordon’s former ship is docked we can get a tour and show Veronica, Brian and Isabelle the ship itself.

We have a huge Luau planed in Waikiki before the wedding, hosted by us. I’ve been buying gifts for the occasion.

Click Here For: Whann Way Hawaiian Luau

I will blog more about that as it approaches. But for now, I am reliving the memories we created in Hawaii, and brushing up on my Hawaiian phrases that we will use while there. Especially when it comes to Wedding Toasts and Speeches.

A Hui Hou Kakou (Until We Meet Again),

Julie Barefoot

(Julie Lancaster-Whann)

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Click Here For: E Komo Mai To The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Luau

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Favorite Snacks

We Take Hawaii With Us Everyday, Sometimes Even Out The Door 🙂

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The Original Blogging Key Board

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Time To Watch Blue Hawaii

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Also, Check Out A Few Of Our Hawaiian Website Pages:

Click Here For: Blue Hawaiians and Huli Huli Chicken

AND,

Click Here For: Huli Huli Julie Caesar

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A Flower In My Hair

I’ve written about this before on my website, but I would also like to write it here again:

When my family moved to Rockingham, North Carolina, 1978, the summer before my senior year in high school, I wore a flower in my hair every day. I was laughed at. Made fun of. And made to feel as if there was something wrong with me. But when I became an adult, got married, Gordon and I moved to Hawaii for his military career. I noticed that all the women in Hawaii would wear a flower in their hair every day. I knew then that there was never anything wrong with me, I was just living in the wrong place. 🙂

Aloha,

Kulii (Julie)

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I Also Created A Few New Recipes With Hawaii In Mind, To debut Here:

Kulii’s Teriyaki Spam and Pineapple ‘Ai Pu Ana

(Julie’s Teriyaki Spam and Pineapple Casserole)

AND,

My Tropical Naan’s

If I were to create a Christmas Pizza, this would be it. 🙂

(Recipes Down Below)

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Hawai’i has always meant a great deal to us. I cannot explain our connection to the state.

I have a closer connection to Hawai’i than I do Georgia, the state I was born into.

With an open mind, you will see the Garden of Eden, Beautiful Brown Angels Singing, Dancing, Ceremony, Spirituality, Music, Drums, History, Cultures Living Together, Working Together, Farming Together, Cooking Together, Celebrating Together, and Sharing With Each Other.

I look forward to bringing to you all that we will encounter on our trip back to paradise.

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Blog Posts Start Here

Out And About

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July, 2026

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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June, 2026

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June 22, 2026

Today Is Our 41st. Wedding Anniversary

On Our Wedding Day, 1985

Driving Into The Future In Gordon’s First Jeep (Blue)

2026, Driving Into The Sunset In His New Jeep (Tan)

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June 22, 2026

Update On Justin’s Death

Brodie went to Mississippi for the funeral. He told us it took 9 Pallbearers to carry him. Justin was a very big man. I think he wore a size 22 shoe, that should give you an idea of just how tall he was. Brodie told us that because he was so large that the coffin had to be lowered into the ground by hand. I know it was very sad for all. Brodie, Jason and Justin were the best of friends since they were all 14. We will miss Justin. He was part of our family for decades.

RIP Justin

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June 14, 2026

We’ve Had Two Deaths This Month

I have been searching through my millions of photos trying to find a nice one of Brodie’s friend Justin, and Gordon’s mother, Sarajane. I must have about 12 external harddrives. I can’t find what I am looking for where Justin is concerned. And it just dawned on me where I can find a nice photo of me and Sarajane in Hawaii. (See below.)

Both of them have passed away earlier this month, two days apart.

Justin apparently fainted on a job site at work and died from heat stroke.

And Gordon’s mother died while in the hospital. I think she died from sheer unhappiness. She had an appetite while in the hospital, but she wanted to be fed. Nurses don’t do that anymore. You either feed yourself, get a loved one to do it for you, or you do without. Our fabulous American health care system not working yet again.

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(Me, with my mother-in-law, Sarajane Whann 1988, in Hawaii with our wrist lei’s.)

It was earlier this year that Sarajane’s assisted living facility apartment had a fire in the attic and the sprinkler’s went off throughout the building. Gordon’s sister Heather called me to tell me about it. Sarajane and her son Jeff had to move out of their apartment and into another apartment in another building on the grounds. All of their things were put into storage, and they were told they wouldn’t be back into their apartment for a good 6 months. I believe that is the catalyst that escalated her death. She loved her things. She had beautiful things that she loved looking at and enjoying them all. I think that had the flooding not happened that she could have lived another couple of years. I can just see her doing her counted cross stitch while sitting on her comfy chair. She has a Baby Grand Piano and would play for the other residents during the holidays on the piano in the restaurant dining room.

My mother-in-law and I were not close. She had never really liked me. But, the older that I have become, the more understanding I have become. Over the past years I no longer held any grudges towards her. The past no longer bothered me. I learned that it was never personal. It was just her.

I have asked for one or two of her counted cross stitch pieces. Or even a painting or two that she herself had painted. I would love to proudly own them.

I think that if we are lucky that we age wisely. We evolve into people that are more understanding, even if it doesn’t benefit us personally.

I will say this about Sarajane, she was a very interesting person.

RIP Sarjane,

Julie

See, I told you long ago that you can’t take everything with you when you’re gone. 🙂 I miss you though!

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June 14, 2026

Jeep Shopping and Vintage Florida

Doing Some Nostalgic Souvenir Browsing

With Gordon home permanently from working overseas we needed another automobile for him. He’s been talking about buying a Jeep for years now, but he wanted a used one and in the colors that he wanted, which are sometimes hard to find. So, he contacted a bunch of dealerships within a range of about 200 miles from us until someone gave us the call that they had found what he wanted. This was the day we drove to Ocala to take a look at one.

We ended up having to make two trips up to buy the Jeep. This was our first one.

THE One!

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It was while we were on our way back home that I spotted this from the highway.

I knew I wanted to stop in and shop around for some homemade jams and jelly’s from local sellers, and perhaps buy a big bag of Oranges etc.

Gordon Out Front

I love the nostalgia of these old Florida souvenir shops beside the highways.

They remind me of my childhood and our many trips down to Florida when I was growing up.

THIS is what I don’t love about Florida. To me this is like collecting scalps.

The alligator feet are cut off and used as backscratchers.

The heads are cut off as trophy’s to be placed so that they can be admired by other very scary people that I will never want to know in my lifetime.

The large alligator in the window was stuffed and placed there.

They did have these two cuties in a tank. It was a pretty large tank too.

They do have room to roam around quite a bit. (Bright side.)

We once knew a family in Georgia that had a Cayman in a small fish tank. The poor thing couldn’t move. It was like that for years. Finally it died one day. I didn’t blame it, it never had a life anyway. And why this family thought that was a good idea to do that to that animal is just beyond me?

This store was also selling what looked like baby sharks in jars in some blue liquid. I know the name of it but I don’t know how to spell it so I will just keep typing… (getting lazy in my old age.) Actually, at this writing I am recovering from a very bad cold and I’m still not feeling very well. I don’t get sick that often as it is. The last time I was sick was October, 2023, and prior to that January 2019. But, when I do get sick I tend to GET SICK!

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We did find lots of goodies and made several purchases.

The Pecan Log, or Pecan Roll

(THIS is my Childhood!)

It wouldn’t be Florida without getting one of these!

A soft tasty nougat rolled in chopped pecans.

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The Love Bugs Were Out In Force!

It’s just not Florida without Love Bugs splat all over your car and windshield.

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Gordon Got DUCKED!

And he got Ducked by his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. 🙂

It’s a Jeep thing. It seems like it is quite common among Jeep owner’s to place a rubber duck onto someone else’s Jeep. I know that when we are riding down the road that other Jeep owner’s will wave or honk their horns. It’s as if he’s joined a really cool club, or a dangerous cult. I’m still not sure which? But if all they do is worship rubber ducks then I’m O.K. with it. 🙂

When Gordon bought the Jeep it didn’t have any step to get into it. He ordered these and put them on with the help of our son-in-law, Brian. I know that I was always ‘spread eagle’ in just climbing in and out of it. Especially in my short Lilly Pulitzer dresses. (Not the prettiest site at 65.) But now I can jump in and out without so much as a peep. 🙂

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With it just being the two of us now we decided to get rid of my old Santa Fe. It’s about 20 years old. I haven’t owned many cars in my life. I’ve never been that kind of person that has to drive the flashiest or most expensive. As I saw it there was never really anyone I ever wanted to impress in that way. It’s funny but we just assumed that she wouldn’t start up as we haven’t driven her in over two years. So, when the tow truck guy arrived he suggested we try and start it. IT STARTED RIGHT UP!! I was happy. I saw it as a sign that the old girl is ready to move on where she can be appreciated in her old age by a veteran. Yes, we donated the car. I told Gordon to try and scrape off the website name from the back window. He did, but you could still read it. The sun had burned it into the windshield.

I hope she makes someone very happy.

Julie

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June 4, 2026

Creating A Nice Hawaii Bathroom

Diamond Head, the Wooden Aloha Surfboards

The Blue Hawaiian Hut Birdhouse on the right was painted by Veronica years ago.

Our small guest bathroom had gotten stale. We hadn’t done much to it in years. Although it is not a big space, I did want to freshen it up.

Our recent Hawaii visit had given me so much inspiration. We had found a shop at Ala Moana called CocoNene. They had the nicest wooden items. Gordon and I fell in love with so many things in their store. We did buy a few while we were there, and then ordered a few more things once we got back home.

The Starfish to the right was a gift from Veronica years ago as well. The Fish picture frame was a gift from a friend of Veronica’s when she was 3 and we were living in Honolulu. The cute fish towel is something we bought years ago. And, the Monstera Ferns in the wooden picture are from CocoNene as well.

Happy With This Very Simple Space In The Guest Bathroom

It’s Personal,

Julie

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May, 2026

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May 24, 2026

Time For Talk Story

Let Me Tell You A Story About Karma

There once was a woman that lived in a neighborhood in Florida. She kept to herself and minded her own business but that never seemed to matter to some arrogant trouble makers that were her neighbors. (Or as my grandmother would have called them. They are a bunch of spoons because they love to stir up trouble.) These particular neighbors loved to bother her and try and make her miserable. I won’t go into all the details, but this woman was an observer of the behaviors of her neighbors. One thing she noticed was that the families that were harassing her were of a certain mindset. It was important for them to look good to others. Oh, and they had the nicest homes, the nicest lawns, the nicest cars, and wore the nicest clothes, while carrying the nicest handbags, all just part of the disguise. All those pretty things were to distract from their true selves. For you see, they showed the woman they were abusing exactly who they really are.

As time passed the woman may not have liked being abused by them, but she knew that karma would come along and get them eventually. The Universe has a way of doing that. You see, in their efforts to look good on the outside, they employed companies to make their grass extra green and beautiful. Killing the Dandelions that the bees needed to pollinate. Every 3rd. bite of food that we eat was pollinated by a bee. Once the bees are gone, we are gone. But to these people it didn’t matter, they just wanted the nicest yard in the neighborhood. Gotta keep up with those Jones’. Whoever they are?

These pesticides that are used to accomplish this are killing the bees, and the other important wildlife that helps to keep us healthy and safe. I’ve noticed that my frogs haven’t lay any eggs in the past few years in our fountains. As ugly as the fountains may look, I knew that we needed the frogs so that our ecosystem would thrive and be healthy. I would even feed them lettuce so that they wouldn’t cannibalize each other. When the hurricane’s were coming we covered them up and protected them so that they would make it through the storms. Did you also know that when a tree is cut down and is nothing left but a stump that the other trees will feed that stump through an underground network so that the stump will still live? Did you also know that our planet has a heartbeat? Probably not, because who cares about science, huh? Science is truth whether you believe in it or not.

All that matters to these kinds of people are that they look good on the outside. HOA’s even encourage this, as most HOA leadership are of a certain political party that don’t care about the environment, and love to make everyone look the same as them. Houses must be painted approved colors, lawns must be perfectly green and attractive, no weeds, even though some weeds help our ecosystem. Not caring that those chemicals used to make everything look nice and green are giving dogs cancer of the mouth, and children that play on those lawns are getting cancer as well.

Which brings me to my point. Almost every week these neighbors in the neighborhood employ housekeeping services. Breast cancer is in their futures. So, how would I know that? I’ll tell you.

It was about 15 years ago that all these women out in California were getting breast cancer. The only thing they had in common was that they all had their homes professionally cleaned on a weekly basis. The kinds of cleaning products that were being used caused cancer. When we clean our house we use Bar Keeper’s Friend along with some elbow grease, and some bleach products that have been around for a long time. We don’t breathe in those cancer causing chemicals like so many others do. Now there are so many products on the market that are dangerous to use. Yet, they are also perfectly legal.

It’s those products that professional housekeepers use. Most of the women who clean homes professionally are Spanish speaking. (Not that there is anything wrong with that but stay with me.) These women tend to be small in stature and probably have a few houses to get to each day. Their employer most likely wants them to finish each house as quickly as possible and move on to the next. That means that there is no time for them to use safe products like Bar Keeper’s Friend. That will require a lot of elbow grease from these women and they will take longer to finish cleaning and may be late to the next house on their list because of irate people that employ them don’t like waiting around. So, they spray on the highly industrialized stuff that will dissolve the messes so that all they have to do is then wipe it all up and leave.

The toxic chemicals aren’t just being used in the bathrooms, also the kitchen and other places in the home. And what with everyone wanting the ‘open concept’ home so that they can be just like everyone else, family’s can be sitting in their living rooms watching T.V. while breathing in the chemicals just a few feet away from the kitchen.

If you are thinking that those things only happened in California, wrong, things may start in California but then they spread to the rest of the country quickly. California being a progressive state, for good and bad reasons, is just where something will start. However, California being a blue state will then ban the toxic stuff once they discover it, while the red states will green light the toxic because they can’t disappoint their corporate donors. Living in a red state is like maneuvering through a daily mine field. If you don’t keep up with everything, then you lose.

When Bill Clinton was President he empowered the FDA to protect the American people. If a product was toxic and a business didn’t remove that product from it’s shelves then the FDA had the power to close that business. But, then along came W. who removed that power from the FDA and made it so that businesses could decide on their own whether they wanted to remove the toxic products from their shelves. One morning while W. was President I read online how the Sara Lee Bread was being recalled due to metals from their factory in China. I then drove to the Commissary on base where I saw all this Sara Lee Bread in the front of the store with a $1.00 price along with a $1.00 off coupon. Pretty much FREE. Free toxic bread! I saw a woman with 3 young children happily loading her cart with this bread. I went over to her and told her that this is the recalled bread from China that has metal in it. I wanted to help her. She just looked at me as if I were crazy. Well, I tried.

Well, Getting Back To Karma

This woman that was being abused by her nasty neighbors observed all this and knew what was coming their way. She had two choices, she could either tell these rotten people and help them, although it probably wouldn’t go very far. (Remember the woman above with the bread?) Or, she could just sit back and let karma do all the work for her. So, if this were truly a good decent woman then would she try and tell them just to clear her conscience?

She Is. She Is Telling Them Right Now.

Julie

P.S. That doesn’t mean that she ever wants to have anything to do with them again. After all, they showed her their true selves years ago.

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May 1, 2026

May Day Is Lei Day

Happy Lei Day!

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April, 2026

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April 20, 2026

Renovation Aloha

https://www.hgtv.com/shows/renovation-aloha

Meet The Kalama’s, Kamohai and Tristyn

Renovation Aloha debuted on HGTV on February 20, 2024. Although Gordon and I haven’t seen every episode, we’ve seen enough to know that we love this show! We’ve been watching for over a year now. Whenever there is a Renovation Aloha marathon on HGTV we always get excited!! 🙂

We love the show because they take usually old run down homes in Hawaii and make them beautiful. They always incorporate something original from the home into their design. We love the reveals! They are stunning! We can usually recognize some of the Hawaiian artists they use in their staging. This talented couple is inspirational! I cannot use enough exclamation marks as I write this. !!!! 🙂

There are a lot of homes in Hawaii that look as if they are unique ‘shacks.’ When we left the island in 1999 the average home cost about 450 thousand. And their version of average, is our version of below average. It is extremely expensive to live there which is why you will see families living together. As in ageing parents, children and their spouses with their own children, and in some cases aunties and uncles. Only then could they all afford a descent home to live in. Also, no one owns the land. You may buy a house on land, but you won’t own the land. At least that is how it was on Oahu when we left. I do think The Big Island is different. We did know a local woman that owned land on The Big Island but it was covered in lava from the volcano oozing.

Watching the talent that is revealed through these two remarkable people is sometimes awe inspiring. In many cases they will take a ‘treasure’ they find from the home and alter it in a very unique and special way, and then regift it back to the owner that sold them the house. Also, Kamohai’s father is a spiritual leader who blesses the house once it is finished and ready to be placed on the market. It’s just that added Hawaiian Spirituality that just makes you feel good.

Well, I have probably bragged enough on this family. They brought us back to HGTV. I hadn’t watched HGTV in years prior to discovering the Kalama’s. Oh, and Kalama means Torch, or Flaming Torch in Hawaiian. And they are certainly lights that we love to follow.

Aloha and Mahalo,

Julie

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April 19, 2026

Still Unpacking, Still Putting Things Away, Still Eating Off Paper Plates,

And Drinking Out Of Disposable Cups, and Coffee Cups

Just An Average Day With Isabelle

Stickers All Over My Legs

(I usually leave them on even after she has left for the day.

I collect the mail from the street while wearing them too.) 🙂

Ever since we got back from Hawaii we have been very “chill.” Taking our sweet time with getting back into the swing of things. Oh, we do what we have to when we have to do it, but everything else has taken a backseat. What with major events going on at the moment, Gordon is now home for good as it is no longer safe to work overseas. We had planned on him perhaps coming back here later on this year, and perhaps going back the following year for another two years, but now things are so up in the air that plans have had to be altered. It looks like he is home for the foreseeable future. He did just get another job here doing what he does. He’ll just do it here and not over there. But now gone is all that hazard pay. 🙁 But, we would much rather have Gordon home safe and sound now.

Both Gordon and myself have at least one suitcase each that we haven’t unpacked from Hawaii yet. We’ve just been doing other things. I think we took “Hawaiian Time” too serious. There is EST, MT, PST, HST, and Hawaiian Time, or Island Time. The locals of Hawaii are on their own time and they get to things when they get to things. 🙂 I know that it frustrated Mackenzie’s mother when it came to the wedding planning. It actually wasn’t until the Sunday before the wedding that was scheduled for that Friday, did the Wedding Planner get back to her. Yeah, they cut things very close but that is just who they are. I will say that I did warn her. 🙂 But, as far as anyone could tell the wedding went off without a hitch. It was beautiful! I did thank the wedding planner when I met her and told her that she did a great job.

I’m still working on the other Hawaiian website pages of our trip there. It has been a lot of fun to recount it all.

At this writing I am still working on them. Although I have gotten a few done.

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Happy Birthday Mackenzie

Today is Mackenzie’s Birthday, April 19th.

Here Are A Few Gifts I Sent Her

I Purchased Them From CocoNene

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel Wooden Puzzle

Brodie and Mackenzie stayed at The Royal Hawaiian for about a week when they first arrived on the island. I saw that CocoNene had a wooden puzzle of the hotel and thought I would include it with the other gifts.

The U.S. Mail at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

(Brodie Enjoyed This)

Spam Musubi, and Eating at their Hotel

Royal Hawaiian View, Diamond Head

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Brodie and Mackenzie, Diamond Head in the Background

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COASTERS! GET YOUR COASTERS!!!

I also mailed Brodie and Mackenzie the extra coasters that I had made as party favors at the Rehearsal Dinner Luau to pass out to all. We couldn’t take all of the coasters as they would be too heavy in our luggage.

I am embarrassed to say that I bought too many. I honestly didn’t know how to order them and wrote in the wrong amounts. But, as I see it, Brodie and Mackenzie either have ‘coasters for life,’ or excellent ornaments for their 2026 Kalikimaka Tree. 🙂

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CocoNene For US!

It was while we were shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center for a dress for me to wear to the wedding, that we discovered CocoNene. We were instantly smitten! The wooden art, the artists, the beauty of all of the creations! We loved it all! That is when we did do some shopping. We also did some shopping once we got back home and visited their website.

I Am Redoing The Guest Bathroom Here

Ever since my nasty neighbors started harassing me, I do all my bathing and skin care in the guest bathroom.

I was very happy to recreate it into this lovely Hawaiian sanctuary.

Here are some of my CocoNene Trivets! Love them!

Kulii

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March, 2026

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March 28, 2026

Back From Aloha, Banyan Tree, Hale Koa Hotel, Waikiki

It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged. We have had a lot going on in our lives. Gordon came home from working overseas in February. He got home before my birthday. Because he came in late at night our son-in-law Brian picked him up from the airport. Interestingly enough he flew over the country everyone is talking about right now.

It was less than a week after he got home that where he works overseas was evacuated. Gordon was on the phone trying to find his stuff. It was all sent to another state’s base here on the mainland. It wasn’t until we got to Hawaii on the 28th. of February and saw the news that I knew why they were evacuated to begin with. Gordon took leave to come home before all hell broke loose. Happy he was here already.

Yes, we were in Hawaii and had just checked into our room and turned on the news. That’s when we saw what was going on. It just seemed so bizarre to be on vacation while all hell is breaking loose. I do write about our vacation in other website pages on our website. The vacation was much needed by both of us! We did have a nice time in spite of everything going on in the world.

You see, our son Brodie married his long-time girlfriend Mackenzie on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii on March 6th.. 🙂

We were in Hawaii almost 2 weeks. We put our dogs into a kennel during that time. I just knew they would be mad at us when we came back for them once we got home. I was right, they were.

You know on videos online you’ll see these dogs running happily into their owner’s arms after having not seen them for awhile? I kind of thought that would happen. Nope! They just looked at us like, ‘You left us.’ Me, ‘I know, but we came back for you.’ Dogs, ‘You left us.’ Me, Yes, but Brodie got married to Mackenzie in Hawaii and we couldn’t take you with us, so we put you in a fun camp for Spring Break. Yeah!!!’

Dogs, ‘You left us.’ And they then proceeded to urine on the living room carpet. So, yeah, there was that. 🙁

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We got back home a few weeks ago. So many things had changed on the island. In a way I hate that we went back. I liked remembering it the way that we left it in 1999. There were some negative changes on the island, as well as some positive. It does look like we made it out from the island just in time. Our last full day there was spent with it raining, and having dumped a good 33 inches of rain overnight on us! Our hotel lost power for 8 hours until it was restored. We weren’t planning on doing very much that last full day because we did a lot of laundry and packing. We also put together 3 boxes to mail to our house of goodies we bought over there. Gordon ran those to the post office while I kept Isabelle in our room. Veronica and Brian had gone to the North Shore to tour the Jurassic Park tourist area. Luckily I had brought coloring books and crayons for Isabelle, along with some Bluey story books. Plus, Veronica had left behind her tablet with some movies for Isabelle. And as always, I had some great local snacks. (Guava, Ube, and Coconut Shortbread Cookies.)

Luckily for us our flight was scheduled to depart in a window between storms the following day. Also, we got out of there and back home without the back log of flight departures due to not funding our TSA Agents. We did really feel for them. Having to work those long and hard hours with no pay. The ones that we encountered were very professional and working so hard.

And let’s not forget the additional amounts of rain that fell on the islands after we left. I do appreciate that we got out just in time. But, we also can’t help but feel for the local’s left to deal with that devastation.

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Since we’ve been back home, and at this writing, I still have 2 suitcases to unpack and put away, I also have the 3 boxes we mailed home to really deal with. Not to mention we still have some Christmas to put away. That’s right. Some Christmas is still up. AND, I am even leaving up other Christmas things in our dining room, just because. I’m doing that because we really don’t know Gordon’s schedule or where he will be working in the near future? This week he attended a school to help with his job, and he is going into the base, but they really don’t have anything permanent for him, or others in his situation right now, so things are kind of iffy. Will he be here? Will he be sent back overseas somewhere? We just don’t know?

We are also down to only 1 car. We weren’t expecting him here now so therefore he needs it. And because things are so iffy, we don’t know if we need to buy another car now, or wait until later on? We do still have the Santa Fe that is dead, and sits in our driveway. We will need to have that one towed away and traded for whatever Jeep Gordon wants to buy either now, or in the future.

Living with so much uncertainty seems to be The American Way right now.

But, right now all we can do is to deal with things as they come. It’s spring here and that means we need to get on the ball and hire our yard guys to deal with the massive amount of leaves in our yard. Pull up all those dead things that died during our many frosts we had back in February. Taxes are due April 15th. While Gordon is here he needs to take care of all those doctor appointments that he needs to catch up, (bone spurs.) And, we just need to get things organized and packed away in the attic here in the house.

I am dying to create so many things from all the inspiration of Hawaii and the Islands. I am also very happy to catch up with my website. I’ve enjoyed finishing up old website pages from the past, along with new one’s I’m creating. We’re eating off paper plates and cups because I really don’t want to deal with dishes right now. I even lost about 6-10 pounds in Hawaii that I am afraid I will put back on just because we are grabbing a lot of take out at this time. 🙁

Oh, well, Doing the best I can,

Julie

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February, 2026

February, 2026 has 4 Mondays, 4 Tuesdays, 4 Wednesdays, 4 Thursdays, 4 Fridays, 4 Saturdays, and 4 Sundays.

Also, my birthday this year will be on Friday the 13th. 🙂

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February 13, 2026

Turning 65

It’s so hard to believe that I am now 65, but yet it also isn’t.

I can remember the lyrics to songs that I sang when I was 6, 7, 8, years old, etc. I was even singing some of them the other day.

So far 65 feels pretty good!

We tried signing me up for Medicare but because Gordon is younger than me, and still working, I don’t quality yet.

I wish that I knew when I was younger what I know today. Because I never would have cared what others thought of me. Ageing comes with this badass shield that protects you from the arrows others throw at you. They just deflect off of it. It’s really nice actually. Sometimes I feel like Wonder Woman with her Bracelets that reflect bullets. I think that I learned who to care about and who not to.

We are currently living in very hard times and it breaks my heart the amount of indifference that some people have about it all.

I can’t change anyone’s feelings and I no longer care to try. I just want to enjoy my life right now and the people that I love the most. I’m not out to save anyone, they are on their own. I’m done trying. I do feel for those vulnerable people who are suffering.

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My Haupia Birthday Cake with Haupia Frosting

The Hawaiian Royal Crown was an old stencil that I bought back in the early 90’s when I was stenciling coconuts to sell at Craft Fair’s.

The older that I get the more proud of myself that I am. I am letting go of what I cannot control and protecting all that I can, while I can. I think it’s what we leave behind that says a lot about who we are. I want to leave behind great children, and a wonderful granddaughter.

I don’t know what 66 will be like, but I do think that 65 will be pretty terrific!

Aloha, and Mahalo Nui Loa,

Julie Barefoot

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January, 2026

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January 31, 2026

Before, On My Way

After, On My Way Home

I realize that I do tend to post photos of myself in the car going somewhere, but if I didn’t there wouldn’t be many photos to post.

I wanted to write something today, January 31st., before February arrived.

I am looking forward to February, there will be a lot going on. All good! I just kind of wanted to get January out of the way.

In the photos above you can definitely see my white hair. It’s not really grey, it’s white. I colored it about a month ago and you would never know it to look at me. My hair grows very fast, annoyingly so. Also, I’m wondering if my white hair just isn’t taking the color anymore? When I have make-up on and my hair styled nicely then the white hair looks good on me. However, when I don’t have make-up on and I have it back in a pony tail, I just look old, sad, and tired. I’m just not ready to look like I belong on some revamped version of The Golden Girls. I also want my face to reflect how I feel. I don’t like looking tired when I’m not. I also don’t like looking sad when I’m not.

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The photos above I took on Thursday. I drove into the Air Force Base to do some much needed shopping. I hadn’t been in a long time. I was low on all my supplies. I spent so much money at the Commissary, but brought home barely anything to eat. 🙂

I wanted to tell you what I observed while on the base:

I tend to only buy gas when I am on the base. I feel much safer buying it there. I always hear about how people who buy their gas around here are always getting their cards scanned by criminals while at these large gas station business’s. So I do tend to fill up when I am on the base.

I then went to the Exchange hoping to find some things for Isabelle, and to just look around and see if there was anything else I wanted to buy? The children’s section, which is normally packed full of a large assortment of so many things, just looked very ‘thin.’ I bought her some crocks to wear here at my house, they cost $25.00. They normally would have cost under $5.00. There were no Bluey clothes, which in the past there were racks of them. I did find a few clothes for her, but nothing along the line of what I am used to finding and buying for her. In the toy and book sections, they were very thin as well. Hardly anything Bluey or really anything at all. Not many toys at all, not many books at all. I was very disappointed.

The women’s clothing section which is usually packed full, as in an entire length of the store area, but was very thinned out. I did come across some black pants that were ‘Made In Jordon.’ I have never seen anything ‘Made In Jordon’ in the Exchange in my life! And I look at those kinds of things. They were priced normally for $97.00 and I got them for the Exchange price of $72.00, but just a month ago those pants would have been around $38.00, in line with how the other items would be priced. This is a big indication of how things are going for the military families who depend on the Exchange and Commissary for affordable prices because most military families live from paycheck to paycheck as it is.

The Commissary items were also priced higher than normal. I can only assume that these are the Trump Tarif’s taking effect.

The funny thing is that most of your white military are republican’s.

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Life In America Now

Hillary Clinton did say about getting our reproductive rights back would take generations. It will. Also, what we are all going through now will take decades to undo and restore. It took 10 years to recover from the George W. Bush Recession. It will take longer to recover from what we are going through now. And there is nothing we can do about it. Oh, we can protest, and we should, but when this disastrous regime is gone, it will take a long time to rebuild, as in decades or even generations.

I don’t know how bad things will get, I just know it will be bad. But in the meantime, I want to enjoy life when I can, eat, drink and be merry when it is important to do so. If I can’t buy anything new for myself for years then I will b o.k. I am only worried about Isabelle as she is a growing little girl that will need things as she grows.

We have a lot to look forward to in the next few months. For all I know this will be the only life I get and I want to spend what time I have left having some joy and not so much sorrow as we see right now in our country. Sometimes we just cannot ignore the sorrow, but we can deal with it our own unique way. I like how the artists out there are dealing with the current tragedy’s. They paint pictures of the fallen, whether on canvas or on sand at the beach. They sing, they write songs, like Bruce Springsteen. Things may be bad but I feel as if I am in good company. No matter what happens next. I really don’t feel alone. In a weird way I kind of feel like someone I don’t even know has my back. 🙂

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My Log Blog Documenting Stalking and Harassment From My Neighbor

I Did An Update

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There are always good things in bad times. You just need to look for them. I think my upbringing of being the new kid in school as often as I was, and enduring the abuse from my parents for decades, has actually helped me in these times to deal with everything that is going on. I learned to survive it all. It wasn’t easy, but I did it!

If I can do it anybody can! But for now, we all do have each other. 🙂

Thank you for being my Cyber Spirit Friends,

Julie

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January 24, 2026

Doing The Best I Can

(Having some Cold, COLD, weather here in Florida.)

I want to blog but in some ways I don’t know what to say, yet I know I want to say something.

We are all going through so many trying times right now. I see the ending, I just don’t know when the ending will be? Or how horrific it will all be in the end? Everything runs it’s course. The more evil, the sooner the ending. Evil will always eventually burn itself out, or will be snuffed out, but not before it has done terrible damage to those that don’t deserve it. And there will be many damaged human beings from all of this.

It’s difficult to keep this blog all positive and happy when I am surrounded by so much unhappiness in my country right now. It also seems a bit insensitive to try and ignore it all. Trust me, I may not write about it, but I cry about it every single day.

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However, it was last February 12, 2025 that Brodie and Mackenzie took me into Sarasota, Florida for the day to be at their ‘Save The Date’ photo shoot. They then treated me to a great lunch at The Columbia Restaurant. It was in the car ride to Sarasota that I told them about a scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, where Harry and Ginny were discussing Bill and Fleur’s upcoming nuptials.

Ginny said something to the effect of, ‘It seems ridiculous to be having a wedding at this time.’ And Harry said something to the effect, ‘If you think about it, it is a perfect time for a wedding.’

I immediately knew what he meant by that. And it reminded me of something gay activist Dan Savage once said about the AIDS Epidemic:

‘We would bury our loved ones in the morning, grieve in the afternoon, and dance at night. It was the dance that got us through.’

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We all need something wonderful to celebrate. That is what Brodie and Mackenzie’s upcoming wedding will mean to a lot of us. I told them about what I write above because I didn’t want them at any time to regret getting married in such harsh times. Sometimes that special celebration during harsh times is exactly what we all need.

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On a Personal Note:

Gordon will be coming home from working overseas in less than 3 weeks. 🙂

I am doing my best to get the house back in order for when he comes home. Not that it is in terrible condition, it’s just that because I keep Isabelle a few days a week, and have 2 dirty dogs in the house, this is more of a daycare/dog kennel than it is an organized house.

I now have many irons in the fire and I am just trying to do the best I can.

I no longer have the energy that I once had when it comes to dealing with people. Sometimes I feel like a failure. That emotion comes from all the years my mother would chastise me for not being perfect. For not having a lot of energy to do what she thought I should be doing. I’ve come to realize that I need to give myself some slack. I did the best that I could given the abuse that I had to endure. I’ve grown tremendously from those early years. I enjoy my own company, pursuing my own interests. Yes, I am looking forward to Gordon coming home. We are a team, and I will be delegating many responsibilities his way. 🙂 Luckily, he doesn’t mind those kinds of things. Also, we have many fun things planned for both of us to enjoy. 🙂

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However, we do live in times where the people that surround us are not that great. I read today about a senior citizen male here in Florida was arrested for a DUI. He insisted that he didn’t drink and drive because he only drank at the stop lights. How do any of us reason with someone who thinks that way? That is the MAGA mind. There is no reasoning with them. All that you can do, is to stay away from them because they are just too dangerous to know. As much as I want to help people at this time, there will come a time when it will be every man for themselves. A person can only do so much.

Sorry to be so dark but we are living in dark times.

Trying to shine a little bit of light!

Julie

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January 8, 2026

Happy Birthday Gordon

Because we have a Hawaiian Wedding to plan, and all that comes with that, I started buying Gordon some Hawaiian shirts for the occasions where he will need to wear them. I didn’t want to send them to him overseas, that was pointless, so I started photographing them in our bedroom, sent them to him one in each email, and he “opened” his Christmas gifts on Christmas Day that way.

But, I did save the Duke shirt for his birthday!

He will be opening this today!

Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku

He is THE famous Hawai’i surfer, famous for riding a wave 1 mile on a 16 foot wooden board with no fins. He is legend in Hawaii.

This shirt is THE BOMB for Gordon!

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I also bought him some Asian themed shirts because Hawaii does have a large Asian population and we will be going into China Town, and hopefully eating at Masaharu Morimoto’s restaurant in Waikiki.

The Aloha Shirt on the left looks a bit Christmassy, and the shirt on the right is perfect for everyday.

I have had a lot of fun shopping and planning for our big trip. Hawaii is a Democrat state and we are looking forward to just being around all the diversity and like minded people. There are no billboards in Hawaii, they are outlawed. Not so when traveling to my home state of Georgia. I always know I’m home when I see all The Jesus, Lawyers, and Porn Billboards. Yeah, that’s Christian Georgia for ya. Home, Sweet, Home! 🙂

Aloha for now,

Julie

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The Recipes Start Here

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Kulii’s Teriyaki Spam and Pineapple ‘Ai Pu Ana

(Julie’s Teriyaki Spam and Pineapple Casserole)

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Tiki Tomatoes

This entire recipe was born out of my finding these beauties at the grocery store.

I was actually excited and giddy when placing them into my shopping cart!

Look How Beautiful They Are!

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Ingredients:

Squid Ink Pasta

Tiki Tomatoes

1 Can Teriyaki SPAM, Fried in Chunks

1 Medium Onion, Chopped

1 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped

1 Yellow Bell Pepper, Chopped

1 Can Crushed Pineapple, Drained

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Hawaiian Sea Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce, To Taste

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In a Casserole Dish I placed my chopped Green and Yellow Bell Peppers, as much as I liked.

I then chopped Medium Onion into Chunks, as much as I liked.

I Then Added The Entire Can of Crushed Pineapple, Drained.

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I Then Added My Tomatoes To The Dish, Drizzled Some EVOO Overtop, and Added a Sprinkling of Hawaiian Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper.

Mix Together and Then Place Into a 350F Oven…

You Will Bake For About 20-30 Minutes Depending On Your Oven.

Have a Watchful Eye!

You just want all of the ingredients to have softened. And not be so crunchy.

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Meanwhile….

Teriyaki SPAM and Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce

In a Medium Pan on a Medium Heat, Place Your SPAM that you have Cut into Chunks

Now Place Some of the Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce Into The Pan

Cook on that Medium to Low Heat, Stirring Continuously, Until Caramelized.

While the SPAM is cooking, Boil some Water in a Saucepan and Cook the Pasta Until Al Dente, Then Drain.

Add As Much Pasta As You Like To The SPAM, Stir Together.

Add the Pasta and SPAM to the Casserole, Stir Together, and then Enjoy!

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My Tropical Naan’s

Pineapple Left, Mango Right

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I knew that I wanted to make a Pineapple Pizza with my beautiful Tiki Tomatoes.

I already had the Naan, the Tomatoes, Pomegranate Seeds, and some canned Dole Pineapple Rings.

So, I went shopping trying to find some sort of Pineapple Hummus. Well, I couldn’t find any. However, they did have a Mango Jalapeno Hummus.

BOOM KANANI! That’s it!

So, I bought some Fresh Jalapeno’s and Mango as well.

Ingredients:

Naan

Hummus, I used Plain and Mango/Jalapeno

Tiki Tomatoes

Pineapple Rings, Drained of Liquid

Mango Slices

Jalapeno’s Sliced and Deseeded

Mozzarella Cheese

Pomegranate Seeds

AND,

My Oriental Jezebel Sauce (optional)

Fresh Cilantro (optional)

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I wanted to use the Plain Hummus with the Pineapple Naan

I did Place My Naans Into a 350F Oven for About 5 Minutes

I Then Removed The Naan, and Spread The Hummus onto Each One

Plain Hummus for the Pineapple, and Mango/Jalapeno Hummus for the Mango Naan

Because Pineapple holds so much water, and you don’t want all that water on top of your pizza, I pressed down on the Pineapple Rings with some paper towels to get rid of some of the liquid. It worked, and the pizza tasted better because it wasn’t all soggy on top.