Well, actually what we've got is baby chicks. Three of them are Auracanas, the kind that lay those blue-green eggs. And the newest ones are Pearl Leghorns, they look just like Easter chicks! We got 4 of those. Since these babies are a couple weeks apart in age, they are in separate brooder cages for now, the older ones on the porch and the littles in the livingroom. Eventually, they will all occupy the coop together. In the meantime, we are baby-sitting some young hens while their person is away on the mainland for 5 weeks. So there are definitely chickens in my life again!
The screenhouse grows like the jungle that surrounds it, giving us plenty of greens these days. Tomatoes and cucumbers are setting fruits; the green beans are blossoming and have reached the roof already! Snap peas, carrots, basil, broccoli are all doing really well. Everything else is pretty small still, but it's all getting bigger every day. The rain barrel drip system is working great. The only glitch was yesterday when it didn't get turned off after the timer rang; by the time we thought about it again - you guessed it - the barrel was empty and the beds were very well watered! We were very glad to hear the rains last night!
This evening we will be attending the first get-together of our International Cooking Group. I think there are 20 or so people due to show up, all bringing dishes from host Noel's chosen region: Shanghai, China. I'm in the middle of a major lumpia-making project, so if this post seems a little disjointed it's because I have to keep jumping up the turn them as they cook. I made a test batch a couple weeks ago - thought it would be a good idea since I'd never made them before - and they turned out ono (delicious)! A little plum sauce for dipping and, my oh my, what a yummy appetizer.
The bookings for the vacation rental keep trickling in. We just had a local family and their inlaws from O'ahu, with a cute little 1-year-old girl. Today, a guy who used to live in Pahoa arrived with a couple colleagues for a longer stay while they all attend a teacher training conference. Then some of Mom's friends from Bellingham will spend a night with us! And right after that we have some folks from Bonners Ferry coming to look for land to buy!! That gets us through November with flying colors! After that, there's a big blank until mid-February, but I have a feeling it won't stay that way for long: we seem to get lots of bookings just a few weeks ahead. And we already have a whole batch for the springtime. Interesting business we're in these days... I really enjoy meeting our guests from all over the world.
We'll be taking the homeschool group on a hike to Kaloli Point next week, weather permitting. It's not necessarily that rainy weather would stop us - we're all used to the 'kisses from heaven' - but if there's a storm or big waves from something out at sea, I wouldn't want to take kids out there. It's a lovely wild area of cliffs and rocks, tidepools and freshwater springs, all backed by jungle and the old ancient trail. My kind of place!
May you each find your kind of place and fun things to do!
Aloha, Liz
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