Late Winter Update

Aloha all,

Such a chilly winter this year, all the way down to the 50's - brrrr. (heehee, couldn't resist)
Not as much rain as last winter, but it is raining again now. We have finally figured out how to cope with the high humidity: 2 dehumidifiers, one for the bedroom closet, and one in the studio at night. No mildew since we started this routine. Of course, this means the windows are closed a lot more than before, but we've had enough days when the humidity goes down below 60% or so, and then we open up everything to air out the house. This works for us and our books and such.

Earlier this week, Mike & I disassembled an entire 14,000 water tank up in Volcano Village, bolt by bolt, and piece by piece. It took 2 days of hard work, but now we have it all at home to play around with or hold onto until needed. Mike has an idea of using one tier for a concrete form to build the fish ponds for his aquaculture project; could be reused over and over again this way. The other half might become a swimming pool or maybe we'll sell it. Also got a pump, 3 filters, and a u/v light for treating the water. Pretty good deal!

Went to the Big Island Association of Nurserymen plant sale in Hilo today. Picked up a stephanotis (the Hawaiian wedding flower) and another orchid for the entry garden. We met up with a group of friends there and all decided to go out to dinner at the Nihon Japanese restaurant near Liliuokalani Park. Much talk and fun around the long table. Many of this group also attend the monthly International Dinners we take turns hosting (though we have not had a turn yet). Last weekend it was Peasant Foods of the World - we brought a thick chicken stew with dumplings made with our own chicken (a young rooster) and vegies from the garden.

Our chickens started laying wonderful brown eggs last week! Yay! Actually, these first eggies are from the chickens we're 'babysitting' for Bowen while she's on the mainland for medical tests, etc, but still... Our own chickens will be laying in another month or so. We feed them coconuts, food scraps, lay crumbles, and bugs. They seem to thrive on this diet. Once the aquaponics is going, we'll have azola (a freshwater plant) to add to their feed too. This is a pretty amazing little weed with 30% protein available for animals, including humans. It is much used in India and Africa for livestock and chickens. Sounds promising and it'll grow here, too.

In the gardens, each day we harvest a fig to share, a handful of cherry tomatoes, plenty of kale and bok choi, a couple strawberries, maybe a papaya, a few calamondons, and carrots. Quite a mix! Lettuce is coming on, broccoli and green onions too, and I have a bunch more seeds that need planting asap. Been planting a lot of sweet potatoes in raised beds outside. The liliko'i vine is really taking over the side fence, as we hoped it would - haven't seen a flower on it yet, any time now...

In between all this (and more), I've been working on a baby quilt for Grandbaby #2, coming this spring! A fun project, but it's taking so much more time than I thought it would. Lots of hand-stitching. I hope it's done in time...

I'll end with these thoughts:
The question is not who is going to give me permission, the question is who is going to stop me? Don't wait for someone to tell you that you can, just do it! ~Ayn Rand

Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness. ~James Thurber