Goodbye 2014...

... but so far we haven't had to say goodbye to Pahoa-town or our home.

The lava keeps flowing, but it's taking it's own sweet time. We sure don't mind that! We've gotten used to the whole "hurry up and wait" mode, always on the alert, but also taking time to gather with friends and to tend the garden.

I've had to unpack a few items that were needed since the first mad dash to get away from impending doom has passed. Who knew it would take four months and counting? Mike has returned to the perimeter fence-building project on the new place: three sides are finished now - more on that in a future post.

Basically, our situation is more of the same: we check the flow status online every morning and evening... keep an eye on the maps and on how close the helicopters are flying overhead... say goodbye to more friends as they move away... and wait as patiently as we are able. Some days are easier than others, but we're getting pretty good at it by now.

I'm including this morning's video from Mick Kalber and Paradise Helicopters. These guys do more overflights of the lava flow than any of the officials seem to do, and they always have the most informative visuals, accompanied by lovely Hawaiian slack key. No need for a voice-over to interpret what you're seeing, their blurb below will help if you're unfamiliar with the area.

"Since our overflight last Friday 12/26, lava has crossed the firebreak road (cut from the top of Apa`a Street to Ainaloa) and advanced about 40 yards towards the Pahoa Marketplace. It is now four-tenths of a mile from the Malama Market and moving slowly, but steadily. Numerous small outbreaks were visible upslope of the flow front, mostly on the surface of the active flow rather than in the trees. Much more activity continues in and around the trees several miles up near the geothermal pad site. Some surface activity also continues to be seen near the Pu`u `O`o vent... a skylight remains open there as well. As scattered as the flow appears now, the flow front does not appear to be stopping, but the level of descent and sluggish nature of the flow front would indicate that although it is less than a half mile away, it will still be some time before it reaches either the Pahoa Marketplace or Highway 130."