It has been interesting to be here in Hawaii in June. Our first time ever! Last year during this month we were in Bonners Ferry & Seattle, and prior to our moving here, our vacation times ranged from the end of winter to mud season. So it really is our first ever June on the islands.
And it has been hot! Well, not today - so far - but in general. Today we're getting a succession of quick rain showers, with bright, already-hot sunshine in between. The trend is generally clearing though, which will be good for the beach croquet potluck party we've been invited to attend this afternoon.
We've been having to skip our morning walks many days. If we don't get started early enough, it's way too hot for our usual 3 mile route. On the days we do get going early, it's a lovely way to get up and moving. Saying good morning to the neighbors and folk we meet along the way is a big part of what makes this so enjoyable.
Our crossing guard friend, Manny, is an elderly local fellow who mans the crosswalks in front of the Keonepoko elementary school down the street. We always wave or talk story with him when he's out there. Now that school's closed for summer break, he's not out there twice a day of course, but it turns out that his morning walking route and ours overlap, so we do get to see him now and then still!
A couple days ago, Joe, one of the maintenance workers for the water system at the top of our street, stopped his rig to hand us a bag of mountain apples, "for a snack while you walk." These are a popular tropical delicacy, very thin-skinned and juicy. The skin can range from bright apple red to pale pink, or even brownish-red. The aroma on first bite is of rose petals! Amazing! And the texture is like a crisp and juicy pear, with one very large brown seed inside. Very refreshing and delicious.
One thing we have really noticed is that the sun moves much further to the north than we thought possible at these low latitudes. Not like north Idaho of course, but still. As the day progresses, the sun will shine through the windows on each side of the house. Good thing we didn't further thin out the kukui tree protecting the northwest window. The setting sun filters through its big green leaves and makes the nicest patterns inside. After today, old Sol will slowly make its way back southward to set behind the flanks of Mauna Loa.
I hope you are enjoying this longest day of the year!
And happy Father's Day, too!
:-)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
I'm baaaaaaack!
Okay, okay, I'll try to get this going again. I cannot believe how many hits I got during my long absence!! Awesome and encouraging.
There's no way to fill in all the details of the past 3 months, but those of you who have kept in touch know what's been going on with us during that time anyway. Suffice it to say, winter is long gone, spring has passed too, and we are well into summertime weather. Whoo-hoo!
I love the days when the tradewinds are a-blowing, cooling us and refreshing both air and spirits. When the trades die down, the island simmers in the heat and humidity, and the vog (volcanic haze) rolls down the mountain to choke out Hilo Bay. Fortunately for us, we were led to this wonderful little spot on the east side of the island, where the sun rises first and the freshest air blows. It doesn't take much of a breeze to clear away the vog from here, but we do feel for the folks elsewhere on the island chain, especially when the Kona winds blow from the south-southwest. Then the vog is carried right up the chain. Intersting to be so dependant on the winds and which direction they're coming from.
The garden grows like a weed, like a jungle. And the jungle grows like mad, too! Our liliko'i (passion fruit) vine has been flowering for a while now but only recently began setting fruit. We are so looking forward to bucketsfull of the luscious, juicy, tangy, sweet-tart goodness that is liliko'i. Every couple days we get a owlful of cherry tomatoes, a handful of strawberries, several calamondons. There's plenty of greens each day: bok cho, mizuna, chard, kale, broccoli, Okinawan spinach, sweetpotato greens, and more. We eat pretty well from the garden. We got about a dozen figs in the spring, and are still awaiting any sign of banana flowering. Oh, and homegrown papayas - yummmmm.
The chickens are all laying so well that we have to keep lining up customers to buy the extra eggies. Not a problem. My friend, Devany, is a food writer and will be doing a feature on our hens and their pretty three colors of eggs. I'll let you know when she posts it.
We have a couple weeks in between guests right now, hoping to get some more projects done before Mom comes to visit, before hurricane season really gets going, and before we leave for 3 weeks on our own vacation. Towards that end, Mike is laying pipe out to the screenhouse & chickens so that when the rains stop for a week at a time (or longer) the birds will still have water. Extremely important! Other projects lined up & ready to go are making hinged windows for ventilating the studio better, finishing touches on Mike's shop, and maybe even getting some trimwork done inside... Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? ;-)
We have really settled in here. We do our 3 mile walks almost every day. I've just about figured out how to garden in this climate and with this (lack of) soil. We are finally getting some good friendships going. I feel very happy to be here now.
There's no way to fill in all the details of the past 3 months, but those of you who have kept in touch know what's been going on with us during that time anyway. Suffice it to say, winter is long gone, spring has passed too, and we are well into summertime weather. Whoo-hoo!
I love the days when the tradewinds are a-blowing, cooling us and refreshing both air and spirits. When the trades die down, the island simmers in the heat and humidity, and the vog (volcanic haze) rolls down the mountain to choke out Hilo Bay. Fortunately for us, we were led to this wonderful little spot on the east side of the island, where the sun rises first and the freshest air blows. It doesn't take much of a breeze to clear away the vog from here, but we do feel for the folks elsewhere on the island chain, especially when the Kona winds blow from the south-southwest. Then the vog is carried right up the chain. Intersting to be so dependant on the winds and which direction they're coming from.
The garden grows like a weed, like a jungle. And the jungle grows like mad, too! Our liliko'i (passion fruit) vine has been flowering for a while now but only recently began setting fruit. We are so looking forward to bucketsfull of the luscious, juicy, tangy, sweet-tart goodness that is liliko'i. Every couple days we get a owlful of cherry tomatoes, a handful of strawberries, several calamondons. There's plenty of greens each day: bok cho, mizuna, chard, kale, broccoli, Okinawan spinach, sweetpotato greens, and more. We eat pretty well from the garden. We got about a dozen figs in the spring, and are still awaiting any sign of banana flowering. Oh, and homegrown papayas - yummmmm.
The chickens are all laying so well that we have to keep lining up customers to buy the extra eggies. Not a problem. My friend, Devany, is a food writer and will be doing a feature on our hens and their pretty three colors of eggs. I'll let you know when she posts it.
We have a couple weeks in between guests right now, hoping to get some more projects done before Mom comes to visit, before hurricane season really gets going, and before we leave for 3 weeks on our own vacation. Towards that end, Mike is laying pipe out to the screenhouse & chickens so that when the rains stop for a week at a time (or longer) the birds will still have water. Extremely important! Other projects lined up & ready to go are making hinged windows for ventilating the studio better, finishing touches on Mike's shop, and maybe even getting some trimwork done inside... Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? ;-)
We have really settled in here. We do our 3 mile walks almost every day. I've just about figured out how to garden in this climate and with this (lack of) soil. We are finally getting some good friendships going. I feel very happy to be here now.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Voggy Volcano
Today we got to do something we have been excited about for some time now: helping at the hula kahiko (old style hula) performance up at Volcano Park. After the last performance in February, we talked with Marcia Hee, the woman who coordinates the whole thing and asked if we could help since it's one of our favorite parts of living here. She was delighted, and we were even more delighted that she actually called! So we got up early today in preparation for this event. What fun!
Well, it was soooooooooooooo voggy that we weren't sure we'd even be able to get out of the car. In fact, I stayed in the car while Mike tried to find out if the performance was even going to happen at all. He came back needing a Benadryl duw to his allergic reaction to the sulphur in the air. Oh dear, what were we getting ourselves into?
But the wind shifted just a bit, just enough to allow us workers to get everything set up inside the Kilauea Visitor's Center instead of outside on the hula platform. Not the same as those wonderful outdoor performances, I know, but better seating anyway, though a limited amount of it.
Mike & I were put in charge of the signs, all needing to be redone a bit and put in different than usual spots, due to the change in venue. Then he stayed outside to redirect foot traffic (the Benadryl worked wonders), and I went inside to help people figure it out from there. Also helped an older Japanese couple who had questions about the park and had a hard time making themselves understood - no problemo for me though - I'm pretty good with all these wonderful accents we hear on the islands.
As the auditorium filled up, I had the not-so-fun job of guarding the door and telling people they had to wait to see if there would be room for them inside. Most of them were nice about it, and in the end, we managed to get everybody in, many standing along the sides & in the back. Then the performance started. I stayed in the doorway to help stragglers find a place or wait for a place. Mike came in for a bit, then left to chat with a friend. It was very hot & stuffy indoors with so many people all packed in together; we reopened the doors and waves of heat poured out. Maybe the a/c wasn't working?
I managed to see glimpses of the performance and 2 entire dances, helped keep the doorway cleared for the keiki (children) dancers to come & go, each one so adorable.
At then as people were leaving, I gathered the little survey forms - only about 18-20 were turned in out of about 300 people. Mike & Wes (the friend) had already taken down most of the signs so that was easy.
Next, we both were recruited to help pass out drinks & snacks for the dancers & kumus (teachers) & drivers. I was busy pouring and refilling cups with pineapple-gingerale punch; there were boiled sweetpotatoes to munch on, peanut-butter brownies, & cookies - all much appreciated by the young dancers after their hour-long performance. They were all so sweet. We got to talk story with one of the driver-dads, and we even got hugs from several of the girls.
Marcia, the coordinator, was very enthusiastic about our help and happy that we wanted to do it again next time. She gave us each a ti lei and many hugs. Said she kept coming across our card (that we gave her last month) and so remembered us and remembered that she really liked our energy. Of course, that made us feel good!
After all that, we had lunch at the Volcano House. They have a wondeful buffet room overlooking the Kilauea Crater, today filled with fumes. Huge gusts of wind rattled the windows as rain clouds got lost in the crater - all very dramatic and exciting!
Now we are glad to be back home where the air is clear and warm, very windy though. Opened up the house to air it out, and just hanging out for the rest of the afternoon, taking a little R&R time for ourselves.
Hoping you are each enjoying your weekend, too! :-)
Well, it was soooooooooooooo voggy that we weren't sure we'd even be able to get out of the car. In fact, I stayed in the car while Mike tried to find out if the performance was even going to happen at all. He came back needing a Benadryl duw to his allergic reaction to the sulphur in the air. Oh dear, what were we getting ourselves into?
But the wind shifted just a bit, just enough to allow us workers to get everything set up inside the Kilauea Visitor's Center instead of outside on the hula platform. Not the same as those wonderful outdoor performances, I know, but better seating anyway, though a limited amount of it.
Mike & I were put in charge of the signs, all needing to be redone a bit and put in different than usual spots, due to the change in venue. Then he stayed outside to redirect foot traffic (the Benadryl worked wonders), and I went inside to help people figure it out from there. Also helped an older Japanese couple who had questions about the park and had a hard time making themselves understood - no problemo for me though - I'm pretty good with all these wonderful accents we hear on the islands.
As the auditorium filled up, I had the not-so-fun job of guarding the door and telling people they had to wait to see if there would be room for them inside. Most of them were nice about it, and in the end, we managed to get everybody in, many standing along the sides & in the back. Then the performance started. I stayed in the doorway to help stragglers find a place or wait for a place. Mike came in for a bit, then left to chat with a friend. It was very hot & stuffy indoors with so many people all packed in together; we reopened the doors and waves of heat poured out. Maybe the a/c wasn't working?
I managed to see glimpses of the performance and 2 entire dances, helped keep the doorway cleared for the keiki (children) dancers to come & go, each one so adorable.
At then as people were leaving, I gathered the little survey forms - only about 18-20 were turned in out of about 300 people. Mike & Wes (the friend) had already taken down most of the signs so that was easy.
Next, we both were recruited to help pass out drinks & snacks for the dancers & kumus (teachers) & drivers. I was busy pouring and refilling cups with pineapple-gingerale punch; there were boiled sweetpotatoes to munch on, peanut-butter brownies, & cookies - all much appreciated by the young dancers after their hour-long performance. They were all so sweet. We got to talk story with one of the driver-dads, and we even got hugs from several of the girls.
Marcia, the coordinator, was very enthusiastic about our help and happy that we wanted to do it again next time. She gave us each a ti lei and many hugs. Said she kept coming across our card (that we gave her last month) and so remembered us and remembered that she really liked our energy. Of course, that made us feel good!
After all that, we had lunch at the Volcano House. They have a wondeful buffet room overlooking the Kilauea Crater, today filled with fumes. Huge gusts of wind rattled the windows as rain clouds got lost in the crater - all very dramatic and exciting!
Now we are glad to be back home where the air is clear and warm, very windy though. Opened up the house to air it out, and just hanging out for the rest of the afternoon, taking a little R&R time for ourselves.
Hoping you are each enjoying your weekend, too! :-)
Friday, March 6, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
And Hello 2009!
We have been enjoying a respite from the rains with a couple gloriously sunny days! Mauna Kea was showing all bright with her mantle of snow. Awesome! This morning was full of rainbows, which of course means there was rain again, but only a light drizzle so far compared to the firehose deluge last month.
Mike found us a couple used dehumidifiers and what a difference that has made! It does mean the windows are closed more often, but we get all aired out when we can, and besides, we spend a lot of time outside anyway. Now we're not always worrying about our books, clothing, furniture, and everything else in the house. We're learning!
The crab spiders are back with this cooler weather. It's funny, we always thought there were hundreds of spiders here all the time; then we realized that we used to only come over during the winter. Turns out, that's when the spiders are around too. When summertime comes around, it's so much easier to walk outdoors: no big, sturdy spiderwebs to break through! I must look a sight waving a long stick in front of me (to knock down the webs) as I wander about the yard, casting my anti-arachnid spells. Those of you who know me know that, though they certainly are fascinating little critters, I don't particularly care for spiders much.
Another wintertime regular, much more beloved than spiders, has also returned for the season: the humpback whales! Saw my first one of the year last weekend, splashing and spouting in Hilo Bay. We don't see nearly as many along the Puna coastline as we used to see from Lahaina, but they do often cruise by close to the shore. The steep rocky cliffs make for deep water close in. Some folks say they've heard whalesong at night while camping along the shoreline! The Hawaiian word for whale is 'kohala', and the Kohala District in the northwest part of this island is so named for the big rolling hills that look like the backs of whales.
The coqui chorus is going strong tonight, which means it's time for bed. I love falling asleep to the serenade of these little treefrogs with the big voice. Just so long as they don't park themselves right outside my bedroom window!
Aloha, Liz
Mike found us a couple used dehumidifiers and what a difference that has made! It does mean the windows are closed more often, but we get all aired out when we can, and besides, we spend a lot of time outside anyway. Now we're not always worrying about our books, clothing, furniture, and everything else in the house. We're learning!
The crab spiders are back with this cooler weather. It's funny, we always thought there were hundreds of spiders here all the time; then we realized that we used to only come over during the winter. Turns out, that's when the spiders are around too. When summertime comes around, it's so much easier to walk outdoors: no big, sturdy spiderwebs to break through! I must look a sight waving a long stick in front of me (to knock down the webs) as I wander about the yard, casting my anti-arachnid spells. Those of you who know me know that, though they certainly are fascinating little critters, I don't particularly care for spiders much.
Another wintertime regular, much more beloved than spiders, has also returned for the season: the humpback whales! Saw my first one of the year last weekend, splashing and spouting in Hilo Bay. We don't see nearly as many along the Puna coastline as we used to see from Lahaina, but they do often cruise by close to the shore. The steep rocky cliffs make for deep water close in. Some folks say they've heard whalesong at night while camping along the shoreline! The Hawaiian word for whale is 'kohala', and the Kohala District in the northwest part of this island is so named for the big rolling hills that look like the backs of whales.
The coqui chorus is going strong tonight, which means it's time for bed. I love falling asleep to the serenade of these little treefrogs with the big voice. Just so long as they don't park themselves right outside my bedroom window!
Aloha, Liz
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