Bloomers for Us Boomers!

Cotyledon Happy Young Lady

I plead ignorant of the names of all these amazing blooms that are popping up in the yard right now.

Only one plant below, with the yellow cala-shape was here when we moved in four years ago. This is the first year it has bloomed. The bloom is about 7" tall but the huge leaves are nearly 4' long!
Other specimens were gathered or gifted. The upper left chandelier-type is a succulent that over grows in an ancient cemetery along the famous Red Road in Puna -- close to the ocean. In our yard they grow in a well drained nutrient deprived area similar to that of the beach area where we gathered some, leaving appropriate ho'okupu (gifts of gratitude.)

The star-shaped pale yellow ones were gifts from a neighbor and this is their first bloom. (I have a call into the friends who gave it to us and will add the name soon.)

The pink ornamental "pineapple" one was another give-away from local jungle gardener with a warning -- the spiked leaves have the most deadly thorns; they do -- the worse of any bromeliad I have met! The entire "head" will soon be covered with small purple flowers -- that are just now becoming visible.

Over the past 4+ years my garden has become an integral extension of my home. Artfully working with and learning from the land and plants continues to be a deeply entwined relationship of ALOHA and MAHALO.

Valentine's Day

"I'm sorry, dad...we fixed it!"

It's Phil in his "new" Valentine's T-shirt....but look a little closer. We ALL love our old soft T-shirts and reluctantly they eventually end up as dust cloths and paint brush cleaners. Well, THIS T-shirt was artistically given a new life.

The CIRCLES show where the big holes WERE (note tiny paw prints>)....

Every household has a mischievous member of the family -- an inventive instigator. Such is the case at our house and "her" name is I'I Lani (the midget from heaven...or from ??)  Anyway, the other day Phil left a dirty T-shirt on the floor by the bed and guess who got it and then enticed Poko to have a rousing game of tug-of-war with it.  The result, when I found it was two jagged holes.


Phil was ready to turn the T-shirt into rags, but Poko felt so bad he decided to see if "we" could save it. He reminded me that a couple years ago I took 35 years of T-shirts apart to make myself an art-quilt. So "we" patched the holes in Phil's soft ol' shirt and then decorated it to match the motif of the original fish-and-fish-hook" art. Poko was very pleased -- and so was "dad."

Close Encounters...with SILLINESS

Sound board playing music in "Close Encounters' movie

Painting....OR...Making alien music?

...what?   Well, it is all just a bit silly, but that's a good thing, right? So, a couple nights ago, while I am deep into one of my favorite Science Fiction series (Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh) Phil decides to watch "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" movie. I don't care how many times I have seen it, the communication that takes place through MUSIC***, at the end always chokes me up.

If you ENLARGE this photo, you'll see our sign.

Today we are returning to the on-going task of dealing with the deteriorating deck paint  -- sanding and priming it for painting. You have to understand, sanding and painting a deck in Hawaii is NOT like painting a deck any place else we've lived. First you have to wait, and wait, and wait, for a brief drought and here, at 140 inches of rain annually, that isn't easy. Next you have to wait until the dew dries in the early morning. You can't paint if it is too hot or the surface is over 90 degrees -- so you also have to wait until the clouds form -- but not enough to rain.

Our rooftop message to any aliens passing over.

So, above a photo of Phil doing a touch up job with the primer. After I took this photo, the pattern seemed quite familiar -- in fact, reminiscent of the sound board from the end of the Close Encounters movie! Then I remembered the photo we sent out for the holidays this year -- with the ALOHA to ALIENS on the roof! Guess we are just a musically-alien family cuz here's another photo...of me...painting up some wood for a landscaping project that just happens to look like an alien xylophone. 'Live long and prosper!"


(If you need to refresh your memory -- here's a 2-minute musical sequence from the movie:
CLICK FOR MUSIC!

"Never underestimate the healing power of silliness and absurdity."  Steve Maraboli

Groundhog Day

Early mornings I like to take my cup of coffee outside to stroll barefooted around the back yard enjoying the delights of the garden.

Last year although we discovered the Monarch butterflies had laid many eggs on our Crown Flower plant, the hatched caterpillars all disappeared before we could witness the magical transformation (maybe eaten by birds?)

Yesterday, however, I found a solitary pupa among the munched leaves and hollered to Phil to "come see." 

He brought the camera out, and while we were standing there, we were surprised to see the thin translucent layer of the pupa "pop" open. 

And, right before our eyes, we witnessed the emergence of a brand new Monarch butterfly! The pupa (because of the diet of Crown Flower leaves) is spun green. However as the transformation occurs, it becomes more translucent.

If you look carefully at the pupa photo -- you can even see the bold stripes showing through.

We were both surprised as the butterfly emerged to think it had been cramped into such a small space.

Watching the origami-wings slowly unfurl took about five minutes. We watch while the new butterfly stretched them out to dry in the warm sun.

The final four pictures document the final stages of the process we witnessed on Groundhog Day.

NOTE: The caterpillar on the left began to "curl up" during the day -- and next morning -- we got a photo of the brand new (translucent) pale green pupa.) Of course we will be hoping to catch another emergence --- if we are lucky.

My sister died on the first of February -- not unexpectedly. Over the years, as such losses occur, we have planted something in our yard as a tribute to each person.

When Phil's mom passed a few years ago, we planted two baby ohia trees in her memory. Now, the Crown Flowers will always remind me of my sister and our shared journeys through life.

All change is loss of one kind or another; witnessing this process was a lovely metaphor and reminder of the on-going process of life -- and death -- and new life.

"Tu Be or Not Tu Be"

New family: Dean & Mark

"To Be or Not To Be"...that was the question.

Our oldest corgi, "Reba" (also known as "B") became a grandma recently, when her daughter "I'I Lani" had her puppies.  "Reba" became "Tu-Tu-B" -- tu-tu being the commonly used name for grandma here in Hawaii.

But the answer to the question of keeping the puppy evolved into the Shakespearean quote -- "to be or not to be." And, much as we wanted to believe the answer was "yes" it seems there was another answer...and it wasn't just "no."

The "how" is less important than the choice we made to  just "let to" and trust. Yesterday we said our sad goodbyes to the puppy who has delighted us for eight weeks -- particularly in the aftermath of the election results.

We also decided what this sad world really needs is for everyone to just sit down on the grass and hold a puppy! We had no expectations from the new family on Oahu.  We said goodbye at 1:30 in the afternoon, and only eight hours later received these lovely photos from her new ohana. Looks like the puppy's got a pal already -- and her new family will keep us posted on her future adventures.

What the world needs now -- are PUPPIES and ALOHA!!

Blooms and Butterflies

For artists on the Big Island of Hawaii inspiration comes from so many places. Of course the island itself is amazing -- the volcanoes, lava, intense blue skies, big cloud formations, and all the patterns and colors of the ocean.

Just walking around the property is also inspiring. The other day Phil took the camera out to get just a FEW of the artful explosions happening and I created a montage of some of them.

He also got a photo of one of Hawaii's Monarch butterflies laying eggs on the purple Crown Flower -- which then inspired him to use a piece of koa wood to create a whimsical butterfly.

Salmon Surprise!

Yesterday morning was overcast and raining, so while we were sitting out on the lanai being pleasantly distracted by Ms. Tasha puppy (now six weeks old,) we looked toward the north boundary of our property and thought we saw salmon-colored blossoms on a young ohia tree.  Going out for a closer look, we were right -- it is a young tree that did not bloom last year at all.

We have written previously about the plight of our ohia tress on the island -- the blight/fungus that is killing so many. (here is the LINK to that blog:  Dying Ohia Trees

Nearly all trees have red blossoms. While there are yellow blossomed trees they are infrequent, and we have two. The salmon are the most rare, so we feel really lucky.

The legend of the Ohia tree and the Lehua blossom.  The legend says that one day Pele met a handsome warrior named Ohia and she asked him to marry her. Ohia, however, had already pledged his love to Lehua.  Pele was furious when Ohia turned down her marriage proposal, so she turned Ohia into a twisted tree.  Lehua was heartbroken, of course. As the gods took pity on Lehua and decided it was an injustice to have Ohia and Lehua separated, they turned Lehua into the  flower on the Ohia tree so that the two lovers would be forever joined together.  Hawaiian folklore says that if you pluck this flower you are separating the lovers, and that day it will rain.

Haysmers Living "LUANA" Style

Puna has an official international alien landing site -- so we painted an aloha welcome sign on our roof

Aloha from the district of PUNA on the BIG ISLAND of HAWAII! We are so excited to share this post with you! We have a friend who uses his drone to video properties for both real estate agents and property owners. In fact, we used one still shot as our Christmas/New Years card.

When we talk to friends who have not visited, they often have a mental picture of white sand beaches and palm trees, but our section of the Big Island also includes large swaths of ohia forest as well as dense jungle -- and sometimes a mix of both.

All streets on the island have Hawaiian names; ours is named "Luana."

LUANA means, To be at leisure; to enjoy pleasant surroundings, to enjoy associates, and to live in comfort and ease. 

When we moved in, the house was barely completed and there was no development of the surrounding property, no grass, just red volcanic cinder. The landscaping you see in the video, we have created. None of the lava you see was "brought in" -- just an inch or so down, we dug up all raw lava to create all the terraces and walls. Soil has to be trucked in because the "land" in Puna is very young land -- lava-land. Our friend, Clive (808 494-7686) was able to capture the "feel" of our property.   Just click on the link below:  ENJOY!

VIDEO OF OUR PROPERTY

New Year's PUPPY POLITICS???!!!

We have friends celebrating their New Year with a new member of the family -- but most are grandchildren. We are celebrating TWO new family members!

One is our new solar system (by SOLAR-SAINT mentioned at length a couple blog entries ago on DEC 11th.)  We are proud to participate in the Hawaii's Big Island solar/energy plans (wind, sea, solar and geothermal) toward energy independence.

And while that is exciting news....

NOTHING COMPARES WITH A PUPPY!!

So, we are beginning our year as GREAT grandparents. Our oldest corgi is Reba. Reba's 2-year old daughter, I'i Lani has a puppy named TASHA (thus, making us "great grandparents, see?) Today TASHA is five weeks old and well on her way to solid food (for which her mom is really grateful). Here she is sharing her morning breakfast (and later a nap) with her best pal...a stuffed toy Phil received.

New Year POLITICS !!

Well, now that there are FOUR girls in the household, Phil and Poko had their Boy Party's "convention" and have decided to become "Super Delegates."  Essentially they now have TWO votes each which they think will create a better balance for voting when it comes time for important decisions.   (HA!)

"Waiting Is - I Grok"

Mid-right you can see the ship in the open nook.

"Steady there wahine."

Admittedly the title of this blog will connect with a certain group of people.  Then again, it also ties in with some of the PUNATIC philosophy like "Go With The Flow," or, "It's Just a Matter of Time."

When we bought our Hawai'i hale (house) early in 2012, Phil saw a little triangular open space in the high wall between the open plan living area and the kitchen. He felt that his model sailing ship, a British Frigate (HMS Victory) would fit perfectly there -- and so it did (see photo.)

Inset shows detail 

I on the other hand, felt that the long beam (16' high) running the length of the house and through the living area would be the place for my own very special piece -- a hand made Hindu wedding canopy we bought from a trader when we owned Many Hands Gallery in Eureka.

It has hand embroidery, tiny mica "mirrors," scenes of Ganesh, dancing wedding couple, Krishna playing his flute, peacocks, Sanskrit blessings and other traditional scenes of India.

For many years it hung in our (built-in 1860) Victorian -- and I had always planned --- to put it up here in our Hawai' house..

(waiting is....) Four years later, we find we ourselves changing all the many light bulbs in the house -- to make our now full-house solar set up the most efficient and thus, now have the appropriate ladder to ALSO (finally) hang up the wedding canopy....kind of a perfect thing for this year's Christmas

Celebrating Christmas with FOUR generations!!!  Grandma REBA-BO-BEBA standing on the side, I"I LANI watching baby TASHA on GREAT GRANDMA's lap.  What a family!!

Remember to "CLICK" on any photo to enlarge.

Tasha is Three Weeks Old

Tasha Tudor with her Corgyn

OMG!! Just look at those tiny little toes (and toenails!)

Ms. Tasha is three weeks old today and is growing fast. For 6-7 years, we have had the name "Tasha" in mind for a puppy girl -- because of our appreciation for Tasha Tudor's love of corgi dogs and her lovely illustrated children's books about gorgyn. I'I Lani (mom) is getting a little slim on milk, so we are supplementing the puppy's diet with some goat's milk.Her tiny toenails are long, eyes are open and mom and pup are doing fine. Holding a puppy first thing in the morning is SO much more rewarding than watching the news...or most anything else for that matter. What a great early Christmas present!

Harvest!!

Our own bananas

Ritual of mahalo to Lono - with traditional white flag

We are harvesting -- which is appropriate! It is the season of Lono called Makahiki. Makahiki is a time of peace and recreation. It’s a time to celebrate the hard work of farming and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor.

Lono is the Hawaiian god of agriculture and rain. He appears in hoʻoilo (the wet season) as rain clouds and winter storms. Some poʻe kahiko (Hawaiians of old) describe Lono as the “akua poʻo huna i ke ao lewa,” or the god whose head is hidden in the dark clouds. The water he brings helps keep the land fertile.

Kale

All LIMES -- some are yellow

Recently we finished up our okra, cucumbers, tomatoes and squash, but have seedlings like broccoli ready to rotate in again. Pictured below are just some of the things we are harvesting now. We juice and freeze all the citrus and passion fruit and use it throughout the year. We do have our own lemon grass, thyme, rosemary, turmeric and ginger as well.

Passion Fruit/Liliko'i

Mexican spinach in front **

** You can't possibly see all the food in this corner of our garden. In the front we have Mexican Spinach that we grow because the traditional kind is too delicate for our heavy rain and intense sun. It can be used in juices (great greens) or salad or cooked. 

"Vine Potato" and Yams

Behind the spinach the raised bed has peppers and broccoli, The tall green plant on the left is one of our papayas. You can't see the pineapple patch with about 50 producers. Nearby is a tangerine tree, a tropical kind of cherry, a few still green tomatoes and a rambutan fruit which, like the cherry will take a few years to produce.

In our Hawaiian language class we have learned a beautiful chant (oli) of gratitude that you can hear by clicking on this link. Oli Mahalo