Thanksgiving Night

Here's what we saw from the highway on the way home last night around 9pm after sharing Thanksgiving dinner with ohana over on Kona side.

It's kinda spooky to be so close to such an example of the raw power!



This glow is from the smaller crater -- Halema'umu'u, which is inside of the huge Kilauea crater in Volcano National Park.

Note to mainland friends:  This is not Pu'u O'o -- which is is where lava has been flowing since mid 1980's, but at night, you can also see the glow from it.

(Beautiful photo by Janka/USGS, not us!)

Soon-To-Be-Shade House

This $100 investment was worth it's weight in gold during our first year. When we first moved in, Phil built beautiful book cases for the living area and, also on the opposite side of the same wall into the art studio.  Then, during the 16 weeks of construction of the ohana in May-August of the contractors used it to keep their tools dry.



Now, once again, it has been relocated over one side of the property line so that we can have our "shade house" (for you mainland folks, it's like a greenhouse, except it has shade cloth for roof, and sides.)  Here in Puna, you just can't grow tender greens outside in the tropical sun -- they are too delicate.  Our rains here can pound them too hard.  Here's the original canopy, and our plans for the custom-built shade cloth.  It is built by a local business. (Rudy's Shade Cloth in Hilo -- did a beautiful job for us).

I already have several varieties of lettuce, spinach, bok choy started, and we hope to get the pieces (sides, top, doors) assembled this week -- before our friend Esther, from Michigan, arrives.

Once we get it put together, I'll just drop in the final photograph so you can see it completed.  It is one more step toward living with more self-sufficiency.  All we need now are a couple of chickens, right?

(OK so here we are securing the shade cloth to the frame.)


 

"All Hands on Deck"

 Surprisingly, the deck took only two days to construct -- although it took more than than for the prep work.  Our friend Sam-the-Younger (who lives next door) spent hours removing massive chunks of lava the entire length so that cement blocks could be placed and the support boards could be leveled.

Then, Phil and I spent a couple days putting water seal on the under boards and staining the 2x6" top boards.

House a year ago -- without shop or apartment.

Here is a photo of the house when we first saw it.  The actual 'footprint' of the house remained the same because we simply (ha ha) built up from the existing cement pad.  The lower floor of 600 sf became Phil's shop for future creative projects.  Obviously, the top floor became the lovely new 720 sf ohana.  The double doors open into the shop, and the single door to the right is the entry to the ohana.




When my grandma and mom taught me how to embroider, crochet and knit, the rule was -- "the back side must look as neat and pretty as the front side."  Bet a few of you remember that one (along with always wear clean underwear because you could be in an accident.)

Here's another comparison between the present back yard with a lovely green lawn, passion fruit vine structure, and orchard in the background.

When we first moved in there were a couple citrus, no flower beds, and no lawn to speak off.  The man who we bought from had not yet had any time for landscaping as he had just finished the house when he put it on the market for sale.

We were VERY lucky to find it at a great price, and we saw the potential that one year of hard work would bring.  Now, each of us are looking forward to spending more time and energy on our respective art projects.  Yeah!

Happy One Year Anniversary to US!

They're Back!

 Saffron Finches come in small groups.  They come early in the morning, flitting around on the ground where Phil has laid out seeds for them.  When they are in the ferns, they almost disappear in the yellow-greens, but their quick movements make the foliage dance.

This time of year, means the return of many of our birds (manu) from the higher, cooler elevations.  Prominent among the returnees are the bright red cardinals.  We have a returning mated pair.

There are several song birds, but the return of the Chinese Melodious Laughing Thrush is a joy because they have a long, complex song that never seems to be the same twice.  The bird books, good as they may be do not seem to reflect all the many varieties.  We have seen several that are olive colored, with white rings around their eyes.  There is also one pictured below that is brushed with red on wings and tail.



(This photo of the thrush is a little out of focus, but he was SO pretty posed among the bromeliads and lava, I included it anyway.)

"They're back" reminds us too, that we have now been here a year, and as we celebrate our first anniversary in our new Big Island hale, we are delighted to notice these subtle seasonal changes.

NIDINI News Flash

Finally, after what feels like months of waiting (because it actually WAS months) we have a knee surgery date -- Dec 12th.   (hmmmmm?)  Now why does that date sound familiar? 12/12 -- because, we arrived at our new retirement home on 12/12/12 just one year ago.

During the last few months, we have formed a knee support group that reaches across the Pacific.  NIDINI is the Hawaiian phonetic spelling for Needy Knee and is pronounced just the same.  Members include folks from Ferndale and Eureka, California with headquarters in Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I met with my ortho surgeon and really like him.  He's got a sense of humor and did a great job explaining the procedure to me.  But, because I had the same job done about 12 years ago in Eureka, it wasn't too scarey.  (That is as long as you don't look at the picture.)

Needless to say, I am hobbling around with the brace on, trying to get all the last minute things done that I can -- especially taking care of all the new plants.  Unfortunately the surgery falls in the middle of our friend Esther's visit -- but it will be nice to have a little distraction for a few days.

Graditude and Latitude

It is quiet this morning; our friends and carpenters, Steve and Rob have finished our new deck, and we are enjoying a cuppa Haysmer Mud (coffee so thick and rich it has been classified as its own food group.)

Yesterday, while answering an email from a new artist and friend in Fiji, I noticed the first Lehua blossom on the Ohia trees just outside the window of the office area in our open house floor plan.  I was caught by surprise when my eyes teared up; what?!  Look-see-inside:  I realize it marks the anniversary of our first year.

And, overnight a second blossom has appeared and I am aware of new rhythms here on this new land.  On the summer solstice, I awake to find the morning sunlight streaming from the southeast counterpane across my bed, blessed warmth on my face. I woke early this morning to see the sun peak up, nearly half a year later, on the northeast side of the grandmother Ohia.  The light comes now at a different slant, crisscrossing it's earlier path to form an invisible "X" across the land and our hale.

There are new rhythms here (nu riddims) that only time will reveal, perhaps more subtle than higher latitudes, but waiting to be discovered by open hearts and open eyes. There is only gratitude - Ho'omaika'i.

Blue Heaven On The Skin

Yesterday I took myself down Pahoa-Pohoiki Road (better known by locals as Mango Road) to Ahalanui Park for a late afternoon  swim at the warm pond there on the edge of the ocean. 

The full moon was awesome last night, the water...ahh, just the temperature of my skin.  For this child-of-water, the experience is indescribable.  "Floating between" sky and earth, I cannot tell where my body ends and the water begins.  I am suspended and surrounded in a bliss of well-beingness.


At one time I might have said, "I have waited all my life to be here."  But the truth is that every single step along the way has brought me to this place of nurture, warmth and magic.  As curved waves break over the edge of the lava and pour into the pond, I am swept by unseen currents and my body rises and falls rhythmically.

I see tourists coming down with their cameras to take a picture of it, but they do not get in, and "click" they are gone.  This is "to experience."  Those who have had the privilege know; those who have not -- well, how can you even explain it.  So, after a year of satisfying "labor" (on house, ohana, yard, and garden) my muses are again calling to me to ??  somehow express and articulate (with my own artist's voice) the wonder I feel.

While it is certainly womb-like, all movement is completely unrestricted.  I feel both strongly connected to the earth, but suspended under the blue sky, I also feel my connection to the heavens and beyond.  At dusk, I float, arms extended, my right hand holds the sun, and the moon is cradled in my left hand.  I am an orb.  My dear Priestess of Poetry, Sherri Rose-Walker, once read me a new poem that contained the phrase "blue heaven on the skin" -- and I stopped breathing!  How aptly those five words captured how it feels to be in the living water.  While a photo or painting might capture the "image" I cannot stop there; I am driven to express how this experience FEELS.

Deck and Dexter

Our last big project for the year!!  We just took delivery of another big pile of lumber for the deck in front of the house.

With the winter weather that blew in last week, we though we'd have to leave all the 2x4's and 2x6's covered with plastic.  But yesterday and today there were clear blue skies, wonderful strong breezes and huge puffy clouds.  A perfect day to pull out the boards for applications of water seal for the bases, and a pretty transparent chocolate stain for the top 2x6's.

In Eureka we had built a deck off the back part of our house, which Dexter claimed as HIS deck.  So, it was not too surprising that midway through the drying process, he climbed up onto the completed pile and cast his gaze on a clear view down the driveway. 

Look at that beautiful fall light and its "certain slant."   The last small project will be to cover the big awning with the shade cloth we custom ordered locally.  Last week I started some seeds:  lettuce, spinach, chard and a few rows bok choy -- which has become a favorite substitute for celery

Rain Man (ua kanaka)

Yes, it is winter here in Puna! In just the last 24 hours, we were blessed with over two inches!  (And, even though it is still raining, there is not a puddle in sight.)

When we first moved in this time last year, we missed our rain gauge we had kept in our yard; during the winter it was a morning ritual to go out and see how much rain we got.  But last year, our rain gauge, along with all our other personal stuff was in a container on its way here.

So, so we decided to just go out and buy one.  Curiously enough, none of the local stores had them, nor did the words "rain gauge" appear to be part of the local vocabulary.  People just looked at us funny when we asked.  Maybe it was for he best since during our first month here (December 2012) the rainfall was DOUBLE it's monthly average.

Anyway, when our household goods finally arrived, of course we got the rain gauge out in the yard so we could resume what has become one of those quirky family rituals.  When Dexter goes out in the morning to pee, Phil follows right behind him over to the rain gauge.  Trouble is, now we realize it is quite possible that we will get MORE than what our rain gauge holds.  (P.S.  I did, after three days, finally have to remove the soggy clothes from the clothes lines and toss them into the drier.) 

An Artist Musing

Those who have known me wearing my artist hat, know the compulsive juices that trace their way through my heart, around my mind, and out... out into art some kine --  often unfamiliar kine.  It is the way I explore.  I often adventure to where I have not been; I like edges.

Exploring lately I find recurring doodles where I try to express how I FEEL about this place.  For me any attempt to picture it or paint it seems too literal for the emotional abstraction of --- (simply- haha) how it FEELS to my spirit, to  my body and my soul to be in communion with this land, this ocean, this sky.  The nurture/nature dance is beguiling and seductive.

My muses seem to have followed any last remnants of molecules that may have been trailing behind me since our arrival on Hawaii's Big Island a year ago.  I think maybe I am now "all here" whatever that means, right.  

We were lucky to have a friend who recently gave me some auto glass I get to break for some of my crash-glass art I was doing before we moved...and which seems to be calling me to play.  Wheeeee!

(Early) Happy Holidays

Hau'oli Lanui  --  Happy Holidays

Several friends noticed that we did not send out our annual illustrated holiday letter last year -- but there was a good reason.

EVERYTHING WE OWNED WAS PACKED... and on its way to Hawaii!  We bought our retirement home in February 2012, returned home to begin the complicated process necessary for our relocation.  We sold our 22 year gallery business in October (to our great gallery manager) and our 150 year old Victorian house in November, so by Thanksgiving, our favorite holiday, everything was packed.   We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving saying sad farewells to our supportive dear friends.

We spent Christmas last year in our new (but empty) house, as the container with all our goods didn't arrive for several weeks after we did.

We just designed the art for our holiday letter that we WILL be sending out this year.  As you can see it is filled with all the new "ornaments" of our surroundings -- here on the Big Island of Hawaii.  (PS  You'll notice that our "Partridge in a Pear Tree" has been replaced by a pair of Ne Ne, the Hawaiian state bird -- Hawaiian Goose; best evidence supports their arrival on the islands about a half million years ago.)

Dexter vs Mongoose

Despite the fact that Dirty Harry Phil bought a very scary looking gun for target practice with our pesky mongoose intruders, it was DEXTER who actually made the first kill today!

Although made famous by Tasha Tudor's lovely corgi books, and England's Queen, corgi dogs have a long history as herders AND as ratters!   Yeah Corgi dogs!

Ho'oilo (Winter)

Winter in Hawaii?  Yes!  Just in this last week, we have felt winter approaching.  I found this public domain image from USGS because it has a wintery look.  It is actually an image of Pu'u O'o -- the vent section of Kiluea that is still (from 1980's) flowing lava out to the ocean and dispersing fumes into the air.

(Although this is about 25 miles southwest of us, the prevailing trade winds carry 95% of this "cloud" around the island, west and up the coast to Kona.)

So, just how do you know it is winter in Hawaii?

1.  You dig out your slippers in the evening, rather than running around with bare feet.
2.  By bedtime, you've closed a few windows 1/2 way (but all the rest are open still.)
3.  You shuffle through the closet to find that one long-sleeved shirt.
4.  There's a light blanket at the end of bed, that by 4am, is a welcomed friend.
5.  Oatmeal sounds good in the morning.
6.  The 10,000 gallon water catchment tank overflows daily, because...
7.  The rains increases from about .3 inches daily to double that (mostly at night)
8.  The average temperature drops from 75-80 down to 70-75
9.  Dexter gets his bed out of storage, so HE has a cozy bed too! 

Hou ho'o maka'ana

Hou ho'o maka'ana -- New beginnings! 

Now that the woods and jungle "edges" of the property have been delineated with pick axe, pruning clippers and hedge cutters, we are getting back to designing more lava walled beds. The bed pictured here is a big extension on an existing group of plantings (that did not have lava around them.)

Those big trees to the right and behind are our lovely ohia trees that are covered with red blossoms beginning around February through May, mostly.

We have already gone through TWO truck loads of red cinder, and one of soil, so we may soon have to get more. 

For four months this year, the canopy structure (right) was in front of the house -- for the contractors as they built the ohana addition.  We have now relocated it to the side and plan to turn it into a greenhouse, except, in Hawaii it is called a "shade house."   We have ordered custom made shade fabric that will allow 1/2 light and rain to come through.  This will give us a place to grow lettuce, spinach and other greens that don't do well in our hot, direct sun -- and be a place to hang out in the evening mosquito-free.

Other "new beginnings" include some cuttings off of angel trumpet vines (peach, yellow and white) from our friend Yani over in Honaunau (Kona side).   Although we have said it before, it is true!  Take your cuttings (even in November) stick them in a pot of cinder and soil and wait a couple weeks; in a couple weeks they will have new baby roots and new leaves. (Of course, when they do, I'll send another photo.)