HAPPY FEET!

Happy Feet --

 

I often take my coffee out on the back steps of the lanai, facing the sunrise.  I habitually take the middle step (because I love the poem “Halfway Down” by AA Milne.)  

 A few days ago, I noticed my heels were som kine crazy puna style, ya?!  (rough, cracked, stained, etc.) So, I notice that my feet are resting on the next step down which has a sandy, safety-grip strip, put in place by Sweet Mr. Phil.  2+2=4.   I began to rub my heel back and forth on it and VOILE’ in just a few rubs, both my heels were as soft as a baby’s butt…no shit!   HA!  So now it’s as easy as wipin' yo’ feet! 

Then, speaking of feet, we were both cleaning up our large lovely de-lightful art studio when we came across a few small watercolors we each did on our very first visit in 2011.   I remembered one I did of my feet, lounging on the balcony overlooking Kealakekua Bay.  After two years in sandals and slippa’s – we got brown toes now!

Oh yeah....the POEM!!

 

HALFWAY DOWN

A. A. Milne

Halfway down the stairs
is a stair
where i sit.
there isn't any
other stair
quite like
it.
i'm not at the bottom,
i'm not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop.

Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up
And it isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery,
It isn't in town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead! –

Saturday Silliness

WHAT IS IT??  Topo map of a cinder cone?  Nope.  Yesterday we were cleaning up the front porch, in anticipation of the arrival of some long-time friends from Humboldt County, when we excavated this penciled sketch on the front porch.  BUT WHAT IS IT??  Well it is actually an fine, architectural drawing of the plans for our lanai and hot tub!!  No kidding!! 

When we needed to build a small box to protect the battery on the front porch that runs the solarized water pump, this small piece of siding happened to be just the right size.  Although we decided to go ahead an paint it, we thought it was a delightful example of creative thinking.   When we sat down to discuss the idea with our contractor, he just grabbed a piece of left over siding and began to draw a few ideas. Before painting it, however, we decided to take a picture of it -- just being silly.

 
And, here's another silly picture of our decrepit lawn mower, that probably cost $100 four years ago, and believe it or not, after a few minor repairs (costing less than $25) it still runs.  It is totally rusted out, the blades are dull from knocking chunks of lava -- BUT IT STILL WORKS!!  My grandpa always said he could fix anything with bailing wire and duct tape.  Every time we go to Home Depot, we gaze longingly at the row of spiffy mowers; then we laugh because our mower, ugly as it is, works just fine (this week anyway.)

Pahoa Lava Update

Our house is 2 miles off the lower right corner of this map

Much of the national news these days is focused on other world-related matters, so the lava flow on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific has not received a lot of coverage lately.  For a few weeks, activity seemed to be slowing, but most recently it has picked up. 


If you want to see it from a helicopter, you can view this short but dramatic video from Big Island Video News: -  /Short Good Lava Video


 While we are relived that lava appears to be going around Pahoa Village to the north, it is only a few hundred yards from Hwy. 130 and is headed toward the Puna Police and Fire stations.  Emergency vehicles (both fire and ambulance) have already been dispatched to the "south side" of the flow and are positioned to provide on-going services to the residents "below" the flow.

This is all pretty exciting for us because we have Humboldt County guests arriving in just a few days.  They may well be coming in on Highway 130, but with lava so close to highway, they may be leaving via the alternative of RR Avenue.     

"We're All in our Places...."

During the past two years Phil has been painting watercolor images of local native birds -- including two Io (hawk) which visited the Ohia trees in our yard!  Recently, he has completed a third painting in his series of native birds -- the handsome Nene (geese.)   He is now laying out his fourth painting -- Koa'e Kea (white tailed Tropicbird.) Yes its name is "Tropicbird" one-word.

The light in the art studio is perfect for painting, as Reba-Bo-Beeba offers her encouragement.


 In the meantime, with the help of our yard helper and friend Sam, Lunel is continuing on-going terraforming projects in another part of the property, using the accumulated lava for new terraces bed.

The cairn of lava was created by digging up and leveling areas of the yard, particularly as we dug holes for fruit trees and Hapu'u ferns.  The lava pile dwindles, however, as the walls are created for new beds. 

 

"Hilo Day" (Here and There and Back Again)

Our route north to Hilo

Door-to-door, a 9-stop day may take 5-6 hours

When we talk with people by phone (on the continent) or send emails, we frequently refer to a "Hilo Day"  Recently we got an inquiry back -- "What is a Hilo Day?"  Much as we enjoy a leisurely trip to Hilo, which can include a movie, art galleries, snorkeling, etc, there is another kind of "Hilo Day" which is usually not as much fun.

With lava continuing to flow, albeit slow, we have also adjusted our way of thinking about how we may need to do things in the future -- when roadways are threatened, or when the alternate routes may add a lot of time and use a lot more gas.   So Pele's activity has helped us be more conservative with our trips, utilizing a comprehensive list of things we need to accomplish.


THE GOOD NEWS!!  What a beautiful drive at any time of day.  Just at the end of our street, we can see the ocean -- when we turn from our Leilani Estates subdivision onto our local highway (130 which may be threatened by lava in the future) -- we can see a beautiful view of Mauna Kea.

Here's Phil in the parking lot -- what a view!

Every single time it is a different view; cloud shrouded, sunrise to sunset colors flash lavender, pinks and blues; blanketed with snow, or crystal clear - it is always stunning.  Much of the ride north to Hilo we also see the ocean.

So, if you have 9 or 10 stops to make, even in a parking lot, you can usually pause to enjoy the view.  Copy above is of this week's list of stops to make in Hilo -- we got them all done!

Ganesh

Ganesh - Greeter at our front gate.

For many years we have had a special place in our home for a statue of Ganesh – beloved elephant deity of many people, but most particularly people of the Hindu faith.  Are we Hindu?  No, but the teachings of Lord Ganesh go far beyond a spiritual practice and include layers of thoughtful heart/mind wisdom.  Some people only know of Ganesh as the “remover of obstacles” – but he is also Lord of Word and Light. 

 

During the 22 years we owned Many Hands Gallery in Eureka, we always found people were attracted to Ganesh.  Ganesh was such a popular image  that I began to create

meditation rocks using a variety Ganesh images

New altar with Ganesh for the New Year

In learning and using Sanskrit chants for many years, perhaps the most important teaching I have learned is that in all actuality “I” am the biggest obstacle I will ever meet.  You don’t have to ascribe to a Hindu belief system to appreciate that “getting out of our own way” is a valuable life teaching.

When we retired and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii, we were thrilled to find an artist who made a BIG Ganesh statue in cement which we bought for the garden area at the front gate to our property.  And, for the New Year we set up a altar -- decorating it with all white treasures to represent a fresh new beginning for 2015.