Island Maintenance

It has been raining steadily for several days.  In fact in the last 12 hours, we have had over two inches of rain.  So we shift to those kinds of indoor projects like reading, sorting books to return for credit at the used bookstore, art projects, reviewing the food stock in the pantry, and, the dreaded (but highly essential) "Maintenance List" and realize...it is the end of the month AND and stuff does need to get done!!

Maintenance in Hawaii, especially in the rural sections, like Puna on the Big Island is no small challenge, and varies widely from the urban life we lived on the mainland.  For example:

• Because of the heavy rainfall and lava content of the "soil," faithful fertilizing and composting plants and fruit trees is essential since all the nutrients are flushed away.  
• House compost materials are taken out regularly to the compost boxes and rotated to create new soil additives. 
• The generator needs to be run monthly to keep it in good working order, and the batteries on the solar system have to be equalized regularly to function well.  
• Our water system needs to have filters changed to keep our drinking water pure, and pest control is a never ending responsibility.  
• Gutters have to be cleaned out by hand from accumulated leaves and debris (which requires a climb to the roof of 18+ feet up a very tall ladder.)  We take turns going up top with gloves and a scoop, while one stand on the bottom rung for stability.  Yikes.
• Three propane tanks (shared between the house and the ohana have to be checked and refilled because they are our source of hot water, and keeping the freezer supply of food organized and frost build up under control is important too.
• Oh yeah, we can't forget the mowing, weeding and edging one acre....(who's retired??)

3 x the Poop!! for 3 dogs

Keeping the house clean is not simply for the "white glove test" but to reduce the number of pests. Our window screens and windows need cleaning because they are open 24/7 and accumulate dust, some mold, and dead bugs.  Our lovely hot tub has to be tested each week so it stays clean and clear, and...the dogs?  Yes, they have their monthly flea/tick and heart work medications.

So, it is a rainy day, and creating a new blog post was much more FUN than actually DOING any maintenance at all!  OPPPS - the sun just popped out....BYE!

Colorful Hawaii Holiday Traditions

There's a whole generation of folks our age who remember when getting an orange in our Christmas stocking was a treat, along with a new box of color crayons, or a roll of Life Savers.  This morning (Christmas Eve Day) the dogs watched lazily while I went out to our little orchard to harvest a crop of fruit to make fresh juice.  We have been experimenting with using lemons, oranges, tangerines, limes, lilikoi and ginger. The lilikoi and ginger offer a real snap that needs just a touch of local lehua blossom honey.

Card Art by Thor - "Spambiance" 

So while thinking about old family traditions, I also remembered SPAM!!  Our working family made do; mom was very thrifty (although at the time I didn't fully appreciate that.)  I remember her slicing SPAM (spiced-ham) soooo thin one can fed our family of five.

According to the SPAM website, the island's love affair with Spam began in World War II, when GIs were served the salty luncheon meat because it didn't require refrigeration and had a long shelf life. The Hormel Corporation, which manufactures Spam, provided 15 million cans to Allied troops every week. Between 1941 and 1945, Hormel had shipped over 100 million pounds overseas.

Snow?  While snow may fall on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, at our elevation of 750 feet, we have to settle for our annual blooming "Snow Bush" which is covered with tiny little white flowers -- a member of the Poinsettia family.

Speaking of our local volcanoes, each year members of our tribe respectfully gather natural materials from the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa for wreath making.  We all meet at someone's home, bring pupus and gather for munching and "talk-story" as we create our wreaths.  Finally, each season (Equinox and Solstice) we decorate our family altar with appropriate symbolic reminders of our connection to friends, family and our nearly 30 years together.

Happy Holidays EVERYONE!!

Trees of the Holidays

Our very first 18" Christmas tree!

For 22 years we ran a wonderful gallery in Eureka California that was open 362 days a year, 12 hours a day, and employed a staff of five.  So our holidays were vastly different that most folks.  Our holiday preparation began in September, writing Christmas orders that could could exceed $40,000.  Each year, by November 1st merchandise began to arrive, and until December 31st, we held our breath -- hoping that our loyal customers would shop long and hard so that we could pay off those invoices, our great staff and maybe ourselves, AND close the year well. (Retail is not for the weak of heart, but we were are thankful that it was a success for us over the long  haul.)

Same tree, same man, different dog.

Many Hands Gallery is still there in Eureka, but we are retired and living in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii, where we can now approach the holiday a little differently.  We moved here at the beginning of December in 2012 and the container of all our household goods did not arrive for several weeks, so our first celebration was minimal -- but it DID include planting a small Norfolk Pine in honor of Phil's mom (who was still alive at the time.)

The second photo is the very SAME TREE three years later over 16 feet tall.  Although "Dexter" (pictured above) is no longer with us, "Poko" was willing to sit with dad for this cool December day photo.

The final photo is of another Norfolk Pine -- one we cut at a tree farm just a couple miles from our home.  The really cool thing about cutting this kind of pine is that they GROW BACK!!  (The tree we chose was one of THREE that were growing out of a "mother tree" that had been cut several years ago.)

Under the tree you will see some stuffed animals -- mementos of  holidays from long ago.  The little bear on left was under Lunel's very first Christmas tree, and the elephant in the middle was Phil's favorite.  The battered bear on the right belonged to our beloved "Chauncy" -- our first corgi dog many years ago. Notice the BOX at the bottom?  Phil's grandpa made that for his Christmas in 1944!!

The  words "Happy Holidays" are meant to inclusively honor all religious and cultural traditions, and we hope that yours are full of joy for you and your families!

New Art Arrives for our Anniversary

"Fathom" by Rose Adare

Several weeks ago while visiting some of our local galleries, I was deeply moved by a single gigantic canvas at the East Hawaii Cultural Council (aka Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art).

While Phil wandered around the rooms full of art, I found myself staying very still, hardly breathing, in front of this painting. I felt it captured how I feel about being in the water, carried and held by the energy of the ocean.  It was mysterious and haunting, and even more so because I felt the woman looked a bit like me. Phil finally circled back around and suggested I take a photograph of it. The large size canvas (approximately 5x8') was not something we could accommodate, so we left without  a lot more consideration.   Except, I kept returning to that image both in my waking thoughts as well as my dreams.

Fabric of the ceiling

Finally, I realized how beautifully the art would go in our lanai -- the Chihuly Studio glass piece and the fabric ceiling incorporated not only the same amazing colors but the wavy texture.of watery depths.  Eventually, I decided to just contact the artist to find out if a print might be available -- and it was.

Yesterday, for our 3-year anniversary of living in Puna on the Big Island, the artist, Rose Adare, delivered the print to our home. Phil is going to use some very old koa wood to make a frame for it.

Meeting Rose was a delight -- a pixie-goth-fire-dancing-artist! Visit her website at: www.roseadare.com.

From Concept to Creation

East Side Property - 12-12-12

East side property 12-12-2015 (3 year anniversary)

As we near the end of our third year of life in Puna on the Big Island, we look back somewhat amazed at what we have accomplished.

When we moved in there were no beds for garden areas.  There were either "bald spots" of nothing or areas where the forest/jungle had encroached 12-15 feet into the yard on all sides around the house which sits on the back 1/2 of the acre.  The front 1/2 was completely filled from property line to driveway with thick invasive species of trees, shrubs and vines.

As only two artists who have spent nearly 30 years together can tell you, there has been a lovely merging of ideas over the years, and we now share collaboratively on many of our creations.  That includes making the best of what "IS" when circumstances develop over which you have no control. This was the case when the University of Hawaii reached some conclusions about the fact that hundreds of beautiful hardwood Ohia trees were dying...including about two dozen (so far) on our small plot.


Months ago, we had tree specialists come out to cut down about 18 dead trees, and like many of our neighbors, we are finding ways to use them as edges for new beds.  Phil had the brilliant idea to cut some of them off at the 10-12' level so that he could use them creatively rather than just chop them down at ground level. One of his first sketches is attached.  Although he began to work on them in August, our summer reached all-time record-breaking temperatures -- months went by that were just took hot to work.

Front 1/2 of property - sketch

Now that cooler weather is back, it's nice to see him out again with chainsaw and chisels working again. Here's a photo of him taken just this week.


Similarly, after scraping the sides of the front 1/2 acre back I am excited to be getting inspiration from the land itself -- it's shape.  The shape of what "IS."  We have a straight driveway -- and "is" I've admittedly wished was just a little different. So, when an idea came to me at 3am (the best time for ideas) I made a sketch right away -- as it "appeared."   The land was undulating, flowing in a sinewy, but almost-flying movement.  Now I am slowing allowing the work to proceed -- from concept to creation.   Energy to Matter: that suits!

We are both amazed and amused at how much we are enjoying the creative juices flowing from this dynamic landscape in and through us.  What will 2016 bring??

Wood Art by Phil

Phil's love of wood goes back to his relationship with his grandfather, a superb wood craftsman and builder who owned the last steam driven sawmill in Michigan. That love of wood has followed him throughout his life, as a sculptor, art teacher, and wood artist.

During our 22 years living in Eureka, Phil was always creating art in wood where it sold at our gallery -- Many Hands (still) located in the heart of Old Town Eureka (Humboldt County.)

Now that we have retired to the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii, Phil has had a lot of fun experimenting with many of the local woods like koa, kamani and mango -- just to name a few.

Hawaiian Reef Fish - This past year Phil has been making a series of Hawaiian Reef Fish out of local wood.  Here's a picture of some of Phil's fish. Phil's art is at a lovely gallery in Hilo called One Gallery which is located on Kamehameha Street, right on the bay front.

Fish patterns vary widely depending on available wood and sizes are 3-5" by 6-8" - Price $29 (plus $5 shipping)

Temple Gates -Recently has been creating "Temple Gates" which he made in redwood while we lived in Humboldt.  Now, of course he is using local woods like KOA, MILO, OHIA, KAMANI, and MANGO just to name a few.  Please read the text to learn a little more about them.  (Wood patterns will vary - Price $195 -- Shipping $12)

If you would like to make a purchase you can inquire by posting a "comment" (below) and we will get back to you right away.  (most of our local tribe know how to reach us) MAHALO

HILO in Three Acts

Some days present such a unbelievable chain of event as to be a complete Shakespearean absurdity.  Such was yesterday and our trip to Hilo.  Well, of course there is "The List" with 11 stops (10 of which were completed.)

Act I -- "The List"  -- Together we completed some off the errands before Phil was dropped off Downtown for 1st Friday Art Walk. Then while he did gallery duty, I checked off the rest of the list, and while doing so, noticed that I had lost my Chase/Visa card during or just after the OfficeMax stop.  So, I swung back around to see if they found it, but no one had turned in the card.

 Act II -- "Chase Card" -- (nearing evening) Naturally my next move was to call Chase/Visa to cancel my card, but in the meantime, of course some creep had already rung up $70 of gas and over $100 at Kentucky Fried Chicken!!  Really?? After gathering up my stuff my next stop was to pick Phil up so we could return home with our supplies....

Coconut can and quick thinking solved the problem

EXCEPT -- Act III -- "Dead Battery"  (Scene 1)  So my first call was to AAA, and by this time it is dark.  Fortunately I was parked directly in front of OfficeMax next to a handicap spot with lots of room.  The guy responding to AAA call was there in 15 minutes, but had to drive back to pick up the right battery for the VERSA.  I was hungry, so I broke into the ice chest for some smoked ham, slice of bread and a can of coconut water and had just finished my snack when the battery arrived.

(Scene 2) We noticed that the new battery was inches smaller than the old one, but after checking the book for the right replacement, it was the recommended version.   However, there was no way to "block" it into place so it wouldn't flop around on the stand. A block of wood would have been perfect, except -- no wood.  So I grabbed my coconut water can and sized up the space, and we shoved it in for a tight fit.



(Scene 3)  The AAA guy's girlfriend was the manager at OfficeMax!!! So, when she came out to say hi to him she recognized me and asked if I had found my credit card!  Aloha!

(Scene 4)   So the battery is in and tested and we are ready to finish the transaction with a credit card (we have two so that was no problem.)  However, HIS credit card machine was not working, payment could not be by check .... and here I am at the end of a huge shopping day.  Opening my wallet, I find about $70 toward a invoice of $120!   I took a breath and remembered my "secret stash" which I never used -- and YES!!!  There was a $100 tuck away.

Denouement  All secured, I swung back around (again) to bay front for Phil, keenly aware of the precarious balance between the coconut can holding the battery in tight and the fairly good VERSA suspension.
.
Act III ends with us safe at home with doggies who had waited HOURS for a very late supper,

THE END