We're In The PINK!!

YES!  we are "in the pink" -- moved in yesterday with help from friends.
Living Coral Is Pantone’s 

2019 Color of the Year

The company announced today that Living Coral, a bright coral shade, is its 2019 Color of the Year. Although it may seem more pink in nature, Pantone describes Living Coral as “an animated, life-affirming shade of orange, with golden undertones.” 

The decision of what will be the next year’s Color of the Year is up to the Pantone Color Institute, Pantone’s consulting division that analyzes each year’s color trends. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.” 

(Of course the Haysmers’ new home in Volcano, Hawaii was central to the final decision. Additional complimentary colors were based largely on Haysmers' choices for their new living room rug, and colors for their landscaping plans.)

Pantone also cited Living Coral as a color of carefree happiness. A press release says it “symbolizes our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits”—a feeling that, perhaps, people might be craving in today’s landscape

https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/living-coral-is-pantones-2019-color-of-the-year/

TIS THE SEASON....

...yes, 'tis the season...in many traditions, for family, friends, gift giving and celebration. 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. And, of course this particular event coincides with other religious and cultural celebrations at this time of year -- dating back centuries and millennia. 

Our (previous) home altar

Are we Hindu?  No, but the teachings of Lord Ganesh go far beyond a spiritual practice and include adaptations and relevant components of philosophy, psychology and thoughtful heart/mind wisdom.  Some people only know of Ganesh as the “remover of obstacles” – but he is also Lord of Word and Light.

Pancha Ganapati is a modern Hindu festival of the Five-Faced version of Ganesh (pancha means “five”.) This festival lasts for five days – from December 21 through 25. Pancha Ganapati is a Hindu season of worship, gift giving and celebration much like many other faiths and traditions: Christian, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and more. 

Another typical altar for this seasonal event

The idea is that family members work together, in forgiveness and good spirit, and bring Lord Ganesh’s blessings of joy and harmony into five realms of their lives, welcoming in a wider circle of their lives each day: family, friends, associations, culture, and religion. The family creates a shrine in the living room, decorated for the occasion.

This BLUE is the color
 of our new sapphire rings

In learning and using Sanskrit chants in meditation practice 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 lost our Leilani Estates home in May (fire/lava) several of our friends, knowing our appreciation for this charming deity, gave us Ganesh statues -- all of which will be thoughtfully placed in our new home. Maybe while Ganesh could not save our home  he DID (along with the help of our attorneys) manage to "move" Lloyds' of London to pay up!! And here we are, today, bruised but not broken, moving into a house the same color as one of the most famous statues of Ganesh!

Butterflies In Our Tummies!

For about 20 years I have been creating art-journals in addition to my written journals going back 45 years. All of them (except one which a friend had) were lost in the fire.

Many times in the past months I've had the opportunity to wonder about my attachment to my history, and examine the grief I felt at such a loss. One of many things we have both realized through this ordeal is we are not our "stories" and we have a deeper intimacy with "nowness" and living in each eloquent moment.

Of course our retirement to Hawaii prompted many pages, most gone. I would occasionally  photograph a page for inclusion in our blog....and so,.in December of 2012, I made this page -- as we excitedly made the last minute check-list for our departure from Humboldt County and our arrival in Leilani Estates and our new home (hale.)

This month, as we prepare to move into our charming new home in Volcano Hawaii, the feelings are much the same -- "Butterflies In Our Tummies!

What a challenging year this has been -- on every level.  We were delighted to meet the previous owners of our little pink home who have been gracious about helping make our transition a smooth one. What 2019 will bring, we don't know. But being able to move in at the close of this traumatic year seems somehow seems a fitting conclusion!

It is also exciting for us to welcome several visiting Humboldt County friends during the very first month!

'Apapane -- Good Luck Bird

Healthy trees with blossoms 2013

When we moved to the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii, friends had given us a "Birds of Hawaii" book that we used to identify the birds who were living in Leilani Estates subdivision. While still getting acquainted with our new home and property that first week, we found a small dead bird on the ground, which, with the help of our guide book, we identified as an 'Apapane.

Although our property was filled with vibrant beautiful Ohia trees, during only our second year many of our trees began to die from what is known as Rapid Ohia Death ROD. By the end of our second year, 70 % of our trees had died causing many of the native, local bird species to migrate elsewhere. (Nectar from the Ohia trees being the primary food source for them.)

Well-known photographer Jack Jeffery, took the above  photo, and this link will introduce you to Jack and his passion for taking amazing bird photographs.  8-minute video about Jack's passion

While living in Eureka (Humboldt County CA) Lunel developed a special collection of bird wings that she hung from the ceiling or in windows -- including egret, heron, hawk and other smaller ubiquitous species.

Dead Ohia a year later

Marian Berger, Artist

Eventually, she developed a simple taxidermy technique to preserve smaller dead birds she had found by using the "warm" setting on the toaster oven which basically dried out their innards. So, the little 'Apapane bird we found in 2012 floated in our kitchen window, wings spread as if in flight, for over 5 years. Oddly, we always felt it was a good luck symbol.

The other day, after leaving a walk-through of our new rental house in Volcano, we were both amazed to find,another 'Apapane on the ground by our parked car. We didn't have the inclination to attempt a repeat process this time around, but gently moved the little dead bird into the nearby ferns.

To hear one of the 'Apapane's songs follow this link:  Apapane Song

12-12 HO HO HO!

What's in the PINK BOX??

In December of 2012, when we bought our one-way tickets to The Big Island, we thought it would be cool to arrive at our new home on 12-12-12! We arrived just as it was getting darK. For some reason, NONE of the keys we were given opened the front or side or back doors!!  Lunel actually had to crawl in the bathroom window to open the house!  We just figured that it might be the first of many tests (we were warned) that Pele might offer to see if we really had what it takes to live here and join the "Punatics' Clan"** We survived Hurricane Iselle and the lava of 2014. Now, after losing literally everything we sure hope we FINALLY past all her tests!!   Welina Tu-Tu Pele!

CK's "Little Pink" --W&J's  Hale Akala 

While the year may be different, this week is a RADICAL12/12 too! We signed our insurance check from Lloyds' AND all the processes involved were completed today on our new fully furnished rental home in Volcano!  If you read our Nov 22 blog entry, we gave you a sort-of hint -- it was in the PINK box in the photo.)
And here's the rest of the story.

Once Upon A Time...

Cozy living room with fireplace

...we had NO IDEA how our lawsuit against Lloyds' of London would turn out when we signed on with our amazing attorneys, but we felt we had nothing to loose, and we couldn't stay in 400 sf studio with three corgi dogs for a year while we waited it out.  So, we began to think about renting a furnished home here in Volcano to see if this is where we'd might eventually like to live. Then, the day before Thanksgiving, imagine our surprise when our attorney called --Lloyds' was honoring our claim IN FULL!!

While it is sufficient to buy a house, we immediately realized that neither of us is ready to do that -- emotionally or psychologically, and we really did fall in love with this very cute, fully furnished two bedroom house. (Even the idea of buying furnishings for a whole empty house right now would be too much.)

In the middle of an Ohia forest
(Mauna Kea in back)

We have enjoyed it here in Volcano at 3500 ft elevation, more than we expected, particularly as there are lots of retirees here and even more artists. When we got here in August and the months that followed, I was delighted to spend hours a day beautifying the already stunning gardens -- even this last week. Yes, it's chilly in the winter, but ta DAH - we have a fireplace!

One of the two bedrooms

So, here's a few of photos of our new place. It is in "Ohia Estates" a very tiny (two street) subdivision on a street named Nahelenani (beautiful forest)...and so it is. Two thirds of an acre surrounded by ohia trees. Even though you can't see it, there's lots of room in the back yard area. Phil is drawing up plans for a wood shop (with the owners OK) and Lunel will have a greenhouse!

We got bananas! and soon a greenhouse.

We have met the sellers who have been very kind and helpful and we already know several neighbors and have even been included in holiday festivities! We could hardly wish for a better closing of this most peculiar year, moving in on 29th and 30th -- Happy New Year to us!
We wish everyone a particularly wonderful holiday season.

(PS Remember that our address book with birthdays and such is gone....it may take a while to reconstruct all that information.)

** We are STILL "Punatics" because the district of PUNA extends all they way up here to Volcano.

Rainbows and Flags Over Leilani

For those of you who have been following our blog, you already know the story. Newcomers to our blog are welcome to browse back weeks or months -- especially to know more about the fire and then Kilauea lava flow that went through Puna's Leilani Subdivision in May.

First is a photo that appeared on our local blog forum and with permission, we are including it. The "hill" you see is the cone of Fissure 8. The other day we got an email that someone had placed a Hawaiian flag on top of #8 near our property in Leilani Estates (on Luana.)


We found it interesting that this event coincided with Hawaiian Independence Day, November 28th, about which you can read below. Like many issues, there are multiple points of view, but we found this well written short article instructive -- especially if you didn't know that Hawaii HAD an Independence Day -  or WHY!

Photo taken by Aerial Visions (our friend Clive Cardozo -  Mauna Loa in background).
Everything we owned is under that mountain of lava!! 200 feet high

 Hawaiian Independence Day!!

WATCH CLIVE VIDEO BELOW!!

The flag is there with our respect for the original people of this area who called it Keahialaka.

Aerial Visions LLC VIDEO of FISSURE 8

Phil and Lunel Haysmer (former residents of Luana)

Tears of Joy

After Seven Months -- Some GOOD NEWS!

LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES!!!

"Home Owners WILL Be Covered"
"Lloyds Will Pay"

Well in our last post we hinted at one surprise, but now it's pretty much gone viral: Lloyds of London has capitulated, reversing their decision to deny our the fire insurance claim we filed in May this year.

Our names and faces have been in the news so much in the last few months, every place we go people recognize us -- kinda odd. We've been in "neutral" for seven long stressful months - so, it's particularly wonderful to receive this news the day before Thanksgiving.

There are still friends and neighbors fighting for coverage -- for homes that are either inaccessible, or still standing physically but totally uninhabitable due to infusions of toxic gasses, or irreparable damages of other kinds. Hopefully this will also get the wheels of justice turning in a good direction for them as well.

Anyway rather than belaboring the whole story, for now, please enjoy reading the two news blurbs that ran in today's news. We continue to be very grateful for the outpouring of love in many forms through this crazy adventure. Whether it was with emails, notes, gifts, Go-Fund, wood, tools, clothes, jewelry -- it has all been a blessing!

There's more, but we're still in shock, and enjoying our cozy electric blanket and three corgi dogs during these crisp cool Volcano Hawaii nights.  Now, we have the security we need to find a rental house that will suit us.

NEVER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THIS FOR THANKS GIVING!
Home Owners WILL be Covered!    ---  
Lloyds Will Pay

Giving Thanks

HAPPY THANKS GIVING ALL!  We know it's been a long time since our last update.  Phil haS been very busy trying to keep up with the sales of his beautiful hand carved koa reef fish, and has even had a couple of special orders.  Lunel continues to find pleasure in manicuring the gardens and flower beds around the property. While it is cooler here at 3500 ft elevation, when the sun is out -- it is very pleasant to be outside (with long sleeves.)

She also continues to add pages to her art journals and is now working on #3.

The Corgyn have been supervising the goats as they are led from one grazing pasture to another -- and this week -- they were just on the other side of the back yard fence -- and a constant source of entertainment.

This last week Lunel was practicing a beautiful Hawaiian chant (oli) of thankfulness -- "Oli Malaho." She learned it a couple years ago while attending an informal language class. Words and translation are below.  If you'd like to listen here's the link:
   OLI MALHAO CHANT





WE DO HAVE OTHER NEWS -- but it is still under wrap, so be patient and we will tell all, soon!!

Art Is Where You See It

Main building is nearly 100 years old (before permits)

Redwood water tanks collect rain water

Of course we are deeply saddened not only at the loss of our home to fire and 99% of contents, we have been dealing with the loss of our ART SPACES. ***

Anyone who visited our home or followed our blog knows about Phil's beautiful wood working shop and his amazing collection of tools. We also shared a huge bright space upstairs as well that was full of our art supplies, journals and completed art.

BUT WE ARE BOTH ARTISTS so we tend to see the world, through artists eyes -- even the mundane and ordinary has depth, color and composition as illustrated by these images. We have expansive views of trees and sky and barnyard, but a couple that Phil took are somewhat more abstract views of what we can also see from our lanai; Lunel did her 'magic' to draw out the interesting perspectives.

Recently a dear friend gave us back a gift we had given to her -- a golden paper star that was identical to the one we had in our Leilani home for so many years. We were able to find just the perfect artistic place for it in our east facing window.

The mundane can bring out both the worst and best in artistic expression as the two images below illustrate. We were dismayed the other day when Phil pulled into a parking space and lightly touched the bumper stop. "Bumper shredder" might be more appropriate as even that little nudge managed to literally shred the cheap plastic bumper out of its cheap plastic "snaps" (not even screwed together.)

In any case, after several trips to the hardware store and a pair of borrowed wheel ramps we managed to reattached the bumper. The space beneath was too small for Phil to maneuver under but he handed screws, washers, drills and screwdrivers to Lunel, who was very annoyed at the quality of this 2016 versa that seemed expressly designed to cause the owner unnecessary expense because of cheap materials. What ever happened to METAL?

Anyway, as she normally does, she created ART from her perspective -- that of being under the car for the repairs.

And life goes on, as does ART, when you have the eyes to see it.

"Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed." Kahlil Gibran



*** We again wish to acknowledge the generous gifts from friends, neighbors and even strangers who contributed funds (and art supplies) that have enabled us to continue producing art.  Phil is producing art and has three galleries now!

Romance on the Ranch ***

"I am so lonely without Michael"

In our last blog entry, we posted a photo of the bright lime-green chameleon living in the olive tree just outside our back porch/lanai. At first we though it was an iguana, but found out she is a Jackson's chameleon - apparently the only one left because the barnyard cats seem to enjoy catching them.

Yesterday, however, our landlady invited me to "come see what the cat brought in." She'd rescued another chameleon from the cat (who thought it was a play-toy) by wrapping it up in a towel. She was planning to tuck him into the bromeliads and camellia bushes near our front door. I protested, offering to re-unite the three-horned colorful male with his  mate pining away in the olive tree.

Lunel taking Michael to the olive tree

"Mahalia - hang on, I'm coming home"

So, our family has just expanded! 
Meet the Jacksons -- Michael and Mahalia!  Of course we're reading up on their preferred habitat, food, habits, life-style and sex life.

Perhaps one of the reasons there are only two (that we have discovered) is that the babies are born as tiny creatures -- not in eggs and the offspring are often gobbled up by hungry parents. The adults can grow up to 15" and live over 10 years. They are chameleons, so spotting them up on the olive tree isn't easy, and when the local nesting hawks fly over, they quickly scurry under a branch and tuck their tails up in a tight spiral.

Phil introducing "Makenzi"

Since Lunel is fascinated with the local Hawaiian mythology concerning the Mo'o giant lizards and her six foot Mo'o sculpture is now part of the Pu'u of our property, we'll just call this a good omen.


*** HOLD THE PRESSES!!  

Just in from a trusted source The Village Voice (reporting from makai side Volcano Village)  This monogamous reptile family has turned out to be a  menage a trois! Meet the "other woman" newly arrived at the olive tree. Her name is Makenzi Jacksons. 

Green Green GREEN

Clear day view of Mauna Kea

Many decades ago (1963) the New Christy Minstrels sang it, and most of us sang along (though we probably wouldn't admit to that or any other kind of "green" we may have done soooo long ago).

Green, green, it's green they say
On the far side of the hill
Green, green, I'm going away
To where the grass is greener still...

Lonely female chameleon who lives in the olive tree
just outside our back door lanai

Up here at 3500 ft elevation, there are different kind of flora and greens than we had in Leilani Estates on Luana Street. Although there are still hapu'u ferns and ohia trees, there are also walls of bamboo, eucalyptus and several kinds of pine trees.

"Instant picnic" just out our front door

View of the farm

We went on a guided walk early this week offered by Volcano Art Center and were awed by the size and shapes of several different kinds of ohia trees and some massive koa trees as well.

"Their grass is greener..."

The Volcano Art Center offers many opportunities to learn about the island from many different perspectives -- geological, ecological and cultural.

LINK to Volcano Art Center

Here at our new temporary home, we are enjoying new greens -- some of which come from the organic and hydroponic gardens. The view from our back porch/lanai is of the back portion of the farm/garden where there are many varieties of rare chickens, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, and goats -- their milk is made into taste cheeses!

The corgyn (who surprisingly enough are green-grazers) are particularly interested in the goats, and have decided that the greens on the other side of the fence just must be better than the grass on their side.

Life After Flow

No photo credit was given on Google-Share.  We believe these photos were taken from the street next to ours.

While the lava flow appears to have stopped, and there is evidence of life returning (especially after the huge dump of rain from recent hurricane) lives are still in turmoil.

Over 700 homes were destroyed, of course many of them were our friends and neighbors. Many are in evacuation zones and cannot return, many are still living in Leilani, and there are those who want to return because their homes are still there. Those living there face an uncertain future, partially due to the possibility of future lava flows, unsafe air quality, etc. Many others simply cannot return as lava flows have block streets, or because the toxic fumes have penetrated the structures making them unsafe to live in. There are many variations for each resident, and it seems that the confusion is compounded by lack of clear communication between Civil Defense and both County and State governments.  LOTS of unknowns lie ahead.  Here are some photos posted on Google-Share.

As most of our dedicated blog followers already realize, a few days after our house burned, this cinder cone began to pile up and eventually reached about 200' in height completely covering our home and neighbors close by.  Yet, life returns -- and we are nestling into our new temporary home in Volcano.  Click on link below to see more ---


To see more about Volcano Village