Living Land

From "The Atlantic" - Lava crosses the land

Aloha from Phil and Lunel -- While we are safe if not completely "sound" we are still in shock as are many of our homeless friends and neighbors.

Remains of house after it burned.

Pictured here is an early photo of what was left of our home and property after it burned. days before lava covered it. Today we filed our insurance claim. Our four corgi dogs are with us sharing a home filled with aloha (7 dogs and 7 people) and everyone is doing the best they can.

We are stunned and grateful for the outpouring of donations we have received: on the Go-Fund-Me account that Astra (current owner of Many Hands Gallery in Eureka) set up for us, as well as gift cards for Amazon and Home Depot. Good News:  Phil has already lined up a list of tools to replace with these generous donations and even received a gift of koa wood  (and some small tools) from the folks he usually buys from. There have been a couple of local wood workers who have offered space for him to work that will be of comfort to him on many levels.

CLICK to see bigger image

For those of you who knew about Lunel's emergency trip to ICU in a coma just 12 hours before our evacuation -- Good News:  her MRI came out perfectly normal. She has a prescription for Valium and is checking in regularly with her doctor. Her grief runs deep as she was so connected to her art studio, her best assemblage pieces, and particularly her art journals. But, in her unstoppable style, she has begun a new journal filled with pages of quirky drawings, poems, and collage - sample here too.

For personal friends to reach us the best way is through EMAIL:  haysmer@sonic.net.  We have a one-fuinction cell phone we are saving for insurance and medical related things. Frankly, a lot of personal phone calls right now, with our emotions so fragile is hard for us to manage on top of this huge loss.

As dear friends have reminded us: 'chi va piano, va sano e va lontano" -- who goes slowly, goes safely and goes far.

For you who want to see some very current photos of what is happening right now, here's a link to look:  Lava Photo from The Atlantic