Holy Holes!!

Lunel's WISH HOLES

Now that we are settling into our new home in Volcano, and the art studio is complete, we can turn some of our attention to the landscaping. In our previous life (BL before lava) WE dug holes, WE broke up lava, WE built walls -- with pick axes and heavy steel o'o bar, literally moving hundreds of pounds to create beds for our beautiful garden in Leilani Estates.



That was nearly eight years ago, and honestly, neither of us has the heart (or body) to begin that process all over again. This time around, there will be less "flower beds" to weed, and more flowering shrubs and trees. I decided to lay out a plan for what I called my "wish holes."  ?? "Wish holes??

Remember we live on an island made of LAVA!  So, when you start digging down -- you don't know what is just below the surface. If it is hard lava -- you have to find a new spot. So above is my funny drawing of  "wish holes."  Lucky for us we've moved into a neighborhood full of capable professionals, like our contractors! We hired one excavator to come and dig holes for shrubs and trees -- now the yard looks like a scene from Jurassic Park!

One of two new carports 

Now that the studio is done, work has begun on one carport and da-DAH the new lanai where our hot tub will be -- just outside our back door!

We keep meeting new neighbors on our street. We went to a garage sale on our block where Phil bought a couple of steel tool drawers -- and met a young man who can help regularly with some of the yard work.

Starting over from nothing has been hard on every level -- we continue to be thankful for each new day, for all the blessings that have come our way!

Illegal Aliens! (in cages?!)** OK, bad pun!

Michel (with 3 'horns' -- and Janet Jacksons

After our home was destroyed (by fire and then lava)  back in May of last year, we were grateful to find two temporary living situations. While living in our second temporary home on the 6-acre farm we found out there is a population of green illegal aliens -- living right here in Volcano!

It appears that a pet store owner on Oahu in 1972 got a permit to import them from East Africa, but since that time with numerous escapees, their population has grown and they are now considered a pest with prohibitions on raising them to sell or transport between islands.

At the farm the local cats found them entertaining and would bring them inside to play with. We helped rescue a few, and decided they would make fun (caged) pets. Here's a photo of Michael and Janet Jacksons -- because they are "Jacksons Chameleons" -- Trioceros Jacksonii.

They live up to 10 years and grow about 13 inches long. It's hard to tell how old these two are, but they are obviously mature. This last week we have been watching their slow-motion courtship. We do NOT plan to incubate eggs when she lays them because we don't want to contribute to the population as they compete for insects in the native forests.

So, now our weekly grocery/shopping list includes buying crickets which they each eat every day. And, speaking of weekly lists -- here's a sample of what a "Hilo Day" typically looks like. Of this overwhelming list of 15 stops, we only we able to get 12 done -- but we at least managed to stop for the Jacksons' crickets and for us --  a tasty take-home dinner.

FINALLY!!!  We are moving into our newly completed art studio. Today we began to schlep boxes of tools and supplies from the temporary "shop" where Phil has been working with his wood art. We will be posting photos of the inside and outside very soon.

** Of course the use of 'cages' is a hot topic -- no offense or inference intended, just a bad pun. 

Haysmers' New Art

Poliahu

During the past year as artists the creative process has been an absolutely essential tool for dealing with our loss and grief. The day after Lunel came out of a coma and was released from the hospital Phil helped her by a few art supplies so she could begin a new journal.

With some of the go-fund-me money gifts, Phil immediately bought wood-working tools. Neither of us stopped creating; we found our emotions were channeled into the healing process of making art -- particularly in response to the enormous loss of our retirement home and 99% of the contents (including our art and art collections.)

Ai La'au  (Forest Eater)

"Moving Through Fear"

During July the Wailoa Center in Hilo, together with Hawaii Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is hosting an exhibit for artists' work specifically related to last year's Kilauea's lava eruption. During this time Lunel has created three journals full of art -- over 400 images in about 400 days; some of these images have been shared in previous blog entries; she has been asked to offer a class in July to share her unique process of  using images combined with quotes, drawings and poems.

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.  Thomas Merton

This last year Phil has been experimenting with his latest tool -- a Japanese carving tool, and with it -- he has created four new bas-relief pieces. Three are directly related to the Hawaiian mythological characters, including Pele, Poliahu (Pele's snow sister) and Ai La'au who was the personage living in Kilauea crater before the arrival of Pele to the Big Island. 

"Deep Water Challenge"

Pele

His last image while more ocean-related still addresses the unusual "voyage" we have made in our lives this last year. The vessel is a traditional Polynesian sailing vessel "Wa-a."