Giving Thanks (over and over)

Photo taken by our friend Marcus (with photoshop adaptations)

"Once Upon A Time" TWO YEARS AGO the 2018 Kilauea eruption in Puna on the Big Island found us homeless and filing what we thought might well be a useless lawsuit against Lloyd s of London. However, two years ago, just a few days before Thanksgiving we had (through amazing circumstances) both a home and a check with which to begin our lives over. There's ample reason for giving thanks...and here are just a few more.

Phil is continuing to discover new techniques with his wood carving and painting and here's his latest piece entitled "Good Omen" -- maybe an unconscious prayer given the current situation of our world.

The bird featured in the carving is a Koa 'E'kea -- common name is Tropicbird (yes, spelled that way.)

Other images are a new group of fledgling doves who are permanent residents in our yard -- along with numerous other native and endemic species (watch for new blog about them.)

An unexpected bunch of buds on our Marc Chagall rose and a BIG surprise -- three pineapples we never expected to produce. We'd had several dozen coveted "white" pineapples on our previous property -- we'll have to wait and see if they mature -- through the upcoming cooler winter here in Volcano town.

I am continuing to be frustrated with this format --

which doesn't allow for customary maneuvering of photos.

Wishing everyone a safe, thankful Thanksgiving --

we are "together" despite the circumstances. ALOHA

Election Distraction

What's under there?

When we moved into our new home in Volcano town on the Big Island of Hawaii, there was no access to the back property line -- until we began to clear out accumulated debris and weeds. After spending weeks on this project, we began to ask ourselves just what WAS under all there.  Apparently when the forest was cleared to build this house, a lot of raw material (LAVA) was simply pushed back and piled up. Over the decades since, debris, soil and weeds just piled up deeper and deeper.  Here's a couple of in-process photos -- keep your eyes on the two very large chunks.

Oh! That's what's under there stones shaped
like Hawaii and California!

During the last week of the election we decided we needed a distraction, so began to work on beautifying the outflow from our 10,000 gallon water tank, like we had done with our home in Leilani Estates prior to the lava flow in 2018.  We began by removing the existing sod and digging out at large hole. We managed to do some ourselves, but allowed our young strong yard guy to finish it down to 16" where he found a layer of pahoehoe lava (Pa HoyHoy) -- a solid continuous shelf that runs under our property -- after all the whole island is made of lava!

All of the beautiful stones we used came from along that back property line area. We had help from a friend to place two very special ones on the far left side of our waterfall feature, now completed just before winter rains hit. 

These photos show progress we managed ourselves artfully using the o'o bar and sturdy dolly to move and relocate heavy lava stones. The final two can be seen in the photo above, one shaped like California (on the right) and one like Hawaii. After thorough cleaning, both were moved into place by a good friend and neighbor.

Plantings will feature a color pallet of purple, yellow and lime green. The  amount of overflow rain water that comes out during the winter is huge -- so no fish, probably no water lilies either. 

After cleaning -- "California" and "Hawaii" lava stones were placed at far LEFT.

Oh dear!  So, we thought it was done...then more beautiful lava chunks were found, again, along the newly reclaimed back property.  Notice the addition to the RIGHT side...now we ARE done !