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

Bloomers for Us Boomers!

Cotyledon Happy Young Lady

I plead ignorant of the names of all these amazing blooms that are popping up in the yard right now.

Only one plant below, with the yellow cala-shape was here when we moved in four years ago. This is the first year it has bloomed. The bloom is about 7" tall but the huge leaves are nearly 4' long!
Other specimens were gathered or gifted. The upper left chandelier-type is a succulent that over grows in an ancient cemetery along the famous Red Road in Puna -- close to the ocean. In our yard they grow in a well drained nutrient deprived area similar to that of the beach area where we gathered some, leaving appropriate ho'okupu (gifts of gratitude.)

The star-shaped pale yellow ones were gifts from a neighbor and this is their first bloom. (I have a call into the friends who gave it to us and will add the name soon.)

The pink ornamental "pineapple" one was another give-away from local jungle gardener with a warning -- the spiked leaves have the most deadly thorns; they do -- the worse of any bromeliad I have met! The entire "head" will soon be covered with small purple flowers -- that are just now becoming visible.

Over the past 4+ years my garden has become an integral extension of my home. Artfully working with and learning from the land and plants continues to be a deeply entwined relationship of ALOHA and MAHALO.

More Building!!

In the warm tropical climate of the Big Island (especially in Puna where our annual rainfall is 120+ annually,) handling garbage and compost is a serious matter.  We HAVE to empty the kitchen compost container EVERY day, nor you let garbage accumulate either.  AND, it rains every day.

So, I hired this cute contractor and la'au lani  (chief of the woods) to build a garbage enclosure off the west and back end of the house.  I appreciate Phil's capabilities at seeing what needs to be done and not just doing it, but doing it well! In a couple days I will be off to Kona side for a few days swimming with the dolphins at meeting friends and I'll just bet it will be PAU (done) when I get back.  MAHALO Phil!

PS  We are not "accumulating" compost as we are using it up as fast as we can get it onto the pile.  In fact, it is not uncommon to find banana skins, lilikoi rinds and pineapple peels still decomposing when we put it a new plant bed.  But, it's all good!