Meanwhile...

...someone came to show us something...the Kirby salesman!!!  Yup, they're still around!  So they showed us all the nasty dirt that is hiding in our carpet, sofa & bed!  Ugh.  I noticed there was a difference in colors on the samples he cleaned!  Then I realized that some of what he'd cleaned had come from Kaua'i & the rest was dust & sand from here.  I had to take a pic of the different colors of soil!  Kaua'i soil is more red.  The soil here is darker.  See if you can tell the difference!

After 3 and 1/2 hours we still decided not to buy!  Whew!

Mothers' Day Card and Gift

A long while ago, on the island of Kaua'i,

we took a pohaku class.  (Rock carving)

My mom saw what we had made and asked for a candle holder.

So we saved her this heart shaped one.

She also happens to like beets (UGH!) and broccoli.

So I made her card using beets cut in half,

and added some watercolor crayon to a piece of broccoli

to get some green suggestion of leaves.

I hope she likes both.  I know she'll laugh at the card!

Here they are:

I hope she doesn't see this!  We mailed it

awhile back & she still doesn't have it!

I called her and warned her!



Sparks fly from her fingertips!

Raven hair & ruby lips, sparks fly from her finger tips
Echoed voices in the night, she's a restless spirit on an endless flight...
...She got the moon in her eye!

Recognize that old Eagles song? For our last BBQ in our yard... I just had to try for this pic!!!

Can you name this plant?

Wonder who can recognize this plant & where it is? :)

Can you name this trail?

There are a few pals on Kaua'i who I think could name this trail! :)

Rescue Kaua'i Style

You might not know it, but these rescue units were up in the mountains of Koke'e for a rescue on a trail. I just had to show how they are so prepared for any kind of help. Note the surfboard on top!!!

Paved Paradise

So we had to deliver our last, really the final order, to the museum. We decided to try again to see the Kalalau. My DH even did his cloud parting dance! Alas, it didn't work this time...again.

But we were amazed to see that the old gravel parking lot had been paved! What? Isn't that how the song goes? Paved paradise, put up a parking lot? What next?

But I must say the disabled access is nice.

So, DH tried his dance again....but...

...all I got was a picture of this invasive ginger! Ah, well!

Prayer Basket

We actually do have a prayer basket! And my DH made it! We put all of the prayer requests in here on small post-it notes, then burn them on the full moon. But what to do when we are travelling? DH came up with the idea of taking a picture of it, putting it in an envelope & putting the prayers in the envelope! Then we can burn them at our new home! Yea!

Are we moved yet????

Last week on left...this week on right!

LOTS of breaks!!!

Some more from this week...I think we should leave the rest to the movers!!!

Final Visitors?

So this is my step mom! She & her sister were on a cruise around the islands & stopped for the day to see us, the Kalalau lookout, & Hanalei! The only problem was it had stormed & there was a flood warning out! Yikes! But if anyone could do it, they could!

Above you can see the Waimea canyon.

Above left is a ridge trail that leads to the falls on the right. If you look close, you can see people!

And here's my step mom's sis making sure she got the best pic! On the right is the Waimea Valley. That was the end of our time together. Then they headed on to Hanalei. Wonder if they ever made it!???

Happy Independence Day!

What do you see in a blast of fireworks? A pretty explosion?

Colors, forms & shapes?

Fingers or flowers? Branches or blossoms?

Christmas decorations? Dr. Emoto's water crystal experiments?

A white palm tree? A red headed Who from Whoville?

A firecracker plant? Fishermen in your camera range? ;)

A burst of glory?

But now what kinda UFO is this guy? LOL!

Happy Independence Day to all!

Jackaranda in Bloom

The Jackaranda Tree is one of my favorite tropical trees! I love the colors, shape...just everything about it. I've never gotten a picture of it before, & knew I had to get a few pics before I left! So here's just a couple I got the other day!

A goodbye orchid!

Went to meet some pals for the last night of business at the Waimea Brew Pub. My other pals, the Happy Enchalata, were playing that night. It was bittersweet! But one of my pals left me with this beautiful orchid of many colors! It's so beautiful I wish you could see it in person! Thanks, pal!

Decisions and a DATE!!!

Being a mixed media artist can be hard on travelling! What do you take with you? Which threads, floss, fabrics, etc.??? I'm still deciding & we have a finalized date to move our stuff!!! Ack! All the stuff will leave here 7/29 & 7/30!!! Then we'll leave the first week in August!!! So what to pack? What to mail ahead? What is so precious I have to carry it with me??? ACK! I have a feeling I'll pack alot, mail some, & just bring a bit!

Handmade Leis

When we went up to visit our pals & share a meal up in Koke'e last weekend, a couple of our pals made us each a lei! Aren't they just beautiful?!!! From flowers & plants they found around the camp. What great pals! I will miss them!

Happy Solstice!!!

My swapping buddy made me these cute little foam sunshine faces! I just had to turn one of them into a Summer Solstice wand! They are so cheerful! I'll bring this one up to Koke'e tomorrow to celebrate the Solstice with some pals!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Beautiful Flowers of Hawaii

Aren't these flowers just beautiful? A pal was recently visiting here & got these at the Hanapepe Farmers Market. When she was leaving, she left them for us to enjoy! Mahalo nui loa!

Twisty Lei for Lauhala Hat

When I first got here, I went to the local farmers' market in Kekaha. There was a little Filipino man there who made lauhala hats. I tried them on, but they were WAY too small. I have a big head, no pun intended! :) Anyway, he told me if I came back the following week, he'd make one for my big head. And he did! A REALLY big one!! Mind you, these hats are alot of work! All that weaving! And I don't know if he even prepped his own leaves! Yikes!

So this last week, with all the crocheting going on, I decided to crochet what's called a "Twisty Lei" to put around my hat. It's a combo of rattail & fluffy kine yarn. I think it fits the hat well. I've learned so many things here on Kaua'i...wait until you see my feather leis!!! LOL!! (That's a joke 'cuz some of us take years to finish just ONE!)

The Packing Angel!

Ya ever heard of the packing angel? Well this is the guy version of one! I have a girlfriend version of him on the mainland who helped me move 5 times in 2 years! Bless them both!!!

So I go thru' everything, separate what goes, stays with pals, gets donated, etc...then this angel flies in and packs it all! Even without a.c.!!! Look! There's just a fan going next to him! Ack!

And above you'll see our spare room is getting more full of boxes...as the rest of our house gets more empty! Yikes! Dreams are coming true!

Quick Notes

Every year in Hawaii, there is a special festival/competition called the Merrie Monarch Festival. You can see some info about it here. It is a time where hula halaus come from around the world to compete. Some ancient dances, some more modern. It goes on for days.

So I decided to watch it again this year...mostly to see the ancient dances & costumes. I kept my "idea sketchbook" next to me with a pen & some colored pencils. I made some quick doodles of colors, words, stories, meanings, etc. This was just a quick exercise, 'cuz I really wanted to experience the dances & chants. Here's a few pages from my fave "keep it with me for everything" idea sketchbook! It will give me some immediate impressions of color, placement, texture, etc. Sometimes all you need is a line or two to remind you!