The Yard

Banana, the grasses in front are Lemongrass

Papaya, Banana, Roses

Sugarcane on both sides of the "starters garden"

 

We have many banana trees, several varieties.

 

Hibiscus and Banana

Sugar Cane 

Yellow Ginger - divine.... 

Our New Home

 

We’re renting a home up the Mauna Kea Mountain/Volcano. 5 acres and only 4 mn from the tiny town of Pahoa. It feels VERY secluded, but not too far from civilization. Jonathan doesn’t have far to go to get internet connection. I don’t have a phone plan, so I pay for each minute of cell service. I try to wait till he gets home to make any calls, by then, most of you are in bed. L I’m still working out the communication kinks. Email is the best – sometimes I do it @ 2:30am, email never wakes anybody up.

 

There are no phone lines, electricity, gas or water. Everyone out here is on Solar energy and uses Propane gas to cook. We don’t have running or heated water. There is a pump at the kitchen sink and it’s rusty when you first start pumping. I have to heat water if I want to wash with warm water. I use a LOT more soap with cold water!

 

The house is on stilts – I am told it helps with ventilation. I like the design, it offers a nice shady place during the day, a place for tools and equipment and maybe even a washer!!!! The kitty's live down here.

 

Currently there is no shower. It was supposed to be in, but it isn’t. The owners heated water in this pot and bathed in this “tub”. I got in and ½ - 2/3rds of the water rushed out! You can either get your rear in or your feet. Jonathan’s working on a shower solution for us – go Jonathan! My dad has some pump ideas for us – go dad!

Don's Photos

 

 

 

 

Mr. Don’s Visit

Don gave himself a VERY nice birthday gift this year. He sent himself to Hawaii and stayed at an Oceanside retreat. It’s hard to tell who enjoyed the visit most, we all loved having Don stay with us. He took care of the ducks each morning.  

 He practiced his Reiki Attunements on India.

 

He kept her entertained while I prepared meals.

 

He read to India.

 

He played with India. 

There were great times at the ocean and the Kalani retreat center 1 mile away. 

Thank you Mr. Don for a wonderful visit. 

Namaste

Our Cats

The cats came with the house, there are NO rats or mice, so I guess they stay!

 

Chrysanthemum

 

Lily

 

Chrysanthemum

Rita

New Home

I don't have many photos yet, we've been trying to prepare it for a proper introduction!

 

The is the current bathing situation. Heat the pot with propane, add cool water and you have bath!

Water runs off the roof into the bucket and provides whater for the toilet. 

 

Toilet

The is the water catchment for the house. 

The tube connected to the house is pumped into the kitchen sink with a hand pump. 

Wild Pigs!

 

There are wild pigs on this island – I believe millions of them, as they have large litters, often. They make a HUGE mess out of gardens and cause people a month of repairs in just one evening. They are nocturnal and at dusk they start to appear. They can be very aggressive if you get between a mom and baby or they feel backed into a corner. Its quite exciting to “run” into one! 

 

Site barks and barks when she hears a squeal or snort, and this goes on ALLLLLL night! Karen Rose has learned that if she sets off a few fire crackers, the pigs are scared away and Sita is quiet.

 

The last night of Don’s visit we hadn’t let of any fire crackers and we could hear squeals in the back yard. By the end of the evening about 15 pigs had come through. The last set was a mom with her babies. She would squeal and move them out of the way and tell them what to do. I guess they like duck food!

 

They are very skiddish and jump and prepare to run at the sight of any movement or the slightest sound.

As the pigs were eating the two kitties were rolling on their backs, playing with each other 10 feet away!

Coconuts and Spider!

 

At the end of the property there are coconut trees. India and Jonathan take Sita for a walk and look for fallen coconuts. It’s really a developed skill to know when to pick the coconuts; scale the tree and get the coconuts down. Jonathan just finds the ones that have fallen. The juice is not so sweet, but it’s still fun to gather and then drink. It’s a dad/daughter thing.

 

This spider was in the sink this morning. I’ve never seen one with an abdomen SOOOO big!!!! 

 

There was a little squeal that went out as I was about to grab the box is was under. Does anyone know what this spider is called? 

 

Don scooped it into a cup and released it in a tree outside. Thank you Mr. Don!

Gathering eggs…

 

Need those froggy boots! 

 

Whew, hard work. 

 

They’re about twice the size of chicken eggs, and yes, you can eat them. 

 

They taste no different than a chicken egg, you just use fewer of them.

India The Artist

 

India loves to draw. Her pictures have really changed since we arrived. There are hands and fingers. Pretty amazing for 3.

 

Sometimes, like her father says, “She’s artist!”

 

Sometimes she’s a skunk artist.

 

Always, she’s India!