A New Swing Set

Our neighbors, Clinton and Cassandra just bought 11+ acres up the road (they rented the place behind us for a few months) that has a rustic, natural swing on it. I started thinking...wouldn't that be great to have one of those for Banyan and India to swing together.

I noticed a Full Moon was coming up and asked if they'd like to get together to eat and make a swing set for the girls. Full Moons are wonderful when much of your life exits outside a building. The world is lit up and it magical to hang out and enjoy the glow of the moon.

They are all about community and helping one another. They are care taking a guava orchard right behind us and there is so much guava wood, a swing set would be no problem.

Cassandra got involved and the project evolved into a two swing set, so both girls can swing at the same time.

David came over for his rabbit stew (yes, I did say rabbit) and he helped out as well.

The girls couldn't wait, they had to start playing before it was even done.

The girls each got a custom swing, perfect for their height.

They swung all night, into dinner.

I LOVE the rustic, natural look.

Garden Tub

Our shower and bathtube are out side. I call it my "true garden tub."

This is Rita, HE came with the house, along Lilly (another HE) and Chrysanthemum (a true girl). India named them.

They love water and live outdoors - so they're used to LOTS and lots of rain. India enjoys them and they love the attention.

What do you think of the garden tub?

Bright Geckos

I have always been a nature lover. My hands in the dirts - worms, frogs, penny toads. My favorite in Minnesota were the black and yellow spotted salamanders. I loved how they felt.

I surprised some when I was a teacher w/ the salamander someone passed on to me as well as herbit crabs and bunnies. They thought I was too prissy for those things. They should see me now!

I think these are some of the most beautiful lizards I've seen, that's not saying much coming from Las Vegas where pretty much everything was brown (even our cardinals!).

We were house sitting and spent some time following this guy around. I've not seen one of these pretty things around our house. That's good, as our cats would probably be playing ping pong with them and then India and I would spend the rest of the day trying to resue it and nurse it back to health. Ahh, gotta love nature!

The Other Side of Paradise

Some of you picture Hawaii this tropical paradise, which it absolutely is. I’m going to provide a balanced view for you, the other side of paradise.

Gecko Poop – it’s everywhere. Be careful what you leave uncovered. We have one that must live on the ceiling, because there’s a fresh deposit on my dining table everyday. I’m ok with that. It would be wonderful if it would poop in the same place everyday; no surprises, I know where to look to clean up. I have found the poop next to my teacup and also next to

my breakfast brownies (both uncovered).

I believe these are moth “nests”. They’re a beautiful, funky lime green. I hung my new robe up and the next day there was one of these and I could feel something alive inside. Ewwwe....

Spiders. I don’t even bother taking the webs down, I’d have to do it everyday. The spiders have been the easy ones to make friends with, I have found.

Dumping the potty…remember, the toilet is down the stairs, around the path and 500 ft from the house.

Mosquitoes: it’s been 19 years since I lived around mosquitoes in Minnesota. They were a pain, but I never welted up from them. There are 6 kids of mosquitoes here. Four come out in the daytime and 2 at night. I find the daytime ones viscous! They are black and white striped with nasty red eyes. They come and get me while I’m distracted and making dinner. By the time I’m done with dinner, my legs look like this. Our house is not screened and really doesn’t have the possibility to be, the way the windows were put in. I’m told I won’t taste so good after I’ve been here for a little while. Where we were first staying there were mosquitoes that Jonathan and India reacted to and didn’t bother me. The opposite is true at this house. Clothing has been my best defense and once dinner is prepared, they all go away (or at least most of them!). (I know! I can't believe she showed that picture either!)

Ants – they’re roommates that don’t pay rent, eat your food and don’t clean up after themselves. Another critter I have just surrendered to being in my life. As long as they stay OUT of my packaged food, I can live with them.

Rainbows

I am enjoying living here. I love this house and this land. I’ve been getting up early, because we go to bed so early, but also, because I want to see the sunrise. Some days it’s uneventful and some days it’s breath taking. Today you could see the top of the volcano clearly – it’s usually cloudy up there, so that’s neat. I also saw a rainbow that took my breath away.

It was close and bright and I could see BOTH sides!

And it was a double. How much more amazing could that be?

Look how vibrant the other side is!

The weather is wonderful – 66 – 68 in the mornings and then around 76 during the day. I really love the 70’s...very comfortable. It will be sunny, cloudy, rainy, sunny, rainy, and cloudy – all day long, that’s what today is like, you get all of the weather.

Did I mention I noticed a seasonal change the last of August? I’d been in Nevada for 18 years and it’s pretty flat seasonally. I did not anticipate coming to Hawaii and experiencing seasons. Granted, this is the 2nd season I’ve been in, we came just in time for summer to start, and now fall. In Vegas we didn’t get cooler weather (fall weather) until October, so it’s fun to have “fall” again. I LOVE fall. I know I won’t get to enjoy the leaves turning, but I love the slippers, robes and sweaters. It’s not sweater weather yet. I’ll take a picture and blog when it is, that’s for sure. I’ve already been into the Chai Tea in the mornings. That little India, she loves everything I love to drink. Today I had some Chocolate Caramel coffee, I know, I don’t drink coffee and when I did I didn’t drink flavored. We’ll, it looked good and was $4.99 @ Ross. A few times a month I enjoy it. It’s hard to say “no” to her all day long, so she got some w/ a little 1/2 and 1/2 and Chocolate Stevia - “yummy!” she said and hers was gone before mine. She’s definitely like her grandmothers, can’t keep her cup filled (those poor waitresses)!

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.... 

Don's Photos

 

 

 

 

Down at Karen's House

 

Sunrise from my bed...

 

Naptime...

 

Mongoose; brought over to take care of the rats. Rats are nocturnal and Mongoose are diurnal, so now we just have another rodent pest. 

 

They’re very much like a squirrel, except they stay closer to the ground and kind of slink; their tail is straight back (no cute curl); and they stay under cover so you only see glimpses of them. They have a very sneaky disposition, kind of creepy.

Sorry, I guess I should have edited and blown up the picture before posting it. It's too much work to change it now, move on. :)

Ocean Retreat

For almost 3 weeks we’re staying down by the ocean, caring for 9 ducks, Sita the dog and 2 cats. 

 

The ducks travel in pairs, there’s a 3 some, so they don’t leave anyone out.

Everyday I empty, clean and fill these bins that they drink, bathe and swim in. It’s pretty cool to see how they keep clean. Usually the mate stands by while the other bathes.

Dogs and Cats

 

Sita (Seat-a) has quite the life. She has the roam of 25 tropical acres, sleeps in her owner’s bed while listening to the sound of the ocean and hangs out on the couch anytime she wants.

 

 

Kauila (Cow-ee-la) came to Karen as a kitten. She had been living under Karen’s house for a while and had a beautiful bow growing into her neck – probably someone’s Christmas present runaway. She’s pretty shy and never sleeps inside, beautiful, isn’t she?

I don’t believe this kitten has a name yet and probably won’t until Sita accepts her.  I think she’s adorable, very shy and wild. She gets along with Kauila and Kauila and Sita are great friends. I hear they even wrestle.