August 31, 2011

Guess what we're having on our spinach salad tonight?  That's right.... fresh avocado right off the tree from the backyard!  I'm so excited about this particular crop because I love, love, LOVE avocados and the tree is loaded down with lots and lots of them!  Recipe suggestions are welcome.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 30, 2011

We went out on the water for P.E. today.... per Jordan's request.  The boys had a blast racing, capsizing, jumping from boat to boat, swimming and just playing around in the water.  Despite working and teaching at the marina all summer long, Jordan got little time on the tiller.  Here she is deep in concentration while hiking out just a bit over the side of Bumble Bee, the Laser.  During the school year she races for the University of Washington Sail Team in a similar craft... only different climates.
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

August 29, 2011

I went out to the backyard to get some shots of our incredibly bountiful mango tree and look who became a camera hog!   It may be petite, but the White Eye bird, native to the sub-tropic region, has a very large, melodic voice.  Since he happens to be in more than half of my pictures taken today, I think this silly fruit eater is guarding his meal.  Well, this mango tree produces more than enough to share...  we've had mango with lunch and dinner since we bought the house.  I LOVE it!
Kailua, Hawaii

August 28, 2011

I asked Jordan to do some unpacking.  I've seen books organized by size, author, title and subject, but never by color.  It's a rainbow.  She informed me we don't have many orange spine books. Noted.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 27, 2011

Here's the outdoor living space at the front of the new house.  Dave enjoyed his morning internet browsing session and mugs of coffee while watching people stroll, run or ride by.  I was working on the weekly menu for the big commissary trip.  It's also a great spot for doing school lessons that required lots of reading.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 26, 2011

This is the before picture of my new kitchen from this afternoon.  Where is the after picture, you ask?  Well, there isn't one.  I finally got fed up with it all and walked (with Dave and the boys) the 1 block to the beach for a dip in the tranquil and calming Pacific Ocean.  Upon our return to the house, we all cleaned up and walked in the other direction to downtown for some Mexican food and a much needed pitcher of frozen margarita.... the kids had various sodas.  We hit the ColdStone to top off the evening!  It's good to be in our own house again!  We'll tackle the kitchen tomorrow....
Kailua, Hawaii

August 25, 2011

Our last sunrise from the house on the hill.  We had early morning storms come through, making the air crisp, clean and cool.  Again today, the flowing, shifting clouds bring much depth to an intense kaleidoscopic view out across the horizon.  
Kailua, Hawaii

August 24, 2011

The clouds hung low over the Ko'olau Mountains all day today creating a gorgeous moving shadow show.  The light cloud cover also made for a wonderful golf day for Mr. Biden.  He's here on a working vacation trip while Mr. Obama is enjoying Martha's Vineyard.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 23, 2011

I had lunch at a little grille in downtown Kailua with my friend Eileen this afternoon.  Just outside the door of the restaurant were these beautifully potted flowering shrubs.   The 1-inch deep tubular blooms of the Red Firecracker Fern drape in large clusters from pine needle like foliage.  This particular variety of the long lasting perennial happens to be a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 22, 2011

Despite all the craziness with moving, today was our first day of school.  There was only one minor meltdown throughout the morning and it had to do with rusty multiplication skills.  No worries, it will all come back in short time!  No packing lunches, hauling backpacks or fancy new clothes (or uniforms), but I did make them change out of pajamas!  This year Sam is a 4th grader, Nate is a 7th grader and Zach is a freshman (9th).
Kailua, Hawaii

August 21, 2011

One house is almost empty while the other is almost settled.  Over the past 2 weeks we have been making 3-4 trips per day gradually transferring truckloads of boxes, unpacking and putting away everything as we go.  I find it easier to do a move this way, but it's starting to get a little old now.  Obviously we have many empty boxes, but hanging on the chair is the collection of dried flower leis I received at Dave's Change of Command last year.  They don't have any scent left, but they still look pretty.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 20, 2011

Cub Scouts had a Water Fun Round Up Event today.  Sam the Procrastinator started the official construction of his Rain Gutter Regatta vessel this morning.  The lesson he learned today is "If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute to get it done."  Not exactly what I was going for.  We did have a fun time though.  Both Zach and Nate worked (as Boy Scouts) to help guide, instruct, lead and corral the young Cub Scouts throughout the day. They also grilled the hot dogs for everybody's lunch!  There were water balloons, water rockets, a giant water slide, the Rain Gutter Regatta races, water gun wars, games, food, awards and sunshine!  A great scouting day in Hawaii!
Kailua, Hawaii

August 19, 2011

For the past 10 days the boys and I have been hauling our not so meager possessions from one house to another and well.... we are tired.  Yesterday I promised we would do only two runs between the houses and a big deal lunch out.  Well, here it is.... McDonald's drive-thru.  They were SO excited because the last time I took them to Micky D's was in Amsterdam and that was only to see what was different on the menu.  Needless to say, as the boys have gotten larger so have their appetites!  There's more food in the bag and the only thing in the bunch that's mine is the pineapple mango smoothie.   I don't think I can afford to make this a habit.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 18, 2011

Last night Dave spent some time packing up many boxes from his domain, making it possible for the boys and I to transport garage stuff today.  Since I don't set up this sacred space, it made for an easier day of moving.  While unloading the truck and stacking boxes I came across this ginormous creepy, crawly beast hanging out on our large patio sunbrella.   I called the boys over and was instantly corrected by Zach (thank you).... "Not a butterfly Mom, it's just the largest moth I've ever seen!"   I know not to argue with their superior knowledge of an ever growing range of subjects.  Anyway, the creature had a wing span of about 8 inches and flew around like a slow, drunken bat.  Lots of ducking heads and girly screams when it took flight trying to escape our staring eyes!
Kailua, Hawaii

August 17, 2011

Contrary to popular belief, summer break was NOT created just to have children help around the farm with the harvest.   Rural schools did have long breaks (2-3 weeks) so the children could help with planting and harvesting, but the Summer break was created in 1840 by the great education reformer Horace Mann.  He worried that overstimulating the minds of children could lead to mental breakdowns and insanity. Not only were kids pleased, but the solution made teachers happy and concerns about spreading diseases in sweltering classrooms dropped.  The boys and I aren't starting school until next week so we are furiously moving our stuff to the new house.  We look like the traveling gypsies!
Kailua, Hawaii   

August 16, 2011

I see the plumeria trees everywhere here.  Different shades of white, pink and yellow all over the island, but this I had never seen.  It's a blood red plumeria I spotted growing over the wall from the neighbors yard.  I'm looking forward to the new sights I'll discover at our new house!
Kailua, Hawaii

August 15, 2011

While packing up a kitchen box this morning I happen to spot a dozen jumpers high in the sky over our airfield.   In this shot I captured 9 of them, but 4 camouflaged by the palm trees.  I'm not sure who they are, where they're from or what kind of training they're doing (aside from the obvious!), but it is certainly a sight to see!
Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

August 14, 2011

We traveled to the other side of the island to learn how to surf.  The guys did the recon work yesterday and reported back it was perfect for beginner surfers.  That's us..... beginner surfers.  That is not us in the picture, but there were lots of girls out there, making it more comfortable for a few in our party.  Surfing requires a lot of balance, upper body strength, good timing and patience.   I only got up 3 times during the hour I was out, but it was LOADS of fun.  I'm hooked.  Surfboard has been added to my Christmas list!
White Plains Beach, Hawaii

August 13, 2011

I went furniture shopping today.  As you can see, I was oh so successful.  Sarcasm aside, I did come across this beautiful and fragrant star jasmine bush.  These are usually used as ornamental trellis climbers and bloom through the spring and summer.  Here in Hawaii they grow into large bushes and bloom year round.  I think I want this for the backyard...
Kailua, Hawaii

August 12, 2011

The fishing pier next to the base marina.  Usually, it's loaded with people fishing, but is also used by the Army transport ships and the Coast Guard.  I like to use it to add a beautiful 1/2 mile to my longer runs.
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

August 11, 2011

We celebrated our 21st anniversary today by mounting a well traveled wedding gift on the exterior of our 12th house.  Many thanks to Dave Shapiro for this permanent, yet mobile, symbol of our nuptials.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 10, 2011

This little gem is in our side yard which we share with our neighbor.  For the past year I've seen these little 1-inch square orange flowers on the ground around this tree, but never really saw the flowers ON the tree.  So today I did some exploring and rooting around in the foliage of this beauty and this is what I found.  It's called a Kou (rhymes with throw) tree and was once used (in old Hawai'i days) as the best choice for wooden, bowls, trays and sundry containers.  The trunk of this one is only about 2 inches in diameter, so it has a long way to go before it's harvested for it's beautifully variegated, glossy grain.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 9, 2011

Every day after sailing class I can find my boys holding, coaxing, snuggling and playing with Shy Boy, the marina dog.   Silly boys......
Kailua, Hawaii

August 8, 2011

Early morning hour in the backyard.  I'm attempting to learn fine art of nighttime photography.  We did not have a full moon (in fact, it was only a half moon) but it was so bright this is how it came out.  I still like the perspective.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 7, 2011

A quiet, somber morning up on the hill as the sun rises and the gentle wind pushes the clouds over our majestic Ko' olau Mountains.   I pray for peace in the hearts of the many, many families effected by yesterdays tragic and devastating loss of part of a Navy SEAL team.  Please continue to pray for the safe return of our deployed military members and those who bravely volunteer to take their place.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 6, 2011

Saturday.... no work, no school and no official duties!  So, off to Bellows Air Force Recreation base for some beach and boogie boarding time.  Here Nate, Meaghan, Chris Sr., Sam, Zach and Dave caught one of many waves for the afternoon.  Another great day in Hawaii.
Waimanalo, Hawaii

August 5, 2011

Papaya and mango..... two of my favorites!  These aren't from the grocery store.... I picked them.  That's right, I picked them off a couple of trees out in town, all by myself.  I got permission first though.  That's 1 mango and 1 papaya.  They were HUGE!  And they will now make a perfect, sweet and juicy side dish for this evenings dinner with the Ramsden family.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 4, 2011

I found some broken bird shells laying on the ground under our big tree in the backyard.   We did have a raging wind storm last night, but I haven't found a nest anywhere close by.  I'm hoping they are old and long forgotten.
Kailua, Hawaii

August 3, 2011

A real live banana tree!  This is what I found while on my run this morning... a banana tree nestled within a section of housing.  For some reason, I never thought too much about coming across one of these.  After doing a little research I've discovered these plants are very common and grow wild along the highways of the islands.  The banana is not much of a staple in the Hawaiian diet because they take too long to grow, produce only a small amount per plant and are usually infested with insects.  In early times here in the Hawaiian islands, women were forbidden to eat most varieties of bananas.  Huh.... I wonder what's up with that?
Kailua, Hawaii

August 2, 2011

Heading out the back gate we see the salt marshes here on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  They are shallow and look either yellow or white depending on the sunlight.  In the background are some sand dunes and another beach.  If you look closely, you might even see a fish jumping in the water!
Kailua, Hawaii

August 1, 2011

Yes... correct!  It's Nathan in the Emergency clinic.  I have to say, at least he's graduated from the monthly to a quarterly visit.  Five stitches on the forehead, a large knot and most likely a black eye.... not too bad.  He IS out of the boats and water for a whole week until they can remove the sutures.  
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

July 31, 2011

Today we took the Ramsden family (minus Christopher) over to Waikiki to explore some of downtown and visit our Borders bookstore.  As many of you know, Borders is going out of business and has a liquidation sale going on.  After a little over an hour perusing the half empty shelves, we all walked out with our purchases of great books and/or Lego sets that we just couldn't live without.... at least at that very moment.  The sun was sinking behind the Ko Olaus so we decided to hit the Yard House restaurant just down the road for some dinner.  We all had fabulous meals and only had to wait 5 minutes to get seating for our rather large party of 10.  This is a snapshot of the kids playing in the fountain in the courtyard of the shopping plaza after we had finished eating.  We rounded out our evening with a leisure stroll along Waikiki beach and Fort deRussy park.  Another great day here in paradise!
Waikiki, Hawaii