January 31, 2012

Does this count as eggs for breakfast?!?!  No, just kidding.... sort of.  Yesterday, the boys and I needed to make something using the egg whites we had left over from our weekend Banana Pudding fest.  Our discussion soon turned to some of our favorite European baked sweets.    A treat we all really enjoyed were the fancy merengues and the wide array of unique flavors available.  Because we also had some lemons from the neighbor down the street, we decided to try our hand at a Lemon Merengue.  They're petit rounds, crisp on the outside and just a bit sticky on the inside.  Just like in France!  Now Nate wants to try making croissants and pain au chocolat.... oh boy!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 30, 2012

Nate, having finished his school day early today, came to me a declared, "I think it's time for me to get those wild puppies worn out and down for a nap."  Sounds good to me.  Well, after about 20 minutes all was quiet and calm, so I decided to check in and give Nate the "Good job, thumbs up signal...."  Someone's napping alright, and it's not the intended!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 29, 2012

The Boy Scouts did a hike up to the Pali Nu'uana Look Out today.  Many of them needed a 5 mile hike with an elevation change greater than 1000 feet.  Well, we did it along with some map and compass work and orienteering.  A great day for that kind of stuff!
Old Pali Highway, Hawaii

January 28, 2012

I just think it's amazing that the moon has been visible all day long today.  The boys, on the other hand weren't as impressed, "We see it all the time when we're out sailing."   Anyway.... a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the young woman who hung the moon and stars for us..... Love you Baby Girl Jordan!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 27, 2012

I think I have a slight dilemma.   This guy shows up in the backyard 3 days ago with an injured wing, but won't let us get within 10 feet of him.  When I first found him, I looked as if he was on death's door and wouldn't make it through the day.  Since I hate to see animals suffer, I tossed out some bread pieces and placed a bowl of fresh water close to him.  Fast forward to this afternoon... he's looking much better, hopping and walking around, but obviously is not able to fly away.  So.... now what?  I've called animal control, but they won't even bother coming out for a pigeon.  I'd love some suggestions from any of you who have any sort of birding experience!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 26, 2012

Down the road from us, one of the neighbors has this beautiful vine plant camouflaging their side gate.  I'm not sure what the plant species is and I'm not having much luck with google today.  Sorry.... I'm not doing well with the botany lesson.  Pretty orange flowers, spreading vine-like plant.
Kailua, Hawaii

January 25, 2012

So, my neighbors had to have their house tented and fumigated for ground termites yesterday and today.  Remember,  we're bird sitting?   Well, they really do tent, or cover, the entire house!  Actually, it's very common here and we see it all over the island.  In fact, our house needed to be tented and treated before we could close on it.  It's really nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, but for some reason, I'm always reminded of the dreaded "Cone of Shame" from the movie "UP".....
Kailua, Hawaii

January 24, 2012

We're bird sitting today and tomorrow.  This is Tank and his house is being fumigated.  So far, he's been very pleasant.  The boys and I are trying to teach him to say "Bonjour" before his owners come back to claim him.
Kailua, Hawaii

January 23, 2012

I know it's a late post, but I wanted to show our dinner.  Actually, we're eating late because I was waiting for Dave to join us, but we finally gave up (got too hungry) and ate without him.  His will be hot and ready when he gets home.  Sorry babe!  I loved Nate's declaration.... "That Pioneer woman is a genius!"  This is bacon wrapped beef fillet (a variation of her bacon wrapped scallops) forbidden rice and a green salad with garlic herb olive oil dressing.  Wow!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 22, 2012

No, we did not buy a truck for Zachary.  He's just sitting in Dave's new vehicle purchase.   This is Simon, a 1982 Toyota little truck.  It's a great project car to help the boys learn auto mechanics, haul El Toro boats to races and move stuff around in general.  Sam's discovery, "Dad... there's a hole in the floor and I can see the road!" Nate's statement, "It's been spray painted in some areas already." Zach's declaration, "It's gonna need A LOT of work......"  Dave's quote (justification?), "Every guy needs a truck!"  Mine..... "Every woman needs to get away for a pedicure once a month!"
Kailua, Hawaii

January 21, 2012

Finally!  I convinced the boys to get haircuts.  It's always nice when you can clearly see their beautiful blue eyes.  This shot has nothing to do with the puppies... they just happen to be with the boys.  Promise!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 20, 2012

We had the honor of attending the Change of Command for the Commander United States Pacific Fleet this morning.  The U.S. Pacific Fleet is the world's largest fleet command, encompassing 100 million square miles from the West Coast of the U.S. into the Indian Ocean.  The Pacific Fleet consists of approximately 180 ships, nearly 2,000 aircraft and more than 125,000 Sailors, Marines and Civilians.
Mr. Jim Nabors performed our National Anthem and these sharp looking 1/12 Marines carried out the 17 canon shots over the bow for the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert.
Please take a moment of reflection for our Red Lion Marines and their loved ones.  They willingly gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  May you find peace.
Honolulu, Hawaii

January 19, 2012

Levi and Remi had their first vet visit and vaccinations today.  Now we can take them outside in the backyard for house training and leash walking practice.  We've discovered nature makes the best chew toys! In the future, I'll try not to make every other post of the puppies, but Jordan was asking for one, so this is for her.  Besides, they're so darn cute!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 18, 2012

My neighbors, Charlie and Diane, have an amazing backyard set up.  This is an air plant they have hanging in their side semi-greenhouse.  Lot's of other specimen for later posts too!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 17, 2012

We got the puppies yesterday evening.  Levi, on the left, has a purple collar while Remi, on the right, has the blue one.  We let them pick their own colors.  House training is going much better and faster than we expected. Now we really need to work on their sleeping schedule!  Am I supposed to snooze a little when they take a nap?!?!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 16, 2012

The boys and I went camping last night for a combined Cub Scout and Boy Scout campout at Bellows Air Force Recreational Base.   We did some campfire cooking, a campfire show, gave lots of awards and had a generally good time.  Some rain did fall on us, but nobody was too wet.  This is a shot of Waimanalo Beach and beyond before the bigger storms came rolling in.
Waimanalo, Hawaii

January 15, 2012

A calmer day on the home front today.   Here is a close up of the South African native plumbago just down the street from me.  So far I've only seen these as a shrub or hedge, but it's also know for sprawling over any landscape and blooming year round.
Kailua, Hawaii

January 14, 2012

Sorry... I'm sharing another picture of my amazing boys.   The entire day was spent on the water as Marine Corps Base Hawaii Marina held their first ever sailing regatta.  Zach, Nate and Sam took 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the El Toro training sail category while Josh took 1st for lasers.  This was Spencer's first time racing in the more competitive (advanced 5 year racers) El Toro racing sail category, so he didn't place for this race.  All 5 boys started sailing just 18 months ago and have made incredible progress with their sailing techniques!  Great day on the water gentlemen!!!  On another note, I think I set a record for the number of photos taken (by me) in one day...... 1583 shots.  Really?!?!
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

January 13, 2012

We DO study subjects other than P.E. and sailing!  Here are the boys working through some math.  Zach asks" Mom, what comes after quadrillion?"  Ooooohhhh.... very good question!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 12, 2012

This is a photo dedicated to my friend Karen Ellis who cannot be exposed to outdoor light for an extended period of time.  Hang in there!
For me, it was a gorgeous day to be out on the water.  While the boys were sailing, I went out on a standup paddle board to get some exercise.  The mangrove area was smooth as glass out on the Bay.  I paddled around in the mangroves, over the sand flats, around the reefs and most of the way to Coconut Island before heading back in.  Without the winds I really started to work up a sweat, so at one point during my return home I dropped down and rolled off my board for a refreshing dip in the calm waters!
Also, a loud shout out to my Dad... Happy Birthday Daddy!
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

January 11, 2012

The home school water sports class was cancelled today due to an absent instructor so we decided to take a hike.  We invited a few friends to join us as well!   The 1.3 mile hike up to Mariner's Ridge may sound like a short distance, but the elevation change of 900 feet made it more of a challenge.  Everyone made it to the top without difficulty, filled up with cold water and a snack, explored the area and enjoyed the view.  The descent was much easier and faster and we did get even a drop of rain!  Good hike.
Hawaii Kai, Hawaii

January 10, 2012

Once again.... I was attempting to get a picture of one setting, but ended up with something else.  The sunrise this morning was just brilliant, so instead of getting some shots of the full moon during daylight, I got this.  Besides, this is what covered up the moon!  Forecast calls for rain showers all week.... we'll see.
Kailua, Hawaii

January 9, 2012

The boys and I went on a Home School Group field trip to the Hawaii Plantation Village.  We learned a little history about the development and running of the plantations, the crops they produced and of the many different migrant workers who lived on site through the past 100 years.  Toward the end of our tour we walked along the edge of the taro bogs and spied this Black-crowned Night Heron having a little snack.  He didn't seem too bothered by our presence because he continued to eat and stare at us without taking off.
Waipahu, Hawaii

January 8, 2012

The nickel sized ilima flower is a Hawaii indigenous relative of the hibiscus and is one of a few native plants that has achieved popularity as a landscaping plant.  The ilima is the principal lei flower of pre-discovery Hawaii and conveys honor by associating the wearer with ancient traditions.  It is said to be a form of Laka, the goddess of hula.
Hawaii Kai, Hawaii

January 7, 2012

We were up at our marina rigging boats at 7:30 AM because the boys have an El Toro sailing clinic at Kaneohe Yacht Club all day today.  This is a shot of about half of the boats that were rigged up and ready to go out on the water.  The other half are behind me.  There was very little color other than the green mountains far off in the distance, the blue sky peaking through the cloud cover and a few red sail numbers, so I went black and white.  I like that the grey scale so stark and gives it even more detail than it did with the color present.
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

January 6, 2012

Ahhhh..... friday!  We finished school early, needed to run some errands, get outside and just celebrate the end of the first week back on track.  The weather was dry, comfortable and not too hot so we decided to go to town on foot.  The grocery store was a necessity to purchase frozen treats and sack lunches for a weekend sail clinic.  Here the boys are enjoying their frozen goodies before trekking back home.   Yea weekend!  Plus, a great big Happy Birthday today to my sister-in-law LaDeane and a belated Happy Birthday (yesterday) to my sister-in-law Miranda!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 5, 2012

I think I've been a good neighbor....  I just hope she feels the same way and decides to share more fruit!  This tree is just over the wall in her yard and these pomelos look very tasty.  Maybe some will fall into my yard by accident!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 4, 2011

An early morning yoga routine, a cup of coffee while I check my e-mail and listen to the pidgeons cooing the day on and three young men starting back with schoolwork.  No fuss, just quiet and peaceful.  What a pleasant transition back into the normal, everyday routine.
Kailua, Hawaii

January 3, 2012

The winds were eerily calm today.  The boys had sailing practice, but not enough wind to actually sail.  Instead, the instructor took the class out on a pontoon boat to the sandbar.  I decided to try my hand at Stand Up Paddle Boarding again.   It's hard work, even in tranquil conditions.  All day long there's been a haze sitting over the entire island.  In this shot the low humid clouds make the Ko'olau Range look to me like the Blue Ridge Mountains. Plus there was an underlying red glow all around as if a forest fire was burning just off in the distance.... For the record there was not a forest fire anywhere on the island.  Strange, strange weather today.
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

January 2, 2012

Kailua town is a small, quaint community with wide bike and pedestrian paths running to the most necessary destinations all within a 10 mile radius.   With the ever increasing price on petrol, we are seeing a lot more alternatives to transportation other than cars and golf carts.  I like this family's solution. It holds 5 people, has hooks for 6 bags, a locking center console for a handbag, phone, GPS or wallet and 4 cup holders.  They don't normally have the purple dragon on top, but they're heading to the beach for the afternoon.  I think they should ride it in the 4th of July town parade!
Kailua, Hawaii

January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!   I'd like to say I enjoyed typing the title today.   I did it without mistakenly keying in 2011.  I'm sure for the first few weeks of this year, like many of you, I will automatically write, say, type or refer the former year as the new until I have it burned into the (exponentially decreasing) long term memory space of my brain.
Funny thing about Hawaii law..... it is illegal to set off fireworks of ANY kind without a permit.  All kinds of explosive devises from snaps to giant flower starbursts are available all over the island, including in the grocery and drug stores.  They can be purchased by anyone 9 years of age and older.  Boy, oh boy!  Well, I think every other house in Kailua must have somehow obtained a permit because we had a fantastic show all around us at the stroke of midnight to help ring in the new year!
Kailua, Hawaii