July 31, 2012

Well.... hello there, handsome!  This guy was sunning himself on the rubble (from the weekend demo job) just outside my door.  I was surprised at how close he let me get to him and by how long he stuck around.
Kailua, Hawaii

July 30, 2012

Finally!!!!  After a year of tear down and construction work the orange and black fencing has come down to reveal a beautiful marina building.  It's not open just yet but should be by the end of August.  Both Zach and Nate are in the planning stages of their Eagle Scout projects that will benefit the youth sailing program and racing team, set up the classroom, built better boat storage racks and organized the sail lockers.  We're all very excited to see the shiny new facility opened for business!

Kaneohe, Hawaii

July 29, 2012

The forecast called for overcast skies and rain so I decided to spend some time in the kitchen.  Okay.... I don't really need an excuse to spend a few hours creating something new in the kitchen, especially when it involves peanut butter and chocolate!  I wanted a bit of a crunch to my treat and thought to use graham cracker crumbs until I realized I didn't have any.  Crushed Belgian Speculoos biscuits (known as Biscoff cookies in the US) were used instead.  Wow.  I remember as a kid hating when too much peanut butter got stuck on the roof of my mouth.  Well, not anymore!

Kailua, Hawaii

July 28, 2012

Remember that show "America's Funniest Home Videos" where every once in a while they would run a clip of some big backwoods guys who would tie one end of a rope to a tree stump and the other end to a bumper of some souped up 4 wheel drive truck and then take off like bandits?  They were so funny because the bumper usually would come clean off the truck while the stump stayed firmly planted in the ground.  That's the vision I had running through my head and really what I was expecting here with Dave doing the Hawaiian version, so.... I grabbed my camera to document the comedic occasion.   Alas, he successfully removed all the shrubbery remains without losing the bumper.  The rope did snap a couple of times, but that wasn't very entertaining.  The neighbors sure got a kick out of it!

Kailua, Hawaii

July 27, 2012

This is for all my Navy and/or aviation friends.  Yes, there are 2 new P8 Poseidons sitting out there on the tarmac next to the mighty (older) P-3 Orions.  They're here at Marine Corps Base Hawaii to take part in the annual Rim of the Pacific exercise.  RIMPAC is the world's largest multi-national maritime exercise lasting just over 4 weeks in and around the Hawaiian Islands.  This exercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.  

Dave noted the new P8 plane has flush toilets just like the regular airliners!  Thanks for that tidbit of info.  I don't think I needed to know that.

Kaneohe, Hawaii

July 26, 2012

One of my neighbors has a gorgeous front yard with a huge variety of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscape materials ranging from exotic tropical to common household.  Every time I walk by I notice something in bloom, new or different.  This is a simple red zinnia at the outer front edge of the flowerbed.  There are only two of these bright flowers amongst the bevy of blooms, but I think that makes it more dramatic.

Kailua, Hawaii

July 25, 2012

This is a tree in the neighborhood that I walk by once, sometimes twice a day when I'm out with the pups.  I'm always wondering what caused this tree to grow out and so low to the ground rather than up as most trees would?  I don't think there is anyone around still from when this tree was a young sapling so I'll never really know.  It's a good place to take a quick rest and ponder this question.....

Kailua, Hawaii