November 26, 2012

It's been this way all day today... overcast skies with a chance of rain.  I think it's Mother Nature's way of trying to prepare us for the Pacific Northwest.
Kailua, Hawaii

November 25, 2012

A new addition to Kailua town!  This guy takes in old rusty bikes and turns them into functioning vehicles.  Since things rust quickly here in Hawaii, I think we have quite a collection we could take up to him!

Kailua, Hawaii

November 24, 2012

Even a trip to get topsoil is beautiful here.  Today was topsoil and seeding day, but before we could do that we had to thatch the remaining grass.  I went for the first pick up run, but after that I was too busy with the rake to go for the others.  I think they went another 4 times.  Wow, that's a lot of dirt!  I'll share a picture after we have some growth.
Kailua, Hawaii

November 23, 2012

Zone 4 of the newly installed sprinkler system.  It works perfectly!  Dave and I have spent the last three weekends digging trenches, making Home Depot and Hardware Hawaii runs, cutting PVC, hooking up sprinkler heads and finally filling in trenches with (not enough) sandy soil.  A muscle aching, strenuous, sweaty and dirty job, but very rewarding in the end.  What's that I hear off in the distance?  A huge electrical thunder storm... perfect timing!

Kailua, Hawaii

November 22, 2012

So, we did the Imu yesterday and picked up early this morning.  All my guys were standing around very excited about picking at the pork roast.  Vultures!  We got everything sampled (many times), packaged and in the freezer so we could start on the next cooking project - Smoked Turkey.  Our neighbors, Charlie and Diane, built this beautiful, large smoke cabinet for special occasions -- such as Thanksgiving.  A dozen turkeys, variously prepared, went in on a shelf for the six hours smoke time.  Ours is the bacon wrapped bird and Charlie said he wants it up front so he can watch it.  I think he really plans on sampling the bacon every time he checkes on the oven contents!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Kailua, Hawaii

November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Eve.  The boys are not only helping to prepare the Imu, but Sam and fellow scout Luke are preparing this turkey!  They eventually removed the innards and wrapped the bird in ti leaves in order to get the perfectly steamed turkey.  We go back in the morning to dig up the pit and remove all the wonderful dishes.
Waimanalo, Hawaii

November 20, 2012

Sirens, police cars, fire trucks, jet skis and a helicopter overhead were our early morning wake up call.  Apparently, this morning (around 1A.M.) a group of kids, after celebrating most of the night on the beach, decided to go for a swim out to Flat Island (the flat island on the left side of the picture).  When the group awoke at sunrise, they discovered one of their party was not with them.   That is when the Search Team was called in.  The obvious place to start looking was on the beach and in the waters, but the searchers also had to walk and forage through all the backyards for at least a one mile stretch as well.  By the time I finished my walk and was heading home nothing had been discovered.   

Kailua, Hawaii