a day in the life

The beauty of an 80 degree day

Yesterday was an unusual day for us here at Keelerkai. It actually got above 69 degrees! 82 to be exact. The heat went off in the greenhouse and the shade cloth went up, the screens on the windows were installed, and the hot tub was cleaned out, and filled to capacity. ALL plants were watered, both inside and out of the house, and in the greenhouse. Items were readied for the next trip to Kauai. Shorts were worn! Amazing warm day.

One of my pleasures in life is fragrant flowers. Right now at Keelerkai there is fragrant tree peonies, lily of the valley, and my akeba sending out the most intoxicating fragrances. The akeba also acts as a lovers playground for all the little birds who want to hang out in it and play kissy face!

We even have sweet furry helpers in the garden. Ruby loves to get inside of the golden chain cedar and dig. She's inside of this bush growling and shaking the bush like there is something in there to chase!

More 4851 pictures

And here are a few more kauai pictures. The house is taking shape. Leah & Corin are really putting their heart and soul into the place.

Roaches, rats, vows, silk bunting, and attitudes?

Mt Baker

Early Morning

Jason's Hero his Grandpa Don

Hmmm you wonder what all those items in the title line have in common? No, it has nothing to do with the Kauai project, Or life in Bellingham, even though rats and attitudes do show up here from time to time. It actually has to do with Jason's new job (our son). Now do I have your attention? Jason's new job involves transferring HD video tape (from reality televison show filming) into a digital format, and is a part of the editing process that happens to produce a televison show. We here at Keelerkai are very excited for Jason, as this is a natural fit for him. He is extremely natural and talented when it comes to anything with a camera, video camera, and computers. Some of my all time favorite photos and video have been captured by Jason. So what does that have to do with Rats, roaches, vows, silk bunting and vows you ask? The two main shows that he is working on is Bridezilla, and Billy the Exterminator (which he will get editing credits for). Both shows sound very extreme, and I guess that is what these reality shows are looking for. Naturally Jason is way more interested in the exterminator show! And we are hoping the Bridezilla footage will not turn him off to getting married and a wedding! The photos in this post were all shot by Jason, and are a few of his favorite things. We Love you Jason and are so proud of you

Pictures of inside the house

Here are a few pictures inside the main house, and one sweet happy little Wainiha wild mountain doggy. My grandpuppy Zoe is living life pretty large these days. She is loving kauai and has gone to the land of Gecko's!!!

Why do we go through all of this work?

Many people have asked us "Why are you doing all this work?" The picture in this blog entry is one good reason. This sweet spot is 2 minutes from our place. Our pot of gold, at the end of the rainbow is 4851 Wainiha Powerhouse Road.

And then there is the yard!!!!

It was a challenge to focus on unpacking boxes when the yard is a calling my name. We have 1/3rd of an acre of exotic tropicals. Take a look at a few of our gems. The shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) is a member of the ginger family. Native to Indonesia, it is now grown throughout the world as an ornamental. We are blessed to have a huge hedge that our neighbor has grown on his oasis next door. So one side of our property has this hedge of fragrant ginger.

The Container Has Landed

The contractors finished their jobs. Ross was the camping trooper, but on 2/20/08 the Matson container was delivered at the base station in Hanalei, which is right across the street from the Waioli Church (a famous Hanalei landmark). This was the very day we arrived in town. Leah got a Uhaul and started making trips from Hanalei to 4851 WPHR, Imagine this; a boxed stack washer dryer on a skateboard, being pushed along a 4 x 2 to the stairs of the house, then all hands on deck to hump it up the stairs into the house!!!!! It was a trip. We had to take out a window (the following morning) to get the sofa in the living room. Leah and I did not even think about items fitting through the door at 4851 WPHR when we had three days to shop for the household in Los Angeles. Oh Well chalk it up to experience!! Everything is in the house. Hey a little sawing here, remove a window or stairway there and you've got everything in the house!

And the work continues

Ross Cleaned all the windows and screens
Downstairs bathroom in progress

The work inside continues

Now the after pictures

The kitchen cabinets came from Oahu
Upstairs bathroom. You can see the giant mango tree from the shower window

Upstairs bathroom sink

Ross was able to get a few pictures of what the main house looks like since the contractors applied their skills to the place. The contractors were not completely finished when these pictures were taken. Thank you again Ross for the tease. Can't wait to see the place on Feb 20th

More before shots

One of the downstairs bedrooms. Both of the downstairs bedrooms have a sliding glass door
Downstairs bathroom
Kitchen sink window

Here are a few more before shots. The plastic covering the big opening is the upstair bedroom window seat

Before and afters

If you scroll down in the blog you will get a general idea of the outside of the houses, now it is time to get down to the nitty gritty and show you what the inside before pictures look like, then I will post a few afters (we do not have to many of these yet)

more from 4851 wainiha powerhouse road

The wainiha project continues...... We found a great contractor to come in and finish what the previous owners had left unfinished. Bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room. we added a few things to the list, like a puka window in the upstairs bathroom shower. You can look out at the giant mango tree this way. Brother Ross is in the main house keeping the crawlies from coming in, and the container from LA is on the water headed for Nawilili harbor as I type! It will arrive on the 16th Feb. Leah and Zoe (my grandpuppy) will arrive on Feb 12th to live with Ross in the main house. It was a lot of fun working on the place the last time we were there in Dec. 22 truckloads of green vegetation (thank you Brysone & Kathy) to the dump. Cutting back the jungle. Lots of clean up with more fun to follow. Leah and I had a chance to load up the container she ordered with a washer dryer, kitchen table, chairs, sofa, and living room furniture. Three queen size beds, and all the other little things you need to put a house together. Mirrors, clocks, rugs, towels, bedding, pots pans etc. We get to see all the completed work for the first time Feb.20th. Thank you Ross, for cleaning all the windows and screens, and keeping the crawlies at bay. A Big thank you to Leah and Corin for packing the container. Lets hope this is a beginning of good times to follow for all. We are soooo greatful and thankful to all that supported this project.

4851 Wainiha Powerhouse Road, Hanalei, HI 96714

For years my heart has been drawn to the Islands of Hawaii, with ample opportunity for exploration. Where did that desire spark? Was it my father's pictures and stories from when he lived on Oahu and the Big Island in the 40's? Was my connection with Hula spurred from watching my dad's wahine tatoo on his arm dance? What ever the inspiration was, now has become a reality for me.



The first of August 2007 we got a phone call from a really sweet friend on Kauai (who quickly became our realtor), asking us if we wanted to live on Wainiha Powerhouse Road, Kauai (this is the area where we stay while on Kauai), to which our answer was "TELL US MORE!" With Brother Ross on island, we called Ross immediately to go and check out the property. One third of an acre with two houses, surrounded by the lush Wainiha River Valley and Mountians. After a quick family pow-wow we said YEESSS!!! Then the rollercoaster ride began. Two and a half months later 4851 wainiha powerhouse road is now a reality for our family. WE ARE SO GREATFUL!! And thrilled beyond belief. This is a dream that we had put in front of us 10 years down the road, so much for the best laid plans! As our dear departed friend Quentin would say "FAR OUT! It's about time!). When God tells us that he wants for us to have the desires of our hearts, God's not joking. We are excited to see how this place will be used for the greater good.

Summer at Keeler Kai

This summer has been a blast working in the yard, jamming with Peg & Anne Marie, hula, ukulele kanikapila with true friends. Can't believe it is almost over! We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.