Spring in the Pacific Northwest

Can I come out to play? I promise I will be good;-)

Thankfully Brody missed the coral color peony! He always looks for the shade

Progress??????

I have forgotten what the emerging of spring can be like in the Pacific Northwest. From the looks of the flowers, it's been a tough one for the posies, as the temps have been warm, then cold, then darn cold, to rain, wind, snow, sleet, hail, you get the picture! LOL Just wait five minutes and it will change. Lots of changes happening here in this part of the world. Our wonderful neighbor Paul passed away, and his kids shipped his dear sweet wife Joyce off to Wisconson. Will really miss them as they were the best neighbors. Paul's daughter sold the family home, and last week heavy equipment moved in. The big tonka trucks have really been shaking things up around here.

My mommacita is holding her own. Thank you all for the prayers. Everyday is a gift, and we are so thankful for each and every one.

Please Pray for my Momma

This is my Momma Billy Jean (with My neice Jessica). These days she is not doing to well. Please could you say a little prayer for her, and for her family as we gather around to support her.

Happy Saint Paddy's Day!

To all my irish friends and family, may your celebrations be filled with love!

When girlfriends come a calling

Cottage re-do

Cottage

cottage

hutch in cottage

Recently my girlfriend Suzanne came over for a weeks stay. It was SOOOO SOOO wonderful having her, as we have not had Paula & Suzanne time in over 8 years! Our time was blessed. Suzanne flew in on a Friday afternoon. She wanted to go to Costco to stock up on food, so we charged Costco and ended up at our place that evening, and talked well into the weee hours of the next day. So at 4:30am the next morning I get a phone call. Should I answer? Well who would be calling me so early in the morning? Must be something wrong with my Mom??? So I answered the phone. It was my web developer (whatthe ^&^%$^^), informing me there was a big earthquake in Chile and Kauai was on Tsunami watch, and I was the only one he knew in Hawaii (thanks Shane)! well he had my attention, and by that time I was WIDE AWAKE! So turned on the news. Sure enough we were on watch, and the first evacuation sirens were going to sound at 6 am. So I made a pot of coffee and at 5:58 am went over to the main house (I stay in a little cottage here separate from the main house) woke Suzanne up with a steaming cup of Joe, and as the first siren started going off, I helped bring Suzanne out of her slumber, into her first real day on Kauai. Warning Sirens and all. Now the funny thing about this is, while we were going to Costco the day before, stocking up on goods, I told Suzanne how much I loved, and admired her, and all that she means to me, and how much I miss her, and if I ever had to be in a natural disaster with someone it would be with her (she is very calm and organized)! The VERY next day we are hit with a Tsunami watch! We both could not believe it and were laughing kinda of sortof, but wholly heck a tsunami is going to hit us, and what do we do??????? well I had started to pray while I was making coffee and watching the news reports. Our place is well above flood zone, but to get here you go over 7 one lane bridges,THEN up a small hill. We are surrounded by FLOOD ZONE. So the worst case scenario could of been big wave and bridges wash out, we are stuck at the house and cannot get out (o.k. this is not so bad since we had enough food to feed an army). Power could go out etc, etc. After a meeting of the minds we decided the best place for us to be was right at home. Not to go anywhere, but prepare for the worst and pray for the best! So we set to action and filled every container we could with water, tubs, sinks, jars, pots & pans. We had all the food we could eat and then some. phone calls were made to the mainland to inform family what we were going to do. Flashlights, batteries, radio all set. So now it is 7:30am all emergency preparations are made, NOW what do we do with ourselves. well we did what any smart woman in an emergency would do, Suzanne started to re-arrange and re-decorate the main house with what I had there! She made a list of a few things we needed to find at a thrift store (after we survived our disaster mind you LOL!) and went to it. Can I just interject here I LOVE HER CHANGES! She did such a great job displaying all of my beautiful items, arranging the furniture in cleaver usefull ways. The main house just feels different, and much homeier in my opinion. Thank you Suzanne, I do believe you are in the wrong profession and need to become a professional stager! She wanted to attack my little cottage next, and I kept saying no no you have to relax and enjoy yourself. Well for the artist that she is, that was enjoyment for her. A few days before she left she started the cottage, ran out of time, and I followed her inspiration and made the changes she recommended.

The tsunami ended up being a dud. Praise God that it was, and I am also thankful that our early warning system worked. It brought the community out, got people helping others evacuate. And we were prepared. I would much rather have the warning, be prepared and no one getting caught in a big wave. History has proven they can be devastating here.

So Suzanne and I survived our natural NON disaster in comfort, prepardness, and now my two houses are styling. Thanks darlin for your love, freindship, generousity, and artistic talent. I so appreciate you Suzanne! Boy will we have something to talk to our grandkids about!

My blessing

Found my first sunrise shell the other day. When I walk the beach, I like to pray, and look for shells. I pray alot, and fortunately have many beaches in which to pray on! The many miles I have walked lots of beautiful shells come my way, and I have a habit of giving away my best shells. Well the sweetest little sunny came my way, and I understand what all the fuss is about. They are so beautiful.

Sunrise shells are in the scallop family (Langford's Scallop) and according to "legend" they were very sacred to the ancient Hawaiians. The story goes: "Servants of the kings would walk the beaches and look for these shells, but only the Royal Family would wear these magnificent shells. Folklore says: they received the name "sunrise" because early in the morning (at sunrise) the Sunrise shell would be the easiest shells to spot on the beach. The sun would reflect its rays of the vibrant colors of these beautiful scallop shells. Common Sense says they received their name of Sunrise shells because if you did not get to the beach before or at sunrise, then someone else would have already found them. " It is said that only "blessed" people find these rare Hawaiian shells.

Thank you Lord, I needed a blessing.

fisherman at shell beach

Evening in Wainiha

Here's a little taste of what it is like here in Wainiha at dusk. Sure wish I could get the birds singing their goodnight song!

more pictures

The back parking spot

My new rock garden

Driveway

More of the Driveway

Cottage from the main house

More pictures

Orchids in the tangelo tree, kalo bed, and the outdoor shower behind the bamboo screen on the corner of the ohana (cottage)

One of the many different butterflies that grace this place.

This area is where I start my vegetable starts, and my kalo (taro) bed. I have three different kinds of taro. A red kalo ( kumu ula ula) a black taro (kumu ele ele) and a regular taro mana ulu. I cover the bed with ti & banana leaves for mulch as it has been pretty dry of late

Here is another look. This is the drive way, and front gate by the road. Again I am sorry for the blurry pictures

Hale Manu taking shape

Well I gotta say this little "project" here in wainiha is starting to take shape. This morning after spending several hours cutting, raking, cutting, hauling, clearing, I took a moment to just be with the place. Finally it is starting to feel less like a "project" and more like a home. And so much cleaner! When we got this place there was so much garbage, over-grown vegetation, and two unfinished structures. A peace is starting to settle here, and all the little critters love to hang out in our little haven, even the wild pigs! I have found they do not like impatients so I can grow those. I've started a little vegetable garden, and lovingly tend the mango, banana, citrus and avocado trees. Havent had much luck with the papaya, but I am determined! There are so many different hues of green. The orchids are loving their new home as well. Thinking the next project will be nesting boxes, so that I can get some eggs from the hens. All the fowl are wild as well. Here are a few pictures, sorry about the blurry pics. Something is giong on with my camera:-}

More babies

We got some more baby chicks here at Hale Manu (bird house) oh yeah and a few more orchids.

Cocka doodeley doo! Here's a giveaway for you!

Please check out Belle Vista's beautiful blog. Barb has such a creative touch and talent, her site is a feast for the eyes, and her anniversary giveaway is pretty awesome as well. Good luck to all and thank you so much Barb!

http://barbsgoodlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/anniversary-giveaway.html

Pass or no pig!

Today I was reading my local newspaper online, and came across an aritcle regarding the powerhouse, and a bit of it's history. This powerhouse is located up the road a bit from me. It looks a bit different these days, but it is still generating power from the water that is feed from the pali above the wainiha valley.

"In 1903, Kaua‘i’s McBryde Sugar Co. sent Waioli-born William Rowell (1845-1916) to Wainiha to negotiate a lease with its Hawaiian owners, the Wainiha Hui, for the water power rights of Wainiha Stream and a site for a hydroelectric power plant.
Rowell’s actual proposal, which the president of the hui supported, was to lease the water power of Wainiha from the Wainiha Hui for $1,500 a year, for a term of 50 years, along with sites for a powerhouse, pole lines, roads, etc.
A meeting at which a vote would be taken, to be followed by a luau, was arranged, and on the morning of that day, the president, eager for a favorable resolution to Rowell’s proposal, saw the luau cook and said, “I want you to see to it that this pig is thoroughly cooked! When the resolution is passed, then it will be properly done, not before.” And when he opened his palm to display a gold coin, the cook caught on and said, “sure.”
During the meeting, one hui member opposed to Rowell’s proposal expressed the opinion of some members when he said, “If you give the haole a foothold, it is good-bye to your independence.”
But others, dissatisfied with small earnings from their shares of Wainiha Hui, sided with another member when he stated, “If he will pay us for it, I say let him have it.”
Still others were more concerned with the unanticipated delay in cooking the pig than in voting, and grew impatient while the cook continued to tell them, one by one, “not done yet.”
At last, the cook informed the hui that the pig would “not be done until the resolution was passed,” and realizing it was a case of “no vote, no pig,” they passed it. "

ALOHA

The colors of Kauai

Everyday I am taken aback by the many beautiful colors this island holds. All of these photos were taken within minutes of our place, and I still pinch myself every day! So greatful and thankful for the splendor of it all

When you feel like giving up

The highlight of my week is Sundays. On Sundays I get to meet with people in a common purpose of seeking the spirit of God. Sundays allow me to rest, to get out of the valley, play my ukulele and sing with the church choir. Sundays allow me a chance to hear Gods message through the eyes of our Kahu (pastor). This sunday was very meaningful for me. The topic was "When you feel like giving up". Lately I have felt like that a lot. When I was younger my ability to deal with adversity was pretty strong, but as I have grown older my ability has been diminished. But today I was reminded that I dont have to do it all, there is hope. Kahu reminded me that when I feel like giving up I can

TELL GOD HOW I FEEL Psalm 34:18 "If your heart is broken , you'll find God right there; if your kicked in teh gut , He'll help you catch your breath"!

WOW what a promise. Ever been kicked in the gut? I bet many of you have. Been there, does not feel good, and GOD IS THERE, and not only that I have the promise He'll help me catch my breath. Dont know about ya'all but, I could use a little breather right now.

SEE GOD FOR WHO IS REALLY IS Psalm 143:5, 8 "I remember the days gone by; I think about all that you have done, I bring to mind all your deeds. remind me each morning of your constant love, for I put my trust in you"

ASK GOD Psalm 143:8 "my prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go." Psalm 142:3 "when I am ready to give up, He knows what I should do."

TRUST GOD Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him, and he helps me."

BE BRAVE. BE STRONG. DONT GIVE UP. EXPECT GOD TO GET HERE SOON!!

Birthmas

Hmmmm What could be underneath this pretty old cake cover?

Why the best birthday cake ever!

Christmas in a box

My brother Paul coined a new word for me "Birthmas". Birthmas is what we use for those of us who happened to come into the world between Christmas and the New Year! I had a lovely Birthmas this year. God was good and brought me my guy :-), Christmas in a box, and the best birthday cake I have ever had. My neighbors up the street made me a delicious sherry cake. IT was a first for me and I hope not the last. Thank you so much Kathy and Brysone, for your friendship, and my delicious cake.

This year I am greatful and happy that my birthmas brought me those I love, and well wishes from those that love me, for new friends, and old. The more birthmas's that pass for me the more I realize it is all about relationships.

Good to be back!

AAHhh back to Blogger land. I had some Malware highjack my computer. Guess my super duper "oh you have to buy this expensive virus program it gets everything software" did not work!!! So after a few trips to town, my puter is scrubbed cleaned and ready to reconnect with blog land!!! I have really missed being able to leave comments on some of my favorite blogs. SO if you were a wondering where I have been (is anybody listening?) thats my story and I am sticking to it!!!

Well I better get on to making some changes here and into the new year!!!!

Aloha! Paula