One Door Closes

Welcome to the last post for this blog. Thank you mom and dad, and treasured friends for supporting us during this adventure. You're encouragement has made the process easier to navigate, and I appreciate all the comments and long conversations!

I'm happy to say that writing, in particular about local food, has taken off for me. Every month, I write eight articles for MidWeek Kauai; two for Jazzercise; and 12 for my new website Tasting Kauai. That's 22 articles a month! 

In between, I am writing text and editing videos for the farm bureau's Kauai Grown campaign. Their site is still under construction, but so far, we have provided 35 videos, 37 text documents, and over 200 images. And there's more to come!

You can find me over at Tasting Kauai writing about Kauai's food scene. I'm also working on a book, creating a marketing plan, and having Dan design an ad for Edible Hawaiian Islands. 

If you want to read about life on Kauai, Dan's blog offers funny and thoughtful commentary along with his stunning photographs.

Of course, if you like his images so much that you want one on your wall, you can go to his website. He also does private photo tours and scenic portraits, so if you are coming, or have some friends visiting and want to snap shots of the island, or capture your wedding, anniversary or vacation with Kauai's gorgeous land and seascapes in the background, be sure to give him a call!

No matter what, well be having fun surfing the waves of life!

A hui hou!

A Beautiful Mornin'!

Well dad, it was another beautiful morning yesterday. Dan and I got up to catch the sunrise. He had to make up for lost time the day before! The video shows the sunrise, it gets really colorful at the end. This time we were at Kialea Beach. It's really close to the house, it's the beach with the big waves you can see from the highway coming into Kapaa. We even got to see some whales breach! I feel so lucky to be able to live here!

Watch the sunrise

Moments before the sunrise

Sunrise! You can't tell, but there are whales jumping in the distance.

So far, these are all iPhone shots.

 I left Dan to his picture taking and Lucy and I went for a walk. He got this shot of us.

That little speck on the shore is Dan, I snapped it on our way back.

A little closer up

Lucy was pau (finished) when we got home

I love you and I miss you and I hope you have a productive day! Mom says you'll be out of the rehabilitation facility in a week or two!!

P.S. Susan and Micah are coming February 20 through the 25! They have everything booked, and are staying in Kilauea. That's where the farm I used to work at is, as well as the lighthouse.

MUAH!

Kauai Sunrise

A video Dan took just before sunrise. 

Dan and I got to see the sunrise over the ocean this morning and I wanted to share it with you. It's kind of embarrassing, but today is the first time in two years that we've gone to the beach just to watch the sun rise.

We got up three hours before dawn, and decided to go to the 24-hour laundry mat. While the clothes dried, we munched on Burger King bacon and egg croissants. I read while Dan played chess on his iPhone, Lucy napped on my lap. The laundry was folded just as dark was giving way to light, so we decided to go to Baby Beach. 

Dan instantly regretted not bringing his camera. He’s they type of guy who likes to wake up slow and easy, so I don’t expect he’d be thinking about a chance photo session at 5 a.m. He did have his phone, so he captured these images.

The beach is a narrow strip, about 30 yards long, fronted by a two-lane road. Tucked in between two trees, an older couple slouched in camping chairs and warmed their hands with a cup of coffee. A young lady sat in the cab of her old Chevy pickup and stared at the ocean through the windshield. Across the street, sea weathered and red-dirt stained houses face the beach.  

A rooster followed by two chickens scurried across the shore, picking up inedible objects with their beaks and flinging them aside. The water was a glassy dark blue as the sun winked to life and flung orange rays across the horizon. It grew into a big, fat fiery ball that lit the tips of cresting waves. 

We were sitting at a picnic table sheltered by a large Ironwood tree. I twisted behind me to wring out my back and give my eyes a break from the dazzling light. Just then, a slender young lady in a frilly pink nightgown flounced onto her grassy front yard. Cloaked in the chilly morning air, her long blond hair curled around her shoulders as she stood barefoot to watch the sunrise.

I turned back to that brightest star and closed my eyes. The sun warmed my face and luminous spots danced on the back of my eyelids. I took a deep, full breath of the fresh salt air, and silently thanked the Universe for allowing me to witness such a glorious sight. And for being able to live in such a beautiful place. 

I hope this brightens your day.

Juice Buzz

Dan always stops here if the weather is good. It's the overlook to Hanalei Bay.

This morning we woke before the sun came up. The sun rose at 7:18 today, so it’s really not that early. We wanted to get to Hanalei Bay so we could get one last shot for Koloa Rum, and then head over to the Hanalei farmers market. I thought about you the whole day because you would have loved it.

We never took you to the pier at Hanalei Bay, but it’s a great vantage point to see the towering mountains cradling the bay. The clouds were big, puffy white ones, and the sky was baby blue. Mist clung to the top of the bay, and sun colored the mountains a bright green. The water was warm, and Lucy ran around like a puppy.  

There was only one problem. We forgot the rum bottles! I think it’s fortuitous though, because Dan got a 36 shot panorama. I’ll post it once he’s done stitching it together and making it pretty. I think he’ll be able to sell it, and I don’t think he would have got it if he was focusing on the rum.

You can see the difference between my iPhone shots, and Dan's!

I am doing a story on Akamai Juice, and there are only two places to get it. One is the Hanalei farmers market. It’s one of the prettiest markets on the island, and today it was glorious! The sun was shining, lighting the grass field on fire. The field is surrounded in a semi circle by those giant mountains. There was music, food and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The juice booth was slammed and buzzing with energy. Cas, the juice maker is electric with happiness and is Kauai’s first female helicopter pilot. She’s been a photographer, producer, actress, a caterer on Hollywood films directed by Martin Scorsese, she built and managed West Virginia’s first indoor skate park, and owned a skate shop. I totally have a girl crush on her!

Cas in her juice booth, that's her husband looking back. He does concert video for the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

We tried nine delicious fruit drinks and my favorite was the cucumber, coconut water, mint, honey and lime slushy. I talked to some farmers for future articles and we bought a ton of fresh produce because I’m cooking for Larry this week. 

We were full of juice, but a little peckish so we went to the Garden Cafe for lunch. Anne, the lady I owe my new career to, was there. She is the one who forwarded my letter of introduction to the editor of MidWeek, and he called to ask if I wanted to write the food column.

We had our lunch with Anne, and ended up talking story for three hours! Dan’s back is hurting because when he’s processing photos, he sits on the couch and leans over the Lane chest you gave us. Sometimes he does this for 10 hours a day! 

He was stretching his back out and Anne asked him what was wrong. She was so concerned over his back (she’s in her 60s) she recommended he take care of it because he’s not getting any younger. We brainstormed ideas about how we could get a desk in our tiny home. We were so inspired, we went to look at tables and chairs after we left. I think we’ll use the fold-up plastic table we have and get some nice, padded leather back dining chairs. They have a high back and will provide excellent support. It’ll be even more snug, but we need to get Dan a better working space.

We went to the grocery store to get the rest of the stuff for Larry and got home at 4:30. We are pau, which means finished. Time for a nap before I make Larry’s first meal. Sauteed local fennel with quinoa, pomegranate seeds, and a spicy lemon dressing made with Hawaiian chili peppers.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. I wish you were here!

Love you dad and mom!