Happy Turkey Day

It's been about a month since my last post and I apologize. Dan and I have been busy surfing the ups and downs of the unknown. Today was just overwhelming. The forces that be crossed their streams and a lot of possibility was introduced to us. I am writing for work all the time and this Friday I will know if I got some more writing jobs. The paper I do restaurant reviews for - which I will be doing 3 a month instead of the normal 2 - is looking for more folks to write other articles. So, send out a little prayer for me. Dan's photography and graphic design is doing very well; he just got commissioned to do a huge photo mural for a new business and is working with a yoga studio in addition to his work at Papaya's.

We have so many things to be thankful for this year. Besides each other I think we both would agree that the number one thing we are thankful for is having the courage to listen to that little voice. The voice that whispered to us, caressed our hearts and sweetly asked for major change.

We've been in Kauai for close to a year now. It's been really scary and really beautiful and totally worth it!

A friend in Colorado asked me for some recent purdy pictures, said it's cold there now. So, here ya go pardner!

Rainbow Eucalyptus at the Arboretum

Coconut palm trees that became the image on Dan's business card.

This stream leads to a waterfall close to our home

We went 4 wheeling last weekend and Dan got some great shots

Some of his food shots

The kids are well

We went with Tom and Christina Southwick to Hanapepe Art Night

The organic coffee and cigar farm I write for

they roast coffee also

Two weeks ago we went to Kauai's Hindu Monastery

This was amazing. The Banyan tree was huge - about 4000 square feet. You walked inside the tree and this statue was there. The tree "signifies the breadth and width of Hinduism." 

Napali Coast

The mountain in the background is Makana or its better known name of Bali Hai.

Dan and I took a moonlit walk with Tom and Christina

to Ke`e beach, the last beach on the North shore. That's the Napali coast in the background.

Christina was smart and brought some wine!

Happy 56th Mom and Dad!

Mom and Dad, 

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) for coming to visit Dan and my new home. I know it was a long trip for you. In my eagerness to show you our beautiful island I'm afraid I wore you out. You are so strong for 80, your endurance is remarkable. Or, were you indulging me? Probably. I have the feeling that you would have been just fine hanging out on the lanai. The lasting gift you gave me, besides your never ending love, was to witness what it's like to be 80, healthy and even more in love after 56 years! Congratulations!

Luau

Last night we celebrated mom and dads 56th wedding anniversary, it's actually October 16th but we celebrated a little early. Our friend Puamana has captured mom and dads heart so we invited her along.  four hour evening started with a tram ride around the 30 acre gardens before stopping for the imu (e moo) ceremony. An imu is an underground oven where they take a whole pig, wrap it in banana leaves and bury it underground. They sometimes add chicken, fish, breadfruit among other things. The pig, once cooked this way, is called Kalua Pork. The blew conch shells north, south, east and west, reminding me of Native American ceremonies. Then two men unearthed the pork. We enjoyed all you can drink mai tais while we listened to a Hawaiian band play and watched a hula girl dance. The food was fantastic! All you can eat Kalua Pork, Teriyaki Beef, Adobo Chicken, Sweet and Sour mahimahi, salads, the ubiquitous mac salad, mashed potatoes, Hawaiian purple sweet potatoes, fried rice, poi, loom salmon and deserts. After dinner we enjoyed the show in an open air amphitheater lit by torches. All luaus are different and this one focused on the diversity of the Hawaiian people. The show was called the "Golden people of Hawaii" and celebrated all the cultures including Hawaiian, Tahitian, Samoan, New Zealand, China and Japan. We had a great time and mom and dad loved it!

Dan bought mom and me a lei

chickens

peacocks

cows and goats were in the gardens

along with lots of beautiful flowers.

Puamana adds a flower to mom's hair.

The three ladies

Mom, dad and Puamana

The only family picture we got, it's a little blurry though.

Flowers in my hair.

Us!

mom and dad loving it up!

Dinner

Hula while we ate

Puamana and I wait for the show to start

Pele the fire Goddess

Blowing a conch shell

Hawaiian hula

The back side of Tahaitian dancers moving their hips really fast!

Tahitian dancers

hula

hula

hula

Chinese dance

fire knife dance