Beautiful Hawaii

We are home from Hawaii. Saturday night we got on a plane and flew to Los Angeles. Sunday morning we got on another plane and flew the rest of the way home. So... Saturday night got lost somewhere in time changes.


This time we went to the Big Island... Hawaii. It was beautiful. I took all these photos. I wish I could have captured more dimensions... the warmth, the breeze, the fragrances. The water, the mountains, the clouds, the flowers, it's all beautiful.


We drove up Mauna Kea, the place where the scientists view the stars. We went stargazing ourselves.


We saw the sunset on a sunset cruise.


This was the view from our room, early one morning:


And this was my view as I sat in a chair by the pool and looked at the ocean:


I still believe it's a magical place. Can't you see it?

Getting Ready to Go

I first visited the Hawaiian Islands about 25 years ago. The plane landed on Maui (at that time, you deplaned outdoors). I remember standing, waiting to get off the plane. The minute they opened the door, the air came rushing in. It smelled like flowers! Coming down the stairs off the plane, breathed Hawaiian air for the first time. It was fresh and fragrant with the scent of flowers. There was a soft breeze. It was unlike any air I had ever breathed before. I knew I was in a different place. It was the beginning of my love affair with these islands.


Since that first time, I have been back a handful of times. I have been to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island called Hawaii. There are big resorts, but my favorite place has always been Hana, on the "quiet" side of Maui. Every time we go to Maui I talk my husband into making the four hour drive to Hana, on the narrow, twisting "Road to Hana". A few years ago we stayed in Hana, in a lovely cottage by the sea. I never wanted to leave.


This time we are returning to the Big Island. The last time we were there we didn't do much exploring, and stayed close to the beach. This time we are going to explore the summit, the volcano, and do some stargazing at the astronomy center. Last time we were there I got up in the middle of the night and went outside to look at the stars. I actually gasped! The sky was incredible! Alight with what looked like millions of stars. It's why there are many, many, large telescopes and astronomy stations on the island. It's a magical place!

Stormy Day!

Interesting day here in Kentucky! The tornado sirens have been going off. The power is out at the aiport. Rain is coming down in sheets and blowing sideways. Schools are delaying dismissal until the storms have passed. We have tied down all our outdoor furniture with cable ties and bungee cords.

Halloween decorations are flying all over the place. Someone reported seeing a Halloween witch flying by... without her broom!

More of My Little World

Yesterday I posted some photos of my autumn day drive around my home county. A few more here:

Farmer's Market. I bought some Winesap apples... my favorite!




A place to take quilting lessons:


I like the contrast of the tricycle with the motorbike. Father and son? Big brother and little brother?


You can see all the way through this house. They are getting a nice breeze today.


A real Halloween house?

My Little Corner of the World

I went for a drive today. It was a gorgeous fall day; bright sun, crisp air, light breeze. I had all the car windows open with the wind in my hair. I took some photos along the way:

How Do They Know?

How do all cats know when you want to take their picture? Every single one I have ever known gets up and moves the instant I point a camera at them.

Even this one, who is a feral cat that lives outside in my yard. She was just sitting on the ledge looking peaceful in the morning. I thought it would make a nice picture... but, sure enough, before I could press the button, she got up and moved!

How do they know?

Note: This one is a sister to Munchkin, who we adopted to live inside with us. They still talk to each other at the window.

My Reading Pile

These are the books I've either been reading or plan to read. I read Never Let Me Go last night. It was good, but very dark. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress is funny in places and serious in others. The Age of the Unthinkable is non-fiction, and I've been reading it a chapter at a time. There is a lot to think about in there.

I don't read any one type of book. I like different things at different times, depending on my mood.