We are driving to Traverse City, Michigan to attend a wedding. My husband's brother, who is 63 years old is marrying his girlfriend. They have been together for 20 years, so this has been a long time coming. They have rented a cottage on a lake, which will be the gathering place for family and friends over the weekend.
Traverse City is a well known summer getaway, located on Grand Traverse Bay, on Lake Michigan. It is known for the Cherry Festival every spring. It should be fun.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Front Door Dilemma
I looked at examples of colors for the front door. What do you like? Not like?
I also saw dark green, yellow, and purple but ruled them out. The bright red is a little extroverted for me, but I like the barn red. I also like the dark grey, but maybe it would be too subdued. Please give me some feedback. Thanks!
Bright Red
Barn Red
Blue
Darker Blue
Colonial Blue
Black
Dark Grey
Light Green
The Current White
Monday, June 17, 2013
Please Tell Me What You Think
My husband and I have had a disagreement for six years, since we moved into our current house. I have decided to take a poll. Please tell me what you think.
Here is the front of the house, and below is a closer view of the front door.
He wants to paint the door a different color. I like it white. I think it looks fresh and contrasts well with the darker brick. What do you think? Would you paint it? If so, what color? Would you paint the rest of the trim to match? I'm asking for your ideas. Thanks.
Here is the front of the house, and below is a closer view of the front door.
He wants to paint the door a different color. I like it white. I think it looks fresh and contrasts well with the darker brick. What do you think? Would you paint it? If so, what color? Would you paint the rest of the trim to match? I'm asking for your ideas. Thanks.
Myself in Hawaii
This is the only photo I took of myself in Hawaii. I have a friend who requested it, so here it is!
While I'm at it, I will put up some other random photos I took there. Thank goodness for digital cameras because I take photos of everything. My husband used to complain because I was always buying more film. Now I just snap away!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Our Low Key Hawaii Vacation
We stayed at a hotel along the Kohala Coast, which is set on Hapuna Beach. We had a room where we could walk right outside directly to the beach.
This is the view from our room. We had breakfast there every morning, Kona coffee and malasadas. Malasadas are a bit like Hawaiian donuts, but not as heavy and not quite as sweet. We also had sliced pineapple from the local store.
Hapuna Beach is perfect for swimming, snorkeling and boogie-boarding. That's our hotel in the background. It's the only hotel on the beach, and there is a state park at the other end.
This overlook, on the hotel grounds, is called Turtle Point. They have yoga classes here early in the morning. I spent a peaceful morning reading here, while my husband played golf. I saw a couple of sea turtles swimming here. I love seeing the sea turtles. Last year, one swam right past me as I was standing in the water.
I took this photo of the beach from the pool area. You may notice that we spent a lot of time at the beach rather than exploring the island as much as on previous trips. I was still resting from my recent stay in the hospital. On previous trips, we drove across the island to Hilo, to Akaka Falls, and to Mauna Loa, which is a very active volcano.
We also drove up Mauna Kea, where there is an array of astronomical observatories used by astronomers around the world. Okay, now I am going off on a tangent about Mauna Kea. You can see it from most places on the island and it is often covered in snow.
The most fascinating thing to me about Mauna Kea is the astronomical observatories at the summit.
Because of its altitude and distance from big city lights, it's considered a good place to observe the stars.
It's possible to take a tour to visit the summit. I wanted to do that on our last trip, but the tours were already full. I still want to do it one day.
These are photos from the tour company. They take you up in a van. You have to wear warm clothing because it's so cold at the summit. It's amazing to see the stars from here. One night I walked out onto our hotel balcony and was astounded by how many stars I saw!
I am fascinated by these observatories at the top of the world. Sometimes, when you are down below you can see them sparkling up there as the sun hits them just right.
We happened to be in Hawaii for a state holiday, King Kamehameha Day. As we drove through Hawi, we happened to see this ceremony with flags and drums.
After a while, they invited observers to come in and dance with them. It looked like a lot of fun.
The rest of the photos are things that caught my eye. There is so much to see everywhere on this island.
Last but not least is Morris. He is the official greeter at our hotel. You can always find him by the front entrance, near the bellman's stand. We always see Morris when we arrive, and he is always there when we leave for home.
This is the view from our room. We had breakfast there every morning, Kona coffee and malasadas. Malasadas are a bit like Hawaiian donuts, but not as heavy and not quite as sweet. We also had sliced pineapple from the local store.
Hapuna Beach is perfect for swimming, snorkeling and boogie-boarding. That's our hotel in the background. It's the only hotel on the beach, and there is a state park at the other end.
This overlook, on the hotel grounds, is called Turtle Point. They have yoga classes here early in the morning. I spent a peaceful morning reading here, while my husband played golf. I saw a couple of sea turtles swimming here. I love seeing the sea turtles. Last year, one swam right past me as I was standing in the water.
I took this photo of the beach from the pool area. You may notice that we spent a lot of time at the beach rather than exploring the island as much as on previous trips. I was still resting from my recent stay in the hospital. On previous trips, we drove across the island to Hilo, to Akaka Falls, and to Mauna Loa, which is a very active volcano.
We also drove up Mauna Kea, where there is an array of astronomical observatories used by astronomers around the world. Okay, now I am going off on a tangent about Mauna Kea. You can see it from most places on the island and it is often covered in snow.
The most fascinating thing to me about Mauna Kea is the astronomical observatories at the summit.
Because of its altitude and distance from big city lights, it's considered a good place to observe the stars.
It's possible to take a tour to visit the summit. I wanted to do that on our last trip, but the tours were already full. I still want to do it one day.
These are photos from the tour company. They take you up in a van. You have to wear warm clothing because it's so cold at the summit. It's amazing to see the stars from here. One night I walked out onto our hotel balcony and was astounded by how many stars I saw!
We happened to be in Hawaii for a state holiday, King Kamehameha Day. As we drove through Hawi, we happened to see this ceremony with flags and drums.
After a while, they invited observers to come in and dance with them. It looked like a lot of fun.
The rest of the photos are things that caught my eye. There is so much to see everywhere on this island.
Last but not least is Morris. He is the official greeter at our hotel. You can always find him by the front entrance, near the bellman's stand. We always see Morris when we arrive, and he is always there when we leave for home.
Hawaii This Time
I have lost count of the times we have visited Hawaii. Hawaii is addicting. The first time we went on a business trip for my husband's job. That was on Oahu, and we were able the stay in the Royal Hawaiian (the "pink palace") right on Waikiki Beach. Then we flew over to Maui, and fell in love with that island. We returned on our own a few years later. We lived in Chicago at the time, and were able to fly non-stop from Chicago to Maui, an eight hour flight. It amazed me that it took four hours over land to get to the west coast, then four more hours just over water. It made me realize how far out there Hawaii actually is.
We went back to Maui three or four more times, sometimes with other friends and/or family. We stayed on different parts of the island, and my favorite was Hana, the "quiet" side.
Then we discovered the Big Island, Hawaii. The first time we went was also with a group, as my husband was playing in a golf tournament. As we drove north from Kona airport, we were struck by how different this island looked from Maui. There was lava rock everywhere, on both sides of the road. It looked desolate.
People leave messages on the lava rock, using pieces of white coral. You pass these as you drive up Route 19. All along Route 19 there are roads leading to the coast and the beach resorts, which are beautifully landscaped and set right on some of the best beaches in the world.
We have explored a lot of the island. The town of Kona, which is south of the airport, is busy with hotels and shops and entertainment. We prefer to drive north, to the Kohala district. There is the town of Waimea, which has a historic past and is in the "paniolo" or Hawaiian cowboy country.
Waimea is also known as Kamuela, to distinguish it from a town of the same name on Kauai. Waimea is home to the historic Parker Ranch, one of the oldest cattle ranches in the United States. It was established in 1847 and was home to the Parker family from 1879 to 1992. It is now run by a charitable trust, and tours are available. The ranch covers a large part of the island, 250,000 acres.
This is a gorgeous part of the island, at the foot of Mauna Kea, which is always in sight above the town of Waimea.
One of my favorite drives is up Route 250, also known as Kohala Mountain Road. It begins in the town of Waimea and leads up, from 1500 feet elevation to 3500 feet elevation.
Every time we visit the Big Island, we drive this road. It winds its way up, passing ranches and going over one lane bridges.
Below, you see glimpses of the ocean, and of Waimea town below. I would love to visit some of the ranches, where the homes have amazing views.
When you come to the end of Route 250, you have reached the small town of Hawi, which has cafes and shops.
Turn right on Route 270 and drive until it ends. You will find yourself at the breathtaking Pololu Valley lookout.
I hope you can see why I love this island so much. I have been here for a while, posting these photos. I have so many more. I will post a few more tomorrow or the next day.
We went back to Maui three or four more times, sometimes with other friends and/or family. We stayed on different parts of the island, and my favorite was Hana, the "quiet" side.
Then we discovered the Big Island, Hawaii. The first time we went was also with a group, as my husband was playing in a golf tournament. As we drove north from Kona airport, we were struck by how different this island looked from Maui. There was lava rock everywhere, on both sides of the road. It looked desolate.
People leave messages on the lava rock, using pieces of white coral. You pass these as you drive up Route 19. All along Route 19 there are roads leading to the coast and the beach resorts, which are beautifully landscaped and set right on some of the best beaches in the world.
We have explored a lot of the island. The town of Kona, which is south of the airport, is busy with hotels and shops and entertainment. We prefer to drive north, to the Kohala district. There is the town of Waimea, which has a historic past and is in the "paniolo" or Hawaiian cowboy country.
Waimea is also known as Kamuela, to distinguish it from a town of the same name on Kauai. Waimea is home to the historic Parker Ranch, one of the oldest cattle ranches in the United States. It was established in 1847 and was home to the Parker family from 1879 to 1992. It is now run by a charitable trust, and tours are available. The ranch covers a large part of the island, 250,000 acres.
One of my favorite drives is up Route 250, also known as Kohala Mountain Road. It begins in the town of Waimea and leads up, from 1500 feet elevation to 3500 feet elevation.
Every time we visit the Big Island, we drive this road. It winds its way up, passing ranches and going over one lane bridges.
Below, you see glimpses of the ocean, and of Waimea town below. I would love to visit some of the ranches, where the homes have amazing views.
When you come to the end of Route 250, you have reached the small town of Hawi, which has cafes and shops.
Turn right on Route 270 and drive until it ends. You will find yourself at the breathtaking Pololu Valley lookout.
I hope you can see why I love this island so much. I have been here for a while, posting these photos. I have so many more. I will post a few more tomorrow or the next day.
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