Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

1,095 Days On

Three years ago today, we left the golden state, the state in which we both were born and bred, for our new home on the Big Island.

The desire to do so began in earnest in 2006, when we stayed with Glen's father and step mother in Papaikou, north of Hilo. Prior to that, I fell for this big rock when I spent a month with friends in Puna. That was 1984. A group of folks I knew at Lake Tahoe had relocated and I was eager to check it out.  While here, both Kilauea and Mauna Loa erupting at the same time. That was pretty cool. 

When Glen first found this place on the interwebs in 2010, I knew there would be no going back. He was a man possessed, and I believed in his dream. Even when it looked like we might not pull it off, he remained calm and patient. We invested damn near everything we had to buy this place. Leaving us less "leftover" than we had hoped, but also freeing us from a gigantic mortgage payment. (Ours is about $530.00 a month.) Which is crazy, since I was paying twice that for rent more than 20 years ago. 

We have saved many thousands of dollars in electric and water bills, since we are off-grid. Plentiful power and abundant, clean water. Never an issue or problem with our solar or catchment in 3 years. Our overhead is minimal, when compared to our former life in California.

I spend most days barefoot-all day. I wander these almost-4 acres, planting, weeding, cutting, pruning. There are never-ending tasks, so boredom is not an option. Glen has found some truly optimal employment opportunities in the last few months. So much so that he could work 7 days a week, were he so inclined. I won't lie-I am loving this lady of leisure stuff. I worked most of my life, both at paid jobs and then there were those 30 years of parenting, some of them as a single mother. This is new territory. My time is mine-time for reading, writing, working on projects, and I'm even learning the fine art of napping. I still take a shift subbing at the library, whenever I am asked. My caretaking job was a nice thing, but that wrapped up last summer, when the client got considerably better, which was the obvious goal. (She has Lyme disease.) Still, I am not scrambling to find something else, nor am I pressured or the least bit guilt-ridden about  it. 

I miss my kids and a few close friends, but I could not live in California again. It's sad, but at least I got to appreciate it while it was more affordable and much less populated. I think I can safely say that my kids won't last there too much longer. None of them work in tech or own start-ups, and they are being squeezed out by those who do. This makes for a hamster-in-a-wheel existence. Whenever they're ready, this is their home too.

Tonight, we celebrate our perseverance and three years in this beautiful place. And we'll toast the guy who helped make it possible, Glen's father. He would most certainly be proud of what we have done here so far.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

'Round Here

Pua Kenekene 

Breadfruit/Ulu

Guadua Bamboo

Meyer Lemons

Avocado

Lychee 

Wordless Wednesday Oncemore

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Snooze

Fish On

In keeping with the topic of former hippies-turned-right wing-kooks...

Yesterday morning, we drove north about 17 miles to procure propane and groceries.

We always get our propane at the same little place, and are friends with the woman who manages the business.  They sell lots of solar power necessities too.  There is even a little kiosk onthe property where ONO smoked ahi is sold. The man has lately been selling small bags of this tasty treat at the farmers market.  He doesn't make much on it, but it is a great locally made product.

Anyway, the dude that owns this little fish company isn't a friend, but we've seen him at a couple of get togethers and he seems like an alright person.  Low key, older, has fished all of his life.  I think he may be a former Californian. We picked up more of his fish for the market and chatted with fish man briefly.  He almost immediately began ranting about Washington scandals and all of Obama's "Chicago friends."  He even brought up Waco.  We stifled, but that batshit crazy right wing talk radio message came through loud and clear.

The ride home was one of quiet disgust.  

It's truly so sad,  watching some of our peers let fear take over their thought process. Echoing the crazies on Fox News.  No original thoughts or ideas, tossing out those adorable code words.  Truly cringe worthy. We still like the fish.

(Photo of my hand-painted wine goblet, given to me by the youngest child about 13 years ago.  The letters on it's base say "Queen Annie, Love Quinn and inside, she painted "Peek-A-Boo" at  the bottom of the goblet's bowl.)

Primus doing "Fish On"...

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=aCYs_6u8GdA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaCYs_6u8GdA

Wordless Wednesday

Reflections

Video Visit

Windy Evening Walkabout
That links to my first-ever you tube video...
Three minutes and twenty seconds of our little slice of paradise.

Aloha!

Cabbages At Twilight

Perks of the job, thanks to my hard-working man. He is interning at an organic farm nearby, and brought home all of this very large-sized cabbage. No shortage of healthy food here on the Big Island! I see lots of tasty cole slaw in our future, and will juice some of it too. Will bring at least one to share with my coworker at the library today.

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Post Office at 10:00 PM

Sunday Bread

Feathering The Nest

Some exciting stuff happened in a week's time, over here on the Big Rock...

I found some additional employment with a lovely local family. I drive their 14 year old son to and from school in Hilo on most school days. That amounts to about 100 miles a day for 2 round trips. In between driving, I help the boy's mama with shopping and light housekeeping. She is dealing with some health issues, and her husband has to travel off-island frequently. Such nice humans, and there is even a six degrees of Mendocino connection!

On work days, I get up at 5:00 a.m. in order to pick up my passenger in Laupahoehoe at 6:30. Which is not that big a deal for me, since I am quite often awake by then. This IS the sunrise side of the island, after all. That and the fact that I am fifty-five! I find that hitting the hay early on work nights is not a problem when one is up before sunrise. And the sunrises I see are such a fine way to start the day.


I still work at the library, and will continue there. I was needing a few more hours of work to help to keep our nest feathered. Would love to retire altogether, but can't quite pull it off.. YET!

The man is almost midway through a 15-week organic farming intensive, offered by the NHERC in Honoka'a. The course was made possible due to grants to promote more sustainable and economically viable farming here on the Hamakua Coast. He goes twice a week, and is learning so much about how to care for and benefit from our land. And returns home exhausted, yet most exhilarated. We are thankful to be gleaning important knowledge that we will pass on to our children, who will (ideally) be the future stewards of this land.

As for today, I am enjoying a day off, despite some vog in the atmosphere... Kilauea Volcano had it's 30th anniversary last week!! Happy Aloha Friday!

Wordless Wednesday