Wouldn't you just know....................

So, today, a snippet of recent scoop. Madame Pele exploded two nights ago. The summit of Kilauea spewed rocks from a gaseous explosion which was at first thought to be an earthquake. (We did not feel it here.) It was the first volcanic discharge since 1924 in the crater and the the first eruption in Kilauea caldera since 1982. Scientists are still uncertain as to what's next!! Meanwhile last week we did travel to the Puna area to view the new lava flow. I had not known that some 30 years ago there were small farms growing fruits, mainly papaya's, right where we walked. Where we walked was total lava. Very different than the lava near us. It was still shiny, I suppose because it is a fairly new cover. Yet, there were still small homes built there in land reclaimed. I believe the day we went that the whole population of the island including locals and tourists where there too so we couldn't get a parking spot close. As we hiked in and it got dark we could see the incandescent orange glow of the lava. We didn't go in all the way as we learned that the flow had taken a new course, as it seems to be doing daily, and went underground again before reaching the ocean. Earlier in the day we hiked to the black sand beach and saw a few whales playing. Then we stayed the night at the Ala Kai bed & breakfast (www.alakaibb.com) , which was a real treat right on the ocean. Breakfast was served with a bright morning sunrise and tons of fruit from the island. And speaking of fruits of the island. Never do I cease learning of a new one almost weekly. We brought a 'sapote' home with us from the market Sat. and tried it today. How about eating a pear sweetened with brown sugar. Maybe a bit more custardy, but that is the flavor. Then there are rambutan, lychee, carambola, lilikoi, guava. All new to me and I like them all. Tomorrow our apple bananas are ripe and I'll dehydrate some more. The last batch went to Nic & family with our own mac nuts (dehydrated also). Next Jackie gets a batch and I owe Sheila & family some bananas as they got macnuts and coffee last week. We have about 10 pineapples ripening at different stages and I am anxious to feast on one. I am told they are called white pineapples and are much sweeter than the gold. Avocado season is just about over. Ron is sad as he has really grown to like them. But now we see tons of mangoes hanging from the trees.......not the same trees.....mango trees. I understand that they should be ripe by May or so. We are coming back to the mainland (Mich. & Tenn.) in June so I hope we don't miss most of them. Wish we could bring them back but Ag rules won't let you carry them on and if I packed them I think we'd have mango juice before we got them to you. But you can always come and sample them here!! Just a while ago I headed down to Paleaku Gardens (about a 6-8 min walk from here). I was headed to a yoga class which unfortunately for me was cancelled. I'll have to go next week, but the caretaker was kind enough to show me a bit around the complex. Lucky for me as it is both beautiful and spiritual. You cannot tell from the road how lovely it is as it opens to a commons area where they have retreats and weddings. They charge for tours (I think $5) and I recommend it and will be taking guests down there if they'd like as they have a unique garden there called the galaxy gardens. You can see a sample of what's there at www.galaxygarden.net . There also are small temples ,obelisks, or statues in areas representing every religion on the world right down to native Indian, etc. Then they also have star gazing nights, as the garden is also an astronomy center. Neighbors did the gazing one night and said it is spectacular. Ron & I plan on viewing at the next one.