Synopsis of the last few weeks in May...........

as I can guarantee I won't be blogging in June. Exactly a week from today we take off to TN for the first leg of our trip to visit with family & friends. Two weeks ago we got the opportunity to take a trip to Sedona, AZ. We had never been there and it sounded like a nice r&r for us after the winters care of those coffee trees. You can't deny the beauty of Sedona, especially as you drive in and view those huge red rocks. Only 2 hours away, the Grand Canyon is also quite an experience. I think besides the size I was most struck by the colors of the Grand Canyon. No matter what venue I took to view, it seemed like a painting in front of me and i had to blink to remind myself I was looking at natures painting. The weather was good although a bit hot in the sun. Sometimes you couldn't help being in full sun if you were hiking and that's where I got sun-blistered lips. It took getting back to Hawaii here to heal them up and put some moisture back into my body. As I quenched myself with the ocean water I also looked down and again saw how clear our water is here. All the colors of the sea coral are visible while swimming, snorkeling and paddling. So I guess, to me, it's what color do I prefer. I'll take the greens and blues anytime!!!!

I read an article about the volcano the other day trying to crystal-ball this latest eruption. And that is all scientists can do. It's all unpredictable. The article said that Kilauea erupted/smoked almost continuously from 1832-1924. From 1924 to about the 60's not much happened and then some lasting from 4 months to 18 months until now. Right now this is the longest lasting one in almost a century. What it seems to have done is make this May a bit cooler and rainy and also very voggy. Forget the beautiful bright views. Views are still there just not as dramatic because, to me, they look blurry. Ag consultants from UH are finding that some fruits are delaying to ripen. Fruits like figs and mangos need more sunlight to ripen. Luckily coffee doesn't seem to be bothered by Madame Pele'. That is, I'm sure, why coffee grows so well in Kona. It really likes the weather here. After all, they planted coffee here in about 1825 and it grew and flourished no matter what Kilauea was doing.

2 more birthdays.............

and they happened on the same say last week. One was for 8 yr. old Chloe our 5th grandchild who lives with her mom, dad, sisters and brother in Michigan. Chloe is one hardy little girl. She seems to be able to go her own balanced way and takes it all in stride. A hard thing to do with two older sisters but she has learned to do her own thing and enjoy herself doing it. While she was in my care after her brother was born she took quite a fall, hitting her head on a stair edge and causing lots of blood to gush from her forhead. She was far calmer than me on the way to the hospital and was a perfect patient. She also loves soccer but favors art in school. She says whe has artwork to show me when we see them next month. Chloe was born on her aunt Sheila's birthdate. Sheila is my eldest(she is going to get me on that) daughter. But she got lots of talent being the oldest. She is musical, mathmetical and very creative. She is very giving and teaches many of her talents, like victorian stitch quilting. But most of all she likes to beat Ron, and other friends at scrabble and any other word game you can think of.

Time to blog

Last week while paddling we thought we saw a pod of dolphins, but then realized they weren't swimming like dolphins. After stopping and taking a closer look it was a whole school of manta rays. They were probably feeding on some plankton and when they swim on top of the water one wing seems to stick out and looks like a dolphins but then they flicked their tail the mystery was over. May 3rd was our first anniversay here and we celebrated up to the Hilton with friends for dinner and went to a Sugarland concert. It was outside and it only rains about 10 inches a year up in Wiakoloa where the Hilton is located. Well just before the concert started I think they got the whole spring rain. We had a small water resistant covering with us and we didn't get soaked, but close. How wonderful to be in weather where it really doean't matter. The show went on, we were in barefeet and our clothers dried before it was over. And Jennifer Nettles and the rest of Sugarland put on a great show. Great songs and very entertaining!
I also don't think it is as warm as it was when we arrived last year. I go in the ocean to water jog weekly and the water seemed to be the coldest in April. We need some warm spring weather to warm that ocean up. And I also believe the rainy season is finally upon us. As it should be. Winter is dry and now the rains are coming and is that coffee ever growing. The green beans are getting larger and larger and we think that we will be picking very, very soon. We see a few scattered red beans even now. So I'll bet Ron tries a picking before we leave for TN & MI in June.
Meanwhile today we are heading off for a little R&R. Taking a week in Sedona, AZ. Finally convinced Ron that those beans could ripen on their own.

Sydney......................second born grandchild

I sure didn't forget you! I just get overwhelmed when I get ready to take a trip. I also enjoyed talking to you on your birthday. Sydney is such a character. Oh, a fun & whitty character. She always has something up her sleeve. She seems to have great talent for understanding. Sometimes even more than you would think her years permit. She is always asking questions becuase she says she wants to learn things the right way. She will keep with the questions until she thinks she has it right. (I didn't tell her yet that Mimi & Papa don't really have all the answers!!) Her passion is in creating videos and movies. She is an aid to the girl scout leader and teaches the troup the art of making good video. Not long and we will be visiting with you and and I am looking forward to being in one of her videos.