The Big Island of Hawaii–April 3–13, 2011

This was our first visit to the Big Island and we were there for 10 days. It was hard to select just a few photos because we took over 300 pictures. Although it was unseasonably cool, we made the best of it and saw many cool things.  It rained a lot while we were there so all the waterfalls were muddy.  We spent a lot of time site seeing to a tune of almost 1,100 miles but we got to see beautiful and unique things.  The most AWESOME things were the turtles and the spinner dolphins.  There were turtles everywhere!   

		Paradise VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Here’s one of the muddy waterfalls I was talking about.

We saw this HUGE tree and it was so incredible and unique that we had to stop and take a picture of it.  Just check out the houses next to it that looks so small.

Here are just a very small portion of the roots and trunks.

We traveled to the other side of the island to meet my bonsai mentor, David Fukumoto.  This is the Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center which is owned and operated by David.  The plants/bonsai’s he creates are spectacular.  I could have spent all day there, but we only had about 3 hours to spare.  I have been corresponding with David for several years and I have a “Kathy’s Page” on his web site regarding my bonsai that I purchased in Hawaii years ago.

David was kind enough to give me a free lesson on starting a larger bonsai.  The plants he creates are amazing to say the least.

We rented a double kayak and spent the day paddling around in Kealakekua Bay.  We saw these awesome spinner dolphins.  They swam around us and just hung out with us, it was soooooooo cool.  I got a video of them spinning in front of our kayak, it was very exciting.

We also went snorkeling and packed picnic lunch… it was a great day!

Here are the spinner dolphins; there were about a dozen or so swimming around us.

This was one of the craziest things we saw… a pig on top of a car!  It was a stuffed pig and there was a guy with a camera along the highway; he was there every day.  We assume he wanted people to stop so he could take a picture of them with the pig and sell the photo to them… that’s our guess anyway.

You know me the animal lover…

This was also a very  different sight along the highway.  There were hundreds  of messages and names in the lava made from white rocks.  It was really cool to see.  We saw everything from hearts with names, to dates, to rest in peace.

The storm was so bad, it snowed!!!  Unfortunately the Almeida Clipper followed us to Hawaii… darn it!

This is the trail to the petroglyphs.  By the time we were done our feet were really dirty from the walk.

Hawaii, The Big Island –April 3-13, 2011

Spinner Dolphins on the Big Island of Hawaii, April 2011

A Very Busy & Totally Fun March

IN LOVING MEMORY

We cannot believe it's been a year since Codi left us and went to heaven (April 11, 2010).  She is still the love of our lives and we miss her so much.  It has really helped us to have a painting of her in our family room that we can enjoy every day.

GNO Rocks Again!!

This month we invited Miren; a friend originally of Karen's and now a friend of ours.  She's awesome and we thought she would be a good addition to our Girls Night Out and she is!!  We had a great time and look forward to more GNO's.

Miren, Karen, Joan, Kathy (March 25th)

Maita's Visit - March 14 - 16, 2001

Talk about a great 3 days with Mike & Evy!!!!  They stayed at our house for a couple of days and boy did we have fun.  The guys played billiards, Evy & I bonded, we toured new model homes, played games, went to Kim's Country Kitchen for Taco Tuesday, and talked & talked & talked.  It was a really fun time.

 OK, here is Mike when we were touring the model homes... he's crazy pretending he's tired!!

 And then of course here's Mike acting as he normally does... like a kid.  This was a decorative prop in a bedroom and Mike couldn't resist... need I say more?!?!?!?

 And it continues...

 We love food

 This is so awesome and something that you don't see every day.  We were driving above the retirement community of Lincoln Sun City and saw these goats & sheep being moved from Sun City to the adjacent hill side.  They routinely have the goats grazing on the Lincoln hillsides to control the vegitation growth, but we have never seen them in a residental area.  I just happened to have the camera with me, so we stopped and enjoyed the sight and took a few photos.

March 2011

We made our annual pilgrimage to the El Dorado Wine Tastsing Passport Weekend and it was great (less the crappy weather).

Kathy, Hank, Norm, Pat, Kaija, Peter

 Don, Darleen, Kaija

 Kaija & Peter

 Kaija

 Yours truely

 Pat & Kaija

 Peter & Hank

 A lot of the wineries have resident dogs & cats.  Here are a couple of the great dogs we played with during our tour.

Of course the entire month of March the weather sucked... it was cold & rainny.  It should have been in the mid 70's for this wine tour, but NO... we saw snow!!!!  Most of the wineries had to have "plan B" and bring the activities in doors, but it all worked out well.

Here is Kaija throwing a snow ball at me!!

My latest and greatest card creations... enjoy