3-year old UFO eliminated!

I am not sure what took me so long, but I made most of this jacket top about three years ago. The only thing left to do was sleeve cuffs, buttons and buttonholes. DONE. Finally!

The fabric is painted. I brought it back from the Big Island of Hawaii four years ago.

*UFO: UnFinished Object

Mele Kalikimaka!

Finally! I made Mike's shirt from some of the fabric I brought back from Hilo a year and a half ago! I love the bold pattern and put the biggest motifs down the center of the back and collar. Of course, I used the authentic coconut buttons we got there, too.

Maui wowee

OK, I told you I'd let you see what I'm sewing from the fabric I got in Hawaii, didn't I?

A dress for by daughter, Bri: Maui wowee!

I took my time with this one. It would have only taken a couple of hours if I had cared about time. I cut it out and started on it late last night and finished it after church today.

UPDATE: By the way, this is only two Hawaiian fabric projects down, 7 or 8 to go.

Macadamia nuts, cops, dead hippie

TWITTERS:

--Stopped at the Mauna Loa orchard/factory. 2500 acres of macadamia trees. about 22 hours ago from txt

--Richardson Ocean Park near Hilo: kids in surf can't resist that gigantic turtle. about 20 hours ago from txt

--Reeds Bay Park near Hilo: body of old man wahed up on beach at least 9 police cars on scene. about 20 hours ago from txt

We toured the Mauna Loa orchard and factory. Not much to see other than the gift shop, because the factory wasn't operating that day. But it was still fun. Drive through acres and acres of macadamia nut trees to get to the visitor buildings. Again, this is only a few miles from our home base, Wild Orchid House.

On our way to the airport, we stopped at a few of the beach parks in Hilo.

The "beach" is black lava rocks. The "sand" is ground up lava rocks. It hurts my bare feet. It's rough and coarse. Yes, I know I'm using the "" liberally. I'm trying to convey that the reality of what was there does not meet my schemata. It didn't fit with my brain's definitions.

We drove into the last beach park, Reeds Bay Park. 9 police cruisers were parked there in a clump.

"What's going on?" says Mike.

"Ah, I don't think we need to know," I said.

"I want to know what's going on."

"Mike, drive out. Just drive by and drive out."

"Baby doll, I want to know what's going on," kind of short-tempered now.

"Mike, please, just drive out. Just leave. It can't be good."

Mike steers STRAIGHT TOWARD a policeman who is interviewing some people. The officer is holding a clip board. Mike pulls right up beside (MY SIDE OF THE CAR, DAMMIT!), and Mike rolls down MY window and yells over me through my window "Officer, is there a problem here?"

OMG. Did he just say that? Did he just do that? Can I melt into my seat? Can I become invisible?

The officer takes a half-step toward my window. Can't see his eyes behind the shades. Steel face.

He leans in to my window (me, doing my wish-I-was-invisible trick) and says to Mike "Depends, sir. How long have you been in the park?"

This has turned a bad corner.

"Oh we're just leaving," says jovial Mike. He must be talking about the fact that we are on our way to the airport to leave the island, but that is NOT what it sounds like to shades-wearing steel-face clip-board-holding officer.

"No! That's not what he means," I blurt out. "We JUST DROVE IN to the park. He means we are leaving the island today.... I mean... we're on our way to the airport... I mean... we've been here on vacation and its our last day... we fly out today... that's what he meant. We just drove in to the park!!!!"

I see a tiny little lift at the corner of the policeman's mouth.

"How long have you been at the park?" he asks again.

"Less than a minute. We just drove in and saw all the police cars and were curious," I said, feeling embarrassed at my silly breakdown a moment before.

"Well, ok, because there's a dead body here, washed up on shore. I wouldn't want to think you folks were involved in that in any way. I'm just interviewing witnesses," he says, the corner of his mouth up a little more. "Are you witnesses?"

"No! We just drove in!" Mike said.

"OK, then move along now."

We drove past the body. Man. Wearing raggedy shorts. Leathery brown shins. Head covered in a bright print beach towel. Dreadlocks hanging out beyond the towel.

Was it one of the Hilo hippies who greeted us our first day on the big island with bongo drums and uninhibited dancing on the sidewalk?

We were quiet on the short trip to the airport. It was time to say good bye.

Eggs, wood, and history

TWITTERs:
--Last morning in Hawaii :-( gotta pack. 01:38 PM April 20, 2008 from txt

--I hate packing... Especially at the END of the trip, packing to come home. 03:12 PM April 20, 2008 from txt

--Purchased a beautiful hand carved bowl of koa wood, crafted by Dan DeLuz. about 23 hours ago from txt

A few days before (I think it was the morning before we left for the other side of the island to go fishing), we had stopped at the "Koa Shop Kaffee" to have breakfast. It's just a few miles down from our home base, the Wild Orchid House.

We sat down in the small restaurant and I immediately pointed something out to Mike. The tables and chairs were hand made. I'm not kidding. There were dove-tail joints in the wood. The tables and chairs were a work of art, obviously crafted with great skill and love. I've never seen anything like that in a restaurant.

We ordered our breakfast. Two women (I think maybe mom and daughter) were working the restaurant.

While we were waiting for our food, we spied some shelves in the corner. On them were wooden objects. Mike went over first (he's more uninhibited that me). He started picking up the wooden items to look at them. He called me over.

"Look at these, baby doll," (yes, he really says that, shut up). "Come over here and look at these. These things are beautiful!"

I got up and walked over. The items on the shelves were wooden bowls and wooden carvings. Unbelievable skill exhibited in these items. Prices were pretty high.

A guy sitting at the next table, eating his eggs, said, "You like those?"

We both looked at him -- greying hair, heavy eyes, lots of lines on his face from sun and smiles.

"Yeah, these are beautiful," Mike said.

"I made 'em," the guy grunted between bites.

Mike and I glanced at each other. Sorta cool. Ok.

Mike launched into a coversation (again, for those of you who don't know him well, this is what the man does) with the egg-eating guy. "You made these? How do you do it? Is this native wood? Do you do it with machines? How long have you been doing this?"

The guy introduced himself: Dan DeLuz. Invited us to go to his little retail shop behind the restaurant to see his other work.

We smiled, shook his hand, told him we were so happy to have met him, and left.

So, when we were in Waiamea or Kona or someplace on a different part of the island later that day, we were in a high-end tourist shop. Pricey stuff everywhere. In unison, we spy a big display behind glass of hand-carved wooden bowls and artwork. We both stepped toward it. The big sign:

AUTHENTIC DAN DELUZ

We shared a look. We just met this guy at breakfast!

I've since done some research on the man.

Did you know that the U.S. took over Hawaii... I mean like invasion? It was a sovereign land with its own monarchy and government, friendly to Europe and the U.S. In the early 1900's (or 19-teens), at the same time the U.S. was herding native Americans onto reservations, it (we) was overtaking Hawaii. The U.S. kept the princess imprisoned in her bedroom for years. It's quite a sad story.

In the process of the U.S. domination, the native population of Hawaii was almost decimated. There were few native Hawaiians left on the islands. Their culture and skills and art were also endangered. From Dan DeLuz's site:

He virtually single-handedly brought the craft into the latter half of the 20th Century... Largely self-taught, he has in turn, taught most of the younger generation of Hawaii's bowl-turners. Passing on his skills, wisdom and knowledge gathered over the years. The techniques he has developed is masterful and results in bowls which will become cherished family heirlooms.

We had met Dan DeLuz. He's a big deal, people.

So, on this, our last day on the island, we made our way to the home-shop of Dan DeLuz, behind his wife's restaurant, to see his work.

We purchased a small wooden bowl. It is made from a single piece of native koa wood, including its lid, smooth, with heavy grain exposed. It sits on our mantle.

Reprise of vomit girl - she strikes again!!!!

TWITTER: FREAKY: girl who vomited over my shoulder this am walked into restaurant tonight- RUN AWAY!!! 12:27 AM April 20, 2008 from web

After a long day of hiking up and down waterfalls, we stop in a a downtown Hilo restaurant to have a cocktail and pick up dinner to go. It's our last night together for who knows how long. The plan is to take dinner back to Wild Orchid House and have a quiet evening.

Sitting at the bar, sipping a glass of wine, soaking up the atmosphere and feeling very sated, I hear a voice. A female voice. It sounds a little familiar.

"What soups do you have tonight?" she says.

I turn my head to see who it is.

VOMIT GIRL! It's VOMIT GIRL!!

The very same girl that greeted me at Starbucks that morning with a perfect arc of puke.

Thankfully, we had our boxed dinners already and were just signing the check. We ran for the sanctuary of Wild Orchid House.

I will do you a favor and not include any photos with this posting.

Can you tell it's raining if you're under a waterfall?

TWITTERs:

--- Heading out to see some waterfalls. 09:08 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

-- Akaka falls: WOW! 10:13 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

Akaka falls is the tallest accessible waterfall in Hawaii. It was raining very hard, so it's misty-looking in this photo. Some nice hiking down-down-down and up-up-up to see this spectacle.

We're still very close to our home base, The Wild Orchid House.

-- Rainbow falls: giant cave under, lava pools on top. Wonderous. 11:01 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

Here are your hokey snapshots for the day. Mike's hand isn't turned quite right, but you get the idea.

It continued to rain all day. I guess that's to be expected sometimes in a rain forest.

The cave behind the waterfall is a lava tube.

We did some S-E-R-I-O-U-S climbing to see what was on top of the rainbow falls.

The lava has hardened on top of the waterfall and the craters have formed warm pools of water. Three children were swimming in one of the natural pools there on top of the falls.

(As usual, click on the photos to enlarge.)

Have you ever seen a $20,000 orchid?

TWITTER: Just pulling up to the orchid farm 07:42 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

The orchid farm in Mountain View (near Wild Orchid House, not far from Hilo). I would link to their site, but apparently they aren't on th web.

When we lived in Cape Coral/Ft. Myers, I raised orchids. I had 90+ orchids. I nurtured and loved those orchids and they grew, flourished and bloomed. They displayed their natural beauty and perfumed the air and gave me great satisfaction and joy.

When we moved from Florida, I had to leave the orchids. It was a sad parting.

So I was excited to to visit the orchid farm near Hilo.

Several signs throughout the buildings touted a "$20,000 orchid in the gift shop." Well, if you know Mike, you know he can't resist something worth lots o' money. So off we went to the gift shop to see this unbelievably pricey orchid.

We spotted it in a few seconds, among the decks of playing cards, magnets, shot glasses, hats and shirts. Way up on a pedestal, clearly marked with a sign declaring its value, was the treasure orchid.

Mike grabbed the camera out of my hands and insisted on taking a photo. What ended up in the frame of the shot that he took is very revealing (ummm, what does the bloom look like? where is the flower??).














So, have you ever seen a $20,000 orchid? You're not seeing it here!

Joy lies in a warehouse in Hilo

TWITTER: Went a liitle crazy in the HUGE discount fabrics warehouse. 06:54 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

You know how I feel about fabric stores. I've blogged about this fetish before. We had actually driven by the huge warehouse with the sign in front declaring "Discount Fabric Warehouse" several times. Each time, my distraction grew. Finally, time in the schedule to explore the place that kept calling to me.

Better than my imagination had speculated... heavenly sigh... I quickly calculated how much room I might be able to make in my suitcase and how many yards that many square inches in a suitcase might translate to be.

As we entered the open-air gigantic warehouse, we saw the sale signs "Any fabric with flowers or butterflies 20% off." Were they kidding? Who's ever seen a sale sign like that? All the fabric sale signs I've ever seen in my life say something like "Linen suitings 20% off," or "Cotton knits 20% off," but never "Some arbitrary motif in the fabric pattern 20% off." Bizarre change of paradigm for me. But a happy one :-) ! Besides, about 80% of the fabric in the store had either a butterfly or a flower, or both.

My quick eye contact with Mike was effective enough to communicate the message: "See ya later, buddy!" I delved into the aisles, a little nervous for some reason. Maybe because of the sense of overwhelming warehouse full of treasures just waiting for me to find them.

Don't tell me I'm dysfunctional because of my affinity for fabric. I think it's a dominant gene in my family DNA. I can't help myself. Don't judge me!

Here's what I came home with:


You already saw what I did with this pink floral: a cute flowery dress and matching hat for Caille. (Sorry the photo is a little blurry here!)

I got the brown-background version of that floral print to make something for Bri. She hasn't chosen a pattern yet. I'm hoping there might be enough left over to make something for myself, too.

Mike started catching the fabric bug, it was so overpowering. This print is going to make a Hawaiian shirt for him.


And this one is another Hawaiian shirt for Mike.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with this one (sorry, a little blurry), but I love it and I had to have it. I'll think of something eventually.


I got lots and lots of yards of this petroglyph print. It's going to be matching shirts for Steve (my son-in-law) and my three grandsons. Matching shirts for dad and the little guys.

I also got several dozen coconut buttons, the traditional button to use on an Hawaiian shirt.

And of course, as I get all of these projects finished, I'll be posting them here for you to see.

(I must make myselft at least one suit from the stuff I bought in NYC months ago before I do any other projects, right?)

The card I picked up Discount Fabric Warehouse indicates that there are also locations in Kona, Maui and Kauai.

Shopping at Hilo Hatties

TWITTER: Spent too much money @ Hilo Hattie's. 05:51 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

Not much to say here. Shopping. You know, Hawaiian shirts, soaps, candies, etc.

Vomit girl

TWITTER: Girl came *this* close to puking on me... And we're not even in a boat! 04:28 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

The mermaid was just a few doors down from the place we had breakfast and Mike can't resist.

Is there anyone else in the world that has to drink a 5-shot white chocolate mocha coffee with 3 splendas every day?

Anyway...

Beckoned to the nearby Mermaid. Walked down, entered, stood at the counter to order. You know what Mike orders every day (see above, silly) and I got my regular Cafe Americano.

While waiting, I decided I would like to use the restroom. The door was locked - it was busy. So I waited outside the door. Just stood there, minding my own business.

As SOON as the door opened, a girl ran from behind me -- one hand on her mouth, the other on her stomach -- I could barely make out what she was saying to me as she ran in front of me toward the opening door.

"I haffa frow up!!!!"

And then she did. In a perfect arc over my shoulder and all over the wall of Starbucks.

It made me think of the sea horse guy on the Sea Witch.

The one-pound lau-lau

TWITTER: Sitting outside Kuhio Grill eating breakfst and writing postcards. 03:44 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

Kuhio Grill was recommended by the owners of the Hilo Coffee Mill. We went there for breakfast. Just to hang out, eat breakfast and write post cards.

Kuhio Grill is the home of the "One-pound Lau-Lau." The 1-lb Lau-Lau ingredients include:
1 1/4 lb pork butt, cut into large chunks
2 tablespoons Hawaiian salt
1 lb salted butterfish or salmon, soaked in cold water for 3 hours and drained
1 lb lu'au or fresh spinach leaves
12 ti leaves

... not for me. Do not want!

But the breakfast I ordered was fine. :-)

We sat outside, wrote post cards and lazed. It was a nice, relaxed time -- in contrast to the two days before!

Paradise in your cup

TWITTER: Another lovely morning on the Big Island. Ready for a day of exploring. 02:12 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

Tasting local coffees at Hilo Coffee Mill's coffee bar. 03:14 PM April 19, 2008 from txt

The only way to start a morning: Hilo Coffee Mill's coffee bar.

The coffee mill is only a couple of miles down 11 from the Wild Orchid House. We park on the lava-gravel parking area and follow the black lava gravel trail through the lush green grass and tropical bushes toward the building.

Roosters and chickens are clucking and pecking, free to roam the grounds (that's GROUNDS, not GROUNDS, if you know what I mean).

The smell in the air is a heavy nutty coffee smell, mixed with tropical breezes.

Inside, we are greeted with smiles and helped by a new-hire, under the watchful (and helpful) eye of owners.

Three coffees were available for tasting that day, and they were all delicious.

We bought coffee samplers for Kristin and Irene, plus locally made soaps.

We stayed and talked for a while. It makes me wonder, what would it be like to live this life style? What would it be like to live, breathe and work on this island, in this culture?

Johnny Depp makes a mahvelous waiter

TWITTER: Ate at Merriman's in Kamuela. Johnny Depp (as Capt Jack) makes a mahvelous waiter! 12:50 AM April 19, 2008 from txt

On our way back from the "fishing" trip on the Sea Witch, we stopped near Waimea to eat dinner at Merriman's. This made the whole day worth it. They use only ingredients grown by local family farmers.


Our waiter was a Johnny Depp look alike and played it for all it was worth. It was quite entertaining. At the table next to us were 7 little girls and their nanny. When he took their drink order, one of them said "Do you know who you look like?"

He said "Yes-s-s-s," with a big smile and a wink.

Then all the little girls - with him in unison - say "Captain Jack!" Silly.

He played it to the hilt: even acting drunk as he crossed the restaurant with a bottle of wine.

This was the best meal we had in Hawaii (maybe anywhere, actually). It's definitely a "wow" place!

One island, 11 climate zones

Renata explained to us that there are 11 climate zones on the Big Island. The place we stayed, the Wild Orchid House, was somewhere around 2500 feet above sea level, in the rain forest. But the Kona area is more like a desert.



On our way there, passing the miles and miles of black lava fields, we saw graffiti. A lot of graffiti. But totally NATURAL graffiti.



I tried to take a photo out the window of the car as we were driving:



The graffiti (you know, like "Jen + Bob," various myspace urls, etc.) was in white coral rocks. The white rocks are arranged on the black lava field to make the graffiti. How ecologically responsible!

Sea wife is sea witch

TWITTERS:

---Early morn. Leaving for Kona today. Afternoon fishing. 12:10 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---Driving along north coast of big island. Up and down thru forests, jungle...blue ocean whitecaps to my right. 02:48 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---Boarding 'The Sea Wife' for fishing. 04:53 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---From the deck of the Sea Wife: still no bites :-( 06:15 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---Fm deck of Sea Wife: shipmate 'calling the fish' (puking overboard), so maybe a fish will strike soon! 06:33 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---Fm deck of Sea Wife: 'seahorse shirt guy' just keeps puking overbd. No fish yet:-( 07:30 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---Fm deck of sea wife: guy called the fish (puked) enuf that we finally caught a couple wahoo. 08:58 PM April 18, 2008 from txt
---The SEA WIFE is a waste of $, time, suncreen and dramamine. I feel ripped off. 10:00 PM April 18, 2008 from txt

Got up early to drive the 3 hours to the other side of the island. We had a fishing charter booked out of Kona.

Warning: if they advertise themselves as "the only ship in the fleet that is Coast Guard certified" do NOT book a trip. Back away!

Mike grew up in Miami. He's been fishing more times than I've been in a corn field (that's an Iowa joke, people). Then for 4 years, we lived on Cape Coral and went out fishing all the time. Charter boats typically take six fishers out at a time. It's called a "six pack." News flash: Apparently, if a boat is "Coast Guard certified" it gives them dispensation to take 12 -- yes, 12, one dozen -- people on board. Something neither Mike nor I knew until we boarded.

What a total rip off! They put 12 people on the boat and then went around in circles in the bay. Everyone had to draw a number for a CHANCE to fish. Only 2 people got to touch fishing poles the whole, long, boring, afternoon trip.

Of my 11 shipmates, one was a newly-married couple on their honeymoon. She was 3 months pregnant and not feeling too great. So she stretched out for a long nap on one of the only two benches on the boat. Most of us just stood on deck the entire time.

Another shipmate was "seahorse shirt guy," a small Asian man wearing a t-shirt with several different varieties of sea horses on it. He was puking overboard the entire time. We were hopeful that would draw an unwitting fish (it usually does the trick). No such luck.

The first mate was a real trip. He spent most of the trip down in the hold, playing his PSP.

First time in my life I've gotten off a boat and seen Mike NOT tip the mate. He was steaming mad.

Again, in case you didn't get my main message: Do NOT go on the Sea Wife out of Kona.

Earth, air, fire, water, spirit

TWITTER: Will be dark w/in 30 min. On our way to see lava flowing into the sea... Dark hike in a dangerous place. 11:01 PM April 17, 2008 from txt


TWITTER: Wow. We survived. Black night. Treachorous lava field. Red burning lava meeting the sea in boiling steam. 01:20 AM April 18, 2008 from txt

Donned the required long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves, flashlights. Set out for the southeast part of the lava flow, where the ocean meets the magma, near Kalapana.

Renata had told us it would only be a 1-mile hike over the lava field to reach the active flow. She was right. But she neglected to mention that we would probably have to park at least a mile away from the trail head. So it was a dark 2-mile hike (1 mile on black top road uphill, another mile over the lava field). We were exhausted after the exertions from earlier that day.

It gets so dark here! There is no light pollution. And walking across the lava field was difficult enough in broad daylight. This is treacherous. If you fall, the lava lacerates without mercy.

There are many other people making the inky black, blind, trek. Many are talking as we all try to follow the little flourescent strips that mark the way to our destination.

It comes into view. Voices are silenced. Orange fire spews into the night sky. The lava has found an egress in an ocean cliff. Molten earth spurts from the cliff into the ocean. Mighty waves crash upon the lava, bubbling, squeaking, hissing, as they touch the magma.

Here's what it looks like after dark, where Madame Pele spews into the raging ocean (Windows Media). I think my heart stopped.

EARTH... AIR... FIRE... WATER... and my sated spirit... all in one place, a conflagration of such proportion that my heart had trouble holding the moment.

There was little conversation on the long hike back to the car. We were introspective. The earth is an amazing place.

If you know Mike, you know he can talk just about anyone into just about anything. He actually convinced a couple we'd never met before to give us a lift to our car (they had gotten into the closer parking area), so it was only a 1-mile hike back to the car. Great couple... based on the 4 minutes we were with them. :-)

Flower power, mini wahine style

First project working with the Hawaiian fabrics I brought back with me from the Big Island (oh, I haven't blogged about that part of the vacation yet!).

Dress and hat (modeled by my iron) for the lovely mini-wahine, Caille.



As usual, click on the photos for larger pictures.

UPDATE: Forgot to mention that this is McCall's 4432 and the dress was SO-O-o-o-o easy.

Don't forget water

TWITTER: Don't forget water when you hike over the old lava flow to the Pu'uloa petroglyphs (*gasp*) 09:08 PM April 17, 2008 from txt

85 degrees. Walking on a field of black bolders. Following a path marked only by piles of stones.

This is a sacred place. The figures were carved in the rock over a thousand years ago.

Chain of craters, fields of lava

TWITTER: Via 'chain of craters road' down volcano to where old lava meets sea: the Holei Sea Arch is awesome. 08:09 PM April 17, 2008 from txt