Sunday welcomes Franny

A cloudy morning, rain is moving in. The ocean is covered in a heavy wet gauze. We rise, I blog and eat a bowl of oatmeal with a sweet pile of bananas and honey. I am excited to welcome Fran. We drive to church, hoping to buy a lei from Auntie in Anahola;"not open yet." I do catch this rather unique photo of the Sleeping Giant though.



Scooting along, we arrive at church just in time to get the last two seats, four feet from pastor Paul's feet. Looking right up into his palate :-) What a seat! He tells us he loves to see us front and center. We have an hour before Fran's plane arrives at 1:06. We go to Longs Drugs for a lei, no luck again, they recommend The Times. I choose the ti leaf lei representing honored guest and healing. She could use a dose of that! Here is the handmade rosette I am so fond of:



We give her that Hawaiian Aloha, lei and kiss of welcome. She isn't hungry so we rush off to Kapaa and the Olympic Cafe for a meal. A toast to her Kauai homecoming and a mediterranean wrap for me, which included fresh beets. Dan ordered the blackened Ono sandwich, the 'best he's ever had!"






She drops her suitcase and Dan takes us into Hanalei town for a little shopping. She is sure she needs a pair of shorts. We don't find any she loves. So, home for sunset and whale watching on the point. When she unpacks, it is clear she has 'plenty' of shorts. The Cliffs isn't a 'resort'.
It is still misty, but the weather is improving. Dan and Fran enjoy the wild boar dinner from the Ohana in Anahola, and I settle down with my Dolphin sushi roll.
(Dolphin restaurant, not animal.If you are aghast!)
It's early to bed, after we explain what we have in store for her tomorrow., massages at 9:00 a.m.
Aloha!

Massage, Market and Moloaa

We're moving faster than usual today. Always happy for a calm center each morning before the whirligigging...
I was hoping for another neck massage at the New Residents Reception today, and it's Melissa, the yoga teacher I was disappointed with. Last year I was pleased with her. How mercurial of me. I guess I needed more attention and was giving off confident,independent vibes.She gives a loving massage.


Dan reminds me we need to get down to the Farmer's Market in Hanalei. We have a list and although we don't want to be a part of the initial stampede, they do sell out.
We need Lemons, greens, goat's cheese, something for the soba noodles, more bananas and a pineapple. Fran is arriving in the morning and I want to make a fresh pineapple infused vodka today.
We go to the Bluff for our slow start, AND it's teeming with whale counters. We settle in on two remaining chairs. Here I can double task, listening to my Water for Elephants book and watching whales frolic offshore.



Half the day remains and our hunger is increasing. Dan has heard of another 'sustainability' venture: Common Grounds, a restaurant and garden. I have a pile of Dark, Leafy Greens topped with macadamia nuts. This might affect me tomorrow :0 I have shied away from Kale since I know it as a flower, And I am embracing it now. . .Dan is disappointed with his steak wrap. It measure 3 by 3 inches and it's a meager offering. More interesting is the clientele here, Gorgeous, well to do young and 'organic'. I say too much 'female energy'.

Moloaa Beach awaits. We love crawling onto a remote beach to relax under a lilting palm and hear the roar of surf echoing. My book is quite good. Going for a walk I throw myself into half moon poses, reflecting the curve of this pretty bay.
It felt good to 'be' yoga, and I wish my teacher were here for many reasons, but just now, to hold me and rotate me open! I love it this way too, every time I fall out, a new beginning. And a laugh.


Dan has made dinner reservations at Bar Acuda for seven. We actually plan our meal to keep the cost down. I am wearing the brown Tropical Tantrum dress. This is romantic.
We begin with the apple, honeycomb and Humbolt Fog goat's cheese. The cheese is 'blue' and I love it. The comb is dark and waxy, I chew it remembering a wax tubular candy from my childhood.
Next a chop salad to share, green beans and carrots, avocado and raddichio carefully molded into a round and topped with a micro green bouquet.
Dan orders the short rib on a polenta bed. He says it's bland.
We share my Lobster Pot pie, it's very good, I note that I always prefer raw, cool foods.
For dessert there is an almond cake, with cherry compote and the smallest sweetest scoop of ice cream. Just right for two. In fact, It's a feast.
We return to our home at the Cliffs for sweet slumber, though Dan doesn't sleep well.
Mahalo and we welcome week two. Mahalo

Loosti the Swede, is really Lucie, a Czech, after a chance meeting with Melissa. . .
It turns out that Thursday's yoga teacher is this morning's masseuse. What an opportunity to show kindness, and give 'us' a second chance. She is a good massage therapist. She may have not 'seen' me for any number of reasons. . .I acted knowledgeable about the poses, not needy of her assistance? Who knows :-) No worries.
Here is the routine from Lucie, 'Light". She offers, " notice how you move into each pose." (Answer: too fast!)

Balasana
Lay back, over two blocks (watch the bruised spine from last night.
Virasana on toes splayed, spreading pinky toes. . .my hands in Anjali Mudra, lifting perineum helps incredibly.
Downward Facing dog, over we go onto the tops of feet.
Coming onto all fours. .Neutral spine,eyes of arms face each other.
Rotate fingers towards knees: right hand then left hand , easy, each rotates uniquely.
Roll onto tops of hands 1 by 1: Yikes this is a first, onto the finger bones.
WL forward fold block under head of bolster.
Firelogs r
Firelogs l ( doesn't drop easily :)
Supta baddha konasana, aahhh
Supported shoulderstand
On 2 bolsters, shoulders on floor I love this and will try it at home. First for me~
Thighs strapped, blanket under head
Savasana

This music is like whale meowing and dolphin chatter. She is enchanting.I am happy to know she is happy and free!

Music
Namaska say namo namasta for savasana, I hope to find these sweet meandering notes and words left me.

Friday

We've been soo in the moment this week, deciding as the day arises, What next?
This morning the mango mac nut bread we bought in Anahola Sunday, with the lilikoi cheese is breakfast, as we watch the rainy wetness turn warm and tropical.
This little cardinal pays a visit. . .We'll share our feast!
Then it's off to the bluff to sit mesmerized for an hour, or more. The eye exercises must be good. Searching for whales, near, and afar, then checking e mails or reading.
About then, Dan asks, "What shall we do today?" I laugh with delight and lob an answer. . .some days it starts with the ideal beach, or a lunch spot, or is indicated by weather. Today is windy so we settle by the pool to read and rest. We must need it, for it comes naturally to close the eyes, immersing' in the fragrance and jungle tweets, crisp chirping, and Ne Ne honking. I love seeing Dan so happy! and at ease! At last, Dan offers to bring beer, doused with passion guava fruit juice. It reminds us to make a decision regarding which lunch and which beach.




( Do you see my neck? I must say I've been having trouble with it since that rash last month. It's tired with TMJ dislocation and the massage here last week really helped!)
Red Hot Mamas in Wainiha is our choice. We'll buy burritos and settle upon the beach to feast! Relapsing to our books and the heavenly sound of waves crashing to shore at Wainiha Beach Park. High surf warnings; up to forty feet, are common this time of year.
I look up and Dan`O snaps my photo, just as I am finishing my delightful read, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I hope there is a sequel!



We need a few things at the grocery in Princeville. Local Green Chile Tortillas, sour cream and an avocado for our fish tacos tonight. I am planning on making pineapple vodka tomorrow for a cocktail I will serve when Francesca arrives on Sunday.

Then I suggest taking another Relax Deeply class from 5:30-7. Dan says sure! I will post about it separately. It was very pleasant with a sweet Swede teaching is a lovely accent.
Dan makes pineapple salsa and a guacamole with jalapenos and fresh lime juice, that was out of this world. We felt we needed to learn more about the situation in Egypt, so we ate in front of the telly. "Lokaha Somasta Sukino Bhavantu! May All Beings Everywhere Be Happy and Free!

I served up the Haupia ice cream for dessert with a Delta airline cookie (from my trip to Omaha).

Relax Deeply with Melissa

Class was a little flat, the music strained and her voice muffled. I said, Hello and Good bye and Thank You. She did not acknowdedge me. I can learn from this too. On Tuesday, Bhavani hugged me and was so open :)
The sequence was sweet enough to thrill me, but the poem 'Openness', I couldn't find anywhere. This favorite author will more than fill the space left free.

Supta Baddha Konasana
Firelegs r
Firelegs l
Wl forward fold
Janu sirsana r
Janu sirsana l
Lay back over two blocks
Vipariti Karani
Savasana

Poem Openness
'Life is not about certainty'.







Die Slowly by Pablo Neruda

He who becomes the slave of habit,

who follows the same routes every day,

who never changes pace,

who does not risk and change the color of his clothes,

who does not speak and does not experience,

dies slowly.



He or she who shuns passion,

who prefers black on white,

dotting ones i's rather than a bundle of emotions, the kind that make your eyes glimmer,

that turn a yawn into a smile,

that make the heart pound in the face of mistakes and feelings,

dies slowly.



He or she who does not turn things topsy-turvy,

who is unhappy at work,

who does not risk certainty for uncertainty,

to thus follow a dream,

those who do not forego sound advice at least once in their lives,

die slowly.



He who does not travel, who does not read,

who does not listen to music,

who does not find grace in himself,

she who does not find grace in herself,

dies slowly.



He who slowly destroys his own self-esteem,

who does not allow himself to be helped,

who spends days on end complaining about his own bad luck, about the rain that never stops,

dies slowly.



He or she who abandons a project before starting it, who fails to ask questions on subjects he doesn't know, he or she who doesn't reply when they are asked something they do know,

dies slowly.



Let's try and avoid death in small doses,

reminding oneself that being alive requires an effort far greater than the simple fact of breathing.



Only a burning patience will lead

to the attainment of a splendid happiness.

Kilauea Lighthouse and surrounds. . .

Papaya sunrise, for breakfast, it's the only sunrise I saw :( guess I was tired. . .
We love to settle on the bluff for an hour or so of whale watching. It was 'ok', but noting like the day before when Dan estimated we saw dozens passing by!
Packing it up we travel to the Kilauea Lighthouse, which was wrapped in construction cloth. despite having two pair of binoculars, we didn't see much action: turtles, monk seals, dolphins or whales. The wind was as mild as it's ever been.



Dressed in our suits we decided to settle on the far side of Anini Beach, more secluded. I scrambled atop this rock, because I could! and felt fearless. Although I decided not to try any yoga balance poses, fearful!


Then I settled on the beach near my sweetheart.
We stayed until two then showered and decided to try the Tavern at Princeville Gold Course for lunch. Dan has the burger and I choose the single vegetarian option, Margherita Pesto Flatbread. All the ingredients come from the garden outside the window, overlooking the 18th hole! The kitchen even made the mozzarella. . .


Dan bought a golf shirt on the sale rack.
We shopped for me in Hanalei. A brown and aqua dress fit me to a tea. I'll be wearing it to Bar Acuda on Saturday night!
It was good to get back home to prepare tonight's salad, brown rice and lentils with diced celery, cucumber, red onion and pineapple . When Dan took to to Yoga we picked up some Hebi to grill. After class with Melissa, we grilled the fish and watched the stars floating overhead. I quickly found Orion's Belt and Dan saw the little dipper. So exciting to still see stars!
Then we relaxed with our books and I introduced Dan to a nw tlelevision show, "Selling New York." I don't think he enjoyed it.
Bed is usually at ten. Mahalo.

A new direction

We love whale watching first thing every morning, and since we're in Hale Elima, #5, we have only a peek at the gazebo and whaley ocean. (Fabulous sunrises and mountain view especially!) I gobbled up my oatmeal with bananas, granola and honey, Dan loved his salsa omelete with Portugese sausage and pineapple. And it's over the hummoock and to the cliffs, "to the cliffs, the the cliffs, cliff, ciffs!

They travel in pods
45 thoudand whale strong
We watch and applaud

Whales song and sound
Poof, glide, breech and slap
yes.whales abound!
I am torn between blogging Tuesday before Wednesday imprints and watching whales, See~

We have a direction today. . .it's Kapaa because Dan still needs clear nail polish, and he knows of a new restaurant we need to try, VERDE. We pack a few beers and our shopping bag. I suggest we try that paved bike path that runs between Kealia Beach and Kapaa . Dan wears good shoes and I dress more like I'm going to lunch. My sheer sandals are not enough. . . I am rather stylish though.

We pass this grave, near the area marked as an ancient burial site. I'd say he's in good company. I enjoy seeing how Hawaiians celebrate their dead. The cemeteries are beautifully decorated.

Then we stroll our mile back to the car parked near the lifeguard's station. Maybe we'll make this a bike ride some day next week.
The beers come out and we settle onto a beach in Kapaa, near our lunch spot. Dan has a surpprise ingredient; P.O.G. (passion, orange and guava juice). I like it in my Coors Light, it's healthier that way!




We watch a family training their two babies in the fine art of surfing. These blonde cuties must be all of six months and two. The older boy can get up on the board and stand, the infant gets to practice walking with the board in the surf! I'm impressed.
Lunch is even more impressive! Dan orders the Kalua Pork stacked enchilada and I am always a fool for Huevos Rancheros. The sauces are called 'Christmas'; half red and half green. We'll be back!
Dan is tired after too early a start. Someone upstairs was vacuuming at six, and hauling the suitcases down the outdoors steps. He dozes and I go to the pool to read. I really love the Guernsey Literary Society book, bt the parts about the Nazi occupation are difficult to read. I spent my teen years refusing to read about wars in history class!
I try to call my Dad and Margaret until 8:30 CST, to no avail, and I am 'concerned'. One or the other may be hospitalized.
We enjoy the remainder of our Veg Head pizza pie , and dress it up a bit. Dan chooses his sausage and I go to the Kunana lilikoi goat cheese.
We were watching HGTV and grazing on Roselani Haupia ice cream. . . a few mouthfuls will do it. We discovered it last October, while dining with Mikey on Maui. If there's some remaining Gail and LuRae will get it, and the remains of our pantry.
Did I mention we enjoyed another majestis sunset? The whales retired early last night. Mahalo. . .

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Ocean, Pool and Hanalei

Pec slaps and tail flaps
Full breech in languid waters
Whales doing laps.

Aah, Be still, my beating heart!

Cricketing, cooing
cock a doodle doo ing
What? No cow mooing?

The sunrise is sweetened by haiku, breakfast and a few hours of whale watching with binoculars!
Its off to the pool to sun, swim and read, a pleasant repose.





Driving into Hanalei, we eat at the Gourmet, the Waldorf for me and a po boy made with swordfish... Then i enjoyed a little sale rack perusing, but it was time to head tp the Waipa Ranch Farmers Market. We dropped 23 bucks before moving on to the Big Save for five items. Dan needs clear nail polish to lacquer his eye glass's arm. Triscuits, sausage, tomato and a red onion too.





A stroll on the bay is truncated due to the heat, so we walk the pier. Three giggly girls drink beer from paper bag. Not much surfing, the girls are the show stoppers!
At home we shower and i ready for yoga at 5:30, that's another post!
Dan orders a huge Veg Head pizza and we eat on the lanai. Early to bed with our books mahalo for a sweet day!

Yoga and Parrot Story by Rumi

It's such Delight to be back, practicing yoga at Yoga Hanalei with Bhavani. Last night I purchased a five class pass. Deep Relax was the offering.She began with this sweet story by Rumi, as we settled into sukhasana or a more advanced, yet supported, fire legs. She allowed more silence this year and later spoke of manna maya kosha. How yoga is seen as a selfish pursuit, but the kindest thing we can do for others is become clear and skillful in our responses to better all our relationships, to help others, study yourself in essence. She also spoke of the swedes who changed the nature of yoga in the twentieth century to make it more like calisthenics. Originally it was mostly comprised of seated poses, to aid in meditation. A very enjoyable class, and she asked me how long I had been practicing here in Hanalei, "12 years" now. . She asked to give me a hug :)Mmmm. Namaste

Fire legs r
Fire legs l
Janu Sirsana r
Janu Sirsana l
Supta pascimottasana
Supta baddha konasana
Laying twist on r
Laying twist on l
Vipariti Karani

Rumi: Parrot


"The Indian Parrot" (trans. Coleman Barks)

There was a merchant setting out for India.
He asked each male and female servant
what they wanted to be brought as a gift.
Each told him a different exotic object:
A piece of silk, a brass figurine,
a pearl necklace.
Then he asked his beautiful caged parrot,
the one with such a lovely voice,
and she said,
"When you see the Indian parrots,
describe my cage. Say that I need guidance
here in my separation from them. Ask how
our friendship can continue with me so confined
and them flying about freely in the meadow mist.
Tell them that I remember well our mornings
moving together from tree to tree.
Tell them to drink one cup of ecstatic wine
in honor of me here in the dregs of my life.
Tell them that the sound of their quarreling
high in the trees would be sweeter
to hear than any music."
This parrot is the spirit-bird in all of us,
that part that wants to return to freedom,
and is the freedom. What she wants
from India is herself!
So this parrot gave her message to the merchant,
and when he reached India, he saw a field
full of parrots. He stopped
and called out what she had told him.
One of the nearest parrots shivered
and stiffened and fell down dead.
The merchant said, "This one is surely kin
to my parrot. I shouldn't have spoken."
He finished his trading and returned home
with the presents for his workers.
When he got to the parrot, she demanded her gift.
"What happened when you told my story
to the Indian parrots?"
"I'm afraid to say."
"Master, you must!"
"When I spoke your complaint to the field
of chattering parrots, it broke
one of their hearts.
She must have been a close companion,
or a relative, for when she heard about you
she grew quiet and trembled, and died."
As the caged parrot heard this, she herself
quivered and sank to the cage floor.
This merchant was a good man.
He grieved deeply for his parrot, murmuring
distracted phrases, self-contradictory -
cold, then loving - clear, then
murky with symbolism.
A drowning man reaches for anything!
The Friend loves this flailing about
better than any lying still.
The One who lives inside existence
stays constantly in motion,
and whatever you do, that king
watches through the window.
When the merchant threw the "dead" parrot
out of the cage, it spread its wings
and glided to a nearby tree!
The merchant suddenly understood the mystery.
"Sweet singer, what was in the message
that taught you this trick?"
"She told me that it was the charm
of my voice that kept me caged.
Give it up, and be released!"
The parrot told the merchant one or two more
spiritual truths. Then a tender goodbye.
"God protect you," said the merchant
"as you go on your new way.
I hope to follow you!"

An Anini kind of Day

Do I need to say it was a day of deep relaxation? (Although I can be twitchy.)
Found a good deal on oatmeal at Foodland, so made a nice pot to accompany the fresh apple bananas and Lion coffee, This after meditation and sunrise.
The phone rings to invite us to the new guests reception at 8:30. . .oh, yes, we wouldn't miss the massage therapist! I am first in line. Charlie massages for a tip, while the different presenters pull out all the stops, selling Kauai. The massage is magnifico, and dan-o has one too!

Then it's straight to Anini Beach at 10. We settle onto those virgin sands and gaze in wonder. Reading and admiring the surf until hunger gets the better of us. Off to the Kiluea Fish Market for two Ahi tuna wraps which were juicy with sesame seed oil and mayo and red chili sauce:succulent mouthfuls. We stopped by 'aunties' for a pair of huge sweet tangerines to enhance the experience.



Back to reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and a stroll before calling it a day. Dan spots a 'red snapper' like Hawaiian fish following us in the water, a foot off shore. Very peculiar to see a fish let alone, 'walk with one! I give Dad a call in CST, Margaret fell and is pretty bruised up, they both have Doctor's appointments on the 26th.
We shower and relax before the next pupu party for owners at 5. We sit with Californians, Marion and Pete, who are here for the first time, having traded their Tahiti property :-) I think Dan is interested in the Thursday Scramble at the Princeville Golf Club. It's pretty reasonable considering its in the top 78 courses! We retire to the grass skirt of property, fronting the condos to watch sunset. Then, make a plate of spaghetti again with fresh parmesan. It's Italian goodness. . .we don't need much to be very happy here.


Aloha. . .

Amusing poems

The coconut palm canopy's muffled clatter mimics an unrelenting rain forest.

Nearby, roosters screech sleepy Kapaa town awake, as in a fire drill, and the sun rises again.

Roosters plead,' FIRE ' in cock a doodledoo , as the sun rises over Kapaa town.

I awaken at 5. After a while, poetry is flowing through my head. I rise to sit. The sounds from then palms sound like rain, but it's warm and dry. I wrap in the sheer drape and face the pool. Then back to bed to write about roosters crowing.
Dozing, we awaken around eight, dress and get breakfast at the Aston. Yogurt and a fruit plate for me, Dan chooses the two eggs and hashed browns with a sausage side. The coffee is great.



We drive to Lihue for church. It is HOT when we leave, heading to Hanalei Dolphin for salads. Service is slow, but finally we have eaten. We check in and buy our groceries at Foodland. Haupia ice cream is tucked into our freezer, on the advice of Mikey.
There is a football game for Dan and I rest on the poolside patio. Unpacked, we stroll to the Cliffs for whale watching. We get some nice pictures, but no images of whales , oh well, plenty of sightings.
It's spaghetti for dinner, a simple dinner with a Cabernet and fresh parmesan. We watch Desperate Housewives and Bali Hai Realty channel, then it's early to bed.

Our flight is at ten in the morning. Judy picks us up at 7:45, so be have time for a good breakfast at Portland Airport's Rogue Brewery. Scrambled eggs, tomatoes and cottage cheese are a hearty start to a five hour flight. The only lunch offered is a spinach manicotti which taste pretty good and we share a bottle of La Crema Pinot Noir.
Wall Street 2 is the film for January on Hawaiian Air .It was sophisticated and fast paced. We enjoyed it. . .. then we landed in Honolulu. . . A two hour layover allows us to catch up on our Scrabble games and have a beer. We land in sunny Lihue and find a rental car at Alamo: free upgrade to a red Jeep Patriot which is spacious. I've been wanting a Jeep! We had one when we were first married, and gave it to Holden Village.



We drive to Kapaa and check in at the Aston Beach Hotel, dropping our bags we head through the lobby, down a flight,past the azure pool to Lydgate Park, then over the sand to settle on a log, watching surf as the sun sets. The water is choppy. A family of five plays in the fishing pond as the sun sets around 6:30.
We head to the Olympic Cafe rather famished. a glass of Guenoc Chardonnay and a Longboard lager to start. Dan loves the fish and chips with a side of coleslaw, and I love the Kauai wrap.
It's early to bed. I am drowsy and Dan wants to zone with a little scotch.

Mirage and I had pet-icures today in preparation for our Winter homing. 'Hey,Doll!' is the name of the polish we choose.
Tomorrow Mirage returns to Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring.
Tonight we're hanging out, eating apple slices and pizza with black olives and sun dried tomatoes. For me, these last days are emotional, saying good bye to Mirage and hello to fearlessness on the beaches of Kauai.