All posts by Allison

Birthday Gift

March 19, 2009 Allison 11 Comments

While in Hawaii, Ashley informed me that she and Brandon were going in together on a birthday gift for me, and we proceeded to look through various shops and fairs for local artisans to locate the perfect item.Â I found a couple of things that I quite liked, but they weren’t perfect…Â or were way out of budget :)Â Â

So I asked if it would be ok if I waited til I got home to find a gift from my favorite local artists store – Musings Artist Inspired.Â Â Local artist Celeste StuhringÂ has created dichroic glass watches that catch my eye every time I visit.Â Â Here is what I selected:Â

Â My new watch Beautiful new watch

Isn’t it beautiful!? I haven’t worn a watch for years – not since I started carrying a cell phone – but I’m very excited about wearing this piece of art every day.

Thanks Brandon, Ashley and families!!

Reviews/Recommendations

The Lovely Bones

March 18, 2009 Allison 8 Comments

And now, anotherÂ thrilling book review….

I picked up The Lovely Bones at SeaTac airport on my way to Kauai last week.Â I didn’t know anything about it, though the name was familiar and I liked the cover.Â Â Â It was a good choice (in contrast to the bad choice I made last time I purchased a book at the airport.)

I give this book 8 out of 10 clams. Â Clam ratings

Loved the book.Â It was unexpected and charming – which sounds a bit strange when you know the story is about a murdered 14 year old girl named Susie Salmon.Â The entire story is told from her perspective, in her heaven, as she recalls events and watches over her family and friends (as well as her murderer) as they try to cope with her loss and rebuild their lives.Â

It’s a story about relationships, personal discovery, loss and longing – with a bit of mystery and suspense woven in.Â Beautiful characters.Â Â It is sweet and sad – and very well written.Â If any of that appeals to you -Â and if you haven’t done so – I highly recommend The Lovely Bones to you.Â Â I understand that Peter Jackson has directed a movie based on the book, to be released in December….Â so certainly read it before you see then film.

OK, so that wasn’t a particularly thrilling review (I admit it, I’m lazy with my reviews) but it was a lovely book and I’d love to hear if you read it and how you liked it.

In the Garden, Photography, Travel

The Garden Isle

March 16, 2009 Allison 12 Comments

Pink Hibiscus Kauai is known as the Garden Isle – for good reason.

Here are some of the beautiful (and sometimes strange) flora we have encountered…

A flaming hisbiscus Hibiscus is everywhere. Peach colored, double hibiscus

I love Bouganvilla… particularly this salmony/pink color. But the deep fuschsia is awe inpiring as well.

Bouganvilla creates fantastic bursts of color along the roadside, climbing walls, pruned into trees, arching over walkways.

Bouganvilla

Plumeria is just coming into season. We continue our quest to find pink plumeria blooming on a low enough branch to photograph…

Pink Plumeria

I LOVED this funky looking blossom below… we found a tree covered in them. I believe it is called Ohi’a Lehua.

It looks like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book, doesn’t it?

ohia lehua blossom, aka funky dr. seuss plant Along with a bottle brush tree.

(weird, huh?) Another dr. seuss plant

This tree looked like it was covered with big yellow rananuculus.

rananuculus tree

Pink ginger There are many red ginger plants around, but I prefer the pink.

An orchid growing in a plumeria tree.

Orchid in a tree

Interesting blue flower I love blue flowers…

Blue lotus

Little pink flowers

OK, enough for tonight. Tomorrow is our last day in paradise….

Family/Friends, Travel

Gnarly, dude

March 14, 2009 Allison 8 Comments

Lovely falls Yes, we’re still in Kauai.

Visiting Kauai with Kristin is awesome – she knows all the hidden away little waterfalls, best places to view waves, which beaches offer the best sand or most privacy.

Yesterday she drove us to these beautiful falls.

I’ve taken a lot more photos, but haven’t had time yet to sort through and post them… I will as soon as I can.

Me at the falls

Sufing with Teva Today the girls had surf lessons in Hanalei Bay. They had a cute instructor named Teva.

(Chris, I thought of you when I caught a glimpse of him shirtless…. you would have oggled and drooled 🙂 )

The water was quite rough, but they did great! They even rode their boards all the way to shore a few times.

Kris and I watched from the pier, cameras in hand. Ashley may add some video to her site.

Jâ€™Neil on the boards Hawaiian Surfing Adventures supplied the sunny yellow rash guards – which was a good thing, because those boards are rough on the skin. All that climbing on and off, kneeling and standing… both girls’ knees are raw, and they have blisters on the tops of their toes. Teva recommended aloe vera.

But it was all worth it. If the waves look good, they may go back out for a few hours on their own tomorrow or Monday before we return home.

Ashley taking it to shore

Family/Friends, Travel

Mermaids and Sea Monsters

March 12, 2009 Allison 15 Comments

Simulation of a whale breach Today’s pictoral essay is about sea maidens and sea monsters.Â

I happen to fall into both categories with this shot….Â a sea maiden (sea wench?) creating a simulation of a whale breach.Â

We actually have seen whales off shore – but no full breaches yet.Â Except by me, in the pool.
Â
Â
J’Neil was attacked by a terrifyingÂ snorkle monster at Anini Beach.

And a 6 eyed sea monster tried sneaking up on Ashley in the pool.

The 6 eyed sea monster

Ashley the mermaid has sprouted legs Ashley the mermaidÂ rejoices upon discoveringÂ she hasÂ legs.Â Heretofore, she had been bound to the watery depths by her fins.Â Â

Isn’t magic wonderful?

Side note: I’d like to be able to believe it was magic that created her toned body, & that I could get some of that magic for myself… but alas, it is not magic, but hard work.Â Like pilates at the beach.

Pilates at the beach

I think I’ll go eat another chocolate covered macadamia nut.

Kristin and the waterfall Kristin the mermaid is enjoying playing in the falls.

Some lovely water ballet performed by J’Neil and Kristin.

Water Ballet

And finally, J’Neil the mermaid posing on a rock by the sea…

Jâ€™Neil the mermaid by the sea

Photography, Travel

Wildlife

March 11, 2009 Allison 11 Comments

This sleek lizard looked pretty cool poised on his leaf.

Lizard

And on every one of my last four trips to Kauai I have tried to capture a good photo of these adorable cardinals. They are SOOO cute, make us very happy each time they appear – and they always show up in pairs. Always. Today, I finally got my first good pic of the Red-Crested Cardinal.

Red Crested Cardinal - Kauai

Mustafa And why did I even bother to bring a hair straightener?

I should have known that 15 minutes in Kauai would turn my once sleek hair into an unmanageable lions mane.

Just call me Mufasa (Ashley did…)

I’m exhausted… so more tomorrow.

Be sure to check out Kristin’s blog for details of our lei making.

Family/Friends, Photography, Travel

Images from Kauai

March 10, 2009 Allison 9 Comments

Japanese headstone

Today I’ll let the images tell the story.

Well, with a little explanation.

I was a pain in the butt today.

Insisted that Kristin drive down dirt roads (many with DO NOT ENTER signs). She was very patient and humored me.

At the end of one such road, we discovered a very cool old cemetary – all the headstones were in Japanese – some from the early 1900’s. Japanese Cemetary

Tall falls!

After another night of mesmerizing rainfall, the waterfalls were just as captivating as the day before.

Every time we looked at the mountain ridge, we’d spot another fall that we hadn’t noticed before.

It’s incredible to think of how many feet these falls plummet, and the volume of water rushing through the several rivers that lead to the ocean.

Many falls

On our drive to Haena Beach park, I again insisted on stopping so that I could photograph this lovely field of blue flowers. Ashley was particularly fond of the horses.

Field of blue

Across from the beach is the Dry Cave. Pretty cool….

Dry Cave

Ashley is a poser Building a sandcastle

The day was mostly overcast and rainy – but the sun did come out for awhile, and we took advantage of it.

Kristin & Jâ€™Neil
Ashley and J’neil played in the water, posed and we all built a sand castle.

Until it rained us out.

And we’re all jealous of Ashley’s abs….. though she’s the only one who does a half hour of ab-tightening pilates every night before bed…..

Ashley & Jâ€™Neil

My final photo demand of the day was a stop at the taro fields on the wayhome…..

Taro Field

More tomorrow………

Travel

We made it

March 8, 2009 Allison 7 Comments

oahu It’s been a long day – up before 6am (make that 5am when you figure in the daylight savings time difference), and nearly 7 hours on airplanes – an hour at Walmart and Kmart picking up necessities (including swimwear) but here we are, on the beautiful island of Kauai.Â

As we flew over Oahu, the water was brilliant blues and aquas.Â Â

Falls

From Princeville, and especially Hanaeli, we can see over a dozen waterfalls cascading down the mountain ridges.Â Â There area always 2 – 3 visible, but when it rains (as it has been) more appear.Â Â This one is the largest.

Our condo is lovely, and the bed is calling….Â Â Â more tomorrow!

In the Garden, Travel

Aloha

March 7, 2009 Allison 3 Comments

Aloha is a wonderfully all-purpose word.Â Can mean hello, goodbye or I love you.Â Â Â

Snowy flowers Today it means I’m getting the heck out of the snow and on my way to paradise.Â Here’s what my cute little flowers looked like today just before I left.Â Could we have picked a better day than today depart???