Hawaiian Paintings

It is good to have a slow week. I have enjoyed exploring my new watercolors, such vivid colors.

The Ne Nes have Landed

All night we slumbered heavily to the roar of the ocean off the open lanai. We awake in our small luxurious suite ( love the rosewood!) to the jingle of an alarm clock. Time for church! I love singing in hawaiian, all the wonderful lutheran hyms. Pastor Paul doesn't even introduce us as guesta anymore. . . nice!
the old Oki Diner is our breakfast destination, Try the macadamia nut pancakes with vanilla syrup. Mmmm.
We check out of this hotel too and drive way North to the Limahuli Gardens. This is the last dance on our dance card. It's a wonderful hike to the ancient home sites, ( which my calves are still enjoying) and coming down, an opportunity to draw the taro fields.
Yoginis~ a tree pose for you.
We shower and freshen up at Hale Luana, also a good bye to my art pals and one last look at all the magic being created
in this tropical isle.
We have a dinner reservation at the Hukilau Lanai before turning our rental car in.
Dinner is spectacular.
It is a six course 'tasting' with six complementary wines.
1. A sweet potato ravioli and a gevurtztraminer with grapefruit notes.
2. Fiddlehead ferns in a vinigarette with a slice of smoky sausage and a soave.
3. Mahi mahi pn a bed of orzo with a lemongrass pesto paired with a very dry, 'stiff', formal rose. 4. Pork tenderloin on a bed or red mashed potatos in a saffron sauce with gorgoues bouquet of long stemmed mushrooms.The wine a Campos Reales Temranillo. Toasted cherries and blueberry flavor in a glass! 5. A scoop of goats cheese drizzed in honey and three slices of salty baguette. with a late harvest chardonnay.
6. Small sccops of sorbet; strawberry, banana and coconut lime. Incredible! I could fast 23 hours every day to enjoy one hour of this chef's fine faire on a regular basis.
Now it's 'good bye' Kauai and 'hello' Mirage!

Heading South

We are checking out of our beloved Cliffs. We need a pilgrimage to the south shore for a time with the giant sea turtles, which float and bob in the green foamy currents. To think they live for a hundred years!

Lunch is at the Waimea Brewpub. We know our server, Mary by name, she says the restaurant is also 'going south'. On my salad, they were out of goats cheese, mac nuts and french fried onions. The greens with pineapple was tasty too. The beer is really refreshing, although they were out of the Lilikoi Lager and Capt'n Cook IPA.

Then it was time to check into our new digs, A Resortquest by Marriot. We settled onto the beach quickly and enjoyed yet another rainbow! God seems be be blessing us at every turn.

Time for a quick shower and we are invited back to Hale Luana to dine with the Art Adventure group. Fresh grilled shrimp and avocado in a bed of island greems with a coconut milk dressing. And tropical fruit crepes for dessert with creme fraiche. and decaf. Lee Baughman read to us a Hawaiian fable and we took our leave. It rained all day on the northshore and always smells so oxygenated, but be were happy to catch the sun and turtles in Poipu.

Tomorrow eating up more adventure we turn in early. Love to you all!

Still kicking sand

We slept late today. Groggily, we made our way to the whale watching post.
Dan caught some great footage. Then we enjoyed some pool time before yoga.
It was the tenth class ( Oh, dear, no more class passes!)
Carole was there to delight us; talk about Sugar Cane, pure cane sugar from Hawaii!
It was steamy, female and infinite. In closing she misted us with a rose petal scent, and read from Rumi's Hidden Music."Sow seeds of Love. . . "
"The practice of yoga reveals bliss to the mind and love to the heart," (that is the 'addiction'), "all else fades away."

Dan came to me with the ginger lemonade to ease realignment with the universe. I am always so far away and I don't know where that is. But it is good that I can't drive.

We drove to Anini Beach and what a reunion it was to see so many art mentors made me more ecstatic than ever. We were hoping for the fish taco truck but ending up sharing an apple for lunch. Susie Cowan took me to a shell treasure trove under a banyan tree and we collected cowee shells for Lorraine. Wow!! My dad said we were going to Cowee in post one, now we've come full circle! Jeepers. . . .

Then a painting was calling to me when I saw a tree swing, the the Kiluea Lighthouse in the back ground. Well one thing led to another and I was swinging out over the Pacific Ocean. It's okay. One day I may be blind and I'll treasure today.



Dan went home to watch the Ducks and I went back to Hale Luana with the artists.It was pouring; green and fragrant. On every artists'table scenes of our beloved Hawaii. . . turles, mermaids, torch ginger, roosters and verdant Mount Mahama. Those artists waste no time getting down to 'work'. We were icvited to stay for dinner, but declined the gracious invitation

Dan brings me home, and we eat all our leftovers, quesadillas, honu chicken with cashews and fresh bananas and seafood chowder. Dan snoozes on the sofa. It is raining again, but ublike the great Northwest, it seventy seven degrees and sweet, flowery air. Tomorrow we pack up and go to the east to our last night on the island.
Mahalo, sweet Lord

Rained out

Dan and I went out to breakfast at the Hanalei Bay Resort, Yummers!
We were blessed to see a rainbow over Bali Hai and enjoyed The Bay Benedict; shrimp, crab and scallops in hollandaise yum sauce.
We were preparing for the Big Kayak Adventure on the Hanalei River. Here is my brave kayak mate. Can you believe Johnny gave him that tiny, tippy canoe? He was just inches above the water when we paddled to shore to get out of a fierce squall. He mentioned his kayak was full of water. I emptied my water bottle and he baled a couple gallons of water OUT of his kayak. We were lucky to return the kayak without incident. I gave Johnny a piece of my mind! Thoughtfully he invited us back tomorrow. (Whatever ...) I believe the window of opportunity has closed :-)




On rainy days we drive to the sunny south shore. It seemed a good idea to shop for gifts at Hilo Hatties. We also enjoyed the Wailua waterfalls and lunch at the Polynesian Cafe.

Now it's time for Relax Deeply at Hanalei Yoga. New teacher, really pumped! It wasn't painful or relaxing just pleasant. Compassion is the key. "Compost!" I am not used to that term for savasana, she must me a gardening enthusiast. "Return to the earth, be more like the earth, giving more than you were given. A sleek ear of perfect corn, an eggplant glistening, an orchid comes forth from the compost. Compost"
And, "Yoga begins with listening."

Lenten soup supper is seafood chowder, oyster crackers and a tropical chardonnay.
It's nice to be in tune with the church calendar while feeling sublime in Hawaii.
Lent is the time to reflect, return to our baptism. Dan finds the perfect dinner music, Holden's Mountain Vespers, and the bread and soup dinner is complete.

Kepuhi and kaboom

You are wondering what is Dan doing all day, right? He is often quite active, in slow motion that is. Well he loves to putter. I need to practice yoga to even the playing field. Smiles !!!
Dan got some wonderful whale photos this morning over coffee and banana sesame taro waffles. Then some pool time. We love going from the 105-degree hot tub to the 85-degree pool. It's so refreshing.
Dan takes me to yoga. After last night's class the studio seems empty, from 29 to 10 students. She tried to kill us last night. But I am back for more. Today's class is dedicated to Lorraine, off to NYC to see a liver specialist. Get Well!
Tara says, "Breathe, fill yourself with radiant light, and float away." I spread my wings and float over to NYC, drifting through the open window of a doctor's office to be with Lorraine in spirit. Time travel is a lark. Do you think its actual on some plane?

After another picnic lunch at Kepuhi Beach, we are surprised by yet another dog: Owen Senior. He wants to play fetch. He can't seem to find a branch other than an ironwood twig, which he stops to ingest, if it doesn't crack in two first. Sweet old dog. Nice smile.




And where is Dan, you ask?

We return home, plenty bronzed and ready to blog before beginning dinner preparation. Steak for Dan. I am having a tan tuber steak (potato). Plus, bruscetta and grilled asparagus.
And a few glasses of Pinot Noir.

We are going to relax deeply tonight, our friends from the Art Adventure are probably settling in. We'll see them soon; looking forward to it. Tomorrow, we kayak.
Namaste, Loves. . .

Tuesday's musings

Everyday begins with a sprinkle and gray skies. But the sun always dominates the weather scene. This morning at the pool we got soaked, but in 10 minutes all was fine.



Today I am enjoying two yoga classes for a total of nearly four hours. This morning a new teacher, Carole. Sweet Sweet sweet! She suggested we dedicate our practice to someone. So Jo'an all that sweat and radiance goes out to you. Get Well! Our teacher has some great new poses.The hula cow and the swimming cat. Also a balance pose called "The Crucifixion'. The elbows start under the knees which climb onto the shoulders. Then an arm goes under a leg and the palms are outstretched in mid air. One leg is extended onto tippy toes and I can't say where the other leg went :-) I was all eyes
(What eyes I have left.)
Carole was bubbly and loving sending every person off with a smile, hug or compliment.

"Namaste. . . we invoke the higher qualities of ourselves and others; lovingkindness, truth, honor and compassion. In this way we increase these qualities in our world."

We picked up burritos (to go with the ginger lemonade) at the Kiluea Fish Market and settled onto Anini Beach. Dan loves to bob in the bay and I inked a drawing I began at the pool this morning.

Now it's time to return to the Yoga Hanalei's Relax Deeply class. Dan is sous cheffing for Honu Chicken. Slicing pineaplle, red onion and a collage of sweet peppers ginger and garlic. Toss in a little cashew and rooster beak ( Kidding) and voila, Dinner will be served at eight.

Musings from Bhavai. . . The yoga poses teach us about our Attitude.
"cooking the pose means we tap into pressure points." We see what bubbles up. . .
The pose didn't create the pain, the pain was already in you.
Be both the ear and the hearing.



This pose was really hard. Cross your ankles and bring your feet and toes together. Cook this for 5 minutes ( And then cross the other way.) You must engage the bandas to lift the body off the feet and breathe.



See this lovely moon and star dancing overhead. Rejoice!
Namaste

Back to Yoga, Beaches and Painting, Hmmm

I am so glad it's Monday. The ninety-minute classes are barely enough. I can't tell you how I love and appreciate time on my mat. I worship and breathe, revel in every pose and degree of radiance. Is this what dying is like? Anyway, I am back to the Practice.

I am sorry I cannot recall more of the experience. There were cat and cows with the feet and thighs together, downward dogs by the dozen, warrior A, B and C (?, not one two and three.) There was a triangle and a squat. * Oh, by the way, not everyone is physically able to place their feet flat on the floor. Is has to due with bones, which we Cannot stretch. ! smiles/
You knew that?! Right.
A forward bend and a cobra and a twist. Savasana was standard, except for some words. Tara wasn't really into her heart today, probably a function of it being Monday.

From Judith Lasater on Monday March 20. . .
Honor your divinity; honor the divinity of others as well.
Today say a silent Namaste for everyone you see or talk to.

That's it! Tara said, "Namaste, May there be freedom,happiness,and peace in your heart."

Dan picked me up and we bought a sack lunch at the Dolphin, which we ate at the Kilauea Lighthouse. He scanned the seas for turtles, dolphins and whales. I settled down to paint. I so groove on creation . . . it's my meditation.






Tonight Opah tacos and hawaiian music as we linger on the lanai, as the sun sets on another perfect day in paradise. Be well!! Susan

Such a sweet Sunday

Up early, we walked to the cliff with our coffees to watch the whales' antics.
After taro waffles we chose to worship in Hanalei at the Hawaiian Church of Waioli.The Hawaiian language has 5 vowels and 12 letters, it's lovely to listen to :-)
Picnicking at Anini Beach comprised the next half day. Pizza, chips and Kauai salsa, apples and pepper 'jacque' chevre, and monchong fish. A few guava beers staved off thirst.

Living Your Yoga March 18
"Can I be safe and challenged at the same time?"
"Think of something you have been putting off because you are a little afraid of doing it: making a specific phone call, writing a letter or telling someone your truth. Do it today with an open heart."

Well, I can relate to this. As I stretched out on my beach blanket I pondered why I was struggling to begin painting. Perhaps last week the yoga classes trumped the need to paint. But after visiting the Kim McDonald gallery yesterday I was ready to explore my watercolor possibilities. Here is the result. . .



I was quite satisfied to have a drawing. Now it's your turn!



The Art Adventure group is arriving tomorrow and we'll get together for more artistic expression, wahoo!

Tonight Dan grills a New York steak and I enjoy sushi with a glass of chenin blanc. We watch Shopgirl with the free movie we won last week. Sunburned bodies hit the sack after enjoying the Bali Hai real estate channel. Mahalo Lord for a perfect day.

Rainbows in your Day!

(Thanks to Jeanne Roll for this saying. . . .)
But as it happened, we awoke yesterday to a rainbow rising from the ocean, and on our Lihue Lutheran Sunset Cruise and Whalewatching excursion, we found the other end of the rainbow at the south end of the island!
Are we supposed to make a wish or something?
If so I wish for healing for Jo'an, and Lorraine and Linda.
Having said that. . . . It was a fine day. We packed, shopped, moved and unpacked at a new condo unit, then drove south to enjoy the evening on Captain Andy's Boat.
Sneaky Tikis and pupus: What's not to like? We are considering serious membership in this Church.
And now for the Rainbows. . . .

Dog Days of March

This dog adopted us at Moloa'a Beach. From the time we left the car , he faithfully guided us to a spot in the shade. Then he laid down just off the beach mat and groomed himself. ( It may have been a female/?

I have really been missing Mirage. What is she thinking? Does she think she was returned to GDB because she did something wrong? I hope she is just relaxing, and playing like we are. It was nice of this old pup to spend the afternoon with us. Let's all do a five minute downward facing dog. Throw in a few plank poses and add a Vasisthasana.

See you tomorrow for a green tea yogurt at 7 a.m. ( It is an Ugly green!)

Hatha Flow 3

"Release your upper eyelashes into your lower eyelashes. . . . Feel the breathe as it enters your nose, moving down the back of your throat and flowing into your spine and back body like a waterfall."

After ninety minutes, the sweat pouring off me must have also washed away every trace of class. All I remember when in Savasana, is Tara pressed both shoulders firmly down, lifted my head and pulled it out of my body by the mandible, and traced a line from the bridge of my nose to my hairline whispering, "You worked so hard today. . .(wink)."

"Yoga will bring Light into your darkness
Reality into your unreality
and Timelessness into your __________." ( What was that?)
Please fill in the blank and help me out here.

Don't panic, the blog is back

Thanks to some quick diagnostic and software repair work by Adam Snyder here on Kauai, the iBook is working nicely again. I called Adam this morning to see if you could take a look at our computer; he had an Photoshop tutoring appointment in Haena this morning and offered to stop by our condo in Princeville on his way back to Kapaa. Nice young man. He fiddled with the computer for about an hour and got it back up to speed for a reasonable fee. If you're ever in need of computer repair on Kauai (Adam does Mac work; his partner does PCs), I highly recommend Adam. His Web site is www.dontpanickauai.com
Thanks, Adam!

Rain is a relief

Through the night
The ocean thundered.
Somehow, the sky remained still yet electric.
The Fireworks began at 3 a.m. with bellowing thunder and disco lightening.
The island bathed in white-violet luminosity, Dan slumbered on.
"Dan, can you wake up? It's so storming. What is that beeping? A tsumani warning?"
He couldn't wake up, and 'saw' the storm through closed eyelids ( he states.)
Frightened, I moved to the vellux blanket on the sofa to fully experience the wonder of it. Uppekasha: Invite it all, the good and the bad.
Talk about Some Enchanted Evening!

The second night in ten years I sleep on the sofa!! How crazy is this?#!

This blog is experiencing technical difficulties

Aloha, Dan here. Looks like we may not be as wired as we thought on this trip . . . the laptop is acting like it's on its last legs. Hence, the blogging is sporadic and we're not keeping up on e-mails like we usually do.

Susan is making breakfast (taro waffles, naturally) while I'm hammering this blog entry out quickly, since the laptop surprised us this morning and started up (on the third try). We're off this morning to have our vows renewed at Lihue Lutheran, the out to lunch, then back to the north shore for some beach time before our anniversary dinner at the Bali Hai restaurant. In the meantime, we'll look into finding someone who can fix our iBook.

We wish you all well . . .

Dan and Susan

Relax Deeply One

Twenty four yogis lining the mirrored walls of a tiny second floor studio in Hanalei.
"Yoga reunites you with your authenic nature." Bhavani

"In this world, everyones nervous systems is deranged. Seek stillness." Bhavani

We practice Child's Pose, Standing Forward Bend, Hero's Pose with Eagle's Arms, A reclining version with one leg extended, Head to Knee Pose, Cow's Head Pose on our Backs (!!), Pidgeon, Rabbit, Locust and Lion's Pose (face yoga). Each pose is held for a full five minutes, as soft shadows fade to darkness. The palms softly clack and the salt scented air is mixed with mango butter. Bhavani reads from Kibran's The Prophet; essays on Pain and Love. Many of us are uncomfortable if not in pain, not knowing when to release the ego aspect of our practice. Ahimsa,or non harming oneself is a basic premise of yoga. Breathe, relax, feel, watch and allow yourself to be present in each moment. Being present here is such a blessing and restorative tonic.

Dan prepares a lovely Honu Chicken with peppers and freshly grilled pineapple. It goes well with a glass of Pinot Noir. We watch more South Pacific, singing along.

Tara on Savasana. . . .

Dying is inevitable.
We don't practice dying, we practice surrender; to be froo.
We breathe to have life
if we hold breath we stagnate.
When we breathe ou last breath we are FREE.

Float away like a hot air balloon.
cut each string that holds the basket.
loose your attatchments
to people
to things
and float higher.

My Anini morning

The view from where I took my nap this morning:



Aloha,
Dan

Anini morning

I hear a taffeta thud as a mourning dove lands in our plumeria tree. It arranges its bronze shirt. Ne ne shuffle and call to one another, silhouetted against the sea, ruffled by trade winds. No rain yet. Dan prepares taro waffles and coffee.
After a Swedish sauna (hot jacuzzi & chilling pool water) we leave for Anini Beach.



Anini Beach is my new Metolious River. 'Jerusalem' if you will . . . a pilgrimage.
Today I ask, "What is the beach teaching me?" As I search for perfect sea shells, for a 'seashell bouquet' for my friend Lorraine, I hear, "We are all broken unless we are new to the beach." And, "We are all molting; holding and loosing the lives we cling to, like shells. We are constantly being renewed with new shells as we grow and grow, ever encompassing more that life is offering." That's enough to chew on.
Lunch is Pau Hana Pizza, a salad and water. We buy fresh guava puree to mix equal parts with a Pacifico/ Guava Beer!

The Farmer's Market in Hanalei is fantastic; tomatoes, peppers, green onions, ginger, limes, apple bananas and papaya. The lilikoi goat's cheese is the ultimate treat.

Then we shop at the Tropical Tantrum. The sale rack sometimes holds treasures.
Today we buy a skirt in brown, aqua and cream, a pattern like waves leave on the sand.

Dan grills chicken and pineapple for Honu Chicken and I am cooking a pot of brown rice for dinner. Relax Deeply is at 5:30 so it's time to dress for class. I have a ten-class pass for the coming two weeks. Hatha Flow and Renew Deeply. This is an awesome vacation.

Hanalei Yoga

In a soft, melodious and commanding voice, Tara says,
"Surrender to the Divine"
"Allow yourself to surrender and fly!"

We are practicing Viparita Karani otherwise known as Legs up the Wall, for Savasana.
My body soars, and my ivory length of vertebraes sway suspended like a marionette. The tailbone dusting the earth, it writhes to a distant tambourine. I am dancing for Jo'an: to bring healing to her spine. Pingala and Ida enter weaving colorful threads around this maypole.

Class is over. Dan arrives to take us to lunch at Charo's old place, now Mediterrenean Cuisine. A Tabouleh Salad,Luau lager and a coconut baklava are yum.Then we go to the beach and enjoy watching the surfers frolic.
We swam earlier today at the pool. A dog paddle lap for Mirage and a side stroke lap for mom. ( I love picking 'apples'.)

It has been warm and cloudy most of the day: humid. Tonight is the welcome reception and of course we won a free movie!

Dan sits on the lanai as night descends and I will join him in search of the whales. What is there about searching the ocean for a blowspout? We never tire of this pastime.

Tonight's featured film is South Pacific. Severe weather and a flash flood watch is in effect overnight. "Take precautions now."

Whales offshore

Yesterday was fairly exhausting, traveling like sardines, in a winged aluminum tin can.
"Difficulty is 100% subjective" writes Judith Lasater in 'Living Your Yoga". So we cultivate this attitude of gratitude, soaking up this Hawaiian blessing: our 14th trip to Kauai. My dad calls it "cowee". The dear called us from Omaha today, where the snow is piling up. More blessing.

We got in late last night and cruised through the unseen beauty to The Cliffs, ate sushi and drank champagne before slipping into our king size bed. At four I found a velour blanket and snuggled into the sofa to hear the surf pounding just feet offshore. Purring contentedly, the birds awoke Dan, who in turn awakened me and we enjoyed the best coffee in the world, Lion French Roast.

The bells rang on German Hill at 10:30 and we were there to worship. We expect to enjoy five trips to Lihue this week! Lenten service on Wednesday, Our 10th year Wedding vows renewed on Thursday, A whale watching cruise with pupus for St. Paddy's Day and back to church for Sunday worship. Then we'll relax :-)

Lunch was cajun grilled opah atop a bed of kauai greens and napa cabbage, onion rings and keoki gold. Refreshed, we returned to our pool to sunbathe and swim a bit. The afternoon highlight was a pod of whale calves, slapping thier tails and waltzing in the deep blue sea, to Richard Strauss' Blue Danube.

It's time to grill a bit of chicken to go with our Mai Tais. Don't forget the fresh pineapple garnish!



While three gecko tenors chirp overhead the sun sets on our second day in paradise. The North Star illumines the night sky with it's brilliance.