Spring 2018

Aloha!

It's finally Spring! Yes, we have Spring here in Hawaii. My Plumeria trees are in full bloom - they bloom before they get leaves, kinda like fruit trees. I've got baby pineapples on half a dozen plants. 

Birds are building nests in my trees, shrubs, hanging plants. They identified my house as "bird friendly" and they now think they own the place. When the bird feeders get empty, birds will hunt me down and scream at me! I'm not kidding! The beautiful male Northern Cardinal is not shy about informing me that the trough is empty. He figures out which room I'm in, sits on the railing outside that room, looks me right in the eye, and SCREAMS! I love him very much.

I know I didn't mention this to most of you, but I was in San Jose in March. My schedule was uncertain until the last minute, and then I was in and out in 4 days. Work had me booked up solid, so I got to see only a couple of friends. Next trip, I promise I'll add a few personal days so I have time to visit more of you. Then again, you can always come visit ME! Sophie and I can't wait to see you!

This week is Merrie Monarch week. Six hours of hula each night from now through Saturday. Tonight is the group Hula Kahiko. It looks something like this:

Aloha y'all!

Dana

The New Dana

For years, I've been threatening to chop off all my hair. Well, I finally did it!

I've also got new glasses (I call them Oprah glasses). One of these days when I'm wearing makeup (a rarity these days), I'll take a picture of the entirely new Dana.

Aloha!

It's 2018 !!!!!!!!!

Sorry it's been so long since I posted here. You know the story... Thanksgiving ... Christmas ... New Year's ... and now it's 2018!!!

Here is the gang from my New Year's Eve dinner.

And here are some of the after-dinner fireworks. This show usually goes on for several hours.

Every New Year's Eve, I have a dinner and the neighborhood puts on a fireworks show. You are always welcome to join us!!

Aloha!

Dana

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Halloween is sort of the "gateway" holiday, right?
Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here ... and then !OMD! Christmas ... and then another NEW YEAR!

Next week, my friends Debbie and Colleen will be here.
And then the week after that, Eloise and Sue.
Can't wait to visit (and eat) with everyone!

All the local artists make the most of the pre-Christmas shopping season. Kona Palisades has a few well-known artists who host an Open House Artists Tour each November. I try to walk the entire tour (a couple of miles) and then drive back later to pick up my larger purchases. Last year, I got a couple of awesome stained glass pieces.

And of course, downtown Kona has many special art fairs this time of year. The monthly "Stroll" is appropriately amped up for the holidays.

I'll try to do my part for the Kona economy - and I encourage YOU to plan a November visit one year just to do your Christmas shopping! 

Here's the calendar of events to help inspire you:

Kona Events Calendar

Aloha y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha for Texas

The local T-shirt company, Crazy Shirts, made a special batch of shirts to raise money for Houston.

I sent a few to California and a few to Texas.

Luckily, my friends in Houston were spared. They had to evacuate (with their dogs), but their house didn't flood, and they are home safe and sound now.

Aloha!

Big Island Update

Summer is winding down, and kids will soon be returning to school.
It's the perfect time in Hawaii! Passing hurricanes are now bringing us much-needed rain and the occasional chilly night. I keep hoping for a BIG weather event so that Sophie and I can snuggle inside and read and nap and watch the wild, windy show. That's not likely to happen on this side of the island, but I can hope...

It's a good time to visit because airline and hotel prices are down (not that you NEED a hotel) and the beaches aren't overcrowded -- as they can get during the high season. Ironman is coming up soon (early October), but other than that one week, the tourists pretty much leave us alone until after Thanksgiving.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in the Bay Area for a short, busy week. My apologies if I wasn't able to visit with you. It was a really short visit, and Thermo had most of my time scheduled with classes and meetings and other boring stuff.

Thermo Pubs recently had a big shake up as one writer and our manager retired all in the same month. We've now hired two new writers and a new manager (an ex Cadence employee), and this visit was a chance to meet all of them. One thing this new manager said was that she expects me to visit California more often, so maybe I'll get a chance to see you in the not-too-distant future.

Or.....

You can come visit ME!

My backyard birds are very active this time of year. The juveniles are fattening themselves up and will come to a window and scold me if I fail to keep food out.

Here are some of the regular visitors to my backyard -- 

Well folks... that's all the news from the Big I.

Aloha!

Aloha, Dona

Sadly, we lost our dear friend, Dona Hall, earlier this year. On May 17th, friends from Hawaii and California met on a beautiful sailboat in Honolulu and carried Dona's ashes out to Diamond Head.

Here are Dona's friends and family...

We scattered plumeria and pikake blossoms...

Aloha, dear Dona