living, learning, and keeping with the times
Last summer I ‘captured’ this beautiful White Admiral feeding on some Queen Anne’s Lace (sigh) (can’t wait for some spring/summer weather). I thought this would be the perfect photo for my first entry in ‘Black and White Wednesday’ at ‘The Long Road to China’.
I created this in response to a challenge at Digital Scrapper to take a photo of something that money can’t buy. I am a guardian, steward, keeper of family treasures and some of those treasures include love letters that my father wrote to my mother after he got back from the war. He was head-over-heels in love with her and it appears that she was giving him the cold shoulder! Looking back I can see that it was just my mother’s nature – she was very undemonstrative. So, money can’t buy such treasures, such memories, such feelings that can’t quite be put into words. I wanted to share these in a way that would be respectful but still give a glimpse of the love of a young man for the woman he wanted to be his wife. I used Kim Klassen’s texture – Serendipity, on soft light. This photo is a ‘lift’ of Kim Klassen’s beautiful ‘Giving Thanks for the Cross‘.
I picked up a franjipani blossom that had fallen on the ground and set it on the hood of our rental car. I photographed it and applied a texture from Cottage Arts. Did you know that a frangipani is a plumeria? I didn’t!
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| Male Jackson’s Chameleon – he actually has 3 horns but they don’t all show here |
Remember my earlier post about the Jackson’s Chameleon? The day we were looking, our friend Lyle spied a female (and that was great). But, I also really wanted to get a photo of a male, but it didn’t look promising. Then, on our way down Haleakala, Don said – do you want to go up to Kula (where we usually see them) and check to see if we can find one? We were already past the turnoff and I said – naww, I don’t think so – but after a minute we both decided it was worth a try so we turned around (had to go quite a way to find a safe turnaround) and lo and behold there was one there! I spied him way up high in the tree so I had to use my telephoto lens to capture these photos. He was very nervous and his eyes kept turning around and up and down – so funny. I took 50 photos and left him to enjoy the rest of his afternoon in peace.
And here’s Jack (ie) if you want to see the female again.
When in Hana we stayed at the ‘Hana Kai Maui’, a gorgeous little resort just steps from the ocean. Our room was not quite on the ocean but we were able to see it and hear it – it was thunderous. The water surging over the black rocks created a sort of ‘singing’ sound (just too hard to describe). We felt so isolated in our little beach room – it was heavenly – a holiday from a holiday!
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| Waikani Falls on the road to Hana |
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| M, f11, s0.5, ISO100 |
Last night we were out at what we call ‘Turtle Rock’ trying to catch a sunset (which didn’t happen) so I turned my attention to the water. My trusty assistant (dh) set up my wonderful little travel tripod on the treacherous rocks as I readied my camera. I wanted to catch some water in slow motion and now was as good a time as any – I love the results! I sense an oncoming addiction to photographing slo-mo water!
I shared this on Sweet Shot Tuesday
While we were ‘Up Country’ we were on the lookout for a Jackson’s Chameleon and as impossible as it seemed, our friend Lyle found one in a tree – you could hardly see it as it looked just like the branches it was sitting on. This is a female – the male has three horns on its nose and the one we saw last year was iridescent green! but alas there was not one in sight that day.
In 1972, the Jackson’s Chameleon (Chamaeloeo jacksonii) was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands from its native land of Kenya and Tanzania. In the last 30 + years, these species have multiplied and formed a large breeding population on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii. In particular they can be found on the Koolau range, Oahu. Their abundance may be underestimated based on the fact that these chameleon’s are difficult to see unless you happen to look right at one.
Chameleons in general are amazing creatures. They have independently focusing eyes that allow them to see 360 degrees. Their tongue is 1.5 times the length of its body and has a type of suction cup on the end that allows them to snatch up prey. Individuals are highly territorial and live solitary lives, defending their home turf. Males have three long horns, while females do not. And, of course, as is so well known, chameleons can change the color of their skin if frightened. “Chameleons in Hawaii”
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Ali’i Kula Lavender
A few years ago my youngest daughter brought me a gift of some Ali’i Kula Lavender products that she had bought while on vacation in Maui. I immediately loved it! It smelled so beautiful, felt so great on my skin, and looked so pretty in its lavender colour bottles. When she gave it to me, I had never been to Maui and really never expected to go – it seemed so distant, so exotic, so mysterious. However, because of my daughter, my hubby and I did go to Maui and have returned time and again. We really enjoy it, and of course one of my priorities is to go to the lavender farm, take a walk around the gardens and stock up on all the stuff I love!
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| Note: hubby carrying my precious purchases! what a guy! |
The Jacarandas bloom in April and are one of the reasons people go “Up Country”. This is one of the most beautiful ones I have seen – it even made the “Maui News”.
Tuesday morning (1:30 am) I slowly woke up and became aware of a strange, insistent, high pitched noise. In a dreamy state I think ‘it doesn’t sound like a car alarm‘ and then ‘if it was the tsunami warnings I’m sure it would be a LOT louder‘ and then ‘I guess I better go investigate‘ (which I did). As I made my way down the mile-long hallway of our condo, I get near the kitchen and suddenly I’m standing in about an inch of water!! Wha . . .? I turned on the light and, yes, it’s true – there is about an inch of water swirling around my feet and running through the kitchen. I quickly run to wake up my (snoring) hubby, who ‘sprang from the bed to see what was the matter’ (insert Merry Christmas here). After a few minutes of running around like chickens with their heads cut off we determine that the washing machine is humming and water is flowing like Niagara Falls onto the floor. OMG! What to do? Call the office! While we wait for help we take a look around and see that the water has gone halfway across the living room and it was the flood alarm installed under the cupboard that was ringing. (We think a power outage earlier had caused some valves in the washer to malfunction.
And so it began, our gathering up essentials, our trek across the parking lot in the middle of the night to a temporary unit, our waiting a whole day for another condo to become available and then spending two hours moving all of our stuff up one floor and unloading it into our (not as nice) place. Such a disappointment! Our new digs are, well, not new, our bed is a Queen instead of a King, our bedroom window looks out over the noisy elevator, the carpet is (disgusting) and the furniture is not a comfy, arghhh. There are also so many silk plants that I’m starting to feel nauseous. However, one thought kept going through my mind – a poster I saw on ‘A Pretty Life in the Suburbs’. ‘YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON’T THROW A FIT’ . . . amen. We are in Maui, it’s gorgeous, it’s hot, and we are having a great time. I have now had a good nights sleep and am ready to move on. My vent is over but here are a couple photos of our last condo – within 24 hours they had pulled up the floor and have fans and dehumidifiers going full blast. Apparently it will be 2 weeks before it is habitable.
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| The culprit . . . |
. . . maybe you had to be there . . .
When I took this photo it was almost noon so the lighting was quite harsh (plus there was a breeze blowing) so I was quite pleased to see that I had captured a decent macro!
I shared this with Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
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| Just having a drink at Merriman’s (after snorkeling) |
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| Honolua Bay |
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| Walk down to Honolua Bay |
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| Walk down to Honolua Bay |
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| View at Pineapple Grill |
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| Upside Down Pineapple Cake – decadent! |
Yesterday we took a trip up to Honolua Bay for some great snorkeling, probably one of the best places to snorkel if the conditions are right. Afterwards we went and had a drink at Merriman’s where we saw whales everywhere – they were quite far out and all we could see was the spray and a tail now and then but it was neat anyway! Afterwards we went over to the Pineapple Grill for dinner. (The photo of hubby and I is as good as it gets so I decided to post it – even though it ain’t pretty!) :)
After spending the morning at the beach yesterday, we decided to take a short drive to Haiku. It’s a hillside town filled with winding tree-lined roads. Just the drive there was worth it – we couldn’t believe how lush and green it was. It’s just on the edge of what is called ‘Up-Country’ (much more on that later . . .) Haiku has earned the reputation as a center for wellness and spiritual healing and there is a studio catering to everything from yoga to acupuncture. The brochure says – if you get a little lost (which we did) it’s all part of the fun . . . just follow the road that goes down and you’ll eventually find the ocean and Hana Highway! We took a look in the only grocery store and there were these beautiful protea bouquets. When I saw the price I was flabbergasted! $5.99 – unreal!
Well, we’re settled into our little condo, have caught up on some sleep and are getting our bearings here in Maui. Today we went and ‘did’ Lahaina, where you go to ‘eat, shop, walk and gawk’ (Maui Reveal). We had lunch at a MaLa; a small out of-the-way restaurant right on the ocean. It was as good as we’d heard with the added bonus of being so close to the ocean we almost got sprayed. Just a tinge of nostalgia here, though. Last year our whole fam damily was here in Maui and we all went to Lahaina together. We couldn’t help but miss one and all, remembering the good times we had there. To all of you – we wish you were here.
Look who wandered through our yard this morning! Actually there were two and I’m not sure if this is the same one or not! I know what they are doing here. They are after my little bunny who has been hanging out in our yard all winter – I sure hope he gets outta sight!
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| I know I can, I know I can, I know I can! |
So funny – never saw a weasel before this winter and now we’ve seen him twice!
Does the world not know it’s SPRING?
This is ‘Art Journaling’ in the digital form. Julie Mead at E-Scape and Scrap released a new kit called ‘The Good Guys Conspiracy’ and it has taken off big time! This is a photo of my Dad during WWII. I used several papers, different blend modes, some at a different opacity. I also scanned a paper of recognition that Dad received during the war and threw it into the mix. I always want to try art journaling with real paper and glue but I never do get around to it – digital just seems to be so much more forgiving!
Even though it looks like the middle of winter here this morning, I’m dreaming of my flowers in August, sigh . . .
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| f5.6, 1/320s, ISO100 |
Another celestial event is unfolding. The Super Moon! Today, March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It’s a super “perigee moon” – the biggest in almost 20 years (NASA). A perigee moon is when the moon is closest to the earth, but what makes this one particularly special is that it coincides with a full moon, which hasn’t happened since 1993.
I went out last night to have a look and this is what I saw – it really did seem bigger and brighter. It’s fascinating.
Also from NASA: The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. That is when illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects. On March 19th, why not let the “Moon illusion” amplify a full Moon that’s extra-big to begin with? The swollen orb rising in the east at sunset may seem so nearby, you can almost reach out and touch it.
I took this photo of a bouquet of tulips that was sitting on my daughter’s front hall stand. This is exactly how it was shot. Just the way the sun was hitting them caused the background to disappear. I was using a small Kodak point and shoot and if I was to try to achieve this effect I would probably spend all day trying and never get it. I’m not sure this is a great photo or not but I just love it.
A building I photographed today while downtown. Everything is so grey and cold here that when I got home I thought, why not make it even greyer? Since I am shooting in RAW and felt encouraged by our last photography class I decided to “tweak” this photo and see what happens. If it’s grey you’ve got to work with, then grey it is!
I stopped at a small coffee shop downtown this morning where I enjoyed a latte while watching people. I’m on a mission to get photos of our city for a project I’m working on (not easy – especially right now when it’s cold, foggy, and quite colourless out there). However, when I went to use the washroom I was startled by what I thought was someone standing in the corner. I had to laugh – it was the only inspired thing I saw all morning.
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| mmmm muffins! |
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| Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns from the Best of Bridge |
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| The Guys |
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| Our Hosts |
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| Our Hosts’ Baby |
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| April or May? |
Every spring our group gets together and the guys make bets on what day the ice will go off the lake. The four of them throw $100.00 into a pot and whoever wins takes home the cash. However, the winner has to serve a brunch the next year at which time the new bets are placed. This year was at Lyle and Rema’s and of course there was enough food to feed an army! As well as these delicious muffins and cinnamon buns there was a loaf, tarts, fruit salad, an omelet, cheese, bacon, sausages, hash browns and toast. We had a great visit – lots of conversation and laughter – it was a perfect way to spend a Sunday. Judging by this photo of the lake though, it doesn’t look like we’ll be launching our boats any time soon.
On our journey to the lake last night we were treated to quite the sunset – it really looked just like this – a ball of fire. There was some smoke in the air (we could smell it), as well as clouds and a bit of snow. I just snapped these as we were speeding down the highway. There’s always something interesting happening in nature.