Kona and Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii

Today I'm going to finish our last island in Hawaii.  If you have been following along we took this trip in October to celebrate our anniversary and both of our birthdays.  I'm so behind in posting about previous trips.  I still have two full weeks in England to finish.  Hopefully I will stop dragging my feet and get on with our travels.  We have cleared our home of Christmas so now I have some time to devote to our trips.

First up is our trip to Kona.  It was a very rough sea day as we approached.  You can hardly tell as we are viewing from high on the top deck of the ship!

This is as close to Kona as we got as the Coast Guard advised the Captain to not allow us to board tenders to visit the island.  This is a town that does not have a pier for such a large vessel so we were going to go on tenders ashore.  The swells of the ocean would have made for dangerous boarding of the pier from a moving tender.  We were disappointed, but understood that our safety is of upmost importance.  So we said goodbye to Kona and sailed on to the other side of the big island of Hawaii for a stop in Hilo.

That evening the Naturalist that was on board told the Captain if we sailed by Kilauea we may get to see some of the lava flow that still is active.  You may remember large damaging eruptions this past year from this sleeping giant!   As we passed the island in the evening we were only able to see smoke plumes from the volcano.  It was a lovely moonlit evening as the Captain guided our ship close by. 

The next day we were docked at Hilo.  We had booked an excursion to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.  This is an extraordinary "Garden in a Valley on the Ocean."  

This garden was founded by Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse in 1978.  They purchased 17 acres of land and spent six years clearing the jungle and created a paradise of exotics.  There are miles of winding trails to take you down, down to the ocean floor.  The steep trail descends down 120 feet to sea level.  We walked the downhill trail and were delighted by all the beauty we viewed!

Come along with us as we walk carefully downhill!

The under story of trees and lovely waterfalls cool our spirits as we descend into paradise!  How in the world did these folks ever do this job is beyond my imagination!

Around every bend more and more lovely flowers growing happily in this tropical paradise.

As we reach the bottom, the under story opens and we reach a path to take along the ocean.

Lovely flowers everywhere and the gorgeous ocean pounding the lava rock formations.

If you want to take a lovelier walk, I don't know where it would be!

If you love orchids, this is the spot for you!  Hawaii is also known as Orchid Island.

The ocean and flowers certainly are two of my favorite things!  Yes, I'm in paradise.

I really didn't want to leave this beautiful spot, but we had to catch our ride back to the ship.

Oh, and we needed to climb back up that steep hill.  Oh no, I told Grayden he must hail a golf cart for me!  Yes, I wimped out and rode the golf cart back up!  

This trip was primarily to Hawaii and then one more stop.  I'll share that next! 

Little Afternoon Trip

We decided to take a little short trip to a little town that is not too far from us.  It's up near the mountains. We are lucky in that we can visit the ocean or the mountains without too much traveling.  It's been rather hot and muggy and we thought it might be nice to feel a little mountain air.  In less than an hour we reached the little town that reminds us of our own, but 40 years ago before all of the sprawl.

 The quicker we humans learn that saving open space and wildlife is critical to our welfare and quality of life, maybe we'll start thinking of doing something about it. Jim Fowler 

The town of Culpeper has an old town USA feel.  With little quaint antique shops and stores and great little restaurants.  Little is the key word for the day.  Do you sometime long for a place that doesn't have big box stores and traffic?  This was the perfect spot for us to enjoy a leisurely afternoon.  After driving through farm land and wide open spaces we parked the car and began to explore this sweet little place.

The "Reel LOVE" sign highlights the emerging arts in Culpeper and the Virginia is for Lovers brand throughout Virginia.

 

The planters filled with red geraniums and lobelia were so pretty.  Isn't this combination perfect?  There were many lovely flowers in front of most of the shops.

This lovely fuchsia in the black cast iron planter looked so graceful in front of this shop.

This little alley cafe reminds me of  our time in France. 

We stopped in a little coffee shop to have a sandwich.

After lunch we wandered in and out of a few of the antique shops.  There were so many lovely items to tempt.

I can't believe I didn't bring home this child's plate!

We really wanted to have tea at Miss Minerva's but she was closed for the day.  We've been here before and enjoyed her lovely tearoom.

We enjoyed our little getaway so much.  I hope you have the chance to seize a few moments to enjoy short little trips.  This little poster was in one of the shops and I think it says so much!

On Hold

♫ Music ♫

Since beginning our painting in our home I feel like my regular life is on hold.  Whatever that is!  I guess I live in a dream world thinking having our home painted by painters would be easy.  Yes, I am very happy that I am not the one on the floor or up a ladder with a paint brush.  It's been disruptive to our regular life.  The painters come to the door at 7:30 am and stay until 3:30 pm.  While they are here we are trying to get curtains washed, pictures rehung and rooms put back in order. Since the kitchen is involved meals have taken on a new look.  We have eaten out more than I care to.  In other words, I'm ready to have this finished!

Everything in all of the china cabinets have gotten a bath.

On top of this job, Grayden became sick.  This man is never ill.  Yes, we are so blessed with good health.  Thank you, God.   He's had several doctor appointments and is doing much better.

  

We've had problems with a couple of the colors that I had chosen.  I'll share more of that later when I show how everything is like we want. Hopefully!

“The best way out is always through.” 

― Robert Frost 

Meanwhile outside in the garden the season is progressing into warmer days.  The flowers would certainly love a drink of water from the heavens.  Our rain totals are quite shy as we begin to have warmer days.  I typically don't do a lot of supplemental watering.  I may have to reconsider that this year if we don't get some rain.

  

The red and white azaleas are blooming quite nicely now.  It's so nice to look out the window and see their blossoms.

Viburnum

The Columbine Aguilegia are blooming.
 

Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis, is blooming and providing a lovely fragrance to the garden.

The Bridalwreath spirea  is blooming as well.  This shrub came from my childhood home and is special to have in our garden.  My Mama planted this shrub when I was a little girl.

The peonies are starting to bud.

This volunteer Honesty money plant decided to grow in an old strawberry pot.

The Painted ferns are now fully out of their winter sleep.


"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience."  Ralph Waldo Emerson


My garden continues to bring me great joy!  I hope your garden is awakening and bringing joy to your life. ♥