Waz the Toddler Whisperer

Waz has a way with kids and animals, no doubt about it. They all seem to find him warm and cuddly...well, I don't blame them, frankly :) I have been told that I, on the other hand, exude lots of energy, and they are a little more wary of me. That's fine...I delight in watching Waz with the kids and animals.

We left Tarpon Springs after making sure we had all our bits and pieces, around 10.30 this morning. Saying goodbye to Richard and Hound Dog and kitty, we made our way south to our old stomping ground, Port Charlotte.  We arrived at our former Hosts home in Pt Charlotte (we spent a total of 10 months on their home dock, over two Christmases) to a lovely warm welcome. The BEST welcome of all, was when Miss Muffin saw and recognized Waz, her face lit up like a Christmas Tree, she leapt out of her chair and ran to him with a huge grin on her little 2 yr old face, and when he scooped her up, gave him the hug of his life!  It sure brought a tear to his eyes. Who would have thought, after a year's absence, that a 2 yr old would remember someone from her one year old life? Well, we have proof positive, now:)

Not only that....she proceeded to include Waz in pretty much everything thereafter. They sat snuggling in this chair, for ages.

 

We left them to check into our Hotel, and then met them again at Wally's, our Ribs Joint of choice ANYWHERE! Mia sat between Waz and me for most of the meal, and she hung off him and flirted with him aplenty. Too funny.:)

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the ribs, AND the flirting, and being with special friends. Too bad we have to drive back to Jacksonville tomorrow morning.

 

Before I turn in for the night, I need to give you an idea of the size of this animal, which belongs to our Tarpon Springs friends.

There was no other way to show you, than to compare him with a paperback book...normal size. I am 5ft 9" and he comes mid-thigh, on me. He is a typical Hound, in that he 'bays'...at most things. We all would go for a walk in the middle of the morning, and he made sure to keep us all in line, being his 'pack', and as long as he was leading, all was well. If we stepped out of line, we got 'hounded'! He is a funny fellow but ever so loving and, like most dogs, very particular about most things.

 

As usual, we miss having animals around, and truly appreciate other people's.

 

Well, we are holed up in a small hotel room...who needs a big room to sleep in??...and will hit the road tomorrow morning, across the state. We look forward to opening the boat up, again, and airing her out. We will need to give her a bath and then set to work giving her a wax and polish. Fun! There is a 'weather thing' developing out in the Atlantic, so we are hopeful of at least 4 days of sunshine/overcast, before it hits our neck of the woods.

 

We had our last Ice-cream....handmade, of course...tonight in Punta Gorda, post Ribs meal, and took a walk around the old town for good measure and to exercise some of the calories away. Maybe!

 

I am going to tell you what is going to happen next....just because it is important that we 'stick to the rules', as it were.

We are going to join a gym. We need to get some muscle mass back, having lost so much of it, living on the boat, and I need to lose another 20lbs! Waz needs to get totally well, after the past 6 months of this upper respiratory issue he has been carrying around, and we need to both concentrate on eating healthy food, sans sugar and processed carbohydrates. It has served us well in the past three years, and we need to become purists again. Too much travel with sweet treats to tempt us...well, we DO like them, after all.

 

This is all prior to further travel, later in the year. I like being able to have some spare room in an airline seat, so I have an incentive. Waz says he has another 10lbs to lose, so the two of us will enjoy the challenge. A little friendly competition is good for us:)

 

I'm leaving you here, and bon nuit!

Home Again, Jiggety Jig

Well, almost!

We arrived back in Tampa, our departure point, two weeks ago, yesterday afternoon. Bless Richard for his unofficial Taxi service and both delivering and retrieving us at the appropriate times.

I would like to say that it is good to be back in Florida, but there is always a part of me that wishes we were somewhere else. I almost don't like airports for the possibilities they present: I'm tempted to suddenly change my plans and catch a flight to Russia, or Turkey, or some other exotic destination, totally on a whim.

Jetlag has been a real issue for us this time out. Going over to Maui, we believe it was the fact that we took a daytime flight, that screwed things up internally for us. Normally we would opt for a night flight, so that we wake to our destination with some semblance of normalcy.
Even though we took a night flight from Maui to Denver, it was only 6 hours, and despite me taking a Tylenol PM to aid with relaxation and sleep, I think I only managed about 2 hrs. Waz thinks he got a similar amount. We arrived in Denver, after flying over snowy landscapes, around 8.40am, with a quick change to the Tampa flight departing at 9.40am. We just had time enough to purchase two single lattes (doubles are NOT good for us!) and eat one of the prepared cheese croissants, I put together before leaving the house on Maui, the previous day. We had each eaten a nut bar on the night journey, but it barely registered on the hunger screen.

Waz and I bought a couple of racks of ribs, a Greek salad and a Quinoa salad to take to the family (kids) for our final meal together. My son was late home from work, so the rest of us chowed down, enjoying the Costco ribs in particular. We watched our grandson's meal hour with much delight...he ate in his seat just long enough for the hunger pains to leave, then he was up and out and onto more important things, like playing....returning just long enough to down a few more mouthfuls, and off he went again. Normal, apparently. I seem to remember my two boys were rather of the same ilk...at least one of them was, anyway!
We managed a family photo or two before departing, but I wont be sharing it, sorry....I am however, allowed to share the kids photos...This is little monster at dinner time...both sitting and standing!

Straight from the shower to the dinner seat...

 Hunger...well, SOME has been satisfied, so now time to MOVEEEEE!

 HIs mom tells us that he is by-passing the rest of his front teeth, in this phase of producing teeth, to go straight to the molars! yay! No wonder he is losing sleep...and in turn, they are too:) Oh the joys of parenting young children! and how glad we are that we aren't!

 

Of course, I put the latest information first...mainly because my memory works back to front...ha! you would never have guessed, would you?

Frankly, I don't remember which day we went down to look at the surf at Kanaha...perhaps you do?..oh riiight.....it was Tuesday, because we were on our way to pick up our host from the airport.

Well, the wind was blowing a gale and the kite and wind surfers were out in great numbers. The colorful kites are always fun to watch.

Kanaha Beach Park looking back towards Kahului and Wailuku. The waters here are turquoise, due to their white sand bottom.

The water was rough, but the kite surfers were having a ball.

 as were the windsurfers!

We took Karen home, sat and chatted for a while, and finally, at 3pm, we decided to go walking on Thompson road again to allow her to have a nap, having just returned from Japan with 8 hrs of jet lag to deal with. We needed the exercise, but the rain was threatening, and we cut our walk a bit short, and decided to enjoy a coffee and sweet treat (we have had a few, this trip) at Grandma's Coffee House in Keokea (Kay oh kay a), sitting on the side deck, enjoying the breeze. The deck is surrounded by Coffee trees and Banana Palms...bearing fruit!

Mother nature knows how to combine colors, doesn't she! Love the bright green and purple.

We entertained Karen (host) to dinner at Kula Bistro that evening where we talked our heads off, and wouldn't you know it? People from my long ago past arrived for dinner with friends. I have loved these serendipitous meetings that have peppered this year's visit to Maui.

This was our second dinner, consecutively, at Kula Bistro. We had dinner with another special friend the night before. Waz ate the Rack of Lamb that night....declared it excellent, but at $38, a bit pricey! The two of us really enjoyed the large Lobster Ravioli with three good sized shrimp in a remoulade sauce.

Wednesday came around, and with our bags packed already, we were free to enjoy lunch with yet another friend at La Provence, in Kula. A short nap followed, for Waz and Karen at least, but I did some work on the computer, knowing full well that if I napped in the afternoon, I would not sleep on the plane.
Fuel top up at Costco in Kahului....where the line of cars waiting for their MUCH less expensive fuel at about $2.36 per gallon are long, and where the price beats out anything else Island-wide, where the most we found/saw was $3.39 per gallon...outrageous!...before braving the crowds to purchase dinner. This has to be THE most busy Costco in the Nation.

On our way past the Kahului Airport we were farewelled  by a stunning rainbow, for which we had to stop off-road and photograph!

Maui No Ka Oi.......Maui The Best!

We left the kids house around 7.30pm after those family photos and returned the Nissan Rogue vehicle, which I cannot say we enjoyed. Our flight left at 10pm on the dot, Denver  bound.

We aren't home yet....just back in Florida. We have some business to take care of, friends to connect with and THEN we return to the boat. Fortunately the weather is cooler...nice, in fact, at 75F... and though it is threatening to rain, we aren't bothered.

We are drawn to the South West Coast of Florida....The Sarasota area in particular. Lots of culture, boating, lovely beaches, a botanical garden worth visiting and not too far from Tampa Airport. Major airport connections will be in our future for a good number of years!

Well, that's it for now, folks. I need to go and prepare the Scalloped Potatoes for dinner. I have the steak in the oven...cold, of course, but at room temperature...because the dog is ever vigilant and I don't trust it if I leave the steak on the counter! You wouldn't either, after hearing the stories about food left and consumed by said large hound dog:)

TTFN...(tatafornow!)

Relaxing 'Locals on Maui' Style

Our two week vacation and 'see the family' trip is almost over.
We thoroughly enjoyed a combined families dinner at the Outlaws (Daughter-in-laws folks) last night at the 4,000ft level up Mt Haleakala. It was definitely chilly when we left for home at 8.30pm.

Our host arrives home tomorrow, and we leave Maui on Wednesday night for the mainland. We are ready to go 'home' to the boat, and get on with our daily lives.

We have done so little in the past two weeks and it has been VERY good for us.
A few of the highlights: Spending time with the 'kids' and 'kidlets' and observing our 13/14 month old Grandson as he explores his world. He is a very thoughtful and easy going little boy, always trying something new with whatever he has at hand. He is a pleasure to be around, and his verbal skills are amazing...he talks non-stop!
Serendipitous meetings with people from my past life, here on Maui, between 1985 and 2005, and some wonderful memories of those same people, and sharing time with them. We have all aged, of course, but it doesn't matter! We are still alive!

We have enormously enjoyed the garden of our host. Though the garden is filled with many 'static' plants, they are softened by the giant Australian Tree ferns, and the Towering, purple flower bearing Jacarandas, among others.  I'm going to share some photos with you.

The first ones are from our trip up Mt Haleakala (House of the Sun).
The Nene (nay nay) goose is a native Hawaiian goose, which is now endangered. People still feed them which is naughty, as they need to learn to forage for themselves and not eat people food, such as bread and cookies!

The lovely Mamane (ma marn aye) which is a first cousin to the Kowhai (Ko fye) in New Zealand.

The Native Hawaiian Sandlewood. It was so good to see so many of them.

Our hosts garden is delightful, and filled with all kinds of different Orchids, Bromeliads, Tilandsias (same family) and any number of other hardy plants.
Lady slipper orchids with the morning sun behind them.

The seeds of the Cycad, one of the most ancient of palms, are gorgeous!

The new fronds of the Australian Tree Fern, ready to hatch in their own little nest.

Bromeliad flowers are stunning in their variety. This one in particular!

I love the contrast of these silver Tilandsias against the black of the volcanic cinders they are planted in l

Another Bromeliad flower.

More Bromeliad flowers with seeds

And the whole garden smells like Lemon blossoms, right now.

We made a trip to Bill and Sally Worcester's Glass workshop in Kula, Maui, to see their latest stunning glass creations.
The glass on these orbs are sand blasted to give the glass a transparency, so the pale blue areas that you see here, are now see-through. Put a light inside, and they  are stunning!

 Sally forming a new bowl.

 Sally and Bill were responsible for bringing the process of Hot Glass to the Islands; first Oahu and then Maui, where they have a dedicated following. I am very fortunate to own two pieces...both gifts!

See what I mean about the light inside?

 One of Bills magnificent pieces with a distinct Hawaiian flavor.

Of course their son Michael grew up with glass in his veins, and this vase below is one of his creations.

 This one also...like a shell, and it even has little barnacles on the other side, see...below..

After taking a good amount of time out to view these, and have a chat with Bill, who loves to visit NZ, we took off for Makawao to visit the store they originally started, and then sold to two of their protégé.

We went on to the kids after all that gadding about and spent a couple of hours at their place. I played with the youngster, and his sister was doing her homework...or supposed to be!
Our lovely Granddaughter...soon to be 10. She is a Taurean the same as me:)

Our still blue-eyed grandson with the ball that he loves to play with. His ball handling skills, at 14 months, are amazing...and I'm not just saying that. He can throw AND receive!

My son has always been a gun nut, so it wasn't surprising to find that the kitty is called....wait for it...

Baretta! Aieee!!!...but she is a cute kitty and very loving. She and boy have lots of fun.

Waz has a definite way with both kids and animals....he is best buddy of both, here:)

On the previous Sunday, we all met at Thompson Road, for a walk/run/ride. Was didn't feel very well at all, on the return journey, and we left to come home for him to have a sleep. it is a three mile round trip, which we have done a few times this visit. It is cooler than down country and the scenery is stunning on a clear day.
Sometimes you just cant win...and this Jackson's Chameleon didn't make it across the road. I remember this being a common sight, when I lived here. They are rather gorgeous creatures!

These plants are weeds, but they are pretty weeds.

Another 'weed' is the Australian Wattle....it is everywhere, and I remember clearing a whole field full of it when I was developing my Kula property, way back when.

 I have had several meals of these wild blackberries...They are so sweet.

The south shore view of Maui, from Thompson Road. Pasture on the down side and above the road as well. It is rather shocking to find that many of the pastures are covered in a nasty vine, which tells me that they aren't grazing cattle there any more. Sad!

Loquat blossoms. I used to have a large Loquat tree in my yard, at the 3,500ft elevation. It was often a dessert for the family....they were so sweet, and the juice would dribble down our chins...delightful memories!

Wild yellow Passionfruit, which is something of a pest now. the flowers are still lovely, but I wish there weren't so many of them!

Thompson Road, with its Hawaiian lava rock walls to contain the stock.

 Oprah Winfrey has a property just behind where I am standing, on this road. This is looking northward and upwards on the Mountain.

Another morning we took ourselves down to Kihei and Wailea. We bought a sushi lunch from Foodland in Kihei and made our way to one of my favorite beach parks, Kamaole 3. (karma oh lay). Was started on the sushi while I had to take a photo of it. It was a perfect day and the water was the most glorious color.

We always purchase paper towels and wipe/tissues, wherever we visit. They come in really handy everywhere.
I like alternative energy sources, but these really are a blot on the lovely West Maui Mountains.

Looking out into the wide Pacific Ocean from the beach park.

 The beach wasn't very busy, on such a warm day, which was quite good in some ways. Less tourist is good for us, but not for Maui.

 In Wailea, after a visit to the Shops at Wailea for a quick walkaround, we visited the Historic Keawala'i Church at Makena. It is built of the only building materials they had, in those days...Lava!

 The churchyard and graves are shadowed by a variety of Plumeria. The scent is heady!

 The view over the mangroves to the West Maui's

 A white Bouganvillea, which is a rarity in these parts. One usually sees the highly colored varieties

 What a peaceful place to rest one's soul.

Another day we went on an ART trail, visiting all my favorite places.

This lovely bright hibiscus is called Hula Girl. It was a favorite of my late ex-Father in law's. It is a favorite of mine too! I love the clarity of the yellow with the red throat.

Hui No'eau quickly became my second home, when I first went to Maui to live. It is an Arts Center, and I took classes in Traditional Hawaiian Lauhala weaving with master Susan Kilmer, Water color classes with the celebrated Pamela Hayes, and Fine woodworking with Hawaiian lumber, with Craftsman-to-the-stars, Bill Robertson. I did the latter for two years. My youngest son learned Fine jewelry making there with J.B Rea. Over 20 years there, I was a board member and actively involved in all aspects of the full arts calendar, during that time. The architect was Charles William Dickey, celebrated throughout Hawaii. It was a former Baldwin home, before being bequeathed. http://huinoeau.com/about/who-we-are/

In the grounds there, are  so many red Ti plants. Their berries are bright red to the blood red/green of the leaves

There is also a rock wall covered with this lovely Pot of Gold Vine. I have always loved these golden flowers with their maroon stripes. These are larger than two hands put together side by side.

 On the way out! but what color!

 I love these architectural details of old.

 The lovely view in the front of the building, across the now empty pineapple fields. Maui Pineapple co. is now defunct! HC&S, sugar is also on the way out, and we look down on the vast fields of sugar cane blowing in the trade winds, and wonder what it will look like in two years time....will they be a patchwork of red dust?

Another day, when it was threatening to rain again, we took the road less travelled to Ulupalakua (oo loo parla koo ah), around the south side of the Mountain. In this photo you can see the last cinder cone at the bottom of the last lava flow, just over 200 years ago. Mt Haleakala is a DORMANT volcano! To the right is the sunken volcano of Molokini. Behind it is the large Island of Kahoolawe (car ho o lar vay) , on which there is no natural water source, and so, despite some attempts to use it for ranching et al, it remains one of the drier places on this earth.

 Most of the Jacaranda  blossoms have fallen, for the season, but this one is still in full bloom.

 Bouganvillea is such a blousy girl.

 The Ulupalakua Ranch store has some good quality products in it...and these fellas have been sitting outside for the pat 30 years or more.
We visited the Winery, but didn't take to the Pineapple wine at all.
Back home! it is raining!

Pardee Erdman, owner of the ranch and his other investors, have now started Maui Gold Pineapple company, to keep Maui supplied with the prickly fruits.

 In the grounds of the ranch house is this Queensland, Australia Kauri Tree. The straight trunk is very similar to that of the NZ Kauri tree.

Though the Jade Vine is native to the Phillipines, it is well known in the Islands as a favorite Lei flower.

I will leave you here, and continue later tonight. Plenty more to go!