Life on the Farm

Our life has changed dramatically in the last two weeks. An offhand remark made to a friend of ours about our home situation prompted an offer to trade work on his farm for the rental of his coffee shack. We had been to the farm many times, but never to the shack, as it had always been occupied. With some trepidation we took a tour on Wednesday, loved it, and started moving in on Saturday--at least a month before we actually have to be out of our house.

Bob mainly needs daily maintenance on the farm. He's tired of it all and it is clearly overwhelming if you let it get away from you. I've spent a week or so getting the area around the shack cleaned up, trimmed, pruned and repaired. Next I'll expand a bit to take in the main house and out-buildings. The farm has a variety of produce, mainly given away. Selling, even at the Farmer's Market is just too much work for the money, Bob says. So produce: avacadoes; bananas; lemons; oranges; tangarines; lilikoi (passion fruit); Bombax (cotton); coconut; coffee; chickens; one goat; several feral pigs.

The house itself, is a genuine coffee shack with a moveable roof. The coffee was dried on the top of the ceiling, and when it rained, the roof was pulled over the beans. Think cabin in the mountains and you'll have a good idea. All redwood, single wall, with cracks and knotholes looking through to the jungle. Propane heating and cooking--we have to haul the propane in bottles. Real electricity, real water, slate and wood floors.

We've thought about naming the house "Tioli's Treehouse," or "Right Side Up," as in how we landed.



The big globe light is in the kitchen.












To harvest bananas you cut down the entire tree (15 feet or so plus leaves). The trunk is easy to cut using a wicked curved knife with a slightly serrated edge. Sticky juice pours from the plant when it is cut. The sap/water makes good glue.



Coffee







Bird of Paradise. I personally don't see it.



From the entry way, looking into the kitchen and living room.



The bathroom with a ship's porthole. The tub/shower is raised about 14 inches so you can bathe and enjoy the view out the screen.



The lower lanai.



The view from Andrea's bed.



Andrea's separate "ohana."



Avacadoes



Tangarines and the kitchen garden.



Tractor shed.



Into the living room from the kitchen.




Main lanai.



I thought this was a chameleon, but now I'm not so sure. He was very slow moving. Careful and precise.







Ants. Many, many ants.

The winged two-year-old funnel

My blog reader will remember that with the closing of our shop, Tioli Creative Center, we found that we had no choice but to file for protection under the bankruptcy code. It was a very difficult decision, but ended up being the best thing for us personally. Our landlord and bank were unwilling to work with us during the recession, which hit for us in the summer of 2007. Apparently the bank and our landlord felt it would be better to force us into an intractable position, rather than extend terms that would have enabled us to remain open.

Yesterday, we had the first meeting with the Federal Trustee who comes to Hilo once a month. After waiting for several hours we had our shot. All it entailed was answering several questions under oath about our need for bankruptcy and our remaining assets (abandoned fixtures and inventory). We were in and out in 10 minutes. At first we were tempted to feel let down, girded, as we were, for a fight. But our attorney (and us) had done such a great job preparing the documents that there was nothing left to say but "good luck!"

The upshot of it all is this: We lose our house. Well, we could have kept it until the bank sued for what we owed them (probably only when the equity was rebuilt, if ever). But we chose to give it up to be free and clear of the debt and to be free to move if a job offer should occasion it. If ever the real estate market came back to such an extent that we could sell the house, the bank would take the equity, so we'd be in the same boat as renting (not including maintenance). We'll also give up one of our vehicles, the only one we owe on. We could reaffirm that loan, but why bother? We don't really need the car, and again, we're free to move if we need to.

So that's it. We feel free and easy, ready to move at the drop of a hat should a job offer come our way. And speaking of which, we have two interesting possibilities. The Pacific Aviation Museum is advertising for an Education Director. I've gotten a call back for an interview, but no set time, so who knows what they're thinking. It may be that they have to interview or take apps, according to policy, but don't have any intention to hire. The other opportunity is hiring for sure. It's with the Department of Defense at one of their many schools for military and civilian dependents on military bases throughout the world. They need school administrators, and that's me. The app process is tedious and intense, and I'm about halfway through. I'll know something end of March for a job starting in July or August. We're holding out hope for the UK, but will take anywhere in the world.

I've been tempted not to talk to the kids about these possibilities. Tempted to say "don't get your hopes up." But the heck with it. My hopes are up, and if I don't get either job, I'll be sorely disappointed, maybe even depressed, but so what? Hope is the thing with feathers that gives our hearts a lift. And it's helping us all to see that there may be some light at the end of this two-year-old funnel.

From the "I gotta getta job," Files

This time of year I tend to dust off my collection of inappropriate Jesus and Christmas images. It reminds me of the reason for the season, and keeps my thoughts on all that is good and wholesome and true.

My favorite prayer of all time: As a young Christian we used to sit around talking about how we pictured Jesus. I also love the grunts of Cal the sidekick, sounds like a PB prayer meetin'.








Jesus loves the little children. Either that or he's just happy to see them.











Love a good velvet painting.
















...and little girls too!





Watch the hands, coach.

















Cheesus: The reason for the season.








Mary: "Jesus Christ! shut the door, were you born in a barn?"

A Little Island Hopping

Last week we did a little scouting for business opportunities. We started on Lana'i and ended up on Oahu. We got some good ideas, and some rest and saw some beautiful places.




View of the Fourseasons at Manele Bay from the beach. There are great rates available for kama'aina (locals). It's off season, and a still a bit slow.





Maui on the left, and Kaho'olawe on the right. On a clear day, you can see Hawaii Island behind Kaho'olawe.






View from the sitting room.

























The sitting room. The entire resort has a Chinese theme.






One of the many murals depicting a traditional Chinese wedding.






Up country at Kolele






Up country again.







Fourseasons at Kolele





Lana'i City. Sounds, looks and smells like a little Colorado town.





We had forgotten how much croquet sucks. Apparently others had not, as the courts were all vacant. I almost scored a sextuple peel, but when I missed I went back to taking pictures.






Growing on a Banyon Tree.











An aircraft hanger on Ford Island abandoned after the December 7, 1941 attack and showing damage caused by the explosion of the USS Arizona (blown out windows).





The original control tower on Ford Island.






That'll carry a lot of Twinkies...

Post Ironman workout

I spent the 2009 Ironman World Championships standing on the sidelines with my camera (for about an hour) waiting for a Pullet Surprise moment. Didn't get a one, even with over 200 shots taken. The next day at our local gym, I thought about racism and politics.

Our gym has a bank of tv's with the sound off, but CC on, in front of the elliptical machines, stationary bikes and stare-masters. This particular day, I was watching Fox News because that was on one of the monitors. The other monitors had Oprah, and a "Secret lives of women" episode about prostitution that I really wanted to watch, but didn't because...well, I didn't. On Fox news, BTW, I don't watch news channels anymore. They all seem like my Ma's opera when I was young: Lots of screeching, so you know there must be something important going on, but it's too much trouble to figure it all out. Ditto with internet news sources which seem to be all blogs.

Anyway, these three white guys, and one white woman were talking about how some people think that criticism of Obama is racist. At least twice, the talking heads said "I don't care if he's green, or purple..." another said "I don't care if he is mauve or puse..." They also said, repeatedly, "I don't have a racist bone in my body..." Was it Shakespeare that said "Methinks he doth protest too much?"

I was struck that none said: "I don't care if he's black or brown..." they just used Barney colors. Does that mean they DO care if he's black or brown? And further, I do have a racist bone in my body. I have my guard up when I meet an older white male...the difference is, I recognize my prejudices and don't let them get in the way of personal interactions...they just warn me a little...

Dunno where I'm going with all this.

Kona Ironman 2009, Part 1

It's that time of year again; the Ironman World Championship. This is the week when the village and most of Ali'i Drive slows to a crawl or shuts down completely due to bicycles riding three abreast and runners swerving into traffic to avoid a stick or pebble on the shoulder.

I enjoy this race. I like all the hoopla and the hype, enjoy seeing the elite athletes training on the roads, and I'm a runner and cyclist myself. But even I find myself growing increasingly annoyed by the slow pace on Ali'i Drive.

Yesterday evening while returning from my walk with Jack and Saylor at End of the World, I heard a horn blare (a rarity here) and screeching tires. Ahead of me an athlete had suddenly swerved her bike into the street, nearly getting hit. As I passed her, I slowed and told her how close she came to dying, not so much because of the car and the serve, but because she did that in front of ME. (My reader will remember that I seem to attract fatal accidents).

Maybe I'll try to post some photos, it's fun to see the transformation of Kailua from a sleepy village to the host of an international event. On the other hand, it's dang hot, and who needs traffic and crowds?

For the Non-Facebook crowd

Andrea was written up by the Girls By Design crew. Here's what they say about the site:


"THIS SITE IS THE FIRST STEP FOR KRISTIN KREUK AND KENDRA VOTH TOWARDS CREATING A PLACE WHERE TEEN GIRLS CAN COME TOGETHER TO EXPLORE, EXPRESS, CREATE AND REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL TOGETHER."

I don't think they mean to shout.


Click Here for the Article