🚀 yoga with Nick

It was a butt kicker:)

We did every assba known to mankind!

With a smile in my Heart, Joy and Thankfulness!

The Last Thursday

Nr P and I may have gotten up early, or was it the day before? Toward the end of our vacations here it's painful to account for each day as I don't want to know what day is present.

The rice milk is gone and there are 4 beers; that I know.

We are having another dinner party tonight: Rick Bayless' Chiptle Cicken with  Creamed Spinach. Until then. . . 

Our friends are seizing this sunny day and going towards the 'end of the road'. We neet up with them at Haena Beach Park. Pilgrim is often the center of attention. Ed is busy meeting new friends (Rod) and the rest of us are chillin!

At one point he says his toe is killing hom and i just work the R big toe, readjusting the joint and tendons/ he says it's much better after my treatment! Yay

The surf is crazy high and nonone is allowed in the surf but locals. Finally, rain forces us homeward. We freshen up and settle in to read while showers saturate the lush jungle green.

I offer reflexology and Ed says "cmon up!" Ed is as relaxed as We've ever seen him when they arrive for dinner.

Dinner is at dusk and Dan nails it! His dish is anazing:) i sub the okinawa sweet potato for chicken, Marilyn brings tandoori rice:)

We all stroll the the point to see stars and Honey has Pilgrim.

Then a bit of Saturday Night Live Sports clips and it bedtime rock n roll.

Mahalo Kauai

Last Wednesday

We meant to set the alarm clock, but we were awake at seven to the roosters' song:)

We made s fruit plate of papaya, bananas, pineapple and mandarin oranges. Dan prepared the taro waffle mix and the coconut syrup graced the candlelit, flowered, leid table set for five.

Our guests arrived for a Hawaiian Mimosa; beer and pog. There was also a fresh pot of Lion brand coffee. It was fun to entertain even when the wafgle iron refused ' to play!'

Earle and Mary joined us for a visit following the pancakes snd sausage feat Dan prepared. The weather calked for drizzle.

We took off for the Kilauea Lighthouse and ghe weather vleared for a while!

Pilgrim did a fine job of not bothering the red footed boobies burrowed in the ground! Dan got a great picture of a frigatebird or Iwa:

Home through Kilauea and Pacos Tacos! 

It was a yummy cabbage and cilantro treat3 for $13.00 is good!

Once home we read and relaxed. I wsnted so much to work on our friends' feet. I showed up with lemin for Marilyn and she enjoyed the session. 

Dan came for me announcing time to get ready for our dinner date!

We ordered the spinch salad with a parmesan crisp and poacged egg, garlic creamed lentiks and kale au gratin, a chorizo sausage and grilled apple with frisee, and a white puzza with nanchego and asparagus.

We were home in time to see Pennies From Heaven! And a bit o Father of the Bride, both with Steve Martin;)

Our time is dwindling now. 

Mahalo Kauai 

Yoga

A sweet brown haired girl with striped leggings greeted Pilgrim and me. She was happy we came back!

The teacher untroduced herself as Katie and brought props. Pilgrim settled in his towel. The lady to our left immediately ingaged him in s mental conversation; her forehead to his.

The music began, harp and hawaiian. Later a rainshower that lulled me deeper. Some slept. This was the sequence:

Circles by Mary Oliver

Childs Pose

Side Laying Twist over a Bolster r/l

Reclining Virasana on a Bolster

( hm) draw knee to Belly 1/2 happy baby

Laying Vrkasana 

Laying twist 

Repeat

Legs up the Wall

Wide Legs up the wall

Heart opening w horizontal bolster

  And Head on a block

Savasana

Our Last Tuesday

Ah, the Spirit of Aloha: palms clacking, surf rolling, birds singing;

Katie, my yoga teacher quoted Mary Oliver, " if you can sing, Do it!"

We are loose ends this week. Weather and activities may not dovetail. I offer to run Dan around today and he accepts:)

After our respective breakfasts, we drive to the library, maybe by adding a new card, i can continue reading! But the fee is $25. For 5 years and won't predictable fix my FVRL stuff.

We toodle into Hanalei town and I text Ed we are here!

The girls and I are going shopping and the guys are coming too:) hanalei Paddler nets us gold! I buy a billabong skirt. Marilyn buys a bright yellow soft top and i offer to buy topaz earrings to match! We go to Robin who has the perfect stone.

They want Bubba Burgers and I am craving an Island Fish Sandwich. 

Off to the pier we go, the sun is sprouting:) ed wants to run on the pretty Hanalei Bay crescent and he takes Pikgrim. 

As we stroll we loose sight of them! Make a Wish has set up a tent and Mr P stops to visit Amelia, a child sitting in the sand stretching her srms open to enfold him. Her leg braces lay beside ger thin lifeless limbs. She is from baltimore.

We move onto the Waipa Farmers Market and buy LAsagna for supper.

Ed telks the Hawaiian, next year less Costco, More Market! 

Relax Deeply at 5:30 and Dan comes for me, low blood sugar. The ribs our fruends were cooking did not happen within the framework he had hoped for.

A dinner for three on the labai with candlelightand a sweet Aloha.

We have invited our neighbors to breakfast and borrowed a waffle iron from housekeeping. Taro waffles with coconut syrup and a platter of papaya, pineapple and bananas;)

 Our friends come to Trick or Treat but we are too tired to go walking.

Mahalo

Circles: Tuesday yoga poem

In the morning the blue heron is busy

stepping, slowly, around the edge of the

pond. He is tall and shining. His wings, folded

against his body, fit so neatly they

make of him, when he lifts his shoulders and begins to rise

into the air, a great surprise. Also

he carries so light the terrible sword-beak. Then

he is gone over the trees.

I am so happy to be alive in this world

I would like to live forever, but I am

content not to. Seeing what I have seen

has filled me; believing what I believe

has filled me.

The first words of this page are

hardly thought of when the bird

circles back over the trees; it floats down

like an armful of blue flowers, a bundle of light

coming to refresh itself again in the black water, and I think:

maybe it is or it isn't the same bird-maybe it's

the first one's child, or the child of its child.

What I mean is, our deliverance from Time

and the continuance, if we only steward them well,

of earthly things. So maybe it's myself still standing here, or

someone else, like myself hot with the joy of this world, and

filled with praise.

The Last Monday

It's rainy and windy and one cannot discern the sky from the sea. Shivering is an attempt to create heat for the body. We wear as many clothes as possible to cover tanned goosebumps.

We go into Hanakei in search of earrings and find Robin, an artisan in Ching Ling Village! She custom creates earrings like the pair I am wearring for a friend's friend (Jowanna) back home.

While she is creating, we go to The Hanalei Gourmet for lunch. We sit outdoors since it's tight and loud indoors.

Pilgrim looks forlorn. After lunch we drive home. Dan naps and I try for 'hours' to get my ebook to load. 

We leave Pilgrim home and return to Hanalei for the earrings and baked ravioli ingredients for tomorrow night. It's the first time we've held habds all week, with 'baby' in tow. . . . 

Happy Hour at the clubhouse is fun, because Earl and Mary on there! Then it's up to Ed's for steak and salmon. 

We stay until eight enjoying wine and laughs. Then home for a bit of HGTV.

Sunday

The roosters are singing A le Luiu Ya, not cok a doodle du!

We are going South away from the drippy skies of Princeville. We are leaving early to swing through aliomaanu bay hoping to find Pilgrims red plastic bowl I left on the beach. As we pull near a woman leaps to her feet, waving to us! She has the bowl! I believe in Miracles:)

Pastor Paul in in Kihei so we have Pastor Keiffer from Oahu. He spoke of ordinary peeps, doing the extraordinary: we took time to pray for our 'enemies' right then and there!

After church, we continue South to Port Allen for a paniolo veggie wrap and hamburger. The beers were great! I was miffed that they would take me and Pilgrim up two flights of stAirs when I could plainly see an empty table. I try to be GRACIOUS, but i was feeling very anxious about falling down those stairs!

My eyes are not good.

And then a sweet tour to Poipu with the top down, we go in search of turtles.

Pilgrim was mesmerized! It was time to toodle home to feed Pilgrim. We pulled up the rosd in Anahola, wanting to provide a plate of wild boar for 'the men'

While I went to Relax Deeply class at Yoga Hanalei. The rain must have closed down the outdoor barbeque operation.

At home we enjoyed a quiet happy hour then Dan drove me to class.

I thought he would be well cared for at Ed and Marilyn's since the dinner invitation was for 6 pm.

Instead at 7:15 we came for me and was still unfed!

We enjoyed a light supper of bread and chevre, chicken avocado tomato and greens with my quinoa salad and merlot.

Dan's stomach gas been quesy with acid indigestion for the last twenty four hours. I hope he sleeps well;)

Magalo Nui Lis

Sunday Night with Nick

I decided to stand my ground and bring Pilgrim to class tonight. A brindled dog was tied up outside, but my dog brought me into class. There was one space! We claimed itin the soft light of dusk. The fellow bext to me offered to get my props and i graciously accepted. The class plan follows: it was delightful! I lost Zmnick during savassna as ge played the singing bowls and talked sbout magnetics:-)

Reclining Butterfly

Childs Pose

Lay on Belly/ rotate right, one arm under behind , Repeat on left side

Lie on back/ rotate onto right under body. repeat onto left side.

Legs up the Wall

Gomukasana at wall R on too

Gomukasana at wall left on top

Block under Occiput

Setu Bandu with Block under sacrum

Savassna

Saturday

Rise and Shine!

( Ed arrives later today with his entourage!)

Here: The whale census taker troops march to the bluffs for a five hour shift.

Its's only seven and there must be 50, long pant, long sleeve, chair toting, binocular bouncing, official bag carrying gray haired couples!

We dress and prepare breakfasts, readying ourselves for the Hanalei Farmer's Market. Oir list includes bananas, basil, more chevre, cucumber, fresh carrots, and avocados

A headache comes on and I reflect on a possible cause, i am short 6 study drug capsules and am halving the doseage starting yesterday. This headache feels the same as when i started the med !It goes pretty well with Pilgrim leading the way. Then we travel to Big Save for a few more provisions: polenta, garlic, beef steak and peas for my quinoa salad.

I have requested Lunch at The Hanalei Gourmet but we must go unpack our groceries. There's no need to come back in just for a plate of lunch so we discuss the near possibilities.

It is sunny and I'd just as soon stay home and read my Flight Behavior book all day!

Dan goes to Federic'os to pick up a few burritos which are awesome;)

We sunbathe and read out on the grass.

At one point Pilgrim takes off in pursuit of ne Ne 'playmates' and is reprimanded!

There are Albatross on our lawn today that intrigue!

Today neighbor Joe left and some are arriving. We watch whales, it's happy hour, and anticipate Ed and Marilyn. They text us a $600. Receipt mentioning they are just leaving Lihue Costco!

When the lights go on in 5208, we approach for an Aloha! Brian and Laurie are along for the second year. Ed picked up a seven passenger van, "Cause, that's how [he] is!"

Dan finds the third Godfather movie, i keep reading.

Aloha on a Saturday:) 

Friday

The roosters cock a doodle doo, the doves coo like alarm clocks waiting to be hushed by a snooze button.

I jump up splash water on my face, sit on the lanai and Pilgrim joins me in greeting the new day.

After my cold breakfast and Dan's hot breakfast, we go to bluff. Three people are practicing yoga today, and I long to join them.

We pack and head East. Aliomanu Beach is our destination, Pilgrim needs the shade of a coastal tree.

I couldn't get comfortable. My lip is burnt and i crawled into the shade with Pilgrim. I picked up some stray glass shards as I walked Pilgrim on the beach.

Off to Kiauea for an ahi wrap. These juicy succulent half pounders include sprouts greens and slaw. We eat them at home:)

I am too stuffed, my phone is on low battery so I take a nap. I ask Dan to promise to never let me eat a whole one again!

I am refreshed for the McMaster Slack Key Concert at the Hanalei Pavilion. It is deeply spiritual and divinely soothing. Doug McNaster lived meeting Pilgrim as did the other 20 atendees. It seems Mr P transformed the entire experience.

The musicians lingered until dusk at 6:30. And they invited us to please return! 

We had no dinner plan beyond greens and quinoa, so Dan picked up a Roast Chicken and Haupia Ice Cream at Foidland, while i waited in the car.

Dinner was sweet on the lanai and we note Earle and Mary have arrived:)

We watched the end of a baseball movie, "It Happens Every Spring!" 

And it was 'sayonara'

Albatross totem

http://soulofvoltaire.tripod.com/id6.html

Thursday

Each morning begins the same way, watching the surf, listening to bird calls and enjoying breakfast outdoors on the lanai as Pilgrim gently nuzzles his stuffed chicken toy 

Then we parade to the steep cliffs to watch whales , which are absent today after the Big Swell. Lately is the Albatross Show!

Dan has a date with our neighbor Joe at 12:30, to play The Prince Course Scramble.

He drops me off at Hanalei Yoga so I can have an outing too:) we park the car and Pilgrim and I go upsairs to the studio. $40. Buys three classes, a mat is included.

Being thoughtful, i ask if there will be room for my guide dog. The young lady at the desk defers to an older woman who may have just taught the previous class.

"No" is the answer, "you can tie your dog up outside."

I laugh incredulously!

I summon Dan who is just outside the door to take Pilgrim home please. The woman is nice enough, she lays a mat down for me and brings props.

There is plenty of room today I notice.

The English teacher comes to inquire about my needs and sight and adds the dog wiuld have been fine in her class:)

Class was very good, Ashtanga and inversions on the wall ropes! I later determine the teacher's name is Francesca Reynolds.

Dan and Mr P fetch us and we pick up a sack lunch at the Dolphin Fish Market. Home for a very quick lunch and Dan is off to Golf! I was totally thrilled for him!

At first I felt spacious; like I could walk to Princevilke for a sorbet, or stay homeand  read or paint or anything!

In reality my first move was to have a beer with POG. I was quite unsure and spent from yoga. We went to the pool but Pilgrim couldn't get comfortable. So we returned home to read Flight Behavior. 

It was a long afternoon. We wenf outdoors to play before dinner and finally Dan csme through the door, "Honey, i'm Home!"

Sweet music to my ears;) we may return and ride the golf cart getting s visual of the magnificence of this course!

Dinner was chili again and i forgot the cilantro. It may have made a difference in regards to the burning we felt in our bellies as we slept. I did add a purple okinawa sweet potato to stretch our simple supper. 

The sun set on another day in Paradise

Rather early, but not before watching the Trailblazers win!

Super Swell Wednesday

We anticipated the thought of fifty foot sweels, but the sound of it at six a.m. Filled me with fear. My heart slowed in my insulated chest as I listened through held breaths.

Was the water moving towards the door?

Would the force of such swells sweep all trace of us away?

Day break and aside from the thunderous waves life seemed normal, though the birds fled. We had breakfast outdoors and watched in awe. Oops we forgot to cut the long awaited pineapple and papayas!

We settled at the TV and watched The Wrong Man with Henry Fonda, an equally tense reality. 

At noon we went to Foodland, I am naking chili and needed spices and veggies. More tension. 

Tight aisles, hungry shoppers, displays precariously close to toppling and an old Hawaiian custodian with a wet mop glaring at my dog as she seemed to appear at every turn.

Then home to cook it up for lunch. It was spicy and hit the spot! We went for a walk with our also restless dog. This was the turning point, away from the cliffs the threatening presence of a wild ocean abated. We smelled flowers and talked to neighbors and found ease.

Today would be my Mother's 90 th birthday. 

Which mskes it a Super Swell Day! I serve Dan and i salads of kilauea greens, chopped almonds and lilikoi cheve with a n asian dressing before to go to the St. Regis Hotel for a celebration dinner. How I Love my Mother! Today Shirley Temple was on TV, a sign ! And now fancy shmancy! She taught me to be Proud of who I Am, and we walked into the hotel with Pilgrim as if we 'owned the joint'.

Dan and I ordered the ahi sandwich and avocado sushi. Pilgrim behaved perfectly. We listened to Fly Ne To the Moon, another of Char's favorites! She was definitely enjoying her 'Swell Day' with us here in Paradise.

Tuesday

Coffee is the first order of the day. I get so exited, i want to plan tomorrow every day! But we have too resist since each day is Awesome!

So now that it has come: Anini Bay and the Hanalei Dolphin top the bill. After coffee on the bluff we pack it up and drive East a bit. It's a pleassnt day, yesterday's outing created enough sun scorch that I want to avoid burning my lower lip and chest today. Did I mention we have a red convertible?

The waters of Anini are gentle and Dan immediately spots two turtles swimming offshore.

Two dog's come from a manicured hedge to play with Pilgrim; one a gray pitbull/ bulldog mix, the other a doberman pincher.

At first we try to shoo the dogs away but they seem mild nannered and after the initial sniffing, move along. Pilgrim wades into the water and seems to enjoy it!

When hunger arises, we return to The Cliffs to freshen up and drive into Hanalei.

We resign from ordering beer with lunch, 2 can add $15.00 to the tab! We order Dolphin Salads and are quite content.

At the Waipa Farmer's Market we buy greens, pineapple, limes, bananas, lilikoi chevre, ginger and lasagna!

It is HOT and Mr P wants to go home.

I nap before yoga but decide not to go. We spend sunset on the bluff and look forward to greens and an italian feast

We settle outdoors until the last bird sings ;) aloha

What's your Dog do?

I guess I have an attitude about this:

He's a cadaver dog :-/

He's written a book and we're on a book signing tour.

He's participating in the Eukanuba Hawaiian Dog Show.

He's a hearing ear dog.

He's trained to answer the phone.

He's a weather dog, his tail shows which direction the wind is coming from.

He makes me laugh!

With flatulence and the resulting noxious fumes, his tail worked well to displace foul air.

Monday

We awoke refreshed. Unsure of Pilgrim's ability to stay close we kept him on leash.

He proved himself trustworthy as chickens, pigeons and Ne Nes padded by, creating a tropical musical just for him:)

We ate and packed a cooler heading to Hanalei Bay for an easy morning stroll. 

Lol/ not so much!

Pilgrim steals the show, like the beach was the catwalk. He pranced and old men and babes came, bearing compliments and loving admiration. If he had a bone for every adoring glance he could build himself a dog house.

It was exhausting for all.

We left around noon to freshen up and complete our shopping in Kapaa, also catch a Kauai wrap while we're near the Olympic Cafe.

Pilgrim was out most of the day. The Blazers  player basketball, i finished W is for Wasted and Mr P gathered strength for the weekly Pupu party at the Pavilion. He again was accosted:-/

I love it when people ask what he is trained to do?

But that's another post.

We settled on the bluff to watch albatross sail like kites across the sky, then home for dinner

Mind Wanting More

My favorite moment of the first day involved Albatross, sailing through the air like calligraphy, at sunset. Thin lines as wide as eagle's wings, lazily moving upon air currents beyond our Cliffs. 

Which reminded me of this poem:

Only a beige slat of sun
above the horizon, like a shade pulled
not quite down. Otherwise,
clouds. Sea rippled here and
there. Birds reluctant to fly.
The mind wants a shaft of sun to
stir the grey porridge of clouds,
an osprey to stitch sea to sky
with its barred wings, some dramatic
music: a symphony, perhaps
a Chinese gong.

But the mind always
wants more than it has –
one more bright day of sun,
one more clear night in bed
with the moon; one more hour
to get the words right; one
more chance for the heart in hiding
to emerge from its thicket
in dried grasses — as if this quiet day
with its tentative light weren’t enough,
as if joy weren’t strewn all around.

 

[Poem by Holly Hughes, sent to me by Lisa Murray.]Only a beige slat of sun
above the horizon, like a shade pulled
not quite down. Otherwise,
clouds. Sea rippled here and
there. Birds reluctant to fly.
The mind wants a shaft of sun to
stir the grey porridge of clouds,
an osprey to stitch sea to sky
with its barred wings, some dramatic
music: a symphony, perhaps
a Chinese gong.

But the mind always
wants more than it has –
one more bright day of sun,
one more clear night in bed
with the moon; one more hour
to get the words right; one
more chance for the heart in hiding
to emerge from its thicket
in dried grasses — as if this quiet day
with its tentative light weren’t enough,
as if joy weren’t strewn all around.

 

[Poem by Holly Hughes, sent to me by Lisa Murray.]

Long Day Home

Up at 4, flying at 7.

Pilgrim was magnificent, dozng at our feet un row 6 all the flght, Dan dozed and I read.

In Honokulu he was inspected since we thought it best to 'declare' him!

Our flight to Lihue was a breeze. A thirty dog helped we with my Passion Orange Guava juice. We drove North to check into The Cliffs. Dan ran to Foodland as I unpacked and Pilgrim ate.

The sunset was a hazy pink grey. We all were quite tired:-) happy to settle on the sofa for sushi, a roast chicken, chocolate and banana slices for Pilgrim.

Spa Day

Today we dropped Pilgrim off at Petsmart. In two hours we returned to retrieve one fluffy Golden Retriever! He had the Tangerine Bliss Shampoo. He wanted to go out and roll in the dirt, but I insisted he pee in the front yard on a leash and relieve at the park. 

I must say he has never felt or smelled so soft and sweet!

While ge was getting washed, we packed his suitcase for Kauai.

Kong and peanut butter

50 cups of kibble

A bowl

50 potty bags

1 mickey mouse frisbee

I fuzzy yellow chicken

1 blue lei

He's traveling light!

I must admit when I stretched out my arm across the king sized bed today i didn't mind finding hus silky body next to mine.

Pilgrim get the Green Light

Hi Ms. Gustafson,

 

This message is to inform you that we have received your fax and qualified Pilgrim for entry under the guide dog program.  Your documents will be forwarded to our airport office so a terminal inspection can be scheduled.  Upon arrival please submit the original copy of the health certificate to the inspector.

 

Thank you,

Tiffany
AQS Staff