Home Again, Adventure Taken

 My adventure took me to the Big Island, Hawaii to visit a friend. Each morning we started with a visit and tea. Then an adventure!

Day One

The beaches are volcanic, but I wanted to see the beach. Off we went down the road to the nearest beach to my friends house. Though it wasn't the type of beach to lay out in the sun it was beautiful to listen to the waves touch the ground at the shoreline.

Then because we were sitting on a volcano on the Big Island there was a hike to see the caldron steam.

A stop at a local fruit stand intrigued me with varieties I had never heard of.

A walk in my friend's garden and we spotted passion fruit hanging from the vine. One ripe one was enjoyed by me. Oh, I do love passion fruit (lilikoi). I enjoyed it fresh from the vine, but also in a jelly and shaved ice. 

The fruit from the palm trees in my friend's garden were not edible, but looked beautiful hanging from the tree.

Day Two 

 A friend of my friend invited us to come for lunch and a walk in her garden.

From the time I stepped off the plane the vegetation of the island amazed me. It was like a tropical paradise or maybe Jurassic Park live and in person.

I almost forgot to tell you about stopping at a garden nursery.

OK, I was besot/enamored by the flowers.

Day Three

We visited a chocolate farm where the owner/farmer gave us a tour. Beside growing and producing chocolate, the family has a farm to table restaurant in town where the food comes from this 3 acres farm. I was amazed at the variety of fruits and vegetables grown here. There were even beehives with busy bees producing honey, a pond for the frogs and dragonflies, and a small rice bog.

The farmer said there were wild pigs hiding in the vegetation. The island has quite a population of wild pigs and some wild chickens. I did see one family of pigs along the road.

Here is the rows of chocolate plants. Can you see the pods?

The farmer sharing his stories that were fascinating to hear. The farm is organic. They have a program where they bring in high school age kids to work on the farm and learn about bio-diversity.

Even vanilla grew here. It wound it's vines through the trees. All very lush.

Again it felt like walking into the jungle. I did bring home a few chocolate bars and mosquito bites.

Since I took so many pictures to share, I will continue on another day this week. For now all I can say is my adventure was about spending time with a friend and amazing vegetation, plus good food coming from my friend's kitchen.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Brrrr Basket and a Caring Heart

 

Not that pretty of a picture today. But a picture of caring, of saying "I hope you feel better soon". It has been a week of being sick. Amazingly, I had not been sick for about 15 years. I must say, it just isn't fun! Not sure if it was the flu or just a bad cold; but I think I will survive.

My neighbor messaged me to let us know she would be gone for a few days this week. I said we would be here, as we are healing. A little while after that there was a knock on the door and a message from our neighbor saying she had left some soup by our door. That felt so cared for. Then the next day, our daughter brought more soup. We have the best soup bar at the market by our apartment, I must remember that in the future.

I have often thought about making a "Brrr Basket" as a gift during the winter months. What would I put into it? It would be a basket of cozy things for a cold winter day.

A mug

Hot chocolate mix with marshmallows

Cozy socks

Good book or puzzle

Warm knit gloves

A cozy robe or sweater

Of course, some tea

What would you put in a Brrrr Basket?

My friend that's husband passed away recently, when asked what she needed said "send donuts". Are donuts something that would comfort you? I think I will look for a donut shop near her and send a gift certificate.

My post isn't very beautiful today, but the beauty is in the caring for others. The small things of saying "you are cared for".

Sending love,

Marilyn

Adventure or Not to Adventure?

Picture taken a few days ago in Port Townsend, Washington

I have an adventurers heart, my "live-in" gardener, not so much. I love it when I find a friend that likes to take adventures with me. My "live-in gardener" loves to be snuggled in his chair, reading. Now nothing wrong with that for sure, I like that too. But I do anticipate adventures from time to time.

The dictionary says an adventurer is "someone who seeks dangerous or exciting experiences: a person who looks for adventures".  Not all my adventures are dangerous for sure, but I do occasionally like a bit of a thrill.

A few years ago, as my grandson, arrived at an age that I thought he might like an adventure, I started planning one special adventure each summer. The first one was to fly to California and do a bit of swimming (even with a swimming dog). Then there was white water rafting. He was a bit terrified until he did it. Then he wanted to immediately go back and do it again. Then there was ziplining. Again "terrified" but loved it. In 2024 was a Big Foot boat excursion down the Willamette River and Columbia Rivers. This past year was a hot air balloon ride at dawn.

Those are all a bit "terrifying", but fun. This is just what my adventurers heart loves. As a young girl I would do crazy stunts on my bicycle or climb a tree and swing from the branches. This terrified our neighbors. They were sure I was going to kill myself.

There are those "terrifying" type of adventures, but some adventures are more of solitude or time spent with a friend. I consider my drives and tea times under the apple tree branches as an adventure, an adventure in friendship spent together. Or I might say "come along with me for a drive to the beach".  

Do you have an adventurers heart or would you prefer being tucked by the fireplace with a good book? A good book can be an adventure for sure. Right now, I am reading a book by Joyce Maynard, The Bird Hotel, and it has taken me to a lake by a volcano in Mexico. Oh, how even a book can whisk us away on an adventure.

Sending Love,

Marilyn

Seasons of Friendships

  In the Bleak Mid-Winter

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

    This past week I took the time just to "be", to think, and to be tidy at my desk. It was time in this "bleak mid-winter" to just sit with my thoughts. Tax season will be here before we know it, and it was time to get my papers in order. In doing so, there was time to think. I thought of people I have known and know. What hit me was the seasons of friendship. Some friends come into our lives for a short time and some for a lifetime.        

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart"   Eleanor Roosevelt
The flowers showed up in a friend's garden, and they felt like friends themselves. Hello little snowdrops, Hello hellebore!

Then on Saturday a dear friend that I have known since high school passed away. He will be missed, a lifetime friend, a dear friend.

Then this week I exchanged phone numbers and a message on my phone with a new neighbor. I wondered, would she become a confident, a close friend, or just for a season a friend that says, "how are you doing?".

Often, I burn a candle on these bleak winter mornings. I read and I ponder.

The book I am reading this week is 101 Teas to STEEP before you die. Fascinating to think like that. The book is a good primer of tea and even though I have learned a lot in the past, there is always more to learn.

So, I sit here with my tea this morning, pondering the mysteries of friendship.

A friend for a brief season made the cup. A friend I love dearly gave me the glass pitcher.

Again, for a season we find friendship in many forms.

Sending love,

Marilyn

The Second Half

The road back home was more about people and produce/food.

The first stop heading north was at a dear friends home for lunch. She always surprises me by the creative foods she shares. It was so good to sit awhile and just chat. Then for lunch she started with nibbles smoked under a dome. Then there was melon infused with lemoncello and a delicious chicken salad with tea.

 

 

That evening we continued our journey north and had dinner with dear, very long time friends.

The next morning we headed for Solvang, California, a Scandanavian community.  

I had seen some of the sights on previous stops, but this time we were searching for a troll by Thomas Dambo. Nope, that wasn't him, but we knew he was in the area.

 

We found him at the art museum, taking up the space of the full room.

After our stop to visit the troll and have lunch, we continued venturing north.

All along the highway we saw these bells and I was reminded of my California history from school. The bells were spaced along the Camino Real as the priests would travel from mission to mission they would ring the bell to let residence know they were in the area. It was fun to see they have been preserved. 

There were many windmills on the back roads and we enjoyed discovering some new roads to travel.

 A lot of amazing trees and brown grass and hills along the way.

Our goal for the next stop was Hollister, California at Apricot King farm. After all it was apricot season and that part of California grows that best apricots I have ever had. You just can't find a good apricot at the local market and I wanted some good ones.

I buy dried apricots from this farm each Christmas, but I wanted some fresh ones.

 

 

The farm reminded me so much of my grandfather and uncles apple farms when I was growing up.  The owner greeted us like long lost family and gave us the full tour of their facility, introducing us to the workers. What a delight. Can you believe that visiting an apricot farm would have been one of the top highlights for me of the trip. I loved it.

We brought home some fresh apricots and I have one pie in the freezer for this winter, but a small batch of jam too. They also grow walnuts, and a few walnuts also came along with us. The owner kept saying they are better than what we can get at Costco. 

Apricots drying in the sun.

OK, it was time to continue heading north and across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Just across the bridge we stopped by the bay for clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls. No picture of the food, but it was delicious. I did say this second half, headed home, was about produce and food.

Once we got to my hometown, where my sister still lives, there was a stop to place flowers on my grandfather and mother's graves. The cemetery is very old and not cared for as I feel it should, this reminds me I need to write someone and complain.

We met my sister and her husband for tea and French pastries and a visit while in town.

That evening we had dinner with a dear friend and I forgot to take a picture. It was a good, good visit.

With a brief check online I saw that Corey from the blog,  French le Vie, was visiting her mom in California. We would be driving right through the town where her mother lives and I said we must stop for a brief face to face meet and a hug. I have followed Corey's blog for 20 years and I was thrilled to finally meet her. What a treat.

Her mother's garden was enchanting.

I could imagine taking a nap right there in the garden.

 

One more stop at the Olive Pit. OK, don't laugh, but they have the best olives. We stocked up on olives and brought them home. And home is where I am now, resting, a good massage, and resuming day to day life. It was a good trip, but did I say exhausting. It was like a farewell to friends and places of memories one more time.

Now back to living in the Pacific Northwest and all the beauty that surrounds me each and every day. I love my little corner of the world.

Hoping each of you has adventures of memories, then has time to return home exhausted and happy to be home.

Sending love,

Marilyn