kaua'i...constant beauty!

We saw so many amazing things in Kaua'i. On Thursday evening we treated ourselves to a boat trip to the Na Pali Coast....it was a sunset cruise. Dinner was served, delicious drinks at the bar and the crew were very accommodating. Three very nice young men...taking care of a crowd of about 30 people, of which 8 were our group of ladies. As the Captain steered the boat, the two crew members tended the passengers....assisted by carrying drinks, steadying us as we walked about the decks( the sea were rough that evening) and even took care of the few seasick tourists.Fortunately I had remembered to take the sea sickness pill. I often succumb to Mal De Mer, but I evaded it this trip and had a wonderful time.

I take back everything bad I ever said about "buttcracks". Kaua'i seems to have a completely different variety then the ones seen in Kansas City! I photographed it, of course, for purely scientific and educational reasons! Enjoy!!

PS this is one of the crew members! He didn't mind!!

Goodbye...Kaua'i..it makes me sad to leave!

Our bags are packed, we are ready to go....leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...

Wrong..I have a goal... coming back in one year to hike the trails and pack in to areas only accessible by foot or kayak..my training plan for the next year is under development. There are two of us that are planning and possibly a third coming in by kayak....will keep you posted ..anyone else interested??

Kaua'i...paradise!

Wow! Kaua'i is awesome..our weather has been beautiful, warm and sunny. Last night we went to a Luau..more about that later..now leaving to go on a Heli ride!!

Baby Love!

Here they are ..my pride and joy....sweet little grandchildren. Growing older does have it's rewards. The babies make up for my wrinkles, gray hair and mid drift bulge! David and Krysten are doing such a great job raising these little ones. After spending a week in Kodiak, all the memories came back. Sleepless nights, endless laundry, meal times and burps, with every shirt or sweater smelling like baby spit up. I wish I could bottle that fragrance and market it...I bet lots of Gammaws and Pawpaws would be lining up for it!!! And the smell of baby lotion can reduce me to tears!!! A new twist on Aroma Therapy..I could teach a class!

Spring has Sprung!

Our little camping club has a tradition...we always collect some flowers or foliage from our yards at home to bring on the trip. However when we camp in March, it is usually pretty slim pickin's from the growing beds!! This is an example of what is available in March...dried sedum, vinca, evergreen, pampas grass, ivy...but just wait a few weeks!!! The flowers are coming up and we will have beautiful color in just a few weeks. This past trip, after the snow I thought the "flower arrangement" looked amazing! But now I am ready for warm weather..no more snow please..let's have spring!! Soon!!!

"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden" Click on the Grooveshark link to hear it!

The Wall

Well, here we are! The last time all of us "kids" will be together at the old house!

On Saturday March 27th, we loaded cars, trucks and dumpsters. We hauled, swept and painted. We drank a little beer and ate sliders. ( White Castle burgers) I am ashamed to say that we demolished the box of thirty..that is an average of five each...a family tradition. Luckily this tradition is only celebrated about every ten years..I don;t think our coronary arteries could withstand more.

Mom is cozy and settled, quite happily, in her new digs, a retirement apartment. My brothers can heave a sigh of relief...they no longer have to worry with this house that has been falling apart since Dad passed 30 years ago!! All is well!!!

And whoever hits the Alton Goodwill in the next few days will score some major vintage treasures!!!!

The wall heighth chart is my dad's art work....still fresh after 30 years..he took great pride in measuring how tall we were getting. We had to poke fun at my older brother who is actually shorter now then when last measured!!! And how my younger sister was very short!!!

Time flys when we are having fun! Click on my grooveshark link..."Who says you can't go home?"

You can't go back!

This is the little playhouse my dad built for my sister and me many years ago! It was a pretty thing when it was new. We spent lots of fun times in that miniature house. Playing with our dolls, coloring, sewing and hiding from our brothers!!!

Mom loved that we had a playhouse..it was out on the edge of the lot..far away from the main house. She was able to enjoy the peace and quiet of her own home when my sister and I were out there. She used to even pack a lunch for us!! Now I understand and I remember doing the same thing for my kids!! Packed a lunch and sent them down the lake in their little fishing boats!! AHHHH!!!!

Reality Check! The end of an Era...Dad has been gone for years..passed away even before my first child was born. And now...we have moved Mom into a retirement apartment. She loves it and I can't blame her! It is beautiful, new, clean and the food is good! Plus she has a housekeeper every week. Hey..I want a retirement apartment!!!

So this weekend, we empty out the house and the new owner takes possession in just a week. And I feel really good about it..I have never had problems saying good bye..in fact, I have never figured out if it is an asset or a fault...being able to cut your losses and move on. I lived in that house, with the playhouse, longer then anywhere I have ever lived! And that was only 17 years...what can I say, I have wanderlust! I think that is why I so love to camp. It is that mobility, the change, new surroundings....a drop of Gypsy blood perhaps in my genetic makeup...right along with my French and German heritage.

"There is always a few little pieces you can't find...." Toby Keith "You can't go back" click on the Grooveshark link, please

"I swore I'd never do this anymore. There is always a heartache behind each door"

I love you Toby! This song is soulful!!!