Good Food. Good Company.

Every summer that I have lived in Hawaii, my housemate goes to Mexico for the majority of the summer. It is not unusual for people to look for a sub-letter in these type of situations.

Last summer was not a pleasant experience. I was glad that I had a job that took me out of my house for 8 days at a time so I could easily avoid the less than peaceful environment that was my home. Coming into this summer I was a little nervous as I had no desire to have a repeat of last year.  

Thankfully this summer was completely different. Katie was starting work at PQ and needed a temporary place to be as she looked for more permanent housing in town. Having been through the process when I moved here, I was glad I had the opportunity to lend a helping hand.  

It definitely was a win-win on so many levels. 

Auntie Des, A co-worker who was there when the ambulance came to pick me up, spread some aloha to the two of us by treating us to breakfast at Hawaiian Style Cafe. Good company and good food can't help but lift the spirits. So, so blessed. 

Mahalo Auntie!

My Cup Overfloweth

 

Today was filled with a roller coaster ride of emotions that ended with some deep gratitude for 1. Rainbows 2. Thinking you only have one left of something and discovering that that one thing is hiding one more 3. Gleaning new thoughts while reading a book for the second time because you can tell you aren't the same person you were when you first read it 4. Ferns and the land metaphors they possess 5. Friends and family that are so, so supportive and 6. Three little words that I have been waiting, hoping, and praying to hear for the last 100 days. Today they finally came. #day102 #happytears #spellingstressedbackwards #iheartnature #itjusttakesonephonecall #mycupoverfloweth #whatajourney

Happy 36th to Me

The Good Ol' 4th

Nothings says "Happy Birthday American" like corn hole, grilling on the front lawn, a flag cake, and a fireworks display over the water. It seems little pieces of all of the places that I have lived seep into this day of celebration. Corn hole might as well be a sport in North Carolina. Fireworks over the waters of Lake Huron or the Black River where a childhood staple in Michigan. Raspberries where picked straight from the plant in Pennsylvania. And what would the good ol' 4th be like without cookout food with old and new friends? My heart sang as I was able to walk to this little get together and experience the traditions of the day.

Land Metaphor

 

I needed some pineapple for my oatmeal this morning. So I walked out the front door and picked this little guy. Not huge but over the past 1.5-2 years he has been using what he has to grow with little to no care or attention. When I think about where I was two years ago, when he started growing, it is hard to believe I was in Pennsylvania packing up my car with all that I owned preparing for a road trip before moving to an island in the middle of the Pacific. The inside of this pineapple, in all of its juicy sweetness, had some bad spots just as my journey has had amazing times and some very hard moments. But I have been learning to be more attentive to my needs to take better care of myself through those times. My hope is that the next metaphorical pineapple I harvest in 2 years will be bigger, healthier, and even sweeter. #day92 #giftfromtheland #landmetaphor #nocaneforthisadventure #bigislandbliss #alohaaina

Botanical Gardens

 

Walking through places like this I somehow instinctively begin to whisper. 

So thankful for 

1. Nature 

2. Color 

3. Warm breezes 

4. Fresh air and 

5. Peaceful moments when all you hear are birds chirping and the rustling of the trees  

#day78 #hawaiianjungle #bigislandbliss #basicallymybackyard #iheartnature

I think I have found my spot.

It makes me wonder what Eden was like?

Hilo Gems

A glimpse of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on a clear day

An early morning oasis from behind bamboo

The smell of plumeria

The sound of water falling on my walk home

The beauty of a trees roots as they do the best they can  in the toughest of soils. 

What beauty would we miss if the ground did not give them trouble?

The gems of Hilo.

Just Keep Creating

As I still unable to go back to work, I have been trying to keep myself busy in other ways. Sitting is still a little tricky as I don't really last very long without my pain levels increasing. So I am pushing my creativity in the normal daily functions of life as well as the ways I am choosing to create. Crochet, I discovered, can be done laying down. And so the palm tree bunting took shape. With watercolor as another option, I keep pushing myself to just keep creating.

Feel the Shake

Woke up this morning at my usual time - just before 7am. Then, as if the earth was my alarm clock, my bed started shaking and things started rattling. The shaking lasted for about 10 seconds.

I have felt a couple of earthquakes in my life. One was actually in North Carolina, believe it or not. However, this was the longest and the most powerful of my experiences to date.

Just a friendly reminder that there can be trouble in paradise.

Big Island Brawl

After living on the Island for over 2 years now, I finally made it to my first Roller Derby! I have had this on my Hawaii Hit List for an age. I am so thankful I am able to move around enough to be out and about a little more. This was quite the introduction into the sport as this brawl was an international competition. Teams from Japan, New Zealand, the mainland and different Hawaiian Islands came to jam. I was so grateful for the run down on the rules of the game in my program. So many moving pieces and whistles. If you wanted to watch a game where there is constant movement,  people slamming into each other, and both teams are earning point simultaneously where you don't have to also keep track of a ball or a puck, then I would highly recommend Roller Derby.

One Step at a Time

Today I am thankful for 1. Proof of progress as my walking stamina increases a little more every day 2. Bridges allowing beautiful views 3. Blooming plumeria 4. Outings to hidden places that spark creativity #day50 #proudofmy40minutemile #putonefootinfrontoftheother #drinkinginblossoms #iheartnature #bigislandbliss #thanksannette

The Much Needed Outing

I am oh so grateful for 1. Drives down old highways that lead to hidden markets 2. Shaved ice and 3. Accidental photos reminding me of surfaces my feet haven't been able to walk on in weeks. #day39 #oldmamalahoahighway #hakalaumarket #eatingshavedicetakesskill #bigislandbliss #iheartoutings #smallstepsforward #fresheyes #thanksannette

Back to the Drawing Board

I am happy to report that I am no longer confined to my back. Now have the ability to lay on my sides which opens up the possibilities for other forms of entertainment during the day. With mother's day and two birthdays around the corner, I decided to give watercolor pencils a try. 

And here are the results:

The Days Start to Blend

As the days start to blend together shining moments of gratitude appear as I fill in the spaces of coloring pages 2. Open the door to a surprise guest with treats and perfect timing and 3. Blend the old with the new as an app aides in my goal to learn Morse code. #day31 #adultcoloringbooks #thanksannette #morsecodemaycomeinhandysomeday #exercisethebrain

The Healing Power of Nature

I am grateful for an invitation from friends allowing a little self administered aqua-therapy in a pool while looking at the ocean. Magic. 2. Mint cookies (mint anything really) 3. Naps in nature #day28 #thehealingpowerofnature #gomintorgohome #iheartwater #thanksruth

A Reminder

Today I am grateful for 1. Rice cookers because they make cooking rice way too easy. 2. Water in all of its forms. I wouldn't exist without it. 3. A t-shirt that was given to me with a graphic of a spine printed down the back. I feel I am gently reminding my body of how it is supposed to be every time I wear it. #day25 #iheartjasminerice #waterisamazing #icepackrotation #spinewear #thanksruth

Passing the Time

Am thankful for...
1. The game Mastermind 2. FaceTime/Skype 3. The ability to play said game with my niece via said technology while existing on two different islands in two different oceans on two different days (she is 11 hours ahead and therefore lives in the future). 4. Mini binders because they can hold a tangible, organized file of information that is jumbled in my brain. #day23 #thewondersoftechnology #classicgamesneverdie #organizationhelpsputthemindatease #iheartmyfamily #halfaworldaway

Added Bonus

So thankful for 1. notes and surprise goodies in the mail from dear friends 2. Late night target runs to restock the pantry (I think I am good for the next 6 months) 3. Pineapple in my first bowl of oatmeal in 2.75 weeks. (Was able to make it myself) And 4. (Added bonus) The SmartKart. I know why the seat has a weight sensitive safety feature but there were times when I wish it didn't. #day23 #smartKartlicense #crossthatoffthebucketlist #acandybarshomeisinthefreezer #snailmailsurprises #hantronisthebest #targetafter10

I Am No Michaelangelo

When I decided that Promise would be my word for the year I would never have imagined that by Mid-April I would be drawing the word on my ceiling with fine-tip markers rigged to the end of a hiking pole. Yet that is where I am at on my journey- flat on my back constantly staring at a word that has the power to draw up hope. No one has promised me anything concerning my recovery. Uncertainty reigns. I have promised myself that I will work as hard as I can to get to 100%, clearing a path for possibility. I still believe my life is full of promise, for I can look back and see how far I have come. I understand setbacks are inevitable, but the unpredictable moments of the future can also provide space for small victories that can build into something more. For me, that thought alone only stokes the fire of hope and promise. #day22 #arttherapyisreal #ruthlesstrust #holdingontothepromise #ceilingart #Iamnomichaelangelo

Mind-Body Connection

Top three for the day: a. informational charts that blow my mind and get the old synapses firing. B. words like kerfuffle. C. Ice cream therapy. We all need it every now and then. Today was a much needed session. #day20 #...,--- /-.-.,---,---,.-.. #mindbodyconnection #iheartdairy #marillacuthburttalk

Entertainment

So, so thankful for the Hawaii State Public Library System! It feeds the mind and connects all of the libraries on all of the islands for even greater access to the written word. 2. Phone conversations full of promise (Yes I still use a flip phone. They make me feel smart) 3. Mini office supplies in origami boxes. The practical possibilities are endless. #day18 #wereadtoknowwearenotalone #thankyoutaxdollars #thewordboreddoesnotcompute #flipphonegettingthejobdone #iheartorigami

Easter

When I think about Christmas and Easter, songs from my childhood instantly come to mind. Secret Ambition from the album I 2 (eye) is not typically thought of as an Easter song. However when I watched the video on YouTube I was instantly thankful for key 90s fashion pieces (vests in particular), songs with guitar solos, and all artists out there that record music videos through the decades fully knowing that a video might come back to haunt them. (The things I love about this video are just too numerous to list.) I am also thankful for the darkness the back of my eye lids provide as my hours of sleep have been slowly increasing. And breakfast for lunch. Thanks Auntie Lyn! #day17 #ihearthe90s #kenspancakehouse #gotosleepAuntieHeathercloseyourlittleeyes #cantbeatasundaynap #dramaticsongsmakemesohappy

Talk Story

 

Shout out to Talk Story hours with friends that have hilarious shirts (something didn't feel right during exercise), who bring nature's healing fragrance in a gardenia blossom (natural aromatherapy stress relief). Visitors are always welcome! I am also grateful for the human body. Although mine isn't in the greatest shape at the minute I am still blown away by everything that it does and how it is constructed. And of course that an image like this is even possible. #day16 #L5S1pancake #Talkstorytime #thankssomuchforcalling #drinkintheblossoms #moreofmethenyouwantedtosee

My Sister

Top 3 gratitudes today: 1. Engineering ideas that actually work better than imagined (hiking pole + electrical tape + pill bottle cap + markers = stylus for ceiling art project). 2. Sisters, older ones specifically are pretty great. They were chosen to pave the way in life and had no real say in the matter. Mine is the best and am so glad she was born today, 2.25 years before me. 3. Quotes that help put the hard days in perspective. #day15 #thesunwillcomeouttomorrow #artisfun #embracethemess #sisterssistertherewereneversuchdevotedsisters

It's the Little Things

Today I feel a deep gratitude for the people who a working so hard to help me get better. Their kind words and gestures help soothe the deepest pain. I am too grateful for my past-self thinking of my future-self when my present-self remembers a peppermint candy in my bag that I just knew I would find refreshing after maneuvering with my loaned cane companion (which I am very thankful for as well). Lastly I am grateful for painter's tape. This blue non-sticky-residue tape allows crazy ceiling art projects to transpire while feeling secure that it won't fall on my face while I sleep. #day13 #arttherapy #tessaisstillthegreatest #iheartmint #ptkicksmybutt

Attitude of Gratitude

As I have learned while working at Pacific Quest, gratitude is so important in keeping things in perspective. As the mental challenge of my situation is getting tougher more that time passes, I have decided to dive into this attitude of gratitude. 

And so it begins...

Three things I am thankful for: the person/people who made the sunroof a reality. 2. Layers of clouds. 3. A Friend that comes out of Longs with refills of your meds, robin eggs, and chocolate milk. #Tessaisthebest #eastercandywillsoonbegone #outings #day12.5 #ceilinghandlesaresooohelpfultoo

My Current View

Well it happened. My first ride in an ambulance. On April 1, 2017 at 5:50am I was picked up off the bathroom floor at work, put on a bed with wheels, loaded into an ambulance. The pain I was feeling was no joke. It started the previous day. I was leading exercise as my job required. I felt something amiss as I was doing step-ups on a wall. I stopped. I tried lunges. I was loosing strength. I finished the group with arm exercises. I tried to stretch to get my body back into line. I went and laid down for 30 minutes and then stood up to find that my spine was no longer straight. My left hip was sticking out, and it would not go back. Pain levels increased as my ability to stand decreased.

"Heather you have to make it through the day," I told myself. "You have a job to do."

How I made it through is a wonder to me as I have hours now to think. I asked for help, and my co-worker's rose to the occasion. 8 days later with a second ER visit under my belt, I lie in bed thankful for my imagination. Getting to the bathroom is an experience I have to plan out. I have to make sure everything is ready and nothing is in my way. I am grateful I have no stairs to climb and only one corner to go around. I too am grateful for my housemate as she brings be food and makes sure all of my water bottles are full before heading into work.

I have high hopes that this will all be over soon. But then I realize the severity of my situation and pray that however long it takes, I have the strength to make it through one day at a time. For now, I will just have to get used staring at my ceiling.

Labor of Love

I spent the day with my friend Annette and her husband out on their property in the district of Puna. Over 10 years ago they purchased this piece of land and have been working in small increments to make it ready for a home. The picture above does not even begin to showcase all the work they have put into it. I can only imagine the hours they have spent clearing the jungle that is known as Puna. The thick foliage and the lava rock terrain have presented challenge after challenge. Still they press on. They know and see in their mind's eye what they final product will be. With each day they work, this land becomes more and more a labor of love. For they know that fruit they plant today is for the future harvest. And that future gets closer and closer with ever passing hour.

I am excited to see the final product and I have only invested one day. With the years they have invested, I can't even imagine how they feel.

Pololū Paradise

Valentine's Day

That mountain. This Island. Both have found a special place in my heart.

Oceans, Ponds, and Pools

Reading by the calm waters. Hearing the waves crash at the beach further down the road. Turtles hanging in the tide pools. Lunch with friends at Ponds.  I am happy to be surrounded by water. Nothing relaxes the mind and soul the exact same way.

Stat Card

Christmas Cookies

Putting up Christmas Lights.  Check

Making Christmas Cookies. Check. Check.

Decorating Christmas Cookies to represent the perfect man for you. 

Hilariously priceless.

A Very Merry Kauluwehi Wreath Workshop

Bucket List Item: 

Learn how to make a wreath

Opportunity: 

A Very Merry Kauluwehi Wreath Workshop

Hawaiian word lesson:
Kauluwehi means  to decorate/adorn, especially with greenery; richly verdant. 

The Experience: 

• Hiking through nature, seeing snow-capped Mauna Kea
• Finding native plants perfect for using on wreaths in a group of complete strangers ready to create. 
• Learning about endangered species, sharing techniques and best practices. 
• Surprising yourself and others in your creation. 
• Having so much fun that another one just had to be created.

 

Central Christian Christmas

That little white church on the corner with the white picket fence. That church that has been in the town of Hilo for over 100 years. That little church is where I have decided to go and to be. To put my hands to work. To use what I was taught year after year at my home church growing up.

How I love the Christmas season. With all of the twinkle lights and green and red. Fluffing branches. Tying bows. No matter where I live, the same feeling of warmth always comes. And in this little white church, this year will be no different.

Language of the Heart

"Hula is the language of the heart, therefore, the heartbeat of the Hawai'ian people."

                                                             -Kalakaua 

 

I had the wonderful privilege of seeing that very thing displayed in the younger generation. 

 

While sitting in the bleachers, I lady turned to me and asked "Who are you here watching?" 

I replied, "Oh no one. I don't know any of them." 

She looked at me surprised, wondering why someone would come to spend a day sitting in uncomfortable bleachers. I chatted with her a little more and found out that her two granddaughters were in the competition. 

I freely admit that I know very little about Hula. I decided to come to this competition to learn more, to be immersed with the culture. I can imagine how much time and energy they put learning the dance. The hours of practice. 

 

I found the solo hula event the most fascinating, for even though I didn't know anything about the story each was telling or the rules of technique, I could tell who was going to win. When she danced, she moved beyond the technique. She moved beyond the musicality. She wasn't going through a checklist in her head. She was truly dancing from the heart.

First Friday

 

On the first Friday of every month the streets of Downtown Hilo are busy with activity as the shops and restaurants stay open later, galleries have special exhibits, and music is played at different venues around town. The first Friday of November takes it to the next level as it is deemed "Black and White Night." People are encouraged to dress in black and white as they was through the streets watching all of the special performances by local artists. My friend Annie and I headed to the streets to take in all that was being showcased.