Back to reality

When we boarded the plane in Maui to return home the temperature was 82 degrees and when we arrived home in Portland it was 28 degrees.  Reality sucks! MeMa and I had a wonderful time over the holiday, we missed the Little Terrorists and the dogs but it was glorious to be away from all the responsibilities of home and work.  All was not smooth though, but then paradise wouldn't be paradise if the transition was without hurdles.
For starters our flight from Portland was delayed two hours, so add that to the fact that we got to the airport two hours early made for a very leisurely breakfast once we got through security. As airports go, Portland's is very nice.  The flight was wrought with turbulence and half an hour into the flight the young gentleman behind us got quite ill all over the back of our seats and the blanket that I quickly threw over our heads.  The stewardess graciously took it from me and returned with a fresh one.  So we had the smell to deal with all the rest of the trip.
It was raining when we arrived on Maui, but at least it was a warm rain.  Our first stop after picking up the rental car was Costco, conveniently located across the road from the airport. They had my single malt Scotch for a very reasonable price, my shopping was done but willingly pushed the cart while MeMa purchased things like prepared salads, sun screen, orange juice.....such a practical woman.  Then it was off to Sugar Beach Resort were we had a lovely beach front condo on the third floor.

Living room with double doors onto the lanai, which we kept open day and night.




Third floor looking down on the pool area

 

The view from our lanai

Our second day MeMa had booked a tour to the "Road to Hana" which was done in a twelve passenger mini bus.  I recommend this tour over anything else.   I have double vision in my peripheral so MeMa would have been the driver had we not taken the tour.  Half hour into the narrow switchback roads with single lane bridges every few miles we would have had to turn around and not completed the trip.  Our driver and tour guide Tim was fantastic and reciting the history of every landmark and waterfall as though he lived during those ancient times.  The tour also included a catered breakfast and a very nice hot lunch at a flower farm.


Our first photo on the tour "Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees"



One of many waterfalls

Poinsettia tree



Ten of the cutest little piggies on Black Sand Beach



Half drowned but so much fun! We were the only two from the bus that made the hike down to the "Seven Pools"

Can you tell which one is real?

After arriving back to the resort we had a a relaxing meal and watched the sunset.

That night we had record rainfall, and when I stumbled out of bed to start the coffee I smelled dirt!

I looked out to see chocolate brown waves and I could no longer see the sand because of all the debris.  The rains had washed all the debris into the culverts which then drain into the ocean leaving it brown as far as you could see.  And that is the way our beach remained the rest of our stay.  The good thing was that it was just in our area so we could drive five minutes either direction and have clean beaches and blue water.

Regardless of the weather we started out with, Maui was wonderful and we plan on a return trip although probably not over Christmas. Here are some shots of how they decorate there.




Christmas tree with plumaria blossoms



My favorite....wood carving of a Humpback Whale



We also went on a sunset whale cruise, drinks and pupu's  provided.

Happy cruisers



Our first visitors turned out to be a mother, her calf and an escort.
When the humpbacks visit the Islands they don't feed, they are only there to breed and give birth.



"Spy Hop" using his head like a periscope to check us out

When we make a trip to the Islands I always plan on bringing home some new orchid to add to my collection so we planned a trip to "Fragrant Orchids of Maui".  MeMa says this was her favorite day which surprised the heck out of me because she usually rolls her eyes when it comes to my orchids.  The nursery was out in the middle of the rain forest on roads that probably confuse even a resident, but with a few turn backs we managed to get there.  As we stood at the gate one couldn't help but notice the complete lack of man made noise, all you could hear were the sounds of nature.  I then noticed growing in the trees next to the gate several orchids. Stepping forward to get a better look, I bumped the gate and out of nowhere arrived a band of barking dogs.  Being the dog people we are they didn't bark long before they all turned into a mass of wiggling overgrown puppies all vying for our attention.  The owner soon appeared down the garden path so I apologized for turning her guard dogs into puppies to which she said, "Oh no worries, they are just door bells."  We were then shown the way to the orchid house.

In truth I could have gone home with dozens of orchids but I have decided that since my collection is so large that I should limit myself to one new one every time we visit the Islands.....a good plan? I immediately found my orchid .......



Catlaya 'Burana Beauty'

But then the eye roller saw the orchid of her dreams......

Dendrobium 'spectabile' a very unusual species orchid native to Ghana

I would also like to point out that my orchid only cost $15.00 and Mema's cost $50.00.....excuse me while I roll my eyes.

Meanwhile back in the Greenhouse

Every year I tell myself that I need to toughen up and start admiring plants from a distance. Then spring comes and the first one or two greenhouses I visit I'm good, but by the third or fourth I walk out with my hands full with some orchid or other blooming plant that is new to my collection.  Last spring it was the Epiphyllum virus that hit.  It just so happened that it was the second year that my own greenhouse had been up and running and all the plants were blooming their best year ever, including my Night Blooming Cereus, Epiphylum oxypetallum.  I was in Southern Oregon with my father on our "annual father and son fishing trip" and we happened by this nursery and decided to stop in.  I put on my tough face, the one that says looking not buying and went in.  Ten minutes later I returned to the car with this absolutely gorgeous Epyphyllum "Padre" which of course translated means "Father".  How apropos... "Padre .....father and son fishing trip".  It sounded like a good reason to me, but when I brought it home MeMa just shook her head.

Epicactus 'Padre' Epiphylum

It is the most brilliant pink and unlike the night bloomer which blooms and wilts in one evening, this one stays in bloom for about four or five days.  The flower is about six or seven inches in circumference and the plant itself is quite large.  Later that summer we were attending the annual Laurelhurst Neighborhood Garage Sale which is a fund raiser to maintain one of Portland's oldest and historic landmarks.  While MeMa browsed for things we probably didn't need I found a comfortable place to sit and rest.  Anyway as I sat and looked around the landscape I noticed a miniature Epiphyllum that someone planted as an annual, and a couple of pieces just happened to break off and jumped into my shirt pocket.  At the time I will just call it the mystery Epiphylum until it is mature enough to bloom and I can identify it.  I think this is a great genus of plant and I am enjoying the four that I have.

Epicactus 'Deutsche Kaiserin'

My Night Bloomer
 Epiphylum oxypetalum

The mystery epiphylum, growing well and waiting to be identified.

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

As I mentioned in an earlier post the lovely MeMa and I have decided to spend the upcoming Holidays on the island of Maui. We have always made a big to-do of Christmas and New Years at the Manor but they were such an ordeal last year because the daughter's -in -laws were not speaking to each other which resulted in even more hard feelings. So right then and there we looked at each other and said "next year a warm tropical island", and Maui it is. All is well between the two now but our trip is entirely paid in advance and the house sitter is gnashing at the bit to move in so why spoil plans? We will have a family celebration on our return giving the "Little Terrorists two Christmas's, what fun!
I can't but feel a bit like an old scrooge though as I normally decorate the outside with masses of lights and ornaments. This year I put a string of lights in the front gardens Monkey Puzzle tree and MeMa purchased some over sized ornaments.

And in place of the large tree we normally have in the dinning room we placed this ceramic tree that was a family memento of MeMa's, and we splashed a few other decorations around to give a little Christmas cheer.




The nativity



Christmas photo's of our son's above the mantle, a good friend framed and mated it for us.

Last night Mema and I picked up Little Terrorist # 2, Brooklyn and drove downtown to the Macy's store to have pictures taken with Santa. The plan was that we would meet Little Terrorist # 1 Taeya and her parents and auntie and two cousins at Macy's and all have pictures together. We of course arrived at the scheduled time only to get a call that the rest would be another half hour away. Even with the best efforts at distracting Brooklyn he spotted Santa and took off running, climbed into Santa's lap and told him that he wanted a Helicopter. The photographer being well versed in the art of capturing Kodak moments when Kodak moments are made available started snapping shots immediately.




"I want a helicopter"
We didn't even get a chance to remove his jacket.

 Forty five minutes later the rest of the family showed up, and all was going well until Taeya was plopped next to Santa. Even with her cousin Olivia's best effort to hang onto her this was the only picture we could get.

Mia....Brooklyn.....Santa.....Olivia....and "I want my mum" Taeya

Hope you all have a fun Holiday season however you celebrate it and an even better New Year....Aloha!

Office Staff

Ten years ago I suggested to the office staff that we create a more homey atmosphere for ourselves. I suggested plants and an aquarium, the plants were easy since I had a large collection at home. Everyone said they liked the idea of an aquarium so we pooled our money and off I went to the local aquarium store and filled the car with all that I would need. I was advised by the shop owner to purchase just one inexpensive fish to "test the waters", a sacrificial fish if you please. When setting up a new aquarium one almost always has a few losses and since this aquarium was going to be monitored by a bunch of folks that would be a bit of a handful if there were any great losses I agreed with the shop owner and purchased one small orange fan-tailed Lion head Oranda (fancy goldfish). She didn't look like much but the staff soon fell in love with her and I kept praying that I set everything up correctly and she would survive the whole process.

That was ten years ago and the little lion-head has grown to quite the flamboyant office entertainer.

A couple of weeks ago it was brought to my attention that our finny staff member was still the only finny staff member in a very large aquarium. So once again I went to the store and we now have a new member of our staff.

Not as flamboyant as the old girl but they hit it off well these two staff members. I was also informed that they should have names......any ideas would be taken into consideration.

Name The Staff Members

2nd Annual Halloween Parade

Two years ago neighbor and artist Ann Storres asked if I would be interested in growing some giant pumpkins as she was offered seeds from a professional grower. I offered to start them in my greenhouse and successfully raised a couple of flats full. Ann planted several experimental hills of the starts in her front garden. As the giant pumpkins started to appear in the mounds they started attracting a large following. We spent many an hour out talking to neighbors and complete strangers about the pumpkin project. Soon the idea of a Halloween parade came to a discussion and evolved in what we have today, one of the most fun neighborhood draws that we could have imagined. I have a friend that has lived in the same house for more then 25 years and only knows one other neighbor, that is so sad to me. I chose to stay in the city in a community oriented neighborhood, it is also a very diversified neighborhood that we all take pride in.




The Pumpkin Queen
Artist and neighbor
Ann Storres

Giant Pumpkin
Not as big as last years but we had very little growing season this year.

Most everyone came in costume.

The marchers were led by a young trombonist who played "When the Saints Go Marching In" as it was the only complete tune he knew.

The rain held off for the parade.

We had over forty marchers.

Next year we are going to award trophy's for different categories of pumpkins and costumes.

Trick-or-treat!

After the parade which started at 5:00 pm, the trick-or-treaters started making their visits. Our son's and their family's came over for several bowls of MeMa's homemade clam chowder which has been the traditional Halloween meal of our family, yummmmm!