Building Inspectors, well...sort of....

The Poodle Pack can't be left out of the garden building adventure.  Ira and Marley want to make sure the walkway is just right!

Jazzy checks out the fencing material while Marley checks out Jazzy.

Inside the building the Poodles sit and wait for the building to be complete...complete with dog beds!

Big Homey, aka...son, Jeff,  built a garden shed to hold the lawn mower, rake, a shovel or two and probably a bucket. OK... What he really built was a garden cottage.

The Poodles, Jazzy, Ira and Marley think it's their house!

Bubblegum and Firefly Do The Volcano

Lizzi, my most charming and wonderful granddaughter, has been asking to ride on the back of my motorcycle for a few months.  She's 9. I'm 66 and should know better than to let her ride, but...

About three weeks ago, I took her for a test ride to see if she could sit still. First, I had to make sure she could reach the foot pegs. Well, that was a no-brainer...she is blessed with long legs. And, to help her case...she didn't wiggle.  Now it was up to me to live up to my promise.  No problem.

There was an old pair of chaps, still in almost-new condition, taking up space on a shelf in the garage with alot of other motorcycle stuff, and they would do...just fine.  I had her put them on while I marked where I was going to cut to shorten them and then picked up a big old pair of scissors and..cut them! We took them to T-Bell's Leather Works located inside Wendy Love's Leathers, and she measured them for a perfect fit.  Three days later, Lizzi and I picked them up.

When we got the chaps home, I mentioned to her that she could paint anything she wanted on them. She chose a skull with hearts for the pocket, a dog paw for her other legs knee. And, that left the entire back portion of the belt.  Oh, what to do??  It was time for her very own roadname.  I looked at her, with her pink and black dew-rag on her head, a big grin from ear to ear and the name FIREFLY popped into my head. She is THE FIREFLY! 

Firefly paints her back belt with a cute Firefly bug, sparkles and her name.

Well done, Firefly!

Let's ride, Grandma....oops, I mean, Bubblegum!

The next day, the weather wasn't as sparkling as Lizzi's eyes, but a promise is a promise and she was ready to go long before I was. Clothes check. Equipment check.  Motorcycle packed..check.  We are on our way to Mt. St. Helens.

First stop at Burgerville in Toutle for lunch. 46 miles under her chaps. Two thumbs up...ready to climb the hill 52 miles to go!

The road was clear and climbing the mountain was a piece of cake for us Biker chicks and we made it to the Johnston Observatory where the views were breathtaking!

Givin' the volcano our thumbs up...we head into the museum for the fantastic movie of the erruption event

Lizzi was fascinated that I lived through it...cuz..it happened in the OLDEN DAYS!!

The way down the mountain was as beautiful as the way up.  Lizzi sat "icy" in the seat and loved the long sweeping corners and when I passed cars!!

Patti's Restaurant and Gift Store lured us in with the Fresh Cobbler sign. We were treated to a deck dining overlooking the beautiful Toutle River....20 miles out of Toutle. Great place...good food.

Riding makes you very, very hungry!!

We gave the dining two thumbs up and right before we hit the road for the last 60 miles, we met the bears!

Memorable parts of the ride are many, but for me, it was having Lizzi behind me and enjoying something that I love to do.

Knowing that she is a safe riding passenger made her first ride with me even more meaningful as she is precious cargo.

But, the comments we got from many people were the frosting on the ride.  We had comments about how "cool" we looked, "how wonderful for the two of you" and "this is so special for both of you" and my favorite..."she must think you are the coolest grandma, ever."  Lizzi just gave me a hug and said, "YUP!"  It just doesn't get any better than that.

Bubblegum and Firefly!

aloha...and...mahalo

 Patti asked us all a question during our last vacation dinner.

The question was simple.

What was your favorite vacation moment.

I said my favorite moment was being on the catamaran tarp with Caricia.  But I had three more..

Patti said it was the day we arrived at Poipu and the girls saw the turtles. She said it set the tone for the entire trip.

Jav said it was the trip up the Na Pali Coast...and the turtles with the girls.

John said it was the girls and the turtles...hmmmm

Solea said it was the Dolphins on the NaPali coast

Caricia said it was the Dolphins and the ... turtles the first day...

I had more to offer and gave up these:  Jav and the tamales; the rum bar with Patti, my husband going to Maui to see Danielle, Jason and Makenna...and....the expression on Solea's face when she saw her first Dolphin on the boat trip...and, it was the pure joy watching the girls explore the ocean with snorkel gear!
John said it was the best vacation EVER! I agree.

the wonderous Na Pali...

It occurred to me while sitting on the breathable tarp that stretches across the front of the Catamaran I've boarded that this spot..the very spot my butt occupies is one of my favorite places to sit in the entire world that I know...or have experienced. To sit with my body facing into the wind and seeing each wave tumble toward the Cat is a feeling I love...the salt spray, the sun playng peek-a-boo through the clouds always brings out the adrenaline rush! HA!  you thought I was going to say something sweet.  Nope!  I'm a thrill junkey at ehart.  I know the closer we get to the magnificient Na pali cliffs, the waves will get bigger..the drops into the troughs will get deeper and the crashing over the Cat will be...SPECTACULAR!

We left shore at 8am for 5-1/2 hours on one of three Capt. Andy's Catamarans. This is my 6th trip with Andy's boats and I never get tired of it. Patti, Jav and kids are making their first voyage.

The Spinner Dolphins put on a dancing show:  They spun out of the water, chased the boat and played along side the pontoons. They thrilled Solea and Carica with their friendly and seemingly approachable antics.

We passed the pods of dolphins and the waves got bigger, the troughs deeper, the big cat slowed down and into the trough we fell.  The first wave caught Caricia and I a little off-guard. She, being only 100 pounds was pushed almost off the tarp to the galley wall!  I...being just a tad over 100 pounds stayed right where the wave found us! We dubbed ourselves "The Adventure Girls" and assumed the prone position hanging on to the tarp bindings with our heads level with the tarp.  Wave after wave came and we squealed with delight as the boat soared up and into the waves.

The "Adventure Girls" Aunt Pat and Caricia braving the Na Pali Coast waves!

this fish is gold...

About the only thing my husband really likes to do besides read on vacation, is to go deep sea fishing. Mexico, Hawaii...same - same - got ocean-got fish! this time, he had company. Jav went with him. The standard deep sea fishing rule is to share the bounty with the rest of the fisherpeople on the boat. That's cool..

Coming into Port Allen after a hard day fishing on the open sea!

 Javiar

John

Here's the fish..it's pure gold at 15 pounds divided into the cost of the trip that netted ONE fish for 3 fisherpeople...But, itt's not about the cost of the ONE fish....it's did the guys have fun? Do you see the3 grins on their faces?

so...who really caught the fish?  John!



Honu..the turtle

There are a few animals that, when I look at them, I know right away what they symbolize. There are three that speak to my heart for various reasons.  The reasons are very personal.  Oh, I'll share the reasons, 'cuz the telling doesn't diminish the emotion of the reason.  Hawaii is the turtle...Honu. NOTE TO SELF:  Read Hawaiian Folklore about turtles.

The first afternoon at the condo, we walked along the ocean wall and were happily greeted by two Green Sea turtles playing in the surf. I tried to capture photos, but was unsuccessful; so I took pictures of Solea and Caricia trying to get photos.  Simply beautiful young women interacting with the wonderous ocean and two playful hono...

 Patti Rodriguez- seawall sitting!

 Solea up close and personal with the turtles.

 Solea and Caricia

Patti, Jav and John: seawall sitting-watching the turtles on Poipu beach.

Tamales...Hawaiian style

So, there we were on the East shore of Kauai on the way to the Kileuea Lighthouse to see the Red Footed Booby Birds, the Lawyson Albatross and the mystical NeNe Goose (which we saw!!)  Along side the road..ocean side, is a sign that says, Tamales! A roar went up from the van and Patti Urban Rodriguez who was driving, pulls the big red van over to the Tamale stand. One of the great things about a blended/married to someone not of my cultural roots, is that we get to glimpse a part of their roots.  Patti's husband, Javiar, being Hispanic, speaks fluent Spanish and as he conversed with the roadside vendors we all got excited to eat freshly made authentic Tamales...in Hawaii!  A few feet away sat a deserted oceanside picnic table where we hungrily ate the Tamales which were critiqued by the Rodriguez family. Knowing nothing about Tamales...I took their critique as gospel as they have elevated Tamale making to a fine-family art. their consensus was there was too much masa in the wrapper. REMINDER TO PAT (Me)..bucket list: go to their house when they make them!!  And, while I'm at it...learn to speak Spanish!

 John, Jav and Patti choosing the Tamales.

 Caricia and Solea check out the view while Jav tells me and John about the Tamales.