Oh, but there is a crispness in the air... Autumn has arrived... she has me thinking about pulling out the sweaters and cozy blankets... though I still want to run around in my sarongs and summer dresses!! For years, I used to cry and be sad when October rolled around. As I have gotten older, I realized there are beautiful aspects to the other seasons... and the sadness has lessened over the years... spoiled we are here in Southern California... the seasons don't hit us quite as harsh as the rest of the country!! I do have to say though, that when winter gives way to spring, I definitely do a happy dance!!! Ah, but I am getting ahead of myself!!! So to honor Autumn, I will pull out all the rich jewel tones I have found lately....
If it's too chilly and you have to put on some socks, these teal stockings are it!! And the dragonflies are sure to make you feel like summer is still hanging about!!! : )
Oooh I LOVE the COLORS of this Photo!!!! She looks a bit sad.. maybe she, too, is having the October blues.. but let's just pretend she is secretly laughing about something!!!
Poetic....
Mysterious, rich tones... a lovely place to snuggle in on a blustery day with a book and a cup of tea!!!
I love the screen behind her... and her flower hat!! Do you think she is having the blues, too??
Deep emerald green walls with Mermaids and Palm Trees... And that deep red chair for a hot accent!
In Honor of the Blue Moon and full moon in August, I have made it my ritual every August Full Moon to post this video of Stacey and I dancing Hula in the August Full Moonlight in 2010.
I happened upon my photos from a Kauai trip I took a few years back with my daughter. I felt so lucky to go on that trip when we did, since A) Kauai had just had huge storms and flooded, and B) I had Iritis( an eye infection caused by an old cracked filling in one of my molars. It took weeks to figure it out, and ol' one-eyed me researched for hours on the web to find out why I was in this very painful condition since the doctors had no idea...) But that is a story for another day!!! The eye healed just in time to go on vacation!!! And the storms subsided!!! We were so grateful!! I had my Canon AE 1, and my daughter's digital camera.
Of course, the Lovely Ke'e Beach... and Bali Hai.... aka Makana Mountain....
Chicken on the Beach, Chicken on the Beach!!!
Ahhh, Heaven... Can you see the waterfall???
Limahuli Gardens and me and my camera.. in my element!!!
Should I go in to this cave??? Yikes!!!
I decide to brave it!!!
Colorful Rock Growth inside the cave!
My daughter enjoying the hammock in Princeville...
Cool Tropical Bohemian Clothing Store called Bambulei!!! Yay!! Kinda reminds me of my house!! Old funky cottage!!
Fun Island Still Life!!!
My favorite part of the drive on the one road around the island... there is just the sweetest feeling going through this grove of super tall trees.... sigh!!!
Another Lovely View!!
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!
This one of Hanelei Bay takes the cake. It is one that I used film to shoot. Look closely( I think you can click on the picture to enlarge)... you will see the magic of the Garden Isle... I did not alter anything else other than the color ( to make it brighter and more colorful)... How are the sun's rays coming out from BETWEEN the mountains? Check out the right side of the hill in the foreground( darkest one), and the clouds.. they have repeated themselves. Yet the ocean, sand and upper clouds are singular...Tell me how did that happen?? This is one of the wildest photos I have ever taken. Without trying!!! Oh, also, when my daughter and I were in the Kauai airport waiting to board the plane for the mainland, we were beside ourselves crying... guess it means it's Time to Hele On Back to Kauai!!!!
Oh, I don't like waking up to dreary fog!!! So it is time to UPLIFT!!!
Time to go to MY HAPPY PLACE!!!! Yay!!!!
First, I will climb aboard my Little DREAMBOAT!!! Cruisin' to Paradise!!!
Gathering up some BEAUTIFUL Luscious Blossoms....
Tying on my favorite Pareau and making a Lei Po'o so I can wear flowers in my hair....
Ahh feeling better already!!!
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!!!
Here's a little time capsule in Paradise... funny how some things are timeless
( Vahine and tall ships) and how some things perpetually change
( Hairstyles, Fashion, and BOOMBOXES!!!)... Mahalo, Jimmy Buffett!! You have brought much joy and laughter to me through your music and stories, not to mention inspiration for my Love of Tropical Paradise!!!
HAVE A GORGEOUS TROPICAL DAY!!!! Aloha Nui Loa!!!!
Our Family Celebration of My Parents Anniversary July 2011 Oxnard,CA....
I wanted to honor my Mom and Dad, since today would have been their 64th wedding anniversary. Every year for the past 1 1/2 decades we have celebrated their anniversary by gathering for the weekend (the last at least 10 years have been at the Embassy Suites in Oxnard)... We would eat and laugh and swim and play on the beach and play Pounce and be the crazy family that we are together. For 3 days straight. My Dad always looked forward to this annual trip. He would start talking about it and wanting to plan it at Christmas!
Thank you Mom and Dad for being together all these years and loving ALL of us... for giving us this fun family experience of life. We Love You SOOOO much!!! Dad, we miss you terribly... thanks for leaving signs that you are still around us...your playfulness and humor permeates the veil between the worlds...
I often ponder how my love of all things Tropical
came about at such an early age. Especially since I was born and raised in the
heart of Los Angeles! Was it from learning how to do the Hukilau dance from my
second grade teacher, Mr. Ishimaru? Or was it from going to the Tiki Room at
Disneyland???
Fast forward a few more years, and my
family takes our first trip to Hawaii... and that's it. The second we got off
the plane and I felt that balmy, plumeria scented
tropical air, I was hooked. I have probably taken more trips to Hawaii
than anywhere else in the world. At first, it was all about going to the
beach and getting nice and brown. And going to the outdoor vendors for Hawaiian
stuff...oh, how I loved the stuff... shell jewelry, Hawaiian fabrics,
etc. Mostly though, it was just that awesome feeling of being there that I loved and the great memories of fun I had with my family.
I made and sold Hawaiian clothes
for about 20 years...every once in a while, I will see a man wearing one
of my shirts!! I always ask them if I can see the label just to make sure!!! What I need to do is take a picture of them! Those shirts are antiques by now!! haha!
Dancing on the Condor at sea with Stacey my Hula Sistah!
But then I found hula.. or I should
say, it found me. I was not looking for it, nor did I think I could afford to
take lessons, since at the time, I was a single mom. But I found a way. The
money showed up and so did the time. Everything aligned perfectly so I could
commit myself to it. Embodying the spirit of hula, I brought my love of
the islands deep into my being. After dancing for 16 years, it lives in
me now, in a profound silent kind of way, and it touches others when I get out
there to perform. Is it a past life thing, or just destiny? Whatever
it is, I am so thankful that it found me (though I wish it found me when I was
in my teens!!!).
I still LOVE the STUFF
though, as this blog will show you. Every island photo catches my eye, and I adore wearing
sarongs ANYDAY!!! (Well, any WARM day!!)... And shells and pearls???
EVERYDAY, of course. Life just isn't right when I don't have something lovely and tropical on me!!!
Thank you Mar for weaving this beautiful bracelet for me!! You ARE ALOHA!!!!
