Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #33

September 16, 2023
Welcome to Blog #33

Hard to believe I have been writing this blog for thirty three weeks now! EAKS…..BUT this has been a very exciting week for several reasons-The biggest reason is the end of the first phase of my project is in site. Yes, just around the corner as the furnishings will be delivered this Wednesday and Thursday and my stuff is out of storage after eight long expensive months at Royal Hawaiian storage. It will make the inside perfect for the coconut research center.

The other great thing about this week is a big birthday is just around the corner and I am on a very exciting adventure while some of my same age friends sadly have passed while others are deciding what care home they will soon check into. I grateful beyond words to have the chance to be living this life surrounded by an amazing community of people and being in this amazingly beautiful place. Right now there is a big rainbow right in my front yard while water trickles into the water tank.

We have also had a couple of small setbacks which I am getting to know is normal for Hana. Something is always not working. Chris, my wonderful builder, just managed to pull in here as his truck broke down in the middle of the driveway early in the week. Supposedly his friend who is a mobil mechanic is coming in the next days to fix the truck. And, the helper Daylan, has does damage to his arm so he is out and Chris is alone without help. Actually, he made it back today and they are working as we are now on a time crunch.

I found a wonderful couple Cory ad Mary who are banana farmers in Kipahulu, but who also install solar. Cory has ordered the parts for the big system and actually delivered some a few day- ago. As soon as the rest arrive he is ready to g.o which will probably go in a couple of weeks. This will be just in time as my Eco Flow solar generator is pooping out and only partially charging so everydayI have to use the gas generator to charge it up.

This past week I have been working with the cut coral pavers making a patio off the back of the shed. All I need now are the small black pebbles to put in between the pavers.

A big GE refrig arrived this week (with an ice maker) and I can hardly wait to get that up and running. I have been operating with this tiny frig with hardly any room, but I must say it was better than a cooler. Some people are asking about getting food out here. Really there is an abundance of food. The Ranch Market has just about everything one could want, but pricey. Every Friday there is a wonderful Farmer’s Market with fresh fish sold by the fisherman, a baker who makes bread like Grandmother used to make, all kinds of fresh vegetables that the growers sell, soaps and lotions, plus beautiful tropical flowers and all kinds of other things.And, I might add this farmers market is not like the ones on Oahu where the vendors buy the produce repackage and sell.

October 7th I am going to be doing my first book talk in many moons for a local book club. I just found Wai’oli a young high school tecky to help put my power point onto an Insignia TV so the group can see the pictures.

And speaking of help I also found Kalei, a high school junior and neighbor to come a few days each week for cat help. She is lovely and we started training yesterday.

I spoke with a friend this week who told me I haven’t talked much about the cats lately. All I can tell is that they all have trees to climb, branches to hang out on and two meals a day. They all seem very happy and they all steak out a place to hang out. Bermie Burmese is totally feral and a miracle he made it here with us. If you look closely he is on top of the green house. Frosty hangs out on the hau branches by herself. Lucky is hanging in with two or three hydrations each week.

I am waiting for that last piece of bamboo laminate to go up on the wall behind the cabinets. I guess it will be in next week’s blog as

Well, thank you for tuning in and wishing everyone a happy week. Some of you are wondering how to make comments on the blog and I will try to ask those who are commenting how they do it. Maybe someone who always comments like Linda can include how she does it??
I am also finding out you can google or You Tube just about anything and bingo there are answers. They are savers when there is no help around.

The Hana cliffs as seen from Mokulele on route from Kahalui to Hana.

Aloha Nui Loa,

Vicky