December 30,2023
Welcome to Blog #44
Christmas has come and gone and we are inching into a brand new year. In Hana it is a big time for family get togethers and cookouts. Life was made a little more complicated this year due to a nasty flu going around and the bad weather. But, it has been a quiet week around here with all the rain and overcast days.
Indrajit came with his children and we were hoping to start planting coconuts, but because of the rain the ground cannot be cleared till dryer days. This will probably happen in February according to local advice. He was able to trim the orange tree for the rest of the patio roof. I planted that tree and it is now full of oranges so I have been resisting a trim, but it had to be done. I am saving the oranges and hoping they will ripen for juicing.
Jit brought a childhood friend, her husband and their fifteen year old daughter. They were lovely people, both doctors, but this place was not for them so they went back to Waikiki the day before Christmas. Before they left they cooked some amazing Sri Lankin food: Banana peel curry, banana flower curry and banana curry. The husband gathered plumeria and made little flower arrangements. We had a nice lunch all together.
Unfortunately this week was a two and a half day work week. As I write this I feel like this project is just creeping along way to slowly. And, of coarse the holidays are not helping. The holidays, cooking, the flu and dealing with dysfunctional families became high priority during the past weeks. And, I am so focused on getting running water and moving ahead it was difficult to get interested in Christmas. I just consider it to be my year off. Leaving here to be with family was not possible so we just honed in here trying to enjoy what was happening.
Getting the water system has been a lot more complicated than I ever dreamed. Just when I think we have everything to make it work we keeping having to get more parts. This has been going on for weeks and the parts are not that easy to get out here. Yesterday they dug a trench to put in the electric wire for the pump and filtration system. The heat will come from a propane gas on demand heater.
A lot of papayas and bananas are ripening and I am trying to figure out who to share the extras with. The Pride of Burma tree is also flowering and so beautiful. Bob and I brought that tree over from Oahu many years ago when you could get on a plane with trees.
Besides the rain it has been quite cool so quite a few cats have moved in with me. They find little beds all over.
Well, time to wrap up and get the show on the road for this year. Thanks for tuning in and your interest. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and peaceful year. This beautiful rainbow is from Christmas morning. There have been some beautiful skies lately.
I am looking forward to an exciting 2024 with a lot of progress for the Coconut Institute-koali Niu.
Aloha Nui,
Vicky
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