September 2, 2009
[Check later for pictures, the image download is napping today.]
I have scared the pants off myself, and since it is not kosher to talk finances, I won’t. Suffice it to say right now I’m not decent.
I’m in Hawaii though, life is good, the sun is out, a little red-headed birdie is picking in the grass outside our sliding glass doors. Yesterday a streak I believe could be interpreted as a mongoose scooted past the doors. Years ago in Hawaii, the kids kept telling me, “There’s one. There’s one.” I would look, but on that trip I never saw a single mongoose. We’ve seen plenty this time. While we were visiting an estuary a group of those little ferret-like creatures, in single file like tiny furry elephants, crossed a limb bridging over a gurgling stream. One fell in, but was out of the water and into the bushes before his splash rings hit the shore.
We signed our Escrow papers today.
On Saturday we saw our Hawaiian property and the house. We traveled from Kona over Saddle Back road between two volcanoes, following the Real Estate agent to the Hilo side of the island. A rain forest.
We traversed a section of highway where an archway of trees, their tip-tops spreading like hands with fingers interlaced, formed a complete canopy over the road. Vines, straight out of The Jungle Book, hung from trees at least 100 feet tall. Years ago on my first trip to Disneyland—we took the Jungle Cruise ride and I was entranced. Huge trees, hanging vines—same here. I feel like as though I’m moving to Africa. And traveling the road to our house you might believe I am right.
For those of you who have visited our home here in Oregon and know our road, and wonder how we routinely drive it, and laugh at us, well, you are really going to laugh now. Traveling to our house is like taking the Disneyland Indiana Jones Ride, pot holes, bumpy, water standing after a rain. Except that it is not uphill, and it does not snow. One day it’s wet, the next dry. To visit our house you really have to want to.
The caretaker calls it the most beautiful spot on earth, and its name is Pu’u Honoa, meaning tranquility, or Mount of Refuge. How fitting is that? ! It is a simple little house, and already both Daughter D and I are—in our mind’s eye—painting, tearing out walls, and definitely putting a tub in Daughter’s half bath. We inherited a Gater. What fun. Do you know what a Gater is? It’s an off-the-road utility vehicle with a little dump truck back. The owner said, “Necessary for a farm.” Bless his sweet heart.
We had never heard of White Pineapple until we came here and found we grow the best tasting pineapple in the world right on our own property. Rows and rows of them. They need weeded so we have our work cut out for us, but that pineapple freshly picked cut and served on the lanai is tremendous. Lanai, sounds luxurious doesn’t it? On the mainland we would call it a screened-in porch. It is the best aspect of the house.
Another thing, “Don’t stand under a coconut tree. One dropped like a canon ball while we were there. It was in excess of ten pounds, the milk was delicious straight out of the nut, but we must teach Baby D, and all other living creatures, to stay out from under the coconut trees.
Speaking of Baby D. He is a traffic stopper, greeting and blessing the world wherever he goes. People go "Gaa-gaa" over him, and he them. Did I mention that people here are delightful, friendly and upbeat? It is an honor to meet such happy people. Is it something about the island? Maybe its because people are here because they want to be, or maybe good-humor is catching. Island slap-happiness, I could go for that.
We drove ourselves back to the house a day after the first visit. We measured, investigated further, I drove the Gater, and the caretaker, a sweet little man, an artist, who must live off the land, took us to meet the neighbors.
We climbed over a V in a tree, jumped the fence, and met two of the most wonderful young women. And here’s an incredible part, one of them is a Farrier (a horse foot trimmer/shoer). I couldn’t believe it. They raise Icelandic horses, and have been asking for "Quiet neighbors with horses" (We quality for one out of the two.) They even have a horse trailer and are willing to transport our horses from the Port of entry!
Man Oh Man.
