101 in 1001 #5: Final

/ Jo / Leave a comment

Once again I was unable to completely finish my list of 101 tasks in 1001 days.  I have never actually completed any of my lists, this one being number 5.  I would like to blame my lack of diligence to the COVID pandemic but that is only a partial excuse.

We learned how to self-test for COVID.

My most recent (5th) list began February 6, 2020. It ends on November 3, 2022. Fourth list started May 10, 2017 (first list ended 11/13/2011, second list 8/11/2014, third list 5/9/2017) until February 5, 2020. Completed items are in blue, black is the color for original post.  Pink items are plans.  Red items are cautions due to the COVID situation.

We had lots of COVID-safe get togethers.

Here’s my progress at the end of 1001 days.  A number of items were planned then cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  They’re still on the the list but the possibility of executing them in the near future is unlikely.

  1. Go over Legacy documents with family. Complete! 8/21/2021
  2. Take a trip to Assateague/Chincoteague. Complete! 8/31/2020
  3. Find the North Star, Polaris. Complete! 8/21/2019 

    We saw Polaris again in Iceland — the 2 stars on the cup of the Big Dipper (center of photo) point directly to it.

  4. Visit Rawlings Conservatory – Complete! 4/7/2021

    The orchid room was the highlight of the Rawlings Conservatory visit.

  5. Visit Brookside Gardens Complete! 8/19/2020  
  6. Attend Master Gardener class Complete! 2/29/2020

    Charlie is our master gardener.

  7. Tour U.S. Capitol Complete! 8/5/2022 

    Southeastern approach to the US Capitol building.

  8. Tour Bureau of Engraving and Printing  Closed to visitors.
  9. Visit the National Archives  Closed except for timed tickets to the Rotunda.  Should be planned as an add-on to another DC activity.
  10. NYC long weekend Complete! 3/6/2022
  11. Go to top of Empire State Building Complete! 3/6/2022 

    Jo and Charlie inside the Empire State Building.

  12. Visit 9/11 Memorial Plaza  Complete! 3/23/2021
  13. Take a trip to Hawaii.  Complete! 9/21/2022 

    Sunset on the Big Island.

  14. Visit Greece Rescheduled for 2024
  15. Get rid of 50 books. Complete! 11/9/2020
  16. Visit New Orleans Complete! 2/22/2021 

    Charlie handled an alligator in the swamps of Louisiana.

  17. Redecorate Conservatory Complete! 8/16/2021 

    Even in an open plan the conservatory seems very private.

  18. Create a nice office and guest room in the pink bedroom.  Complete! 10/22/2022

    The office side of the pink bedroom.

  19. Host a swap meet. We hosted a Backyard Book Swap on a beautiful day in May.  Complete! 5/21/2022 

    Guests left their books and picked up others that interested them.

  20. Hang photos in upstairs hall
  21. Host a dinner party for 6
  22. Make a month’s worth of meals one weekend. Complete! 11/13/2021
  23. Get new mattress for king-sized bed.  Complete! 11/24/2020 

    New mattress.

  24. Make a home maintenance calendar.
  25. Fly in a helicopter Complete! 9/9/2022 

    We flew over the Big Island.

  26. Set blogging goals.
  27. Sort out things in attic by attaching children’s names, give away, sell, etc. Give heirlooms to children Making headway
  28. Build daybed nook in Grace Cottage Complete! 9/18/2021

    The bed nook at the shore house.

  29. Learn to copyright (watermark) photos
  30. Make a photo album of Mommie
  31. Travel to Iceland to see the Northern Lights Complete! 9/9/2021 

    We spotted the illusive Northern Lights on multiple occasions while in Iceland.

  32. Plan a cruise. Complete! 5/5/2022 

    At our muster station on Enchantment of the Seas with Baltimore Harbor reflected in the windows.

  33. Write a novel based on work
  34. Increase net worth by 25%  Complete! 11/15/2021
  35. Paint landscapes/seascapes on canvas/wood
  36. Memorize a poem.
  37. Make a household inventory with photos
  38. Finish laundry room Complete! 10/8/2022 

    Hiding the closet was the final item on my current list.

  39. Finish painting trim in pink bedroom.
  40. Make a master menu for 14 days of meals
  41. Wash all the windows in the house Complete! 11/27/2020
  42. Paint dining room table Complete! 6/28/2020 

    An old dark table lightened and updated.

  43. Use my God box. Complete! 9/26/2022
  44. Build bench for mudroom.  Complete! 3/26/2022 

    I hope the bench does NOT become the dumping ground the cedar chest used to be.

  45. Finish shelves in master bedroom. Complete! 5/3/2020
  46. Design Etsy boutique packaging
  47. Achieve my personal weight goal  Complete! 8/10/2021
  48. Get rid of 5 big items from the house:  Rocking horse, blue highboy, log splitter — down 3 large items.  Better than nothing.
  49. Design and print business cards
  50. Organize papers, bills, and contracts from renovation.  Finished before the 10 year anniversary of the reno.  Whew!! Complete! 3/5/2022
  51. Attend 5 concerts:  US Army Field Band, Annapolis Symphony, Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet,  Sultans of String, Birdland Jazz Club, Ceol, Cultúr, Craic – The Celtic Music Club, Quantico Marine Corps Brass Band, 

    The US Marines — wonderful.

    Shades of Blue, Ayreheart, The LPs, and A Classic Case Complete! 3/5/2022

  52. Build a structure for trash cans and recycle bins
  53. Install all trim Started 5/1/2020
  54. Paint all trim
  55. Repaint exterior parts of house that have weathered.  Complete! 7/16/2022 

    We repainted a shutter.

  56. Clean out car Complete! 10/30/2022
  57. Clean up all paint cans
  58. Clear out the basement  Tile has been organized
  59. Remove 10 boxes from the attic Complete! 7/19/2020
  60. Build frame for full length mirror
  61. Give 5 parties  Lawn Party 8/14/2021, Anniversary Lawn Party 9/11/2021, Masque Party 10/30/2021, Pop Over New Year’s Day 1/1/2022, Dash’s Birthday Pawty 2/5/2022, Boho Midsummer Mingle 6/24/2022, Sug’s Retirement Party 9/3/3033 Complete! 2/5/2022 

    Sunhats and sunscreen were necessary for our first lawn party.

  62. Coffee table for conservatory Complete! 5/7/2020 
  63. Paint secretary.  I gave it away instead.  Maybe the new owners will upgrade it. Complete! 7/11/2020
  64. Dye hall rug Complete! 7/18/2020

    I dyed the hall rug deep blue.

  65. Paint green vanity
  66. Hot air balloon ride Complete! 6/9/2020 

    Our hot air balloon ride was magical.

  67. Refinish tall dresser
  68. Clear out mudroom closet  Complete! 10/30/2022 
    Before

    Before

    After

  69. Whiten my teeth Complete! 5/8/2020, 8/18/2021
  70. Fast for 24 hours Complete! 2/28/2020
  71. Work on side hustle
  72. Teach Dash a new trick Complete! 8/9/2020 

    Dash learned how to work the weave poles.

  73. Buy a winter coat  Complete! 11/20/2021 
  74. Plan retirement for January 31, 2023 Complete! 11/20/2021
  75. Throw away/donate 30 things and do not replace them Complete! 7/19/2020
  76. Play guitar again

    My guitar.

  77. Take ukulele lessons Complete! 2/25/2020 

    I took a private lesson on the Big Island of Hawaii.

  78. Drink 70 ounces of water each day for a week  Complete! 3/21/2020
  79. Try 5 new restaurants  Complete! 2/25/2021
  80. Get a manicure. Complete! 9/26/2022
  81. Build deck onto conservatory.  I got 3 estimates and decided the project is too costly at this time.  Perhaps if the market goes up again.  .  .
  82. Upgrade dollhouse castle

    The dollhouse castle is ready to be refurbished.

  83. Paver patio at bottom of new deck (See #81.)
  84. Host a book club Bible study Complete! 8/18/2022
  85. Clean up pond 

    Plants are good but maple trees will need to be removed.

  86. Learn 5 new songs for performance.
  87. Clean up all tile in basement Complete! 4/28/2020   
  88. Stain shed Complete! 6/9/2020 

    Shug stained the entire shed with a brush.

  89. Renovate shore house bathroom Complete! 2/27/2020 

    Finished!

  90. Paint shore house sheds
  91. Paint shore house kitchen cabinets  Complete! 10/17/2020 

    Before

    Everyone loves the new kitchen color.

  92. Visit 5 significant local churches Complete! 7/17/2022 

    The columns were painted faux marble in the monumental Gothic Revival of Saint Alphonsus.

  93. Paint bump-out  Complete! 4/19/2020

    Before

    After

  94. See 5 theatrical productions.  The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Music Man, Hamilton, Plaza Suite, Aladdin, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Music Man (deaf cast) Complete! 3/6/2022 

    There’s nothing as exciting as a trip to Broadway.

  95. Put outdoor shower at shore house
  96. Take down screen porch Complete! 1/23/2020

    Before

    After

  97. Install dual system — heating and air conditioning — in master bedroom in shore house
  98. Install foundation plantings at back of Glade house  Complete! 4/28/2020 

    Small hedge is planted.

    The boxwood plants have doubled in size.

  99. Get together with Sister
  100. Upgrade security system at home
  101. Private

This new list has been challenging since some of the items have been unfinished on the last three lists and the COVID epidemic had all but stopped our travel and entertaining plans.  Now that the world is opening up we’re still cautious but trying to move forward.  I’m hoping to be more productive next time through.

Jo

November, 2022: Intentions

/ Jo / Leave a comment

November is the start of the holiday season for us.  Charlie works on holiday music and I try to organize and edit our overly abundant decorations.  We have no trips nor special projects planned, just stay home and enjoy the coziness.

Now for my November list of good intentions:

  1.  Get out holiday decorations.

    I’m trying a new theme this Christmas with a new color scheme.

  2.  Celebrate Thanksgiving.

    Time to pull out the Redwing stag — my go-to fall decoration.

  3.  Wrap, pack up, and mail Christmas gifts.

    Some of our gifts are mailed to the recipients.

  4. Attend an all-day retreat with a study group.
  5.  See a movie.
  6.  Start a course at the local college: Art of the Ancient World.
  7.  Read a book:  Hamlet by Shakespeare.

    Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio. Act 5, Scene 1

  8.  Organize, store, or move one box in the upstairs hall.
  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: REMINISCE.
  10.  Write a goal list for December, 2022.

Jo

October, 2022: Well Intended

/ Jo / Leave a comment

I felt very energized at the beginning of October then a hurricane hit with lots of rain and cold weather which dampened my resolve.

Even through the screen in the master bathroom the yard is ablaze with fall color.

Nonetheless, I accomplished a few things above and beyond my numbered list.

  • All the wall plates in the laundry room have been replaced.

    All of the outlets now have wall plates.

  • I filled out my social security application.
  • I participated in a Zoom webinar on Medicare Part D — the prescription plan.
  • I got an updated bivalent COVID booster.
  • Charlie and I worked on details for a travel surprise for next year.

Now for my October list of good intentions:

  1.  Work on travel plans for Winter, 2023. I have booked flights, ground transportation, accommodations, and rental vehicle for Vieques island in Puerto Rico.

    Instead of staying in San Juan, we’ll be staying on the island of Vieques.

  2.  Autumn décor for the mantel and tables.

    Dried hydrangeas in terra cotta.

    I’ve chosen reds and oranges so we can easily transition into Christmas.

  3.  Take a day trip.  Charlie and I took a day trip by train from BWI Train Station just south of Baltimore to Philadelphia.

    The Liberty Bell

    We had a lovely day.

  4.  Clear out all clutter in pink bedroom including non-functioning printers.

    Before

    After

  5.  See a movie.  I saw Amsterdam with a cast of well-known actors including one of my very favorites, Christian Bale.

    Christian Bale in Amsterdam

    The intricate plot kept me interested through the entire film.  I liked it even though Nazis are a scary lot.  I also saw Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile which was entertaining in a very G-rated way.  Julia Roberts and George Clooney were fun in Ticket to Paradise.

  6.  Address work-related items concerning retirement .

    The view from my office window.

    I spoke to my bosses and we have devised a plan that benefits everyone.

  7.  Read a book:  The Dramatic Imagination. I don’t remember having read this book before and perhaps would not have appreciated it as much as I do now.

    Love this quote from Michelangelo.

    I understand better what the spark of imagination entails.

  8.  Start getting Christmas gifts together.  I have made a list already and have begun amassing gifts.

    The Aloha Spirit of our Hawaiian trip will surely creep into Christmas gift giving.

  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: CHANGE.
  10.  Write a goal list for November, 2022.

Jo

Day Trip to Philly

/ Jo / 4 Comments

I am always looking for a day trip that can be accomplished with little money but high adventure, or at least something new to Charlie and me.  Thus I came up with a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from our home just south of Baltimore, Maryland.

We caught the northbound train at about 8:30 in the morning.

Normally we would drive the 2 hours but I checked out the train schedule from BWI to 30th Street Station on a whim.  I was delighted to find that a round trip ticket was less than $30 per person.  Considering tolls and parking, a train ride seemed like a reasonable, if not way more fun, transportation option.

The BWI Amtrak station is not at the airport but is nearby.

Sug drove us to the train station 5.5 miles away where we caught the 8:25 a.m. train which would get us to Philly around 10 a.m. (1 hr 35 min trip) which added to the lead time of 30 minutes means timewise the trip was about the same as driving but without the headache of traffic.

Heading left out of the train station and across the street the subway station is well-marked.

After arriving at the 30th Street train station in Philadelphia we crossed Market Street to the 30th Street SEPTA station.

We got off the subway at the City Hall station. City Hall fills an entire city block in all directions.

We caught the blue line subway to 1234 Market Street so I could get a SEPTA Senior Pass which would allow me to travel on public transit for free within Pennsylvania.

1234 Market Street is about a block and a half east of City Hall.

I had made an appointment in advance for 10:30 a.m.  for which we arrived exactly on time. While I got my SEPTA pass Charlie had breakfast just outside the office door.  Win-win!

We spent a few minutes talking with the Park Ranger at the Liberty Bell who gave us interesting information.

Our first sightseeing stop at around 11:30 a.m. was the Liberty Bell which is open daily from 9 to 5.  We had to go through a security screening every place we went.  It was fast but thorough.

Independence Hall fronted by a trim statue of George Washington.

From the Liberty Bell we walked about 2 minutes past Independence Hall into the security station for the historic government buildings on their own quad.

The upstairs chamber in Congress Hall housed the US Senate from 1790 until 1800 when the capitol moved to the District of Columbia.

Inside the quad we headed to Congress Hall (2 minute walk) for a free guided tour available on a first come, first served basis. (We did NOT tour Independence Hall because timed-tickets from the recreation.com website were required.)  Our tour was led by a former history teacher who gave us great details and stories about the the building while it was used as the US Capitol.

I got “the works” on my rib eye sandwich.

We were ready for a rest and some food so we headed east on Market Street for a Philly Cheesesteak  at Sonny’s Famous Steaks in Old City.

The guard allowed this photo Tiffany stained glass above the mint shop.

After lingering at Sonny’s we walked by Christ Church graveyard which is NOT at the same location as Christ Church.  (Charlie and I had attended a wedding at Christ Church in 2009 so a tour was not necessary.)  Our next stop was the US Mint at Arch and 5th Streets  where most of the coins in the US are made.  It is the largest mint in the world. Photos are not allowed but the self-guided tour is definitely worth a stop to see oodles and oodles of pennies being processed for shipment. No reservations are necessary. The mint is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except federal holidays.

Ben is buried here with his wife and other family members.

Just across Arch Street we stopped to see Ben Franklin’s grave which can be seen from the sidewalk.  Visitors have been able to see Franklin’s grave from Arch Street since 1858, when the church opened the burial ground’s brick wall, and every year “hundreds of thousands of visitors toss pennies at the grave for good luck” as a nod to Franklin’s adage, “a penny saved in a penny earned”. The graves of 5 signers of the Declaration of Independence are among the more than 4000 on this 2-acre plot. Charlie and I have toured graveyards in Arlington, VA, San Juan, PR, and New Orleans, LA among other places.

From Arch Street we could see Independence Hall looking south on Independence Mall.

Looking at all that money left us a little hungry so we walked a few blocks to Reading Terminal Market for a snack.  We each had donuts from Beiler’s and cortado coffee from Old City Coffee.  The seating is limited in the Market so we shared a table with a couple of genial fellows.

30th Street Amtrak station.

We walked by LOVE Park – near City Hall – 8 min walk from Market where we took the blue line subway back to 30th St Station back to the Train Station. We caught our 5:03 p.m. train on platform 5 track 5.  I watched the scenery while Charlie napped on the way back to BWI station where Sug met us.  It was a lovely day and I’d do it again.

Jo

Hawaii: Hana Highway

/ Jo / Leave a comment

At the end of our stay on the island of Maui Charlie and I planned to drive the Hana Highway, 52 miles of winding road, 59 one lane bridges, and 620 curves and hairpin turns. The road takes you through lush rainforests, by flowing waterfalls, and offers jaw dropping seascape views.

While illusive Hawaiian rainbows never disappoint.

We started out early  on a Sunday morning from Kihei to the small town of Pai’a where the Hana Highway begins. In Pa’ia we visited Baldwin Beach where we were greeted with a morning rainbow.

We both ordered waffle with exotic fruit for breakfast.

Then we took a very short detour to have breakfast at Café des Amis.

One of the many one-lane bridges on the Hana Highway.

Then we hit the road.  We bypassed stopping at the Twin Falls because it looked really crowded.  We planned to stop on the return trip but decided we had had enough driving and hiking for one day.

The painted eucalyptus tree grows very straight and tall.

Close up the bark is very individual.

Instead we saw a stopped tour van early in our trip and pulled over to see what they were looking at. It seems they were very interested in a close-up of the painted eucalyptus tree.  It almost looks unreal.

Signs along the way help novices know where to stop.

Our next stop was the Waikomoi Nature Trail where we were soaked from a quick rainstorm.

View from the head of the trail.

I enjoyed the view before we got on the trail but not the trail itself.

Keanae Peninsula viewed from Kaumahina Wayside Park

Our next stop was the restroom mentioned on the Waikomoi Nature Trail sign. This area is Kaumahina Wayside Park which had a nice parking lot and a beautiful view of the  Keanae Peninsula.

The arboretum was a good place to learn about the things we were seeing.

A beautiful grove of rainbow (painted) eucalyptus.

Charlie is standing near the torch ginger to give a sense of scale to both the height of the plant and the size of its blossom.

The next easy pull-off from the highway is Keanae Arboretum, home to strange tropical trees from both sides of the equator, including painted bark eucalyptus from the Philippines and African sausage trees. Admission is free.

We took a side trip to the Ke’anae peninsula.

Charlie is dwarfed by the lava formations.

We took a short detour to explore the Ke‘anae Peninsula which is among the last of the islands’ traditional Hawaiian villages. We stopped to admire the patchwork of taro fields, all farmed by hand. Mostly we climbed on the craggy lava that formed a divider between ocean and land.

Lava rock church on the Ke’anae Peninsula.

The town’s other notable attraction is the coral-and-lava-rock church built in 1860.

The cost was $20 but we never got to use this Hawaii state park pass. (Note the pass is only for a 2.5 hour window.)

Just beyond mile marker 32 lies Wai’anapanapa State Park.  I had attained a pass from the very limited amount available before we went to Hawaii. However, we never made it to the Park or to Hana for that matter; we had had enough tricky driving and knew we’d need to follow the same route back.

Uncle Harry’s is a great stopping place if you haven’t packed a picnic.

Instead we decided to turn around at Uncle Harry’s food stand.  I, of course, got the Kalua pig tacos.  Yummy.

I was very happy to be back at our condo.

The Hana Highway excursion was not my favorite.  As we talked to people along the route they told us we had seen the best of it.  I hate to have given up but hours and hours in the car does not beat time on the beach for me.

Aloha

Jo

Falling: A Color Change

/ Jo / Leave a comment

Although my favorite color is blue and I usually have a blue theme going on in every room of the house, this fall I decided to make a temporary change.

I went out to the garden and found these dried-on-the-bush hydrangeas that had turned from pale pink to deep wine.

As I looked through cupboards and closets I found lots of warm — reds, oranges, and golds — objects to scatter around the house.

The small orange vase and large terra cotta fish platter anchor the warm palette — pale purple asters are from the yard.

I began with the living room mantel. An orange vase with purple hearts led me to a theme of warm colors highlighted with lavender.

Simple additions change the season in the living room.

An Asian-style coffee pot with warm and golden tones and a handmade pottery bowl in oranges and tans draw the eye around the room. I also covered a couple of throw pillows on the sofa with Hermes orange pillow slips I had made for this party.

Seasonal towels are an easy way to give a boost of color to the kitchen.

In the kitchen I pulled out dish towels that had been gifts from special friends.

Our food storage baskets tie into the color scheme as well.

The towels look nice with my collection of baskets that hold fresh produce, especially apples.

I know these flowers appear purple and yellow but they are deep red and orange in person.

Finally I bought a flat of pansies in 2 colors — deep red and orange — for Charlie to scatter around the property when a little color is needed.

Autumn colors are brilliant.

Mostly nature does its own thing outside and lights up the entire yard.

Jo

Hawaii: Jumping Flea

/ Jo / Leave a comment

Since Charlie and I are both musicians one of my goals for our trip to Maui was to learn about the music .

Our secondhand ukes.

At home I bought 2 used ukuleles and attended free classes and jam sessions at our local libraries.  Charlie attended with me on one occasion.  Our introduction to the instrument left us eager to try something more.

Charlie payed close attention to the teacher then did his own thing.

Although we did not take our own instruments on vacation with us we had the opportunity to take a free group lesson with ukuleles supplied by a local music shop.  The lesson took place at Cannery Mall in Lahaina on Maui.

I took a private lesson on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Then I took a great leap of faith and signed myself up for a private lesson with Wayne  who also provided me with an instrument.

Wayne showed me proper left hand technique as well as demonstrated strumming styles.

Charlie and I met Wayne at a Waipuilani Park in Kihei where we sat on the grass and played.  At this point I knew about 8 or 10 chords so most of the lesson was dedicated to comfort with the instrument and style of play.

We sang and played together.

We finished the lesson with  a rendition of “Aloha ‘Oe” by Queen Lili’uokalani.

By the way, ukulele means jumping flea in Hawaiian.

Aloha

Jo

Hawaii: On Horseback Again

/ Jo / Leave a comment

Charlie and I have made a practice of riding on horseback (or muleback) when we travel. (Grand Canyon, Cuba, Iceland)

Our sturdy Icelandic horses.

The places accessible by horse and the people we wouldn’t otherwise get to meet are a real bonus.

We raced from our condo in Kihei to meet the ATV/horseback riding group.

Our trip to Hawaii would be no exception.  I booked a morning horseback ride with Maui Mountain Adventures.  For some reason Charlie and I almost missed it because we started out an hour later than expected even though we got up earlier than usual. Our adrenaline was flowing!

We met the group then caravanned to the actual entrance. We thought we were there when we spotted Mendes Ranch but we were mistaken.

Our ride was to start in the West Maui Mountains at an elevation of approximately 2500 ft. Much of this altitude was covered by car.  Then we took a really rutted and rocky road to the corral.

ATV riders were required to wear helmets provided by the vendor.

The first group dispatched were the ATV riders.  Those of us wanting to ride horse had to weigh in as there is a strict limit of 230 pounds per rider. Charlie and I both passed with no problem even holding our saddlebags as we were weighed.

Charlie mounting his white steed.

Our horses were assigned according to our size (weight) and experience.  Then under the direction of our 3 wranglers (paniolos in Hawaiian) we were mounted and ready to ride.

The views from beginning to end were gorgeous.

Our guides took photos of us while we posed.

After about an hour into our 2.5 hour ride we stopped for a photo op with a stunning mountain backdrop.

I followed Charlie all the way down to sea level.

Then we rode down to the coastline to ride alongside the Pacific Ocean.

The last leg of our trip would take us from sea level back up the mountain to the stables.

Another photo session was possible while the horses took a breather before heading back to the stables.

I’m not much of a hiker but I do love a good ride.

Charlie was excited to run his horse — a lifetime first for him.  My ankle (that I broke a few years ago) was giving me trouble so I decided to take it easy.  Unfortunately I landed hard on it on my dismount.  I limped for a few days and it’s still tender a couple of weeks later.

I’m still selfie challenged but getting better with practice.

We both highly recommend this riding opportunity — it’s one of the best we’ve ever done.

Aloha

Jo

Hawaii: Maui Sunrise

/ Jo / Leave a comment

Even though we had only arrived on Maui in the late afternoon on Tuesday, we were awake at 2:30 a.m. for our planned trip to see sunrise at Haleakala.

The hairpin turns at the end of the trip (in the dark) are terrifying.

Our goal was to drive from our condo in Kihei to the summit of Haleakala, a massive shield volcano that forms about 75% of the island of Maui.

Haleakala Sunrise – Summit Vehicle Fee 1 x $0.00
Reservation Fee 1 x $1.00
Subtotal $1.00
Total $1.00

I had prearranged for an entry ticket into the National Park months in advance on the recreation.gov website.  The tickets are only $1 but very limited for each day. Since we arrived to the ranger booth in the dark I had printed out the reservation to make it easier. Also there is a park entry fee of $30 per vehicle which was covered by my National Park Senior Pass. With that in mind don’t forget these items:

  •   Full tank of gas
  •   Photo ID
  •    Park registration and National Park Pass
  •    Cash
  •    Camera
  •    Hat and gloves
  •    Towel and blanket

It was a clear night for stars.

We arrived at the summit in the dark with over 100 other cars.

Our parking lot above the clouds.

Happily we were early enough to score a parking place at the very highest lot.

I kept my COVID mask on to keep my nose warm.

It was cold — about 40 degrees — but Charlie and I had anticipated the cold.  We wore extra clothing, hoodies, (I brought wool gloves) and wrapped ourselves in beach towels.

The very first glow of sunrise.

Everyone faced east when just a hint of a glow rose above the horizon which in this case was a layer of clouds.

There is a windowed shelter to protect from the chilling winds.

We were above the clouds at 10,023 feet.  I didn’t notice the thin air until I realized I felt a little queasy.  Apparently I was suffering from acute mountain sickness (AKA altitude sickness) which calmed down  if I sat down.

We were not the only people watching the sunrise.

With Charlie’s support we both stayed for the full sunrise to occur.

The sunrise is reflected on the Haleakala Observatory.

The more the sun rose the more beautiful were the structures on the west side of the ridge reflecting the morning light.

We drove down the mountain and were still above the clouds for miles and miles.

On the way down the mountain we stopped at the parking lot just below where there were restrooms and lots of tour vans that didn’t make it the last half mile to the very top.

Our Haleakala adventure.

Naturally by this time we were hungry. We stopped at Grandma’s Coffee House to have waffles and coffee.  Sorry, no photos, we were hungry!

I was very happy to be back at sea level!

We returned to our condo in Kihei to chill for a few hours.

Aloha

Jo

#38 Laundry Room Details Finished

/ Jo / 2 Comments

I have been working on our upstairs laundry room for years.

When I moved into The Glade the laundry was very basic. I ripped the overhead metal cabinets down as soon as possible.

It was old and dingy when I moved in in 1997.

Every little project was an improvement.

With the help of Charlie and another friend I have slowly (very slowly) upgraded its look.  We made some major progress back in 2020.

There are 3 outlets in the room and only one was covered.

The only items remaining on my list were adding wall plates to all the electrical outlets and somehow cover the closet.

Standard plate on the right; my paper template on the left.

Two of the electrical plates were not a problem, they just needed spacers to pull them out to wall level. The one behind the washer, however, was partially hidden by trim so I made a custom plate from a standard wooden one.

Persistence paid off.

The wooden plate was difficult to trim since it had a metal backing.  With a combination of Dremel tool, hacksaw, coping saw, and sandpaper I whittled down the wooden plate until it fit in the allotted space. More than 2 hours would not be an exaggeration of the time it took to make this small adjustment.

The outlet behind the washer is finally covered.

Once installed I painted the plate to match the rest of the paneling. (One small snag was that my custom-mixed laundry paint had totally dried up so I had to use standard trim paint to finish the job.)

Uncovered the laundry closet always seemed to add to the clutter.

Getting so close to having the laundry room list finished I focused on covering the laundry closet.  At one point I thought I would add solid doors but that seemed unobtainable.

I could make a curtain.

I didn’t like the thought of hanging a gathered curtain on curtain rod either.  I wanted something like a bamboo shade but at 18 inches wide and 96 inches long I just couldn’t find a suitable choice.

I bought 2 panels just in case.

Then I spied on the Hobby Lobby website a burlap table runner (in the luau party section) which was 18 inches wide and 88 inches long.  The price was right at $4.99.

The Velcro was positioned so both openings would be covered with one piece of burlap.

I pressed the folds out of the burlap.  I put 3 pieces of sticky Velcro across the top of the opening.

The closet is covered and so is the plug just visible behind the dryer.

Then I simply pressed the burlap into place.

Now everybody needs to keep their laundry organized.

A more talented installer might add ribbon to the edges or stencil a scene onto the burlap but I’m happy it’s FINISHED!

Jo