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We flew into Kona Saturday night, joining friends here for a week together on Hawaii. So far so good. Each of my kids has a friend their age to play with, and we’re having fun designing great meals and excursions together.

The day started well. We bought enough groceries yesterday to open a restaurant, so this morning everyone made their way in and chose their perfect breakfast. We decided on a beach to conquer, and packed lunches and snacks. We are ten people. This is a production.


So by eleven (island time), I’m sitting on Hapuna Beach. Life is very good. Knitting, novel, and kids on boogie boards. Peggy is connected by cell to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, vicariously enjoying the party there. Whales making intermittent appearances beyond the swimmers. Please, don’t feel sorry for me. The passion fruit smoothie got a little messy…




On the way back to Keauhou, I started to work through my wish list of what I hoped to do and see while we’re here. Not a long list, but a few things. Cloud forest, volcano, whale watch, snorkeling, a couple of restaurants. Buy a pair of flip-flops (one cannot say thongs anymore, and expect footwear). I just figure when traveling in a group this big, it helps to get everyone’s hopes out on the table at the beginning, rather than the end of trip. Then we can go home glad to have had each other along.

It was supremely helpful to have them here this evening, when John had to go to the emergency room.

Do not try this at home. Do not try this anywhere. John slipped on wet tile and sailed down several sharp steps, his foot and ankle twisted beneath him. Instantly, Mr. Former Marine turned into a gasping, crying, screaming mess. With a little cooperation, we were able to get him into the car and off to the hospital. This is how to see the real Hawaii.


I’m here to tell you, Hawaiian hospitality extends to the local health care infrastructure. The good people at Kona Community Hospital are very nice. My husband was relieved he didn’t break his ankle and foot. He's on crutches for the duration. We’ll see how much of the above-named wish list survives. Poor baby.

I'm Warped...

Last weekend, I warped the loom. Several projects have been whispering to me, all on very textured yarns that would work better as weft than as warp. I finally carved out enough time Saturday to wind off a warp of fine black merino that could carry each of these yarns, and warped the loom. That would be time-consuming enough for an experienced weaver. I’m not an experienced weaver. I’ve only warped this loom three times, and each time I find new ways to make it more complicated than it has to be. It probably doesn’t help that I wind off long warps, to combine projects. The longer it is, the more likely it will be unevenly tensioned, or tangle. Despite my best efforts, it did both. By the time I had finished, I had run all ten yards through the heddles to help untangle it, and back, to roll it onto the beam at a consistent, even tension. SecondSon, who is sixteen, helped intermittently, and I think he actually enjoyed the process. To look at it now, you would never know I made a mess.


The first project, loosely intended as a stole for a friend if it turns out well, is beautiful. It kind of looks like a mermaid costume. Weaving confines the mohair haze and lets different colors and sparkles show up. Greens and turquoises and deep blues. I loved the yarn in a ball -- I love it even more as a fabric. Yesterday morning I got up before dawn, and watched the sky lighten and the sun rise, as I wove. I didn’t know whether to look up or look down.

Yesterday was a fantastic day. Every once in a while, I just feel privileged to live this life. Anyone else probably thinks I’m bizarre, but I’m being blessed in the commodities that mean the most to me. In the span of a single day, I got to: weave for an hour and a half and watch the sun rise; listen to a gospel read whole; drive to Monterey; agree to write an article explaining stewardship; translate for two Spanish-speaking priests; drive down the Salinas Valley – my idea of heaven; sit over teriyaki chicken and help a mission priest envision new life for a church that was dead; then return home to find that some of my best friends were waiting with cake and gifts for my birthday-to-come. Yesterday will be hard to top.

Weekend in Mendocino

Yesterday, we ditched. John and I entrusted the kids to my parents, cut out of our numerous responsibilities, and drove up to Mendocino. It is rare for the two of us to go to the movies together, much less go away for a weekend. I’ve been wanting to come up here for years, and finally just made it happen. Mendocino has not disappointed us.


We had our fine dining experience of the year last night, then walked outside looking at stars, with the full moon shining through tall pines. That alone was worth the trip.

Inevitably, when we go out – to the movies or “away” – we go to some heavy war movie and end up completely stunned and subdued. John suggested “Babel” this evening, which I vetoed, so he spent the evening recounting Fields of Fire to me. I love this man, but a romantic he is not. Dinner tonight was takeout sandwiches, cookies, and a bottle of wine from the general store. But no war movie.

I snuck a little fiber retreat into the weekend. I don’t think John has noticed. Yesterday, I set up the spinning wheel and plied some lavender silk/rayon. I still cannot produce a consistent yarn. The important thing is I am enjoying the process, and I’m improving (I hereby so decree).


Today, I made my way through The Magic of Handweaving, which I enjoyed. I didn’t bring the loom, so we have no way of knowing whether I really learned anything. I also knit endlessly on the teal ribbed shell. I cannot knit, watch scenery, and sip coffee at the same time, so I had to rip back repeatedly because I had neglected to decrease. Same mistake, at least four times. Let’s not go there.

And there is swag. Of course there is swag. Mendocino has a wonderful yarn shop. How could I not go in?


This is Chasing Rainbows tencel/merino in the Madrona colorway, by a local fiber artist. The lighting in here does not do it justice. It is like jewelry. I don’t have a weakness for jewelry. I have a weakness for yarn. I’m happy.


We drove up the coast today – so beautiful. Here’s proof. We spotted whales, or possibly the same whale several times. We walked out to Point Cabrillo lighthouse and back. John is really not interested in owl pellets or coyote and wildcat droppings -- what is wrong with this man? He is more worried about whether I’m going to walk over the edge of a cliff.


The full moon and the stars are out there again. Beautiful. (That's a secret greeting to my godson in Virginia...)