Monday, July 6, 2015

Good food, good energy

Good food, good energy

Although we rarely eat out (remember, all things are relative; in our past life, we lived on Oahu and ate out several times per week), yesterday we stopped at our favorite pizza place between Kailua and Ocean View, patz pies. We have heard that the pasta is also good, but we have our favorite, and we're stickin' to it! It had been months, maybe even a year since we'd stopped. Even though "Pat" sold it, the food quality has remained high and prices unchanged.

We ordered our usual, Da Works, which is an 18" pizza with literally everything they have on it, including fresh pineapple and jalapenos. 8 slices. The $30 pizza comes with a house salad, big enough for two to share. As we were waiting, we asked each other the trivia questions from cards on the table. Fun to find out what you know, what you don't, and learn a few new things.

Before the pie arrived, I was thinking, "I hope it's cooked enough. I really don't like overloaded, undercooked pizza." Like telepathy, they must have heard my thoughts, because when it came out, the crust was crispy and all the toppings were well-cooked. Between the salad made with local greens and all the yummy veggies on the pizza, it felt like a healthy pizza dinner, in spite of the crust, and the variety of salty meats on it! When we got home, we still had enough fuel to buzz around the house doing our chores until after midnight! We'll keep going back, even if it's only once or twice per year!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

The Ohia Tree

The Ohia Tree
I look out my window, and what do I see? An Ohia tree. There are countless Ohia trees on my property. I live in Ocean View, on a property that is more black lava than soil, where Ohia trees thrive. I have taken them for granted until recently. Our tenant recently made two haku leis, one for her sister, and one for her grandson, from the leaves, seeds, and blossoms (lehua) of the tree:

      
                 


When we sent down to the lava tubes under Ocean View, we learned that the Ohia trees are the first to grow on the lava. We also learned that the roots travel down through the lava to find the moisture in the caverns made by the lava tubes:



 Absolutely astounding! I have a newfound appreciation for the Ohia trees in my yard.