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!

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.

Radishes - the sequel

A picture tells all:

Once my grow box was ready, the veggies grew like crazy! The hard part is filling the box! Very few weeds also! I now have pumpkin plants growing where the radishes were (planted at the same time).

Waking up happy

There are mornings when I wake up happy. Looking forward to my day. Grateful for things in my life. 

This morning, I woke up and felt well-rested, having gone to bed early.

I held up my right leg and said, "Look at this! No swelling!" Both knee and ankle were normal sized, lately an uncommon state!

I heard a weak, creaky-sounding crow that was surely one of our young roosters, reaching his manhood. He did so several more times, and I had to chuckle. It's a pain getting roos when we incubate eggs, because we can't keep them in the long run. However, they are very cute growing up! And beautiful as well! (Which makes it that much harder to make the necessary decisions later!)

Then I reviewed my day to come with a smile. Count to 14. Today is Thursday, May 14, 2015. The weather is partly sunny. Sit criss-cross applesauce. Read a book. Act it out. Cut and paste. What do you want to do for your work today? Block area? Art area? Library? School lunch. Time for trike recess! Okay, nap time! You guessed it, I'm subbing in preschool today. There are frustrating moments, but how bad can trike recess be? And little kids fighting to hold your hand?

Anyway, half are snoring and the other half are whispering. It's time to get snack ready for when they "wake up"!

Tourists -gotta love em!

Today, we were at the farmer's market, picking up overripe fruits and veggies for our pigs and chickens. I had two 5-gallon buckets with me that I was taking in to the vendor's booth to collect goodies. I set them down while I delivered some fresh eggs and picked up some lettuce. Along came a gaggle of Asian tourists, right off the tour bus. One of the ladies casually dropped two crumpled tissues  into my bucket. Without thought our hesitation, I grabbed my bucket, ran after her, and when I caught up to her, I held out my bucket and said, "Excuse me, ma'am, this is not a garbage can." And I waited. Until she realized she was expected to retrieve her tissues. Which she did. Welcome to America.

Radishes!

Our first grow box is starting to produce! It's very exciting. As you can see:

Little radish seedlings are popping up like crazy. After only a few months of building this thing. With yard waste! There are pumpkin seeds germinating about 1" below the top soil, too.

Can't wait!

Sloppy Joes

Every now and then, I get a craving for Sloppy Joes. The very unique taste of Sloppy Joes. I don't make them often because of the predominant use of prepared sauces, without which it would taste like Sloppy Joes. Tonight we had them over gluten-free macaroni, kind of a Sloppy Joes Marzetti. Whoa, that's special! Anyway, my craving was satisfied. However, eating Sloppy Joes always reminds me of one of my favorite Adam Sandler songs, Lunch Lady Land, where Sloppy Joe is the hero. You can view Adam performing it here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vH8jAjtvc10

It's Adam on Letterman at a very young age! Then THAT always reminds me of another favorite I used to hear on the radio in Ohio, Yeah Toast! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SHptn_3RyYE

Classics!