It's Fall

We are seeing images of the skies in northern California and are concerned for everyone's health and safety. One image particularly stands out: satelite view of the west coast covered by a brown haze. Frightening. Couple this with Covid-19 and it is beyond scary. 

Judy and I recognize that we are fortunate to be located where we are. Although the numbers on our island have more than doubled over the past month to over 500 cases, we are pretty well isolated. Most of the cases are on the other side of the island (the Hilo side). We do shop and go to the post office, always with masks. The beaches and parks are closed here again which is a smart move. The 14 day quarantine for travelers is still in effect through the end of September. 

Luckily an avocado and papaya tree survived construction and produce fruit. The avocados are Hulamanus, an old Hawaiian variety. They are large, creamy and have great taste. This is the last of the harvest. Unfortunately a few fell and burst open only to be consumed by pigs and our little dog, Hamilton. The papaya is larger than any we used to buy in the stores in the Bay Area. 

A gecko lives in the house siding and comments “Tuk”,Tuk”,Tuk” as we sit in the twilight just as the sun sets. We hear them in the middle of the night and wonder what they are up to as we lie sleepily beneath them. The night sounds are enchanting to us still.

Hulamanu Avocados

Our neighbor planted a gourd between our houses. The gourd has grown sufficiently not only to cover the railings on our second floor lanai, it has produced 1 gourd that continues to grow. We are going to do something with it, but we do not yet know. We offered it first to our wonderful neighbors, but they were very clear that they do not want it. One idea is to find a gourd artist and let them have it. Another idea is that Judy may decide to do something with it. Any suggestions? Always glad to get input. We had a friend visit today who told us it is a squash from Japan and is edible. Not this one.
 

We think that many of you are spending more time cooking. Mike has been enjoying himself finding and making New York Times recipes. Vegetarian Mushroom Wellington, a vegetarian version of Beef Wellington, was one of the experiments. Very yummi with 5 different types of mushrooms.


Sweet corn and ricotta sformato is actually a souffle. We decided on this one, if one were to serve it to guests (if one can really ever start entertaining again), it should be cooked in individual souffle pots.


Our grandchildren are back in school in various ways--distance learning or a combination of distance and in-person. Hard to believe our oldest graduates from high school at the end of this academic year. Wow! Amazing how fast time flies by. Our daughter is a teacher and is back in a classroom and we are hoping the best for her. It is so difficult to try and teach kids in class, as well as online, at the same time and also be the enforcer for masks. Exhausting!!!

Judy insists that I mention these 2 items. I sometimes do a neck traction for arthritis in my neck. I have a towel tied to a light rope and the light rope looped around a hook on my powerlifting rack. The hook has one side stop. Unfortunately, my body position was pulling away from the side stop and the hook fell bonking me on the forehead and scalp. Blood everywhere. Hamilton was pleasantly licking up the blood on the garage/gym floor. Judy is a great nurse. She immediately got ice and helped me staunch the bleeding. Finally go to urgent care and get 3 staples in my scalp and steri-strips in my forehead. No pictures (phew!). All fine, no blackout. Staples removed (I already have enough steel in my body anyway). 

Mike also had to fly back and forth to Honolulu on the same day for some medical tests at Kaiser. No can do on the Big Island. Which, by the way, we are discovering the limits of Kaiser on this island. (Not one Kaiser clinic on any of the islands can treat a wound and sew it up or staple it. The Honolulu ER doc with whom I spoke about the head wound told me this) Anyway, I had to apply for, and did receive, a 1 day medical travel exemption so I do not have to quarantine. Needless to say I was very careful. Good news on the medical tests and one additional finding: no plaque in my arteries from the top of my legs down. 

We think of all of you often. We particularly want everyone to be safe and healthy with all the crises. We will get to the other side. Keep smiling :)


Love


Judy and Mike

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