Gifts from Heaven this morning...

On my beach walk this morning, I was blessed with a gift from heaven...
a rainbow over the full moon just setting.
(look closely to see the full moon just under the rainbow)

He made it!

(read the rest of the story on the post just before this one.)

The Dilema...

How does somebody get home when it has rained
so hard all day and the overflow streams now
overflow the road!?!

Fortunately, for us, we turn off the road just before the overflow stream.

I was still curious how deep the water was!

But, he just wanted to go home, and unfortunately, lives up the road.

He decided he could make it. So, here he goes!

How much does it rain on Kauai???

The average rainfall for Kauai annually is 460 inches...

that computes to 1.26 inches/day.

(Mt. Wai'aleale, which is on Kauai, is the wettest spot on the earth.)

Now, you might think that it rains every day here...which it does not.

We have many, many sunny gorgeous days!

But it did rain today...HARD...all day.

The waterfalls off Mt. Wai'aleale,

(which aren't visible on a sunny day),

were absolutely amazing!

This is my "scientific" way of measuring the rain.

I took the picture above yesterday.

This is my vase with today's rainfall!

Sunrise for us...

begins at Lumaha'i Beach...

and Sunset....

ends at Ke'e Beach

no words needed here... :)

Rainbow over Wainiha

For those of you that have been following my blog

and know that I live on Kauai now...
and so, you also know that my shower is outdoors...

Well, this morning while taking a shower in the rain...
I looked over to see a beautiful rainbow over the property.
Now that truly is paradise!

My New "Office"

When you live in a very, very small space...you get very creative at how to use it!
This is my new "office" (and my new computer).
Lar had this idea to build a movable desk on top of the washer and dryer.
The board pulls out and is supported on each edge to hold it securely.
I purchased a small collapsible stool that fits underneath the "desk" when it is pulled out.
The board lifts off easily and the computer moves up to a work shelf when I need to use the washer and dryer.
It's very cool!

Star Fruit

This is a "Star Fruit" Tree. At first, the fruit
looks like a big green leaf on the tree, but then
it begins to ripen and turn yellow. Then it
becomes like big yellow ornaments on the tree...
tons of them!

This is another one of the many fruit trees in our yard
that I am able to pick fresh fruit from every day.

The whole fruit can be eaten.
When sliced, it has the shape of a five pointed star...
hence it's name.
It's flavor is crisp and juicy and sweet,
but not overwhelmingly sweet.
I eat it just plain like this, or sometimes I use
the fruit to make a smoothie.
If you ever see one in the market, be sure and try it!

September 23, 2008-----One Year Ago

Lar's and my life took a big detour last September 23, 2008,

when Larry crashed his ultralight aircraft in Chelan, Washington.

First stop: Harbor View Trauma Center.

It took 2 weeks of surgery to reconstruct his face, leg, and ankle;

and then 2 weeks to go through rehab;

next stop: our home in Midvale, Utah.

As many of our dear friends and loving family members know,

the crash hit Larry and I on many different levels.

Larry not only had to begin healing physically...

but both of us had to begin healing our hearts.

We decided to move to Kauai in April to begin our healing.

The journey has been amazing and most joy-full!

We appreciate all the prayers and love that were sent our way.

Mahalo for all of your support.

Please enjoy the video below.

We chose to celebrate

September 23, 2009

by getting "back in the saddle" and

taking a 90 minute ultralight flight

around the beautiful island of Kauai

that has healed us in so many ways!

We love you all! Aloha...Carol and Larry

Acupuncture...Does it really work???

According to traditional Chinese medical theory,

acupuncture points are situated on meridians

along which qi, the vital energy, flows.

I decided to give it a try! (It doesn't hurt!)

We are focusing on my hands because of my arthritic joints.

So does it work...I think only time will tell.

I do know it's very relaxing...and we all need that!

Our Helicopter Ride Over Kauai

Look who showed up for sunset tonight!

We felt most honored at his presence!

I guess he just wanted to relax and

enjoy the sunset, too!

It was another spectacular sunset!
And...as the sun set in the west;
right behind us, on the same beach,
the full moon was rising in the east!
It was an awesome sight to see!Just another beautiful day in Kauai!

Wainiha River and Valley

Just thought I would share a little information

about the Wainiha River and valley we live in.

The Wainiha River flows alongside our home (cabana).

The headwaters of the river are at Mt. Wai'ale'ale, (5148ft),

the wettest spot on earth (tied with Cherrapunji, India).

The average rainfall is 460 inches a year.

It doesn't rain that much where we live!

But we do get rain here, and the heavens

do pour buckets sometimes! It always comes

as a welcome relief to the heat.

Click on the map to enlarge it...

the Wainiha River is the river to the left out

of Mt. Wai'ale'ale towards Haena.

We are told "Wainiha" means "angry waters"

and this river can become that during the

winter rains here on the island.

This picture is looking up the valley from
Wainiha Beach.
These last two pictures are where
the river meets the ocean .
There's a very powerful energy here as the
two bodies of water merge together.

Wa..La!

From the tree to the kitchen!

(Keep reading to experience the banana harvest!)

The Banana Harvest

Banana Steps

Sort of like "baby steps"

Step 1: deep red leaves start to appear

Step 2: Next thing I know...bananas appear!

Step 3: We watch carefully to see when they start to turn yellow.

If we wait too long...the birds and insects start feasting

I realize this is so very not scientific!!...but lots of fun to watch!

More Kauai Sunsets....

I don't think I'll ever get tired of this!!

The Temples of Angkor

This place holds so much reverence in my heart.

I love the spiritual connection I always feel when

I visit the Temples of Angkor.

The grand daddy of them all...

Angkor Wat

The Bayon Temple

Banteay Srei

Bangkok Street Life

(Click on the picture to enlarge it and really see everything!)

"Ronald McDonald"...Thai Style

I love this floating market!

(Click on the picture to enlarge it and really see everything!)

Ordering lunch!

Anyone who knows me...knows I love to eat

at the "street restaurants".

In this case...it was the

"boat restaurants"

Walla!!

A feast!

It really was delicious!

Elephant riding with my Mom!

There's nothing easy about "boarding" an elephant!
SMILE :) for the camera!
Here we go!
How many daughters can say they
road an elephant with their mother?!

Floating Market on the Chao Praya River