Could Colorado be the Ying to my Hawaii's Yang...?

Hmmmm.... not sure yet, but will spend the next full month in the Grand Junction area finding out if I want to take this path. I love the climate there, the abundant opportunity for many outdoor activities, the growing season, the fruit and food, and even a new lavender industry - perfect.

every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end OR I am so thankful for this past year

Oh so true... with the holidays just around the corner I guess I've become a bit reflective over this past year. I look back to where my life was a year ago today and I am SO THANKFUL to be where I am today. Yes, it's been a long, rocky road full of heart ache and happiness, feeling completely hopeless and then singing from mountain tops. I've lost a lot, and I mean a LOT, (all just "stuff" in the end anyway) but gained WAY more. And today, yesterday and tomorrow I am happy, very happy to have walked the walk I've been on this past year. I am thankful I'm getting through, I've gotten through, and I'm still excited about what the future will bring.  I have myself to thank, I have been my best friend.

I've had a year of many renewals, many old friends visiting, good friends from grade school, high school and beyond. I'm so thankful for reconnecting with many of them and thankful we have all made these efforts after so many years. Love you all.

I've had my family come visit over the summer, ALL of them, and my kids, it was great and am so thankful for those precious times. Love them ALL so much!

I'm thankful for my little dog, my little girl, she's been there for me and with me, good days and bad....

I've also got to spend a little precious time with my little grand son, and Teagan's little family... Jackson (Bubbins) is oh so sweet. I am so thankful he's in our lives. My only wish would be to see him more, he changes sooo quickly.



I've renewed a relationship with an old boyfriend, "unfinished business" or "when old boyfriends become new again" whether timing was right or not, life happens quick and we aren't looking back. It's all been very exciting, fulfilling, and satisfying and we are both so happy to have found each other again.  He's been a needed distraction, and now great support and a relief from reality at times... not to mention sexy and extremely satisfying in EVERY way. I've needed this. It's helped me to emerge from darkness, darkness that was there for years in an unhappy marriage and prior to my post-divorce days. I am thankful for fate, and for Scott, love you, the way an old friend loves, the way an SO loves, the way a lover loves... <3

I've had a lot of GOOD laughs along the way... belly laughs.... laughter, the most healing dose of anything out there!

I'm currently at peace with my lot in life. I feel extremely thankful and strong again... strong enough for the Crazy Pineapple Dream... even if it is all by myself... :-)

Dirt or lack there of...

I've been thinking more about options for no, or very little soil in relation to growing food. When I was on the island last time I noticed many, many houses had several potted plants placed about in their landscape, most in the black plastic pots you bring plants home from the nursery in. I thought they must not have the time to get those plants in the ground just yet. But now I'm realizing that many folks on the island garden in containers as a permanent option, likely because the lack of soil on certain parts of the island. I plan to do a post on soil building as I've assembled a bit of info on that and some of the different methods and mixes. But for now I'm just wanting to say that there is a lot of food that can be grown in containers. This past summer, I didn't have time to get my potatoes in the garden, I had started them in those large black plastic nursery pots that trees come in.... there they stayed until I harvested them as new potatoes. They were delish! Not sure I will ever waste the space of planting potatoes in the ground again. And harvesting them was a snap, just turn the pot up-side-down and shake off the dirt, no more cut up potatoes on accident.

Li Hing.... again.....

A friend from the island sent me a package of Li Hing Powder and I'm curious about different ways to use it. This particular site http://tastyislandhawaii.com/blog/2010/01/18/li-hing-everything/ had lots of good suggestions, and a GREAT post about experimenting with it. I think I want to try it on popcorn next.....

Dreams.......

Is it wrong to dream so much about a life different than one's own.... a life filled with pineapples, tropical breezes, jungle, beaches, well....

I want one of these....

and I want to grow one of each, well, not really that's probably not realistic, but what a great resource.

Can be found and ordered through  http://www.hawaiifruit.net/V2posterweb.gif

Just because I love small spaces

and want to save these pics for future ideas.... I found these on http://www.tinytexashouses.com/  I love how they incorporate antiques and recycled building materials into their designs. Something like this would def need some modification for the islands, such as larger windows for airflow. The pics are not all of the same little house, but ideas gathered from some of their designs.

waiting.... and watching.... for inexpensive airfare

It is a lot more expensive to fly to and from the islands for me nowadays.... living in Montana, there just are not many options. I either have to drive hours to get out of the state to find less expensive airfare, or pay a much higher price to fly out of my area. OR fly one of the cheaper airlines, such as Alegiant yet then spend a night either in the airport or motel because none of their flights seem to coincide with flights to the islands..... sigh.....  However, here is one helpful resource http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/ I just have my destinations plugged in and everyday, yes everyday and it does get annoying at times, I get the least expensive airfares delivered to my inbox. It has helped me out a few times. I'm a big fan!

Getting back in the swing of things....

I'm hoping to get back to my Crazy Pineapple Dream.... It's been a while. First there was the seperation and nasty divorce, then the time to heal and recover, then the new distraction (which is still all VERY good) and then a busy summer season at my store. So... yes, the dream was put away for a bit.

I've tried to stay connected however on many levels and am so very thankful for my hawaii facebook friends, punaweb friends, and active bloggers that write about life on the islands, it's help trememdously to pick back up where I left off and that's what I intend to do.

First step in re-commitment to the dream, a savings plan. (easier said than done) When I left my ex-husband I walked away with nothing, even taking all of our marital bills, as I had the good credit most of the bills were in my name. My ex-creep wouldn't pay for anything, and in the end, it was VERY worth it to me to take the hit just to get away. And I did. So, all of that said, one of the things I walked away with was a small jar I've had for years that has a sticker on it saying "Life Savings" and in it was 30 cents and a wine cork. It pretty much summed up my current situation. I still smile about it today. I've come along way since that day however, and have made a plan for the dream savings..... yet I still do have that little jar, it's full now and I have started several other jars for change.

It will all happen..... one step at a time......   :-)

My Hawaii Fund saving plan.... LOL

Divorce is final - celebration time!

Just found out my divorce will be final July 15th in the morning... We will be celebrating with a steak and lobster dinner that evening.... So happy!

I've been distracted a bit lately.....

In a good way..... LOL

Oh... major brownie points...

What a nice surprize! My favorite Montana flower (Lilacs) and my favorite wine (Sangiovese). Thank you!!

Dinner...

at 10:00pm, I love the long days of summer...

Montana sunsets...

Some of the most beautiful I've seen. I love to watch a sunrise and a sunset, both are really wonderful, especially sunsets out over the ocean. Living in Montana, I don't often see a stunning sunset as the town I live in is located deep in a valley and the Beartooth Mountains are to the west, often blocking. Yet, tonight, I just happen to be at the top of Bearcreek hill when the sun set and it was stunning. I could see the Beartooths, the Crazys and the Pryors and all were lit up pink like fire with the setting sun. It was beautiful!!! And of course enjoyed with my special friend... the sunset was even more memorable.

More Karma

This comment was on the Facebook page "KARMA: what goes around comes around"

Sometimes people think they are slick and they lie, try to get over, and hurt other people. If they were really smart they would know that being selfish and only caring about their own needs and only what they want on the expense of hurting anothers leads to Bad Karma. And Bad Karma is no joke you'll get it back ten fold. So remember nobody is exempt you get what you deserve depending on what you put out there.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."

Karma... you got to love it... :-)

Good karma, good things tend to happen to you. Bad Karma, bad things tend to happen to you. Seems like folks who continually create bad drama and karma within just can't seem to figure out why things "always seem to happen to them". It's karma - DUH! Those of us on the other side sit back and smile....

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!

I think I'm scared to do the Crazy Pineapple Dream on my own...

When I embarked upon the Crazy Pineapple Dream, over a year ago, I had a partner in it all. However, like many people with Crazy Pineapple Dreams, both of us didn't have the same dream, or commitment to the dream. I'm left figuring out how to do the dream on my own. I have tremendous support both on the island and here on the mainland, both offering assistance, advice and even housing. Yet, the dream WE had sometimes doesn't seem possible on my own, or at times even overwhelming. For instance, we had dreamed of purchasing jungle land and carving out our own space, creating as we had the time, money and energy. My hesitation isn't about the money, or time or even the energy, as I know I can swing this, it's about doing the dream by myself. I mean seriously, am I going to go to a jungle to live on my own?? Does it mean anything if I can't share the dream with others? I don't know... In the end, I know I will pursue the Crazy Pineapple Dream, yet, it might be seriously modified if I'm doing this on my own... All of that being said there are other possibilities that are being explored ... :-)   OK... weak, scary moment over with, on with the dream!! LOL!

Tuna Tartare

I had the BEST appetizer I've had in a long time at Bridge Creek - Tuna Tartare along with a glass of Malbec. This Tartare has left me wanting more, it's lightly creamy, has a bite to it, and so good. I brought home some hoping to have it for lunch the next day, but couldn't help myself and ate the rest later that night.

I've pulled a few recipes off the internet to give this a try myself and each one has a little different twist. One thing I really liked about Bridge Creek's Tartare is that the tuna is served on top of a small bed of an Asian seasame seaweed salad and that made it sooo ono!! (I mixed the seaweed salad through out the tuna before I put it in the to go box)

Ingredients

3 3/4 pounds very fresh tuna steak

1 1/4 cups olive oil

5 limes, zest grated
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

2 1/2 teaspoons wasabi powder

2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons hot red pepper sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups minced scallions, white and green parts (12 scallions)
3 1/4 tablespoons minced fresh jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
5 ripe Hass avocados
1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, optional

Directions
Cut the tuna into 1/4-inch dice and place it in a very large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, wasabi, soy sauce, hot red pepper sauce, salt, and pepper. Pour over the tuna, add the scallions and jalapeno, and mix well. Cut the avocados in half, remove the seed, and peel. Cut the avocados into 1/4-inch dice. Carefully mix the avocado into the tuna mixture. Add the toasted sesame seeds, if using, and season to taste. Allow the mixture to sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour for the flavors to blend. Serve on crackers.

Ingredients

1/4 cup corn oil
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 pound sushi-grade tuna
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon minced jalapeño
1 1/2 teaspoons wasabi powder
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon finely chopped scallion
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus half a lemon
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tomato--peeled, seeded and cut into 1/8-inch dice
20 best-quality potato chips

Directions
1.In a bowl, combine the corn oil and ginger and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Strain the oil.
2.With a very sharp knife, cut the tuna into 1/8-inch dice. In a large bowl, combine the tuna with 3 tablespoons of the ginger oil, 3 tablespoons of the cilantro and the jalapeño, wasabi, sesame seeds, scallion and lemon juice. Mix gently and season with salt and pepper.
3.Stand a 1 1/2-inch-tall and 2 1/4-inch-round mold or a biscuit cutter in the center of a salad plate. Fill the mold with tuna tartare, pressing gently. Lift off the mold. Repeat with the remaining tartare.
4.Drizzle the remaining ginger oil around each tartare and sprinkle with the tomato, the remaining tablespoon of cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice. Stand 5 potato chips in a circular pattern in each tartare and serve immediately.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons mustard oil
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon wasabi powder
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon yuzu kosho, red
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Salt
12 ounces yellowfin tuna, cleaned and diced into 1/4-inch cubes
4 tablespoons finely diced shallots
6 tablespoons finely sliced chives
Seaweed Salad, recipe follows

Directions
Combine the mustard, vegetable, and extra-virgin olive oils in a cup with a pour spout. In a mixing bowl, combine the wasabi, lemon juice, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, yuzu kosho, and soy sauce, and whisk well. Slowly add the oils, whisking constantly to emulsify. Taste for seasoning, add salt, and set aside. Place tuna in a glass or stainless steel bowl. Add the shallots and chives, and toss gently to combine. Drizzle about half of the vinaigrette over the tuna, and mix well. Let the tartar sit for 2 minutes; taste for seasoning, and add more of the vinaigrette or salt, to taste. Leftover vinaigrette will keep, refrigerated, for 1 week. To serve: shape 1/6 of the tuna tartar into a disc and place it in the center of a serving plate. Arrange 3 dollops of seaweed salad around the disc.

Sesame Seaweed Salad:
2 ounces dried wakame seaweed
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup soy oil
2 small red chile peppers, seeds removed and cut into thin strips
4 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Place the wakame in a mixing bowl, and soak it in tepid water for 20 to30 minutes. Remove from water, squeeze dry, and trim away the tough spine. Cut into thin strips, and place in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, sugar, and both oils. Pour the dressing over the wakame, add the chile peppers, and toss. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” - Helen Keller

This came from another facebook friend.. so true...

While you SCREAM at your woman, there's a man wishing he could whisper softly in her ear... While you HUMILIATE, OFFEND and INSULT her, there's a man flirting with her and reminding her how wonderful she is. While you HURT your woman, there's a man wishing he could make love to her. While you make your women CRY there's a man wanting smiles from her.

Post this on your wall if you're against Domestic Violence or against phsychological abuse!

Lil' Pete

Well, Lil's Pete was looking kinda brown around the gills and I thought I was loosing him. However, thanks to Sonia, I found out I was watering him wrong. I now only water him from the top and about every third time I'm using diluted miracle grow. He's come around! He's actually got new leaves and getting taller. I'm pleased. But now... who will care for Lil' Pete while I'm gone? I can't trust him with any old brown thumb. :-)

Interested in ginger

I love all the different ornamental ginger found on the island. Not to say that I'm not interested in the edibles too, yummy! As always, want to save this information for future planting, these are my favorites so far.

Hawaii Red Ginger - very common, but I love it, reminds me of many trips to the islands.

Shampoo Ginger - interesting, full of a gelatinous substance that folks have used for shampoo for centuries.

Beehive - this one is just plain cool and comes in different colors.

Torch Ginger - another one just plain cool.