Giving up on catching up on 365 Days

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Mokihana

I decided there’s no way I can play catch up, so if you’d like to see my July photos till today, try go here.

The Tour de Fleece is going on right now, same time as the Tour de France. Who woulda guessed, right? This is a time when handspinners all over the world challenge themselves to spin something wonderful. Some people elect to be on a sprinters team, spinning fast and furious. Speed is of the essence here. But it’s not for me. Others are on a breakaway team, spinning all kinds of wonderful art yarns. There’s a team for rookies, those who’ve never joined Tour de Fleece before. I’m not on either one of those teams.

Instead, I’m in the Peloton, spinning happily along with other spinners. I’m also on several wildcard teams, which are specific for things like the brand of spinning wheel we use, or the fiber we use from a certain company. One of my favorites is the My Knitting Has Cat Hair In It team.

Each day we spin, except on the designated rest days just like those on the Tour de France. Some people spin anyway. The main thing is to challenge yourself, and I’ve done that. So far I have two finished yarns, and while I was spinning them I really learned a lot.

I am inordinately pleased with this yarn. It was a challenge for me and it just makes me feel good!

This makes me feel good, too. My Bird of Paradise bloomed again out on the deck!

Posted in Da Kine: Sometimes Full-on Pidgin, Handspinning | 3 Comments

July 1 – Aloha ʻoe e Puakea

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Mokihana

Seems like we’ve been having more of our fair share of saying aloha to beloved pets. Today we said it to Puakea, one of our sweet Maremma Livestock Guardian dogs. She was twelve years old, and for all this time, along with her sister, Pikake, has protected our sheep and goats from marauding coyotes and other varmints.

Today we took Puakea to the vet because she was getting so thin, and Dr Haveman diagnosed her as having a very large tumor attached to her spleen. He was very candid with us and said that Puakea’s chances for survival were not great. So we decided to do the kindest thing for her and the hardest thing for us… and we had him put her to sleep.

I drove up to Bellingham to get her twelve years ago when she was just a three-month old puppy. She’d been raised from Day One with sheep and goats, and after being introduced to Lani, our grown Maremma and spending about a week in the barn, she was out guarding our livestock. Lani showed her the ropes, and at three months of age, here she is, looking out over her domain, watching for danger. This is my favorite photo of her.

Here she is again as an adult, still watching over her flock.

Aloha ʻoe, our faithful companion. You will be dreadfully missed.

Posted in 365 Days, ʻOhana, Farm Stuffs | 5 Comments

June 30 – My papa-san ♥

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Mokihana

Today is my papa-san’s birthday, and he hasn’t been out of my thoughts all day long. He has never been out of my heart.

As far as I knew, there was only one photo of the two of us together when I was little, which is a very sad thing for me. There are lots more photos of him with my siblings; I don’t know why, but it’s how it is.

So today I went searching through my mom’s old photo albums looking for more pictures. This is the only one that I knew about with just him and me together. My mom told me she took the photo because my profile was the same as my dad’s. I thought there was a bigger photo, but this was the only one I could find; I love it despite the crease in it.

I was about a year old here, and we were living on Tantalus, high above Honolulu.

Dad loved sailboats of all kinds; he would help people out by painting their boats for them. Somewhere there’s a photo of my brother and I with him, but I couldn’t find it today. In this one, he’s rowing us around the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor… I think I’m about three here, and my brother, two. Obviously our mother wasn’t concerned about our not wearing lifejackets… we never did. And we never fell in, either.

As I went through the albums, I was unbelievably happy to find one more photo of Papa-san and me. I never even knew it existed! Plenny wai maka to see it.

I have his curly hair. I have his profile. I have his koko running through my veins. I have his vagabond spirit, his love of the sea, and his love for sailboats and old cars. My life was made richer because of this man I call Dad, and I only wish he could have stayed with us much longer than he did. I like to think that he would have been proud of the woman I grew up to be.

Hauʻoli lā hānau, e Papa-san. I will never stop loving you.

Posted in 365 Days, Da Kine: Sometimes Full-on Pidgin, ʻOhana | 2 Comments

June 29 – Tour de Fleece

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Mokihana

Yep! It’s that time again! Spinning along with le Tour de France. This is what I spun today… “Mountain Bluebird” Targhee fiber, dyed by Rickie of Raven Ridge Fiber Arts in Montana. This stuff is amazing! I’m spinning it on my Joe Jorgensen myrtlewood wheel.

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June 20-28 – Ai yah!

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Mokihana

Ho, I stay so far behind! Taking photos every day, but then get too busy to post ’em.

So.

June 20th:

My neighbor was trying to ride her horsie up this road. Only one problem. He didn’t want to go there. I stopped the car and watched. She was kicking him like crazy, but nope, no how, no way, was he going to go any further.

Continue reading →

Posted in 365 Days, Da Kine: Sometimes Full-on Pidgin, Holoholo Pacific Northwest | 1 Comment

June 19 – Hoʻokahi kaukani

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Mokihana

I was hoping that when my odometer hit 1000 miles I’d be somewhere where I could take a photo of it. And I was! On Hattan Road in Oregon City on my way to Beavercreek, with no one behind me! So I stopped wikiwiki and took my photo!

In two days I will have this new kawila for a month. And I love it!

Posted in 365 Days, Da Kine: Sometimes Full-on Pidgin | Leave a comment

June 18 – Hauʻoli Lā Hānau

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Mokihana

I got some fabulous birthday wishes today! Iʻm so grateful for each and every one of them. These photos sum up my day:

From my friends on Ravelry:

From Julie:

Monthly photo of Willamette Falls on my way to Canby, for some spinning time with my special friend. Ho da dry!

Suzetteʻs bobbin whirling around:

Yarn that I was plying:

A glorious pouring rain through the setting sun:

And last but not least… just for fun… me and my horse Kapiʻolani when I was twelve years old. You know… just a couple of years ago.

Posted in 365 Days, Handspinning | 1 Comment

June 17 – Kalakoa’s kneading face

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Mokihana

Kalakoa absolutely loves kneading in the sheepskin that I put on the footstool of my mango wood rocker. She gets the silliest look on her face as she kneads away, and she won’t be distracted for anything!

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June 16 – My papa-san

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Mokihana

I really miss my dad. He was an awesome man, so full of life; he loved music, taught me how to play guitar and ʻukulele, passed on to me (and my brother) his love of old cars, had the voice of an angel, loved sailing (took my brother and me sailing around Diamond Head all the time in our very small sailboat), and loved life. He was patient when he taught me to drive, and was one of the most courageous men I have ever met in my life. He was kamaʻāina to the core, loved our islands, and blessed me with his love for the land. I miss him more than words can say; his life was tragically cut short ‘way too soon. I wasn’t born yet when this photo was taken by a street photographer in downtown Honolulu… I love it.

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Posted in 365 Days, Da Kine: Sometimes Full-on Pidgin | Leave a comment

June 15 – Shanghaied on the Willamette

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Mokihana

Farmers Market in downtown Gresham today. I got kalua pig for lunch and an elephant ear, and listened to these terrific guys before heading to the yarn shop for knitting time.

Posted in 'Ono Kine Grindz, 365 Days | Leave a comment