I love Kauai

Hawaii is special. A smattering of lush islands in the middle of the sea, with Kauai being the oldest of the chain. Whats not to love about great island culture, laid back lifestyle, beautiful climate, and gorgeous landscape? We have visited Kauai many times over the years and have quite strong familial roots growing there. Stillwells have been on the islands for nearly a hundred years! This trip brought my parents and Adam from Florida, Alissa from Sydney and Jonah and I from Port Townsend together to a house in Poipu, just a few minutes walk to the beach. We connected with our Kauai cousins as well as our Oahu cousins. We kayaked the Kalihiwai river and had a picnic on the beach. Alissa and I hiked to Punakaiki beach and then another 4 miles to the waterfall where we swam in the ionized waters beneath the cascade. We zipped out on a zodiac boat and snorkeled off shore to meet some huge sea turtles. Jonah learned to swim in the pool-eventually dropping the float board and relying only on floaties. What a fish! We laughed a lot, shared good food and talked story with our family. It was marvelous beyond measure.

Good bye Summer

Summer is on its way out! Adios muchacho. So, here are some signs of fall that I can't help but notice.... Berry season is still upon us! Jonah and I went blueberry picking at Finnriver Farm and had a great time. Jonah likes to pick the berries off the bushes without using his hands. Not a great bucket filler, that technique. He also foraged for Bbackberries with Jason and Fela near chimacum rock. He even found the odd strawberry or ten from our garden.

Besides the sunflowers which are 12 feet tall and glorious, much of the garden is looking a bit tired and dry; though the "winter garden" areas are beautiful and lush with every brassica imaginable. kale, collard greens, brocolli, cauliflower, cabbage, chard, spinach and lettuce. The big leaf maples are beginning to turn yellow while other deciduous trees have begun to lose their leaves already, resulting in an occasional yellow blizzard.

Forgive me for not making this its own posting, but I'm thrilled to announce that Jonah has started pre-school at Sunfield! He loves it, absolutely loves it. Comes home muddy and happy and tired. His good friend, and potential life partner Neah is in his class as well as some other friends too. His teachers, Ms Monica and Ms Joy are truly wonderful! We couldn't be happier.

In other news,the sunny days and cool crisp nights find us looking for more bed blankets, jumpers and house slippers. Fela sleeps huddled in a tight ball until someone remembers to cover him with a blanket, after which he audibly sighs his thank you. i'm having thoughts about my next round of garlic in the low meadow and plotting the future rise of GarlicBoy stardom. As I detect the scent of distant woodsmoke, I'm looking at the woodstove realizing we don't have enough wood in the woodshed. Did I mention I'm turning on my seat heater while driving (but only in the morning). And hows this for a newsflash...... my parents and brother are moving to Port Townsend Washington! Hip Hip Hooray! Its a bit of a dream come true and I'm still pinching myself. Stay tuned!