Po Lono, Thursday

Disclamer:
I may be missing some po some phase here ... so, please check the sky and the moon where you are (look for her:) to be your our app.

Yesterday was my birthday, my 7th decade begins.

Kilo

The wind storms calmed yesterday
Still windy, but less so
Most of the leaves have fallen

AM
-took my first walk up and into the woods on the Prairie Front since we moved onto the land; immediately reminded of our life (just left) of 8 years in the forest ... the smell of evergreens, the presence of Tall Ones (Trees)

The view the Tall Ones see of our golden wagon below them

Work Party at the Prairie Front today (10am-noon)
-had lively conversation with Paula about place and Nature's place in place, and people's plans for place; there's room for more conversation and a plan that includes the mission statement from the Safety Pin Cafe. 
-had visits from two very special friends who brought gifts of love (themselves), apple pie and tangerine marmalade; time in the Spider Web Kitchen was affirming/loving; mahalo Tilth community for welcoming us as caretakers for the winter!

PM
-watched a Hawk hover over the field as I stepped from the vardo; first time kilo of such a hunter
-watched that same hawk(?) later in the afternoon from the kitchen
- spotted the Raven couple soaring and playing at the zenith while Michael and I chatted about this and that and the history of this land from a 'property' angle; had a discussion about what the name of the tree we share space with is ... he thought 'cedar' but I thought not ... not the same smell nor leaf structure ... more to be revealed
-talked about the scat I saw earlier in the week (in the middle of the gravel road) filled with apple leavings ... Michael and I bought seem to think Coyote.

Kaloa Kulua

 Looking south from the vardo ... puka the sun through the ao the clouds

Wind sampler small kine

2AM
Jupiter and Venus conjoin (We can't see it, but feel it!)
Big wind and rain arrive
warm temperature
heavy rain
30 mph gusts coming from the south
LOMOKAMAKAHIKI

3:30-4 AM
Pete get up and out to secure thing
-puts rocks in the garbage cans next to the bathrooms
-finds loose metal siding out near the storage shed
-lawn chairs are turned upside down to keep from flying
-all the kitchen things & our oven are brought into the kitchen

8 AM
clear then sky filled with clouds
another storm cell moves through

Later
46 degrees (10:54am)
I walk down to open the gate; notice the gate was pulled by the wind (see the picket moved in the gravel road)
someone's black and white dog was out running in the wind
Achilles tendons are swollen; need to R.I.E. the left one
Good idea to make that turkey meatloaf soon; rest and elevate more, than cook

Po 'Ole Pau

Just after midnight (12:34 AM) Mahina shouted to be seen ... this shot doesn't capture the shape of her holoku her illuminated gown ... it was brilliant

spotted mahina rising just above the treetops
used the measuring device called pI'A which is the length between outstretched thumb and pinkie to measure and mark moon rise (from the neighbor's outside light to the the rise)
Jupiter and Venus were clearly in alightment (will get closer still until conj 11/13)

8:53
light rain
totally gray sweat sock sky
already 3 sirens on the highway today
chickadees out on the dirt/gravel road; scared them up as I walked back from the kitchen

11 ish
J.C. stopped by to visit; brought pumpkin old-fashion doughnuts (Whibey Doughnuts) for Veteran's Day for Pete
heavy rain
someone in a gray truck went up to the Upland while I was at the computer (first time kilo)

Afternoon
We had other visitors curious about the vardo: Eli (cob builder of the kid's house) and his visiting friend Bruce stopped to chat
Lance (the electrician) stopped in to wire in a bit of comfort to our winter camp experience

Po La'au Kulua: Red Sky in the Morning

We woke to this red sky at just before 7 AM (looking straight ahead off the steps)

... to the right a little (northwest)

and to the left 

AM
Not as much frost (not a cold) this morning as yesterday
Hawk in flight overhead when I walked through the Pea Patch gates
We pulled onto the Prairie Front a week ago this afternoon

Po Laau Kukahi

Signs of Fall: Yellows and Oranges 

... the truck and wagon, too

Early morning (time has 'fallen' by an hour)

Mixed snow and rain
After the downpour birds come for breakfast
-junkos
-starlings
-robins
birds fly fast, agile above the vardo roof
north wind blown rains are powerful; notice a wet spot coming through the porch wall on the north facing wall
puddles in the dirt road

Afternoon

Two ground feeders (sparrow and junco) were on the road as I walked to the gate
Sparrow flew into cover; flew home for safety
Pictured below is the patch of mixed vegetation that is Sparrow Habit
Later Pete and I both saw the family of Sparrows fly from the patch
NO PRUNE ZONE app made itself known

Sparrow Habitat A NO PRUNE ZONE (view heading up the driveway)

Sparrow Habitat A NO PRUNE ZONE (view looking down the driveway)

An idea to propose to the Tilth (the Prairie Front) peeps

Po Hoku (Thursday, November 2, 2017)

7:30 AM

Strong south wind (begins) southwest to northeast??
porch curtains whipped up
from the futon (inside) I watch dark ao pua'a race from the south across the sky
poplars across the highway bend to 10 o'clock position
vardo does a shake and rock

Noonish

MAJOR WIND & RAIN STORM
small hail
Tilth 'work party' showed up just before the storm hits
lots of very busy humans stimulate = the elements
"that's a statement of extreme optimism" said in response to our lawn chairs and Hawaii license plates

Pete and Tom mend the entrance gate
the smell of what we think is the Muliwai is in the air (coming up from the water) "it smells salty today"

These are pictures taken at The Muliwai a few days ago. Connected ... yah, connecting in a big way!!

Paula (or Sheila) and Prescott's friend Richard dig up the turnaround garden
Tom V. wants to cut up the fallen leaves for mulch; I say I'll need to turn on my air filter if he's going to use gas he suggests mowing in another place (down wind) I say "That's a better idea." The storm escalates; men, women and machine go home
Pete and Tom survey the irrigation system for the pea patches
I have a migraine; overstimulated; hungry; discumbuberated; oxygen, herbal infusions, naps and sunglasses help
cooking outside needs to be rethunk
porch curtains on the south side are drenched
Michael tries to help get our internet connected; Pete finally makes it happen late last night.


One day at a time.

Halloween Po, First Night & First Morning

We moved the vardo onto the Prairie Front
We moved the vardo into a place but moved her (too close to the compost bin)
We moved the vardo around to another place before sunset and moonrise

It was a night of newness; I noticed everything, watched the sky change, and the moon move, excited like a girl child on Halloween night.

At 2:30 in the morning

- the moon was just setting into the trees at the upper part of the land
-Makali'i the Pleiades was out and bright, I waved
- only a gentle breeze stirred
- I noticed the smell of the Juniper or Cypress where we have parked (I may need to make peace with his smell; or move to another spot)

Sunrise 8:04 am on 11/1/2017

First morning on the Prairie Front

Our first visitor came bearing gifts. A Hubbard for many delicious soups to come. Thank you, Madir!

We brought our wind chime with us and the North Wind made his presence known.

We continue and begin anew, slowly.