Almost As Good

I'd been given the above cupcake kit for my b'day (thanks Lauren & Jack)! I haven't really had a reason to make something so "special" . I've made a lot of cupcakes since August, but this kit only makes 12, so that's why I've put off making them.

Well, today I was going to do my visiting teaching with my friend and I told her I'd make some cupcakes to give. I baked them last night when it was cool, and planned to frost them this morning. You have to appreciate that making these are a little more involved than the same old mix. I followed the directions to the letter, mixing for the required time, pouring slowly, making sure there was lots of love in these.

This morning, I got up early and started the frosting. Also, followed the directions, put a lot of love into them and took care with the frosting. This is what they looked like...

I saved one for hubby. I was waiting all day for him to get home, so he could give me his verdict. So after dinner, I presented him with his cupcake. I waited with baited breath... "almost as good as the real thing" he replied.

Oh well, guess eating them with wooden forks, taking them out of the cardboard box, pondering what flavor to choose and sitting outside the shop all add to the flavor to make them "real".

Aloha,

Jane

Makaha Sons

On Tuesday night it was the long awaited "Mele On The Lawn" with the Makaha Sons. The concert had originally been scheduled for August, but one of the boys had to have heart surgery (glad your better, John!).

I was actually glad it did get re-scheduled because hubby was able to go with us. We have been going to this for quite a few years, even before we moved here, but for the last several years he's always been on the mainland. We had an extra ticket, so we invited our neighbor Karen for a real "local" concert.

It's held on the great lawn at the Bishop Museum. The night was really, really nice. No rain! Trade winds, half moon, good friends, good food and especially good music!Everyone enjoying the food!Hubby enjoying himselfThe Boys~ Fab as always!

Jerry's daughter, probably one of the prettiest dancers ever!

Surprise guest, Tia Carere (sp?), she was on Dancing with the stars and in Wayne's World...local girl

Aloha, jane

Maui, final

(one of the beautiful valleys that we found on the westside)

I was in such a hurry to get the Maui posts done, that I forgot all about the phone call we got. I was waiting for hubby at the Kula Hospital (pitstop) and my phone rang. It was my principal from the last school I worked at in SC. She asked me where we were and I said Maui. Well, long story short, so was she! They were also staying in Kihei. So I explained that we hadn't been there too long and promised to call later.

Anyway, it didn't work out for us to get together during our visit on Maui, but was really good to talk to her for awhile later that night.

Thanks Deb for the call and the catching up.

Aloha,
Jane

Maui, part 2

So friends I'll pick up where I left off on our adventure to Maui. As I left you, we had traveled all the way around the west side of Maui, coming into Lahaina from the west. We actually found our hotel pretty easy...hubby did question about it not being on the beach. Well we checked in, got our Kamaaina package and set off to find the room. The girl said it was on the other side of the street. no elevator, but ocean view. we had wanted up stairs so we could leave the window open.
We open the door to the room and both of us almost fainted. We're pretty good sports about tons of stuff, but this was crazy. I told hubby I wasn't going to take my shoes off and he shouldn't sit on the bedspread! Both of us decided we just couldn't do it. I called Resort Quest right away and explained the problem and were there any other hotels that had a vacancy. I was a little worried because it's fall break here and lots of locals are traveling (like us).
Well they told us that in a month "that" property would no longer be theirs and it was going to be torn down! Geeezzzz. Anyway, he was super nice and told us where to go. We checked in at the new hotel, got a lot of kamaaina specials and went to our room. when we opened the door and saw this...

We were so excited! It was a 1 bedroom condo! Had just been re-done, great bed, fans and NO ROOSTERS! Guess they aren't allowed in certain parts of Maui! So we got up early and decided we were going to head to Hana. Hubby had heard that the road was now opened after being closed since the earthquake (2 yrs).

Amazing that this smoke at the sugar mill in Kahului is still allowed.

This house was built in 1830 in the small town of Ulupalakua. Great place!

This is the road that was recently opened after improvements

This whole bridge had been destroyed. Please note the very steep grade

This is the side of the island that would face Lanai, Molokini and the Big Island. The whole coast line is like this, lava fields going straight to the ocean, nothing green. We really didn't pass another car until we got almost to Hana.

The first waterfall we saw as we approached Hana

Hana Bay. Not really a lot of while sand beaches on Maui

The very small town of Huelo. We actually ate lunch there at a small sandwich stand.

This is Ihiihi alehowa o na Kaua Church. It was build in 1860. This is shows how thick the coral walls are. This church is still used today.

We finally made it back to Kahului and went to Kanaha Beach park and watched the wind surfers. The beachs are so different than anything we're used to seeing, except at the big hotels on the south side.

I had seen in one of our coupon books that there's a RUBY'S there. So before we went to the airport we stopped and had dinner. I just had to show the menu...only in Hawaii.

We're so glad we went holo holo to Maui for the weekend. Glad we took a couple of "long cuts" and got to see the WHOLE island. It was fun, but always glad to come home.
Chun's Reef 8:15am today...

Aloha, a hui hou
Jane

Maui, part 1

so, we took our little trip to Maui on Sunday-Monday. It was really a lot of fun. We were semi-tourist because hubby does know his way around. I actually only had a couple of places I really, really wanted to see, so the time was really ours. So off we went.

I had wanted to go to the lavender farm in Kula. I'd talked to the owner a couple of times at the "Made in Hawaii Festival", so I was anxious to visit. It was so special. A true local company.

the view looking down to the lavender farm...note you can see both sides of the island

one of the many kinds of lavender that they grown and process here. the smell was wonderful!

Hali'imaile General Store. It was closed, but this is really a gourmet restaurant in upcountry Maui.

After lunch in a small (artsy) town Pa'ia, we decided to drive out towards Wailuku and Waihe'e. Hubby said he thought that the road might go around. Looking on the map it showed a road and also described locations out there. so we decided to try. This was so gorgeous! There really weren't too many cars because the road is like this...

this is looking back towards Kahului and Haleakala (under the clouds). This is almost opposite the surf spot "Jaws".

Just a small bay and a very small town on the north west side of Maui.

Molokai from north west Maui. We're actually on the west side of the West Maui Mts.

this is probably why there weren't too many rental cars out here. Oh well
Another little village in far west Maui. There's actually fresh water here and tons of fishing.

I took this pic earilier in the day in makawao. He was just standing there posing for me!

Maui adventure, to be continued...

a hui hou,

Jane

We're going to Maui tomorrow...

We decided to take a couple of days and go to Maui for a little holo holo. I've only been there once, it was for a wedding and we flew in drove a little bit, went to the wedding, then came back to Oahu. This was several years ago, so maybe some things are different. don't think we'll be able to snorkle because of the injury to the hubby. We had to go back to the ER because it started bleeding again. So he's gluded back together and not bleeding.

We got a great deal on the hotel, rental car and are using some of that huge amount of miles, so hey why not?

Aloha,
Jane

I'll have to take away his toys

Hubby & I just spent 2 hrs. at Kahuku ER. He'd been t-r-i-m-m-i-n-g (as always) and picked up the above tool in the pictures position without gloves on. So it resulted in this...

Because of the location, they couldn't put stitches in. They used something called DERMABOND. It stays on in water. It will actually just rub off in 7-10 days, same length of time that stitches would have to stay in.

So I told him...next time I'd have to take away his toys because he just doesn't seem to know how to use them safely. Needless to say this would cause a huge amount of grief if he couldn't T-R-I-M. In the 41 yrs. we've been married the only accidents this guy has ever had ALL have to do with yard toys! Of note: he was a really, really good sport when I whipped out my camera, just said "hurry up and take it". He's learned.

At least it didn't cut off the whole finger...now that would have been something to be upset about!

Aloha,
Jane