Spotty, a.k.a. Catherine

Really? my picture? where's the food?

 The first Islander to greet us when took possession of our house was a little black cat. She climbed a tree next to our deck, leapt over the railing, stopped to meow hello, sauntered across the deck and settled on the lounger for a snooze.  We were immediately infatuated!  She has visited for a snack, a nap or a scratch behind the ears, almost every day since.  I've never met a friendlier, funnier cat -- she does a figure eight around my ankles, meowing excitedly, while I fill her dish (yes, she has a dish...and a bag of cat food in the pantry).  She feigns indifference and disdain but can be easily influenced with a saucer of milk. She loves people and follows us around the house, settling down where ever we happen to be, just in case she's missing something :)




Looking at our kitchen
window waiting for
a sign that
food is on the way.

A white patch on her chest earned her the name Spotty.
On an island full of feral cats, she is so comfortable around people and so prefers a comfy cushion for her naps, we thought she must belong to SOMEONE close by -- but who? After a brief stalking episode and some chatting with the neighbors, it seems Spotty is owned by a gentleman down the road, but indeed, divides her time and appetite between THREE other families including us - hilarious! And while she prefers to remain anonymous and doesn't answer to anything at all, her name is Catherine.  For some reason, I think that's funny too -- it reminds me of Catherine the Great, and this cat definitely has a queenly attitude!

Anyway, she's a sweetie and lovely company when she decides to drop by -- here are a few more shots of her in one of her kingdoms!



Do NOT Disturb

Keeping me company while I hang the laundry.

 

"I know you think this is your new couch, but you'd be wrong."

Easy Peasy Fresh Guacamole!

Every now and then, I feel like creating with food.  Usually, the mood strikes in the late fall when I'm overcome with my hunker down-stock up on cosy winter comfort food-we might not make it out til spring fears and stock the freezer to bursting with spaghetti sauce, chili and all manner of baked goods that will last til May (pause to consider a recent episode of Doomday Preppers). 

 

 Anyway, I've been inspired in the last couple of weeks in a different direction...fresh island grown fruits and vegetables! They are growing on trees and in the ground everywhere on Maui (we even have 13 fruit trees in our own yard -- but more about that another time).  Avocados, mangos, bananas, lemons and limes, oranges and gorgeous tomatoes too -- their colors are so vivid I can almost see the vitamins in them!  And, I'm in love with avocado-- delish! So, I've made a quick and easy-peasy recipe for guacamole and included some photos to show this beautiful produce - enjoy!

 

Ingredients
 2 avocados, 2 ripe tomatoes, juice of one lime, salt and pepper to taste

Peel avocados, slice fruit from the seed.
 

Mash avocados.
Chop tomatoes and add to mashed avocado.
Squeeze juice of one lime in the mixture.
Mix and add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
I like it with hint of lime taco chips - YUM!!

Even the bits for the compost are pretty!

I can't believe it's been TWO weeks!



...since I wrote I was officially on vacation! So, what have we been up to? After safe travels, we've settled in and have done ALOT of yardwork -- I think my feet are tatooed with red Kihei dirt! As I mentioned, the property was empty for over a year and as a result, most everything needs some TLC -- cutting back, raking and clean up especially. We've also planted several areas around the house, adding much needed color and greenery -- including our first very own PALM tree!

 The decks are much more inviting with some potted plants, comfy furniture and a few very Hawaiian tikis that we've enjoyed at sunset this past week. A couple of rainy days gave me the chance to do a little painting and decorating inside. The house really just needs our own 'stamp' and that is coming along nicely -- I already feel very much at home here :)

This is the front deck -- the potted plants make an inviting corner for outside eating and provide a bit of privacy from the street -- I love the way the fronds blow in the breeze. Sunset viewing from this spot is wonderful!

 

We found a shop that specializes in gorgeous imported Indonesian pots and urns.  This huge glazed red urn and two smaller containers filled with tropicals and a Pygmy palm welcome at the front door.  We're in the middle of planting the area just behind them with a twin Manilla palm and some lower shade plants -- this will finish this area and really add some softness to the rock wall and edge of the driveway.  Manilla palms have some great red berries part of the year which should complement the containers.

It hasn't been all work however...we've lounged at the beach four or five times, enjoyed some lovely meals and more than a dozen Maui sunsets -- it's all good!

I'm Officially On Vacation!

Wild Woman Jewelry is on vacation until mid- April.  I’m taking a bit of a break for some personal projects (we bought a new house!) and have enrolled in a couple of courses to learn some new techniques for working with metals!  I'll be posting here regularly and if you drop by the shop, be sure to click the Blue ‘Email Me’ button for notification when the shop reopens.  I’ll still be checking in every couple of days, so please drop me a note if you have any questions! See you soon!

Professional Developement, Maui-Style

Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center Maui is operated from this charming building located in the historical ranching town of Makawao right on the side of the volcano, Haleakala.  Today, Makawao is a vibrant community of artists and artisans whose work is available in numerous shops and galleries that line its character-rich streets. While we are on the island, I’ve enrolled in a metalsmithing course that will improve and expand my skills and designs working with wire and sheet metals.  I’ll be cutting, drilling and piercing metals, learning various soldering techniques and most exciting of all, bezel setting stones! I am SO looking forward to this! They also offer some great photography classed which I'm considering as well. And, I can’t wait to meet some members of the local art community!



Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center in Maui

The college is about 35 minutes from our place which is quite convenient.  I could travel the distance by highway, if I choose, BUT, part of the island culture is to slow down and take your time – so, I think I will take the longer route along the north shore through Pa'ia, a little surf town and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Maui mornings…inspiring, I think. 

 

Stay tuned as I will post photos of my progress (I’m optimistic there will be some J) and the scenery along the way!

A Place in the Sun…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of a place in the sun.  When I was a kid, my dad spent most Sunday mornings listening to his records.  The record jackets would be strewn on the floor by the stereo in our living room where he selected his choices for that day.  He had a huge collection but the ones that seemed magical to me had less to do with the music and more to do with the photos of Hawaiian beaches (mostly Dean Martin and The Rat Pack and Don Ho on Waikiki Beach) and beautiful tropical sunsets. 

Print from
hairbrainedschemes on Etsy
 

Through my teenage years and twenties, I planned many imaginary adventures to southern destinations – Tahiti, the Caribbean and mostly Hawaii - and longed to sit under a coconut palm that leaned over the blue waters of a tropical shore.  Movies like South Pacific and Blue Hawaii were among my favorites.  When my husband and I were first married (and still today!), we’d often plan Friday evenings around travel shows with sunny destinations and shows where families are searching for vacation homes in the sun.  Believe me, it’s been a lifelong theme – music, the Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffet, beach décor… it goes on and on!

My husband and I began to take winter vacations on the March Break (escapes from the snow and cold!) about 20 years ago – our first trip was to Florida.  I’ll never forget seeing my first palm tree outside the Orlando Airport – I was SO excited!  I’ll also NEVER forget the most surreal feeling I had sitting in a small boat headed for the island of Bora Bora, a place that in all my wildest dreams I never dared to believe I would ever visit. I still get teary when I think about it.



Print from
AsYouWishPrinting on Etsy

Over the years, we’ve been so fortunate to experience many of my imagined destinations including islands in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and in recent years, several visits to Maui and the other Hawaiian Islands.  The idea of somehow having our own place in the sun had been a constant topic of discussion and source of entertainment!

Sunset view from our deck!!

Well…and get ready
‘cause this is BIG…in November, we bought our own PLACE IN THE SUN!!!! I can still hardly believe it! It’s in Maui, our favorite vacation destination – and my favorite part is the beautiful sunset view – the memory of those old record album covers has become reality.  Talk about surreal! 

 I’ll be back with more details and some updates for Wild Woman while we are away.

ah, yeah, I know it's too early to be thinking of spring but...

I really needed some color today!

 

 

Eden Necklace, now available in my shop.