Author / princesshotflash

by princesshotflash

Hawaii 2017

UPDATE: Not sure why this went back to draft. I had to republish this to get it out of my draft folder. Sorry to repost. Still learning WordPress.

I’m back from my trip to Hawaii to see my folks, family, friends and Oat’s send off (Next steps: part 1 and part 2). Wanted to share photos of what I did. It was a great trip. Thought it would be hard without Oat but I had a really nice time family and friends beside being very hot.

Morning walks

I tried my best to keep up my walking when I was back. Not as early, no cats to nudge me awake. But I should start walking at 6 but never was out that early. So hot, what a sweaty mess.

20170829_071227.jpg

Waipahu Gym

20170901_070817.jpg

Waikele Golf Course

20170901_065624.jpg

White egret by side of the road

Food

Doing too many things, not too many shots. I’m surprised I don’t have all shave ice and popsicle images because they were my major food group on this visit.

Flora and Fauna

Most of my shots are from my parents’ yard or their neighbors.

one of few street tree left
these are everywhere
neighbor’s dragonfruit
mom’s orchids
gecko on a turtle
monstera
flowers for Auntie and Uncle
me in the cane fields

Places

Hung out with folks most days with the last week being a whirlwind of events. Wasn’t the greatest of documenting things this trip.

Marukai

Went with my cousin and her family to Marukai. It’s like a Costco for all things Japanese. Love their candy and pickle section but this time I didn’t go crazy, instead I could watch 3 little girls go crazy. Picking up every cute and proclaiming, “This is soooooo cute!!!!! Can I get it, pleazzzzzze! I’m so glad I’m just a cousin.

bento box eraser
micro size lego like beetle

Okinawan Festival

The Okinawan Festival is annual event that is held at Kapiolani Park that is getting bigger and bigger every year according to my friends. There was food, plants and craft/dry goods tents with a Bon Dance in the evening.

20170902_182843.jpg

View from the Okinawan Festival–Diamond Head

Bon Dance is summer tradition in Hawaii. It is usually connected with a Buddhist temple/church and it is when you go and pay your respects to your ancestors. There is usually live drumming and singing. They perform at top of the a center tower and everyone dance around it.

I was hoping I go get out to a Bon Dance. Something I miss living in NJ. I know there is on in South Jersey but never made it there. Here’s a short video of the Bon Dance that my friend Allyn shot. I’m in there some where, look for blue dress.

Ko Hana Rum

I found out rum was being made near where my parents live, on the outskirts of Waipahu, the cane fields in Kunia.

20170908_103833.jpg

from the KoHana Tour

My friend, Jan told me her daughter’s boyfriend works there giving tours. And I asked her if she want to go with me for a visit. I needed to get a special gift and I thought Rum distilled in Hawaii sounded good.

Though not, a drinker–a glass or two of a nice red wine is my limit, the tasting w

by princesshotflash

Oat’s Knit-A-Long

UPDATE: If you are mailing your finished piece, here’s my address: 6 Edgebrook Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

I finally got out to Wrapped in Love Knit Night last Tuesday. Wrapped in Love is a group that crochet and knit wraps and shawls for donor family of the NJ Sharing Network. A friend shared with me a post from Facebook about this group. NJ Sharing Network handled the Oat’s tissue donation and I decided to that I wanted to stay involved with the group in some way.

At this knit night, there were 9 knitters and crocheter at all different levels. Lisa the coordinator of the Knit Night told us about the Wrapped in Love group. Their goal is to send a handmade shawl or wrap to a donor family on their 2 year anniversary with note to thank them and tell them that they are in NJ Sharing Network’s thoughts. She mentioned they were presently behind by 100+.

I wasn’t sure of having a knit-a-long, I thought I’d just go to their knit nights. But when Lisa said they were behind, I’d thought I’d could help by asking my knit/crochet friends if they wanted to join in to knit a shawl, wrap or lap blanket for the Wrapped in Love group.

Oat’s Knit-a-Long

I’m calling Oat’s Knit-a-Long. He would want everyone shawl, wrap or blanket for himself as he loved handmade items. I called him Mr. Handmade because he would wear so many handmade piece at one time during the winter.

The specs

The shawl, wrap or lap blanket doesn’t have to be any specific size, pattern or yarn. It’s needs to be handmade to honor the donor family for the generous gift they have made. There is no special date that needs to be meet as I know everyone is busy. You can send me your finish piece and I’ll delivery it to one of the knit nights I attend. Just let me know the fiber content and I’ll added it to the tag with your name and our knit-a-long.

Please let me know if you will be joining me in knit-a-long. It will help me keep track. You can comment on this post or comment on my FB page.

What am I knitting

I have couple of items I want to get done for Wrapped in Love. Two are works in progress and the other two are just an ideas at the moment.

  • I’m still working on my feather and fan pattern with the beautiful yarn from Megan. The color way is playing out well and it will be a beautiful piece to honor a donor family.

This color way is so beautiful!

  • I’ve also started a simple garter stitch lap wrap gray bulky yarn. I love the simplicity of garter stitch and bulky yarn. And it is so soft!!!
20171020_210434

It’s mindless knitting that I can do at night to relax

  • I frogged (ripped out) 4 of Oat’s hat that I’d like to combine to make a shawl or wrap. These hat had too many moth holes to give a way. They were all made by me for Mr. Handmade who love to have stuff made for him.
20171024_054400

all wool, the bottom 3 are all NJ and NY sourced.

  • And I have some really silky yarn that I want to knit a shawlette pattern that I knitted a while back that was quick and easy.

Oh!

  • I wanted to show you a picture of the baby blanket I finished for a friend. Cute baby always makes your finished piece look better.

  • I also finished up a couple of pussy hats that that I’ve been working on for a friend. I promised to make an egg apron with the leftover hat yarn for him. I think it’s going to look great. I’ll start it after I finish up the gray lap blanket. The pattern looks like pretty easy night time crocheting pattern.
20171024_054311

2 hat–top with stripped stockinette crown; bottom with solid seed stitch

  • M, a regular customer of the restaurant, came by and asked me if I would teacher her how to knit. She had broken her foot and was house bounded for the at least 6 weeks and needed something keep her occupied. So I’m teaching her to knit, every Saturday at the restaurant. She made a gater stitch rectangle so far that we are turning into to make a teddy bar for her granddaughter. She’s picks up really fast and her stitches are a really even for a beginner. She knows how to knit, cast on, bind off and rip apart (frog).

stitches are even just some dropping stitches, easy to fix

I hope people can join my knit-a-long. Remember just let me know if you are doing it. Thank you, I really appreciate it.

by princesshotflash

Sitting on the 6:27

Trying to be good and not complain but it was that kind this morning.

Running a little late because previous night’s laziness, I had to clean the litter and take out the trash before I left for the day. And guess who had to use the box when I went to scoop it–enter Ollie’s sad face.

With all that done, I’m now in my car, sitting at the way-too-long traffic light, wondering why they can’t get the timing right on this light [oh by the way it’s 6:14am, the sun has come up yet], then the left arrow turns green. BEEEP!

Now, it’s way too early for a horn especially when we are waiting to turning right not left. What does one jack** at 6:14 in the morning want me to do? SIGHHHH!

I got to the station with no more beeping but the line was long. I think I can get a seat. And YEA! I do. BUT . . . as I sat down I realized I’m sitting next to one of those “doesn’t have a clue/small personal space bubble” person. And he was a little creepy, sitting way too close. I’m squished up against the window, trying not to look at him. His elbow was in my side and he kept looking towards me. I was going to sleep but to creeped out, so I started this post instead.

Then the guy behind me started coughing without covering his mouth. How do I know, I could feel it on the back of my head.

SIGHHHH! SIGHHHH!

LESSONS LEARNED

Don’t be lazy and leave stuff for the next morning!

Can I have redo? Ugh!

I told myself I can’t start my day off feeling annoyed or creeped out. So my walk would be the real start, where I can clear all the yuck away.

20171003_072949

Sun rising over the lower Manhattan

It was another beautiful clear day. There was a smoke trail from a plane and as the sun rose over lower Manhattan, it intersected the trail that intersected  the Freedom Tower.20171003_075546

30 minutes in to my walk,  I look down at my arm to push up my sleeves [guess who is hot and sweaty] to realize I had my shirt on inside out.

Made someone at work take I picture of my inside-out shirt

Now was that why the creepy guy kept looking my way? Oh, well, it was just that kind of day. Hahaha!

by princesshotflash

Picking up my sticks

20170918_064539.jpg

knitting in on my morning bus ride

Just finished up a project–baby blanket in chunky yarn. 4 months late, I guess not too bad considering. Although I forgot to take a picture of the project. Maybe I can get with baby. Started a new project some beautiful yarn that was a gift–hand dyed white with blues and purple. I’m doing a feather and fan pattern with 2 gater stitches in between each repeat. Needed a pattern that I could remember because I put my projects down so often. I’m liking how it the coloring is playing out. The yarn has a bluefish cast  because I shot it on my bus ride to work. Lighting was low on the 6:27 bus.

 

20170922_062330.jpg

example of the morning light–from morning walk around 6:00am

Trying to work up the knitting fever again. Hopefully the cool weather will bring on. So much yarn in my stash that I need to knit. I’ve been trying to knit my stash away for at least 3 years. Still have about 3 plastic container full. Sigh . . .

. . . But I have I got an idea from a friend who tagged me on a FB post about Wrapped in Love , a charitable knitting/crocheting group that make shawls for the families of organ and tissue donors in NJ Sharing Network.

NJ Sharing Network is the group who handle Oat’s tissue donation. And I was thinking it would be nice if I could do something for this organization and why not use up my stash to knit up wraps for the donor’s family.

20170928_165619.jpg

ziploc bags of yarn, bagged project to knit. 

I was thinking of doing a knit-a-long but to be truthful I’m lazy. I just want to knit what I want and when I want. So if you want to join me and knitting a wrap or two for this group, let me know. I’m going to try my best to get a few over to them. Also if you need yarn for this project, I can send you yarn from my stash.

I’m going over to a Wrapped in Love Knit Night on October 10th. And if I gather any more information. I’ll pass it along.

by princesshotflash

Next Steps: part 2

I didn’t want to make a big thing of it. I wanted to find a place that wasn’t crammed with people. Then I thought about the west-side beach and Kaena Point. When I mentioned this to my friend, Janice who has been in a halau for the longest time and is my Hawaiian culture expert, she said that Kaena Point is a place where the spirit jumps or travels to the other side. So that was my ocean spot.

20170905_084149.jpg

The start of the trail

Oat and I have been to Kaena Point a couple of times but we did it from the North side/Mokuleia. It was usually the the first hike we did when we got in. It was flatish, no giant uphills, great for the jet lag travelers. And you get to see so many monk seals, albatross and the beautiful coastline

I picked Tuesday, September 5 to go out because it was after the holiday weekend. I figure it would be less crowded then. I wasn’t going to ask anyone. I thought people were busy and I figure I could walk it on my own. But a couple of friends asked when I was doing it and that they wanted to come along with me.

I had no plans how to do this. But luckily, the great friends that I have knew what to do. My friend Allyn, the engineer and project manager of the group, had a plan. She had picked ti leaf from her yard to make leis and Janice showed us but basically made them for us because she was so good at it.  Allyn also picked plumeria and puakenikeni from her yard.

The Plan

20170905_105627.jpg

The crew L to R: Jan, Alan, and Allyn

Meet at my parent’s house at 7am, Jan, my friend from 1st grade, to pick up Allyn and Alan, her handy husband  (he also came to check out my parents bathroom–need a small fix. See how handy).

We packed up the van and off we went to the west side of the island, past Yokohama Beach–such beautiful under used beach–to the end of the road.

Walk/hike is on the flat side. You walk along the coast with beautiful views of the westside of Oahu. The trail is on the old railroad and you still can see some of the wooden ties on the trail. I can only imagine what it was like riding the train back then. What a view it would have.

20170905_084850.jpg

the coastline

20170905_092738.jpg

natural arch

My cousin told about the tidal pools and we could go swimming them but to watch for the wana (sea urchins). Allyn said underneath where the wana, that where the opihi (limpets) are. No wonder they are so expensive.

20170905_094514.jpg

tidal pools (with lots of wana (sea urchins) and opihi (limpets)

A portion of the trail had washed out or eroded away and there was an slight detour that lead us up the side of the mountain for a bit (not so bad). Then you have to pass through a gated area. At this point, it is a Nature reserve.

The Spot

We were trying to be inconspicuous but 4 old people, looking hot and sweating, one with a big blue umbrella, that hope kind of was dashed. There wasn’t a lot of people walking around. In the meantime, we I looked around looking for there right spot, there were monk seals lazying around in the sun.

 

Allyn suggested to build a cairn (stacks of rock) with the white stones. I googled cairn to see what it really meant and one of the meaning was:

“a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or skyline.”

Alan climbed up the rocky outcrop that had a view of the point. Haha, we all could have gone around the back of the rock to get to the top. That’s what happens when you are looking at the beautiful pacific ocean instead of the mountains. Once it was built, he added a ti leave lei and I added some ashes, thought it would be nice place for Oat. The view from the top of the rock was of the point and the pacific ocean.

 

Building the cairn
with ti leave lei and some ashes at the top
view from the front
view from the back

Alan and I found a spot where we could stand on the rock as the wave came in. Alan toss in the ti leave lie and flowers and I did Oat’s ashes. I wasn’t as graceful as I picture in my head at least I didn’t fall in while I was doing it. It was nice and I’m glad there were people with to share in the moment. I know he would love the cairn, flowers and the leis. It’s really beautiful spot and I’m sure I’ll be back again for visit.

2017-09-05 10.39.37

the cove

We were on the left side because we needed stay clear of the seal on the right. There was a video of the me spreading the ashes but I can’t find it. If I do, I’ll update the post with it. Here’s a video of the cove from almost where I was standing. You can here the wave crashing and you can see the seal.

 

I know Oat would be happy with his ashes being spread here. I still have a bit more  that I will spread on hikes and places we loved in our travels. Thank you everyone for your support throughout this time of my life. I really appreciated and don’t know what I would have done without it. Thanks again.

20170905_103432.jpg

Aloha Oe Oat