Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day!

For those unfamiliar with the phrase, Mele Kalikimaka is a direct Hawaiian phonetic pronunciation of Merry Christmas. Because the Hawaiian language does not contain the letters R or S coupled with not allowing consonants and the end of a syllable we are left with a phrase that rolls off the tongue. Protestant missionaries in the 1820's brought Christmas to the islands which coincided with a 4 month long period of feasting and relaxation. During this 4 month long celebration- called Makahiki- Hawaiians honored the bounties of the earth and refrained from conflict. In a sense the tradition of peace on earth and good will towards men was already in place.

 Mele Kalikimaka has been a favorite of mine, Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters- love those gals, since I can remember. I have the CD on repeat ALL day leading up to Christmas. The song was written in 1949 by R.Alex Anderson, a song writer born and raised in Hawaii, Cornell educated and best known for his hapa-haole (Hawaiian style music with English words) tunes. He loved Hawaii and wrote many songs while homesick at Cornell. His best known songs are of course Mele Kalikimaka and Lovely Hula Hands. Bing Crosby sings the most widely known version of the song but you'd be surprised to find that many other sings/bands have covered the song. 

My first Christmas in Hawaii was fantastic. Christmas day I was at the top of ManaKea touching the sky and looking out over the island. I sang Mele Kalikimaka at the dinner table in a moment of sheer bliss. Today, I've got Bing on repeat and am scouting out condo rentals for our trip to the Big Island in March.

Mele Kalikimaka,

Forever seeking Aloha,

Britt 

Brittany's Anytime Tomato Jam

My tomato plants have done extremely well this year.  At the end of August I was harvesting roughly 10 pounds every two days. Here we are in the middle of September and the red globes keep coming in, though with no new flowers on the vines and our cool nights- my tomato plants are dying. It seems like only moments ago I was overrun with the illustrious red fruits and bringing them to everyone I could. We ate tomato at every meal- tomato sauce, sliced tomato, gazpacho (2x a day for 4 days!) to the point of nausea. NO MORE TOMATO! I yelled at one point and didn't eat tomato for 2 days. I needed to come up with some new ways to keep eating tomatoes without it being bored and predictable.
One such recipe is my tomato jam. We stayed at a lovely B&B last year in Connecticut and they served a tomato jam with breakfast. Intrigued by the sweet tomato-ey stuff I set out to make it myself. I found a recipe in my trusty The New Basics Cookbook by the lovely ladies of The Silver Palate. As usual I used the recipe as a suggestion and this is what I came up with:

Anytime Tomato Jam
you'll need as many super ripe tomatoes as you can stand to cook up- plums and/or beefsteaks (at least 10, I made 3 Ball jars full with 25)
honey
thyme
salt
balsamic vinegar
black peppercorns
cinnamon
allspice
sauce pot, large pot, spice infuser

Prepare the tomatoes
Fill large pot with water, put to boil. Once at rolling boil carefully drop tomatoes in. Remove tomatoes after 1 minute or the skin is split and starting to peel off.
Place hot tomatoes in colander in sink and run cold water over them. I also put a handful of ice cubes.
Once tomatoes are cooled to the point where your fingerprints won't burn off, peel skin off and cut in half. Place off the the side and might I suggest using a cutting board with a reservoir.
While tomatoes are cooling a bit more ready your sauce pot.

Prepare a spice infuser 

Fill generously with sticks of thyme- remove most of the leaves and set aside, and roughly 8-10 black peppercorns. You can also put cloves in but I am not fond of the taste of cloves but if you like them feel free to add to the infuser!

Place the infuser in the pot and hook to the outer edge of your sauce pot. For my sauce pot I use my 3 1/2 quart Le Creuset  but any ol'pot will do.

Make the Jam

At this point you should be able to handle the tomatoes. DO THIS OVER A SINK : squeeze the tomato halves to remove moisture (watch out they splatter!) Then place the squashed tomato in the sauce pot. Once you have squeezed enough tomatoes to cover the bottom of the pot turn the burner on low ( mine was at a 3)

Continue to squeeze the tomatoes and place in the pot.

Once all your fruits are in the pot sprinkle with the reserve thyme leaves, stir and raise the heat a tad ( mine went to 4)

Stir and mash tomatoes with your wooden spoon occasionally in the next 20 minutes. A little bubbling is fine.

I then add about a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, stirring and mashing it in.

Now turn the heat back down (mine went back down to 3)

Add in the honey-I used 3 heaping tablespoons in my big batch, but really you should make it to your liking. Taste a bit of it and if you want it sweeter you can add more honey or even a bit of sugar.

Give the jam a dash of cinnamon, allspice, salt and a sprinkle of thyme leaves then stir.

Turn the burner off and let the jam cool a bit. If you want your jam smoother than your wooden spoon could get it ( I liked mine in that chunky strawberry jam kind of way) you can take a potato masher to it. Remove the spice infuser and add another pinch of salt.

If you made a big batch like I did you could can according to your canning guide. I used 1/2 inch of head space. But, remember to leave yourself a little to have right now!

Serving suggestions:

fresh  mozzarella on a cracker with Tomato Jam

fresh buttermilk biscuits

croissant

buttered bagel

whole wheat toast

chicken

flank steak

crackers and any soft cheese

roasted eggplant

ANYTHING!

Well, I am hungry after writing all this! Hope you enjoy experimenting with Tomato Jam!!!

Forever Seeking Aloha,

Britt

Running TO and Running FROM

I have been reading The Secrets & Mysteries of Hawaii by Pila of Hawaii. It has only taken a few days to get through because I just can't put it down. It isn't that the book is written well, it isn't that it is filled with ground breaking scientific research, it is more that it feels like Pila is speaking to me. I don't read books much anymore, mainly because they just haven't tapped into my soul. I used to read and get excited and filled with questions and riveting answers. Now, the books I've been picking up (and maybe I am just picking up the wrong books) are filled with dribbly nonsense marketed to the masses. The books today are just not what they used to be.
The most important piece of introspection that I received from reading this book is that there is a difference in running TO something and running FROM something. Unsatisfied with our jobs, I can't count how many times my husband and I have talked about leaving it all behind and moving to Hawaii. But really, we'd be running FROM our work. And exactly what we were running from would find us in paradise and we'd be just as miserable there as we are here. We certainly don't want to be miserable in paradise.

There is a distinct difference between running FROM something and running TOwards something. A basic look would reveal that in running FROM something the motivating factor is behind whereas running TOwards something indicates that there is a motivating factor in front. I used to run away from things a lot. I ran from increased workloads, I ran from trying too hard, I ran from the possibility of failure (real or perceived) and I ran from bad relationships. In all cases what I ran from showed itself shortly down the road and I was back where I started. I did a lot of running. But, soon after running there I was smack dab in the middle of it again.  Then I started running TOwards life. I looked in front and I ran TOwards the possibility of failure, I ran towards work, and I ran TOwards goals.

The reason we find ourselves revisiting what we run from is mainly because we think in the terms of the external. A little change is scenery will do you some good- someone once told me. But soon that change of scenery turns into the same old concrete bars. That is because what you are running from is inside yourself. If you bring the same attitude with you it doesn't matter how many times you move, you'll still be in the same situations. You can change your shoes, change your house, change your zip code, but until you change the way you look at the world you're dragging your baggage all over the place.

So how do you start running TOwards life? Well, that is entirely up to you. I didn't fully understand what it was like to run towards something until I did the Navy Seal Triathlon. I always said, I run if I am being chased, but it all changed when I set my sights on the finish line. Maybe some practise in running towards something is a good idea, so you get to know what it feels like.

Most importantly, I can think back to all the times I ran FROM the world; I don't want to bring that to paradise. I'm working on setting life right before I go so I don't spoil Hawaii.

Forever Seeking Aloha,
Britt

Rabbit Control

Yesterday, I went to my garden and much to my surprise I  found several bites taken out of low hanging pea pods. Last year our first line of defense was adding wire mesh on top of our existing fence and digging it 6 inches into the ground. We thought it was a sufficient barrier, but pesky rabbits seem to make it in no matter what. My assumption had also been that after our dog brutally murdered one unsuspecting Cotton tail, no others would dare enter the yard. Apparently, I was wrong. Because I try to keep my yard as organic as possible I'm on the hunt for some biodegradable eco-friendly pest control sprays that will make rabbits look elsewhere for dinner.

Liquid Fence

I've used liquid fence in our front yard when my Tulips were devoured and it worked well. The good people at Liquid Fence suggest that you apply once a week for two weeks and then once a month, unless you have a serious buffet going on. If rabbits (and deer) are chowing down at a rate only matched at Old Country Buffet on a Sunday, then spray once a week for three weeks and only once a month thereafter. If you try Liquid Fence you might want to wear something over your mouth and nose while spraying. It mentions on the label that while applying you may notice an odor, but I would worry more if you don't smell it. Just writing this has brought back smell memories that I'd like to forget. The odor is that of rotten eggs and oh, there's just like the faintest soupçon of garlic. Coincidentally, the main ingredients are egg solids and garlic so you may never enjoy the smell of garlic bread every again. It is environmentally friendly and biodegradable which is a definite plus. Liquid Fence is the closest thing to a home remedy on the market. I'd say that Liquid Fence keeps rabbits away but the smell also kept us indoors for the day. I'm not sure I want to put rotten eggs and garlic on my pea plants, though.

Hot Pepper Wax

I've heard a lot about Hot Pepper Wax but haven't tried it yet. You can use Hot Pepper Wax on edibles so it could do the trick with my peas. Hot Pepper Wax is just like what it sounds, it is a mixture of hot pepper extract and paraffin wax. It goes on as a spray and hardens to a thin layer of wax, that once bitten, packs the punch of a hundred hot peppers. Hot Pepper Wax is also effective on aphids, spider mites, and other soft bodied insects. I am seriously considering this wax for my peas. Per the lovely people at Hot Pepper Wax, you can harvest fruits and veggies same day, an ideal situation for a gardener like myself. The rain can't wash it off, it doesn't get absorbed into the goods, and it isn't going to make me retreat because of the odor. 

Now,  I know what you are thinking," But I eat the stuff right off the vine?!" and so do I. And although I enjoy a hot pepper now and again, I am not sure that I would enjoy Hot Pepper Wax as a condiment. I've scoured their website to find out how to get the wax OFF the fruits and veggies but have been unsuccessful. The wax is water resistant so my best guess would be adding soap to your washing. There is also a caution on the label that Hot Pepper Wax should not be used on Parsley and Basil.  My bottom line is, if I wanted to eat hot peppers with everything, I would, and on some occasions I do. So I might pick up some Hot Pepper Wax next time I see it at the Depot.

The internet is filled with DIY pest repellents, but I don't want to fill my house with gross smelling stuff that might not even work. Like, seriously how long would it take to make eggs rotten? by that time my whole lettuce patch would be gone! Lucky for me, the pests stay away pretty well with my raised bed, buried chicken wire, and my assassin dog. The two products above are tested and proven to be eco-friendly alternatives and made out of natural ingredients. I've personally used the liquid fence and found it to live up to the hype (though I am again having smell flashbacks). I'm seriously considering the Hot Pepper Wax for my peas and I could always use it for my roses, which will probably be the topic of my next blog (or rambling whichever way you look at it). 

Forever Seeking Aloha,

Britt

Cold Crops and the Shade

Sometimes, I take for granted that I have a garden. I forget that not everyone's climate or yard can accommodate fruits and veggies. My dear friends came to visit and as we were out picking and eating peas with their 22 month old daughter (who can spot a perfect pea pod) the questions started rolling in.   Today, I am tackling my dear friend’s question on what he can grow- not only in his cool climate of Vermont but also-in his shady yard.  I’ve sorted through my seed packets and gardening books to select some cool weather crops that can survive on 3-6 hours of sunlight. Although these plants can survive on short exposures it is important to note that they cannot survive in pure shade. 

1.     Peas

2.     Broccoli

3.     Cauliflower

4.     Spinach

5.     Beans

6.     Swiss Chard

7.     Collard greens

Location, Location, Location

Before you even go to the store to buy your seeds, you’ll need to know where to plant. It is a bit easier for me because half of my yard is always fried, but in dappled sun it may prove a bit more difficult. I suggest creating a diagram of your yard using graph paper. Map out where your house, trees, and driveway are so you know exactly where NOT to plant. Once you have your diagram done you can start mapping your sunshine. I suggest taking a different colored crayon and coloring in your morning, afternoon and evening sun. You may find that you get more sun than you originally thought! The vegetables I listed above do well in partial shade to full sun, but you also have to consider the general topography of your property. You don't want you perfect garden spot to be where a rushing river develops every time it rains. 

Raise your bed

Once you have determined the ideal location (or locations) for your garden, you will need to create the actual bed.  My soil is all clay so I chose to go with a raised bed. There are pro’s and con’s for raising your bed and it all depends on your likes and dislikes. I like my raised bed because I didn’t have to dig out the clay, I just put organic compost soil from my township overtop of my existing soil. Also I’ve found that I don’t get as many weeds, I don’t have to bend over so much when harvesting, and my soil stays warm a bit longer than the ground. If you are contemplating creating your garden straight on the ground, take into consideration the amount of tree roots you might encounter and if you generally trip over rocks in your yard.  You can purchase kits for a raised bed or, if you are a handman(woman) you can build your own. I used non-pressure treated wood with an “eco friendly” sealant. But, don’t let convention stand in the way of your creativity.  I’ve seen tires used as individual planters and a greenhouse made of plastic bottles, so if you are into up-cycling and repurposing don’t let me stand in your way.    

                                  But isn't it too late?

A common misconception is that you plant in the Spring and harvest in the Summer, but many cool weather plants do well even with a light frost. You can sew the seeds directly into your garden in July/August for your Fall harvest. I am an advocate of starting inside on a windowsill but it isn't that easy for everyone. In Vermont you might not get the debilitating heat I get in PA, and the garden will be in part sun which will offer more relief. If you do start plants indoors, start them inside in July/August placing them outdoors for a few hours at a time in the morning or late afternoon/early evening. You want to keep your cold crop babies from being fried in the sun. I made this terrible mistake with my Spinach this year. I waited a bit too long to plant my Spinach and they withered away to nothing in a matter of days. I'm going to try for a Fall harvest, though. Last year I planted Broccoli in late August. We had an early frost in September which I thought would surely had killed them, but they actually tasted BETTER! 

Put a lid on it!

Another great idea for a raised bed is fashioning a removable or prop-able lid. This is called a Cold Frame. You could easily repurpose an old door or window to cover the raised bed in order to prolong your grow season. 

 Of course you would have to offer enough room for your plants to grow.

Cold frames are great for growing lettuces and spinach, which can be grown from seed to maturity in the cold frame. My grandmother had a cold frame box right outside the kitchen door, and she kept her herbs growing through the Fall by insulating around the cold frame with leaves. The lid was hinged and made out of a corrugated clear plastic. Cold frames can be used for starting plants for transplanting into the garden, or using it as a garden to extend the availability of fresh veggies through the Fall and even into Winter. 

 I hope this proves useful for more than just my Vermonters. I plan on doing a Fall harvest for my spinach and the advice above can accommodate most climates. If you'd like to know more about the cold weather crops above just let me know :) I'd be more than thrilled to give a detailed account of my trials and trellises with Peas. 

Forever Seeking Aloha,

Britt 

How do I make my garden grow?

Gardening has become one of my favorite relaxing activities. I zen out when I search for ripened veggies or fruits, and I have been known to pirouette to my herbs in the middle of making dinner. But gardening doesn't come naturally to everyone. I frequently am asked, "How do I get this stupid stuff to GROW" to which my first thought is, "DON'T THINK OF IT AS STUPID!" But seriously, plants need three things- sun, water, soil. The balance of those three things is much like making a dirty martini-I take my martini's a little dry and very dirty, but everyone likes their martini differently.  Some plants like more sun, some plants like to be dry, and different types of soils are needed to grow specific types of plants. 

I'm tackling Noelle's question on how to grow Basil today. 

Basil can be grown indoors during the winter and outdoors in the summer in our Pennsylvania region. I have two sweet basil plants in 1/2 whiskey barrels in my garden that I planted on May 28th. You can purchase basil at your local garden store (sometimes even in the grocery store) or you can start from seeds. Pick a healthy looking plant, make sure there aren't broken stems and you want the leaves to look a nice pure shade of green. Stay away from plants that have flies or bugs all over them or that have yellowing/browning of the leaves. This is a good indication that the plant is sick. Also, smell the plant. Especially with basil, if the herb you are buying doesn't smell like itself, you might be purchasing a weak plant that doesn't have enough strength to survive a week in the sun. 

Where do you put it now?

Basil does best with 6-8 hours of sun. Mine get an entire day of direct sunlight. If you have more than one it is a good idea to plant them about 4 inches a part. They like a nutrient rich soil which is great if you have a compost pile or can get freshly churned compost rich soil at your local Organic Recycling center. That's right Organic Recycling Center. Check your local township for a yard waste dump. We have a few in our area that let residents cart away as much soil and mulch as they want. We've stocked our garden with Emmaus Township compost soil and it makes all the difference. If you don't have a place locally you could start your own compost pile or purchase soil at your local garden supply store. I also have a little trick to cutting down on transplant shock. That's when you buy a great healthy looking plant, you go home, plant it in your garden, and a few hours later it looks like it's knocking on heaven's door. I plant later in the day and I water right after. I also give my plants one day to adjust to the sun cycle in my yard because I get a lot of sun. Many plants are grown in greenhouses and get shocked when they are planted outdoors for good. Plus, you won't get a farmer's tan when you plant at sundown.

But it is so hot outside!

Yes, I know it gets hot in the sun. Basil should be watered once a day to keep the soil moist. Don't over water and try not to beat the plant with water. One of the hardest things is figuring out if you over water. A trick I've started is limiting my watering's to 15 minutes in the evening. I then scrape at the dirt and if it is wet 1/2 inch down I know it is just right. Don't be tempted to water until pools form at the base of the plant, or watering in the middle of the day. I also use grass clippings from cutting the grass all around the garden to lock in water. If all you have is a little pot of basil water once a day at night, but water until the soil is moist, not soggy.

If you just can't get the hang of it- don't worry someone has a solution for you. Watering globes takes the guesswork out of watering by distributing water only when your plants need it.

Blasphemy! you might exclaim. But really, do you want Basil or not?!

Get in my Belly!

Depending on the size of the basil plant you buy, you can start using your fresh basil leaves a few days after planting. I tend to buy smaller plants so I wait until there is new growth at the top so I know the plant can survive without the leaves I am about to pinch off. If you start your plants from seed you can wait until they are about 5 inches tall. But don't pinch off all the leaves. Remember that the leaves are needed by the plant too so only pinch off as much as you need. I take a few leaves from each plant instead of picking them all from one stem.  Avoid cutting the stem because once you go there it isn't coming back. Basil flowers are cute white flowers that form on spears at the top of the basil stem. This is also called "bolting" because the plant wants to create seeds. Bolting usually occurs later in the summer but can happen at any time there is a long heat spell. If you see basil  flowers forming cut just below the flowering portion. Also at this time you want to pinch off a few of the top leaves every day. This will cause the plant to want to use its energy to grow more leaves, not more flowers. 

Hope that helps!! 

Ode to the Tomato

I developed a taste for fresh vegetables at an early age. Unlike many children, I had a penchant for the sunbathed vegetables grown in our backyard. I relished in the sweet but tangy flavor of baby spinach leaves. You know, the ones that you pinch from the garden as you casually walk by. But, my favorite was the tomato. There is something undeniably blissful in biting into a big meaty tomato- straight off the vine and into the mouth. Then there is the smell that comes along with it. One of my favorite smells is that grassy warm aroma found at the top of a garden fresh tomato. When you breathe in that scent, it is confirmed that you are in the throws of Summer.



Growing up in a coastal town of NJ, we always had a garden it is the Garden State, after all. Together as a family we'd weed, turn over the soil and rake it into tiny rows. My sister and I would create little hollowed out mounds before placing a seedling in. We'd be sent out just about ever day to check on the plants, to see if they needed watering. After cutting the grass we'd sprinkle the fresh clippings around our young plants to help hold in the soil's moisture and block out any weeds from growing.

Before sitting down to dinner an oh-so-common request to "go to the back and get some chives" would be asked. In the middle of the day I'd be sent to get sprigs of mint for the iced tea my mother would brew. While gathering the herbs, my sister and I would be told to check on the tomatoes- to see if any were ripe. "ALMOST!!" we'd yell as we ran back to the house. But, when we saw that deep luscious red, not orange or the faint red seen in store bought tomatoes, one of us would go in and palm the ripe fruit. With a gentle twist the tomato would release from the vine and then we'd hold it up to the sky like a trophy. Ah, the glory of picking a ripe tomato.

Sometimes, in the supermarket, I lift a tomato to my nose to see if the smells of Summer are hiding there. Usually it just smells cold. I pick through the bunches to find the rich red of a ripe tomato, but my fingers stumble over the flat blush pink I have to choose from. Waiting is not my strength, but at least now it is May and my tomato seedlings are showing promise. In a few months I will be running into my house yelling "ALMOST!!" even if no one is there to hear it.

Valley of the Kings

My parents came over last week and they brought me a CD of images from my first trip to Hawaii. It feels like forever ago. I remember flying into Hilo airport and Sarito greeting us with Lei's or was it only I that got one? We had a big turkey dinner because it was Christmas and there was Cayenne Pepper instead of Paprika all over the turkey which made the gravy deliciously spicy. The next morning I woke up to bird chatter, the smell of roasting coffee beans, and warm sunlight tickling my cheeks. I thought to myself, "Is there anything more beautiful?" Our lanai looked out over the coffee plants and the rest of the yard with Hilo Bay in the distance. It was heaven. The sounds and smells can't even be imagined. Then we went to Waipio Valley.

Waipio Valley was supposedly the first area settled by Polynesians in as early as 400AD. The valley is perfect for a civilization to grow because of the abundance of fresh water, protection from the high walls, and the access to the ocean for fishing.  Today, Taro root is farmed in the area while wild horses graze. The Waipio Valley used to have many inhabitants, there was a jail, hospital, grocery store, and many residents. I am pretty sure you can rent a hut down there for a month and surf until your heart is content but you won't have many amenities. Back to the Taro root though- because there is a lot of symbolism and language that surrounds the growing of Taro.
Ripping from the online pages of www.poico.com:
Betty Fullard Leo tells us in Tapping The Roots of Taro, "the taro or kalo plant originated when the son of Wakea (Sky Father) and his daughter Ho'ohoukalani was born lifeless and deformed, like a gnarled root of a plant. The grieving parents buried the baby, but the next day a taro plant sprouted from the grave, which Wakea named Haloa. When the second son of Wakea was born they named him Haloa also, because he was the younger brother of Taro, from whom all Hawaiians descended."
...
"Life begins with the 'ai, the 'aina, that which nurtures us, that which gives us what we eat," explains Hanoa. "Understand that in the Hawaiian language, 'na' adds to the word, makes plural. The corm of the plant, the root or meat, represents the makua or parent and the offshoot or stem is the 'oha.' Thus 'ohana,' the family."

Taro root is farmed by cutting off part of the plant for harvest, and then the other part will grow more Taro. Ohana is a word used very commonly on the Big Island, if you have an Ohana it means you have an inlaw area where you parents can live. Some properties even come with a detached Ohana. Wet farmed Taro makes great poi (poi is a dough like substance. I like poi english muffins best) and most wet farmed Taro comes from the Waipio.
Check out this documentary from PBS Hawai'i about Taro farming- with Jason Scott Lee:
http://www.bacipix.com/livingpono/overview.html

If you ever get to the Big Island and don't go to the Waipio you aren't really experiencing all that is Hawaii.

I could go on and on, but I'll leave you with this view.

Forever Seeking Aloha,

Britt

Bamboo House

http://www.bambooliving.com/big-island-open-house.html

I was just moved to tears watching a video from Bamboo Living. My reservations about moving the the Big Island was mainly that I would get "stuck" living in a house that I didn't want to grow old in. Not that I will actually ever grow old... The house we live in now is great, we've really done a lot to bring the house up to date. Of course my favorite part of our current house is the reclaimed wood floor I had put in. Alas, I digress. 

The last time we were in Hawaii I looked at a great piece of land, which my mother in law hated! because it was right on the road. However she does not understand that we currently live right next to a HIGHWAY. I can live next to a road in Hawaii because I have lived one house away from a major interstate and have many a morning looked out my window at the sound barrier. But she is probably right, if you are going to live in paradise you better make sure you surround yourself in it :) 

Alas, I digress again. I started looking at eco-friendly housing materials, possibly to just occupy my time. There were a lot of ideas coming out of the UK and Germany- shipping container houses and big glass bubbles. They all look fantastic but I am not the "modernist" type. I am looking for some old Hawaii feel, a  1930's house with built in cabinets, or a rustic plantation hut. I stumbled upon bamboo housing by searching for "eco friendly building materials" on google.

 

Bamboo living seems to be the only place that I can find on the web that is building on the Big Island. Bamboo is not only completely sustainable, but its also incredibly durable. Bamboo homes can withstand hurricanes, earthquakes, termites, fungus and the list goes on and on. This is the best site I've found so far that shows "real houses" made out of bamboo and not high fashion architecture. The David Sands Collection Polynesian style is my favorite and at $80 per square foot it seems like I might be on to something :)

Bamboo Living is having an open house on the Big Island, by the lava tree park ( love that place). You should check it out, I know I would if I could. It isn't that I am an eco-friendly nut case, really there are plenty of things that I do that I am sure contribute to the death of our planet. I just can't help but be drawn to the idea of limiting the deleterious effects of our society on possibly my favorite place on earth. 

Time to leave work!

Forever seeking Aloha,

Britt

Big Island Open House

Saturday, February 20th 11AM - 3PM
Contact: Bamboo Living at 877-857-0057 or Josi on the day of the event, 612-812-1713
Directions from Hilo

• Take Hwy 11 south out of Hilo

• Turn left on Hwy 130 just before Keaau town

• Stay on 130 all the way to Pahoa, but stay on hwy until the first stop light (don't turn into Pahoa town)

• At the stop light turn left on Old Pahoa Rd

• Stay on Old Pahoa rd until you see Lava Tree park on the left then there will be a fork in the road and you go right onto Pohoiki Rd

• About 3 miles down Pohoiki Rd there's a sign that says single lane road and the yellow line ends in the middle of the road. Immediately after the yellow line ends there are two driveways on the left, it's the second driveway on the left with the number 13 spray painted on a rock.

Tsunami update

Evacuation sirens and evacuation will start at 6am Hawaii time. Civil defense is asking that locals limit phone use at that time. Anyone within the Tsunami evacuation zone should follow the evacuation route. 10-15 foot wave is expected around 11am local time, so it would be around 4 pm EST. 

10-15 foot wave won't be as destructive as the historical tsunamis that have hit Hilo Bay, but it is hard to say if the 10-15 wave will gain momentum or if it will fizzle out. Again, I will post anything I hear.

Forever seeking Aloha,

Britt

Tsunami headed to Hawaii?

The other day I was emailing back and forth with my mother-in-law who lives in Papaikou and she casually mentioned that as she was writing an small earthquake shook her house. Now, with the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, the news on the mainland is reporting there is a risk for a Tsunami wave to hit Hilo Bay. Since it is 8 in the morning here in Pennyslvania, I can't call Sarito or Tom (mother and father in law) to tell them about the warning so I'm blogging instead.  Their house is high enough that they aren't suseptable to any flooding, but Tom's shop is in downtown Hilo....I hope nothing bad happens. The Pacific Tsunami Museum streams a live webcam  http://www.tsunami.org/hilobaycam.html  incase you want to watch what may unfold.
Also, feel free to donate to the museum so they can keep the project alive.
Pacific Tsunami Museum-BayCam Fund

P.O. Box 806
Hilo, HI 96721

My husband's family has lived on the Big Island on and off for many generations, and we are hoping to become the fourth generation to call the island home. If Sarito or Tom tell me anything about a Tsunami I will post it. And if you happen to be in Hilo stop by Shark's Coffee Shop and tell them Brittany sent you.

Live like you're in a canoe

http://www.messageinthewaves.com/

Last night I caught the end of a documentary called Message in the Waves. It highlighted the effects of plastic trash in our oceans, now I only saw the last ten minutes but boy do I wish I had seen the whole thing. I don't want to ruin it for you if you do watch it, but let's just say I can never look at my toothbrush the same way again.
For those of you who will not get to see the thought provoking documentary, here are some facts on plastic trash:
+In June 2006 United Nations Environmental Program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.


+About four-fifths of marine trash comes from land, swept by wind or washed by rain off highways and city streets, down streams and rivers, and out to sea. Nearly 90% of floating marine litter is plastic.


+In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year. After an animal is killed by plastic bags, its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environment where it can kill again.


I started crying when I saw the pictures of bird carcasses with golf balls and brightly colored plastic toys revealing themselves through feathers and rotting flesh. To think that fish we may be eating probably are contaminated with the plastic they ingest. 


Work is busy so I must cut this short.
Forever Seeking Aloha,
Britt

Happiest States: Hawaii Moves into First Place

http://www.livescience.com/culture/states-well-being-happy-100216.html

Congrats to Hawaii for being the happiest state! The is no contest in my book that I am happiest when I am in Hawaii. I attribute it to copious amounts of avocados and mangos, and fun in the sun. Plus, I haven't tried working in Hawaii. I don't know if working in Hawaii would pose a challenge, would I want to play hooky from work every day>? probably. Unlike today, which started off with snow and will end with a chilling walk through 20 degree weather and waiting for my car to heat up to a balmy 75, every day would be the perfect day to sit on the beach!

The article is interesting, you should read it. Leave it to science to quantify what happiness is.
To me, happiness is.......... it just IS!

Work is busy, so this must be short,

Forever seeking Aloha,

Britt

house hunting

It may be slightly too early to check out houses in Hawaii, but I need something to do to pass the time at work. We have been tossing around the idea of the husband going on active duty and moving into base housing on Oahu ( he'll be Lieutenant so the houses won't be horrible). We'd be able to save some money and possibly have the military move us out there. But I really want to live on the Big Island. Trulia has become my best resource for house hunting. I LOVE what the owners have done with this house:
http://www.trulia.com/property/1076418478-197-Kaiulani-St-Hilo-HI-96720

But I can see the hidden potential in
http://www.trulia.com/property/1090912308-28-2889-Kaakepa-St-Pepeekeo-HI-96783

My husband and I don't usually see eye to eye when it comes to seeing hidden potential and this is one of those times. We want a house that has a decent sized lot for my green thumb to run wild :) but also enough space inside. We've been spoiled, because every time we come to Hawaii we stay in a nice large house. I am just not sure how much renovations cost in Hawaii. Plus, if a home costs around $400,000 don't you want to just slap some paint on the walls and call it a day? Personally I'd like a house around $250,000 that needs some work, maybe upgrade the kitchen and bathrooms, with a big lanai, established fruit trees and a great ocean view. The neighborhood needs to be safe and far enough from my mother-in-law that she can't walk in every morning. Much love Sarito!
I think either living near Pepeekeo is as far North as we would go (on the Hilo side anyway) and Hilo is as far South. We could go inland to the Hilo Medical Center area but I don't want to be able to see into my neighbor's window from any room in the house. I'd like at least one acre to play with.

I've already had some experiences with home improvements. Some have turned out fabulously while others have been downright disasters. My best renovation so far has been my reclaimed antique oak floors. I did my research and found a somewhat local mill- The Woods Company located in Chambersburg PA. They have a section on their website that has wood on sale, mainly because the amount of wood they have left in that type isn't enough for most jobs. I got quote and in about two weeks they had milled the pieces to be tongue-and-groove with end matching. The room we re-did was pretty small and almost a perfect square. I hired a local company to come in and install the floor, after my husband and I ripped up the ghastly carpet that was already on the floor. I had some stressful moments but the floor is my favorite thing about the house.
The worst home improvement was changing the fixtures in the bathroom. We ended up having to hire a plumber because one of the pipes crumbled when we tried to twist it. Not fun!

Well daydreaming is done and back to work I must go.
Forever seeking Aloha

Britt

Note to self

Note to self-

Once in Hawaii, make ceviche!

Money Savings starts now

My husband and I had the "money talk" last night which made me feel sick to my stomach. The bottom line is we need to save more money which is really really hard to do. Two car payments, a mortgage, electric bill, my student loans... et cetera et cetera talking about saving money can feel down right overwhelming. Since my husband re-joined the Navy as a lieutenant (in the reserves) we will have a little extra coming in each month, but what else can we cut back on?

The game plan is:

Use more Coupons at the grocery store

Use the same grocery store to take advantage of bonus points

No more going out to eat

Cut back on alcohol expenses

NO clothing purchases especially for winter clothes

NO vacation spending

Get a job closer to home that pays more or equal to what I am currently making.

Hopefully we can start tracking our savings and make a conscious effort to save money for moving to Hawaii. At the end of the night, I felt like moving to Hawaii was an impossible dream. Now I am focused on attaining that dream.

I saw this book recently and it looked like a great idea. I would love to only work 4 hours a week. But then I think what would I DO?? I'd confront the clothes piled up on the bed in the guest room? I'd be expected to vacuum!? THE HORROR!

But on the positive side I'd be able to go back to my artwork. I could dedicate some real time to the book I've started to write. I'd have a larger garden with more varieties of vegetables.

Maybe I'll pick the book up and see with this Timothy Ferriss has to say.

Seeking Aloha

Please join me as I embark on a journey of a lifetime; moving to Hawaii. Right now I am in the coupon clipping, mall sale avoiding, removing my name from any catalogue stage. But 2010 is a year of changes so even I don't know what changes those will be.

Seeking Aloha means a lot to me. There is a deeper meaning to Aloha that goes beyond "hello" and "good bye" that touches the inner being of who we are. Aloha is being a part of everything around us. Doing no harm and promoting respect for the environment around us is living in the way of Aloha. For more on the Deeper Meaning of Aloha check out http://www.huna.org/html/deeper.html

For me Seeking Aloha is more then just my journey to live in Hawaii; it will be a transformation into feelings of positive interactions with the world around me. Seeking Aloha is living within the world instead of watching it through a window. It is winter in Pennsylvania right now and I can't work in my garden or run outside because of the weather. This is causing me to feel a disconnect between who I am and who I want to be.

I can't wait to share this journey with everyone and share in my Seeking Aloha.

.