Friday, November 26, 2010

Ocean Bracelet

Instead of getting out on Black Friday, I decided to do something creative and relaxing at home. Besides, I spent all my money in Hawaii! I spent the morning with my soldering iron making a bracelet from small shells, stones and coral that I picked up on the beach of Waikiki. I had collected a handful thinking I'd make something special and this idea woke me up early this morning (as most of my ideas do). Some shells have little holes and for the other pieces that didn't I just wrapped with a strip of foil, soldered around and attached a ring. I couldn't have purchased a more special souvenir.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Clockwork LV

Flight to Oahu from Kansas = tons of knitting time. So much time in fact that I finished the majority of my Clockwork gear-inspired scarf designed by Stephen West before landing on the island. So how you coming along, Jackie and Amy?? I chose mine in colors to pay homage to Louis Vuitton in Mirasol Tupa (50/50 merino wool & silk spun in Peru).

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Mahalo Hawaii!

I'm so grateful to have been given another opportunity to spend time in Hawaii. Seven days here is so very different from my life in Kansas. There will be no more trips for Kona Honolulu coffee, shopping on Kalakaua Avenue (love you Louis Vuitton!) or breakfast and yoga on the beach. I made the most of every day and have some awesome pictures and memories from our trip to last a lifetime. Thank you, Hawaii, for a wonderful time!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New Friendships


We've had some enjoyable Hawaiian dinners with husband's co-workers and wives (hey Teresa & Tammy!) while in Hawaii as well as time spent together after the conference touring around the island by shuttle and boat. Tammy is my new gal pal and we had a blast shop'n and sun'n together while the guys were tied up in work meetings. We almost felt guilty -- NOT!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Ocean Adventure

Back home I had booked a kayak trip on the other side of the island in Kailua. So, at work before leaving for Hawaii I daydreamed about smooth sailing on a peaceful ocean. You know, a peaceful vacation memory like what was posted on their website. But as things tend to go, my adventure was quite different and full of challenges.



A shuttle picked me up at my hotel and we drove to Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks where we carried our boats down to the beach for a five mile paddle out to Moku'lua Island. To say it was windy would be an understatement. We were actually paddling against (and sometimes sideways) white-capped waves. We made it halfway out to the island and our guide debated going back. There were about 10 of us and at this point none of us wanted to give up so we dug down deep and made it there. We ate a packed lunch on the beach and the snorkeling turned out to be just as challenging as the waves rocked me around the sharp coral reefs - both my knees were bleeding - but I did see some pretty marine life and a sea turtle. On the way back in a rouge wave came up over me and rolled me out of my kayak. It was a desperate feeling to be scrambling for my boat out in a rough ocean but at the same time it was thrilling to be able to experience it all...counting the blisters on my hands.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Aloha!


The weather is so nice here in Honolulu. Husband has work conferences and I've been free to shop, play and sunbathe on Waikiki beach. My morning routine is to walk down the block to McDonalds for a local favorite platter of spam, eggs and rice then sit on the beach while the sun rises. Who would've thought spam could taste so goood--only here in Hawaii!

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Cotton Update

The combines are out working the fields and leave big rectangular blocks of cotton behind to be delivered to the gins for processing. Today, I stopped and talked to a farmer at Metz Farms and learned a little bit about the process and their goal to be completed by Thanksgiving. The machines leave some cotton behind and he gave me permission to come back and collect whatever I wanted. I'm thinking that big mound in front of the bale is all mine...Just gotta love "The Look, The Feel of Cotton!"