Mele Kalikimaka!

Merry Christmas and Aloha!

Arrived in Honolulu yesterday afternoon.  Ruby realized we were in Hawaii and wanted to get a coconut. Makes sense: coconut, Hawaii, right?  We arrived at our hotel too early to check in so we went for a walk through Waikiki looking for a coconut.  A real coconut.  Well, in Waikiki, its much easier to find a TOYS "R" US, or a Starbucks than a real coconut! 

Today is Christmas day, and we are still in Waikiki district of Honolulu and still, NO Coconut!
Well, the day is still young, there is still time to find one!

The Gift of The Bell

A couple weeks ago I awoke in the early hours of the Kodiak  morn.  In these wee hours an image came to mind, of a brass bell with the handle in the shape of a Russian Orthodox Cross, a common symbol seen in and around Kodiak as Russian Orthodox is quite prominent.  I didn't think too much of it at the time, but later that day I was at my friends the Simplers house and Bronwyn wanted to show me her new bed.  In her bedroom in a cabinet was something but I wasn't sure if it was a bell, it was so quaint and unique all enclosed within a wooden structure in the shape of blue onion dome and topped with a Russian Orthodox cross.  She said it was a bell and I was so thrilled!  I shared with them my image that morning, and that a bell with a Russian Orthodox cross on top does exist, I went to look for one down town, but couldn't find   any, anywhere.  Arlene and Bronwyn ended up giving me their bell, what a special gift!

I have it with me now, on our first stop: Sea/Tac.  Tacoma, really!  A precious piece of Kodiak.  Where else, and how often does one see a blue onion dome with a Russian Orthodox cross!? The bell is  beautiful and   makes a beautiful sound too.  What a perfect gift to compliment my Yoga practice.