giggle fit

i was going through some photo files last night. i came across this series. and laughed all over again. steve and i and my sister, kim, and her husband, bobby, were in maui, makena beach specifically, this past february. we found a great spot for photo ops. kim and i sat to pose. (please, please, don't be jealous of our ability to pose just like models.) steve was behind the lens with sidekick bobby. we got the giggles. we said don't take the photo until we're done laughing. we were sure he wasn't shooting.

then bobby made a joke about cleavage... or lack thereof. so, wait, don't shoot, let me fix my top.
then, a joke about kim's. huh, wait, don't shoot, let her fix her shirt.
ok, i think we got it together here. ... no, wait. still laughing.oh boy, severely laughing now. hold on. one's about to burst a vein.
ok, maybe we're ready. oops, no, monkey face showing.*no, wait. more laughing. we were sure no pictures were taken. we gave steve the go ahead to start shooting. steve said, done!. what?!? you were taking our picture all along?!? that put us into another fit of laughter.
* i will add this...my sister doesn't usually make such faces. she was adjusting to new braces. no explanation for my faces.

Distraction

Churches are beautiful. Churches are peaceful. Looking at churches will help me keep my mind off the fact that I've had no gluten or sugar for 3 days now. And I'm cranky. And moody. Looking at churches will keep me from thinking about this

and these.Okay, here we go. Little brown church in beautiful Makena on Maui. Brown. Like chocolate brown.

12 pews tops. Complete with fans.

Meticulously maintained cemetery.

Simply-put headstones. I bet she was a baker. Probably baked pies.

Church halfway between Kula and Peia, Maui. Love the roof.

Prayer table. I pray I forget about pie.

Stained glass front.


Simple, white church Kapalua, Maui. White reminds me of soymilk. Soymilk goes with pie. And brownies.


See, that worked well.
(photos taken by me, Feb 2009 and June 2009)

Making Leis and Inspiring Goals

On our recent Maui trip, we stopped in Lahaina for a little shoppping. Ok, a lot of shopping. (I got a few glares walking to my seat on the plane with my antique Chinese bench... but it wouldn't fit in my suitcase.) In front of an art gallery, we spotted these ladies, busily stringing tropical flowers on string like stringing cranberries and popcorn at Christmas time.


They gathered plumeria, tuberose, and other flowers (which they told me their names but I've long since forgot) from their yards and neighbors'. They were selling the leis to raise funds for the local high school. Prices ranged from $6 - $10 (!). They were stunning. And smelled to high heaven. (That is the saying you use when something smells wonderful, huh?)



Here's the birthday girl in her lei. My sister.



I struck up a conversation with the woman on the far right below. She fishes off Maui. She fishes in Alaska. Her last catch was a 66 pound tuna. She's going back in August. Her goal is to catch a 100 lb tuna.

Have a Lavender Day

Let's talk about lavender. When I think of lavender I think of this Robin Bell designed plantation-style room from my November 2007 House Beautiful.


How serene. So was the lavender farm, Ali'i Kula Lavender, we visited last week on the steep slopes of Mount Haleakala in Maui. The farm resides in Kula, 4,000 feet up. And I mean up. On the side of a mountain. I felt tilted the whole time I was there. The temperature was about 15 degrees cooler than the lowcountry. You could see forever.




Ali'i Chang, Lavender Engineer (how cool is that job title?), started the farm in 2002. And I must tell you this because it amazes me... Ali'i is one of 16(!) children.

The farm grows 45 lavender cultivars on about 8 acres. The plants bloom mostly June through August. Only about 18 cultivars were in bloom when we were there. Yet it was still spectacular.

When you mention the farm to any local, they immediately respond with "you must try the lavender scones in the gift shop". My sister and I are not scone fans. Too dry. We relented and bought a lavender scone. We toasted and buttered it. It was the best scone I've ever had. I even bought the scone mix to share them with my husband.

The Pineapple Grill

I love food. There's people who eat to live and people who live to eat. I'm a live to eat gal. As soon as I finish one meal, I'm thinking about my next.

Last week on vacation I ate at one of my favorite restaurants, The Pineapple Grill, in Kapalua, Maui. (And let's take a moment to enjoy the beautiful music on their website. It's Jamie Lawrence. Awesome) This is the view from their dining room.

Not only are the views wonderful, but so is their service. It's impeccable, but still relaxed and friendly.

My husband and I first ate there February 16, 2007, after we did this in Lahaina.


I had pan seared miso marinated king salmon, over chilled soba noodles, crisp vegetables with a citrus ponzu sauce.I had it again last week. It's seriously my favorite meal. This time I dined with my mother and sister. It was a girls' week. We followed it up with their signature dessert, pineapple upside down cake with Roselani gourmet macadamia nut ice cream. It's topped with dark rum sauce and toasted coconut.

They actually post the recipe for this dessert on their website. I plan to make it. It's to-die-for.

(View and dessert photos via restaurant website)

Peony Love

Aloha. I'm back from Maui. We had a super trip. How can you not in Maui?? Awesome weather, food, shopping, sightseeing and loads of local hospitality. But first, check out our purchase yesterday at the farmers market.



I still adore poppies, but these peonies are running a close second. Can you believe I got this beautiful bouquet for $10??

The latest issue (July 2009) of House Beautiful is sporting hot pink peonies on the cover also.


And check out this shabby chic table setting with peonies by Rachel Ashwell via House Beautiful. Pretty huh?



Stay tuned this week for Maui photos and a beautiful illustration of my favorite 4-legged from the lovely Patricia of pve design.

And I'm Off...

to a place of tropical flowers,



white sand beaches,



and hula dancing.



See y'all in a bit.
(photos by me, taken february 2009)