Wanderlust

I am thrilled to announce that Love To Love You is now available at Wanderlust, 

an adorable vintage and handmade store in Portland at 2804 SE Ankeny!

Girl From The Owl House

So, I'm a stepmom to the most awesome kid in the world (yes, I am biased, but she really is super awesome) named Harper.

 She started a blog called "Girl From The Owl House"  and I think it's pretty great.  Her fabulous Auntie Amber bought her a camera and she's using the blog to showcase photos of her adventures and things she loves, including Mingus our three legged cat....

her epic bike rides with Boppy....

...and trips around Oregon and beyond.

So, if you are at all interested in what a super smart and witty 10 year old in Portland is up to, 

I think you should check it out.  

Click here to visit!

Maui Wowee Part II

Just outside of Hana is Waianapanapa State Park, at which point I decided I really truely was in paradise.  Jagged lava cliffs, lush green plants, and the bluest blue water.  It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

Exploring a lava tube

We walked up this beautiful and creepy staircase under all these vines to reach some caves

The next day we went to Hahunu Garden to see Pi'ilanihale Heiau, a structure built out of lava stones dating back to around 1200.  Some of the stones traveled from as as far as 7 miles away and it covers three acres.

Next stop was for a dip at Waioka Pond, a small fresh water pool right next to the ocean.  On the day we were visiting the ocean was a bit moody, so waves were actually crashing into the pool.  It was beautiful and there were only a handful of people there.

See that cliff on the left?   I jumped off that into the water.  Of course, only after watching a few brave souls do it before me without dying.  It sure looks a lot higher when you are looking down.

Next up, the Seven Sacred Pools, which unfortunately were closed to swimming that day, but we got a nice hike in before the mosquitoes attacked.

Another amazing banyan tree.

This photo makes me feel like Tinkerbell

The bamboo forest, where we call it a day.

The next day we had to say goodbye to the beautiful house we'd been staying in.  It is surrounded by a flower farm.  This is the view of the backyard.  Wouldn't it be nice to wake up to that every morning?

This is the view from the deck where we ate dinner every evening and listened to chirping geckos.

On our way to Kihei we stopped by a botanical garden to ogle painted gum trees...

...ginger flowers

and  hala trees.  Check out those roots!

We arrive at our final destination, a sweet, tiny house right across from the beach.

The next morning we head for foggy Iao Valley.  These pictures don't come close to showing the scale of the mountains.  

Then we spent the rest of the day at the beach, working on our tans and watching the most beautiful sunset of our trip.

Me, sporting the bathing suit I made.

Our last day in Maui we spent all day on the beach,
after our breakfast of fruit salad and homemade mango bread.  I wish I could eat like this every day.

The surreal landscape of La Perouse Bay

Idyllic Big Beach

Unfortunately we have no photos of Dewey and I wearing our snorkel masks.  We spent half the day snorkeling for the first time, which was beyond amazing.  It is like being inside an aquarium exhibit.  Completely exhausted from swimming and sun, we watched the sun set for the final time in Maui from our hammock.
 I look kinda happy, don't you think?

Our last view of Maui from the plane.

Goodbye Paradise!
We miss you already.

Maui Wowee- Part 1

A week ago Dewey and I returned from our fabulous honeymoon in Maui.  Now it's back to real life, which I rather enjoy, but not as much as I enjoyed my vacation.

We stayed in three beautiful locations on the island so we could make the most of our visit.  Maui is so much more that a coastline of beaches and we did a pretty good job of balancing lazing around and exploring.

We spent our first evening exploring Lahaina, the former capital of Hawaii. We saw the crazy big banyan tree that has 12 trunks, which form when the roots, which grow from the branches, touch the ground.  It covers 2/3 of an acre.

The flat rock in this photo is  the "birthing chair", used by Hawaiian royalty when in labor- not quite as comforable as a hospital bed.

Our first day visit ended with a beautiful sunset.  Then it was off to the hotel where we shared a bottle of wine on the beach and managed to spy in on the last half of a luau.

The next morning we woke up to this beautiful view from our third floor suite...

...Fueled up for the day at a cute little restaurant right on the beach

...then did some exploring around the northwest corner of the island.

I had to take a photo op by the heart shaped hole in the rock

The lava rock provides a pretty surreal landscape

We checked out the offerings at the grocery store.  Quid in ink or broiled eels?

I think I'll pass.

On Thursday we said goodbye to the west coast and headed for the opposite side of the island via the Hana Highway.  We stopped for lunch in Paia and took a stroll.

I was not expecting cacti in Hawaii, but it's everywhere.  These were soooooo tall.

Then drove some more, and stopped for a hike once we got to the lush and green part of the island.  

It's pretty magical to walk through a tropical rainforest.

Our next detour led us to Keanae, a tiny town where we met a couple tiny horses.

Then a short storm blew in as we were checking out this old church and graveyard.

Next stop Hana!