Clerestories Now In!

Chris miscalculated how much lumber he needed to complete the renovation; he has sent an updated list of materials to David at HPM. So today Chris installed the clerestory windows in the back porch area. Originally they were opaque fiberglass awning; I had that changed to clear fiberglass awning when the new garage roof was installed. Now I am having them changed to impact-resistant fixed windows; I can see the tops of the ironwoods on the other side of the pasture & hope to see Iʻo perching in them! It will also let a lot more light in to the kitchen.

Before, with transparent fiberglass roofing material in place.

Fiberglass removed.

Impact-resistant windows installed!

Tony & Taren from Warmshowers.org stayed over last night; they left this morning. They headed to Spencer Beach Park for their last night of their vacation; they leave late on Wednesday night.

Packing up for ride to Spencer Beach Park.

Ken stopped by to check out the rocking chair I found in the back of the closet. In a couple of months he will work on making the chair more stable; he's got too many projects right now & no space to store it.

I went to Waimea in the afternoon to pay for the additional materials as well as the cabinets. I was able to pay for both things with the HELOC. Since delivery of the materials won't be until next Monday, Chris is switching to building a wheelchair ramp for a family friend for the rest of the week.

Kīlauea is still paused. But here are some photos from the webcams showing what is visible even in the paused state.

Hauʻoli lā Hānai e Glenn, Darrell, Sidnee, Bruce, Jon, & Alberto!

Running Late

I was concerned I would arrive late to the North Kohala Culture & History Advisory Group meeting this morning. I got there at 5 minutes to 9! ... for a 10 o'clock meeting. Usually when I go to sleep, I set an alarm for the following day to let me know when I need to start preparing to leave the house. I forgot to do that last night, so I was operating on the alarm for Sunday, when I had to be at Motek by 9 am. So today I got to the meeting site in time for the meeting. 🙄

Part of why I was running "late" was because I was slicing a panettone to contribute as a snack for the meeting. I saw it at KTA in Waimea & had never had panettone before so I picked one up to try. I did not know I was supposed to slice it in wedges like the Wikipedia photo shows; I just cut it in half then made regular shaped slices. I thought it was like a less dense fruit cake.

I did not notice the box photos showed it cut in a wedge.

(From Wikipedia)

After I returned from the meeting, Dean & I had a special training for the Leeward Planning Commission. We were elected chair & vice-chair respectively at the conclusion of the regular LPC meeting in December. The training had a few technical problems so we actually started about 30 minutes after the scheduled time while we worked them out. It was enlightening.

I will need to become more familiar with what each of these is.

I thought the 1st 3 were givens.

Again, seems like these would be understood by everyone. But I guess not.

 

The renovation is coming along nicely! Chris has the rafters for the roof installed along with the studs for the double walls. Here's a photo from reference Point D. I also realized I needed to set up reference Point E for the deck along the easterly side & the stairs that will go down to the garden.

Point E, stairs will run alongside kitchen wall.

Since Duolingo changed the way you gain points I have not been doing as well. Previously I could practice freely to gain "hearts" which allows me to continue learning even when I made mistakes. (You lose a heart for each mistake you make. If you lose all 5, you can't continue unless you gain more hearts.) But now I can't do that, I have to "buy" them with "gems" that I earn in the game or by actually purchasing them "in app". Earning "gems" has also been made harder, they no longer have periods where you can earn double points when you do well.

Tony & Taren from Warmshowers.org arrived early this evening; I took them out to dinner & a quick trip to the Pololū overlook. Because of the construction I was only able to provide them with a place to pitch their tent & a warm shower. This is their 1st bike tour & they have had a great time with hosts via Warmshowers. Both of them had spent a little time on Hawaiʻi Island; Tony worked on a farm here in Kohala for a couple of years & Taren had visited for a couple of weeks. They now live in Sonoma, CA, & also hosts bicyclists through Warmshowers.

Screenshot from Warmshowers.org.

 

Kīlauea is still on pause.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Ray & hoa hānau Tomiko!

Motek Bakery Expansion

Today's Sunday breakfast order at Motek was done indoors! The indoor space opened up on Thursday but today was the 1st I've been there since they opened it. The main eating area is still outdoors on the lanai but there is a long table against the window with some tall stools for eating. Today's breakfast special was Uncle Yousef.

David & Yael in the new section of the bakery.

Uncle Yosef. (Photo by Motek)

I visited with Jessie this morning to drop off the Two Ladies Kitchen mochi; I was too tired yesterday to do it. I asked if her brother Raymond was okay since I had seen an ambulance leave from the lane he lives on the night before. It turns out it was Raymond's grandson Kaleo who lives with him who needed medical help. Kaleo needs dialysis three times a week & occasionally has side effects from his kidney disease. But he is better now after spending time at the hospital.

Later in the afternoon, Jessie's son Thomas & his family were visiting. I heard Moʻo barking; it was different than her normal bark so I went out to check. They were headed back to pick ʻulu. The 3 kids came over to play with Moʻo who loved the extra attention.

The penguin on the walking app has reverted back to winter gear. I will have to pay attention to whether it dons other types of gear appropriate for whatever celebration is near or the season. For example, in February will it be decked out with hearts? Or shamrocks in March? 

Kīlauea is still on pause.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Sam!

Washing in Waimea

I spent another morning at the laundromat in Waimea. This time I remembered to take the laundry detergent. I also knew that I could put my 2 weeks worth of laundry in one of their 3x washing machines & get it all done for $9; drying is $0.25 per minute.

It was quite cold in Waimea today. It had rained at home as I was getting up, but by the time I was ready to leave it had dried out & was sunny. Waimea was dry but overcast. And 64 degrees F around noon! Both my fleece & hoodie were being washed.

I stopped by KTA & picked up some Two Ladies Kitchen mochi; I got 1 each for Trudy, Jessie, & me. I also checked out the farmers market at the Parker School. I was looking for the Aloha Burger folks who are there on Saturdays & usually in Hāwī on Fridays; but they weren't here either. 

I also went to Sunshine to get 3 more bags of potting soil for the planter out front. And another bag of food for Moʻo. It would have been a little easier on me if I could have done the new bag after I had moved everything in to the new space but that's at least 2 weeks away. The consolation prize is that the 40 pound bag will be a little lighter by then.

Kīlauea is still paused.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Maxine! A me ka Hauʻoli lā Hoʻomanaʻo makahiki kanahā kūmālima e Howard & Erin!

Taking Shape

The renovation is looking more real! The new floor decking has been placed & the studs for the walls have started to go up.

Progress at the end of the week.

What it looks like from the kitchen.

I took Chris & his assistant Spencer to lunch at K. O. Pizza today; Aloha Burger was closed again. Spencer brought his dog Frank along. It turns out Terri & I had met Frank a couple years ago when she was visiting; he was at the Sunshine Trading Post where Spencer's wife Coco works. 

Frank practicing mind-control on his dad Spencer to get some pizza!

On the way back, Chris had to stop at his house to pick up some things. I got to meet his wife Bella, whom I had DMed with over Facebook back in July which is when I found out they had moved back from New Mexico. And how I got on his schedule to have him do the renovation that is happening now. I also got to meet their dogs Lucy & Mr. Peanut when I went back to spend more time talking story with Bella. She is so easy to talk to, I feel like I have known her a long time!

After leaving Chris & Bella's, I took Mo'o to see Dr. Hicks for her annual check-up & shots. Her weight has stayed stable, in fact, it was exactly the same as last year. She is 39.2 pounds which is a good weight for a dog her size. She needed her leptospirosis booster shot. She was also tested for heartworm (negative).

Kīlauea summit is inflating again. Scientists think there is more magma entering the chambers. In an overflight they confirmed that lava could be seen in the 2 vents. Stay tuned!

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Bruce, Wayne, Maria, & Jacque!

IASA #2-49

Sewing room renovation has begun!

 

Let the Renovation Begin!

Today Chris & his assistant Spencer started working on the renovation of the sewing room. They have installed the footings, support posts, & floor joists. Here are some photos showing today's progress. This 1st set of photos is from reference point A which is westerly of the house, looking easterly.

Just after 8 am when they started; Spencer (L) & Chris.

Around noon.

At the end of the day. Some of the plants are blocking the view of the posts & floor joists.

This series if from reference Point B along the northerly property line, looking southeasterly. I think this might be the best location for a reference photo of the construction.

Around 8 am; Spencer has just started digging holes for the footings.

Around noon; a footing is seen towards the right side.

At end of day; footings, posts, & floor joists in place.

This is from reference Point C due north of the work area, looking southerly. I had not thought to get photos from this or the next point at the start of the day.

This last series if from reference Point D along the northerly property line, looking southwesterly.

Around noon.

At the end of the day.

The above series of photos is similar to what I would do for work when monitoring mitigation sites. At the start of the project I would set up reference points from which to take photos over the course of the monitoring period of 5 or 10 years, when photos would be taken annually or semi-annually. As you can already see, when you 1st choose the photo points before any activity is started, they might not actually provide the visual information you want to convey. That's why you set up a lot of points from different areas; at least a couple of them should be able to give you the information you want. 

In the afternoon, I got an email saying next week's LPC Special Meeting regarding the General Plan 2045 has been cancelled. I quickly sent out emails to the people doing the minutes for the 2 NKCDP meetings I attended in the last couple of days to let them know. And also to have them contact one of the people who was coordinating a group from Hilo to drive 2 hours to Kona for the meeting! I hope someone can get to her before the meeting date.

Shortly after the email cancelling the LPC meeting, I got an email from Cat Genie. Guess what! They are refunding me $45. They did not say for what but I am guessing it is because the shipping cost was incorrect as I suspected. The shipping cost is still a bit high at $72.44, but I really need those parts.

I took Moʻo to vet. But the vet was not there; I suspect it was because it was declared a Federal holiday. My vet is closed on major holidays. I left a message asking them to reschedule us. It's not critical, this is Moʻo's annual check-up. It was a good refresher for her regarding using the Gentle Leader & riding in the car.

Kīlauea is still paused.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Claire!