Easter, Family and the Skagit Valley

I recently returned from an Easter visit with my family in Washington state. Spring in the beautiful Skagit Valley in western Washington included fields of daffodils, blue skies, and fluffy white cloud formations.

Left to right: myself, Dad (age 98+), sister Nancy, "Grand" nieces Hailey and June.

Baking Easter Bunny cakes, visiting quilt show with sister, Nancy, attending family birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, lunch with west coast friends and family made for a busy and especially enjoyable visit.

Nephew Joe, wife Gina with June and Hailey celebrate Britnie's birthday.

Easter egg hunt

Niece Jane, Partner Teriann and the Junebug

Nephew Andrew celebrating Britnie's birthday

And fun in the Bouncy House on Easter Sunday


Thanks to family, friends and Mother Nature for a memorable visit.

Spring Comes to Indiana

Today has been a beautiful Spring Sunday in Indiana that just had to be spent outdoors. So I (and my new camera) headed out to enjoy the afternoon. Destination was T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Brown County, Indiana. Once the home and studio of a member of the Brown County Art Colony, it is now a peaceful location to enjoy what makes Spring in Indiana something to look forward to.

Live Aloha - Part 3

"House of the Sun"- Haleakala National Park

There are two separate and distinct destinations within the park. First, the Haleakala Summit and second, Oheo Gulch at Kipahula. The summit is 10,023 feet at the crater of the world's largest dormant volcano. There are hiking and horse trails down into the crater itself. One of the many memories of the day I spent at the summit is the striking quiet of the location. I have never been to a place that was so quiet and so monumental at the same time. I hiked part way down into the crater and the further away I was from the Visitor Center and the other visitors, the more I was surrounded by the stillness and the quiet of crater itself.

I stayed with a group of other travelers to view the sunset at Haleakala. The sun rises over the crater itself and is a major tourist draw. For those of us who hung around for the sunset, it was a chance to visit and share travel stories while we patiently waited. As the sun set, you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone went silent as the sun dropped through the clouds. It is an overused word but it was AWESOME.

I visited the Kipahula area of the park early on a glorious Hawaii day, getting there early to avoid the crowds who venture over to Hana for the day. This section of the park is on the "other side" of Hana and in one of the more remote (not easy to get to) parts of Maui. I lingered there for most of the day. It was just too beautiful to leave.

Thanks for looking.

Live Aloha - Part 2

Live Aloha - Part 2 is dedicated to the lush vegetation and plant life of the island. The exotic beauty of the islands today is a remarkable contrast to their beginnings as a series of volcanic eruptions beneath the surface of the oceans from which the land masses finally emerged. Everywhere I went I was stopped in my tracks to investigate and marvel at the richness of the landscape and vegetation, all surrounded by brilliant blue waters and bright sunlight.

Botanical Gardens located on the Hana side of Maui.

South side of Maui on the Wailea Coastal Nature Trail.

Boardwalk section of the Wailea Coastal Nature Trail looking across the Alalakeiki Channel.
The trail runs parallel to the string of upscale and pricey beachfront resort hotels that line this section of the island. Beware of joggers! Despite the hotel traffic, it is a beautiful walk and there is much to see and savor.

Island side view from the foot trail in Waianapanapa State Park outside Hana.
Thanks for looking and stay tuned for Love Aloha - Part 3!