Going to Town

I feel the need to get out of the house today. I've had enough of staying home with this flu and I could use a change of scenery and some fresh air. Besides, I heard a rumor about something in town that I want to verify for myself, so we'll head into Lihue and see if it's true, eh? Do you want to go? We could stop by the beach, do a little craft shopping, and even have a some lunch! Great! Grab your hat and towel and let's go!

(It's going to take me three posts to put up all our pictures for this day, so please be patient. Consider it a three-day Hawaiian vacation. Don't worry, just relax, sit back, and I'll do the driving.)

Turning right out of my driveway, did you notice that it's a very nice day for an outing? The temperature is a nice 81 degrees, but the tradewinds are helping to cool things down so it doesn't feel too hot and humid.

Look, there's the Coconut Marketplace on our left. The strip of land here is known as the "Coconut Coast" of Kauai. This was the king's coconut grove at one time and it goes on for a couple of miles. Lots and lots of palm trees and coconuts. It's fun to watch the maintenance guys shinny up those tall skinny palms with their spikey shoes and machetes to cut down all the coconuts and old fronds! Falling coconuts are a real hazard for tourists, so they have to trim them frequently. It sounds funny, but it's true. Don't go walking in a coconut grove if the trees are laden with coconuts. You may not remember the rest of your vacation!

We'll stop at Lydgate park and take a little stroll first by the ocean. Ah...the breezes are wonderful today. We'll return later to relax here after lunch, I promise.

Sorry...I hate to be so mundane, but I have to pick up a few things at Wal Mart. You know, it might be fun for you to see how our WalMart is different from yours! For instance, do you have wild chickens running amok in your WalMart parking lot?

Or how about these beauties all year long? Orchids grow outside here, even in winter. Mine bloom best in February/March and in October/November. They're very hardy plants.

Here's something interesting in the check-out line. I wish you could've heard this guy--he was really putting on a show, dancing and singing. Probably showing off for the roosters.

Does your local Wal Mart have a tourist ware shop? Ours has quite a lot of items for tourists. Not just trinkets, but clothing, beach items, sunscreen, boogie boards, etc. I think probably a full third of our WalMart is dedicated to tourist items.


This aisle is dedicated to your grass skirt, dashboard hula doll, coconut bra, and souvenir gourd needs. You need anything? No? Can't imagine you'd pass on this classy stuff.

How about a lei? These are fake leis--I should've taken a picture of the giant refrigerators with all the fresh flower leis. I forgot, sorry. One thing I've learned--men do NOT like to wear leis, especially Midwestern American men. They rip them off as soon as they are out of sight of the airport. They don't mind the big brown kukui nut kind on the right there--some with shark teeth (plastic) interspersed with black ribbon--those are the more macho manly leis. Just so you know.

Alas. This, my dear friends, is the sum total of the yarn department at our WalMart. Acrylic, acrylic, and more acrylic. Weep for me, my friends, for I suffer greatly. I have been to your yarn departments on the Mainland and have seen with my own eyes your vast wealth of wool, sock yarns, chunky yarns, and blends. Yes, Kauai does have orchids, chickens, and manly-man leis, but you have aisles and aisles of sweet soft woolen fiber to fondle and weave into dreamy socks and sweaters.

Eh...no problem...I can always mail order yarn. I'd miss the chickens. You can't mail order chickens...can you? (If you can, call me first. Have I got some deals for you!)

More field trip tomorrow.

Reminder! Be sure to comment on the post "Hawaiian Rainbow Basket Giveaway" by Saturday March 8th at nine p.m. Hawaiian time to be eligible for the giveaway. One comment per person, please.

And by the way, thanks so much to everyone for all the lovely comments! I'm regretting lately that I don't have the time to respond to every one of them, but I do read each and every one and appreciate your kind words (and humor! Some of you crack me up!) very much. I'm up to getting around 80 emails a day regarding my books, patterns, teaching inquiries, blog, comments, etc. and I'm slowing sinking under it all. I'm not sure what to do about it, since I would love to answer every one...but if I did...I'd have no time to craft and nothing to blog about! Thanks for you patience and understanding if you ask me a question--I'm really trying to get to it. Mahalo Nui Loa to all.