Today, at long last ("long last after I finished cleaning out the old shed) Val Glenn came over and started helping Dad repair the shed. Basically the foundation on two sides hs completely rotted away. So, with jacks and long beams of treated wood, the process ws begun.
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Val gave lots of directions to Malcolm outlining "what needs to be done next". Dad isn't positive that Malcolm understood everything, but we will be militarily optimistic that someone will remember and be able to do something. The 'big picture' plan is to allow Malcolm to store his plumbing stuff in the shed. If that doesn't occur, at least we got rid of a human generation's worth of junk (and mouse stuff) that had accumulated in the shed.
We also had a humongous burn pile into which we threw massive amounts of junk wood (old pallets, plywood, wood from the old goat shed, wood from the old chicken house, small trees that had grown up along the fence line). There is nothing as satisfying as seeing discarded junk go up in flames.
A lot of useful firewood came from these efforts. Thus, we commemorated the first use of the concrete pad in front of the wood window.
Dad also pulled up some trees that we decided we didn't want anymore. The two Trysting Trees in the back yard did not meet our expectations but..... met their fate
Then Dad went after the poor quince tree whose useful life was ended when the Douglas Fir (that Craig Chisolm planted) sucked away all the light. Dad attacked it with the tractor but forgot that the scoop is not permanently attached to the tractor.
Dad and Malcolm got the scoop back on - after ingenious efforts and the tractor, again, was able to do the work for which it is most aptly designed.
Thursday was the beginning of our HAWAIIAN VACATION!!! This has been on our calendar for a year - ever since Jessica wrote to us while we were in Kazakhstan and asked if we wanted to go to Hawaii during spring break 2019. Well....YES!!! Jessica kept the whole event a secret from here kids - she packed for them ahead of time and woke them up Thursday morning...Surprise!!!
The house we have rented is wonderful. It is right on the beach!!! Well, you do have to open a gate and go down about five wooden steps.
There are nice trees
And the 'juice of Evan's labor' was consumed.
but eventually discarded
The beach is beautiful.........but....the beach descends steeply to the waters edge; The sand is a beautiful fluffy brown...but thick and deep and each step you takes causes you to sink into the sand. Walking in the sand is a workout!
The water is lovely and the kids are enjoying playing in the surf - they are like frolicking puppies.
that become cloaked in sand
In addition to water activities, kids are playing catch with one another.
I helped Ryan and Tyler and Camille set up their Family Search accounts. People are watching tv, playing on their phones, and reading books. One evening Tyler and I sat on a bench by the water and found and identifies the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and the North Star. Good times.
Food - we're planning to always eat breakfast at the house and then one meal at at restaurant or food court. - and of course snacks and whatever in between.
Thursday - we had take out from Bo Thai, a food cart right on the main street of Waialua
Friday - take out from Haleiwa Joe's. The specialty was garlic shrimp
Saturday our food event was at a food truck at the Marketplace at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
I got Kiwi Fish and Chips, which was really pretty good, and everyone else got Hawaiian food
Sunday - gasp....we cooked dinner and ate at home. What a handsome group we are!!
The BYU Hawaii campus was fun. Dad loved the landscaping
Walking around the Marketplace reminded me of Disneyland without the hyperactive atmosphere.
Evan looks very dapper indeed in this hat - he did not buy it, however.
Logan found a place for his inner self - he is lying on a shark design on this bench.
Sunday was church. The members are incredibly friendly. One woman approached all of us and gave each a heartfelt hug. It was so sincere that it didn't even feel weird.
The sunsets are beautiful from our back yard. And thus ends a good first week in Hawaii.
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