MORE HAWAII

After several days in Hawaii (the big island) we flew to Oahu.

Every morning we would walk along the beach by the condo we rented in Oahu.

These beautiful birds were in residence down the beach from us.

We went to the sea Life Park one day.

saw the dolphin show.

and the sea lion show.

 

One day Larry and I went to the Arizona Memorial.  We decided it was not a place to take young children.   There was a museum that we toured first before catching the tender to the memorial itself.

In the same area was a submarine you can tour.  This is a picture of the sleeping quarters.  I am not sure I could take that close of quarters for more than a day or two.

Sorry if this freaks you out, but the “head” (AKA Toilet), was not something I would want to use either!!

 

This is a picture of the Arizona Memorial from the top of the submarine.

 

Took a trip to the Polynesian cultural center.  Imagine climbing  a tree barefoot!

 

We stayed for the Luau, also.

 

 

 

HAWAII

In October 2017, Larry and I traveled to Hawaii.  This was our first trip to “the islands”, and it was great.

This is the photo as we were coming into land.  We landed in Honolulu and then flew on to the big island.

This is the deck of our condo on Hawaii and a view from the deck.

One of the days, we took a circle tour of the island.  First stop was the macadamia nut factory

Where they had samples – including spam flavored macadamias.

traveling along the other side of the island, it was incredibly green and lush.

One of my favorite trees on the island is the Monkey Paw tree.  This one was outside the Big Island Candy Company.

We stopped at Volcanos National Park to see the volcano.  This is the one that was spewing lava all this summer/fall.

There was a quick stop at Rainbow falls.

There was a stop at a black sand beach.

Where we saw turtles laying their eggs.

We walked through the Thurston Lava Tube.

I was a little concerned as I had torn cartilage in both knees that spring – but all was fine!

 

We flew back to Oahu and stayed in a tri-plex with family.  The center part of the building was our studio room.

And the yard with lawn chairs.

 

 

 

 

BLUEBERRY CRUNCH MUFFINS

Blueberries have been abundant here in Minnesota this year.  After a recent afternoon of picking, we cleaned and froze most of the berries.  I saved out some to make a pie and muffins.  Here’s the recipe I used:

2 cups cake flour (I only had 1 1/2 cups of cake flour, so I added half a cup of regular flour – it turned out fine.)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sale

1 tablespoon lemon zest (only used about a teaspoon – which is why they weren’t very lemony)

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup Oil (Vegetable)

3/4 cup sugar

1 whole egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups blueberries (I only had a cup and a half and that was plenty of blueberries!)

Preheat over to 350. Prepare muffin tins with large muffin liners.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and lemon zest – set side.

In measuring cup, place lemon juice and add milk to make 3/4 cup – set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, egg and vanilla.  add the milk/lemon mixture and then add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Mix until almost completely combined and then add the blueberries and finish stirring.

Divide batter between 12 muffin cups and bake for 18-20 minutes.  Because there is only baking soda in this recipe and no baking powder, you do not have to worry about the muffins rising too much or getting pointed tops.  Remove muffins to a wire rack and allow to cool.

While muffins are cooling, melt 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup lemon juice together.  Place 1/4 cup white sugar in a separate bowl.

Dip the slightly cooled muffins first in the butter mixture and then into the sugar to coat the top of the muffin.  Allow muffins to cool completely on wire rack.

 

 

DOOR COUNTY

Last September we went with friends to Door County in Wisconsin.

We explored the state parks on the “quiet side” of the peninsula.

Here we were at White sands park.  There was a walk between two large sand dunes with boardwalks to the lake side of the sand dunes.

After the beach walking, we had a picnic lunch of all the left overs  we had from eating out.

We also visited Cana Light house.  The only way to reach the light house was by a wagon pulled by a tractor over the water and onto the island that the lighthouse was on.

One evening we went to a fish boil.

They put the fish and potatoes into a large pot of boiling water over an open flame.

Then they throw kerosene on the fire.

This causes the water in the pot to boil up and over the edges of the pot.

It wasn’t the best meal I have ever had, but it was fun to watch them make the fish.

Another day we went on a red trolley tour.  We chose the wine tasting tour.

This is us at the end of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOMBSTONE

after visiting Bisbee we went to the neighboring town of Tombstone the next day.  The most famous (infamous) knowledge about Tombstone is the shootout at the OK Corral.  We went to a re-enactment of the Shootout.

Having seen the movies, I thought the people involved had hidden behind wagons, etc. to have the shoot out – but according to the reenactment, they were just feet away from each other.

Walking down the street, we saw people dressed in period costumes

Stopped for lunch at a bar/restaurant – loved this mirror and woodwork behind the bar area.

No visit to Tombstone would be complete without a stop at “Boot Hill”.

Was amazed at the number of “unknown” graves.   Not sure how you could live some place, die there, and no one even knows your name.   So sad.

I know it’s been a while since I have written here.  I will definitely try to do better!!

BISBEE, ARIZONA

Last March while staying in Arizona, we also went to Bisbee one weekend.   Bisbee is very much an artist community.

This is me, my sister-in-law and her husband in Bisbee,  it is built on  a very steep hill as you can see houses in the background.

I like this sign, so I am adding it for no reason at all!

 

Window shopping along one of the streets.

Outside one of the mining museums in town.

Sign outside the restaurant we had supper at.

Inside at dinner.  Not very impressed with the food, but I liked the atmosphere.

 

Because it is a mining town, there were a lot of saloons there at one time.

We also toured the queen mine (no longer in operation).

Barb and I in our safety vest, and waiting for our hard hats and lights.

This was the tram we had to board to ride into the mine.  It was a narrow board seat that you had to straddle for the ride.

The tram entering the underground mine.

the interior of the mine.

Our tour guide talking to the group.

Under ground mine toilet!!!  (note that it is on wheels, so it could be moved from place to place)

Supervisor’s transportation while in the mine.

after the mine tour we went through the museum above ground at the mine.  Some of the minerals are so beautiful.

This looks rather like a worm, but it is an actual crystal that they found in the mine.

The miner’s ten commandments were posted in the museum.

We stopped on top of a hill on the way out of town and took this picture.

 

SAGUARO LAKE HIKE

The last scheduled hike of the season was a hike around Saguaro Lake.  It was only about 6 or 7 miles, but the temperature had gotten so warm that one lady had a problem walking with the heat (maybe heat exhaustion?), and no, it wasn’t me!

We started a bit earlier in the morning, in an attempt to avoid most of the heat of the day.  Look closely and you can see some birds swimming on the lake.

Here are kayakers on the lake.

A short section of the hike was under these trees that formed a sort of “tunnel” over the trail.  The temperature was much lower there and was a welcome spot.

Me in the green pants.  Shortly after this picture was taken I zipped off the legs of these pants.  definitely cooler (but such horribly white legs!).

Although that was the last official hike, there was a small group of guys who got together and did a couple more hikes.  This is what they found on one of the hikes.

Yes, it’s a rattler and yes, it rattled at them!

 

JEEPING

I have a cousin who winters in Apache Junction, AZ.  One of the things she and her husband do with friends, is they go “jeeping” every Wednesday.  They take their four wheel drive vehicles and head out to the dessert.  We were invited to go with one Wednesday.  My cousin and her husband were not feeling their best that day, so they stayed home and we rode with their friends.

On the way we spotted some wild horses.

At about noon we stopped for lunch.

We were stopped by an old water tank.  So we climbed up to see what was inside.   There were people tent camping not far from this spot.

This is what was inside.

After lunch we got back in the jeeps to  cross a river (about 4 times!).  Here are some shots of the river crossings.

Here is one of the jeeps on the trail.  High clearance and four wheel drive is needed!

The last “event” of the day was going down “Bonnie’s Hill”.  It had been graded out since the last time they had used this route, so it was no longer “straight down hill”.  (for which I was very grateful!)

After we got back to their park, we all went out to Golden Corral for supper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE HIKING

Another hike:  This one was to a spot called wind cave and was advertised as being 4 1/2 miles with a 350 foot elevation gain.  I was excited because this would be the easiest hike we did all season.   Well, the reality was it was an 850 foot elevation gain.

Starting out the hike was pretty easy.  This is the group as we snaked our way up.

heading up the switch backs.

more switch back climbing to get to the top.

Stopping for a snack at the top.  Right above us were several bees nests.  I did not get a photo of them!

 

Someone else getting a photo of the bees.

from our vantage point we could see the fountain of Fountain Hills.

And here we are headed back down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARIZONA MOUNTAIN HIKING

I have some pictures of more hikes we did in Arizona this winter.

Don’t remember the name of this hike, but I call it the “wrong way” hike – because our leader led us down a wrong trail and we had to back track.

This was the view we did get to see by going the wrong way.

On the way up the trail.

another view just down from where we stopped for a snack break.