Happy Mother’s Day, everyone, even to the fathers out there who are single parenting. Today I share two cherished photos: my mother in her Mandarin jacket, and her mother wearing her coolie hat in the victory garden of “the big house on Beretania street.” If you look closely, you can see a small fry, either cousin Mildred or Muriel, peeking out the window.
I wish to recognize, too, my hānai Mom Ivalee.
I love you.
~ Rebekah
For the record, here are images from the past two nights of the bright light that kept me awake, the Supermoon. The one above was made from my front yard, and the one below was made through the window while in bed around 1:30 a.m. on April 28, 2021.
Embrace the energy!
~ Rebekah
Because it’s still Spring, new growth continues to delight me. Here’s some more in photos.
What is emerging in your garden this season? Enjoy!
~ Rebekah
Going out the front door every morning and down the porch steps into the garden to seek kou flowers that have fallen overnight has become an enjoyable hobby of mine.
I string the blossoms into lei. You can see from the photos that over time their color fades into a rich burnt orange hue. When dried, the petals are almost like paper. I gathered the flowers for this particular lei over many days.
Today I will greet my hanai siblings who came from Alaska for a visit. [We all have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, thank you.] This lei is for Cherie.
~Rebekah
A surprising number of people were in the park at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden this morning where my collage art-making group gathered under the pavilion at parking lot #5 — I think the correct name is Kahua Nui — for a re-orientation, general get-together, and literally some fresh air. We met in part to talk about a “Collage and Clay” group exhibit on tap for June 2021 in downtown Honolulu. The notion of planning a scheduled in-person public event again, after a year-long hiatus because of COVID, is exciting.
Joy brought coffee and sweet nibbles, Dottie brought bananas from her tree, and Peg brought ceramic objet d’art favors for us to take home. Kristi, bless her heart, presented us with small bottles of hand sanitizer for our purses. It was like old home week in the space of less than a couple hours.
I didn’t bring anything (tsk, tsk). Some of the gals brought their creations for critique as is customary, but I hadn’t made anything new in hand-dyed tissue paper for the collages in a year, so nothing by me to critique. I did remember to bring a length of white shoji paper for Maitē who needed some to depict breaking waves.
These friends used to get together weekly to make art. Soon, after we’re all fully vaccinated, we may be able to resume that schedule.
It was so nice to see everyone again.
~ Rebekah
Are you feeling overwhelmed or blah? It’s a yes or no question.
The flyer above tells of the program “COVID 19, Vaccinations, and Kanaka Maoli,” live at 6 pm HST, Sunday, March 28, on Facebook@KaLahuiHawaiiKomikeKalaiana with Lorraine Sonoda-Fogel, MD, and Keaweaimoku Kaholokulu, PhD. You may wish to check it out.
I see a light at the end of the year-long self-quarantined tunnel, as by Easter Sunday I will be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and have sense of wellness. I think it’s a good time to reflect on what changed and what I might do differently. What will I resurrect after 12 months gone by?
I have made some new friends via social media, although I have not met them in person. Long-time cherished friends who I know I can ask and they’ll be here, but because we value “living,” we’ve kept apart. Oh, the small parties we can have soon.
I’ve practiced piano everyday, getting ready for that imagined time when I will play background music at that type of event where no one is really listening. I’ve been on hiatus from making fine art paintings, although my collage group is scheduled to exhibit in June in downtown Honolulu. And I’ve posted updates by writing here.
What’s been constant are the plants and animals. The flower seeds I scattered did not sprout. I suspect the birds got them. So I guess it’s back to growing vegetables. But my buddy JJ is here, as is his nemesis Snowball the pretty cat from next door, Willy the Peacock, and the Fat Dove.
I’ve condensed my living area to the lower of the two floors of the house, but realizing that this minute I think it’s time to reopen the FROG (front room over garage) studio and the upstairs guest room!
Thanks to Pete, of course, my primary rock of support! Blessings to you all.
~Rebekah
JJ and me
Snowball
Willy
Thought I’d keep it simple this morning, showing the many faces of the red hibiscus blooming on the hedge. I brewed a cup of tea with the petals. The liquid is a pretty cyan blue color! Enjoy! ~ Rebekah
🌺
Recent comments