Like many of you self isolating at home from the COVID-19 pandemic, for four months now since mid March, our family has returned to home cooking, saving gasoline and money that would have been paid to restaurants. For health reasons I should avoid eating sugar, but I love to bake. So what the heck?
Have a virtual taste of my pie, Dutch baby pancake, scones, and malasadas!
~ Rebekah
JJAnother dog picture, but hey, my dog seems to be the only constant during the current pandemic while we all stay at home. You are staying home, right?
Or at least assigning your trips “off campus” to the same one person per household. For our family that person is Pete.
He took advantage for a brief time of the order-and-pick-up service from Kualoa Ranch just five minutes down the road. Other times he went to Windward Mall in Kaneohe for the weekly farmers market.
The mangoes came from Ewa, the lady said. Yummy, and a good find because our tree isn’t bearing this year.
Coffee cake is topped with fresh mango slices and cinnamon sugar, then baked.
What a beauty!~ Rebekah
JJ the dog likes to go for rides
We took time out today for a short road trip down the highway to Kualoa Ranch to pick up the order of groceries we placed on Monday. It was a chance to take the dog for a ride.
To help the community during this period of staying home to guard against the coronavirus, the Ranch initiated this service. Kualoa Ranch, in addition to raising cattle, normally operates varied and numerous recreational and retail activities spread out across its properties for off-island visitors and residents alike. One example is the providing of Kaaawa Valley, that the Ranch owns, for movie locations.
Now it has consolidated its employees to operate a well organized food distribution program for the public.
How it works:
First ask to be put on an email list for Kualoa Grown. The product list is sent out on Monday for Friday pick up. Place your order online. To be added to Kualoa Grown email list please email Terra at tmcginnis@kualoa.com 🤙🏽
On Friday afternoon, drive to the Ranch where you are directed to a pop-up tent to pay. Happy people will place a numbered card on the windshield. Everyone wears protective masks.
Today we picked up orders for two families.
Follow the green traffic cones up the hill to where more happy people will deliver packages straight into your vehicle. Just roll down the window. No need to get out of your car at all.
Today we got apple bananas, beef chili, and fresh string beans. Last week we indulged in a dark chocolate bar, pricey but excellent and worth the money. Sometimes we need to treat ourselves. And go for a ride.
Be well.
– Rebekah
Willy
Aloha mai e studio fans ~
Today I publish for the first time “The Story of the Peacock.” I was given an assignment in my Hawaiian language class to write a story, or mo‘olelo, using action verbs in the past and present tense. I wrote it in English first. When I translate it I must follow a certain sentence pattern and avoid the verbs “to be” and “to have,” so it will not be word for word.
“The Story of the Peacock” isn’t very sophisticated, in my opinion, so I think it will make a good illustrated children’s story. Several years ago I designed bilingual books (Hawaiian/English) for an early education program. This might be a good addition to the library.
The End. Copyright 2020 Rebekah Luke
~ Rebekah
“Tiare in a Royal Cup,” oil on canvas by Rebekah Luke
Since the 2020 coronavirus season began, approximately, I have published to my Facebook wall one artwork of mine per day. This is fine-art posting #36, “Tiare in a Royal Cup.” Many pieces of this historical China pattern used by The Royal Hawaiian Hotel found their way to thrift shops. One time I saw a sample in a display case along the hotel corridor on the way to the Surf Room. A tiare, or Tahitian gardenia, found its way to my souvenir teacup. This painting is in my own collection. I wish Happy Mothers Day greetings to everyone! ~ Rebekah
This post is a shout out of gratitude to the tireless (and now tired) health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, such as the nurses and doctors working in the emergency rooms of hospitals throughout the land. My cousin Prince and my friend Lei, who are EMTs at different medical centers in Honolulu, were appreciative of the washable cloth face masks I sent, and although the gear was not regulation, they explained they could wear them over a paper mask while entertaining their co-workers with pretty prints. Too, they could use them if masks became in short supply.
When Lei found out I could sew, she requested surgical caps. On some masks, the elastic that is worn behind the ears becomes uncomfortable to wear after awhile, so I put buttons on the sides for the elastic to hook on to.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that I made includes a face mask from a Marimekko tea towel and a surgical cap from a t-shirt
Lei is the new chair of the Ka Lāhui Hawaii Political Action Committee. I donated my KPAC shirt for the fabric of her one-of-a-kind cap.
Lei, a Kaiser Permanente EMT, dons protective gear including a surgical cap with the words Ka Lahui Hawaii
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are working so very hard. We are praying for your safety.
~ Rebekah
Aloha studio fans and friends,
Self isolation has been the status quo during the COVID19 pandemic. On the wall calendar here in Kaaawa, I wrote DAY 1 on March 11, 2020. I have stayed inside, literally, since then except for a couple of car trips to the nearby post office dropbox and into the garden to rake leaves from the avocado and mango trees. It’s been rather peaceful.
I want to share what I’ve been doing during this odd time to add to the basket of ideas. No doubt you are finding things to do at home as well. I feel that as a community we should help each other if we can. Here goes, in no particular order:
—Early on, I sewed washable face masks for hospital emergency room nurses who I know personally. Those are my cousins in the top photo. I used online instructions from three different websites. Luckily I have a sewing machine and materials. I turned cloth napkins and designer tea towels into cheerful PPEs.
Cloth napkins repurposed into face masks
—I play piano music every day. I saw that in Italy people were opening their windows and sharing their singing. Piano arrangements by Mark Hayes are my current favorites. So why not? I hope my neighbors don’t mind.
Mark Hayes with me and Rev. Danette Kong in the pink lei
—As long as there was flour in the house I baked pizza, bread, and double-crusted dessert pies—apple and banana. And, as we have time, I cooked soup. Any leftovers could be frozen for later, I thought, but there weren’t any leftovers!
Warm, fragrant banana pie with flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, lime, and butter. Mmmm…
—From stretchy t-shirts with cute messages, I sewed washable surgical caps requested by my nurse pal Lei. After a little experimenting, I drafted my own pattern.
—I cut flowers and brought them inside.
Red ginger, pink ginger, lime puff, lauaʻe fern
—I sent money to people who ordinarily bank on my payment for income, for example, my vocal coach and the neighborhood diner. The designated grocery shopper for our household did a couple of big shoppings before the market chain announced some of its stores were shutting down. Luckily, our branch remains open so far.
Jazz guitarist and bass player Robert, who is the proprietor of Uncle Bobo’s BBQ restaurant in Kaaawa
—In the beginning I did some discretionary online shopping, but I quickly realized how dangerous that is. I nipped that one in the bud.
—I made voice phone calls to family and friends. In this day of texting and Facebook, we forget that we can dial to hear the voices of our loved ones.
—I limit the time watching television news and my time on Facebook. I prefer the programs on PBS.
—I am trying to declutter stuff. Why do we have so much stuff?
—On my Facebook page I am posting “Fine-art posting #, coronavirus season,“ one each every day, of one of my paintings. I have a lot of inventory!
—If there is one thing I have a good supply of, it is hand soap. For Easter, in lieu of the traditional egg hunt, I plan to put out at the end of our driveway a basket of—wait for it—soap!
Not soap
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you all. Stay safe. Wash your hands. With love,
Rebekah
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