Aloha!

 Oh my.....  Ten days of bliss.........    :-)    

My darling husband actually grew up in Hawaii.........in this very spot...........Kailua, Oahu.  His mom still lives there so this was the view for much of that ten day visit.   It rained one night........while we were sleeping, but other than that we had perfect weather every, single day.  We usually go in the fall, so I'll remember that May's a much better choice.   Not nearly so humid......and my hair wasn't plastered to my head for ten days straight.

Normally we are on the go the entire time we're there, but this time the trip was dedicated to my husband's mom.  Aging and in the latter stages of dementia.  I think they said she was in stage 7 out of 9...  or something along those lines.  She asked my husband if he was older than she.  So, so sad.  

 These photos are from her back yard.......Oh yes, I took lots and lots of photos......but, par for the course deleted most of them from my memory card when I was trying to download them.  NUTS.

My Hubby did lots of paddle boarding on the canal and grew up surfing out there in the ocean.  EVERY DAY!  And, we have the dermatologist bills to prove it.    :-)   Sunshine's not such a good thing in large quantities. 

 The view looking the other way.  Isn't it just beautiful?

 My sweet and ever so funny daughter loves Dog The Bounty Hunter.  Crazy, I know!  But wanted a shirt or something with Dog on it.  We loaded up my mother-in-law and went to Hawaii Kai for lunch and a smidge of shopping at the Dog Store.  I found her a cute, little pink hat.......she was tickled......just the ticket for her.

 Had lunch in Hawaii Kai at the Kona Brewing Company........YUM!......and stopped by the Blow Hole on the way home.....

We had Chinese food twice.........it's WON.DER.FUL there.......so different than the Chinese food here........Minute Chicken with Cake Noodle.......my favorite.  I order it every, single time.  

Italian food one night at the yummiest restaurant with lots of the fam.........and sushi with our wonderful friends another evening......and a Mother's Day party for the lady of honor on Sunday.........My hubb's family can COOK!  Deee.Lish.

I'm afraid to hop on the scale.  

Nope, we didn't do any of this fine dining.......who knew they had gourmet Spam Mac Nuts?

My grandson loves the stuff......  his request?  A Spam slicer.  Found that at Long's, but didn't buy the Spam Mac Nuts.   I had to take pictures of the huge Spam selection at Safeway, but sadly, those were some of the pix that were deleted.  You wouldn't believe how many different kinds there are.  Everybody loves Spam!

We went to Honolulu one morning to check out the Ala Moana Mall.....HOLY COW!  We have some of these stores around here, but certainly not all of them.  Some of the brands can be found in some of our stores, but WHOLE STORES of them?  WOW!  And, I've never been in a Harry Winston.......they had the prettiest ring in the window.  My heart was going pitty-pat.     :-)

Neiman Marcus

Betsey Johnson

Chanel Boutique

Escada

Juicy Couture 

Tory Burch

Dior

Coach

Dooney & Bourke

Fendi

Gucci

Hermes

Louis Vuitton

Prada

Salvatore Ferragamo

Cartier

Chanel Fine Jewelry

Harry Winston

Jimmy Choo

Tiffany's

If I could walk in heels Nordstrom had a pair of Valentino shoes that were sooooo cute.......well, and about 1500 dollars.....   :-)    not in my budget, for sure.

We actually got back on Thursday last week, but when I fired up my computer to blog about the trip........well, it just didn't fire up.

The handy-dandy repairman came yesterday.  Thanking Jesus that I have a warranty.

I took some photos around the neighborhood........I'll show those to you in the next few days.  AMAZING!  So glad those weren't part of the deletion tragedy.

Missed all of you........Happy to be home.........raining here...........but was beautiful while we were gone.  Naturally.

xoxoxo

Spencer

Check out dwellable HERE for more information about Kailua.

It Really Is The Small Things In Life! Show and Tell Friday. An Award!!! Yippeee! And, Random Stuff.... :-)

Hi there little Sweetie-Chicks! I've been ever so busy and my blogging has been on that 'ol back burner!

First up.........it really is the SMALL things in life........My darling Hubbs installed a new faucet for me! Isn't it a cutie? I had the yukk-o builder's grade number that was none too pretty......although efficient!........Now, this is really big stuff here at Bellamere Cottage. My dear, darling Hubbs is NOT a MR. FIX-IT.....He has learned a few things along the life's highway, but not toooo much in the home repair department.............because............

This is the back yard of the home where my DH grew up. He surfed EVERY day........he didn't hang around learning how to change faucets, re-roof a house or change oil. He was way too busy LIVING! And, he has loads of pre-cancer stuff to prove it. His Dr. calls him a dermatologist's dream.......Those two little "bumps" out there are the Mokes...pretty? Yeah, what a way to grow up!

This is the view to the right...........the Koolau mountains...........My MIL lives on the canal.........so, straight out is the canal.........right....Koolau's............Oahu, Hawaii.....

Left..........yeah, the Pacific Ocean.......wouldn't it be a tough place to grow up???

He moved here about 17 years ago to be with his girlfriend. No, that was NOT me...... :-) But, after that didn't work out, God brought us together miraculously and we've been living happily ever after in the beautiful NW.....

My dear, darling hubbs and I actually had one of our two wedding receptions right here on this very lawn....... :-)

Now, you won't want to miss all the other lovelies who will be listing fun and interesting things! Please check them out at There is no place like home........it's on my sidebar! :-)




Now, onto the Mount St. Helen's eruption.........well, I was amazed! I got comments from lots of gals who lived a LONG way away and got some ash or who heard about it on the news....day and night! This was so long before cable news shows with their round the clock coverage and certainly before the internet. I had no idea so many people were "in the know" and remembered it..........yeah, I DO live in a bubble! :-)


On a totally different subject..........should you need batteries.......ANY kind of batteries, I'd like to suggest Interstate Batteries as your choice. I saw one of their commercials recently where they asked if you knew Jesus.........!!!!!!!!!! WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I have only seen the commercial once, so I can't tell you exactly what the commercial said, but I sure DO remember that! I'll be making all my purchases from them from now on. You may even have a superstore in your area.....but they sell on the net too.

I simply cannot figure out how to add a link, but if you search for Interstate Batteries you'll find it! :-)

And now!!!! I've been given an award by the wonderful Melly over at His Pink Princess. I'm so pleased. A GOLDEN HEART! WOW! Thank you Melly......you really need to visit this little gal, if you haven't already, she is a DOLL......from Down Under!! You'll find her link on my sidebar........you know I can't handle that linking thing........

Part of this award is to give it to five other Golden Hearts......Well.........I thought and thought and there is just no way I can only choose five. Every single one of you has lifted me up and brightened my day........Soooooooooo..........if you've left a message for me please take this golden heart as your very own!!! You're ALL Golden Hearts to me! xoxoxox



I hope you have a glorious Memorial Day weekend........I'll be spending mine remembering our fallen. I am grateful to them and to the other dedicated men and women AND their families who are serving now and who have served. If you are one or know one.......GOD BLESS YOU!!


Hugs and Kisses,
Spencer