Island Life

OK, I've decided Island life is the life for me!  Did my hints make you think of MAUI!  ALOHA was my secret 3rd hint!  Well, let me tell you it is one magnificent island! I'm an Island Girl for sure :  )
But the flight from Vermont is 13 hours and that is a long time.......turns out it is worth it, if you are lucky enough to have a long stay. We had 12 days so it was wonderful and enough time to forget the flight until the departure day. I took about one thousand pictures with my iPhone and my new Sony! I did love me new camera but there is definitely a convenience to the size of the iPhone.
My Hb had a conference in Maui, so we turned it into a vacation too. It was our Anniversary and  both of our birthdays close together, so lots of celebrating.

We snorkeled, did a whale watch, went to a Luau, saw a sunrise from a volcano crater (Haleakala volcano) and biked down the volcano, played golf, walked, swam, read, and ate so many tasty meals. But let me tell you it is one expensive experience, meals are so pricey but so elegant, fresh and delicious. Oh, did I mention the cocktails, so many special island drinks!

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton, "we had too", the conference was there, to bad right! The flowers, landscape and terrain are so green and lush. I was in photo heaven. So let me start with the slide show!




Approaching Maui, I was all smiles, ear to ear

                                                                    Whale watch

                                             Up close, so hard to get the ones I really wanted

                                                               Bamboo everywhere

                                         Flowers everywhere "Hibiscus"

                                             South American Cardinals, visiting our balcony

                           View from balcony, golf course 3rd hole and ocean in background

                                                    Banyan Tree with lights in front of Ritz's

                Catamaran for snorkel trip, so many colorful fish, coral reefs and one turtle

                                          Luau, they are so beautiful and double jointed!!!

                                                  View each morning for morning walk

                                                               So many orchids

                                                                      Surfers

                                             Visit to an Arboretum, so fun and informative

                                                   Peacock, boy was a lucky with this shot

                                                    Waterfalls and daredevils....not us!

                                                                      One Sunset

                                                               Another sunset

                                       and another sunset, we tried to see them every night :  )

                                                  Just Gorgeous views in all directions

 On top of the volcano for the sunrise, we got up at 2am, took a van to the bike location(to trail the bikes), drove to the crater (2 hours away) and got to see this magnificent sunrise! It was awesome. There was a couple who got engage just as the sun peeked through!! It was so sweet, everyone clapped and cheered!

 This is the map and the trail for our bike ride down. See the twisty roads, we were the oldest couple and we DID IT! I have to say I was so proud of us, It wasn't that hard, but we were definitely out of our comfort zone. Our hands got the most workout braking!!! It was the highlight of our trip. There were ten in our group, we stopped halfway and had a nice breakfast at a Lavender Farm, it smelled so wonderful. Then we proceeded down the volcano. We started the trip in fleece and windbreakers (jackets and pants) and started shedding clothes as we descended and ended up at the ocean in shorts and tops. We were back to our hotel at 1:00pm!

                                        The Ritz-Carlton, 3 infinite pools and Pacific Ocean

                                         I'm so happy to have had this wonderful experience



There are so many more pictures of flowers and food and trees and loveliness. I will probably have to write another Maui post, but for now this is a start.




I came home to a whole post office crate of mail and a lovely card and gift from Teresa! She makes the most beautiful crocheted hearts and I'm so grateful to have one hanging in my home.  Thank you so much Teresa, one of my longest blogging friends❤️

xoRobin            (Jack too.......see him)

Busy busy=Happy happy❤

Hi Friends,

This will be a post of updates just in the past week. It's been busy and mostly in a good way. Although, Jack got a nasty skin infection. His cousin Leroy, the silver lab, was up for a visit with his mommy, my daughter, and they had lots and lots of fun. They ran and romped about and went swimming in a new pond we found. The swimming was so fun for them we took them the next day too, this was during our Indian summer weather we were having. Well, our visitors left, I went to work and Jack went to doggy daycare. When I was dropping him off I noticed he had a dirty face, but honestly I was running late and decided he would have to go to DDC with a dirty face! BAD MOMMY! Well, when I picked him up I noticed his face was messy and dirty. Sorry this is turning into a l--o--n--g story. Got home scrubbed him up and noticed oozing and an odor. Well, time to call the vet and make an appointment for the next day. Jack was getting lethargic and would just lie in his bed, I could not wait for the appointment time. Bottom line Jack had a raging skin infection from the pond. Apparently there was a bacteria that found a nick or scratch on Jack that settled in and the infection started. Leroy was not affected at all, thankfully, because it was nasty and he is a puppy.  So the Vet shaved the side of his face gave me lotion to cleanse his face 2 times a day, a cream to put on after and antibiotics for 15 days! The antibiotic alone was $125.00, very powerful medicine.

Let me show you what I am talking about. Starting with the fun and then the  *not so pretty* part.

Amy, Jack and Leroy

Happy Doggies

Tug-of-war anyone

Oh, feels so good on a HOT day

So cute aren't they?

Before we went to Vets

Thought it might have been a Hot Spot, something pets get in the heat and when they stay damp.

But no, after getting all shaved a raging, inflamed infection. My poor Jack

Jack is feeling so much better and is on the mend.

I will update you later but he is soooooo much better, and the mediation is working!





I have wanted to show you a picture of "Little E" in the sweater I made for her for her Birthday.

I think it fits great with room to grow and to be able to wear with tops underneath! She a happy little one❤





Couldn't leave out "Little-Big A", I bought them these matching dresses with leggings. There are so many sweet clothes for little girls. They love to wear dresses!!!

I think I will leave you all with some Fall pictures from around here. Foliage isn't as great as past years, I think because we have had so many raining days that a lot of the leaves have fallen.




Pasture on my road

Delicious apples-sweet and crisp

Ponies and Jack (leroy was scared) down our road

Some color

Beautiful sunrise out my front door

Can you see the sheep?

Hasn't Leroy grown?

Jack says good bye and no more swimming in this pond!!!!!!!!!

Well, I'm doing to say good bye. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my lengthy  post. I appreciate all my followers and new friends too.

Take care, xoRobin❤