Mason's Projects: Part One - The Garden

Mason LOVES to put seeds in the ground and watch them grow. Are you surprised we have a garden???

Chiles
Here's the beginning of the chile plants. Mason isn't very generous with the water for these guys because he says if you stress them out then they'll be hot! (that's why they're wilted)


Then he put them in some bigger pots and set them outside. They perked up quite a bit.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, this is what our peppers look like! And they are HOT!!!

Tomatoes

Mason started his tomato plant out in the window too. It sprouted in four days! we couldn't believe it.

And now we have little golf ball sized tomatoes! He planted cherry tomatoes so I'd say he did pretty good.


Have to watch out for the birds...they like tomatoes too :(



Tangerines
We may never see any fruit, because everyone knows tangerines grow on TREES. But they look pretty healthy right?

Monstera
A friend from work gave me this plant. It's one of my favorites. He pulled it out of his backyard for me. And it put on a REALLY big leaf after we put it in the pot - a good sign I'd say.



Plumeria
Our little plumeria tree still lives! And she's had these hot pink flowers for about a month now. Flowers are the best part of a garden :)

Wa'ahila Ridge: The bears went over the mountain

I went hiking on Saturday with a few friends. It was a ridge trail, which finished at the top of the Koolau Mountain Range. The views were incredible! I might like to look at these mountains more than the ocean!

This is Reydelle on the left, and Michelle on the right. They are hiking troopers!















We found these strawberry guava berries along the trail. They're super sweet and taste like...well, strawberry guava! I REALLY like them.

Manoa Valley. University of Hawaii is in this area. And Diamond head is peeking out around the corner on the left.


There were two grassy areas along the trail. Mason says this is enough room for a tent...(i.e. camping? he's so full of ideas :)

We ALMOST stopped here. But we just couldn't pass up the chance to make it to the top. The views kept getting better with each step!



This flower is called ohia. A native flower to Hawaii. They grow on a bush, and also on a tree! (above)














Taking a break. We took a lot of these!!


Did I mention this was a ridge trail? We were on a ridge the whole time. Very cool, because there was a valley on each side of us.

Those are the Wainae mountains out in the far distance. They are on the West side of the island. Again, we could see more and more all the time. We had to keep going!


This is the tallest peek on the Koolau ridge. Definitely a favorite mountain of mine :)


There were lots of people hiking Saturday. They kept saying, "you're almost there! you HAVE to keep going! seriously, 25 min and you'll be at the top." and 25 minutes later we'd run in to someone else. What did they say? "You're almost there!"



This time we ARE almost there! That's the top, the light at the end of the tunnel :)

Made it! And all that we can see, is the other side of the mountain! And isn't it GORGEOUS!!!



I took an 180 of the view from the top (starting below).

This is Kailua, (above), and the peninsula way out there is the Marine Corp Base.

turning left... the Koolau Range. Again, the tallest peek on the ridge.

still turning left...

left again...this is the "top" we made it too. We could have hiked along this new ridge for another who knows how many miles :)

and left again...not sure which valley this is...but that is Koko crater out in the distance.

left....

And left again...so I was standing between these two peeks. This one above is called Mt. Olympus. Well named, I'd say.


time to head back. This is the ridge we hiked! Can you believe it? We sure couldn't. There is a cluster of pine trees way back there. That's were the trail started.

That's Reydelle! Way to go! Going down is MUCH easier.


Looking back up. Mt. Olympus is the one middle right. We were way up there.



Michelle took this for me at the end of our hike. Do I look exhausted or what?!!

Unitl next time!