Hello! I'm Still Here.

Hello! Yes, I'm still here.

I really don't know where to start, but today feels like a good day to start writing. Perhaps because I've calmed my fears and started to feel some semblance of normalcy around me. 2020 and 2021 were absolutely challenging and even as this year comes to a close more than a month, the pandemic is still here. My hope, and I remain hopeful that we will at some point overcome.

• Spent most of 2020 and 2021 working from home and mainly at home.
• In September 2020, we lost our dog, Daisy. She had stomach cancer that spread to her lungs. I was and am still heart broken. I miss her every day.
• In November 2020, I opened my Etsy shop - kaynipost.etsy.com - to sell my excess collection of vintage stamps and my illustration postcards and greeting cards. Every day, I set aside an hour or two to draw. I find it extremely relaxing.
• Our 2020 Christmas holidays went quietly. I did miss the big family gatherings and I couldn't fly out to Hawaii to visit my family due to COVID.
• In April and May 2021, I got my first and second COVID vaccine.
• June 2021, I went back to the office with a hybrid schedule. Slowly, things are opening up in Maryland and DC. I am hoping these are good signs.
• July 2021, our cat, Dizzy, passed away. We miss her so much. In the some month, we moved to a new house, and we're still trying to get organized and settled until today.
• In September 2021, after more than a year of being apart, I finally got to give my Mom, Dad and big brother a hug. My family came to Maryland for a two week visit. I was elated. Family really is EVERYTHING.
• October 2021, we adopted a year old, Beagle mix. We named her Lulu. I am crazy about her.
• November 2021, I got my booster shot of Moderna. It's been a week and I still feel a bit off. Must be my body adjusting.

I hope you've all been doing well.

The Maple Tree and the Sky

 I've been away for a while. I will elaborate in another post. Because today, I'd like to bask in the beauty of autumn.

The red Maple tree and the blue sky.

Every year, I look forward to this tree's show of colors.

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

Hazy Skies Over Panama Canal

From the archives, I took this photo while our cruise ship was crossing the Panama Canal in 2016. The Panama Canal is something I've always wanted to see especially that I've read so much about it when I was in secondary school. So when the trip came to fruition, I was just in awe watching how the locks work. It's a remarkable feat of engineering.

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

Sunrise At Dewey Beach

Happy Friday!

I've been away for a month as work's becoming a little bit out-of-hand. A lot of my colleagues are taking vacations and I've been tasked to take over the work of two to three people in addition to my own responsibilities. 

I feel exhausted, but on one weekend, we managed to spend a couple of days at Dewey Beach, Delaware. This trip was very therapeutic. I hope we'll go back again soon.

Watching the sunrise with Daisy.

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

Four Waterfalls One State Park

As I've mentioned in my earlier posts, we visited Swallow Falls State Park in mid-June. What I really love about this park is that you hike to four different waterfalls.

Tolliver Falls is the smallest one in the park but quite serene and picturesque because of the pool that forms below the falls. For me, this is a good place to meditate and have a quiet moment.

Upper Swallow Falls  is an easy hike to get to from the main road and has a really cool view.

Tree and Sky

I took this photo last weekend near Kilgore Falls. We were on our way home after a refreshing swim at the river.

This is my entry:

Wordless Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Friday Skywatch

I Left My Heart In Molokai

When people talk of Hawaii, they rarely talk about the island of Molokai. But for anyone looking for quiet solitude and a place to getaway from the hustle and bustle of the world, Molokai is THE PLACE. My first visit to Molokai was in 2017. I know it's a shame it has taken me this long to visit this island.

 

A deserted beach we found in Molokai.

Kepi found this heart shaped rock and gave it to me.

We left it there so that someone will see it too.

Our footprints - just us at the beach that day.

Perhaps it was all about great timing. However, for the beaches we've visited, we reveled in our found solitude. In the evenings, our lovely walks were accompanied by the purring crickets attracting their mates and the chorus of frogs croaking loudly nearby.

Linking:

Through My Lens

Travel Photo Souvenir

Travel Tuesday

York River State Park

It felt good to go away for a few days.

Kepi and I headed to Virginia for a short weekend trip. Our plan is to hike and visit state parks there. It's the best choice especially that we'd both want to explore and practice social distancing at the same time. There weren't too many people at the York River State Park when we visited, so we weren't too worried about being exposed to too many people.

We'd love to come back with a kayak next time and paddle through this winding river. 

This is the bridge that would take you to Fossil Beach. 

Cool Water

We just got back from our short weekend trip to Virginia. We only stayed there for three days, but it was enough to relax and have some "me" time. We brought Daisy with us, and I think she had a great time too.

 Daisy cooling off by the lake.

Swallow Falls State Park

Taken when we went hiking at Swallow Falls State Park a week ago. 

I'm currently on a week vacation from work, and I find it hard to destress granted that I now work at home and while I'm on vacation I'm also at home. The line between work and home has been blurred. In fact, it seems non-existent.

This is my entry for Wordless Wednesday and My Corner of the World.