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.

Skies Over Reynisfjara

When we arrived at Reynisfjara, we saw this threatening cloud. We managed to take photos but soon after this photo was taken. Snow and sleet fell like crazy. Please see short video below.

Hiking In The Rain

Kepi and I went for a short hike this weekend to the western mountains of Maryland. There were several people at the state park. I guess most people were thinking what we're thinking - get some fresh air. It's June but it felt chilly up in the mountains.

It poured in the middle of our hike.

There's something soothing about hiking in the rain.

This is my entry for My Corner of the World and Our World Tuesday.

View from Diamond Head

From the archives, I took this photo on my fourth hike going up Diamond Head in O'ahu. This view awaits when you reach the top.

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

Holei Sea Arch

From the archives, this was taken when we were hiking at the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

It's been a stressful start of the week, but I'm glad our board meeting will be over soon (tomorrow). I am looking forward to some personal time off even if there'll be no travel involved. Staying at home with the furries will be a welcome change to this work-at-home routine.

My entry to Wordless Wednesday, Travel Tuesday, and My Corner of the World.

Skies at Ala Moana Park

From the archives, took this photo when I went home to O'ahu in 2018. My dad, brother and I spent the afternoon walking and watching the boats float by Ala Wai Canal close to Ala Moana Park. It so happened that we were blessed with beautiful skies on our walk home.

This is my entry for Wordless Wednesday and Skywatch Friday.

Belize Is Unbelizable!

Last week, work has been busy, so I didn't have much time to visit blogs. My office is preparing for a board meeting, so we're all at our wits end trying to prepare for this three hour meeting. I am hoping things will get back to normal after this week.

Today, let us to travel to Belize.

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We traveled to Belize in the late spring of 2016. At this time of year, Belize felt stifling hot. It gets worse when you hike into the rainforest. The dense humid air can make your legs feel like a ton. It didn't help that I came down with a sinus infection during this trip. I wanted to see so much of Belize but the sinus infection was egging me to sleep and stay in bed. I pushed on anyway armed with a bag full of tissues, Tylenol, and water.

When we joined a tour to see the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, I gave a big sigh of relief when I saw that we were taking a boat ride to reach the site. The boat ride to Lamanai was rather scenic but more importantly, the breeze felt cooling and refreshing as our boat snaked it's way through New River. 

We saw different species of birds, a baby caiman, a sleeping sloth, and several howling monkeys on the trees, but with my headache and sinus infection progressing, I was contented with closing my eyes, sat facing upstream, relished the refreshing breeze through my hair and the occasional cooling splash of water on my face.

Skies Over Rock of Cashel

Visited the Rock of Cashel in May 2015, and we were blessed with good weather and beautiful views. Also known as the Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock and quite a spectacular archaeological site. 

 

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

 

Mr. Mistoffelees

Meet Mr. Mistoffelees! He's not our cat, but he likes to hang out near our house. I see him everyday, and you never know where he'll turn up next. Sometimes, he's on the front lawn, the backyard, by our front steps, at my garden sniffing the spinach or on the wooden fence doing a balancing act.

Yesterday, he was spotted on the front lawn.

Today, he's on our front steps.

A few weeks ago, he was having a neighborly gossip with our cat, Dizzy.

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

Boats of Marsaxlokk

Lately, I've been dreaming of the sea, clear blue skies, and the warmth of the Sun. It's been chilly and overcast the past few days. 

I worry about my vegetable garden, as some of my seedlings are beginning to rot because of the low temperatures and lack of sunlight.

Here's hoping for better days ahead.

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

My Favorite Photos from the Island of Malta

Are you ready to go on another Malta trip with me? Today, I'm posting my favorite photos from the island of Malta.

Since our hotel is in Valletta, we spent a lot of time exploring the Old City especially the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens. I like the Lower Barrakka better because it has a great view of the Grand Harbour. Unfortunately, photos I took at the Upper Barrakka didn't come out so well. Below are photos I took at the Lower Barrakka Gardens.

Siege Bell War Memorial