Lava day

After a lovely evening last night ...


...we woke up before dawn to go see the flowing lava today. To access the active lava, it is about a 45 minute drive from our house followed by a walk of about 30 minutes. We arrived at the lava at dawn. We were looking for a surface flow and it helps to see where there are red glows in the distance which indicates lava extrusion. Also, during the daytime, there are County workers who prevent anyone from getting close enough to see anything worth seeing. One has to arrive before they do.

Since the only glows we saw were farther than we wanted to walk today, we decided to see the lava flowing into the ocean from lava tubes instead. It was just great. We love lava!


As waves crashed into the flow, hot lava rocks would be shot out, as in this photo. Click on the picture to see the flying hot rock better.

Here are three short videos for those lava fiends who want more:

Come visit us someday when we are here, and we will do our best to take you to an active flow.

From our own backyard...

Smiley noticed today that we can see the observatories on Mauna Kea from our back yard. Who knew? Anyway, we think it is cool....

What work?

I keep telling you all I am working but I haven't given proof. So, here is that proof. I am doing several projects as the same time as I never know how long before a little rainstorm will come. Most of my projects are outdoors but I have indoor projects ready if necessary. Right now, my major projects are finishing two fences (one small, one large) and painting the house.

If you click on the picture below and look carefully, you will see that I am prepping the house in the rain. The material I was using to fill cracks can take a little water so I wasn't too worried.

But, of course, painting in the sunshine (though not when it is too hot). I am putting the prime coat on here.

Here Smiley is helping me as I put up the structure that will hold the reed fencing. This is to block the view of the trash cans.
Everybody was working today (except Rosie). A short video of the work. And, yes, I know that Rosie was standing and not sitting.

Happy Thanksgiving

Check out Smiley's Hawaiian fruit turkey.

Reader's recommendations

Why contributions are just pouring in from my readers!

By brother, Russ, recommended this blog from a math professor friend awhile back and wanted to share it. His particular favorites:

I highly recommend his entry "What Does Sarah Eat For Breakfast?" (on Palin), and for some insight into Ron "Cyrus Restaurant" (on food, eh), and "The Old Guard" (on baseball).

I generally enjoy Ron's fascination with Sarah Palin - something I share. I meant to blog about the Palin/turkey video but will let Ron speak for me instead.

If you are interested in legal issues from a rightist, libertarian (and intellectually honest) perspective, Ken Karst recommends this blog. But, I don’t expect this will constitute a large share of my readership. (Ken, by the way, is a liberal constitutional law professor.) Nonetheless, there it is.

My fabulous sister-in-law (and French professor) Laura says “this might not be blog worthy” mais au contraire! It is almost painful to listen to these two women baby-talk to a little hedgehog thrown into a bathtub. You may not want to view the full six and one half minutes of it. But, do catch the last minute at least….

Why I don't have a cat

My friend, Lynn, also supplied this link that shows exactly why I don't want a cat. I prefer barking and slobber.

Parrot not Quail

My friend Lynn sent this link for this important political effort. I, too, support the cause! What could be more important in these troubled times?