Blue Monday...Maui Style!

Thank you Sally for hosting Blue Monday each week. To join in the fun or to visit other Blue Monday participants, click here.

We are on vacation this week in beautiful Maui. There is plenty of blue in Hawaii to feast your eyes upon, from the gorgeous shades of blue in the ocean, to the clear blue sky. Let me share some Maui blue with you...








All of these pictures were taken on my walk this morning. I've been walking 4 miles each day. I just need to keep up the momentum when I get home!

Aloha and Happy Blue Monday!

Polly Wanna Cracker!?!

As I mentioned earlier, the lobby of our hotel is open and airy so every so often you'll see a bird fly in. I never paid much attention to it until yesterday. I think the birds fly in because they're hungry. Yesterday I saw some cute little birds perched on the cages, eating the parrot's food.

Let me introduce you to some of the permanent birds that reside here.

This is Alex. He just kept saying over and over "My name is Alex, My name is Alex!"



This is Bojo. I think he's considered the big daddy of the bunch being that he's 18 years old. Just a little intimidating this one is. He wouldn't say a thing, just kept making clicking noises with his beak and giving me the evil eye.



This is Lil Sid. He's the acrobat of the group. He did quite a bit of showing off for me while I was talking to him and taking his picture.



My favorite of the group is Inca. Inca is a tiny one compared to the others but has the most gorgeous colored feathers. She's the most gracious as she keeps saying "Aloha, Aloha, Aloha!"


From watching these beautiful birds I also learned that they love to eat wood. Did you know that parrots like to eat wood? In each of the bird's cages they had these bright colored wood pieces strung up like toys. They loved it and would chip off a little piece at a time and nibble on it.


Funny thing about all of this is that I've passed by these birds oodles and oodles of times over the years and generally didn't pay too much attention to them. Yes, I've looked at them and read about them before but yesterday I really took notice. I talked to them and got a feel for their personality. Blogging will do that to you!

I saw a shirt today that read "Forget the cracker, Polly wants a drink!"

Aloha!

Aloha! Let Me Show You Around A Bit...

We bought our timeshare 7 years ago and I still love it. It was the Embassy Suites originally but it's changed names a few times since. It's now called Kaanapali Beach Resort. My husband has been a little disgruntled the last few years as it seems like they have kept taking things away i.e., breakfast buffet, happy hour, yet the yearly maintenance fee has gone up each year. I know, I know, these are petty things but we really miss them. Come to find out, there have been alot of complaints, especially about taking away happy hour. We're not drinkers but it was always fun to gather each day at 4:00pm to eat chips and drink our soft drinks. Lots of kids always running around, people playing cards, laughing, talking, just having fun and making memories. We've come here many times with friends and always with our kids and no matter what, 4:00pm sharp, we met for happy hour!

Regardless of the changes, good or bad, the property itself is still gorgeous. Let me show you around a bit.

While in Hawaii, you want a great pool and a great view of the ocean, and we've got both. The pool is very large and has a volleyball net, water slide, jacuzzi, and waterfall in the pool area. The beach is just steps away, just beyond the pool.


More pool area pictures. These pink cushions are a new addition to the lounge chairs. This is one of the "good" changes that has taken place.



There are at least 3, if not more, koi fish ponds on the grounds...



Across from the entrance is a grassy area with a white gazebo. This area is a perfect place for little ones to run around in, plus there always seems to be alot of picture taking going on in that area...




This pretty lady graces the lobby, in dedication to "Tutu"...past, present, and future. Tutu is Grandmother in Hawaiian.


The lobby and other places in the hotel are open and airy with comfy seating areas, like this one...


As you can see, the hotel is beautiful and very Hawaiian. Now you know why we love it so much. Even before the timeshare, this was our vacation choice. Our heart is here, memories were and are being made here, and for us, it's home.

Aloha!

The Many Colors of Hawaii

From

Howard and I took a long walk this morning and walked for about an hour. The weather was gorgeous, hot actually. We decided we'll walk earlier tomorrow to avoid some of the heat. It's so strange to know that even though it's November, it's bathing suit weather here. It's bathing suit weather here everyday!

Hawaii has some of the most beautiful, fragrant flowers imaginable so I took my camera with me on our walk. I thought I'd share some of the many colors of Hawaii with you.






Maui is a tropical island and does get its share of rain, but I'm still always amazed by how green and lush it is. The colors are so vivid, especially the ocean with it's many shades of blue. Everytime I visit here I'm struck by it's beauty and reminded of how God created it all, heaven and earth. Thinking about all that God created leaves me completely speechless and in awe of His power and goodness.

Howard and I have a routine. When we arrive in Maui, I stay curbside with the luggage and he takes the shuttle to the car rental office. Yesterday he showed up with this hugh SUV...for the 2 of us! After talking it over, we decided to turn it in for a smaller car. We tried to get a convertible but they were all taken. Anyways, Howard asked the sweet girl if they could at least hose off the bird poop that was on the new car we were getting. She said sure and went out to talk to someone about it...


We got just what we asked for. This nice guy literally hosed down the car. That's Hawaii for you, very low key and kick-back. The perfect place for a relaxing vacation!

Aloha!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: When was the last time you were able to gaze out over a beautiful blue majestic ocean? The ocean is just that, majestic.

This was my view at 8:00am this morning. It doesn't get more beautiful than this.



Aloha!

Yippee...It's Vacation Time!

We're at the Sheraton right now near LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). When flying out of LAX, we always arrange for the "park and fly." With the park and fly, we're able to stay at the Sheraton the night before a trip and then park the car at the hotel while we're gone. It makes things so convenient by being this close to the airport and the Sheraton offers shuttle service every 15 minutes. We live 2 1/2 hours away from the airport so at least we don't have to leave the house at 4am to make a 9am flight. You can't beat it.

We leave in the morning for Maui!
I CAN'T WAIT!

Maui has been our usual vacation spot for years but we weren't able to go last year so I'm very excited right about now. This trip will be different though. We're not used to taking vacations without our kids, even though they are 21 and 24! It will be weird not traveling as a family of 4, or 5, as a few times one of the kids has had a friend along too. It just might be a tad bit lonely at first but this is our life now. Certainly not bad, just different.

Sooo...

The next time you hear from me, I'll be looking at that big beautiful ocean and thanking God for allowing me to see heaven on earth one more time...and I may just have one of those delicious fruity drinks close by, non-alcohol of course!

Halloween 2009

Until next year, good-by Halloween. You know I love you so!