Daisy crashed her house. 
  xxxxx

She loves her house, she plays around that house ...drags and shoves that house. She will pick it up in her teeth and carry it anywhere she wants it. ... nothing unusual to see that house moving somewhere and not her. Her  favorite is to jump into it and rolls it over and over. That sends us into a frenzy of laughter and she really plays that up.  Somewhere in that Yorkie mind she must think she has a turtle ancestor. 

Talking Dog for Sale

This guy sees a sign in front of a house "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the back yard. The guy goes into the back yard and sees a mutt sitting there.

"You talk?" he asks.

"Yep," the mutt replies.

"So, what's your story?"

The mutt looks up and says, "Well, I discovered this gift pretty young and I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time they had me
jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, cause no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies eight years running.

"The jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger and I wanted to settle down. So I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings there and was awarded a batch of medals. Had a wife, a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. The owner says "Ten dollars."

The guy says he'll buy him, but asks the owner, "This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him for $10?"

The owner replies, "Because he's such a liar.  He never did any of that stuff! "

                                                

      What are the chances that .. I would be there in his very minute of need?
    

     This is how he usually spends his day... eating and holding down the pillows on the bench and the swing.  

I was delivering one of some 15 feral kitties who's best chance at a being adopted into a good home.. While they are still so cute and can attach themselves to the new family.

We can all discuss the pro's and cons of the impact of 15 more feral kitties/cats in the immediate environment.
It was not a hard choice to protect the feral and local cats that are already here.

15 more adult not neutered cats would be a disaster.. the fighting, the food situation and the terror delivered onto the domestic outdoor cats by feral cats fighting to gain 'their territory'.
Every "kitty season' the battle rages and adds more scars to my own cat. Let us not even get started talking about diseases brought to cats not gettting annual shots. 

Another feral make has been making his presence known, trying to kill off the young males and mate with the female kittens....  babies that well be of his very own sireing, and the added threat to Dat Bugga.  
Dat Bugga, is a peaceful cat .... just not into fighting.

It was time I did something as a responsible owner and person.
I had gotten the loan of a crate trap.. and it was my first 'delivery' to the Humane Society.

There was some commotion as the person in front of me and the Society personnel were trying to get a frightened cat out of a trap into another crate.
It not a kitty but an older cat.. hearing his pitiful cry for help I was feeling so sorry for it . I went over to calm it.

That was when I went into shock! 

It looked like Dat Bugga!

It was Dat Bugga!!!! 

I started to scream ... that is MY CAT.. MY CAT....  Steve stepped up and took charge.  Quietly and calmly told the attendents that is was MY cat.. and he was chipped and neutered.. and please check him out. 

Well, long story short.. My big dumb friendly cat had been caught in a neighbors trap ... and was tempted by food, a can of tuna. ( He is a chow hound.)
I was not angry (at the time)  with this person feels he has to set out traps, but .. BIG BUTTTTT. 
Looking back, I realize this man was nervous about us being there. He actually got between me and the trapped cat several times.
This person is fortunate that he has cats that will stay inside... he feeds the all ferals, including the exact feral that chases Bugga off.... and causes havoc here with the kitties.

( Insert Bad word Here) ...It is fundamental that when you feed something wild, make them dependent your your food supply, you have continuing obligation to the animal and the community! ...at the very least, get them neutered and their shots.

ETC!

LONG story short, Dat Bugga used to be feral after the previous owners abandoned him and relocated to Texas. ( nice people huh!) .
We have tried to contain him...I cannot tell you how many screens Steve has repaired/replaced because of Dat Bugga's need to be not contained... and I would add to that list at least 3 rubber strips, across the bottom of the big garage door....to the tune of $135.00 each time we had it replaced.

....but when a feral comes and tries to kill him, in the middle of his sleep on a chair on our lanai, he is going to run. 

At first, I did not yell at the neighbor for his capture. It would have appeared it was a normal random capture. BUT.. Something was  not 'right" here. All the pieces in the scenario were not fitting... something is very not as it seemed.
As I got more facts as to who this person was... from the address scrawled across the top of the trap crate, he was a neighbor. I did think to copy off his phone number...  trying to figure what not right about something so seemingly straight forward. 
I recognized this person. I am certain he recognized me. I put my hand out to shake hands. Why was he shaking? Why had he captured and turned my cat into the humane Society. Supposedly it was not a personal thing. He lived right across the street and two doors down. Just days ago, I had just complimented him on his yard renovation..  

I tried to be calm and rational so my mind could take in all the 'real' information.
The chip worked and I would have gotten a call to come and get him.

I kept thinking... in all honestly, that neighbor should have known the cat because I have knocked at his door..searching for Dat Bugga... with a full color photograph least twice.  We even chatted...
 
In front of Humane Society personnel, he 'remembered' after I reminded him of our chat and when I mentioned several personal items it was like someone turned on the light for him. He remembered aloud seeing him lying on our driveway and the big rock out front.
He agreed that he should have recognized him as a local cat....
and he knew I was growing suspicious. and he knows I care!

After speaking in private with the person in charge,... about my suspicions and feeling threatened by this person who is supposedly connected with another cat organization....  we decided on getting a second chip into my cat in another area.
What information there is /was is still not fitting together...  and this is the best we could do for getting Dat Bugga home. 

In front of the attendants, I requested that the neighbor...*"Turn the hose on Dat Bugga if he does get down there again to discourage him.
Your cat feeding stations IS where he feeds when YOUR feral s try to kill him and keep him away from his own home and food. You have obviously not chased him away in his prior visits... so I am confused by your not setting him free and allowing him to return home this time.

I am concerned that you continue to draw and trap ferals ( a declared public nusance on this Island) with an 24/7open food station, it is probable that MY Dat Bugga he is going to be visiting that feeder again. . 

I think you are well meaning. However, you should understand that what you are doing impacts me, our cat and the rest of your neighbors.
Are you aware of the law regarding maintaining an "attractive nusance"? An open 24/7 feeding station only draws  ferals into an established neighborhood as well as feeing rats?

You live only across the street and two doors down. I do not understand why you chose to trap my cat. Have I done something to upset you?  I am sure we can make what ever it is straight... I just need to know .
We agree that that My cat is off limits.. He is owned. Will you promise me that if you do have opportunity to capture Dat Bugga that he will be released immediately.. Right?  (as I handed him my card with my telephone numbers)

You can understand that I just want peace for Dat Bugga, he already has had enought of a bad time.
We all agree, right? " *

This may not be verbatum... but you can get the general idea. .  

Steve and I will search for a break-away type collar.. one that will keep him safe from hanging his big dumb self, as well as it will identify him as an 'ownered' cat.

I also plan on going over and doing a follow up chat when his wife is home.  just to firm up relations.  

As I finish this, pieces are still not coming together. I do feel concern for Dat Bugga's well being.

SIGH~ 
 
* Update!!!
Holy Smokes... update already!

I thought I heard a Yoo hoo!  My doorbell is probably needs a new doorbell or at least a new battery. 
I went out front and low and behold,  a lady was there.   

It was the wife of the 'trap guy' .
She came on a peace mission, bringing her telephone number and a can of tuna, a gift for Dat Bugga.

Her hubby is so embarrassed. He spent a very sleepless night.  She works night shift, and this morning he related the adventures of yesterday and that he had captured Dat Bugga.
He had not realized it was Dat Bugga until I screamed his name in my panic.

In my calmer mind set, I told her if he chose not to bring him home, he did exactly what he should have done.. immediately take the animal to the Humane Society..   I chip my animals...and by now, I am sure he did forget.

We have come up with a mutual release plan ...I release her cats, she described her cats (she will send over pix).  Dat Bugga gets a 'Get out of Jail Pass' along with a wet pass of the garden hose to remind him not to come back.

I had no idea he was going through is own turmoil. He was so upset it was Dat Bugga and not a feral.
Not really knowing me, they had other concerns including that I might be vindictive and capture one of theirs.
They were both sick over the whole thing and never thought it may be a neighbor's cat.
 
I appreciate her being so forthright and candid. We reaffirmed to them that our concern was only about Dat Bugga and not being vindictive. and not be full time 'trappers' ... not that I can't be vindictive, but I'm not where animals rights are concerned. Lord help you if I catch you abusing one!!!

Realizing I was also trapping, he too, became concerned about their kitties being trapped and traumatized.

The fact is, I had captured one of their little silver guys. When the Humane Society attendent pointed out the clipped ear, we took it right to their front door. They were not home, so we released him at the side of their house in sight of their feeding station.
That guy took off running sideways and talking the whole way to the food dishes.  

 I have suggested that it might be a good idea that we 'trappers' visit the newer neighbors and insure that we are not trapping their critters either.

I am not out there 'fishing' trapping.. I need 15 young kitties to go to new homes and  at the same time get the mean/viscious ferals off the street.
We have an active Avo cats contingency. Their concern is neutering and release back into the neighborhood they  came from .... hopefully we can do all that without nailing a neighbors pet.  

We agreed. We shook hands and hugged (the Hawaiian thing)  It was a pleasant visit. Everything is back on par for good neighborly relations.
I did ask her to tell her hubby that I am glad he is the kind to worry ...that he can sleep well tonight and all the tomorrows ... I have/will release everything with a clipped ear at their house.

A clipped ear means it was an AVO Cat and had been neutered and released. Clipping right or left ears also identifies male or female.

We are talking about getting 'Sister'/'Funny Face' neutered and released here.
      

We have gone to three places and still not breakaway collars

This is 'NATIONAL LOVE A CAT MONTH'

This is the saddest day of my life....

Dot telephoned this morning. We chatted on and laughed at the email I had sent her. I was especialy happy she was cheerful.
I knew the past few days were a living hell for her and Dick.  Then, she said, I guess this is really 'Good Bye'.
I wanted to scream and to run and hide.. my head was exploding... all I could do is cry from my soul. ...anything but to bid her Good Bye.

It is the worst phone call ever. I am beside myself with anger.. not toward Dot, but at the damned Cancers that is growing in her brain and will take her from us in just a few short days.

Four days ago Dot checked herself into the local hospital thinking she was having stroke. She could not speak and had other symptoms a major problem. 
They ran two full days of tests and finally released her the day before she telephoned.

Dick and Dot have been our great friends since early on in Steve and my stay in Hawaii.
Dick was one of the friends that just pitched right in when Steve was laying in the bamboo flooring... with out even being asked.
 
The group we 'gather' with is special like that. We all just clicked.

Dick married Dot right out of high school. They were always a team since the day they met. They immediately started out married life by heading down under and decided they liked Island living.

They had lived in many exciting places but decided New Zealand was the proper place to raise a family.  Literally carving out a niche and a life for their family they started a fruit farm from scratch. They lived a healthy life and raised 4 terrific children.

They lived healthy.. and worked hard........... 
Back in the US they decided to live in Hawaii. Dot settled into retirement and keeping fit by walking to the community pool every week day and swam laps, stopping by at the local grocery market and then rounding out the miles with a stop at the library. Almost daily she needed a 'new' book. Dot is an avid reader.

When it was determined that it had not been a stroke, rather it was no less than 4 Cancerous lesions in her brain, we were all stunned. .
They lived healthy!  Certainly there was a mistake!

Cancer has a ravenous appetite.. it know no bounds. It respects no one.

The very morning our Dot went into the hospital, we received word another good friend from San Diego had succumbed to Prostate Cancer.

I will not count the number of other friends, young and older, both near and far but close to our hearts that have to battle Cancer.
Where does it STOP!
We can explore the outer reaches of space. It is amazing, but what we really need is to focus right here, right now on stopping Cancer!
 
We need not go any further to kill another person. Cancer does that.. We need to be healers.. Our families  should be able live in peace ..without the overwhelming threat of Cancer!  and the tragedy it will always bring. 

I don't want to say Good Bye to another friend... not like this... Ever!

I LOVE YOU DOT .
We all love you~

Yes, and I do so enjoy good food.
The first thing I do every morning is lay there and think what it is we will eat today.. and how it will look on the plate.
The surprising thing is that I do not weigh three times what I do... Steve and I both enjoy eating good food, trying new things as well as changing an old recipe.

Rice is on the list of Must Have's'  Rice plain and rice 'decorated', Basmitti, whites. browns, red cargo and mixed.
....breakfast, lunch or dinner.. Mixed and decorated.

This is my favorite blend.

I get the 2 pound packages of brown and red mixed (with the air removed )
Then I add another pound of the wild rice blend.

          ...looks like this
          

Our old steam pot is years old and has plenty of dings and dents to attest to it's familiar use.

I toss in what ever I have on hand, first choice is what ever is available in the garden. 
Basically.. it is a cups of 'mix', a can of chicken broth an equal amount of water... and a hand fill of veggies
... peas carrots and onions and a few herbs, basil, cilantro and red pepper flakes. It takes a bit more time to
cook these harder rices.         
*One of the things I have learned from eating around.. is to scrape the browned bits from the bottomof the
rice pot.. it really adds great taste.

Earlier this week I made some of the best shrimp. I call it garlic-lime and cilantro shrimp.

I had just brought home a fresh bag of frozen shrimp and they had thawed before getting home. You know what that means... It quickly became shrimp week at our house.
Shrimp cocktails, Kung Pau shrimp, the Garlic-lime with cilantro shrimp and then the shrimp and rice salad.

Start with cleaned, cooked  larger shrimp. I left the tails on because at first it was going to be 'finger food' .
Then as the uses progressed, I removed the tails.

Add plenty of fresh chopped cilantro, a couple leaves of basil and a good pinch of red pepper flakes, juice of a large fresh lime, a large clove of crushed garlic, enough canola oil to heavily coat the shrimp a teaspoon of capers and another teaspoon of the juice, chopped salad jalapenos, Hawaii sea salt and course crushed black pepper.
I like some snap, but not hot.
Set it in the 'fridge' and allow the flavors to marry up. 

I have Tahitian lime tree because they seem to be sweeter as well as larger) 

After we actually had left overs, and that is when I made this rice and shrimp salad.  
I added chopped celery and scallion ..a bit more oil and lime juice...

I'm telling you this is the best rice salad I have ever had. 

Hot summer day lunch
 

I had to use canned pineapple (with cloves) because what I have in the garden is not ready...
and white cabbage coleslaw

Sometimes it is just too hot to eat, but ... not with this on the table.
 

'Black River' is remodeled and completed.

Black ( lava ) River has been a Work In Process ( WIP ) for a loooong time.

Even before completing it, a family dog ( Gidget)  was stung by a bee, a direct hit into the veins and nearly died. She was and is again, a very active 5 pound Chihuahua. Gidgy lives with my daughter DeeDee and she has 5 tiny little dogs, all together weighing just 25 pounds.
Anyway, after all those prayers and medical miracles, Gidgit is back 'in charge'.

Little dogs have a bad time with any problem. Our Daisy is barely over 5 pounds. Not only will she be susceptible to any bee sting, she is one feisty little Yorkie and will probably try to run any bee out of her yard.

 Daisy is not yet allowed out in the back yard on her own.. but there will be the day when she learns to come when called and earns her right to more freedoms. Right now she thinks this whole world is hers to protect. Her attitude and lack of secured fencing say we keep her close.
Anyhow, we yanked/moved out the bee attractions.

      

 
        

         My beautiful pink Heather had to go elsewhere!
        

          In place of The Heather we opted for a big ( one man) rock. 
         

Black River was always part of the back yard plan.. sort of... It was planned that we use real  river rock. Unfortunately, rounded smooth river rock is not natural to this Island and would have to be imported.. $$$$

So, we went with what we have and what is vaguely believable.

In order to make both phases look alike we went with a 'different' cinder.
         

               Final Phase on 'Black River' project
        

       WIP.. The cranes have not 'flown' in yet.
      

        Steve is making sure they land where they can catch the most fish  ( hahaha)
       

        Okay, We're finished here!
     
      Whoa, check out those long shadows, it is still E A R L Y morning.

       Palms like living in Black River Cove....Areca, Fox Tail and Teddy Bear 
      

 Crushed gravel is planned for the walkways, but that is still three projects out~
 I wanna be done!
     

Dear Mickie,

 no, my yard has a very loooooong way to go. Sometimes the yard work tasks ahead seem almost overwhelming.

When I say 'My yard rocks', it is because it is All rocks... volcanic rocks .

It is an almighty struggle to dig a hole for a plant.  The rocks themselves are major issue. We might mean to dig a hole for a one gallon plant and we have to dig out a 2' X 30" rock  and other surprises that might be hiding nests of biting fire ants and/or armoured centipedes with hundreds of babies climbing all over Steve's body.

We do have shovels, but the tool in our right hand is always something called an ' Aa... pronounced Ahh ahh.
It is a heavy 10 pound,  6 foot pointed spear of metal and the other end features a wedge shape. Everyone has one or two.. where we live. After that, we still have and use all the tools that we use on the mainland. 

Even the revised yard maintenance is a huge time eater.  

We, Steve and I have been working at it for 5 years and with the exception of having help with the rock wall, we have done it ourselves. 
After moving in, we got a huge pick-up truck with an 8 foot bed. Our weekly routine is to drag loads of plant clippings to the Green Waste Site ( and sometimes something from a neighbor that needs getting rid of) and return home with more plants and super soil to be augmented with our own compost, gravels and cinders, sand and other peripheral materials. 
  
Island living is so different than mainland living. The mainland has had millions of years more to make that precious  real soil. Mainlanders might also have any number of nurseries to get a familiar plant.

Thank gawd, garden nurseries are starting up here and we have some that are connected to the big box stores. ....but then again, there are so many government rules about what can and cannot come onto the Island because of the fear of germs etc. We are lucky to have anything....
In addition, there is a strong and very vocal local group that does not want anything new... only the stupid weedy stuff that they deem appropriate plantings because that is what they are familiar with. " nuff said there~
   
I have searched everywhere for years and as far as I know, I am the only one on this Island that has a Mde. Cecil Brunner rose and a real full size fuschia. They got here by accident and before it was so tight.... and the rose was bare root. 
The tiny pink rose is doing well, but the fuschia is struggling, even with replanting. I am willing sto share clippings with those that want... Most nurseries no longer have the resources to 'start' plants themselves. Land value is so high that it makes better business sense to 'turn' things that they can find growers.
 
We are starting to have more growers, but it is slow going for them.. and the demand is so great because we have more and more homes being built... not always a good thing when it is too many too fast.

This morning, I spent another two hours out back raking, digging and scrapeing rocks in an effort to get a basic contour on the yard. I can only 'work/scrape' about a 6 X 6 foot area at a time and get it shoved where it needs to be.  then I have to soak the area to compact and save what natural soil there is. 
I am pealing back layers.. and then start again. Right now it seems never ending

I actually have a plan and it now includes a wall to level the grass part. I think I have the bones/basics set in except for the needed gravel and sands ( further crushed volcanic rocks).

Every thing is complicated by the fact that we do not have a water treatment plant in this area.. everyone has to have a septic system.. That means no heavy equipment can be moved over and across the back yard or it will crush our tanks and drain fields.
I understood the heavy and crush part, but I had no idea to be careful about planting trees and things with thirsty roots. That can plug up your Expensive septic system very quickly.

We the removed several trees because of that alone. another were great small root, but the trees grow too tall for CC& R rules, others because they have thorns that rip and tear at the gardener's flesh ( me and Steve).
That took a great deal of time and energy.
I removed about 20 each beautiful white Oleander and Papaya because they are so messy it was hours every day  cleaning up after them. 

I am surrounded on two sides with neighbor's Podocarpus.  At this point the Oleander is majorly messy, but the thirsty and far traveling Podocarpus roots my be a problem later..

If that is the case, hopefully it will get the neighbor's own systems first and be taken out.
I have taken the time to speak with each of the neighbors and alerting them to the plants behaviors.
  
I have already revised almost every thing we planted here. I got it all in and growing and then realized it was taking my personal resources ( time) . 
Another personal decision was made to removed my state of the art Bouganvilia because the copious bracts blew into neighbors yard and made their yard appear cluttered and  life miserable.

Thankfully,  I was able to find homes for almost everything. .. and we started over with minimal maintenance in mind.  

In full view of the gardening/yard train wrecks we are still trying to get the rest of the building livable.. little things that take big time inside and out....the lanai and then the patio and the yard. Steve is currently building the final fence for the patio and it does include a pergola arbor .. for that Cecil Brunner rose 
We fiercly guard our precious time we have for enjoying and gathering with old and new friends, what ever else the Island has to offer and our other personal routines..., like me and Xanga, bugging Debi and Dee with e-mails ( that alone is a full time job, (lol) and replacing the screens on the slider after I tried to walk through it again. I will let Steve admit his own if he chooses.............laughing hysterically now !     

I am not complaining.. .pushing rocks around is heavy work that is load bearing and perfect for good heath. It all keeps us busy mentally and physically.  It is a great retirement life.. filled with things that we like doing best. 

Yea!We got a bit of rain overnight, not as  much as we need, but sure appreciate what we did get.

This morning I could barely wait for daylight so I could see everything in my world all  fresh and clean. 

I was so enthused that I started doing a pinch her and a pull there and the next thing I knew, it is 4 hours later. Except for a few dashes in side for coffee , refills and ???  ....I am still out there.. in my PJ's.
 
Family knows that not getting ' dressed" right away is a real treat for me.
My dream was to retire and have an entire wardrobe of just sweats... for good, for fancy, every day and sleepwear..
After moving to Hawaii, I have had to add shorts for all the categories and some 'Church Clothes"

Several days ago I started deciding how we keep Daisy from getting stung.. what had to go and where.
This morning in a burst of energy, I finished tearing out the major bee attractions from the back yard.

After what happened to Gidget, from a bee sting, ( see the story a few blogs back).  I never want to go through that ever again.
We do plan for Daisy to eventually roam free in the back yard and expect it will be safe for her.

That must have been some coffee because I finished the front part of the Dry bed 'river' and I will need another 10 bags to finish the back section where I tore out the ground cover.

Most of our focus is on finishing the front patio.. but..
Steve has a materials list for the final fence and the pergola arbor for the north gate

Had to go.. I had already torn out so much this did not look good any more 

gone..

 This space looks nekked now that the Heather is gone.
I did really like it there, but the bees.. sometimes I was afraid to pass by. 

 Another rock and more cinders and Voilla! Clean look and bee free/
     
 

Then there were the thousand (10) bags of cinders to lay in

....then rake it smooth

 ...... lol, not so smooth looking.. I see footprints where I pushed some cinders
around with my foot.

 .. and then add the cranes  
           

We have no river rock and shipping costs could buy me another house.

     I did enlist Steve's help in securing the birds..I would not want them to fly off~
    

I hereby enlist my friends in my ant battle.

Most of the previously purchased ant insecticides are not effective in getting to the many varieties that live around me.... so my store of  'won't work's  is growing and waiting for one of those collection days at the dump. 

Having been told it is best if I can locate the nests, clean them out and then, revisit the location more often than the ants.. there are trails that we cannot see, but have to clear off.

We had them in our our TV and the stereo. We eradicated the colonies,  cleaned the equipment of all  nest residue and finally, I was so paranoid over 'bugs', I gave them away... only to have ants try to set up housekeeping in the new equipment in the old location 

( The recipients of the older equipment tell me that no ants have moved back in )  

Ants are partial to spaces in  'warm equipment'  like TV's ( as we know) Stereo's ( as we know, computers and printers,  as we know), inside the jackets of electric water heaters ( as we know) , plug in type calculators.. in binders that have not been frequented by the owners and even in the tubing in tables and desk chairs .

They just want to live with me! ... rent free and unwanted! ...it seems that what does not live here is trying to.
Today, I went to Kona to get fresh 'war' supplies

Here is a micro ant nest.. under the hinge cap on the 'fridge'

Micro ants are really hard to see individually. One has to almost have to be looking for them and they are fast!
Testing my patience to the inth... I've spent hours tracking these teeny ones.. but mostly, I'd lose the trail to the tiniest of cracks. I feel fortunate that we located two!
Sadly, there are more that have escaped and certainly there is another nest. 
   
The arsenal of war supplies ....

I made certain that some of what I got are baits.. so they can take 'food' back to their nests. 
Debi sent me an interesting article about getting rid of ants and ant behavior. . it indicated that baits are best staged outside so they will not draw the ants inside.
Now the problem is to locate them where Daisy and the local wild kitties will not get into them.  I am thinking double back tape.....
 
 
 No food or even a splash of anything and they all know it.. With Daisy, I was able to get an acrylic tray and fill it with water and then set her water and food down on the tray. It does work, but one bit gone astray and there are ants. 
If your dogs are bigger, you might need a concrete batch mixing container.  lol

It is hot and humid.. It was 85 degrees here and 60% humidity, even with winds from the north....so that is probably contributing to the ants wanting to move inside.

Thankfully, Hurricane Felicia has been downgraded to a tropical storm or less as the day went on. Early this morning the other side of the Island, the Kahala's ( volcanic mountain range) and Hamakua Coast (just north of me) are having the rains. I hope we get some. We do need rain, it has been a long time

Hurricanes, tropical storms and active volcanoes are something that we Islanders all just have to learn to live with.  ... and bugs! BUG's have to stay outside!

We, personally,  have tucked in all things that would get blown or be tossed through windows in the high winds away into the garages or stacked heavy into protected areas.

There are two other homes that we take care because the owners are still on the mainland... and sometimes for friends that are off island. so, there is more than just our place that we lovingly watch over.

We had another 100 acre fire and another smaller one. Both are out because of the dedicated fire personnel.
Public details are scarce on the source, so....

In other news, my neighbor children whose Russian dessert turtle (legal) has wandered off.
As we all searched the area, I offered some of the smidgeon of my turtle knowledge. I mentioned  to Mike, the father that a particular hole looked like a turtle dig. (cave) .
I showed them one that I was certain had been made by a turtle. .. but no turtle. 
Hoping not to see sideways glance in my direction, I continued with tidbits of information such as male turtles can catch the scent of a female in season for well over 6 miles....In the deserts there can be great distances between them... 
Sometimes turtle digs can be as deep as 6 foot on the mainland because they have deep soil. Here, they may be pretty shallow because of all the lava rock surface .

"Just keep fresh food out where he can find it to eat......" good advice for any lost pet.
They did. There was a regular feast... laying out a turtle breakfast and plenty of grapes,

This morning Mike said that yesterday morning he was outside, sipping his coffee and screening the hillside between us. Sure enough he said...a hole had caught his eye and it looked like a fresh turtle dig.
As he moved to go investigate, his foot tripped over something..
You guessed it.. the turtle! 
... and just for funnies, they watched as Mr. Turtle returned to his dig. Whew! my credibility is still good somewhere~

 

 

The little darling tried... I found other stashes in other areas, too.

The desk was piled high with things to take care of...Steve and I left for a bit...  the winds came up in our absence and .... my dear little Daisy was at the ready.
I can  just imagine hearing her barking and frolicking, inserting a growl here and there as she terrorized every sheet. She must have had a ball..
Do you think my payee's will understand when they get the chewed rags and bits that I send them ?