New Year’s Resolution. 2 '08

Bruce and I have been faithful to our New Year’s Resolution.  We have not only been following our health plan’s eating regime, but exercising regularly as well.  The results in five short weeks have been remarkable.  Bruce has lost close to twenty five pounds and two pant sizes, and I have lost fifteen and we won’t even talk about how many pant sizes (the photos might give it away).  Both of us look and feel a lot better.  We can’t wait to show off our new fitness in Hawaii.  But seeing is believing, so I’ve included a few photos that demonstrate our progress.  The next report will be when we return from Hawaii in March.

McClellanville 2 '08

After the hike Jim, Becky, Bruce, and I went to the nearby fishing village of McClellanville to get some lunch.  The town has a large fishing fleet and arguably the best seafood in the state. (It certainly has the freshest seafood we have ever had.)  Unfortunately, Hurricane Hugo came ashore right atop of the town, and nearly wiped the once thriving town off the map. There are whole streets no, without a single building on them.   Hurricane or no, there is a certain beauty about the area can’t be found elsewhere.  Many of the survivors decided to stay put as evidenced by all the little local shops.  I plan on coming back to paint the uniquely southern town.

Palmetto - Awendah Trail hike 2 '08

Guide and Group meeting for Awendah Trail Hike

Today we had an action adventure. 

Becky Sullivan

 We went with our good friends, Jim and Becky Sullivan, for a short hike along the Palmetto trail. 

Jim Sullivan

 The Palmetto Trail leads east west between the low country marshes at the coast, to the mountains on the Western side of the State. We joined up with about twenty other nature lovers for a docent led hike along the eastern most section of the trail ( also known as the Awendah Section).   It was a short walk (only four miles) but very pleasant.  There were plenty of birds to watch, and lots of beautiful views of the marsh and inter-coastal waterways.  

Guide dog, Casey

 Our guide was very informative about local flora and history, and his dog, Casey, made sure that no one got lost.  Later this year we hope to walk other sections of this trail

Hawaii: Gallery Hopping 3 '08

One of our favorite things to do in Hawaii is go Art  Gallery hopping. That's easy to do on the Big Island, as there are a lot of fine galleries representing both off island and local artists.

Volcano Art Gallery Volcano NP HI

The Volcano Art gallery in the Volcano National Park represents the best of what the Hawaiian Islands have to offer

We attended a reception there where we met glass artist

Marian Fieldson

BJ and Mariion

and bought several of her beautiful  glass plates

Each is unique and cast in lava molds

I love their organic form

And she doesn't skimp on her color... red glass is becoming very rare..

A Red Glass Plate by Fieldson

On the opposite side of the Island we visited all of the little galleries in Hawi which offer  fine art crafts from the local area.

A gallery in Hawi

One of many studio galleries in Honolua

And of course we had to visit the artist colony of Honolua  which is the home of one of my favorite regional artist: Darrel Hill

Darrel Hill Studio