Thursday, March 21, 2013

OF FROGS AND OTHER THINGS





It's hard to believe that the tiny frog can make so much noise. It's louder than a big black cricket. I've seen it's voice described as a whistle. I sometimes confuse it with a sharp noted bird call. They begin at dark and stop at daylight. We have not found them offensive and they do not keep us awake but I can imagine that being so for some people. Perhaps the number around the cottage have been reduced. Craig said he and a friend killed 40 on a recent foray. Coqui frogs are a recent accidental import via the port and locals are waging a war to eradicate them using various chemicals including caffeine.

Coffee might wake me up but it makes the tiny frogs croak...... Not my joke!

These tiny frogs are unique in that they give birth to live baby frogs. There is no egg or tadpole stage.

There are a few pretty birds in the garden but hard to catch with the camera. We wake up to the tune of doves nearby. I love the cooing but I'm quite happy to listen at a distance.

We had a few heavy periods of rain last night. The temps are between 70 -82'F (21 -28'C) The little frogs really went to town or maybe we noticed them more because we had a window open, with insect screens closed of course. Mosquitoes and a large bush cockroach must be kept out!

We saw a mongoose again yesterday. They scuttle across the road very fast, looking a little like exra large weasels or stoats. They are heavily built animals with thick solid looking tails as compared with a squirrel which they are often mistaken for initially. I believe they were introduced in the 1880s to control rats in the sugar plantations.

We are watching bananas in the garden develop. They will not ripen while we are here. The flowers fascinate me and hide the tiny bananas inside. 
A MATURE FLOWER ABOUT 10-12 INCHES LONG. (25-30 CM)

Our bedroom opens onto the banana garden and the ensuite shower has a tropical view also. It does have a curtain to draw across the window thank-goodness. 

The floors are polished stone tiles and very attractive. The orangey orchid is in our bedroom and there's a red anthurium on the dining table. The kitchen is wonderfully spacious with a huge counter designed to sit and chat while food is being prepared. I didn't try to tidy up before taking the photos and as you can see we have managed to scatter ourselves around.


Our bedroom opens onto the banana garden and the ensuite shower has a tropical view also. It does have a curtain to draw across the window thank-goodness. 
The floors are polished stone tiles and very attractive. The orangey orchid is in our bedroom and there's a red anthurium on the dining table. The kitchen is wonderfully spacious with a huge counter designed to sit and chat while food is being prepared. I didn't try to tidy up before taking the photos and as you can see we have managed to scatter ourselves around.

After a day at home on Tuesday we went shopping in Hilo yesterday. No photos. Malls are Malls. We wandered through Macy's and John bought 2 pair of shorts. Then we strolled through Sears and John bought an Aloha shirt. There were plenty of places to eat but none appealed to me but we ended up ordering at a taco place. John had spicy beef and black beans in a bowl. I had chicken, no beans and too much unattractive rice. My meal was so unsatisfying I will never willingly eat in a Mall again unless it is something quite special. Cinnabon had a shop but of course while it might have looked tempting all that wheat and sugar was off the menu.

John discovered Radio Shack and bought another toy. We had been tossing up for a while. Purchase maps for our old Tom Tom GPS or buy a new one. There is little difference in cost so we up-dated. Hopefully this will stop many arguments. Yesterday the old Tom Tom drove us nuts on the new road. The other hiccup was because the Safeways had moved and we put in the old address.

We drove around the block to Safeway from Prince Kuhio Plaza and I satisfied the hole in food hunger with a cappuccino and some roasted almonds at Starbucks. Now I was ready to shop and we were there about 2 hours!!!! We looked, we read labels, we made selections and we went back over and changed selections. We spent nearly $200 but that included enough meat for the remainder of our time in the cottage. I will not be buying veggies again except at the Farmer's Markets. An iceberg lettuce of dubious freshness cost $5.24. It was almost dark when we arrived back at the cottage.

For tea we had pickin' chicken or rotisserie chicken with avocado and tomato sprinkled with the juice of tiny Hawaiian limes. I have discovered we can add the whole fruit to avocado and salads etc if I slice the fruit very thinly. The skin can be bitter but there’s not much of it and we get better flavour from the tiny amount of juice. 

I had another nearly sleepless night. I'd rather go without coffee than drink decaf so I need to be more careful that I do not drink coffee after 2 pm.

We are thinking of driving up to the Volcano Centre today. I need to move.




7 comments:

  1. Over $5 for iceberg lettuce!?!?! I knew Hawaii was expensive but that's just crazy. Glad you found some meat though. Your cottage looks delightful. Hope you enjoy your time there. Is this an exchange or do you have to pay rent for it?

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  2. Is Hilo Hattie's still in business? I bought a couple of dresses and muu muus at the Honolulu store when I was there. I still have a couple that I wear once in a while. Your cottage looks so nice. Oh, and I never thought about how bananas grew and never knew they came out of a flower. Amazing.

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  3. Hi

    All looks wonderful!

    Cheers

    Peta

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  4. Hi Margie Anne!! I am enjoying looking at your wonderful pictures and descriptions of Hawaii! Happy Anniversary to both of you. What a wonderful way to celebrate.

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  5. Loving reading your blog, and didn't know about the bananas either... the cottage looks cute :)

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  6. What a beautiful cottage! It seems so perfect for a refreshing and relaxing time. I don't remember reading how you got hooked up with it, but glad for you that you did!

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  7. The cottage looks wonderful! And, $5 for iceberg lettuce? One more reason Hawaii is a great place to visit, but I really don't think I'd want to live there.

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