Ups and Downs of Paradise

Wow has it really been over a month since my last post? I guess time just flies when you are having fun. Or working like crazy! The reality is that we have been working six to seven days a week which doesn't leave a lot of time for playing...which means I don't take many pictures...which means I don't have anything to post! This is going to be random but here is a sampling of my life in Hawaii so far:

First of all, as I said, I've been working. And a direct result of working with bees: bee stings. I go through weeks with no stings and then the bees will be angry at me or something because I will get stung a lot. And although the initial sting does hurt pretty bad the worst part for me is the swelling, redness, and itching that happens for at least two days afterward. Here is just one of my many injuries:

My right hand is what my hand is SUPPOSED to look like. You can see knuckles and veins and everything. My left hand is what happens when you get stung on your knuckle. I was so swollen I couldn't even close my hand all the way! I guess it's all part of the job!

Another benefit to Hawaii: the free food!
Yes, this picture is of an avocado. They grow EVERYWHERE this large and beautiful and you can pick and eat as many as you'd like! We also have a pitcher of freshly-squeezed tangelo juice in our fridge which we picked for free. I'm going to hate paying for all of this when I get home!

One downside to Hawaii is the amount of bugs, especially SPIDERS. Everyone that knows me knows that I HATE spiders, and here they are literally everywhere. Spider webs block us from walking into our front yard. They will spin them in our pathway during the day while we are at work. They are everywhere and they are disgusting, but here is a picture anyway!


Hawaii may have a lot of bugs but it is a direct result of it's gorgeous weather, which I can't complain about at all! Another result of the warmth is the vegetation. Plants just sprout out of EVERYWHERE here without any encouragement. It is lush and green and gorgeous!

This is Amanda on the highway we live on. This is what most of the island is like. Lava rock wall on one side of the road (with the rest of the island going sharply up from there) and a steep drop-off on the other side (going down toward the ocean). You basically need a 4x4 to drive here! But at least you have beautiful scenery!

These flowers just grow cascading over the road. There are pink, purple, and orange varieties and they are just beautiful! My poor photography doesn't do them justice!

So overall, Hawaii is interesting, different, and definitely beautiful! With all it's ups and downs I've been glad to have the opportunity to experience it...and I promise to try to post more often!