The most important news for this month definitely is the new addition to our family. On Todd's birthday, we went to the Humane Society and picked out Buddy, our new Puppy. We love him so much. He is a four month old German shepherd, pit bull mix. He hangs out on his dog bed on our lanai most of the day. He sleeps alot. In fact, just like a baby he is either sleeping, eating, playing or pooping. We take walks around the farm and play fetch with his toys. He also enjoys the beach which is a good thing for a dog that lives in Hawaii. I guess the forces of nature felt one new animal this month was not enough for us. On our way home from church we were waiting at a traffic light. A wild turkey flew across the road and was hit out of the air by a pick up truck and then run over by that same truck. It was terrible sight. The truck didn't even stop. I don't get some people. The turkey was struggling to get from the road up on to the sidewalk. However, it couldn't walk. We stopped to pick up the turkey. It seems as though her hip is broken. Tilly (as we have named her) spends her days in an elevated pen with a roof that Todd built for her. She can move herself by putting out her wings and dragging herself. She is eating the chicken scratch that our neighbor, Wallace brought for her. She also enjoys papayas and worms that we dig up for her. Buddy barked at Tilly twice. We corrected him and since then Buddy hasn't bothered the bird. I have to laugh now that the phrase, "check on the turkey" no longer means to open the oven door.

     The shower. What can I say? No one could expect it to be done. It is grouted and sealed once. The light is installed and our friend, Cornell came over and installed the dry wall for the shower ceiling as well as installing the dry wall where Todd put in the water shut off valves. Todd made and installed an access panel for the outside wall for the water shut off valves.

     We had a variety of guests stay with us this month. Mahalo to Patty and Lee for the bottle of wine and card. It was really nice of you and we hope to see you again. David and Chris were a great couple that stayed with us. They were avid paddlers that must have put on some serious miles on their kayaks. We also had two families stay with us. Buddy did really well meeting the small children. He loves little kids and all women. Therefore, Todd thinks he pays more attention to me. I don't know about that. He always walks to the edge of the lanai and sits down to wait for Todd when he leaves.

     My garden is doing well. I have peas ready and the kabocha which is Japanese pumpkin is taking over the garden. The onions are growing and we had two strawberries so far. I saw another one, but the birds beat me to it. Todd is really excited the lychee trees have fruit and a few of them are turning red. The cherimoya trees are getting their fruit as well. I never had one before, so I am anxious to try one. Our avocado trees are flowering again, but I don't know how long it will be before we have them. We have a kumquat tree that our friend, BJ pointed it out. We saw the tree had fruits, but didn't know what they were. They were very tasty, but we found the tree sort of late and it is done fruiting. I made lemonade from our lemons. I did add a store bought lime, because I didn't have any limes from our lime tree. It was still cool to drink lemonade from our own lemons.

     We trimmed the very large hibiscus bushes that were the size of trees lining the driveway. We also trimmed the large croton bushes and Todd is still working on trimming the trees in the fruit orchard. He does get distracted now and then, but the plan is to work in a methodical and organized fashion across the farm starting at the front gate. I have been cleaning up the lava rock out cropping next to our apartment. There are 5 very large mango trees growing out of the rocks. I have been picking up the over ripe fruit and leaves. I am also removing some small trees and plants that are going wild. Todd moved some of the large lava rocks from the top of the out cropping and built a wall around the bird of paradise and heliconia that is in front of the out cropping. Todd planted some bulbs in that new planting bed.

     We went to a first birthday luau for Moses' twin grandsons. The first birthday luau is an important celebration in Hawaii. It was really nice of Moses to invite us. They had a band and tons of food. We didn't stay too late, since Buddy was waiting for us. Todd's parents have booked their tickets to bring our nieces, Jessica and Sarah in August. My friend Kristin may be coming in September. She is going on a world tour. She is visiting friends in Singapore. I don't like how long the flight is from Pennsylvania to Hawaii. It will be great to see her and show her our farm and the island. I know Todd will put her to work picking coffee.