March was a really good month. Todd's parents were here for the month. It was terrific to have them here. Joe was out sweating in the Hawaiian sun helping Todd prune and clean up mac nut trees and fruit trees. Joe started to mulch the path to the swimming pool and he finished the mulch in the planting bed at the pool. Together they accomplished an amazing amount of work. Not only did we get to spend time with his parents which was great but we also got clean windows. They can come visit any time. We had a couple from Alaska stay for most of March in the apartment. They are building their retirement house a few miles south of us. We also had 2 couples from West Virginia stay a few days in the aparment. Also right before Todd's parents arrived, we had a really nice couple from Holland stay in the main house. They loved swimming with the dolphins every morning.

     The never ending project, the shower remodel, is not yet done. However, it is closer. Todd finished the mosaic and is ready to do the grout. He gets credit since he spent long days working on the farm with his dad. He put his tablesaw together and will now be able to finish the ceiling in the shower. Hooray, we purchased a new refrigerator for the main house. Unfortunately, it was too tall, so we put our new refrigerator in the main house and we took the tall refrigerator for our apartment. Todd adjusted the cabinet, so we now have a left handed refrigerator to match our left handed cabinets. Too bad that neither of us is left handed. Todd installed a new ceiling fan in the master bedroom in the main house that has a remote with a light dimmer. Todd's parents not only bought us the ceiling fan, they also bought an area carpet for the living room in the main house to protect the koa floor. In addition, they got us a new gas grill that we needed. It is so nice to have a nice new grill for Todd to do the cooking! We met Todd's parents in Hilo and spent a day shopping for a new coffee table for the guest apartment. We purchased a new glass coffee table and two end tables. Todd's mom found a great deal on two accent lamps for the main house. She also found some nice baskets for the hall bathroom in the main house. I painted the ceiling of the master bedroom in the guest apartment. Todd re-caulked the shower in the master bathroom in the main house. Todd's dad finished replacing the brass hinges on the teak doors in the main house.

     As I mentioned previously, Todd and his dad did lots of work on the farm. I got to prune coffee trees for the first time. It is sad to cut off a branch that already has beans growing, but it is for the long term health of the tree as well as to increase the yield. There is cause for celebration. We are down to one lawn ornament. We had someone take away the Volvo who wanted it for parts. We now have only the Dodge pickup sitting in yard. We still have another non-moving automobile, but at least it is partially hidden in the car port.

     Todd and his dad have started many more compost piles around the farm, but they are breaking down so that is really good. I started to clean some of the over ripe mangos that have fallen from our enormous trees. We are thinking that two of the mangos should come down. One of them leans over the car port and drops mango bombs on the roof. We are getting delicious mangos, just too many of them. Sadly, we got the last of our coffee hulled and roasted. I have to ration it out to Todd to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

     At the beginning of the month we were waiting for rain, but lately we have been getting rain at least every other day. Some of the coffee trees that were looking a bit stressed are recovering. We had another coffee flower bloom. I know I said it before, but they smell so good. Our plumeria trees are blooming. For my birthday, Todd made me a plumeria lei and a mac nut lei. Todd's parents gave me a beautiful orchid that is blooming. Earlier in the day, I took them to my favorite beach and it poured on us. It was definitely an adventure and they were very good sports about the rain. After we dried off at home, we ate pizza and watched a movie. It was a fun day.

     I moved my computer out of the small office into the living room. I don't feel as confined and I don't have to cook in the afternoon sun. Todd built my garden which is not easy to do on lava rock. He used pvc, screening and many bags of dirt from Walmart. We were worried that the chickens would come in and eat the young vegetable plants. The chickens look at the garden and drink water from the tarp on the ground next to the garden, but we haven't seen them trying to get in. The peas are doing well. The tomatoes died. I don't think I grew them large enough before putting them in the ground. There are one or two eggplants that are doing ok. Todd's mom bought me two already grown strawberry plants, so hopefully they will take off. More of our coffee beans have sprouted. Todd has quite the coffee nursery going next to the coffee shack. The guava is season now. They smell really sweet, but are hard to eat because of the seeds which is why they are usually juiced or turned into jelly. We are waiting and watching our one bunch of bananas.

     My parents have booked their tickets and will be arriving in July. I can't wait to see them. Todd's parents are supposed to be back in August with our nieces. It was sad to see them leave today. However, I don't think our cactus that is missing a big arm or the poor squashed cane spider are going to miss them. Hey, Scott we are waiting for you to call us with your reservation. There is plenty of work for you to do. I guess you could have a few days off to have some fun.