Do not disturb

When I first saw these two cows it was from the rear, looking into the sun (bottom photo). I thought it would make a nice photo if I could sneak past without disturbing them and get a photo from the front.

So I ambled along, trying not to provoke their interest and made it to a point where I had the sun at my back and a decent view of them. The only problem was, to get a clear shot I had to scramble up a bank and arrive at a spot where my view wasn’t blocked by another cow.

I gave it a good go, but just as I set up to take a photo, the one cow stirred. Still, I quite like the photo for the expressions. I had it tagged as two cows, but looking at the one on the right I’m not sure that’s the case and I certainly wasn’t about to scramble over the fence to see if I was right.

Signs: Banana Leaf Coffee & Tea

A sign for the Banana Leaf Coffee & Tea shop in Hawi, Hawaii

Back in the early Covid days, work began on converting a space in downtown Hawi for Banana Leaf Coffee & Tea. I was interested in the project from the start. For one thing, it seemed not the best timing given that the number of visitors to Hawaii was hovering around zero with little prospect for change. Also, the location for this enterprise is across the street from Kohala Coffee Mill, a very popular stop for visitors and locals alike.

The project chugged along and seemed to be close to completion when this sign went up. But in the months since then, not much has happened. The building appears ready to go but the business hasn’t opened. I suspect it never will and one day I’ll be driving by and notice the sign has gone.

That’s a pity. I quite like the sign, in part because when I first saw it, my immediate reaction was, “Mmmm, jelly beans.”

A refreshing G&T

This was going to be my response to this week’s Sunday Stills challenge on the theme of ‘Refreshing,’ but then the theme changed!

Still, I like the photos which came about after a Kona wind, from the southwest, set in this past week and it got hot and muggy. After a few days of that I thought a gin and tonic sounded like a good idea.

There was a time when I made G&Ts in tall glasses, but not any more. The problem is that the drink is so refreshing and easy to drink that it disappears fast. Refills go the same way. These days I’m a one-and-done man. Ice, gin, tonic, and a slice of lime are all that’s needed. Well, that and some moderation.

Yellow-fronted Canary

A Yellow-fronted Canary checks out its surroundings on the South Kohala coast. Posted in response to this week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme of ‘Feathered Friends.’ See more responses here.

Beach Vitex

Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is a shrub native to Hawaii along with much of the rest of the Pacific. In Hawaii, it’s known as Pohinahina amongst other names. It’s very tolerant of salt, heat and wind, and thrives in coastal areas.