Perfect Beginning

 Maui's Mermaids (and friends) got me out into the ocean for a beautiful swim this morning.

What a great way to begin the day.

Magical Transport

 I was hacking my way through the jungle about two miles from my house this morning when I stumbled across this amazing vista. I loved the way the light came streaming down through the trees.

Jungle (you may ask)? Two miles from my house? It might have had something to do with this fairy ring that I walked through on my way (bottom photo).

Colorful Critters

Once we got away from shore this morning, the ocean was surprisingly clear.

Kimi found a Triton (middle photo), a critical component of Crown of Thorns control.

This Sea Star (bottom photo)  was running as fast as it could in an effort to keep up with us.

Click HERE for more photos from today's adventures.

Underwater Carving

This morning Maui's SCUBA divers were out in the ocean competing in the annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest. These were a few of my favorites.

Zen State of Mind

 This morning nine Spinner Dolphins approached me during my ocean swim, then kept quietly swimming back and forth below and along side me. They were not at all interactive today, which was fine with me; I enjoyed it and kind of got into their zen state of mind.

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.

Screaming Color

 My niece has challenged me to post 7 black and white photos in 7 days on Facebook, which is why this blog has begun to be less colorful.

But the wild Lilikoi flowers (top photo) screamed to be in color, so I gave in.

Sunshine and Lollypops

Not all days are sunshine and lollypops, but here on Maui most are just that.

The middle photo is one of many puddles I had to step around on my morning walk.

The bottom photo is a droplet covered hibiscus flower.

Tech Free

This morning Maui suffered its first island-wide power outage in many years. It was probably due to the huge thunderstorm which passed through last night - we almost never get lightening and thunder here, so our grid isn't accustomed to power surges. Anyway, we finally got electricity back after ten hours, a pleasant tech-free ten hours.

Pied Piper of Fishies

 The ocean was exquisitely clear this morning, except for zillions of little stinging organisms. The stings were minor and almost invigorating.

Kimmie accidentally disturbed a little micro-ecosystem and had tiny fishies following her wherever she went. They finally gave up when she came ashore.

Click HERE for more photos from today's fun swim.

Large and Small

 People, both large and small, showed up this morning for the Maui Spirit of Survival Walk Against Breast Cancer.

Fun and Scary

Some people bring out the best and the worst in me.

Today I was pushed to swim much further than I normally would, which was both fun and scary. Scary, because I wasn't sure I was going to make it back; and fun, because I got to see the island from a different perspective.

Splashing Around

 I got to splash around with some triathletes and spinner dolphins this morning. There was even a baby dolphin keeping a watchful eye on us.

Click HERE for several more photos from today's ocean adventure.

Fishy Swim

I saw lots and lots of fishies on my ocean swim this morning, and a Hawksbill turtle as well. The Spinner Dolphins, however, waited until I was back on shore before passing by.

Plumeria

One of many Plumeria clusters seen on my morning walk. I like the way the sunlit groups of flowers stand out from the dark leafy background.

Flounder Transformation

This morning's ocean swim started with challenges from the get-go: big wind chop, cloudy water and sky, and broken goggles.

But the water was delightfully warm, it cleared up and we got to watch a Flounder transform before our eyes.

Click HERE for more photos from today's swim adventure.

Not a Designer

 I photographed the same home more than a decade apart for different clients. Can you tell which is the updated version?

Here's what I don't understand. The old house's kitchen opened onto a grand dining room (bottom photo). The new version has the kitchen opening into two bedrooms and a living area, and the new dining/billiards room is only reachable by going outside and down an open air hallway to another room. Whaaaa?

Can you tell that I'm not a professional designer?

How Close is Too Close

 I love, and don't love, how close many of the ocean's larger critters approach as they check me out.

For instance, this Spotted Eagle Ray saw me swim overhead and rose up to meet me. It then circled around me, getting closer with each pass, until I became extremely uncomfortable. No harm was done and I got some nice photos, but still...

Make Some Calls

It started out as another perfect morning on Maui when my phone rang and my brother told me that my father just discovered that he has lymphoma. I guess it's time for me to make some calls.

Another Jen Celebration

 This morning the Maui Pink Cap swimmers gathered to celebrate Jen's birthday as a group.

Conditions were exquisite and many sea turtles were encountered along the way.

Click HERE for more photos from today's adventure.