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2011 Circuit Assembly and Other Interestingness

If you still haven't had your 2011 Circuit Assembly, I need to warn you about something:  this particular assembly will be THE BEST you will have ever attended!  Numerous symposiums and tons of demos, interviews and soliloquys made for an upbeat, encouraging and extremely fast moving program. In fact, the whole thing was over before I could say "tésztában sült csirkehús".  (That would be "Chicken Pot Pie" in Hungarian)  There were 12 baptized and a peak attendance of 1,036-(I think.) 

Like I said, "Ez volt a legjobb", "It was the best".     The BES-TE-SEST, even!  "LEGESTLEGJOBB!".

My part on How "Full Time Service Protects Us" went pretty well... erm, I think.  

Dena, Brian, Merlenna, Jeanne and Kent did a smashing job with their experiences and our timing was on the nose.  But there was an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bit of excitement during my talk as not one, but TWO ambulances with wailing sirens arrived within the first 10 minutes after I started.  One was for a sister who had passed out behind the bleachers in First Aid.  Another unloaded a group of paramedics into the main stadium to work on someone lying on the floor mid-audience a few feet from the stage.  Then, mid-interviews,  after the uniformed men had left the scene carrying the brother away on a stretcher, a big gust of wind blew rain through the stadium into the audience and across the stage.  It was quite interesting.    I just hope everyone is okay.¹

 interjúk (IN-tehr-yook)- "interviews"

Sunday brought no big surprises, no woo-wooing rescue vehicles, no indoor precipitation, and the session ended rather nicely, with the audience singing the third and final verse of the closing song acapella. (Planned.)  Loved it! 

 vacsora (VOH-cho-ruh)- "dinner"

By the way, my "Chicken Pot Pie" reference actually has significance here,  as it was the featured dish for a little get together over at Maria's after the Saturday afternoon session.  It was absolutely wonderful... all the more so since it was a cold and rainy evening and we got to gather round a large table.  I love small, cozy gatherings!  Don't you?  Everyone got their own pie, baked in individual ramekins. 

 barátok (boh-RAH-tohk)- "friends"

Other than attending the-bestest-assembly-ever and getting-served-my-very-own-pot-pie-while-sitting-around-a-big-table-on-a-rainy-night,  the only other remotely exciting thing around here would be the new Safeway which had their Grand Opening this past Friday.  I realize that if you're a big city dweller, this doesn't exactly qualify as exciting news, but for us, it's a pretty big deal. 

The old Safeway with it's pharmacy, bakery and deli wasn't what you'd call a total disaster, but the shiny, new, bigger version also comes complete with a florist, bank, Starbucks cafe, China Express and umbrella covered tables lining the sidewalk!²    Certain departments have wood flooring and mood-lighting.   And in addition to the typical Hispanic Food section, there's also Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern, and yes, even British food available- you know, just in case you fancy some Marmite, Spotted Dick, HP Fruity Sauce or McVitie's HobNobs!³  

 

There ARE actually 2 other happenings which may or may not qualify as being exciting, depending on who you are:

My Dischidia nummularia is flowering and forming seedpods.

And Ceropegia woodii is doing the same.

¹ They are.

² I mean really.  Shiny, new, bigger version?  Did I not learn ANYTHING from the assembly?

³ Marmite is a thick, salty yeast extract that you can spread on toast.  Spotted dick is a steamed suet pudding containing dried fruit and is  commonly served with custard.  HP fruity sauce is a British brown sauce (sort of like our A1 steak sauce), HobNobs are oat digestive biscuits made in Scotland.

Febrero loco y marzo otro poco

"Febrero loco y marzo otro poco" basically  means "February is crazy and March a bit more."  Definitely the case with springtime weather over here.  Like at  Eugenio's yesterday around 6:30p, I swear the sun was still shining and that the sky was blue.  Within minutes however, we were in what felt like a scene out of the movie Twister, an almost black sky with an icy-cold wind whipping thorough the palm trees and the hippie neighbor's bamboo grove.    Except that the movie Twister didn't have any scenes with palm trees, bamboo groves nor hippie neighbors.  But if it did... well, THAT's what it would feel like. Probably.

Anyway, my point here is that  March has arrived.  And as you've probably guessed, that means that this is a long post all about plants which are sprouting and blooming and doing all sorts of other springtime-planty things.  You've been warned.

What spawned all of this in the first place was my  Dichorisandra thyrsiflora which sits next to my computer monitor, and which is currently going all crazy and stuff, putting out two juicy new growths.  See the pretty red arrows?   For the uninitiated, Dichorisandra thyrsiflora (which is native to Brazil) is just the fancy-shmancy Latin name for what most of us call "the Blue Ginger plant".  That's all fine and dandy of course, except that the flowers aren't exactly blue. But that's okay because come to think of it, the plant's not really a ginger either.  Who comes up with these sort of things anyway?

D. thyrsiflora- which is neither blue nor a ginger

Dendrobium anosmum [Lindley1845] (a.k.a the honohono orchid) from southeast Asia is another one of those unfortunate plants whose name totally misrepresents the plant itself. "Anosmum" means "unscented" but as folks here know, D. anosmum smells absolutely heavenly.  I say that emphatically, although I'll admit I've never actually smelt heaven before but I imagine it to be quite nice.  Plants do tend to be a bit moody and don't bloom very well if subjected to lots of water at the wrong time of the year, but they are doing well this spring and are in bloom all over town.  Here are two of mine:

 D. anosmum var alba

 D. anosmum

Another orchid in bloom right now is the sweetly (though not heavenly) scented Vanda tricolor [Hookeri1849] from Java and Laos. I had bought this one from Bill Bergstrom many moons ago and had it hanging in a metal basket at the entrance of the Casita where it promptly lost half its leaves due to underwatering.   It's been doing a whole lot better since being mounted outside on hapu'u and now has two strong growing points and blooms twice a year.  I took this picture a little late in the bloom cycle and the flowers don't look as nice as they would have during their peak, but oh well, here you go: 

  V. tricolor

The wonderfully thick and waxy Vanda tesselata [{Roxb.}Hookeri1850] native from the Himalayas to India, Malaysia and SriLanka, is also in full flower as I type.  This one's a cross between tesselata's blue and brown forms.

 

Phaius tankervilliae [{Banks} Blume1852] hailing from Australia, the Pacific Islands, Malaysia and China, is still going... and going... and going, inside the Casita.  In fact, although it's spikes have already hit the shadecloth near the roof, there are still unopened buds near the top waiting to bloom. 

Moving out to the front yard, this clump of Phragmepedium Grande from Oakhill Gardens is blooming nicely outside my fence planted in the ground near the street.  It's a hybrid between P. caudatum  [{Lindley}Rolfe1896]  and P. longifolia [{Warsc.& Rchb.f}Rolfe1896], both of which are native to Mexico through Peru.  Unlike most orchids, whose roots tend to rot if you even dare look at them with watery eyes,  Phragmepedium doesn't mind wet feet!  It's pictured here surrounded by a non-blooming Eria spicata, [{D. Don] Hand.-Mazz.1836] from China, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.

 
Near the driveway this month, Citrus limon 'Eureka Pink variegated' is finally putting out these delicious pink and white blooms.  Eureka Pink has attractive green and white varigated leaves and has so far in the three or so years that I've had it, formed one lone yellow and green striped lemon which is pink inside.  Wish you could smell this one... it's wonderful!

 
  
Next in line is this camellia, which has been in the front garden since the 1970s and which was almost constantly in bloom.  That is until the evil Junipers took over, leaving it in deep shade and entwined with vines.  Cutting down the trees last year resulted in scortched leaves from the sudden light and broken branches from the falling boughs. Poor baby!

But this spring, it's making a dramatic comeback with tons of new growth sprouting from the broken-off stems and is already beginning to set buds.  When it blooms, it will be the first time in nearly 15 years.  I can't wait!

 
Then we have Osmanthus fragrans also known as the sweet olive, which has been extremely slow in growing although it's been flowering regularly with tiny blooms strongly scented of apricots.  It doesn't look like it'll be getting any taller this month but it is putting out new growth near the base which will make the plant bushier.  Bushy is good, I guess...unless you're referring to eyebrows.

 
Finally, Mom's Polianthes tuberosa is going all nuts with a pot full of bulbs which are now starting to show signs of green.  I'll be separating and replanting these little onion-like tubers when I get the chance, which is, from the looks of March and April's schedule, probably going to be never.

 
Yes, Marzo otro poco is right, as far as loco is concerned.  If you think these little plants are busy, this little human is looking forward to quite a bit of action this coming month or two as well: a part on Circuit Assembly this weekend in Hilo, a part on pioneer Meeting next Friday in Honokaa, helping with translation for the Spanish Assembly next Saturday in Kona, giving the Spanish public talk in Hilo next Sunday, Memorial after that (scads of AP's next month-yay!), giving the special talk in our congregation after that, then our C.O visit.  

Whew.  Needless to say, I'm currently feeling a bit Phaius tankervilliae-like myself. Hope everything turns out as well as they have for my plants.  
 
 

An encouraging evening with Friends

I was honestly going to post a picture of Dorien and Jaden's new baby brother here today.  That's pretty surprising because as you know, I don't particularly like little children and babies.   But this one's pretty adorable, doesn't make a lot of noise, and has a cute little round head.  Unfortunately, I had forgotten my camera on Friday and can't figure out how to download the photos I took with my phone, so I am left with no choice but to post a picture of something else I like that's also round and cute and that doesn't make a lot of noise:

 
It's a loaf of Irish Soda Bread, if you didn't know.  Safeway has these suckers on sale around this time of year and although they don't look any more impressive than a large chocolate chip cookie, the taste is, as we would say in standardized American English:  "DEE-LISH".  We've bought 3 loaves. 

This probably would seem to indicate a hoarding tendency, maybe, perhaps.  But you really can't get these anywhere else in town and before you know it,  fwoosh!  they'll be gone for the next 11 months!  Which makes Irish Soda bread somewhat of a precious comodity.  So when Brian, Merlenna, Jeannie, Dena and Qiana were over for dinner tonight, guess what?  I didn't offer them any.  Not one measly crumb.  However,  I did prepare my tweaked version of Tracy's Tomatillo Soup¹ which seemed to go over well. 

 Group shot!  My head honestly isn't as fat as it appears in the photo.  Although you probably don't believe me now that I've told you we've bought 3 loaves of Irish Soda Bread and don't plan to share.

It was a genuinely encouraging evening hanging out and relating field experiences.  Brian and Merlenna have found a lot of success in the local upcountry boonie territories and shared their stories about pioneering along Oahu's east shore communities.  Dena and Qiana had some nice experiences helping out with seldom-worked/lockout territories in West Honolulu while Jeannie and I compared notes on working with foreign language householders.  We've all agreed that pioneering is definately the best career choice anyone could ever make and don't regret it for a second. The evening ended with a little bit of silliness playing Scattergories.  Note to Brian: Orangutan begins with "O".

Brian and Merlenna

Thanks guys.  I was feeling a bit down this afternoon and you all made my day!

 Dena, Jeannie and Qiana

¹ TOMATILLO SOUP

ingredients for soup: 1 small tray of pork (chopped); 1 round onion (chopped); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 can Hominy; 1 small can Herdez Salsa verde; 5 tomatillos (paper sheath removed, fruit washed and chopped into quarters).

In a pot, brown pork in a little oil.  Add onions and garlic and cook till onion wilts.  Add hominy along with it's liquid and salsa verde.  Stir well and add tomatillos.  Top up with water, cover and simmer until tomatillos soften.

mexican rice to put at bottom of soup bowl: 4 tbsp oil; 2c. uncooked rice; 2 tsp garlic salt; 1 tsp cumin;  4 c. chicken broth; 1 small can tomato sauce.

Heat oil in pan until hot.  Add raw rice and stir, coating well.  Keep stirring rice until grains begin to brown and puff up.  Do not allow to burn.  Add garlic salt and cumin stirring well.  Add chicken broth and tomato sauce- mix.  Once liquid starts to bubble, turn heat to low, cover pan and let simmer until almost all the liquid has been absorbed (about 25 minutes).  Turn off heat, open, fluff rice, recover, and allow rest of liquid to be absorbed.

toppings to add over hot soup: chopped cilantro; corn tortillas cut into strips and fried till crispy; shredded cheese

It's a good thing

Reflecting back on the  past week, there were a lot of good things going on over here.  Martha would be proud!

WEDNESDAY:  I was assigned to conduct the last Congregation Bible Study in the "Come Be My Follower" book in English.  This might sound kinda silly but I get more stressed out doing it in English than in Spanish.  I forget terms.  I forget names.  I pronounce things with a Spanish accent.  I say things like" entonces" instead of "so then", much to the delight of the audience.  But all went well, and participation was excellent.  It's a good thing.

Back in the Spanish room, we had a teenager named Oscar who attended for the first time.  He paid rapt attention and even nodded in agreement a few times during the highlights.  He and his 3 brothers are among the new ones we've found within the past month and Justin, Catanny and I hope to start studies with all 4 this coming week.  It's a good thing.

FRIDAY:  Even with the tsunami warning, sleep-depriving, wailing sirens throughout the night, evacuations and an earthquake of our very own, I got caught up on sleep in the morning and then spent a nice sunny afternoon in the field with Jason, Luke and Justin.  It's a good thing.

We've also received word from Akira (who has recently moved back to Japan) and from Casey who is there (on what I'm sure will be an unforgetable vacation).  They are fine.  It's a good thing.

SATURDAY:  My study with Manuel didn't pan out since he was sick in bed, but we did have a chance to speak with his normally evasive/quiet/shy daughter Carmen who has agreed to a study with Mom next week.  It's a good thing.

 Spathiphyllum Domino (left), along with Dracaena deremensis Lemon Lime and Chuck
 

Went over to Grandma's to clean house since she will be having guests (yes, for real this time), and discovered that the Sansevieria I gave her last time is dead on the bathroom counter. Kinda my fault really, since I know grandma's not a plant freak and spends a lot of her time out of the house. But it was a Sansevieria for crying out loud!  It's succulent.  It grows in low light.  It requires very little water.  I stare at what's left in the pot: 2 shriveled nubs in bone dry potting mix.  I'm impressed.

Which led me to think that getting her Spathiphyllum Domino plants to freshen up the guestrooms wasn't going to be a great idea.  They require a lot more attention to watering than the Sansevieria and would have been dead in seconds.  And as you know, there is nothing I detest more than a dead plant.  Except maybe paper cuts.  Oh yeah, and Ke$ha. 

So I am keeping the Spaths for myself instead, which is what I think I had subconsciously planned all along.  Definitely a good thing.  Thanks for killing my plant grams!  You're awesome!

SUNDAY: Had a whopping 190 in attendance at the meeting with 25 in Spanish.   In Spanish, 5 persons from the territory attended and one of them (Hector), commented 5 times...twice by raising his hand, and three times without!  It's a good thing.  (but raise your hands, please.)

Back to Granny's.   Saw gecko bones under the bed and more dead plants. I do not feel bad for keeping the Spaths.  It's a good thing.

 

Noisy Neighbors and New Agaves

I was really looking forward to a great sleep last night.  It had been one of those perfect days: 9 hours in field service, no blazing sun, no pouring rain, all my studies worked out, hung out at the BIAN plant sale afterward and Suz treated Mom and I to Yogurtland.  Took a nice hot shower, got all comfy in a nicely made bed with cool crisp sheets, drifted off to sleep around 11pm and then all of a sudden...

The neighbors came home.

And made a lot of noise.

And laughed outside my window.

And their friends drove off honking their blasted horn.

And those idiot wild neighborhood roosters began crowing. 

So today,I am tired but surprisingly less groggy and grumpy than I thought I'd end up being.  Especially with an early morning study and the decidedly stormy looking weather.  But despite all the pouring rain and thunder this morning, we still had 3 car groups and we found most of our RVs at home.  Then too of course, there was this:

  
This year to my surprise, nothing initially jumped out at me from the sales tables.  I'm not saying there wasn't a lot of neat stuff cause there was. 

 
In fact the stadium was stuffed full of aroids, bedding plants, hanging baskets, day lillies, herbs, flowering vines, foliage plants, pond plants, bamboo, fruit trees, rhododendrons and bromeliads... all very nice, but  I was actually hoping to find a better selection of succulents or orchids which were limited only to 2 or 3 tables.  After searching good and hard though, I still managed to walk away with 5 purchases at good prices, all of which I am happy with. 

  Agave desmettiana variegata

  

 Agave bracteosa

 

 Aloe marlothii (with some unsightly but not overly serious vog-induced damage)

 

 Coprosma Evening Glow

 

 Coprosma Marble Queen

The coprosmas I think are especially pretty.  You'd never guess from the cute, shiny, colorful leaves, that the word "Coprosma" in fact, means "smells like poo" (and I don't mean Winnie).

The genus received the unfortunate name [from the Greek kopros meaning excrement and osmē meaning smell] based on the scent of the crushed leaves of a few species.  I sorta think it's unfair since the vast majority of species and cultivars smell just fine.    So although I usually prefer using a plant's proper Latin name, I like to refer to these by their common botanical nickname instead: Mirror Plant.  It's prettier, showcases the plant's good qualities and sounds more polite. I mean, how would you like to have been named "Stinky" just because a few of your distant relatives happened to exude a high-pitched odor?  No, not polite at all.  After all, here at seancentral!, we are all about love and politeness.

Which is more than I can currently say about our other neighbors who are having a loud outdoor party as we speak.  Looks like another night of less than-ideal sleep, folks. 
 

Old Age Stinks

Last week in service,  Dorien mentioned to me that he was working on a nice song to present to his keyboarding class in school.   

"Oh really?" I said.  "What's the name of the song?"

"Jar of Farts" he answered.

I paused.  Vlasic pickles and Skippy super crunchy peanut butter, maybe.  But bottled flatulence?   

           "What?!"    

    "I said,  'Jar of Farts'.  It's a really cool song."

I looked over at Dorien and realized he was dead serious.  It took me a few strained moments of listening as he repeated himself before realizing what he had actually said was: "Jar of Hearts".   

Impaired hearing as a sign of old age: CHECK.

Well, it was bound to happen you know.  I have come to accept over the past few years that without my glasses, I am pretty much a blind, helpless blob in a necktie.  And if failing hearing and vision aren't enough, my hair has been starting to show up in copious quantities and with astonishing frequency on the bathtub floor and in the bathroom sink. Yipe!

Did I mention I love taking naps? 

My wrinkles are currently shivering with glee however, because today, I got a nice, unexpected free lunch just before leaving work, courtesy of a local diagnostic lab.  And not some cheapy food either.  It was from Cafe Pesto.  Came home, sat myself out on the balcony with my oven-fired Greek pizza,  listened to some Greek radio, and let my imagination take me away to a little blue and white cafe in Mykonos.  Oh well, at least I still have all my teeth.

Hmmmm, νόστιμος! (yummy)