Hi, everyone!
The place we are staying in Kauai is very pretty and very close to Poipu Beach. On Tuesday, Grandma and Grandpa took Moose-san and me down to the beach to see if there were any monk seals there. The surf was very heavy and there were TWO monk seals napping on the beach together!
The winds and waves were strong enough that signs were posted warning people not to swim. Moose-san and I made friends with the life guard at the beach, who was keeping everybody safe!
On our walk back from the beach, we could see that the park playground had been rebuilt! It has new slides and grass carpet underneath. The builders are still working on it, but they let Moose-san and me take the first trip down the new slide! When we got back to where we’re staying, Grandpa and Joe-san brought us lunch from Grandpa’s favorite place, the fish market! Lions eat raw meat and fish, but that was something new for Moose-san!
Because the surf was heavy, Grandma said Spouting Horn would be a very active blowhole. She was right! There were lots of big spouts and huffing noises as water came through the openings.
At dinnertime on Tuesday, we all went to watch sunset at Kukui’ula market place. We got there just in time to see the sun go down. Then we had dinner at Savage Shrimp. I hoped to see my friend Susan-san, but Grandpa learned she doesn’t own it any more.
On Wednesday, Moose-san and I helped Grandma make mango and macadamia scones for breakfast. We made sure every scone got brushed with milk and sprinkled with sugar. They were yummy! Then we all took a walk over to Makahuena Point to look for whales and turtles. It was cloudy and the surf was still heavy, so it was hard to tell whale spouts from windblown waves! Sea turtles are easier to see on sunny days, but there were some around. We saw one of them get flipped upside down by a big wave!
For lunch, we went to a food truck that Grandpa and Joe-san had been reading about. Kickshaws is run by a cook who prepares meats sous vide (a controlled temperature water bath), just like Grandpa sometimes does at home. That gets the meat to just the right level of doneness and keeps it tender. While we were waiting for our food to be ready, I looked around the other little stores. Guess what? There was a Jellycat toy animal reunion going on! I had a chance to meet some of my cousins! When the food came, Moose-san and I really enjoyed the tater tot waffle with Havarti cheese sauce!
Wednesday evening, we watched sunset from our usual spot along Brennecke Beach. It was a cloudy sunset, but still pretty. Grandma and Grandpa and Joe-san and Nancy-san were going out for a fancy dinner, so Moose-san and I went to bed early.
When Grandma and Grandpa and Joe-san and Nancy-san came back from their dinner out, Nancy-san caught her thumb in the car door and needed medical care. We were asleep, but everybody else was at the hospital emergency room until 1:30 a.m.! Turns out Nancy-san not only needed stitches, but she had broken the tip of her thumb and needed x-rays and a splint. Then, about 5:30 a.m., Grandma started feeling sick and Grandpa needed to take her back to the emergency room. At least they knew the way! Grandma turned out to have acute appendicitis and had surgery Thursday afternoon. We were happy to see her when she and Grandpa came back about 8:30 p.m. Moose-san and I had had lots of sleep, but everybody else needed to go to bed early!
Today, Grandma and Grandpa and Nancy-san took a walk down to the beach with us. There were THREE monk seals napping on the beach! While we were there, two more monk seals swam up to the beach. There was plenty of room for everybody, but one of the new monk seals was the biggest one of all and didn’t want to share. After he got up on the beach, he went back into the water to chase the other monk seal away and didn’t come back. Moose-san and I can’t figure out why some monk seals can share a nap and others have turf battles!
Love,
Lion-san
It has been nice being here despite the fact that Grandpa had to sit so long in the waiting room at the ER. Nancy-san’s hand is getting better and Grandma is all fixed up. We hope Grandpa’s car doesn’t turn directly into the hospital when we go to the lighthouse. It seems like the seals like it here also.
Sounds as though you are really enjoying the waves and spray and Monk seals. When we lived in California we used to see Elephant seals on the sand on certain beaches. I wonder how Monk Seals and Elephant Seals differ. I know Elephant Seals are huge, many, many times bigger than you are Lion-san! So sorry both Nancy and grandma had to go to the emergency room. Now tell the men that they do not need to try to keep up with the women. Let’s hope everyone stays well for the rest of the vacation including little Lions.
Good lord!
Surgery and then a walk on the beach? I knew Grandma was Wonder Woman, but this performance is off the scale.
Nancy, snipping off finger tips is a tried and true from of torture. You must be more careful with your skillful fingers!
Too much adventure. Time for a day at home reading a hood book. I’m just finishing Red Sparrow.
Beautiful sun here today. Aside from the fact that everyone is taking a turn with the flu in my family (even the guest!), all is well. Enjoy Groundhog Day!
LaVache
…good book is even better.