Hi, everyone!
After our January thaw, it got cold again! Grandma said it was cold enough that we could pack the Ground Hog Day cookies for mailing.
We could keep the boxes in the trunk of the car that stays outside, just like they were in a freezer! We packed two boxes for the Air Force Academy, one for my cousin Bill at college, and a little one for Great Aunt Betsy’s birthday. Every batch of cookies gets divided into seven rows, so every box gets some of each! I made sure the boxes were filled before Grandma put in the field guides and taped them shut.
After the boxes were in the trunk of the car, it got really cold! We had some sunshine, so I got to warm my tummy by the window and practice looking for my shadow.
A week ago, we had a really big snowstorm in Rochester. We got over a foot more snow in one day and the temperatures were so cold that Sunday church services and Monday school classes were canceled! Grandma had to brush enough snow off the car in the driveway to get the trunk open to get the cookie boxes. They went right into the car in the garage until we were ready to take them to the post office. We did that last Wednesday, after the roads were cleared.
Friday morning, it was still very cold when Aunt Kara picked us up at 5 a.m. We were going to the airport! We flew from Rochester to Chicago to Denver to Lihue, Kauai! It was very cold in Chicago, but above freezing in Denver. It was cloudy and misty when we arrived in Kauai, but I did’t need my hoodie any more!
On Saturday morning, we had breakfast on the lanai. Then we went to Midnight Bear Bakery to pick up our bread order. After that, Grandma took me for a walk to the beach. I said hello to some old friends on the way.
When we got to the beach, I saw my first sea turtle of the year and my first monk seal. Guess what? My favorite monk seal protector was on duty! He reminded me how far to stay away from the seal. There are new signs to remind everybody, too!
On our way back, we stopped at the fish pond on the native village site. I made friends with a cattle egret and four nenes! I like the improvements going on at the site! I think the nenes like them, too! Then I checked out the line at Puka Dogs for James and Thomas.
We watched sunset last night from our upper lanai. There weren’t many clouds, but we had a cloudy sunrise today!
Today, when we went back to the beach, I saw another sea turtle. Grandma said I could sit where the monk seals come in, but I had to move when one arrived!
My friend the monk protector told me about a baby seal that had been bitten by a shark. All the protectors were watching out for it, to make sure it was all right. The NOAA guardian came to check it out and said it would be OK. I saw it sleeping on the rocks by Brennecke’s Beach.
Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day! Do you think I’ll see my shadow? Grandma says not to worry either way, because six more weeks of winter in Kauai is pretty nice weather!
Love,
Lion-san
You are a smart lion to get out of the deep freeze we here in the east are experiencing. Good news: Tomorrow, Monday, it will be all the way up to a toasty 32! Wow! It is all relative. I am delighted we have a south facing apartment. This afternoon I was thoroughly enjoying sitting at my computer in the warmth of the sun. I kept finding one more thing, then one more thing to do to stay at the computer, one more message, one more puzzle. No need for a seater then until the sun goes down and then a sweater feels good. Enjoy your annual visit to Hawaii.