GYPSIES DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS

Have fun Dixie...see ya later....guess DH stoked the fire....lol

Kassy, looking forward to some picture's and Dixie have fun decorating.

It's getting cloudy here as well Jean but the temp's are OK. I'll Catch up again in a little while.

Good morning everyone! Aloha aku!

Hi Rachel! The plant on the coastline is Scaevola taccada, Beach Half-flower, or Naupaka Kahakai in Hawai'i. It is indigenous to areas with warm weather including Florida.

Thank's Dave and lovely picture.

JJ,your little Granson is beautiful,it's wonderful when you can share Christmas with really young children,everything's so magical to them,I don't have that now and really miss it.One day i may have Grandchildren,but as my sons are 14 and 17,I hope not yet :}
Moon,yes the weather's suddenly much more seasonal,last year we had more snow here than usual,so I don't know if that's what'll happen this year.I like winter to be cold,crisp and clear,rather than a bit warmer ,but damp and dismal.
Lynnie,do you know where in Britain your Mums ancestors were from originally and did they settle where you now live ?
If you liked Chester,you'd like the city of York,that too has the original wall around it.They were built that way to defend them from invading armies.The buildings there are old and beautiful and ther's a castle too,which now houses a museum.
I also rarely watch TV,I only really like nature and geography documentaries,ones about animals best of all,and gardening programs.
My DH and younger son are the TV watchers,which is why we've satellite,if it was just me and big son,I wouldn't bother.
It's nearly 8.30 here now and I must go and clear away dishes we used for dinner and anything else that's waiting.
Bye for now
Best wishes Joy

Not sure Jean, I just saw what JJ put in and had to google............LOL

I know, I'm in the corner again.

Hi everyone

Hey Dave, nice picture, but look what we woke up to this morning :-(

Really big flakes were coming down.

Three more things before i go,
Dixie your daughter's a really beautiful girl :}
Dave ,thats a lovely sea photo,the water looks so refreshing.In my garden I've a plant ,hardy to this area,called a Scaevola Aemula,I't low growing and has trailing stems ,with,purple/blue flowers on in spring /summer.Would they be related?If so your plant has hardy cousins :}
Kassy,that snow photo's great,was it a surprise when you awoke ,or was it snowing last night or forcast.?
Joy

Have a good night Joy and hope you have a sunny day tomorrow.

Well the snow actually is coming later this year then last year, so that is ok with us.....
I didn't watch the weather last night, they said we could get it last Thurdsday and we didn't, so this is really no surpirse as it is so last in the year. I have one of it snowing on October 12th, but then it all melted, just like todays did already ^_^

Not looking forward to when it stays on the ground

When is stayes on the ground, I'll just send it to Jim and Jean ^_^

OK, off to put the lights on the tree. Someone is waiting for me under it.

Hi Joy! Yes, the Scaevola species are closely related. Both Hawai'i and Australia have a high rate of endemism in Scaevola species.

Here is a close-up of the coastal Scaevola taccada.

Hi everyone!

You all really get me into the spirit of Christmas!

I just had to laugh. When you all were talking about coffee and doughnuts this morning, JJ was asking -- what's on sale!!! I have never seen such a persistant sale shopper!

JJ, you make me feel like running over to GW and get some Christmas lights!!! Can you take a closer photo of your porch. Can't see that nice fireplace and whatever else is there. Your grandson looks like he is really working hard with those ornaments. He is so cute even if he feeds the dog his doughnut and GS eats the dog food!!!

Dave thanks for your wave photo! It almost makes me feel like I am standing right there in the water.

Joy, sure glad you joined us. You give us such good info! You certainly have a nice area where you walk.

Kassy, SNOW!! You BF's daughter is pretty and a real outdoorsie gun-toting girl!!

Dixie, did the poos have a special TG? Your daughter is very beautiful!!

I think I got that virus that everyone is getting or has had. I usually take Nasonex once a day for post nasal drip but my sinuses are not claming down. I kind of have laringitis. Nothing hurts, just annoying. I think I better start on Mucinex before I get worse.

Went to Half Price Books and 2 regular book stores. I got a very nice larger paperback book on Lincoln, $20. Yes I paid that much because trying to find historical biographies at GW is very difficult. Also, got Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on sale at bookstore for $8. Good for a hardback book. It just kills me to pay that much for books when there are so many at GW but just not what I am looking for. If I find something cheaper, I will take these back.

Little warmer today, 51 degrees, spitting rain, and soooo gray!!!!

Hope you are having a great day! See you later!

Kassy's cat has the right idea for a cold snowy day.

Here is Scaevola chamissoniana, a montane species.

The Puna Coast is covered with tropical vegetation.

The Puna Coast lies on fairly recent lava flows, ranging from 1500 years old to today.

Another wave!

Hi all, just got up from nap...well other than having the kids ask 10 times if I'm awake...and I'm not "up" I'm on the couch ....still have chills and coughing & sneezing. nap helped though. Boy I could go for some soup.
JJ your gs is a cutie & Dixie your daughter's beautiful, I thought you wanted to show off your morning glories too lol
no snow here yet Kassy, I wanted to get outside but maybe later in the week.
Venice i hope you haven't caught what Smiley & i have!
Joy my mother's ancestors settled in Boston, most of her family is still there. I don't know where in England they came from. There's a street there with the family name.
Dave now i gotta look up endemism....*grin*

ok got it

Maybe some of you already know but you can get used books from online Barnes & Noble. The Lincoln book at the bookstore was $20. Used one online is $1.99 plus $3.99 shipping. So I ordered it that way and will take this other one back.

How about if we go mauka to the National Park to see the rarest tree on Earth?

Here it is, Hibiscadelphus giffardianus.

Here is a close up of the leaves.

The Hawaiians referred to Hibiscadelphus giffardianus as Hau Kuahiwi, noting its' relation to the coastal Hibiscus tiliaceus. The name means "Hau of the forest".

I looked up the tree too, are you taking care of those Dave?

I read that cuttings were planted back into the natural habitat.

Hi Lynnie! They only occur in the National Park.

Here is a close up of the unusual Hibiscus-like flower, on a fallen leaf.

In 1911, Ranger W. M. Giffard discovered a single tree growing in Kipuka Puaulu (Bird Park). He propagated 12 trees from that and just a few of those survive today. The National Park Service is propagating and planting the trees.

funny looking flower....I read that non native grasses took over their habitat...I'm always afraid when a plant becomes extinct that that was the one that would cure cancer.

the kids took my temperature and cooked me a grilled cheese :)

A common native plant is Ipomoea indica. An interesting occurence is the little black bugs that live inside the flower; they are a type of fruit fly called Scaptomyza deludens. They are an endemic bug that lives only in the indigenous Morning Glory.

how pretty! I love morning glories.

Great pictures Dave.
You keep the flower and green pictures coming, because soon mine will be all white pictures..

Had to take this one of the sky on my way up......
Looks like something could be coming through the clouds??

looks cold Kassy!

Every body has,some really pretty pics. I finally got done decorating the tree. Husband cooked, I'm full and ready to talk. At least for a while. Joy, I know what you mean about little ones at Christmas. They do make it magical dont they. I love to watch thier little faces light up.Those two sons of your's will give you some grand baby's in time.

Brrrrr Kassy! Hope you got your windows shut, and put some socks on!

Lynnie hope your feeling better. Better keep the fuzzy socks on. Been out prowling too much at night. It's not good to hunt in just fuzzy socks. Grin....

Kassy,kitty looks so cute and cozy under the tree. Hope your well.

Here's the State Flower of Hawai'i, Hibiscus brackenridgei. Hawaiians called it Ma'o Hau Hele.

This Hibiscus, as well as other native Hibiscus species, has been made endangered by cattle ranching.

Kassy, it look's COLD in your neighborhood. Keep that snow in your direction please.

Dave, I am enjoying the pic's from one of your National Park's there as well. What caused the Hibiscadelphus giffardianus to become so rare? Man or Natural cause's. I also see it is related to the Metrosideros polymorpha which is also endemic to the island's in Hawai'i. Keep those picture's coming.

Hi lynnie and hope your feeling better.

Hi Dave. I hope your T.G. was good. Love the flower such a vibrant color. Hibiscus is one of my favorite flowers. They are all beautiful to me.

Hi Rachel. Are you having any snow yet?