We were invited to participate in a tree planting today at Meigs Park. We tagged the trees and named them. I will go back with the GPS and mark the coordinates so we can check on them periodically and see how they're doing. The boys had a great time playing in the mulch pile afterwards! They would run up, take a breath, then run down and face-plant, flossing with the mulch I think! Laughing all the way! A crowd of kids stood around the side, watching and wondering. As were their parents.

We are fortunate that so many people here in the NW really seem genuinely interested in the outdoors, conservation, and teaching the children. We make events of everything here on the island – planting, harvesting – the kids are involved at every turn. The farmers make an effort to connect with schools and allow the kids to really see what is involved in the cycle of agricultural life. So when an opportunity came up to plant a tree, we jumped at it. We brought the wagon and shovels, gloves, and many layers. It hit freezing for the first time last night! When we headed back to the truck a couple hours later, the boys piled into the wagon with all the stuff, and I ran to shouts of “faster! faster!” Right through the leaves, down the hill, through the mud. Everything was going great until a wheel fell off the wagon and everyone came piling out – shovels, mittens, boys, with granola bar held fast in a little paw (Ben). Somehow Ben never messes up his food when he wipes out.  We managed to find the wheel, and COUP of all – the little thing that supposedly holds it in place. We fixed the wagon and piled in again. Well, only Sam. Ben insisted on pulling slowly so it wouldn’t happen again. Then off to the farmer’s market to stock up on our friend Betsey’s potatoes for Thanksgiving. We also bumped into our friend Larry who plays uke, guitar and mandolin in a local band. He let Sam play his guitar at the Farmer’s Market – the national anthem, to a round of clapping after the impromptu performance. Larry has a gorgeous guitar he built. We are conspiring on a kanikapila (Hawaiian ‘kine musical jam session) sometime in December. Then home to split wood, but that was cut short by me breaking the axe. I am such a brute! Then to inside play after chasing chickens and biking jumping. We played Hawaiian music on YouTube and Sam played his guitar. It is cold cold here, but our hearts are warm with thanks for all our blessings.