paradise ali

Back in April, I wrote about my gardening goals.  The string beans I planted didn’t take but I did plant bush beans a few days later.  They started flowering last week and the pretty purple flowers fell off and revealed these guys. 

Took this close up photo on Sunday from between the plants looking upward.  I’m so excited!  The growth difference between the morning and the evening is phenomenal.  We should have a nice bunch of green beans soon.  Now, if we could just grow SPAM it would be perfect!  Just joking. 

Well, not really. 

Easy Spam and Green Beans

1 can Spam
2 or 3 cups fresh green beans
pepper to taste
garlic or garlic powder to taste
1 tsp oil or margarine

Wash beans thoroughly.  Slice into diagonal strips or other small sized pieces.  Dice the SPAM (or cut into strips, if you prefer).  Saute SPAM in oil or margarine in hot pan until heated through or when edges are slightly brown. Add sliced green beans, heat through. Sprinkle with pepper, toss together. Best served hot.

Linkmeister has some links to photos and video of the lava flowing into the ocean.  Awesome stuff!

The lava passed through Royal Gardens subdivision again.  Back in the 80’s, it was a pretty nice place.  We used to drive along past Kalapana beach and the fishponds on our way to visit friends.  They lived in a house they designed and built themselves.  It was small but it was theirs and they loved it.   When the lava was approaching, they decided not to evacuate.  I remember thinking that they were crazy!  They held on as long as they could, planting even more ti leaves around the boundaries.  (The old timers used to say that the ti leaves would protect the property.)  In the end, it was of no use.  Madame Pele flowed over not only their home but most of Royal Gardens and, eventually, almost all of the Kalapana area.  Some of the places gone forever–

Queen’s Bath

Waha‘ ula Visitor Center and ancient heiau

Harry K. Brown Park

the black sands of Kaimu Bay

Kalapana, Fishponds, Walter’s Kalapana Store & Drive Inn

In the end, Madame Pele claimed what was always hers but she also gave us  a powerful and beautiful show, more land and a new black sand beach.

Gorgeous photographs courtesy of J.D. Griggs, D. Weisel and G.E. Ulrich.