...they are doing WHAT now? | Week 6 Recap: Celebrating the conjunction, solstice, and Christmas on Kauai

27 Dec Week 6 Recap: Celebrating the conjunction, solstice, and Christmas on Kauai

Posted at 12:21h in Life on Kaua'i Hawaii, What we ate today by sarah 2 Comments

We’re loving our location atop Moloa’a valley in the northeast corner of Kauai. The closest small town lights are 6 miles away and the stars are BRILLIANT every night. Since last Monday’s winter solstice was also the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, we celebrated with bonfires Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings, right on the farm, to enjoy the perfect night air, dancing bamboo groves and blanket of stars. After Colorado’s significant 2020 wildfires and subsequent campfire ban, it was so much appreciated to have a fire in the middle of the lawn, near the trees without a care in the world or even a need to put it out at the end of the night. In fact the rain usually did that for us at some point! …and I can’t even remember the last time I laid on the ground next to a fire, much less a soft grassy spot 20 steps from our bedroom.

It’s been a little lacking in the holiday spirit here – what with 80º temps, ocean visits, and little decor to be seen… but with the help of some family & friends – we’re finding some classic Christmas! We received an amazing care package from the Grieps FILLED with Christmas cookies! YUM!

Even with a busy week of lots of planting farm work, Jiva still kept our spirits in mind: Wednesday he had a small paid landscaping job to complete with Aaron up in Hanalei, working only a block from the beach! Tradition states that an ocean dip is required after that job so Jiva mentioned I should hop in the Rav with Texas Tim and come on up to meet up after they were finished. Not only that but he brought extra surf and boogie boards for us all to play with! I wasn’t feeling energetic enough to surf so I bobbed alongside while Aaron caught his first boogie & surfing waves!

By Thursday we were ready for our Christmas Eve excursion south to stay with our other Colorado transplant friends for the night. Jiva graciously offered us rides to the bus stop Thursday and to help with the ride share Christmas Day since the busses weren’t running.

We made it down to Lihue, and got picked up by Lindsey after her work day about 5:30. Unfortunately there was a fatal car accident on the road to her house, and instead of going straight there, we had to wait about 3 hours for the road to reopen. What to do – except get happy hour! Kalapaki Joe’s was just the ticket with $0.25 wings, $1 coconut shrimp skewers, and $3 fish tacos that were AMAZING. Plus some mango lilikoi margs! Cheers to being stuck in town!

We spent the last hour in Lihue driving around to see some Christmas lights until the road finally reopened about 8:15. Quick 45 min of traffic later and we were finally back at Lindsay’s house for a quick dinner, eggnog and old fashioned’s!

Christmas morning was a lovely brunch of mango-cranberry mimosas wth fried eggs on top of a cauliflower pizza. Since we’re living a real farmer’s life here on kauai it was back to Olana for afternoon harvest in prep for Saturday market. Luckily we got to see the infamous tree tunnel by Lindsay’s house in the daylight! Lastly we snuck a photo of a roadside Christmas sighting: Pointsettia!

Christmas Day concluded with a few hours of harvest and one of Myrica’s Kitchari Queen one-pot meals loaded up with kale, bok choy, and yacon. After Saturday’s market, we all met back at the farm for a Farmily Holiday Potluck.

Jiva, Myrica, Orion (Myrica’s son and farm resident), Texas Tim, Aaron and myself were in attendance for a really filling and lovely vegan dinner. Orion made soy ginger tempeh – which was probably the best tempeh I’ve ever had. Jiva made a yacon salad with celery, mandarins, and figs. Myrica made farm green beans with a mustard seed coconut cream sauce. Texas Tim made sweet potato fries with cinnamon and hot sauce, with a dessert/side of honey nut butter dates. Aaron made Hawaiian pepper cornmeal poppers with vegan maple butter. And I made pesto mashed ulu! What a feast! Jiva was so sweet – gifting Texas Tim a book, and Aaron and I a gift certificate to a local meadery so we could sample some Kauai-made honey wine. As a final gift – evoking cheers all around – Jiva announced we’d all be taking Monday off farm work – meaning we get both Sunday and Monday off for a proper weekend! Thanks Jiva!