WEB SITE-FLOWERS-VEGGIES-NIGHT DIVE-STARVING DIVERS' SOUP-LIBRARY-VUANA HEAD START PROGRAM-PETER-UNLOADING CARGO-RESCUE CLASS-PETER'S FAMILY

Hello, All, I have been to our new Distant Learning Center, been online, and encourage your fingers to run, not walk, to our WEB site, click on ENTER, then "Story of a Dream" to visit our project up close and personal. Joe has taken my photo disk and created a truly artistic, fun, flowing presentation. Come, and join us. Took some of my staff with me, and they were thrilled to see themselves internationally " online". Joe, my deepest thanks for a job incredibly well done.

A gorgeous Sabbath- my "quiet" day-took my beach chair, pups,snorkeling gear & camera and spent much of the morning at my favorite haunt, Hulumu beach, honing my photo skills on the baby tridachnas, and the array of juveniles that call the sheltered lagoon home.

Our "campus" is blooming with flowers everywhere- a colorama of pinks, whites, lavenders, yellows and oranges. Our garden is producing- yeah- so far, beans, a few tomatoes, peppers, green onions, slippery cabbage, with pumpkins growing wild all over the place. Reliance even marketed a few to Bilikiki. Papayas ( manioko), bananas ( battia) & pineapple ( ramoso) well on their way.

Our second night dive off Vuana Wall out here was another visit to a basket star aquarium exhibit- there are well over 100 of them- some 6' across- in hues of whites, creams and pinks, curling and waving in their feeding dance.

In my 30+ years of diving, have never experienced anything quite like it.

It also produced a popular new recipe we've named "SHIVERING, STARVING DIVERS' SOUP"- quick and easy to make. If you're ever confronted with a group of hungry, and especially cold, kids, skiers, divers, hikers- anyone!!

Try this. The only "absolutes" are:

 packs of saimin, ramen, noodles- whatever. ( 1 pack feeds 2 big or 3-4 small appetites)

1 can crushed tomatoes & one can corn kernels for every 2-3 packs .

Measure the water, add the seasonings, put on to boil. Bulk will a little more than double when you add everything.

Chop up any array of veggies you can find in your fridge, pantry- I've used green beans, onions, green onions, pumpkin, tomatoes, peppers, Chinese cabbage, greenish papaya- you get the idea.

throw in pot. Throw in any meat or fish if you want. I put in turkey teri jerky, or fresh fish if I have it! Cook until ALMOST tender- break up noodles and add. When soft, throw in canned tomatoes and corn- juice and all. Heat & eat, and collect the compliments. Nate' joked as we were heading for a night dive that some really didn't want to go diving- they just wanted the SOUP!!!

I returned from Hawaii to find our library program shriveling from lack of attention- our original librarian just had too many other things in his life.

After much thought, decided to use funds many of you have donated to make "Librarian" a paying position, and hired Tapilyn, wife of our school principal. Confronted with a lack of progress on a much needed kindergarten ( these kids will be married by the time it is a reality) and having excellent facilities and materials here, our library committee decided to organize a Vuana Head Start Program to get these 3-6 year olds "off the streets" and into a learning environment. We have hired 2 certified teachers, Margaret and Neroly , and will open when the new term starts next month. My heartiest thanks to those who have donated to our school efforts.

This, right now, is our most pressing need, and keeping the library open for all is a huge benefit to the community. All ages, from students doing research papers to adults looking for information use it. If anyone is inclined to do so, we would certainly appreciate any donations to keep this an ongoing project.

Peterson Vangala arrived from the tsunami rebuilding effort in Choiseul 3 weeks ago. His value to our project is already immeasurable; our maintenance logs are giving birth to baby maintenance logs ( for better or worse, have learned to create tables on the computer!). In a short while, I believe every nut, bolt, spare part, etc. will be catalogued and accounted for. He is a genius at fixing things. In addition to the mechanical, Peter does electrical, welding some plumbing, and is learning our solar system.

He fills a very important niche here. It has been a delight to get to know him again in a more informal setting than Bilikiki and Spirit, and to work with him as a team management member. He possesses an unfailing sense of humor.

I was awakened at 1 a.m. with the words "Santo is here". LC (landing craft)

Santo Star is a cargo craft that carries most of our fuel and much of our other necessities; she is known for arriving here at very odd hours. As Wayne was in Honiara, I was in charge. Down to the jetty we went to unload fuel ( in 50 gal. drums that get rolled into the water and rolled up our ramp), cement, gravel, rice,noodles, sugar, formica, grating, lp gas- you name it! I helped as much as I could- and an hour and 1/2 later a tired, hungry crew came back for the usual snack of navy biscuits, peanut butter and jam ( a big treat here), coffee or milk tea. We all sat out under a full moon and had an impromptu party, crawling in for a few more hours sleep at 4 a.m..

A tad different from going to Costco or the mall???

Our Rescue Course is well underway. It has been years since I have taught this course; it has changed a great deal, and I find it excellent and highly challenging. I especially enjoy exploring topics like "the psychology of stress", "perceptual narrowing" with my 8 students, and having them bring examples of these from every day life to class. My ladies class moves SLOWLY along, but they are moving. Getting them certified will be a major accomplishment- it is like nothing they have ever attempted in their lives.

A much needed break took us over to Male Male to dive a site we haven't done in months- it is another contender for all time favorite. My crew has named it "Ukala via" - a language term meaning "beyond your wildest expectations"! We dropped over the edge through schools of gray surgeons and blue fusiliers into SUV sized fan corals of varying hues, highlighted by schools of rainbow runners, jacks, barracuda's, with red-toothed triggers guarding their terrain. The ever present greys and occasional tuna kept our eyes turned outward. Finally drifting up and around the point, a herd of buffalo- oh, no- they were topa ( bumphead parrots) -went storming up the ridge. A distinctly male hawksbill came in so close, it brushed 2 of the divers. We finally turned our attention into the soft coral covered cliffs with their undercuts hiding an array of brilliant corals and fish. Another afternoon of sensory overload.

Yesterday Peterson's wife, Mira, and 2 of his daughters, Tina & Iula, arrived from Choiseul to join our expanding community at Vuana. Over 40 people gathered on our deck last evening for a potluck dinner and starlit sing-sing to welcome them. Grand speeches of welcome and thank you were given, and our songs traveled far and wide. It was after 10 when sleeping babies were shouldered home, and Evah and I tackled the dishes! A fun time for all.

And with that, I will leave you for now; know that You are always in my thoughts. We so look forward to having you visit us and share in person our adventures in Vuana.

Take care, all.

Love and hugs, Leana, Lisa