Lately the state and especially the Big Island has been covered by a volcanic smog locally called VOG. In the human scheme of things, the volcanic vent has been inactive but recently decided to spew smoke and fumes into the air, blanketing the state. The explosions inside Halemaumau are the first in the crater since 1924. Many people are having problems breathing.

The Hawaii Volcanos National Park has closed a number of times in the past month or so and the volcano has thrown some rocks over a 75 acre area. Recent news is on the Wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... and more info is available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilaue...

My friend has been strickened with breathing problems lately so I have been caring for her 25 (or so) dogs. She has 2 new litters of puppies and her existing dogs and they are all eating like horses!

She loaned one older chocolate Labrador dog out to a couple thinking of buying it. However, a loud noise spooked the dog and it ran off near the Lanihau shopping center. We looked for hours yesterday to no avail. Hopefully Edward will show up soon. He has a microchip, and a phone number on both his leash and collar.

I have been working 4 days a week at the Kona Reef where I check people in. In and around the dog and people sitting, I was able to finally get my 4 water tanks in on the farm. I now have the capacity for 80,000 of rainwater to be held for irrigating crops. I have had 1500 holes punched and are waiting for coffee plants. My next step is to have a pipe laid under the road to connect the 3 top tanks to the bottom one. I can then install the pump and connection lines to integrate all 4 tanks into the system. All that will be left to do is to fix the roofs and gutters and make it all work together.

I am still planning on getting 1500 trees planted in the next month or so. It has been a long time coming!

While up in town, I have had little time to gather photos of the project or set up coffee sales. I really need to sell some coffee and start paying for all this! Watch for a possible Mothers Day sale any time now!

My dog Koa will be 1 year old at the end of the month. I have some treats and a toy for him. What he doesn't know yet is that when he reaches his birthday, it is no longer necessary to feed him twice a day, so his breakfasts are soon coming to an abrupt end!

More later as the saga continues!

Between illness and work and the farm, I have had little time for much else.

I'll try to get an update posted today with all the details. That is, if it is a quiet day. Oftentimes Sunday is almost as much a zoo as Saturdays.