So I got a little sidetracked in May, what with the end of the semester and our decision to move to a new house. In April, my friend Lee from school asked me if we might be interested in renting the upstairs of her two-story rental. We weren't really looking to move, but after visiting Lee's place, we immediately agreed. The timing was perfect - April was the last month on our six-month lease, so in a frantic rush, we moved everything over in a couple of days and set up our new house on May 1.
Lee moved to Maui in the 70s when she was a wild young hippie chick. She and her (now ex-) husband bought some property and built their dream house. Now, more than 30 years later, Lee and her partner Cynthia live in a newer home that they built together on the same property, and they rent out the separate upstairs and downstairs of the older house. There is also a tiny cabin on the property that is rented out too. So here we are in a little Maui commune with Lee and Cynthia in the new house, Margie in the cabin, Mary downstairs, and us. The whole property is about three acres at the end of a winding dirt road, bordered by huge eucalyptus trees. And we even have an ocean view from the big front deck.
Our new house peeking through the trees
One of the many fabulous things about this place is all the mature fruit trees: bananas, papayas, oranges, lemons, guava, and more. I walk outside in the morning, pick three or four oranges and have fresh-squeezed juice for breakfast.
Backyard fruit basket
I never picked bananas before. They are the wildest things. A huge flower blooms on the plant and then all the bananas form on a long stalk. When they start looking plump (but still green) you cut down the whole plant because after one banana stalk grows, it's done. But they grow pretty fast and it doesn't take long before another tree grows out of the old roots.
Banana flower
Banana stalk
Another prolific fruit tree is the papaya. They are the funkiest looking things - just a few leaves at the end of a long stem and a bunch of bulbous fruit clinging to the top.
Papayas
I think Lee said there were nine orange trees on her property. They are amazing - full of fruit and the blossoms are so fragrant.
Oranges!
Oh, and I can't forget the avocado tree that grows right next to our deck and is taller than the house - it is HUGE and has dozens of avocados - maybe hundreds. But I'm afraid I'm going to be away when they finally ripen. How disappointing!
And I can't forget the goats! On Maui, homeowners can pay lower property taxes if they use their land for agricultural purposes. Which seems like kind of a racket, because all you need is one animal to claim your exemption. So lots of people have horses or goats. Lee chose goats.
Mama goat with her two kids, Cinnamon and Nutmeg. The black sheep (goat), Shadow is adopted (but don't tell her!).
It is almost paradise...but I wasn't exaggerating about the commune-like feel of the place. And after having 14 acres and a 2,700 square foot house all to myself in Idaho, having someone living downstairs is taking a little getting used to. Part of it is being able to hear another person, although Mary is as good a neighbor as anyone could ask for. But the other part of it is knowing that someone else can hear YOU.
