HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERRY TREE!

OK, so this isn't really a cherry tree, but it is a cherry tomato plant that is as tall as a tree. And today is it's 1st Birthday!

One year ago today was the start of our "Covid Garden" with the planting of this "Aina Ola UH Cherry Tomato" seed. The state was in lockdown, so we had to use what seeds, containers, and soil, we already had. Definitely not ideal, especially since the tomato seeds were already three years old. But this little cherry grew, and grew well, in only a 3.5 gallon bucket.

It is now one year later, and this plant, although quite lanky, is still in it's 3.5 gallon bucket, and still giving us an endless supply of sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes!

So there is one bright side to Covid for us, it got us back into gardening. Our garden is still thriving, one year later, and we are so grateful for the delicious treats it has been rewarding us with on a daily basis.

Happy Birthday Cherry Tomato!

ALOHA FROM THE GARDEN !

Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

ON MAUI TIME

"On Maui Time"
10x8 Palette Knife Painting

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork.

ALOHA FROM HAWAII!


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

MY NEW SIGGY - Bry's Magic Paw

Brighton was my world.
He always made time for me. Whether he was sound asleep, busy licking his toes, or watching the birds out the front door, as soon as my paints came out, he would stop whatever he was doing, walk over to my easel, and look up at me. I would pick him up, he knew that it was "Magic Paw" time.

Every painting starts with the "Bry Magic Paw".
He and I would first discuss how best to go about painting the scene. Pointing all around the drawn out canvas, he would advise me of tips to get the most out of the image I was about to create, "Put the lights here, Mommy....the darks here......keep this part more subtle....make this part more detailed......don't forget to step back once in a while.....and most of all, have FUN.....you can do it Mommy!"

Before the first ounce of paint was ever scooped onto my knife, I would tap his paw to the canvas, then give his soft little paw a rub with my painting hand for good luck. It worked every time. His "Magic Paw" was just what I needed to construct the painting successfully, and he knew it!

In honor of my little boy, the first painting I completed after he left us, I changed my signature. It is no longer "Lisabongzee", but just "LBZ", the "B" representing a heart shaped paw.

All paintings created since then have this new signature, and I will continue to sign my work this way, just as Brighton's Magic Paw will continue to flow through me, my knife, and my paintings.

I LOVE YOU BRIGHTON


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

A BEACH OF MANY NAMES

Pa'ako Beach, Secret Cove, Wedding Beach, Makena Cove........
No matter what you call it, it's still a view that I never get tired of painting!

"Pa'ako Beach"
10x8 Palette Knife Painting

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork.


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

KAHALA BEACH

SOLD
Kahala Beach
15x30 Palette Knife Painting

Some closeups

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork.

ALOHA FROM HAWAII !

Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

BRY's MAGIC PAW STRIKES AGAIN

Brighton always lets me know he is with me.
Today, as I cooked up a batch of homemade english muffins, the very first one I flipped over screamed "HI MOM!".

I LOVE YOU BRIGHTON


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE BEND ~ A Palette Knife Painting Video

The first day of spring is not really applicable in Hawaii, so I decided to enlist the help of Bry's Magic Paw and head to the mainland with my knife. We spent the afternoon celebrating spring in the mountains.

Painting Video videos

"Spring Is Just Around The Bend"
8x10 Palette Knife Painting

Click here for more painting videos

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork!

ALOHA FROM DA MAINLAND!


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

TRADEWINDS FOR TWO ~ A Palette Knife Painting Video

Painting palm trees today.

Painting Video videos

"Tradewinds For Two"
8x8 Palette Knife Painting

Click here for more painting videos

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork!

ALOHA FROM HAWAII!


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

LITTLE MISS POTATO HEAD

This is little Lisabongzee's first artistic endeavor.
At three years of age, I created our family portrait. It was drawn on a paper towel while I was visiting my Grandma one day. She transferred the image to fabric, embroidered the scene, framed it, and gifted it to my parents. I'd have to say I tend to resemble my Daddy -- big ears and three eyeballs each!

No wonder I love Calvin.

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork.

ALOHA!

Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

SUNNY SHADE COTTAGE

My knife's been daydreaming again.

"Sunny Shade Cottage"
11x14 Palette Knife Painting

Some closeups

Mahalo for taking the time to view my artwork.

ALOHA FROM THE COTTAGE !

Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

BRIGHTON - SCHOOL BOY - A Palette Knife Painting

They say it gets better with time.
I'm not sure who "they" are, but "they" may not always be correct. It has now been almost half a year since my little boy left me, and it hurts even more now than before. Luckily, Bry's Magic Paw is still sending me inspiration to put his cute personality on canvas, so that's what I've been doing. It brings me happiness and a feeling of being close to him, if even just for a few hours.

"School Boy"
8x8 Palette Knife Painting

I LOVE YOU BRIGHTON

Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

MY HAWAII WINTER GARDEN

Tomatoes in February !?!
Although most people in the U.S. don't have the best luck growing tomatoes in the winter, I have found February to be my best tomato growing month so far here in the Islands.

In fact, our entire garden has really started to flourish now that the overall temperatures have dropped a few degrees these past couple of months. Below are some of my recent container garden pics. It can be quite time consuming, but the rewards are delicious!

Swiss Chard

Eggplant

Employee Of The Month

Maui Onions starting to bulb

Quarter pounders on the vine

Colorful radishes

Cilantro loves the cooler weather

Tomato Town at sunrise

Typical morning harvests

Garden Salad

Homemade Garden Pesto Pizza

Time for a Mater Sandwich!

Pan of Pak Choi

Herb Roasted Tomatoes

ALOHA FROM THE GARDEN !

Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website

TEACHER KNOWS BEST

Back in my high school days, I spent much of my time daydreaming. As I looked out the open door of the classroom to the beautiful view of the lush green Koolau mountains, I wished more than anything that I could be up there on that very highest peak, rather than in that hot and stuffy classroom.

The view out my classroom door.
No matter how hard I tried, I never was able to teleport myself there during school.

My 12th grade English teacher was one of my favorites, Mr. Otake. Luckily, English came pretty easy to me, so I spent more time doodling on the desk than paying attention to the lesson. Why I felt the need to draw directly on the desktop and not onto a piece of paper is beyond me. The pencil just seemed to flow better on the smooth surface of the wooden desktop.

Many times I was warned not to draw on the desks, and finally, Mr. Otake made me come after school and not only scrub and clean the drawn on desktop, but all 32 other desktops as well (some of which were also marked with Bongzee Originals from previous days). What a lesson! Needless to say, I didn't draw on the desks again after that. I never was sore at Mr. Otake, and quite frankly, I don't really think he was all that upset with me either. He probably knew all along that I was born to be a daydreaming artist!

Otake signs Lisabongzee's yearbook.
A few weeks before the end of the school year, Sea Life Park held an Art Contest for the seniors of all Oahu high schools. The art teachers from each high school picked certain students to submit their work. I was honored (and surprised) to find that my painting won first place of all the schools entries. The result was read over the PA system at the start of the day by the Principle. I believe that is why Otake wrote what he did in my yearbook.

I think what he MEANT to write was
"Bongzee, It's been great having a talent like you in class. I feel like kicking myself for MAKING YOU clean all the drawings off my desks".

ALOHA FROM HAWAII !


Lisabongzee's Island Dream Life Website