Finally -- USA's Last State Mask Mandate Has Ended!

Welcome to the Monday, March 28 Brew.

The country's last statewide mask mandate has ended

By: Samuel Wonacott Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Final statewide mask requirement ended in Hawaii March 26 Don’t forget to vote in America’s Next Top Pet Tournament! An update on party committee fundraising The country’s last statewide mask mandate has ended On Saturday, March 26, the last statewide mask requirement in the country came to an end when Hawaii lifted its masking rules. This marks the first time since April 8, 2020 – a period of 720 days – in which no state has had a mask mandate in place. Gov. David Ige (D) announced on March 8 that he would end the requirement.  New Jersey was the first to enact a statewide mask mandate. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued the order for that requirement on April 8, 2020.  Counting Hawaii, Democratic governors in 11 states have ended statewide mask requirements since February. The last state with a Republican governor to end its mask mandate was West Virginia, which did so in June 2021.   Since the pandemic started: 39 states implemented statewide mask requirements at some point. Masking reached its widest extent in December 2020, when 38 states had mask requirements. Of those 38 states, 24 had a Democratic governor, while 14 had a Republican one. Five states with Democratic governors who allowed a statewide order to expire later reinstated the order.  One state (New York) had its mask requirement overturned by a court. A higher court reinstated the requirement later that day.  Thirty-six states ended mask requirements through executive order, two (Kansas and Utah) ended mask requirements through legislative action. A court order ended Wisconsin’s mask mandate. The chart below shows the total number of days each state had a mask requirement in place since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are a handful of other tidbits from our coverage: Mississippi had the shortest mask requirement, lasting 56 days.  The shortest statewide mask requirement in a state with a Democratic governor was in Wisconsin, which lasted 242 days. The longest statewide mask requirement was in Hawaii, which lasted 704 days. The longest statewide mask requirement in a state with a Republican governor was in Maryland, which lasted 393 days. BallotPedia: End of Mask Mandates **

International Pineapple Day 2021 and History of Colada

 It's the Pineapple's day to be recognized!  Reminds me of one of the main ingredients of a favorite cocktail drink of mine, the ever popular Piña Colada ... 

3-ingredient Pina Colada

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit... ( Ephesians 5 )

On This Day: June 27th

Piña Colada

History: Colada cocktails

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Trending: House Plants and Trees in My Home

Hubby is a Promise Keeper:  I had told him I very much wanted a LIVE Christmas tree in 2020. He bought me not one, but two -- AFTER Christmas, of course -- at 75% off!

The trees need to be nurtured and cared for in order to thrive and be the correct height by the time December 2020 rolls around. I hope they do not get too tall as they can grow to over 160 feet tall in the wild, whoa. Also, they may be poisonous to animals, so Kitty must be watched.  I had never heard of these pine trees (which are not truly pine trees as they cannot tolerate low temperatures outdoors).  

In summer it must not be exposed to the blazing sun; the temperature should not exceed 18 degrees Celsius (64 F). In winter, the plant needs a bright room that should be at least between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius (41-50 F).-- wikipedia

Introducing,  Araucaria Heterophylla, AKA, Norfolk Island Pine Tree .  The plant is sometimes referred to as a living Christmas tree. I imagine this to be what Charlie Brown would choose, LoL.

pc: wikipedia

recent purchase: Bamboo plant

Norfolk Pine

Shower-Friendly Plants

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TV Show: Gilligan's Island Harbor Scene and Dawn Wells

This post is in honor of actress Dawn Wells,(Mary Ann), who celebrates a birthday on October 18 (80 years old). She and actress Tina Louise (Ginger Grant) are the only remaining main characters from the show who are still living as of this writing.

The show's opening-scene harbour was pointed-out to me by our Tour Guide while I was in Honolulu (one of my best vacations ever; in the company of my son, sibs, and other relatives).  Happy thoughts were triggered once again via my sister & brother-in-law's pictures while they spent a glorious week in Hawaii to celebrate her birthday.



 The informative link below will add info to the gaps of what you know about the show's opening season harbour scene. Someone spent a lot of time researching and deserves a shout-out via this post.

1st Season Opening Scene Research H E R E

 And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:3 

Ist Season

ETA:  She's currently in dire financial straits
  Dawn Wells accepts GoFundMe Donations






6.10.21.18

Healthy Monday: Beaches

Nothing turns your thoughts to beaches more than multiple days of 90-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.  

by C Heiser: There’s nothing quite as synonymous with summer as the beach — and we’ve got good news for those who flock to the surf and sand as soon as work lets out on Friday afternoon.

Research finds that spending time by the ocean is pretty good for your wellbeing. In fact, according to an analysis of English census data published in the journal Health Place, those who live by the coast report better physical and mental health than those who don’t.

And in a study published in the Journal of Coastal Zone Management, participants who live in homes with ocean views report feeling calmer than those without them.

So, it makes sense then that Hawaii has earned the ranking of happiest state in the U.S. by the annual Gallup poll six times since 2008, doesn’t it?

Waikiki Beach

California

Beaches Are Good for Brains

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Shangri La, Hawaii: Unforgettable in Doris Duke's Hawaian estate

Out of the very many gorgeous and priceless items Miss Duke purchased,  one stood literally head and shoulders above the rest:  the Mihrab -- the prayer corner from a tomb in the 12th century. A rarity and a much sought after piece.  The tiles shimmered,  the details were exquisite. What a stunner in blue! Must be seen IRL to be fully appreciated.

FYI:  Our docent of the estate tour told us of her recent experience with another tour group: She had been giving her  usual spiel about the Mihrab; that most, if not all, face EAST in the direction of Mecca. A Muslim in the group piped-up and said that they actually face in that direction to pay homage to the source of truth --- the EAST (which includes Mecca). Oh, really?! I knew better. As a committed follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, here are the facts:  Men of renown (and armed to the hilt) actually went on a very long, very dangerous journey --- away from the East.  These wise men left their country/region/the East, and traveled in the opposite direction for many many miles and for many many months to seek King Jesus/ a Jew/ the Messiah, who says that He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life.  

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 

(The Gospel according to Matthew 2:1-2, emphasis mine)

Mihrab (prayer niche) from the tomb of Imamzada Yahya Ilkhanid period, dated Sha’ban 663 A.H. (1265 AD) Iran (Kashan)

Shangri La, Hawaii: A Beautiful Day in Doris Duke's Neighborhood

Continued from  here

Doris Duke & hubby bought the land for Shangri La near Diamond Head in Honolulu, HI in 1935. If I had been Miss Duke, I would have also bought much of the surrounding property to ensure the ultimate in privacy.  After all, what she paid back then must have felt like chump change for a billionaire like herself.  It cost her $125,000 for almost 5 acres -- the equivalent of $11,400,000 in  relative average income  that one would need in 2013  to buy a comparable piece of land. Aaaah, the many benefits of being ultra rich and making a good investment. For example, how would you like to be looking at the view below as you dined from your lanai? 

View of the harbor and Diamond Head from the house's dining area/lanai

 view of the house and lanai  from her boat harbor

Note:  Because of injuries/lawsuits in the past that the Doris Duke Foundation has had to pay, there was a fence installed in April 2014 that closes off the harbor from divers.

Aerial Views

It has become a crowded neighborhood!

another view of the beautiful property

Shangri La in October, 1957

   continued HERE

Shangri La, Hawaii: Through the entry door of Doris Duke's house

Continued from here ...

Shangi La's façade fools you into thinking, if you do not know any better, that this is just another ordinary house. However, between the smiling camels is a single door (inscribed with sayings that greet those who enter with good things) which leads to a colorful, wonderfully furnished and designed home that showcases all things beautiful in Islamic art. 

The front door as it looks today

The foyer as it was being built on November 3, 1937

Look at the picture of the entry foyer below!  What a feast to the eyes.  The coffered painted ceiling was specially made in Morocco. Six hundred Iznik (name of town) Turkish tiles cover the walls.  The 84 Spanish-style colored glass windows repeat their pattern every 4th time. The docent said they were especially beautiful when the sunlight hits them just right. There are wood chests from India, Central Asia, Iran and Syria.

The view on the other side of the front door

Close-up of pierced  metal hanging lamp, and ceiling in foyer

At this early point of the tour, we were encouraged to put our purse or backpack or whatever into  the house's "secure" area (read big-bin-with-lock located in the guard's office).  We were also given a much-needed hand fan resembling the hand fans below which resulted in  both of my hands being burdened.  The dilemna pretty much made my decision to leave my expensive Bottega Veneta bag with the guard that much easier. The Lord answered my silent prayer for the BV's safety.  Too bad I didn't pray for my free fan as it got lost after the tour while I browsed the Honolulu MOA. 

ETA: The staff's insistence on us tourists letting go of our bags is very likely security related, and not just for the purpose of our comfort as we continue the tour. It would make it that much more difficult to steal  anything (and hide it) from the estate if one were so inclined.  As a Christian, that thought never even crossed my mind.

I will do a couple more posts on Shangri La. There are too many things still worth noting about this beautiful house.   Continued    HERE...

Shangri La, Hawaii: Doris Duke's Mughal Garden

Continued from  here... 

More views of the Mughal Garden at Doris Duke's estate in Honolulu. Note the presence of the elements that would make up a Mughal-style garden (though her garden is a lot smaller): water, illuminated niches, walls, a central waterway, lotus shaped fountains, geometrically-shaped planters; and of course, overall beauty and peacefulness.  My visit to the estate was on a very warm day, and the sight of the water had me grabbing my water bottle for a long sip. 

looking through the open door  from inside of the Mughal Garden to the estate's courtyard & banyan tree

The courtyard below is where tourists are dropped-off by the Hawaiian MOA shuttle bus. Tours to Shangri La are conducted Wednesday to Saturday;  at 9am, 10:30am and 1:30pm.  Cost is $25 general admission to the tour, and includes entry to Honolulu MOA. Note:  ONLINE BOOKING way in advance highly recommended. 

Main outside courtyard with Banyan tree and door to Mughal Garden

... continued HERE  

Shangri La, Hawaii: Home of the Richest woman in the world

Our Biltmore Estate visit this Summer whet my appetite for a closer look at the lifestyles of the rich and famous.  I delayed getting tickets for  SHANGRI LA ,  home of Doris Duke, the richest woman in the world in 1993,  till it was too late, but I prayed and asked the Lord God for me to be able to see it anyway.  There's is always a couple of people who won't show up, right? 

 The tour originates from the  HONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART .  So after brunch,  we hitched a ride to the museum, got on the tour's waiting list, and sat down with my Hawaii-appropriate blue BV @ their Palm Courtyard to wait. Tick. Tock.  Tick. Tock.  Were there any available spots for us in their 10:30 AM tour??

The answer was YES! Yes, yes!  Yipppeeee!!!! ... but only 1 ticket was available  ... oh no!  That meant my photographer-son could not come along. I was left with only my cell phone's not-so-great camera for pictures.  Oh, well. Que sera, sera.  Off *I* went on the 30-minute shuttle bus ride to begin my guided tour of  Shangri La; and off son went -- on foot--  to who knows where with only his smartphone as his guide. 

The home had heaps of treasures for tourists' eyes to feast upon. Oh, what pretty things Ms Duke's money could buy! She literally created her version of paradise on earth through her home.   Ms Duke may have had an empty life (lost her dad at 12, sued her mom, divorced twice, no living children, her butler was her most trusted companion), but her money was invested wisely in Shangri La with us tourists as beneficiaries.  We are the recipients of one woman's  intense focus on collecting beautiful, rare, intricate, and mostly one of a kind Islamic Art and priceless treasures, with Syria, India, and China thrown in.  That was what I found to be the biggest difference between Biltmore and Shangri La. The Vanderbilts' collection was more vast, more valuable, but it was to me a  hodge podge collection ... anything and everything that caught Mr Vanderbilt's eye. I enjoyed Biltmore immensely. I enjoyed Shangri La even more because it was one quick intense lesson on a more or less single subject I knew almost nothing about, and I came away feeling that I had actually learned something. 

DOOR NUMBER ONE:    There were two entry ways as the shuttle bus lets you off at the courtyard.   Here is the entry-way to the main building.   These are 18th century Chinese smiling Camels Ms Duke bought from Gumps, HI to guard her front door.  They were installed in March 1939.

via: onegirlsstyle.blogspot

Below: The lady in pink was our docent. The lady on the right is tourist Sarah, a lawyer from NY, who helped translate/pronounce some of the Islamic writings. 

DOOR NUMBER TWO:  The other entrance leads to the side garden --  the Mughal Garden --- which was the door most of Doris Duke's guests entered to get into the house. 

via: onegirlsstyle.blogspot

... the view behind the garden door

 continued  --->>  HERE  






80.07.19.18

Brunch at Rainbow Drive-in, Honolulu

 Oahu Hawaii Diary, Part 2:  On our first morning in Honolulu, it was decided by other family members to have Brunch @ Rainbow Drive-In --- for a taste of authentic local fare.   Once we got there, I quickly realized that there was no AC (!), and scanned the area for shade.   The humidity was already high when we got up early that morning.  Sigh. Got quickly tired of scanning the menu board.  I let my son decide what to order for the both of us and sat down at the most comfortable-looking spot in their outdoor dining area, and chatted with others.  What son brought to me was fried eggs, meat pattie (reminded me of an  On•Cor  Salisbury Steak) on a bed of rice; and macaroni. Huh?!! The food looked too normal.  I could  do the dish at home.  It may look appealing to a hungry surfer, but what about a tourist like me?  Why couldn't I get  octopus or seaweed or  exotic fish or something ... anything ...  that was abundant in Honolulu, but expensive to obtain at home?  Second sigh...  Thank You, Lord for this food, amen. So I ate and kept on eating, though the food was bordering on luke-warm and was a little bland.  My oversized cup of iced water was good, though. 

 Here are pictures of a couple of other dishes that family members raved about, surprisingly: 

Portuguese Sausage

SPAGHETTI WITH WIENER