So a big part of your trip to Hawaii will probably be traveling around the island, and stopping at one of the many food trucks you'll see. Cool breezes, succulent shrimp and local music are waiting for you at Big Wave Shrimp located in Haleiwa on Oahu’s beautiful north shore. Big Wave Dave's food truck in Haleiwa is a must place to stop. You might have seen them on Diners-Drive-Ins-& Dives. Their Garlic Shrimp is something you need to try. Mama Chef Kawita is in the kitchen, and she whips up a golden plate of goodness. It's so rich in garlic, and the shrimp are divine little nuggets of moist yumminess. This plate lunch will keep you happy for a long time, and there are picnic tables in front for you. Watch the world go by and chat with new friends, it's always a must stop. 66-521 Kamehameha Hwy. 96712 open 11 to 6:30pm

If Mexican food, or Fish Tacos is what you are looking for you need to go right behind Big Wave Dave's and you will find a gem of a food truck family owned......Surf N Salsa. Their menu is varied, from Surf and Turf, to Fish Burritos, Sopas, and of course tacos it's all so good. You can even order ahead, they don't make the tacos until you get there so they're fresh. There's a lovely little patio right there along the side for you to enjoy. Have you ever had a Shrimp Burrito? Try something new, how about Tsunami Fries...OMG these are covered in carne asada, melted cheese, grilled shrimp and sour cream. My mouth is watering just thinking about the "Steak en Fuego" a chopped grilled steak with serrano & jalapeño peppers, red sauce, & onions served with 2 tortillas. I think I need to place an order to pick up later, and the surf is up today. All plates are served with rice, refried beans, or whole black beans. They are located at 66521 Kamehameha Hwy. 96712, closed Sun. 808-692-2471 

 https://www.craftours.com/trips/?page=tuscany_sketching_1022 www.craftours.com/trips/?page=tuscany_sketching_1022
Check this tour, it's a wonderful Italian experience, one I have done several times before. This time we are going to urban sketch, and use some watercolors, markers, and pens.  It's for beginners, people who want to start drawing, or watercolors. Come join us, click the link above to see what the tour entails......so much fun!
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These quaint places are slowly disappearing from the landscape of Hawaii. We're documenting the vanishing feel of a vintage Hawaii, and making the giclees available to all who would like a remembrance of old Hawaii in their homes.

My husband loves photography, I'm an artist.....match made in heaven.

We take drives around our island looking for a feeling. We first moved to Hawaii way back when you could rent a beach ohana for $250,  yep it was a long time ago. It was a time when you left your keys in the car, doors were never locked, neighbors always walked right in the front door, and Sundays, guitars, and bar-b-q was just the thing that happened. 

The giclees are printed from original works that were created in watercolor, and pen & ink, and come matted and signed. 

We hope you love our collection of "Haleiwa Homegrown" prints in the shop at.....http://www.theorganicgallery.com/shop

​Mahalo...Deb & Greg Haugen

 
When I first went to Bali, Indonesia I had no idea what to expect. Something exotic, hot, amazing landscapes? What I came away with, is so much more.
Landing in Denpasar it hits you smack dab in the face,  you understand now you're in for an adventure.....one you'll never forget. 

I sat and watched the travelers arriving, all of their long journeys showed on their faces. Glad to be on the ground finally, and still with an air of excitement. I met Kandy our guide there, and his daughter and as we went careening thru the night I knew I was going to love it here when he said, "Welcome Home to Bali". Laughing, the music blasted, the windows down blowing nights sweet breezes as we talked. We ended up chanting a Hindi mantra we all knew, his daughter loved singing kirtan too!. I knew right off we would be fast friends.

A Craftours experience always includes a fantastic hotel room, and I was not disappointed, arriving to rose pedals in my dream of a bathtub after traveling for over 22 hrs. I was in the town of Ubud, in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia, is known as a center for traditional crafts and dance. The surrounding Ubud District’s rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, are among Bali’s most famous landscapes. .Ubud is one of those places where a holiday of a few days can easily turn into a stay of weeks, months or even years. The size of the town's expat community attests to this, and so do the many novels and films that have been set here, creative responses to the seductive nature of this most cultured of all Balinese towns. This is a place where traditional Balinese culture imbues every waking moment, where colourful offerings adorn the streets and where the hypnotic strains of gamelan (Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments) are an ever-present soundtrack to everyday life. It's also somewhere that is relentlessly on trend – a showcase of sustainable design, mindfulness, culinary inventiveness and the very best that global tourism has to offer. Come here for relaxation, for rejuvenation and to have what may well be the most magical holiday of your life. I could actually live here, the vibrancy of life is intoxicating.

Here's a few pages from my sketchbook, Ubud and all of Bali really draws me in. I LOVE it so much. XXX Deb