The Salt of the Earth

One of my healthy habits here in Hawaii is to collect sea salt, 

right at my front door.

Mother Nature has and endless supply, it seems.  

When the conditions are just-so, 

I grab a baggy and head to the rocky shore.

Here the waves crash up onto the rocks, and wash back out to sea.  Later, as the tide ebbs out further, the little pockets that have caught the seawater start to warm up in the afternoon sun.

And as the heat of the day starts to evaporate the sea water, 

a salt-water crust forms over the tops of the little pools, 

and all the impurities fall to the bottom.  

This is natural filtration at it's finest.

It's at this point that one can carefully, oh-so-carefully 

break off the top crust of pure sea salt.

Back at home, I break it up and spread it out onto paper towels to dry.   Although it's not necessary, I will get out a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers, just to be sure there is not a grain or two of sand still remaining.   Just makes me feel better.

And then, whalah!   

I have pure sea salt, right from my very own ocean. 

It makes a wonderful gift when packaged in 

Hawaii's own little palm frond baskets.

But mostly I just love the connection with nature 

and my Hawaii home.