Whoops, was sure more than a little lax in posting. Sorry to all who have been checking our site in vain for news.
Dec 7th Annie and I Di did a workshop making a decorative stepping stone, out of a kind of concrete that you pour into a mold and then decorate. Annie had made lots of them so she knew how to organize it very well. We designed the face of the stone first on a piece of white paper with the shape of the mold drawn on it.
Both of us did different scenes, I had no idea at first but loved some nice sea shells that she had, so made a beach scene, using some shells, and beach glass for the grass, water and waves, and added 2 curving palm trees, with the leaves made out of pretty beach glass, and white fluffy clouds in the sky. Like a lot of art projects you do, it seems that sometimes the image almost pops out unplanned, and that was kind of what occurred this time.
Then we mixed up the goopy cement mix in a bucket with water, and poured that into the mold, and transferred our picture bits and pieces over into the cement, which set up pretty quickly.
I should add that the stones aren't used for stepping on, but more for decoration perhaps on a fence, or in a special place in the garden somewhere. Annie has some lovely stepping stones already made at her house, she made a scene kind of like a garden with a flower today, and it incorporated bits of jewellry as well as glass.
She also has one that includes part of a lovely bone china coffee cup. I have seen some stones that incorporate shards of broken china that are very pretty. A most satisfactory morning's activity for both of us.
That evening we went to the last Marine Corps Band concert for this area as the band is being disbanded, and the members heading off to join other bands. It was good although the drumming was very loud and at times drowned out other instruments.
Wendy and Dave joined us, it was free, you just were asked to bring an unwrapped toy for a child, or a donation of food for the food bank. They collect a lot at these concerts, there were about 3000 people there, in the convention centre of Palm Springs. Lovely Christmas music, nice singers, too.
Thursday was a regular weekly coffee morning meeting at our park, they discuss the business of the park as it's member run and driven, which is very interesting to be involved in. No flute lesson this week, we are down to twice monthly, but 3 hours or so each lesson, and we are now 5 flute players, a very interesting mix.
Friday the Gromlings and Mel and Ruth Savage asked us to join them for dinner out, we went up the hill in Desert Hot Springs to the second spa, not sure of the name, just found the business card, it's Capri Italian restaurant in Miracle Springs Resort and Spa. We had the most perfectly cooked steaks, and enjoyed super company making new friends from our park. Came back and watched Gold Rush on the Discovery Channel, one of our park residents, Chris D is in it, they are looking for gold in either the Yukon or Alaska, I can't remember which, but it was interesting.
Saturday morning we went over to Caliente Springs, across the street from our park, they were having a crafts sale, so we mooched about. Our neighbour here in the park makes lovely jewellry, so we visited with her. We also found a park model listed for sale on their board, so we poked around that house but couldn't see in. Nice location though, the park is much bigger than ours, with RV areas in it as well.
In the evening we went to a ham and scalloped dinner at the clubhouse, and then stayed for the dance. The DJ wasn't good, he thought he could sing, but not so much!!!!! He would have done better just playing music CDs. We left before the dance was finished, as did many others. Oh dear. Dinner was yummy, and we volunteered to serve dessert and cleanup afterward.
Today Sunday we went to the College of the Desert weekend market, it is enormous, tons of booths selling all sorts of merchandise, on the grounds of a huge college in Palm Desert. Got some more Christmas things, and bumped into Wendy and Dave and had lunch together. We were in shorts and shirts.
Our weather is changing once more, it was in the higher 60s today- but in the shade it was darned chilly, all the merchants were wearing coats, they set up very early as the market starts at 7 AM til 2 PM each weekend day. And they stand under their canopies, it's not that warm at the moment. We are in for rain on the valley floor and snow on the local mountains, so that is winter showing her strength once again.
As I have said before the desert needs to renew itself once more in the circle of life.
Came home tonight and wrapped the presents I have bought, and watched how the White House was decorated for Christmas this year under the Obamas reign.
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