We really enjoyed ourselves at Annie's New Year's party, there were a lot of very interesting people there, among them Linda and Rick who run Yosemite Flute Festival in September at Oakhurst, CA.
We took chicken lasagna, it was yummy, a Stouffers brand product. There was tons of food, and lots of liquid refreshment, though Annie makes it alcohol and drug free. We knew most folks, and it was interesting to hear Al sing his throat singing, playing a brass bowl, and Annie played Didge as did Al at times.
I got a chance to play my new buffalo horn flute, and Chip and Lary did a lovely duet, the best I think I have ever heard them do, on their Jon Sherman A flutes. A couple that we had met in Gibson's, BC was there, JJ and Marie Paul. He played a transverse wooden flute, and also accompanied other folks when they played. It was another lovely event at Annie's place, more magic musical moments.
We left about 11 PM and took Chip with us, to his home, he has trouble seeing in the dark nights.
Next day Jan 1st it was toasty warm, about 80 or so, so we vegged by the pool at our place, and swam in the warm water, what a treat for Jan 1st, 2012.
Since New Year's Day fell on a Sunday the Rose Bowl parade wasn't held til Monday, and Chip invited us over to his house for brunch of ham and eggs. We sat outside and baked in the hot sun, finally he put on the water mister on his eaves, and we basked in cool misty spray. Another day in the low 80s very unusual for this time of year here. After watching bits and pieces of the Rose Bowl Parade from Pasadena, and having brunch outside we played our flutes and had a ton of fun. Lucy, Chip's dog is scared of the bison horn flute which is the key of D.
Today was another warm day, I exercised in the clubhouse first thing today then stayed afterwards to take down the Xmas decorations up there. After that I don't know what happened but the day just evaporated.
Several of our friends are either staying in the Coachella Valley for the season, or else only here for a month, but the month nearly everybody has chosen is January when we'll be away in Kona Hawaii for 2 weeks. So we may be visiting furiously for the early part of the month.
Forecast says that the temps will stay like this over this coming weekend, it is weird. Looking forward to a flute lesson at Annie's this Thursday, and we're meeting friends for lunch on Friday.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Warm warm today New Year's Eve
What a perfect day today has been, very warm but not hot, and it's not even over yet!!!! I washed the kitchen floor and vacuumed the carpets, whew, that's done for a while now. Even pulled out the fridge and cleaned under there, that was a chore that is best behind me now. It's a big fridge to pull out and clean behind, specially in a small space. It needed doing too. So now it's clean behind there, I even swept the dust off the coils where it accumulates.
Our painter Jim came by, the one who painted the inside of our home last year, and he's going to come by at the beginning of next week and do some touch ups. The paint on the edge of the kitchen countertop is getting chipped, it takes a real beating as that's where we prepare our food etc, and the paint is soft I guess, and gets chipped somewhat easily. Nice that he volunteered to do that for us. It is perhaps latex paint I can't remember.
A man in our park, Ted came by today and Lary started him playing his Native American flute for the first time, they sat outside in the warmth that is today, and they started to tootle, then later today Ted came by again and said what a good day it had been, so that is very nice to hear. He is on dialysis, and it is lovely that he might find something to entertain himself, that he truly enjoys. The flute must have drawn him already, as he bought it when he was somewhere else, likely listening to flute music played at a concert or other event.
We have been invited by Annie to go over there to her house tonight and have a flutie potluck dinner, so that should be a lot of fun. We'll pick Chip up on the way, we are taking a lasagna, we'll cook it here and wrap it up to try and keep it warm. Then I hope we will play our flutes, and make wonderful music together.
Some of Annie's friends Rick and Linda from Oakhurst will be there, and no doubt other members of our Coachella Valley flute circle, and perhaps the new flute players Barbara and Marty from our flute class will attend, we have to wait and see.
It has been way into the 70s today, cloudless blue skies, though the clouds are lightly covering over the bright blue sky as I write this at 3:30 or so this afternoon.
Last year at this time I think we were celebrating New Year's up at our clubhouse right here in our park, they are having ribs, yum yum, this year, but we are doing something a bit different this year. Our only reservation is driving on New Yera's Eve night. I think that Chip wants to leave before midnight, that will suit us just fine too.
Our painter Jim came by, the one who painted the inside of our home last year, and he's going to come by at the beginning of next week and do some touch ups. The paint on the edge of the kitchen countertop is getting chipped, it takes a real beating as that's where we prepare our food etc, and the paint is soft I guess, and gets chipped somewhat easily. Nice that he volunteered to do that for us. It is perhaps latex paint I can't remember.
A man in our park, Ted came by today and Lary started him playing his Native American flute for the first time, they sat outside in the warmth that is today, and they started to tootle, then later today Ted came by again and said what a good day it had been, so that is very nice to hear. He is on dialysis, and it is lovely that he might find something to entertain himself, that he truly enjoys. The flute must have drawn him already, as he bought it when he was somewhere else, likely listening to flute music played at a concert or other event.
We have been invited by Annie to go over there to her house tonight and have a flutie potluck dinner, so that should be a lot of fun. We'll pick Chip up on the way, we are taking a lasagna, we'll cook it here and wrap it up to try and keep it warm. Then I hope we will play our flutes, and make wonderful music together.
Some of Annie's friends Rick and Linda from Oakhurst will be there, and no doubt other members of our Coachella Valley flute circle, and perhaps the new flute players Barbara and Marty from our flute class will attend, we have to wait and see.
It has been way into the 70s today, cloudless blue skies, though the clouds are lightly covering over the bright blue sky as I write this at 3:30 or so this afternoon.
Last year at this time I think we were celebrating New Year's up at our clubhouse right here in our park, they are having ribs, yum yum, this year, but we are doing something a bit different this year. Our only reservation is driving on New Yera's Eve night. I think that Chip wants to leave before midnight, that will suit us just fine too.
Friday, December 30, 2011
No dinner buffet for Lary's birthday
When we arrived at Agua Caliente to have Lary's birthday buffet dinner we were out of luck, we were surprised and quite disappointed to find out that the buffet closes both Tues and Weds, so we had to go to the Steakhouse, ouch, so that was way more expensive than we thought, though delicious for sure.
The next day the 28th we did some retail therapy. I bought a new jazz CD reduced price, Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalis, then we ate late lunch at Manhattan in the Desert, did a few more chores and came home.
The 29th we went down to Yuma, AZ, a trip of 3 hours one way, to visit our friends Nadia and Walter from home, then we 4 went down to San Luis Rio Colorado in Mexico, another very busy Mexican border town where you park at the US border and cross over into Mexico, but it was hard to find a nice place to eat and maybe even have a margarita, so we ended up kind of wandering about aimlessly, then ate at a sandwich kind of place, and crossed back out again.
Not much to recommend that town to us although everybody we met was very friendly and helpful too, but it seems that a huge bunch of day workers in the agricultural sector live there in Mexico and cross over on foot daily to work in the fields in the US, in the famous Imperial Valley that has all the winter sunshine, so grows many of the veggie crops for the rest of the country, and likely even for export.
That area is totally flat, and there are miles and miles of cultivated fields irrigated by canals. You see the swarms of picker working in the fields, and they even have machines where the workers stand alongside an outside conveyor belt type of machine right in the fields, and do all the packaging of the veggies right there, and then load the produce on to the trucks for shipping.
Folks at home, don't forget to wash all your veggies well, very well, before you use, cook and eat them.
The next day the 28th we did some retail therapy. I bought a new jazz CD reduced price, Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalis, then we ate late lunch at Manhattan in the Desert, did a few more chores and came home.
The 29th we went down to Yuma, AZ, a trip of 3 hours one way, to visit our friends Nadia and Walter from home, then we 4 went down to San Luis Rio Colorado in Mexico, another very busy Mexican border town where you park at the US border and cross over into Mexico, but it was hard to find a nice place to eat and maybe even have a margarita, so we ended up kind of wandering about aimlessly, then ate at a sandwich kind of place, and crossed back out again.
Not much to recommend that town to us although everybody we met was very friendly and helpful too, but it seems that a huge bunch of day workers in the agricultural sector live there in Mexico and cross over on foot daily to work in the fields in the US, in the famous Imperial Valley that has all the winter sunshine, so grows many of the veggie crops for the rest of the country, and likely even for export.
That area is totally flat, and there are miles and miles of cultivated fields irrigated by canals. You see the swarms of picker working in the fields, and they even have machines where the workers stand alongside an outside conveyor belt type of machine right in the fields, and do all the packaging of the veggies right there, and then load the produce on to the trucks for shipping.
Folks at home, don't forget to wash all your veggies well, very well, before you use, cook and eat them.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Christmas Eve at St Anthony's Episcopal Church
Dec 24th the storm had blown itself out, and the day was just picture perfect, about 75 degrees, so that we had a chance to sit out in the warm sun in front of our trailer. What a treat that was indeed. There was no wind at all.
There is a desert church not that far from us, called St Anthony's Episcopal church where we attended Christmas Eve service last year and really enjoyed it, so this year we returned there, service at 7 PM, but this time we took a big plate of chocolate chip cookies as a contribution to the snack that they serve after the service. We met Wendy and Dave, their daughter Bronwen, and her daughter and son, Sydney and Cameron, there too.
Cameron was asked by the minister if he would carry baby Jesus up to the creche at the front of the church, and put him in it, at the beginning of the service, so he did that. Wendy kept him company, as he wasn't completely sure about going with new people he didn't know, it was so sweet to see. A lot of the congregation are very elderly, what a breath of fresh air to have some young people there at the service.
It was mostly carols, and readings, with a very good soprano singer too. And there was communion. Afterwards Wendy and Dave didn't stay for the food, but we did. It was mostly finger food, but it's a very nice gesture by the congregation to feed folks who they don't really know or see very often, at least in our case. There weren't many in attendance that night. ?They all greet and shake hands with each other during the service, which we aren't used to in our churches.
Christmas Day we opened our presents, the new Pendleton jacket is a big hit and very attractive, Lary bought 2 pairs of black jeans and slacks to go with it. And I called Sue, Jen and Hannah, and Lary called his mum and Barb, his sister. Lary gave me a buffalo horn flute, see below.
It would have been warm enough to swim Christmas day around noon, but we didn't, we were invited to Wendy and Dave's for dinner with their family at 4 PM, so off we went. We visited our friend Chip on the way, and had a Christmas toast with a bottle of champagne at his house, which was very neat of him to offer us. It was great to touch bases with him, especially when we don't have flute lessons right now during the holidays. I showed him my new bison horn flute that Lary had got me, it is lovely, and very unusual. I am so thrilled to have it. It is a shiny pointy black horn, very curved, with 5 holes in it.
You play it by lifting all 5 fingers off the holes, one at a time, unlike our Native American flutes where the ring finger or 4th hole up from the bottom stays covered always, to make the pentatonic scale. The bison flute scared Chip's dog Lucy. Must be the deep sound, the key that Lary got me is D.
We had a delicious turkey dinner that Wendy had made, and got to know Bronwen's family a bit more, Sydney is 12 and a very good competitive swimmer like her Mom used to be, and Cameron is 8, a bit shy but a mad keen player of games, so we had fun playing some of the new games and toys that they got for Christmas. We had taken some of our flutes to show Sydney and Cameron, but they didn't seem very interested in them.
We left around 8:30 or so, Wendy sent us home with some lovely presents, and more for Lary's birthday on the 27th. My favourite present was a wee art picture that Wendy got me, it is painted on sandstone, and is from Oatman, Arizona. They got it when we 4 went to Laughlin, Nevada and then over into Oatman, AZ last year on our bus trip with the Catalina travel club.
We had forgotten how much energy young kids have, and especially at Christmas time, with all that rich food, candy and new and exciting toys etc.
It seems amazing that young kids nowadays have electronic toys worth so much money, Cameron had 2 electronic gadgets, he had bought them both with his own money, but each one was worth about $200. I didn't even know what one was, though I think the other was an I Pod. We aren't up on the latest things that kids now consider essential. And of course they have cut their teeth on computers and the like, unlike our generation who had to learn them later in our lives.
After dinner there was a long Skype conversation to the family back in Nelson, so that is how they manage to keep in touch with each other. And Sydney can text her friend in Nelson using her I Pod I believe. The kids' Dad Roger stayed home in Nelson, both for work, and I believe that a family member is quite ill.
Wendy and Dave had very pretty Christmas decorations up in their house, it looked very festive, and there was a brocade cranberry colored tablecloth and napkins on the table, very pretty.
The 26th sped by, it was warm once again so we could sit outside the front of the trailer and read our books, what luxury at this time of year.
They don't have Boxing Day like we do in Canada, but there were mega sales, and the traffic jams to prove it, too. Lots of people travelling at this time of year here too. We didn't do the sales, having a very small trailer is a good idea for me, as it curbs my shopping habits. Nowhere to put more stuff!!!!!!!
Today the 27th was Lary's birthday, he walked out in the desert early this morning, I exercised in the clubhouse with the ladies here, then he opened presents, I had found 3 nice Columbia shirts for him at Stein Mart which is kind of a discounter and hooray, they fit.
He also got a fiendish crossword book, Mensa level, and a Git R done ball cap. But Lary pointed out what I hadn't noticed on the front of the cap, you seem to be staring down the barrel of a gun pointed at you!!!!!! Hmmmmmm.
We have been munching on Wendy's yummy candy and really enjoying it, especially the tiger butter, and also there is Ghirardelli peppermint Bark with dark chocolate, it is ever so good.
Today being Tuesday we had soup at the clubhouse, turkey vegetable and also pea soup, with fresh Costco bread, yum yum, and tonight we are off to Agua Caliente Casino for Lary's birthday dinner.
Today we got a Christmas card from my friend Joan, in Barcelona, he was so thrilled to let me know that we met 32 years ago, (can't be, but it is!!!!) when I lived in a big group apartment with a bunch of Catalan speaking school teachers.
And we got another Christmas card from my friend Lesley who we don't see very much any more, as she lives on the mainland and we on Vancouver Island, but the card itself is one that her Mum painted, a Christmas cowboy scene, so sweet and touching.
I am just thrilled to have it as Lesley's Mum Becky just passed away this year, well in to her nineties. She was a wonderful artist, and a very lovely person. She spent her last thirty years or so in Kelowna, her birth city, I believe. Lary and I used to visit her up there, but we hadn't seen her recently either.
The warm weather is holding for the moment, and looks as if we'll continue having temps in the 70s for New Year's too. Whoo hoo.
There is a desert church not that far from us, called St Anthony's Episcopal church where we attended Christmas Eve service last year and really enjoyed it, so this year we returned there, service at 7 PM, but this time we took a big plate of chocolate chip cookies as a contribution to the snack that they serve after the service. We met Wendy and Dave, their daughter Bronwen, and her daughter and son, Sydney and Cameron, there too.
Cameron was asked by the minister if he would carry baby Jesus up to the creche at the front of the church, and put him in it, at the beginning of the service, so he did that. Wendy kept him company, as he wasn't completely sure about going with new people he didn't know, it was so sweet to see. A lot of the congregation are very elderly, what a breath of fresh air to have some young people there at the service.
It was mostly carols, and readings, with a very good soprano singer too. And there was communion. Afterwards Wendy and Dave didn't stay for the food, but we did. It was mostly finger food, but it's a very nice gesture by the congregation to feed folks who they don't really know or see very often, at least in our case. There weren't many in attendance that night. ?They all greet and shake hands with each other during the service, which we aren't used to in our churches.
Christmas Day we opened our presents, the new Pendleton jacket is a big hit and very attractive, Lary bought 2 pairs of black jeans and slacks to go with it. And I called Sue, Jen and Hannah, and Lary called his mum and Barb, his sister. Lary gave me a buffalo horn flute, see below.
It would have been warm enough to swim Christmas day around noon, but we didn't, we were invited to Wendy and Dave's for dinner with their family at 4 PM, so off we went. We visited our friend Chip on the way, and had a Christmas toast with a bottle of champagne at his house, which was very neat of him to offer us. It was great to touch bases with him, especially when we don't have flute lessons right now during the holidays. I showed him my new bison horn flute that Lary had got me, it is lovely, and very unusual. I am so thrilled to have it. It is a shiny pointy black horn, very curved, with 5 holes in it.
You play it by lifting all 5 fingers off the holes, one at a time, unlike our Native American flutes where the ring finger or 4th hole up from the bottom stays covered always, to make the pentatonic scale. The bison flute scared Chip's dog Lucy. Must be the deep sound, the key that Lary got me is D.
We had a delicious turkey dinner that Wendy had made, and got to know Bronwen's family a bit more, Sydney is 12 and a very good competitive swimmer like her Mom used to be, and Cameron is 8, a bit shy but a mad keen player of games, so we had fun playing some of the new games and toys that they got for Christmas. We had taken some of our flutes to show Sydney and Cameron, but they didn't seem very interested in them.
We left around 8:30 or so, Wendy sent us home with some lovely presents, and more for Lary's birthday on the 27th. My favourite present was a wee art picture that Wendy got me, it is painted on sandstone, and is from Oatman, Arizona. They got it when we 4 went to Laughlin, Nevada and then over into Oatman, AZ last year on our bus trip with the Catalina travel club.
We had forgotten how much energy young kids have, and especially at Christmas time, with all that rich food, candy and new and exciting toys etc.
It seems amazing that young kids nowadays have electronic toys worth so much money, Cameron had 2 electronic gadgets, he had bought them both with his own money, but each one was worth about $200. I didn't even know what one was, though I think the other was an I Pod. We aren't up on the latest things that kids now consider essential. And of course they have cut their teeth on computers and the like, unlike our generation who had to learn them later in our lives.
After dinner there was a long Skype conversation to the family back in Nelson, so that is how they manage to keep in touch with each other. And Sydney can text her friend in Nelson using her I Pod I believe. The kids' Dad Roger stayed home in Nelson, both for work, and I believe that a family member is quite ill.
Wendy and Dave had very pretty Christmas decorations up in their house, it looked very festive, and there was a brocade cranberry colored tablecloth and napkins on the table, very pretty.
The 26th sped by, it was warm once again so we could sit outside the front of the trailer and read our books, what luxury at this time of year.
They don't have Boxing Day like we do in Canada, but there were mega sales, and the traffic jams to prove it, too. Lots of people travelling at this time of year here too. We didn't do the sales, having a very small trailer is a good idea for me, as it curbs my shopping habits. Nowhere to put more stuff!!!!!!!
Today the 27th was Lary's birthday, he walked out in the desert early this morning, I exercised in the clubhouse with the ladies here, then he opened presents, I had found 3 nice Columbia shirts for him at Stein Mart which is kind of a discounter and hooray, they fit.
He also got a fiendish crossword book, Mensa level, and a Git R done ball cap. But Lary pointed out what I hadn't noticed on the front of the cap, you seem to be staring down the barrel of a gun pointed at you!!!!!! Hmmmmmm.
We have been munching on Wendy's yummy candy and really enjoying it, especially the tiger butter, and also there is Ghirardelli peppermint Bark with dark chocolate, it is ever so good.
Today being Tuesday we had soup at the clubhouse, turkey vegetable and also pea soup, with fresh Costco bread, yum yum, and tonight we are off to Agua Caliente Casino for Lary's birthday dinner.
Today we got a Christmas card from my friend Joan, in Barcelona, he was so thrilled to let me know that we met 32 years ago, (can't be, but it is!!!!) when I lived in a big group apartment with a bunch of Catalan speaking school teachers.
And we got another Christmas card from my friend Lesley who we don't see very much any more, as she lives on the mainland and we on Vancouver Island, but the card itself is one that her Mum painted, a Christmas cowboy scene, so sweet and touching.
I am just thrilled to have it as Lesley's Mum Becky just passed away this year, well in to her nineties. She was a wonderful artist, and a very lovely person. She spent her last thirty years or so in Kelowna, her birth city, I believe. Lary and I used to visit her up there, but we hadn't seen her recently either.
The warm weather is holding for the moment, and looks as if we'll continue having temps in the 70s for New Year's too. Whoo hoo.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Unexpected trip to Laughlin, Nevada
Lary had admired an attractive wool jacket that our friend Chip was wearing, it was made by Pendleton, wool, with a kind of indian style pattern on the front. Black in color, black sleeves, and pattern across the chest and back. So I thought it would be a great Christmas present for him.
I checked the Pendleton website, and there was a 2X one available which I ordered on line, but at the end of the order it kind of went awry, so I picked up the phone and called the order desk. The man who answered said that they were all out, and had no idea when they would be made again. Hmmm.
So then Lary and I remembered the Pendleton outlet store in Laughlin Nevada about 3 and a half hours from us here. He called them, and they put aside both a 2X and a 3X for us to come and get the following day.
Bright and early on Wednesday we headed off east toward Laughlin, it was sunny with no wind, so a perfect day for driving there. Arrived about 11:30, found the jacket at the store, and the 3X fit beautifully, so we bought it, and did a bit more retail therapy until we had to leave about 1:30 to come back home. It is a small gambling town on the border of Nevada and Arizona, but we had to bypass those pleasures for another day.
Got back home and Lary headed off alone into Palm Springs, there was an Opera tribute to Mario Lanza whose music I don't enjoy, so I stayed home and he attended it and enjoyed it a lot. I hadn't realized that Mario Lanza died at age 38. I watched a nice TV Christmas special called A Home for the Holidays, hosted by Martina McBride about adoption of children, and what a need there still is for families to adopt children of all ages here in the U.S. It was very moving and had lovely Christmas music on it, so both of us enjoyed our evening entertainment.
Today is Thursday, so that's coffee and donuts at the clubhouse at 9 AM, together with a short business meeting. They have just installed new countertops in the clubhouse kitchen area, as well as 2 commercial ovens, and kind of redesigned the whole kitchen/storage areas, so that is great.
Kitchen countertop would have looked lovely in our park model, just the right colours.
A winter storm has arrived here bringing no rain but fierce winds. Desert winter. Lucky it didn't blow when we were doing all that driving yesterday.
I checked the Pendleton website, and there was a 2X one available which I ordered on line, but at the end of the order it kind of went awry, so I picked up the phone and called the order desk. The man who answered said that they were all out, and had no idea when they would be made again. Hmmm.
So then Lary and I remembered the Pendleton outlet store in Laughlin Nevada about 3 and a half hours from us here. He called them, and they put aside both a 2X and a 3X for us to come and get the following day.
Bright and early on Wednesday we headed off east toward Laughlin, it was sunny with no wind, so a perfect day for driving there. Arrived about 11:30, found the jacket at the store, and the 3X fit beautifully, so we bought it, and did a bit more retail therapy until we had to leave about 1:30 to come back home. It is a small gambling town on the border of Nevada and Arizona, but we had to bypass those pleasures for another day.
Got back home and Lary headed off alone into Palm Springs, there was an Opera tribute to Mario Lanza whose music I don't enjoy, so I stayed home and he attended it and enjoyed it a lot. I hadn't realized that Mario Lanza died at age 38. I watched a nice TV Christmas special called A Home for the Holidays, hosted by Martina McBride about adoption of children, and what a need there still is for families to adopt children of all ages here in the U.S. It was very moving and had lovely Christmas music on it, so both of us enjoyed our evening entertainment.
Today is Thursday, so that's coffee and donuts at the clubhouse at 9 AM, together with a short business meeting. They have just installed new countertops in the clubhouse kitchen area, as well as 2 commercial ovens, and kind of redesigned the whole kitchen/storage areas, so that is great.
Kitchen countertop would have looked lovely in our park model, just the right colours.
A winter storm has arrived here bringing no rain but fierce winds. Desert winter. Lucky it didn't blow when we were doing all that driving yesterday.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Happy birthday Di December 19th
I had a lovely birthday day. Lary gave me a pretty card, a digital metronome, and a music stand so I can read music, as I am currently playing Christmas carols, which I need the notes for. The best part was it was bright and sunny, and I went to exercise, and walked 3 miles with the ladies in the clubhouse. We use a DVD made by Leslie Sansone, I just found one at Walmart. Lary serenaded the desert when he walked outside our park for his exercise this morning.
Then we had a treat breakfast of pancakes and bacon, (doesn't take much to please us) and went off to meet Annie and Chip at Burgers and Beer in Rancho Mirage near Chip's house. Yum yum, we ladies ate cobb salad, the men (flutie brothers) ate burgers, and we had a lazy time chatting with each other til about 3 PM.
Lary and I did a bit of retail damage, and then at about 7:30 we returned to Miracle Springs hotel and spa for a delicious dinner, New York steak for Lary and steak and scampi for me. Good service, grand prices, and a nice atmosphere.
We discovered from the waiter Neil that the Capri restaurant had been lower down in Desert Hot Springs, and it just moved in September into Miracle Springs Hotel. It is very nice, and quite quiet on a Monday night, though there appeared to be some folks staying at the hotel. It has 8 pools and a lovely spa, so guess it is a nice destination for some people. Some rooms have pool views, other rooms have mountain views.
Today Tuesday we went over to get one of Lary's Phonac hearing aids repaired, it needed to be sent back to the factory for repairs, so now he's only one eared for a time. The technician was very nice, originally from Holland, now here for 16 years, and married to an American that he met while traveling.
We had a late lunch at a Mexican place, it was good and filling too.
Lazy afternoon, we have been searching for a Pendleton jacket for Lary, the factory is all sold out, but we located one over in Laughlin, Nevada, so they are holding it til we arrive tomorrow. It's about 3 hours from here.
Tomorrow Wednesday Lary is going to a Mario Lanza tribute concert in the evening, but I am not going as I don't enjoy his voice at all for some reason. Hope we get back from Laughlin in time, the show is at 7 PM in Palm Springs at the Annenberg Theatre.
Then we had a treat breakfast of pancakes and bacon, (doesn't take much to please us) and went off to meet Annie and Chip at Burgers and Beer in Rancho Mirage near Chip's house. Yum yum, we ladies ate cobb salad, the men (flutie brothers) ate burgers, and we had a lazy time chatting with each other til about 3 PM.
Lary and I did a bit of retail damage, and then at about 7:30 we returned to Miracle Springs hotel and spa for a delicious dinner, New York steak for Lary and steak and scampi for me. Good service, grand prices, and a nice atmosphere.
We discovered from the waiter Neil that the Capri restaurant had been lower down in Desert Hot Springs, and it just moved in September into Miracle Springs Hotel. It is very nice, and quite quiet on a Monday night, though there appeared to be some folks staying at the hotel. It has 8 pools and a lovely spa, so guess it is a nice destination for some people. Some rooms have pool views, other rooms have mountain views.
Today Tuesday we went over to get one of Lary's Phonac hearing aids repaired, it needed to be sent back to the factory for repairs, so now he's only one eared for a time. The technician was very nice, originally from Holland, now here for 16 years, and married to an American that he met while traveling.
We had a late lunch at a Mexican place, it was good and filling too.
Lazy afternoon, we have been searching for a Pendleton jacket for Lary, the factory is all sold out, but we located one over in Laughlin, Nevada, so they are holding it til we arrive tomorrow. It's about 3 hours from here.
Tomorrow Wednesday Lary is going to a Mario Lanza tribute concert in the evening, but I am not going as I don't enjoy his voice at all for some reason. Hope we get back from Laughlin in time, the show is at 7 PM in Palm Springs at the Annenberg Theatre.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Lazy Sunday here in DHS
Woke up this morning and Wendy and Dave came over for a very quick cup of coffee and to drop off a birthday present for me as they are heading off to San Diego with their daughter and grandkids for a couple of nights.
Their daughter and her family had missed their flight last night, due to icy fog, so they overnighted in Spokane I think it was, then flew down today, arriving at noon.
Wendy and Dave gave me a lovely bone china strawberry mug, a matching coaster for it, and a small tray that also matches. Then they gave me a bookmark that Wendy had made, and a lovely soft turquoise blue shawl. Wendy had made the sweet birthday card too.
And a box of Wendy's homemade candy. Well the candy disappeared rapidly, it was just delicious, my personal favourite was the peanut butter tasting slice, but there were 2 kinds of whaite chocolate bark, and a chocolate covered thin bar.
It rained a little today, but feels a bit warmer, perhaps due to the rain, so we kind of stayed put in the house, I Di played Christmas carols on my flutes, and Lary read.
Then we put up a small string of lights around our stairs again, the last string broke just as I finished duct taping it in place. Grrrrr.
Had leftovers for dinner and now Lary is watching the final episode of Survivor. I am organizing a cupboard.
Their daughter and her family had missed their flight last night, due to icy fog, so they overnighted in Spokane I think it was, then flew down today, arriving at noon.
Wendy and Dave gave me a lovely bone china strawberry mug, a matching coaster for it, and a small tray that also matches. Then they gave me a bookmark that Wendy had made, and a lovely soft turquoise blue shawl. Wendy had made the sweet birthday card too.
And a box of Wendy's homemade candy. Well the candy disappeared rapidly, it was just delicious, my personal favourite was the peanut butter tasting slice, but there were 2 kinds of whaite chocolate bark, and a chocolate covered thin bar.
It rained a little today, but feels a bit warmer, perhaps due to the rain, so we kind of stayed put in the house, I Di played Christmas carols on my flutes, and Lary read.
Then we put up a small string of lights around our stairs again, the last string broke just as I finished duct taping it in place. Grrrrr.
Had leftovers for dinner and now Lary is watching the final episode of Survivor. I am organizing a cupboard.
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