There be dinosaurs .....

Oh my, I may need to change my ways and become one of the bloggers who post only once a week listing every day, for I am ' very tardy ' in my postings. The weather in Palm Springs continues to be beautiful, with hardly any wind.. now that I've said it that, we'll get a howler for sure. We seem to be avid weather report watchers ( aren't all Canadians? ) but we get a kick out of the extended forecasts for this area, as how do you describe each day differently when the weather is the same? So, you change the forecast slightly: brilliant sunshine, full sunshine, plenty of sun, sunshine and warm, sun with a few clouds and so on. Whatever way it is described, we'll take it and enjoy it.

Saturday we took a drive over to Temecula to have lunch, and perhaps a midweek day would have been better as the town was very busy.  Lots of bikers and some really neat cars.

The paint job would certainly not be what we would choose, but it is different! Sunday found us at the College of the Desert Street Fair, held every weekend.  Donald's sisters found some good licorice and a couple of items, and it looks like we may be going back with them before they leave for the frozen north. Speaking of which, is not very frozen this year.  Our nephew in Calgary was out painting trim on his house a couple of days ago.

Monday was a chores day, and yesterday found us off to a great adventure to Borrego Springs.  I had downloaded the map to the Galleta Meadows Sculptures before we went, so we were somewhat prepared.  First stop was a visit to the Information Centre at the State Park Office ( wonderful facility!) to take in a 15 minute movie, which was very well done, of the seasons in the Park.

Next back to Christmas Circle in town for a picnic lunch, and then we started touring the sculptures. Fun.

We were truly amazed at the amount of detail that the sculptor had put into each very individual piece throughout the valley.  There are no signs directing you to each of these, but there are maps available in town and of course online.  The Guide to Borrego Springs has an excellent map, with descriptions, although they are very brief.

My favorite was the serpent, who had parts on each side the road.  Louise thought that perhaps she could be the one to show how large the metal sculptures are. 

We all got in on the act!

We left Borrego on a different road ( S22 ) than we came in on, so we checked out a few boondocking spots and stopped at a great overlook point of the valley to take more pictures.  Back at the Sands, the gals had earlier prepared chicken enchiladas, so dinner was ready lickety split! Mucho delicious and a great end to the day.

Vinarterta Recipe

Last night we spoke to our youngest son, who was dismayed that his Aunts has brought Vinarterta to Desert Hot Springs..." send some here...pleeeezzz.....". For those who have requested, Donald has been using a combination of recipes: one that his sister uses, handed down from his mother and his Icelandic grandmother, and one from the Winnipeg Free Press.  Now, there is a debate whether a true Vinarterta should be iced or not, and it was always iced in his grandmothers house. We talked it over at lunch today, and his sisters felt that it is better to be iced to keep the cake from drying out.  Paulette noted that her family's recipe was not iced. All a matter of taste!


Six Layer Vinarterta ( from the Winnipeg Free Press )

Cookie/Torte Layers:
1 c butter
1 1/2 C. fine white sugar
2 large eggs
4 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 TB almond extract
2 TB heavy cream

Prune Filling:
1 lb pitted prunes ( Costco has 2 lb bags of very fresh prunes )
2 C water
1 TB Cardamom ( traditional, a must )
1 C sugar
1TB cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

To make the torte or cookie layers: Cream butter and sugar, gradually adding eggs one at a time. Work in the dry ingredients to the first mixture. Add cream and almond extract. Mix well. Divide into 6 balls, and pat each ball into a round shape on the upside down,back of a round cake pan. Bake each for 10-12 minutes at 375F. They will become hard when cooled, sort of like a giant shortbread cookie.

To make prune filling: Simmer prunes in water for 15 minutes, then puree in a blender till a smooth paste. Return them to the pot, add sugar, cinnamon and bring to a boil. Take off the stove and add the vanilla. Let cool.

When the cookies are hard and the prune mix is cooled, spread and divide the prune mix between the layers, ending with a cookie layer on top.

Butter Icing:

2 TB butter
1 C Icing Sugar
1 1/2 tsp milk
1/2 tsp almond extract


When you have finished the cake, you can let it sit in your fridge or freezer for a month( wrapped in plastic wrap )... you want the prune filling to soften the hard cookie layers and the spices to liven up!

We cut the cake by slicing into a 1 inch large cut across the cake, then by slicing the other way about a inch. It is very, very rich so these small pieces are all you need.

Cutting those small pieces should make this treat last, but, alas it never does.... when large family gatherings are happenings, the cake is hidden away and then doled out carefully!

Before we started on the road, Donald was making 3 of these cakes at Christmas, as parts were given as gifts and our sons looked forward to their 'slice of home'.

I think it's about time they learned to make it themselves...hmmmm boys?

Vinatarta and Bunny!

Sorry, missed yet another day in posting. Yesterday was quilting ( yahoo!) and Dona took his sisters and BIL grocery shopping to restock their pantry, and pick up a few things for dinner with Rick and Paulette.  We have borrowed a twin airbed for them for sister #1, and we are very grateful.  The highlight of the evening was an early birthday cake for Donald - it is not till the end of the month, but #1 managed to bake and bring a Vinatarta cake ( Icelandic cake ) to Desert Hot Springs.  It turns out that Paulette is also of Icelandic heritage ( both her parents ) and she has not had this special cake since many moons ago ( we won't say how long ).  It was very much enjoyed.  Donald also requested , pushy as he is, for his sisters to bring some 'bunny' as well. He likes to add Nestle's Quik to his coffee instead of sugar, and he cannot get it anywhere here.  No wonder they said their luggage was so heavy checking in! It was a grand surprise for him. 

After that busy night, we recovered today by hanging out around the park, taking in the pool this afternoon and visits to neighbours.  We made an early reservation for 5 pm to Las Casuelas Terrazo in Palm Springs, and it seemed like everyone else in Palm Springs had the same idea. Busy!! Then we took in the Street Fest, enjoying the booths, the people watching and the wonderful Boys and Girls Club Jazz Band.  Great night, except that I forgot my camera - darn!

Pictures mothers do not want their sons to see

The family gang were pretty tired after their flight from Edmonton, so after a day of kickin' back, we headed to Joshua Tree National Park.  I purchased an annual National Parks pass last year, and we used it enough all last year to pay it off, and now we are on the 'free' side of the coin!  Weird thing though, we had to show the pass to get out of the park.  Hmm.

we found the fault!

Hanging out at Keys View, up about 4500 feet more than our abodes!

Yesterday was the perfect day to travel to the park, as it was cooler than the valley, no wind and we had a great clear view at the top to see the Salton Sea and Mexico, as well as the San Andreas Fault.  BIL "B" was exceptional at spying things to look at, and he noticed some slacklining going on - how do they know? Our nephew, their son, has been to the Park climbing.  However, his mother did not want any pictures shown to him to encourage more of this behaviour - too late!

It was fun to watch the climbers, as they climbed up to this point and then the brave ones travelling back and forth on multiple lines strung across the high rocks. Some of us ( the mothers?) didn't think it was that much fun, as I think we all kept thinking that our sons should not know about this! And yet, all our boys have those little ballerina climbing shoes....

do you see them?

These guys were not using any safety lines...

Of course, no beautiful day is perfect without that pic -a - nic lunch.  Some areas, near bottles bins, had lots of wasps hanging about, but we managed to find an area with none of the pesky insects about and had a great break.

And on tap for today? Grocery shopping, dinner preparations and quilting for Kim. Fun. ( well, for me anyway ).

Whew! Good thing B brought shorts form the frozen north!

family visits....

After an extremely long morning of travel from Edmonton, Donald's sisters and BIL are here for a month to take in the sunshine and sights.  They have rented a park model down the street from us, and it is very handy.  Of course, they left the Edmonton abode very early to catch their flight, and booked a taxi to the airport long in advance, knowing that on New Years Eve, it would have been impossible otherwise. ( at 3 in the am! )

Today we might be off to see Thousand Palms, and enjoy some cooler temperatures under the big palm trees. Yep, it's warm...poor us.

ttyl