We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We have not posted for some time, and on Monday I ran into a new RV'er in the park who reads our blog, and I humbly mentioned how tardy I have been with posting.
I must say how very very lucky we are to be in place this winter with friends who are so supportive and caring. We would like to let everyone know how very thankful we are.
I have booked the north hall here at the Sands, and 16 of these extra special people are gathering tomorrow for Christmas Dinner ( after golfing, of course ). Our duties are to cook two small turkeys, one fresh, one that was frozen so we have a bit of a " taste test " just for fun. We also managed to get a big bottle of Bicks Mixed pickles before we left home, as with all the myriad grocery stores in the Coachella Valley, there is no such thing as mixed pickles. Music is supplied by our Sirius satellite radio and its boombox.
Friday we are off to San Marcos with Rick and Paulette, which is a real treat! Of course, yes, quilting will be in the agenda. Come on, what else????
Donald has been busy baking his birthday cake for the end of January. Yes, it has to sit for a month.
Take a look at Paulette's blog today to see what I've been up to!
Saturday I fly off to Toronto for an indeterminate amount of time. More on that later. So, these wonderful group of friends will no doubt keep Donald busy when I'm gone. Do I have winter clothes? No. Brrrr.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Solar at the College of the Desert
Just day to day activities and nothing really exciting happening here in the Coachella Valley. WE attended American Thanksgiving at the main hall with 16 people at our table. It was of course way too much food, and way too early in the day at 2:00 pm. We will try for something different for Christmas dinner.
We hung out here for most of Black Friday, except a quick trip to the post office to mail a couple of parcels and we swung through Palm Springs and Tru Valu hardware, where there were no deals at all. In fact, way overpriced.
Today, after morning swimming, we enjoyed Pancake Breakfast in the main hall with friends, then off to the College of the Desert outdoor market. Plenty of people there, and our quest was for shorts for Donald. Quest successful. There have been some big changes to this outdoor market since we first started coming to the valley. It was quite small, and we used to park on the grass next to the parking lot where the market was. Now, there are further parking lots being used, the Ceollege has been redesigned, and the market is twice as big. The big change this year is that it is all under permanent hard cover, and this cover is all made of solar panels. Huge and good to see. We couldn't see where any battery banks would be, and there are big transformer type boxes in a number of areas, so perhaps they sell the excess back to the grid. I couldn't seem to be able to find any information about it.
Off to the neighbours for a burger tonight, and of course Heartbeat at 8:00 on Knowledge network.
Perhaps some skyping with the children.
We hung out here for most of Black Friday, except a quick trip to the post office to mail a couple of parcels and we swung through Palm Springs and Tru Valu hardware, where there were no deals at all. In fact, way overpriced.
Today, after morning swimming, we enjoyed Pancake Breakfast in the main hall with friends, then off to the College of the Desert outdoor market. Plenty of people there, and our quest was for shorts for Donald. Quest successful. There have been some big changes to this outdoor market since we first started coming to the valley. It was quite small, and we used to park on the grass next to the parking lot where the market was. Now, there are further parking lots being used, the Ceollege has been redesigned, and the market is twice as big. The big change this year is that it is all under permanent hard cover, and this cover is all made of solar panels. Huge and good to see. We couldn't see where any battery banks would be, and there are big transformer type boxes in a number of areas, so perhaps they sell the excess back to the grid. I couldn't seem to be able to find any information about it.
Off to the neighbours for a burger tonight, and of course Heartbeat at 8:00 on Knowledge network.
Perhaps some skyping with the children.
Friday, November 15, 2013
StreetFest in PS
I was waiting till I got down to the valley for a haircut, and my friend, Karen, called our favorite hairdresser, Stephan, to set us up yesterday morning. Three of us went, and even though he takes a long time, we had our cuts and then went off to see if there was any bargains at Steinmart. There were not, and most of the clothes were winter related - big heavy sweaters, long pants. When it's 90F outside, who wants to look at those clothes?
Last evening was the StreetFest in Palm Springs, which happens every Thursday evening. We joined some of our neighbours for a burger, and then walked the blocks, looking at all the wares and 'art' and seeing nothing much of interest. Well, other than all the dogs in various get-ups! It was quite busy as just as many people wandering as when the winter season is in full swing here. We tend to park behind the Marilyn statue if we can as there is a large parking lot there and central to the hub of activity. The statue is always busy, and a draw to those visiting Palm Springs. People like to get their picture taken underneath her legs. Hairdresser Stephan informed me that there have been over 50 weddings recently and that Marilyn's legs are the place for your wedding photo!
Last evening was the StreetFest in Palm Springs, which happens every Thursday evening. We joined some of our neighbours for a burger, and then walked the blocks, looking at all the wares and 'art' and seeing nothing much of interest. Well, other than all the dogs in various get-ups! It was quite busy as just as many people wandering as when the winter season is in full swing here. We tend to park behind the Marilyn statue if we can as there is a large parking lot there and central to the hub of activity. The statue is always busy, and a draw to those visiting Palm Springs. People like to get their picture taken underneath her legs. Hairdresser Stephan informed me that there have been over 50 weddings recently and that Marilyn's legs are the place for your wedding photo!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
A crunch at Costco
The morning was beautiful yesterday, so I completed some laps in the pool and then a very good water aerobic workout with the gals at 8:30. We didn't have very much on the agenda, so some grocery shopping went to the top of the list. The other day, we went to W*mart in Palm Springs, but we found it so very hectic and long lineups. Well, there is more than one wally world here, so yesterday we tried the one in Palm Desert. Much better. Well, and while we were there Costco was calling us, and of course the cheap lunch there. Great slice of pizza. It is also a good way to talk to complete strangers, as tables have to be shared at lunch time.
Back at the ranch, we relaxed as the day turned out hazy but hot ( 90 F ). Tomorrow is my first Wednesday quilting day and I am quite excited about that. Donald and his buddies are off on a road trip to Camping World someplace west of here. He tried crib night last evening at the main hall. Said it was ok, but that all the many games took too long. Of course, he was not the big winner, and lost his 50 cents, so that makes a guy pretty sad.
Oh yes. When we were at Costco, we saw an accident. The parking lot there has some "garden islands" with palm trees, some cactus like plants and sandy dirt. Very nicely done. Some fellow must have hit the gas instead of the brake pulling into his parking spot, and jumped the curb of this island and we think only the palm tree there stopped him altogether. Oh my. We missed the initial hit, but watched him try to back out, with a car that had a low front bumper. OUCH! Who knows how much damage he did. Poor fellow.
Back at the ranch, we relaxed as the day turned out hazy but hot ( 90 F ). Tomorrow is my first Wednesday quilting day and I am quite excited about that. Donald and his buddies are off on a road trip to Camping World someplace west of here. He tried crib night last evening at the main hall. Said it was ok, but that all the many games took too long. Of course, he was not the big winner, and lost his 50 cents, so that makes a guy pretty sad.
Oh yes. When we were at Costco, we saw an accident. The parking lot there has some "garden islands" with palm trees, some cactus like plants and sandy dirt. Very nicely done. Some fellow must have hit the gas instead of the brake pulling into his parking spot, and jumped the curb of this island and we think only the palm tree there stopped him altogether. Oh my. We missed the initial hit, but watched him try to back out, with a car that had a low front bumper. OUCH! Who knows how much damage he did. Poor fellow.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
hanging out at the park
The park staff managed to get most of the weeds and trimmed some of the oleander bushes around our site before we got here, as we had emailed ahead of time to give them a heads up on our arrival. When the park is in full swing just after Christmas, it's hard to get on their list of sites to 'garden up' so to speak. They left the oleander bushes at the back of the lot alone, which was great, so we could decide ourselves how much to lop off. Donald trimmed about half their height off, to about 4.5 feet. We just leave the trimmings in the wash for the landscape crew to pick up. We choose to move our rv as close to the street front of the lot as possible giving us a large backyard. With the oleander hedge it should be great.
Yesterday we stuck around, doing a few chores and visiting. Our next door neighbours from Edmonton showed up just before lunch, so now Donald got to be one of the supervisors to watch their production. Hmmph. Not much to watch as it was one back up and done. Good for them! Of course, we were excited to see sweet Ellie Mae, their golden doodle, who spent a couple of hours with us while they did their set up thing.
Now, those of you who would rather read about guy things, well, skip this paragraph. I spent most of the afternoon organizing my little sewing area, in the corner of one of the slides. Ok Paulette: as per request: things are hopping already in the clubhouse. On Friday, seven of us ( Gwen, Anne, me, Deb, Karen, Doris, Norma ) went to all three shops in the valley. We have a bag project that most of us are doing - gifts for the office staff for Christmas. It is a pattern that Doris made! Joanne's had a sale on batting (40 off) and Olfa mats and cutters ( 40 off ) and then we had coupons ( yah!) for 25 percent of our entire order. Whoo hoo. The back of Gwen's van was full of batting and pellon.
It is wonderful to be back to early morning swimming in the pool and even though I didn't have time on Friday with the shop hop to swim, the pool was closed for cleaning and I wouldn't have been able to anyway. Just like last season, I am the only person there doing lap swimming in the morning.
Today, of course, is NFL day, so guess what we're doing. A swim in the morning ( come on, Karen and join me!) and then catch our wonderful boys. Go Seahawks.
Yesterday we stuck around, doing a few chores and visiting. Our next door neighbours from Edmonton showed up just before lunch, so now Donald got to be one of the supervisors to watch their production. Hmmph. Not much to watch as it was one back up and done. Good for them! Of course, we were excited to see sweet Ellie Mae, their golden doodle, who spent a couple of hours with us while they did their set up thing.
Now, those of you who would rather read about guy things, well, skip this paragraph. I spent most of the afternoon organizing my little sewing area, in the corner of one of the slides. Ok Paulette: as per request: things are hopping already in the clubhouse. On Friday, seven of us ( Gwen, Anne, me, Deb, Karen, Doris, Norma ) went to all three shops in the valley. We have a bag project that most of us are doing - gifts for the office staff for Christmas. It is a pattern that Doris made! Joanne's had a sale on batting (40 off) and Olfa mats and cutters ( 40 off ) and then we had coupons ( yah!) for 25 percent of our entire order. Whoo hoo. The back of Gwen's van was full of batting and pellon.
It is wonderful to be back to early morning swimming in the pool and even though I didn't have time on Friday with the shop hop to swim, the pool was closed for cleaning and I wouldn't have been able to anyway. Just like last season, I am the only person there doing lap swimming in the morning.
Today, of course, is NFL day, so guess what we're doing. A swim in the morning ( come on, Karen and join me!) and then catch our wonderful boys. Go Seahawks.
 | ||
| Karen's one of a kind golf cart. Purpose: to carry sewing machine to the north hall. You thought golf? |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
