Friday, March 30, 2007

Hummers


Hummers
Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Hummers


Hummers
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Finally caught our hummingbirds on the patio!

Goodbye Palm Springs!


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
We leave tomorrow and the two months have gone by very fast...hard to believe it's been that long!

We'll be packing up today and sticking around the pool. We had a super lunch at Spencer's at the Mountain yesterday....a fabulous ribeye steak encrusted with blue cheese and wonderful salad and sorbet. A first class restaurant. We wish we had discovered it earlier. As always around here people watching is great. There were some old show business dears performing in the local Palm Springs Follies beside us and it was quite amusing to overhear some of the showbiz memories.

Goodbye blue skies, nice weather, no rain...
Welcome our home the wet coast...

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Palm Desert Civic Park


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Yeah....I guess "No Swimming" and
"No Fishing" are good ideas.

Palm Desert Civic Park


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
I'm not quite sure what this black swan is saying to the duck while his/her partner is sleeping...

Palm Desert Civic Park


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Desert Civic Park


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
A wonderful facility...walking trails and recreational facilities of all kinds.

Palm Desert Art


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
This one is called "The Dreamer"...I love it!

Palm Desert Art


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
This artwork is called "Desert Toad".

Palm Desert Art


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Desert Art


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Desert Art


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Palm Desert has some great civic art. I really like this one called "Recycle Binney Baja Palapa". This project if part of the Baja-themed garden along Fred Waring Drive that starts with sample plantings in the highlands, then proceeds to the desert, and ends at the coastal region. More than 100 Palm Desert residents particpated in a workshop directed by the artists to create some of the mosaics that embellish the column.

What a great idea for community art!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

For Ingo

We woke today to the unhappy news from Germany that Ingo had lost his battle with cancer. He was a lovely young man who was just about to begin his career in teaching when his cancer returned a few months ago. We will always have a happy memory of Ingo singing joyfully at the Huxley conference in Riga. Our hearts go out to our friends, Bernfried and Ellen, and Ingo's brother, Henning, at this very painful time. Ingo is now at peace and we hope you will find your own peace.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

A crow...yikes!


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
We have been enjoying the lovely songbirds and hadn't seen or heard a crow until the other day when we were far from our usual stamping grounds. Our birds really just chirp...the birds around here really sing...except the crow that made the usual racquet.

I loved this mailbox!


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Parking...


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Jim pulled into this space but then decided to not stay...actually was a day when he was in town.

Rain in the desert!


Rain in the desert!
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Quite an amazing wind and rain storm today...short lived but they did get a decent amount of rain which everyone will be grateful for. It was the first time we have used our windshield wipers in two months. Back to great weather tomorrow so will be enjoying our golf game.

Palm Springs Art Museum - glass


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Springs Art Museum - glass


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
People in glass houses...

Palm Springs Art Museum - glass


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Springs Art Museum - glass


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Springs Art Museum - glass


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Springs Art Museum - glass


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
There is a new section of the gallery devoted to glass works of art...very impressive.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Fountain in our patio


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
We've really been enjoying this fountain and will miss the sound of falling water. I think we may have to get one for home. We've especially enjoyed seeing all the hummingbirds drinking from it. I have tried to get a photo of that but haven't managed it yet. There are an amazing number of hummingbirds around our place although people here say there are fewer this year because fewer blossoms because of the freeze in January.

I bought a little book on hummingbirds that states that "the experts say they can't fly, but they do, they can sing, but they try, they can't perch, but they do. It appears they confound the experts by defying the laws of gravity and the laws of nature.

They can't smell and are attracted to the flowers stricly by colour...red being their favouite. On an average day the hungry hummer will go smorgasbording on about 1500 flowers...wow!

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Miniatures- Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Backstage at the circus...isn't this wonderful! Now, wouldn't a circus dollhouse have been a fun thing to have.

Miniatures- Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
This is a view from the White House...forget what.

Miniatures- Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Chinese Laundry

I hope my blog readers enjoy the miniatures too...I guess my unfulfilled longing for a dollhouse accounts for loving these.

Miniatures- Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Italian Village...can always tell Italy because of the dull coloured shutters. I really missed the bright colours from the south of France.

Miniatures- Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Hong Kong Harbour...it didn't look much different when I was there.

Miniatures- Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
New Orleans Kitchen

Friday, March 23, 2007

A very whimsical display!


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Interesting modernism architecture display.

Multicultural Modernism: The Work of Steven Ehrlich Architects.

Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Interesting modernism architecture display.

Multicultural Modernism: The Work of Steven Ehrlich Architects.

Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Palm Springs Art Museum


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
It's free after 4pm on Thursdays so great day to go before having dinner and hitting the night market.

Looks like rain but...


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Certainly looked like it was going to rain big time but just a few drops in the end. It seems it's now pretty much the end of the rainy season so it looks like this area will only be getting the half inch it's had so far.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Cactus Garden


Cactus Garden
Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Cactus Garden


Cactus Garden
Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Cactus Garden


Cactus Garden
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
11 x 14 acrylic on canvas

Jim played golf yesterday and I finally got around to finishing this. We have enjoyed this patio so much and this will be a great little souvenir.

Orange Tree Blossoms


Orange Tree Blossoms
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
We ate the last orange on our tree about a week ago and now it is starting to blossom again. What a wonderful scent especially at night time...according to Alan the physics are that the molecules are not as active, hence the stronger smell. I think I got that right or perhaps it's the opposite. We were enjoying Margueritas at the time!

There are some wonderful songbirds around here. Last night we were sitting out on the patio and playing some Stephen Grappelli and Django Rheinhart and some bird really started responding to the music. I guess it was disappointed when no potential mate seemed to be about...

Monday, March 19, 2007

Officically hit over 100 a few days

Seems Palm Springs broke the previous record of 98 in 1972. I hope Susan and Alan aren't having too much difficulty adapting to the chilly rainy weather in Victoria...they did wistfully bid goodbye to the blue skies here.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

St. Patrick's Day in Palm Springs


St. Patrick's Day in Palm Springs
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
A sweet young thing told us they even make the rivers run green in New York!

Las Casuelas Restaurant


Las Casuelas Restaurant
Originally uploaded by jsexton.

Pinatas in Las Casuelas Restaurant


Las Casuelas Restaurant


Las Casuelas Restaurant
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
Susan and Alan took us to this restaurant last night and we all had a blast. Great Mexican food and a super band all ages were dancing to. A lot of Van Morrison tunes to celebrate St. Pat's Day. Palm Springs certainly swings on a Saturday night!

Friday, March 16, 2007

My favourite sign


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
This sign was looking pretty bedraggled when we first arrived as it really got hit in the bad Jan weather down here. The owners decided to do it up right and spent $9,000 refurbishing it. It's a wonderful old neon sign and it looked great coming back from the opera last night. Jim was driving like a bat out of hell as usual so didn't get a chance to get a photo of it at night time. Will have to see if I can get a decent photo at night before we leave.

McCallum Theatre


Mccallum Theatre
Originally uploaded by jsexton.
We went to see Verdi's Ernani last night and were very impressed with the singing and orchestra. It was put on by the American Opera Theatre accompanied by The Desert Symphony and The California Universtiy Chorus. A rather good concept as it was just here for one night and they did it as a recital. About a 75-80 piece orchestra...good thing the singers were up to that much accompaniment!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

La Quinta Art Show


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

La Quinta Art Show


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.

La Quinta Art Show


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Originally uploaded by jsexton.
A great fountain for the backyard but I don't think it will fit in the car...especially after all the books Jim has picked up at the local library book sales. Another one at Palm Desert this Sat...