Saturday, October 31, 2015

DVD from Killarney School's 50th reunion

The light isn't so great but just snapped these photos of our grad pictures while watching it.



The organizing committee did a nice job of creating this video with 60's music.  It was fun to watch!  Thanks,  Linda, for picking one up for us and sending it to Palm Springs.

At Las Casuelas today….great to see our old rockers!

 But first to the Palm Springs Library to pick up a hold….all the staff were in costume!


The library was featuring this artist….rather liked his work…a bit Mondrian like.



http://www.geraldpatrick.net
Our rockers….



Our food…




 We also went to Harbour Freight because  Jim wanted some work gloves which he bought for $1.99 minus 20% with a coupon we had and then with our other coupon we got a free 6 piece screwdriver set for free….with any purchase.  Not bad for $1.60!


I always love Maxine!


This is cute too…


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Palm Springs sunset tonight...

Eric Norland photo

Various old haunts today...

I went to the great Ralph's and picked up real aged Canadian Cheddar…over 1,000 days,  among many other goodies..  We can't do without an equivalent of Balderson's.   Then off to the Cathedral City Library to see what new books they had…got various treasures,  then to the "Rags to Riches" thrift store on the way back and Jim got 10 books which allowed him a 75% discount so $4.10 for lots of neat stuff.

Just came in from sitting on our patio…very balmy tonight and lovely reflected light from the sunset…imbibing,   of course,  and listened to our fountain,  and humming birds very active at our feeder and then the cicadas giving us their chorus….paradise...

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

So true…!


Canyon Sands book group

I'm really looking forward to the meeting in November.  As usual,  Kathy has come up with a great idea!

"Come to the November 11 session of All About Books prepared to discuss a book in which food has played a part.  The book could be one you read long ago or recently or that you are reading now.  The book could be one you read as a child or one you read to a child.  If practical,  bring small samples of the food to share with the group."

I think "The Little Paris Bookshop" will be perfect!  I brought down my copy in case others want to borrow it.




Enjoying our morning and evening swims in the sunshine..

It's like having our private pool…..wonderful!

Jim loves to collect books down here and we needed one more small bookcase that we kept an eye out for last year and didn't see anything.   We went to the Palm Springs Revivals after Bill's pizza yesterday and found the perfect thing and a great deal….$25 but then a senior's discount of 10% and no delivery charge since it fit in the hatchback.  It fits in perfectly with our hall table and the perfect size.





Monday, October 26, 2015

If it's Monday, we must have been to Bill's Pizza…

And we made a toast to Richard with our $2 beer and wine since he loves the place so much too!





A few photos I took just before getting our taxi to the airport.




I always enjoy Paul's (the manager of our apartment)  display.





We had a great lunch at La Tablita Sunday….our favourite Mexican restaurant for food.   Las Casuelas is great for music.  We learned that Sundays they have a buffet with all sorts of wonderful things for $13.95.  Jim had it and loved it.  I wanted something "light" and ordered a taco…this is it below.  I took half of it home.



Jim at the buffet…



You know you're in Palm Springs when you have designated parking for golf carts.


In the Revivals parking lot…



I bought this pumpkin tree at Trader Joe's.   I hadn't seen them before.

http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/773


Heartbreaking news…whale watching boat capsized

Looks like 6 people from Britain died in this accident.  I really feel for their friends and family and for the survivors as well.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tour-vessel-sinks-off-tofino-with-fatalities-1.3288191

Saturday, October 24, 2015

So wonderful to be back in our desert home…!

The car started,  the phones and internet is working.  We are unpacked and very little to do.  Just had a chocolate bar with scotch last night since we had quite a nice lunch on the plane.  We went "Plus" and loved it.  We were in the first row so loads of room and just the two of us and you get a meal and drinks.  I had the salmon nicoise salad which was pretty good for a plane.   Nice fresh fruit and apple crisp for desert.  Marvin picked us up from the airport.  The timing was perfect as he was just finishing his shift as a volunteer at the Air Museum which is a few minutes away from the airport.  Great to see Erna too.

Our place was in perfect shape and Benjamin (who looks after things when we're away) did a great job of the garden and added some rock piling that we love.  It reminds me of the rock balancing at English Bay and talk about a drought perfect garden "planting"…it doesn't get any better!

We were pleased to see they've changed our front yard and side to desert landscaping.  I love the look and it is so much better for water use.  They have been doing this gradually over the years and a lot of Canyon Sands has the desert landscaping now.

We went for a swim before heading to bed for an early night.  I slept really well and even got up around 7am to take some photos.   Residents were setting up for the yard sale that they have twice a year and I ran into some neighbours I knew.  Nice to see folks.  Jim just got back from it with about 3 dozen golf balls for $2.   I'll go after I read the paper.

Then,  a morning swim,  Trader Joe's,  and  then
Las Casuelas for lunch to have some Mexican food and hear our rockers.


 Our new side.


 Our new front yard.


 Sunrise over my beloved San Jacinto mountains.


 Looks like a bumper crop of oranges on our tree.


 Benjamin's rock pilings.




Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Last days in our Vancouver paradise...

Beautiful sunset tonight….going to rain tomorrow so perhaps the last.  Then,  went to The Sylvia for the music…bluegrass…The Skillet Lickers…always enjoy them.


A bit dark for the musicians but good of the lights on the trees outside.

A couple of laughs to start the morning...



Tuesday, October 20, 2015

A young person's view….

I asked Richard what he thought of the election:

"I'm cautiously optimistic about Canada's future. Lots of work to be done and damage to be undone. Electoral reform will be most welcome after all the recent nonsense with dog whistle campaigning and strategic voting."

I also felt encouraged by Trudeau's pledge to make politics different and I think young people will engage with a more positive message and way of doing things.  Well…we'll see.

I hadn't heard of "Dog Whistle Politics"…here's a link.
http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/dog-whistle-politics-at-play-in-canadian-election-1.2084701

I didn't realize Richard's riding was targeted by "strategic voting"….glad it didn't work:

Jody Wilson-Raybould, a prominent aboriginal leader and star candidate for the Liberal party, easily won her riding of Vancouver Granville on Monday night, despite an aggressive strategic voting campaign that endorsed the New Democrats as having the best chance in the riding.

Looking forward to Palm Springs!

As a Friend of the PS Library,  I got this invitation for myself and a guest….sounds like fun!

Dear Janice Sexton, 

Your event registration has been completed. Thank you for registering. 

Event: Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Live Event 
Date: 06 Dec 2015 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM PST 
Location: Palm Springs Public Library 


Experience a holiday event like no other as actor, playwright and college instructor Paul Jacques brings to life over 30 characters in his one-man version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of redemption, A Christmas Carol. Taken directly from Dickens’ own performance adaptation, this presentation is guaranteed to thrill audiences of all ages. This FREE program will be in the atrium of the Library from 2:00 p.m-4:00 p.m. and is possible due to a generous donation from former Board member LeeOna Hostrop and is the Friends’ holiday gift to the Community.  Light refreshments will be served.  Feel free to wear your Dickens attire.


Additional information: 
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol takes place Sunday, December 6, 2015, at the Palm Springs Public Library, 300 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. The library is closed for operations on Sundays but will be open exclusively for this event

And as a Friend of the College of the Desert Library,  I got these notices….Jim can't wait to go to the first booksale!   

Save the date!

Book & Movie Events as scheduled
Event information contact: CODLibraryFriend@aol.com

Monday, October 19, 2015

Liberals win the election!

This comment from Jody Paterson currently on a CUSO post says it all:

"Yay, Canada!! Hope you can hear the shrieks of joy come all the way from Nicaragua tonight. I always figured we weren't a nation of paranoid, free-speech-denying, intolerant, self-serving, self-aggrandizing and hateful yahoos."

And the Blue Jays won…great day for Canada!




This should be a fun thing to watch! Got this notice from our HOA today.



ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE
LINDEN
NOVEMBER 7 FROM 1:00 TO 3:00 PM

The Parker will be hosting an Indian Wedding on Saturday, November 7

Part of the ceremony tradition is to have the groom arrive to the ceremony on an elephant. 

With the help of the City of Palm Springs Linden will be closed to provide a safe and secure passageway for the elephant’s arrival.
1:00 – 2:00           West side of Linden Closed
2:00 – 3:00           Full closure of Linden

The street will reopen at 3:00 PM      





                                                    

Loved this Henri Le Chat Noir today.

I often wish that humans did not view their lives with cats as one continuous photo shoot.


Well….I got my sticker!