For Ian, beloved dog

Dear Mary,  Derek,  Kate,  and Jean,

We were very sad to hear Ian is no longer with us.  He was a very special dog for us too and we have many happy memories.  He had a very sweet  nature and we enjoyed him so much.

Love,

Jim and Janice

This video is the first time we saw Ian!

ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg7wlAwcQQw

And other videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG0Z59Ev_8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v2qKYMAz7M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeN90tezt7M

Some very cool (in all senses of the word) photos of Vancouver covered in fog yesterday

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/11/fog-photos-of-vancouver/

Paradise….

Where can you swim in the sunshine in the morning,  make fresh orange juice from your tree in the afternoon,  and enjoy a fireplace in the evening….

28 Oz from 6 oranges.

Cartoonists in the US rejoice

Like the days of Bill Vander Zalm in B.C.

Our Black Friday….

Revivals Thrift Store had 25% off and the folks working there are volunteers.  Jim got this great 100% cotton Ashworth golf sweater (worth well over $100 US probably) for $3.00 and a book of Auden's poems for $1.50.   And we supported the Desert AIDS Project.  Our kind of shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.  
Enjoy time with your loved ones no matter how different they are.

Turkey dinner at Elmer's

We're having steak for Thanksgiving tomorrow so thought we'd have a turkey dinner today at Elmer's.  They always have it on the menu.  We were impressed.  I had the lighter portion for $9.79 and Jim had the regular for $11.99.  I took almost half of mine home.  And it includes a cup of Ivar's clam chowder and oyster crackers.  I think that filled me up!

My portion.

This morning in Palm Springs….

Eric Norland‎Palm Springs Neighborhoods Group

A photo just taken today while sitting at a Palm Springs computer desk. I am thankful!

Cake, lemons, good friends...

Stan and Nicki came over last night and brought a pumpkin spice bundt cake Stan won at a golf tournament….very yummy!  At their place they have this lemon tree that produces the most amazingly large lemons…unreal!   I'll be making lemonade today….

Just to show you the difference between a normal one and a large one.

The other day we found these very cool martini glasses in Revivals…good deal for a total of $5.40….very mid-century modern,  don't you think?

A tribute to Eric Norland

I post a lot of his photos on my blog.  This is from Facebook  today.

Thank you, Jim. I am very proud to say that I have volunteered every week for 13 years, missing perhaps only a half dozen weeks at Well in the Desert. It is a humbling and rewarding experience. I am also happy to say that I helped in the kitchens on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Dinners for more than five years some years ago. I am the one that received! Thank You, Well in the Desert.

Like · Reply · 1 · 3 hrs · Edited

Janice Sexton Eric, I love your photos. They give me such pleasure and joy….and now to hear you do these good works…wow!

Like · Reply · 1 · 3 hrs

Eric Norland Thanks, Janice. I've always said that those who do the most don't talk about it too much. It's the feeling inside that gives us pleasure.

And this is Cobber,  his dog,  who is a therapy dog.  They visit local hospitals, schools,  and seniors'  homes.

Patty sent me this today….so cool!

Look at what we just found, while sorting through some old photos!

Southern France, Summer, 1987!

Weren't we just looking so summery, relaxed & like we were living the good life!

Richard,  me,  Patty,   Jim,  Terry

I believe we were driving up to Monaco that day and Richard was really thrilled with all the amazing cars we passed.

Night blooming cactus

Photos by Eric Norland

A rather cool mid-century modern store beside revivals

Desert Sun cartoon today….says it all perfectly, I think.

Things that lift my heart every morning

Amongst all the disheartening world news….I am surrounded by things that bring joy and hope.

P.S.  Our internet connection is so much faster here so I can upload lots of photos quickly.  This would have taken forever at home in Vancouver.


My Paris things….cushion from Elaine.  I just love it.

Oranges are ripening fast…I'll probably make fresh juice tomorrow.

The olive tree in our front yard.

My zen garden.

My cairns and cactus.  Benjamin gave me the proper term for the rock pilings.

Yes,  I think these ones are definitely ripe.

Our posters from the south of France.

My painting of our wonderful little village of Carquiranne.

My Mondrian table and French scene cushions (another gift from Elaine)

Watching the hummingbirds at our feeder.

Outside our back door.

Our pool…off for a swim when I finish this post.

The bougainvillea.

Another fun time with Nicki and Stan...

Jim and Stan played golf and Nicki and I hung out then we all had dinner at our place.  It's very warm tonight but some bad weather coming up early next week just as they leave for home so great timing!

We will miss them and look forward to seeing them again in January.

Palm Springs Historical Society

There was an exhibit of Frank Sinatra and other interesting things related to PS and its heydays.

And lemons are ready….first of the citrus fruit!