What a wonderful morning...another lovely day ahead!

A little bit frosty but looks like baskiing in the sunshine again today. We'll go for a walk on Spanish Banks for sure.

What a lovely evening at Donna's last night

It was wonderful to see Donna and Linda and Cec as well as meet her brother, Ken and his wife, Libby, and also see Ken's son, Chris, again.

Donna had an amazing dinner for us and we all had such fun talking and imbibing. It really was a very festive occasion.  Thank you so much, Donna. You are a wonderful hostess.

As usual I didn't manage to take many photos but did take a few at the beginning. Having too much fun.

The empty table...a tradition in our family!

Donna tending to the drinks.

Now, Linda wasn't going to drink both...so she said...

I feel like I'm in Palm Springs

Basking in the sunshine in my "sunroom" and reading Virginia Woolf's novel "Flush"...loving it and the sunshine.  And reading about the Brownings in Italy (Flush was Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel).

"She was never tired of praising Italy at the expense of England. "...our poor English," she exclaimed, "want educating into gladness  They want refining not in the fire but in the sunshine." Here in Italy were freedom and life and the joy that the sun breeds."

Today in Vancouver...

To Flush, My Dog

BY ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

LOVING friend, the gift of one, 

Who, her own true faith, hath run, 

Through thy lower nature ; 

Be my benediction said 

With my hand upon thy head, 

Gentle fellow-creature ! 

Like a lady's ringlets brown, 

Flow thy silken ears adown 

Either side demurely, 

Of thy silver-suited breast 

Shining out from all the rest 

Of thy body purely. 

Darkly brown thy body is, 

Till the sunshine, striking this, 

Alchemize its dulness, — 

When the sleek curls manifold 

Flash all over into gold, 

With a burnished fulness. 

Underneath my stroking hand, 

Startled eyes of hazel bland 

Kindling, growing larger, — 

Up thou leapest with a spring, 

Full of prank and curvetting, 

Leaping like a charger. 

Leap ! thy broad tail waves a light ; 

Leap ! thy slender feet are bright, 

Canopied in fringes. 

Leap — those tasselled ears of thine 

Flicker strangely, fair and fine, 

Down their golden inches 

Yet, my pretty sportive friend, 

Little is 't to such an end 

That I praise thy rareness ! 

Other dogs may be thy peers 

Haply in these drooping ears, 

And this glossy fairness. 

But of thee it shall be said, 

This dog watched beside a bed 

Day and night unweary, — 

Watched within a curtained room, 

Where no sunbeam brake the gloom 

Round the sick and dreary. 

Roses, gathered for a vase, 

In that chamber died apace, 

Beam and breeze resigning — 

This dog only, waited on, 

Knowing that when light is gone, 

Love remains for shining. 

Other dogs in thymy dew 

Tracked the hares and followed through 

Sunny moor or meadow — 

This dog only, crept and crept 

Next a languid cheek that slept, 

Sharing in the shadow. 

Other dogs of loyal cheer 

Bounded at the whistle clear, 

Up the woodside hieing — 

This dog only, watched in reach 

Of a faintly uttered speech, 

Or a louder sighing. 

And if one or two quick tears 

Dropped upon his glossy ears, 

Or a sigh came double, — 

Up he sprang in eager haste, 

Fawning, fondling, breathing fast, 

In a tender trouble. 

And this dog was satisfied, 

If a pale thin hand would glide, 

Down his dewlaps sloping, — 

Which he pushed his nose within, 

After, — platforming his chin 

On the palm left open. 

This dog, if a friendly voice 

Call him now to blyther choice 

Than such chamber-keeping, 

Come out ! ' praying from the door, — 

Presseth backward as before, 

Up against me leaping. 

Therefore to this dog will I, 

Tenderly not scornfully, 

Render praise and favour ! 

With my hand upon his head, 

Is my benediction said 

Therefore, and for ever. 

And because he loves me so, 

Better than his kind will do 

Often, man or woman, 

Give I back more love again 

Than dogs often take of men, — 

Leaning from my Human. 

Blessings on thee, dog of mine, 

Pretty collars make thee fine, 

Sugared milk make fat thee ! 

Pleasures wag on in thy tail — 

Hands of gentle motion fail 

Nevermore, to pat thee ! 

Downy pillow take thy head, 

Silken coverlid bestead, 

Sunshine help thy sleeping ! 

No fly 's buzzing wake thee up — 

No man break thy purple cup, 

Set for drinking deep in. 

Whiskered cats arointed flee — 

Sturdy stoppers keep from thee 

Cologne distillations ; 

Nuts lie in thy path for stones, 

And thy feast-day macaroons 

Turn to daily rations ! 

Mock I thee, in wishing weal ? — 

Tears are in my eyes to feel 

Thou art made so straightly, 

Blessing needs must straighten too, — 

Little canst thou joy or do, 

Thou who lovest greatly. 

Yet be blessed to the height 

Of all good and all delight 

Pervious to thy nature, — 

Only loved beyond that line, 

With a love that answers thine, 

Loving fellow-creature ! 

Interesting sky last night

Just couldn't resist taking all these "sunset" photos....sorry, John :)

At least there was sun today. Fern mentioned it has seemed like non stop rain this winter. Perhaps a change is in sight. Maybe it's some of this Palm Springs sunshine we're bringing.

I survived Save-On Foods!

Well, it actually wasn't that bad and surprisingly not busy.  Now that all the revnovations are finished it's a much more pleasant experience. Would you believe that two cashiers had no one so I got through right away. This is a first for me ever, anywhere. It may even qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records:)

So, no kids screaming, running around, riding scooters...this is the usual weekend experience especially if you go later in the day. I'm trying to avoid that although it meant I didn't get my swim in yet. That will come soon.

It was a very rainy morning but rather cosy reading our newspaper (yes, it did arrive). And now I'm looking at blue sky and I think the sun will even come out. It's much better now than in the photo.

The sun is coming out...all's right with the world. John and Carol are going to their place on Saltspring Island today so it will be nice for them to have some decent weather on arrival. Saltspring got really hit with the winds but their neighbours had a look round and things seem to be ok. Fingers crossed.

I had lots more bags than these. I felt sorry for the poor person behind me.

And I even bought some lemons since they were on sale for 75 cents each. That's another first. I usually can't bring myself to do that right away after picking them off a tree for a couple of months.

The sun is really out out now and I'm basking in it!

Back home in Vancouver

Everything went smoothly and even Nexus was a dream. Last time I think all the machines were broken. Raining but not too cool. I did have my morning swim all the same and looking forward to my swim tomorrow morning..

Everything just fine in the apartment and looking at my Christmas tree as I blog this. Now, I'm pretty sure I arranged for the Sun newspaper to restart tomorrow.

Breakfast tomorrow will be coffee and toast then I guess I'll be heading to Save-On Foods....

I'm hoping Carol will have another blog post for me!

In Palm Springs Airport

Good time to be leaving for a while....getting cool and a bit windy. This is the first time we haven't sat   outside in the bar.  Will be boarding our flight soon.  Ah...airports...sort of fun but just love flights less than three hours and no time change. Nicki and Stan left today driving from Vancouver to PS. We really hope the weather is with them.  Looks ok so far.

Looking forward to seeing you guys in PS!

One last sunset from Palm Springs

Photos by Ray Colonado

Back home

Vancouver actually got a little bit of snow on Boxing Day but steady rain in the forecast for the next week so at least driving won't be a problem.

We're starting to get organized for our trip home. I'll take down the Christmas decorations today but a few more Chrstmassy things first.

Linda posted these two photos on her blog. The first one of a house around where they had Christmas dinner. The next one of her granddaughter's cat.

This is sthe skating rink at Robson Square in Vancouver. We'll probably see that but don't think we'll trust our knees having a skate. We want to be in good form for golf when we return to PS.

Susan and Chris' dog all dressed up for the season.

We have booked the Stanley Park Christmas Train and will top off the evening with dinner at The Sylvia. Richard and Grace really enjoyed it.

And one more, the Vancouver Police Department Mounted Unit which is based in Stanley Park.

Rancho Mirage Library mon amour....

Now...this even beats a PEZ dispenser (something I was fascinated with as a kid)!

This is a Short Story Dispenser. You can choose stories of one, three, or five minute reading time. What fun and I see the technology was developed in France....even better.

The three "dispensed" stories.

The one minute story.

The three minute story.

The five minute story.

This library thinks of everything.

Last trip to Trader Joe's

I will really miss you, Joe! Not looking forward to Save-On. Well, we'll be back Jan 25.

Maybe I'll listen to their podcast...

And a cool car for Susan.

I realize I forgot to post Susan's sketches of the cars I sent her...thanks so much!