Goodbye Palm Springs until the Spring

The San Jacinto Mountains are just beautiful today after all that rain....apparently 8 ft of snow at the top and 2 1/2 feet at the Tramway. We've never had this weather in November before....unseasonably hot for most of it and then unseasonably cold. PS did get almost an inch of rain so that's all good. Less good was all the problems this storm created for all the folks trying to get to family dinners.

From our patio this morning.

From around Canyon Sands this morning....au revoir, mon amour.

Block Friday....love it!

I've always felt somewhat dismayed by all the Black Friday mania for buying stuff and have never participated. I love this idea!

"While some people spend today shopping (or doing some well-deserved kicking back), others will be taking part in climate strikes around the world. The protests are part of Fridays for Future, a youth-led movement inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The groups hope to capitalize on the momentum of September protests, which drew about 7.5 million people worldwide. Some protesters aim to tie the whole Black Friday madness into their demonstrations: One group says it's planning to wheel empty shopping carts en masse in a New York City store to invite customers to pause their purchasing and consider the environmental impact of consumerism. After today's protests, the movement has its sights set on a December event to coincide with the COP25 environmental summit in Madrid."

And meanwhile in Palm Springs...lots of snow on the mountains.

Photo by Hal Castle

What a lovely Thanksgiving!

The food was amazing and we really enjoyed talking with everyone. It was really nice to have something pleasant to do yesterday as it pretty much rained the entire day. I did get my morning swim in  before the rain really started coming down. Well, Palm Springs needs the rain that's for sure.

Well, packing up tomorrow and then heading home. It's just flown by.

The ladies working away in the kitchen.

Star of the show....a wonderful prime rib.

 The men...doing what men do...
Ed, David, and John.

What would a holiday dinner be without the empty table photo :)

Wonderful yorkshire puddings by Bonnie.

Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends...

And what would Thanksgiving be without the  Black Friday flyers in the Desert Sun.  There are fewer flyers in the Desert Sun these days but this edition seem to have the weight of other years so they haven't lost that advertising revenue.

“Of course reading and thinking are important but, my God, food is important too. How fortunate we are to be food-consuming animals. Each meal should be a treat and one ought to bless every day which brings with it a good digestion and the precious gift of hunger.” 

– Iris Murdoch, The Sea, the Sea

We just got a fabulous rental for March 2020!

We mentioned to Ed and Andie that we would like to come back for a month and they knew a couple from Portland who just bought a much larger place in Rancho Mirage so they can accomodate family better but they don't want to sell their current place. It's in Twin Palms very close to the Indian Canyon Golf Course which is a beautiful neighbourhood. The grounds are wonderful and you only share one wall. Their neighbour is an old woman who they never hear. It's two bedroom and two bathrooms and really nicely decorated.

They have a fabulous view of the mountains and I just can't wait to watch the wonderful sunsets while sitting on the patio. And they are only charging $3,000 a month. They do hope to rent it on a yearly basis so it will be a one off but it gives us time to try to get a regular rental for Feb or Mar.

I took some photos. The first three are from the patio. Rain clouds are coming in so you can''t see the mountains that well but they are there right in front of you!

Nancy has been squeezing juice from the oranges on the tree in front for a couple of weeks.

Living and dining room and open kitchen behind. We love it!

Palm Springs Hat Parade

I always enjoy The Desert Sun's column "Thanks for the Memories".  This sounds like it was a lot of fun. I wish I could pick up a photo of this hat:
"Hats that made history included one called "Palm Canyon Drive". With battery-lighted palm trees, little cars, and shops".

https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/people/2019/11/24/palm-springs-hat-parade-homemade-fun/4281991002/

"Mimosas, Martinis, and Music" with Don Wardell Mod FM 107.3

Casinos are probably my least favourite places in the world. All these people glued to these machines gambling; however, we really enjoy listening to Mod FM when we're driving and particularly when Don Wardell is hosting. We learned he does a live radio program from the downtown casino here in the Cascade Louge on Mondays from 2-4 pm so we've been meaning to get there and did so yesterday.

What fun! We can see doing this on a regular basis. We had lunch at Bill's then walked up to the casino. Drinks are cheap, you can dance, and he likes to chat with people on air. Jim went up to meet him and next thing we know he is on the list to be on air with him. I took some video but I have problems uploading video to my blog for some reason.

Jim talked a bit about Aldous Huxley and his California connection and also gave an anecdote about meeting Bill Kenny (the lead tenor of the Inkspots) on Fraser View Golf Course. Jim was 12 years old and knew nothing about being a caddy but presented himself as such. Kenny chose him to be a caddy and Jim didn't have a clue. He held the flag in a way that it shaded the hole...a complete no-no. Kenny was a real gentleman and very kindly told Jim it was best to hold the flag so it didn't create a shadow. Kenny retired to Vancouver and was also very active in the US civil rights movement. A great guy. Jim and I are thinking of collaborating on a biography of him. Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be one.

One thing about the Cascade Lounge is you get great outside views.

Jim and Don.

Next time we'll bring our dancing shoes.

The horrific gaming machines you pass on the way to the bathroom. Smoking isn't allowed in this area but you still smell the smoke from wherever it is allowed.

The entrance to the Cascade Room is rather nice with this glass sculpture.

 This was quite a nice beer from Budweiser with a design from Joshua Tree National Park. They are donating $1 from each case of Bud sold up to 51 million for National Parks....good on them.

Such a wonderful evening...wow!

Our Canadian neighbours invited us to join friends and see the Grey Cup game. Two other couples were there, also Canadians, and an American who invited us for Thanksgiving dinner Thursday (along with the other Canadians). The food was wonderful and it was all so much fun. We are loving this new community here. We wouldn't have been introduced to it if we hadn't sold.

The food people brought was amazing. The first time I have had chili dogs. Mary Ann made a wonderful apple dish with carmel sauce and whip cream. And she also brought this wonderful baked bacon..to die for.

Another day in paradise...warm and sunny again.

Yesterday afternoon we took in a free concert put on by Rancho Mirage Library. Wow, this group was just fantastic! This library is just amazing in what they offer as I have so often said.

https://vimeo.com/72689748

Join an enthusiastic audience for a memorable performance by Jim Borax's California Cabaret, a Rancho Mirage-based entertainment group with a large following.These outstanding professional singers and dancers (several with Broadway experience) will peform unforgettable standards from the Great American Songbook. The ensemble has been featured on both CBS and CNN. The Cabaret has also performed their music and dance routines throughout the Coachella Valley.

The Fisherman's yesterday for grilled catfish...and other fun things...

We always enjoy this place and had to get there before we leave which is a week Saturday. Talking to Nicki today and apparently snow is predicted in Vancouver that day...that will be quite a change but will get us in the Christmas spirit. One of the first things I'll be doing when we get home is get our Christmas decorations up.

On our way to Fisherman's we saw this Bentley that was absolutely silver....never seen anything like it.

Our good old Salmon Creek Cab...

During our morning swim, we met this really nice young couple from Vancouver. He is from New Zealand and she is from France. They met while both working in the film industry in Vancouver and are living in Kits. We seem to meet all sorts of interesting people at this pool!

And then for the evening, we got free tickets from the Desert Sun to see a screening of Sea of Shadows at the Palm Springs Cultural Centre (the old Camelot movie theatres). This National Geographic Documentary is just excellent and I would recommend you see it. Good on the Desert Sun for arranging a screening. It is investigative journalism at its best and it really makes you realize how important investigative journalism is for bringing awareness and action.

"A looming disaster in one of the most spectacular environments on Earth sparks a rescue mission unlike any other in SEA OF SHADOWS, a riveting new documentary with the intensity of a Hollywood thriller from National Geographic Documentary Films and winner of the Sundance audience award. When Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, their deadly methods threaten virtually all marine life in the region, including the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth, the vaquita porpoise. SEA OF SHADOWS follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and courageous undercover agents as well as the Mexican Navy as they put their lives on the line to save the last remaining vaquitas and bring the vicious international crime syndicate to justice.

The vaquita porpoise has been listed as critically endangered since 1996. The population was estimated at 600 in 1997, below 100 in 2014, approximately 60 in 2015, around 30 in November 2016, and only 12-15 in March 2018, leading to the conclusion that the species will soon be extinct unless drastic action is taken.


This movie theatre is such fun to go to and we enjoyed a glass of wine at our seat...how civilized!

They have a full bar with just about every type of wine or alcohol you can think of.

I love this mural.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "Cakes and Ale"

In his introduction to a Modern Library edition, published in 1950, Maugham wrote, "I am willing enough to agree with common opinion that Of Human Bondage is my best work ... But the book I like best is Cakes and Ale ... because in its pages lives for me again the woman with the lovely smile who was the model for Rosie Driffield."^[1] 

I really enjoyed this...Maugham is pretty great.

A Christmas cookie I'll definitely be making...

I'm not really big on Christmas cookie making but these sound delicious for pb lovers!

Reeses Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

The recipe for these was in the Desert Sun but I could only pick it up at this link from a Scottsdale paper. I've cut it out and will take it home. I wish Don was still around so I could make some for him!

https://www.scottsdale.org/food_and_drinks/these-chewy-pieces-of-reese-s-raise-the-bar-on/article_712cc896-07f6-11ea-8e31-3fba5a8524ba.html

Just a bit coolish....perfect for our Chinese restaurant

I did get a swim in the sunshine all the less. Just got an email from Kerry saying there was snow on the ground in Edmonton...gets one in the Christmas spirit.

And then to The Supreme Dragon for lunch. Jack, the owner, opening our wine here, always goes to Hong Kong to visit his mother usually in May. This year he waited until September hoping the troubles would be over. We all hope things won't end badly. He feels that if China was going to make a move they would have done it much sooner. Let's hope he's right.

He always keeps a reasonable red wine for us.

A Shiraz from Eastern Australia.

And we always get the same things...

Hot and sour soup to start...well, not as good as Grace's but very good all the same.

I get the roasted duck...

Jim gets the pepper beef (and a lot of my duck)....

Update on the weather

At 8:52 am there is some sunshine so still might get a swim in the sunshine. I will get a swim regardless. I think I've only missed one morning swim in the 11 seasons we've been here. I think it was snowing that day.

71 F in the house so wearing my Muk Luks...they're great!  We only had 2 flashes of lightning and 2 rolls of thunder over a 5 minute period yesterday so not exactly a thunderstorm in the end. PS could use more rain than this but every drop is helpful I guess.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service recorded 0.08 inches of rain at Palm Springs International Airport. A quarter inch of rain should fall by the time conditions ease up Thursday night.

"Palm Springs itself has been a little rain-shadowed," meteorologist Phil Gonsalves said.

Areas surrounding the city received more precipitation since rain began falling Tuesday afternoon. Indio, for example, had 0.24 inches of rain as of 6 a.m. Wednesday and will likely have about a half inch by Thursday night.

A bit of rain...hope there is more

It's 4:15pm (Tuesday) and I went out to take a couple of photos of the rain so far. Not much but a wonderful  smell of ozone...just love that!  It's still warm at 73F outside temp. We still had a swim in the sunshine this morning. No afternoon swim.

It's still 77 F in the house so we won't light the fireplace tonight. We will light some candles and have the rest of pizza from Bill's by candlelight. I love these easy dinners.

We are enjoying a single malt and listening to Robbie Burn's songs sung by Jean Redpath...the absolute best. We listened to a BBC "In Our Time" on Burns yesterday so in the mood for Burns. We just saw some lightning and heard some thunder. This is our 11th season in Palm Springs and Jim and I can't recall ever having thunder and lightning. Raining quite hard at the moment.

I guess we'll get our flashlights handy.

We were out in Palm Desert today to do the necessary with the accountant in regards to the sale of our place. She will be looking after filing our Federal and State tax returns here. She's just great. Thanks so much again, Linda, for getting your brother-in-laws's recommendation.

Bought some Muk Luk slippers yesterday...

Yeah, I know it's a bit of an odd thing to purchase when the temp is in the 80's but they were a great buy at Big 5..$16....less than half price.  They will be appreciated at home.

And we met more nice people today, Ray and Jean-Ann.  They used to own but now rent. They are here Nov. through March. They are also golfers who play Tacquitz...the Legends course, 9 holes....just like us.

And the other side of "paradise"

This was written by a student here in Santa Clarita, by the name of Jilli Spencer. This might be the most powerful post I have seen yet, because the kids are posting it, and it gives us (the adults with equally broken hearts) a peek at how they are feeling. I cried while reading this.
-Derek Wynn on FB

Another day in paradise...

Morning swim then lunching on all the goodies we got from Roger and Kerry....yum,yum...thanks, guys. Then reading a bit and then heading to our "old" pool where we met Ken and Duanne and Jeannie...our old neighbours. So nice to chat with them.

And we also met the guys who bought our place....really nice people.

Lots of fun!

Today, Palm Springs broke a record from the 1930's for high temp. But cool now in the evening.

Las Casualas

It was great to see our old rockers and enjoy the atmosphere. We got a nice table in the shade and under the fans so we were really comfortable....90 F plus today. And we met someone new in our local pool, Bonnie, from Kelowna, formerly Edmonton.

No one can remember a November so hot but it''s been ok for us. It will get cooler later on this week and even a possible shower. That will be the time to go to our favourite Chinese restaurant and get hot and sour soup and roasted duck....can't wait!

It is a large margarita but looks even larger here!

My shrimp quesidilla with mango salsa.

Jim's burrito and enchilada and refried beans and rice, of course.

The band setting up.

Showtime!