Very interesting article in the TC today,,,Canadians do wonder why Obama is so disliked.

Victoria man’s letter in praise of Obama goes viral

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/victoria-man-s-letter-in-praise-of-obama-goes-viral-1.1547550

Lest we forget

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

A poignant video Susan sent me today on Shell Shock:
http://rozwoundup.typepad.com/roz_wound_up/2014/11/remembrance-day-thoughts-in-2014.html

Having a wee dram...

Just out of interest we looked up the LCB price…price we would pay in Vancouver for this scotch.   It's $70.95.  At Trader Joe's we get it for $24.95.  I think it will become a house scotch down here.

Wonderful Grand Opening

It was so great to see this building open and the inaugural exhibition:

"The A and D Center opens with with "An Eloquent Modernist," a massive retrospective of the work of E. Stewart Williams, an architect who played a significant role in setting the stage for the built environment in Palm Springs throughout the 1950s, '60s and '70s"

Very appropriate since Williams designed the Sante Fe Savings and Loan building that the Art and Design Center is in and also the Palm Springs Art Museum…the A & D Center is part of the Palm Springs Art Museum.  He also designed the Sinatra House that we saw on a Modernism tour a few years ago.

There were also some very cool watercolours and etchings that he did.  He was quite a talented artist as well.  Photos weren't allowed unfortunately.

Update:  found one on the Internet…this one was featured in the exhibit.

There was also a short film on the Albert Frey House 2.  We must tour this home this year during Modernism Week.  We toured the Frey House 1 last year.  This one is in the mountains.  Frey said that after looking up at the mountains for so long he wanted to live in them.  It looks pretty spectacular.

It's on Vimeo…really worth a look…just 6 minutes.  Mary,  he had a cowbell from Switzerland for a doorbell (he was from Switzerland).

http://vimeo.com/87611421

There was this very cool Karim Ghia parked outside the Center….you do see some very great cars in PS.

And in the gift shop we found this really cool Bullit Clock that we thought we'd take home but I think it needs to stay here…fits perfectly.

And I couldn't resist these pencil crayons!

Architecture and Design Center Grand Opening today

We're really looking forward to taking this in today!

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2014/11/08/architecture-building-readies-opening/18699257/

Librairies, more books, thrift store, golf stuff, fish and chips….

We hit two more of our local libraries yesterday,  Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert….so just La Quinta left.    Palm Desert had a book sale on….all hardcovers for 50 cents.  These are always like new books so needles to say we found quite a number to buy.   And I got a great book bag from Palm Desert to add to my collection.  This is the first time I've seen them.

The book nook (where they sell used books) was closed but we found out they are having a big sale Wednesday and then Jim just read in the paper College of the Desert is having a big book sale Friday.

I sent an email to the head honcho at Rancho Mirage suggesting they sell book bags.  He replied from his iPad on the weekend….so I'll be getting a bag after all.

"Call me Monday.  I can provide you a strong, well designed bag we distributed at our first Rancho Mirage Writers Festival.  We sold bags years ago, big upfront expense, a trickle of revenue over time.  

Sent from my iPad"

Then to Atlantic Fish and Chips which is always a great deal…$7.50 for one fish,  3 shrimp, 2 zucchini, and chips.  Sadly,  they no longer serve beer.

Dropped into Angel View Thrift shop and Jim got a classy polo shirt for $6 and I got a couple of serving dishes for $2 each.

And lastly to Pete Carlson's to pick up a sand wedge for Jim since he forgot to leave his second one down here. 

Vintage French Travel Ads

Ordered some giclee  prints of these.   I think they will work in nicely in our condo down here.  What we love about the desert is the desert but also because so much reminds us of the south of France too.

Sun, swimming, golf...

We had a great game of golf today and got teamed up with a really nice couple from Victoria…formerly of Winnipeg.  They are down here for just November but we plan on having a few games with them.  A beautiful,  beautiful,  day…

A morning laugh...

Elaine sent me this today…loved it!

She's 107 years old.

"For better digestion, I drink beer.  In the case of appetite loss, I drink white wine,  In the case of low blood pressure, I drink red wine,  In the case of high blood pressure, I drink scotch,  And when I have a cold, I drink schnapps.” “When do you drink water?” “I’ve never been that sick.”

Lots of errands today...

Got lots of stuff done and upgraded my paintbrushes and of course bought some more paint…now,  all I have to do is paint.

Was in the bank and this very pretty Sheltie was behind me…this photo is for you,  Susan and Chris.

Getting organized

Well,  I spent a lot of today getting  house and car earthquake/emergency kits organized.  Now it's done  and always feels good to do that.  But also,  lots of time in the sun….swimming,  dining on our patio.

So,  tomorrow,  upgrading my art supplies… a lot more fun!

Writing up the weather in Palm Springs

I always feel rather sorry for the people who have to make this interesting.  This week I think the person is sort of gave up.

Thurs  88  Sunny and warm
Fri       89  Sunny and warm
Sat       91  Sunny and very warm
Sun      88  Mostly sunny and warm
Mon    86   Sunny and remaining warm
Tues    87  Mostly sunny

Back from our first golf game in the desert...

We played the Resort Course and it was very beautiful.  There are lots of nice water features and desert plantings and wonderful views of the mountains.  As usual,  a cart and two drinks each are included…a nice way to enjoy the links!

Not my photos…didn't have my iPhone.

Very proud of this artist from Victoria

Emily Carr could barely afford to buy materials and couldn't make a living from her art work.  She wrote 9 books and made a little more doing that.

There is an exhibit in London at the moment and it's getting rave reviews.  She is being compared to Van Gogh…and rightly so.

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/emily-carr-exhibit-wows-british-critics-1.1493884

Recently,  a painting of hers sold for over 3 million:

1. Leading the live auction at the Park Hyatt Hotel was The Crazy Stair, which brought in $3.39 million, the most ever paid at auction for a Carr painting. The pre-auction estimate for the painting, which was sold to an anonymous buyer, was between $1.2 and $1.6 million.

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

If it's Monday, we must be at Bill''s Pizza...

We go pretty much every Monday for  what we consider the best pizzas in the world and on Mondays,  beer and wine are two bucks…a real deal.  Great to be back and we had one of our usual servers who remembered us.  Looking forward to lots more pizza Mondays and having Richard join us in December for the Monday he will be here.  He loves it too!

We have a number of favourites but we have lots of Mondays.  We decided to go with these two…and as always,  leftovers for tonight's dinner.

Heather’s Luau

garlic infused olive oil sauce, roasted garlic, canadian acon, pineapple, tomato, onion, mozzarella & four cheese

Bada Bing

Red sauce, custom made Sicilian sausage, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers, & mozzarella cheese.

                                        

And then off to the Golf Course to join the Player's Club and make a tee-off time….2:52 tomorrow.

Will be gorgeous weather for our first game.

Dinner at Wangs

We went for dinner with our neighbours,  Erna  and Marvin, to Wangs…a favourite restaurant for all of us.  Marvin never varies….always Walnut Shrimp….the best in the world apparently.  We always try new things.  We'll eventually get through the whole menu…

Lots of laughs and a good time was had by all.

More amazing stuff from Susan…I can't resist colour...

Watercolour flowers

Six bags full….

Off to the Booksale today and ended up with 6 bags for a total of 96 books…some really great stuff!  Works out to about 18 cents a book.

And would you believe we're now heading out to the Cathedral City Library to look for more books…

Good on the USA!

Two great stories today….first one from the Globe and Mail reporting that a former Marine stood guard where the Canadian soldier was killed.  His words "Take your best shot".

http://globalnews.ca/news/1648278/take-your-best-shot-says-former-marine-in-front-of-national-war-memorial/

And in the Desert Sun today,  a story about how the Coachella Valley Unified School District (include Palm Springs)  supplied an iPad to every student and is also installing routers on their 90 school buses.   And these school buses will be parked overnight in remote areas without access and also in low income areas so students who don't have access after school hours will have it.  Wow…that's creative thinking!

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/education/2014/10/31/cvusd-bus-internet-program/18265609/

**Weird…can't get rid of the double photo.

Loved this post from Susan...

Vancouver in the Rain

The side streets in the 'hood are ablaze with colour...even in the rain.

My friend, Susan,  sketches, paints, draws, etc….every day!  I do admire her diligence and love what she produces.  I see I have a rather pathetic bunch of paintbrushes down here.  I guess I transported them back and forth last year.  Time to head to an art supply store.  

Another busy day….but fun stuff mainly

Went downtown and had lunch at a Thai restaurant after going to Revivals….Jim got lots of books and a polo shirt.  Then to The Alley and picked up a few things.  Then to the Palm Springs Library where Jim bought more books and learned about a book sale tomorrow…$3 a bag.  I found the new Louise Penny on  a feature shelf so really looking forward to reading it.

Then a big grocery shop…less fun.

And we love, love, love our car!