Elaine arrived yesterday to wonderful weather….

We were both in tears at the airport….how wonderful to see her!   Then home and gin and tonics outside listening to our little fountain.  Then a swim of course.  Dinner was rack of lamb…now a tradition for our first dinner here since we have enjoyed so many racks of lamb together.

And Don sent many A+  with the bones back to the Chef.

Elaine had a wonderful sleep and thought the bed was fabulous…well,  the beds are!  One thing we disliked the most not having our own place is the beds weren't to our liking.

We all like reading the paper in the morning

 and Elaine does her sudoku.

Goodness….what weather folks are getting….Niagra Falls froze over.

What we woke up to….soon will be having our morning swim.

Pool conversation

We had an interesting conversation yesterday with some of our neighbours at the pool.  We got talking about the Vietnam War and a couple who are our age talking especially about how the lives of people their age were different than they might have been.  Of course,  very different for those who fought and were damaged in physical and mental ways.  And for those who avoided going by getting married and having children earlier than they might have chosen to do these things.   Duane recounted that every girl in his senior class was pregnant and was going to be married.  

Some wonderful works of art by Susan….wow!

" Daffodils"….layered gelatos

"Lost at Sea"….alcohol inks.

This photo was snapped this morning in Victoria

it was snapped this morning by one of our editorial designers, Jo-Ann Loro. We're lucky to live in such a gorgeous city!
- YAM Magazine


When I think of the terrible weather folks are having in other parts of North America…there really is nothing like the West Coast.

Vancouver's 40,000 plus Cherry Blossom
trees are also starting to bloom and the wonderful thing is there are early,  middle,  and late varieties so tress will be blooming until May.  The Cherry Blossom Festival in Vancouver take place in April so we will be back to enjoy these wonderful trees.  

Vancouver's Cheery Blossom Festival 2015:
http://www.vcbf.ca/about/history

We're still in sunny Palm Springs…soon to head out for my morning swim in the sunshine.

Thai Smile in Palm Springs

We've been meaning to try this restaurant and we went today with Erna.  It was ok and I don't think you can really judge a restaurant on their lunch specials so perhaps an evening visit is in order.  Certainly for lunch special we have really enjoyed The Thai Place beside Las Casuelas and Singha beer is $4 as opposed to $6 at the Thai Smile.

Hot and sour soup came with it or you could have a salad and they also served a tea like drink complimentary.  Quantities were large but my sweet and sour pork which a customer recommended highly seemed pretty ordinary.

But of course we are very spoiled by the like of the Thai Lemongrass in Victoria.

Golf today

Then dinner at the golf club watching the sun go down over the mountains.  We were teamed up with a really nice couple from Edmonton.  So many Canadians down here and especially at the golf course.

Just so no one thinks this is so romantic for Valentine's Day (we're kind of against that whole thing anyway but especially in the US where it's like some national holiday),  dinner was splitting a burger and fries and drinking the free wine we get with our golf game.

Presidents' Day Weekend and lots of events in Palm Springs….not a hotel room to be had apparently.

All About Books

Our book group met yesterday and an excellent discussion of "books into films"….our topic since the Academy Awards are coming up.  I really do like the format of some special focus but not a book that everyone reads and discusses.  And Kathy,  our fearless leader,  always brings interesting resources.  She brought a list of best selling books turned into blockbuster movies and also a list compiled by Book Riot of "100 Books That Will Make You Well Read".  I've read 55 of them.

And she also pointed out a PBS program called "Well Read" which has interviews with authors.  Next week there is one with Louise Penny.  Elaine will be here then so it will be fun to watch it together since she is a fan.  It comes on at 10am next Friday down here….I hope I have that right anyway.  PBS is a little confusing sometimes since there are two channels.

Looking forward to our next meeting!

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The Pure in Heart"

"The Pure in Heart" by Susan Hill

This is the second in the series and I enjoyed it very much.  I think she is creating a new genre here…part traditional mystery and part a good story in its own right and following the lives of a family.  I  an see that people looking for a rip roaring mystery might be disappointed but I'm liking the series so far.

Bowl of cactus

We brought this bowl of cactus for Thanksgiving dinner to Erna and Marvin's in 2013 and it is still going strong and even blooming!

Smiling Buddha

Found this at Marshall's yesterday.  I had rather forgotten about Marshall's as a place for clothes until Susan mentioned it the other day.  I did pick up a couple of tops as well.

Finally….

….an episode worth watching on Downton Abbey…we were just about ready to give it up.  Perhaps would have if not for the odd glimpse of Maggie Smith.

Yes, let's all raise a glass to Sue Rodriguez

Jack Knox: 21 years after her life’s end, Sue Rodriguez wins her fight 

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/jack-knox-21-years-after-her-life-s-end-sue-rodriguez-wins-her-fight-1.1755866

And on the cat calendar today….

A kitten that could almost be like our Oscar…

Another day in paradise….

Swim in the sunshine,  some afternoon painting,  and Rose Mallet at Woody's in the evening.  Susan and Chris loved it!  As Chris says,  there's nothing quite like live music.

Cactus...

I have four 6 x 6 canvases that I have plans for cactus.  Not sure these are finished or perhaps I just might paint over them and start again.  We'll see.

This is tremendously good news for people who want to be able to choose for themselves.

Landmark Canadian Supreme Court ruling favours 'death with dignity'

 

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Landmark+Canadian+Supreme+Court+ruling+favours+death+with+dignity/10792973/story.html

The Bings come for dinner bearing wonderful gifts….

Chris and Susan came for dinner last night and brought flowers,  an amazing Cab,  and three loaves of fabulous bread from a fairly newly opened French Bakery.  We pass by that way all the time so will be dropping in for goodies.  The owner is French and gets her flour from France no less.

A good time together as usual….we're all meeting tonight at Woody's.

Ask and you shall receive….

I wanted those birdies Susan sketched coloured and I got them….wonderful!

http://passionforpaper-passionforpaper.blogspot.ca

Golf for the boys….a leisurely lunch for Susan and me

Chris and Jim had a great golf game yesterday and Chris couldn't quite get over that breakfast, lunch, and two drinks and a cart were included for $59.    They didn't really have time to take advantage of the food but there's always time for drinks…

Susan and I went out to Palm Desert and lunched at Tommy Bahamas and we were seated at a part of the patio neither one of us had been at and there were panoramic views of the mountains from all sides….wow!  On my search for good crab,  I chose the lump crab and avocado salad.  Well….still on my search.   Susan's Ahi tuna burger was a better choice.  Impossible not to enjoy sitting in the sunshine with great views and sipping excellent wine.

They've done some new landscaping in the "Gardens" area….looks great.

We stopped at Trader Joe's on the way back and Susan note that tulips were less in B.C. but then we realized there were 10 to a bunch…still,  with the current exchange rate tulips would be less.  They are 2.99 for five.

Wow….this is so cool!

This is just so great for  us old Vancouverites.
 Thanks for sending, Linda.

This is just so cool...just the mouse resting on the picture changes it...

​

    An interesting trip down memory lane.

    Enjoy the journey and imagine what the next 100 years Vancouver could look like.

  

  http://onthisspot.ca/vancouver.html

Monday at Bill's Pizza...

Susan and Chris arrived to great weather Sunday and we all met at Bill's yesterday.   We had a great visit and of course great pizza…tried our favourite and a new one "Northern Italian"….excellent!  They are staying in the Movie Colony area this week then head to Palm Desert next week.  Jim and Chris have got some golf lined up and Susan and I will go shopping…

Fruit in the kitchen….

I quite like these paintings in  the kitchen and I can see them from my perch in the living room.

My latest painting...

I figured I better finish my companion piece to the oranges in blue bowl before I began my cactus,

"Lemons in Blue Bowl"

8 x 10 acrylic on canvas

Feb/15

Our rockers were really rocking' it up at Las Casuelas today...

80 degrees and brilliant sunshine today and perfect for Mexican food.    And we were really thrilled to see our old couple dancing up a storm and the fellow looked and moved like he was 10 years younger. We think he had probably had a stroke but they were in fine form today.  A fellow at the table next to us "broke in" to ask her for a dance and learned they had been married for 68 years.

As we were leaving we introduced ourselves to them and learned their names are John and Marilyn and live in Mass.   but live in Palm Springs 6 months of the year.  Their son was with them and he was in his sixties.  He was enjoying dancing with his mom too.  We'll have to have more of  chat with them another time.

 Fellow in the red shirt "broke  in"

John and Marilyn

Their son

Painting...

I've put my three "colour studies" up on the wall by my painting area but I may do some more to them..I'll have to think about it.

I went around Canyon Sands today and took lots of photos of cactus….my next painting project.

Here are a few: