Madison swimming

Saturday I baby sat overnight then in the morning I went to Madison's swimming. She sure can swim. Sunday we are expecting guests ( Cliff and Ruthann) overnight from Florence Oregon. They had been in Whistler. We met them on our very first caravan 1998

peacocks

some new things

A few things have happened since the last posting. Safety inspection on all BYC boats went on as planned all is good for another year. twins are growing up fast we now play cards( go fish). Fun Fun Fun. Karen my neighbor took me to see the local peacocks in a neighborhood not far from us. beautiful birds . My garden is coming along nicely flowers making a good showing. The biggest news is we booked a trip to China as I wanted to see the Great Wall and the terracotta warriors we go in October 16 2015 back in time to head South. next big thing will be our doctors appointments at the end of the month our eye checked good. 

easter

We had Easter at our place- Ham  Sunday I went  with Sherri and family to Gerry's  sisters for an Easter egg hunt, We looked after Carter and Madison on Monday  had a picnic at Bear Creek park then went on the Easter train.Sherri picked up Madison as she had swimming at 3 then we returned  Carter to his house by 6 .Wednesday I gave painting lessons I started everyone in water colours. 

march 28 home

March 28 Saturday 2015 home in surrey

had a nice trip home on dry pavement thankfully. Motel in Centralia had a good breakfast including burrito and sausage and egg on English muffin. Boiled eggs, fruit cup and yogurt also plus waffles amd cereal. That lasted until lunch when we had an apple and a banana and yogurt from breakfast . We got caught with 2 HR. CRAWL just before Seattle. No problems at the border. Arrived home to a wonderful display of Spring flowers in my front yard. I already babysat last night. It was good seeing the twins they sure grow fast. Bill has gone to check the boat today I stayed home to put things back in place. Weather good so far but rain is predicted for tomorrow

heading home

Wednesday-52 degrees at 7am  sunny. a good day for driving . disappointed as Mt Shasta was covered with clouds.Everything is nice and green. As we approach Portland it tries to rain but never develops until evening. arrive in Centralia around 4 stay at a travellodge.

heading home

Tuesday March 24 
We leave Palm Desert at 7:30 am with sunshine ( God I am going to miss that ). We buck the winds all the way on I- 10 West .Wind subsides by the time we get to 210. Alt. 4144 windy as hell again temp 49 on the grape vine. Stopped at  Flying J for fuel $2.99 . Santa Nella was 73 just right. arrived at Corning 5.30 in time to go to the Olive Pit across the street. There was a 5th wheel there for the night. yes there was a sign saying RV's  welcome. 
Wednesday go down for breakfast at 6am. Bill made his own waffle. We are on our way by 6.45

desert beauties

prickly pear

barrel cactus

cholla cactus

Golleta Meadows sculptures

ghost flower

heading home Tuesday

Well the time has come to cut another Desert life on hold until next year, We are booked for next year the middle of November to middle of March, Hopefully heading down earlier and staying in Tucson for a week. I had a good time with the chief's kitchen and Sunday sounds new programs to me. I didn't do as much hiking as I would have liked but there is always next year . I had a great group of ladies for Mexician train every Monday afternoon and discovered some would like to try hiking ( nature walks) next year.  Looking forward to being with Carter and Madison and spending time on the boat maybe even to the gulf Islands. 

art festival and flower festival

this the fellow who did our roadrunner

flower festival

Friday we go to the La Quinta art festival. $15 each and $8 for parking, I was lucky as someone gave me 2 tickets. this festival was  much bigger as they had people showing from all over even Gibsons, Sechelt and  Vancouver. It was in a very good setting surrounding a small lake. We went to the Thai Smile for an early dinner with a balcony seats so we could watch the classic cars go by. Then off for the art walk and book signing. Saturday I go with Pat and Peter to the Coachella Valley Wild Flower Festival. Very well organised, they had us park at a church nearby and bused us in.We did a short hike led by a docent who explained all the plants on the Ed Hactey trail. There was a lot more booths then last year . there was also a sand sculpture creations. Randel Henderson trail next where we saw many prickley pear cactus in bloom.

book signing

 Steve Hanks book signing

book signing

March 6 Friday 2015 Palm Desert

Time is sure flying as we plan on leaving March 25

We made a fast trip to Yuma as Bill had his cap fall out. A 3 mile trip for a 15 min fix. We settled with our landlord Steve to get this place for next year for the same price next fall. Keeping busy with Mexician train here on Mondays I have 7 people so great fun. Painting group meet Thursday and I worked on Sadie a friends dog. Chief's table and Sunday sounds continue to entertain us until we leave. I am really excited as Darlene's daughter Sharon in coming to visit and is bringing our Steve Hanks book so we can get them signed at the Art Walk Friday.

Sadie

Greek festival

February 23 Monday 2015 Palm Desert

Sunday we enjoyed a young girl play the harp. Dr Vanessa Sheldon, she started by playing “In The Mood” I now have a better apprication for the harp. Greek day is today too so off we went and enjoyed the dancing and the food. We also had a tour of the church. Today is Mexician train at our place. Sorry no pictures of any events only the new house going in 2 doors down

Idyllwild

huge pinecones

Idyllwild

February 21 Saturday 2015 Idyllwild

what a great day I love the windy trip up Hwy74.

The weather was perfect, cooler than Palm Springs around 65. We visited a lot of shops then went to Gastrognomes for lunch. Then did a complete circle to Banning and back to Palm Desert

painted deer statues 2 of  23

palm Desert

February 20 Friday 2015 Palm Desert

Painting in the morning. I did another painting for the $99 charity.The Chef's table was cancelled????? so I went to El Paso to the Brennen galory to get an invite to Steve Hanks. show March 6. Friday was the crafty ladies lunch at the club house we could order anything off the menue. Saturday we are taking Darlene and Rodger to Idyllwild (an artist community in an Alpine village on the Santa Rosa mountains ).

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devils horse whip (ocotello)

snowbird and date fair

February 18 Wednesday 2015

Monday we went to the Snowbird show at Fantasy Springs casino. A very big crowd. They are an organization that helps Canadians with their stay in the US. They had good entertainment. The lady in front of us won $800 on the fifty draw. Tuesday was Canada day at the date festival and one got in free but $8 for parking. Food was also very expensive $7 for a hotdog. Went to their musical Journey Revisited they were good but way too loud many people left early including us. Wednesday we are having a school chum of Bill's for happy hour (Walter Watt and Fran).

a great train display

Fair food always smells sooo good

palm Desert

February 15 Palm Desert 2015

Another busy week. The ventriloquist kept us in stitches last Sunday. Had to have a 15min appointment for Bills tooth after Mondays appointment as he needed a bridge so we didn't want to stay 2 nights we opted for a Saturday.( in and out quickly not even a line up at the border)Tuesday I went on a short hike in Thousand Palms and as we were close we visited with Ron and Pat Fox in Desert Hot Springs. Wednesday we had our friends from Powel River ( Lyn and Larry). Thursday was painting day so I painted a small painting for a charity ( all with no names in front and will be selling for $99) Thursday was also Chief's kitchen when chief's from Wilma and Freda on El Paseo demonstrated boneless short rids on mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy. Yum Friday was crafty ladies then of to a nursery with art and craft tables only to find out it has closed down so we walked around the Rivers . Todays Sunday sounds is Bob Allen Pop'nRock-Old and new.

Maria, Darlene and Rodger at Babes

my  99 dollar painting for charity

palm Desert

February 8 Sunday 2014 Palm Desert

It sure is nice waking up to sunshine every morning. We have beem very busy with our friends Paul and Edith from Appache Junction.Us ladies went to the chief's kitchen while the boys went to the air plane museum then to Habachi for dinner. Classic car cruise night went well, then the El Paseo Art Walk. We had 8 for lunch that day . What a great visit. I entered a craft fair in Indio and sold 8 paintings. The park  Casa Blanca) had a wonderful lunch- hamburger, chicken or hot dogs for only $3 included tomatoes ,onions, lettuce and potato chips. $1 for a large scoop of ice cream . This afternoon Sunday sounds is a ventriloquist. Monday we go to Yuma for Bill to get his new tooth.

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