The Waiting Game

Today we waited for the service man who came mid afternoon to determine why, after 3.5 weeks, we were no longer able to get online. It was epic and in the end he left us still not hooked up. Bill persisted, as he is wont to do, and eventually did get us hooked up and I sighed with relief!


We ventured forth around 4pm looking for flowers to photograph. Shot some hibiscus and some bird of paradise but I had been smitten with the amaryllis on El Paseo drive that I had seen on Sunday when they were just beginning open. I still can't get over them growing, with other vegetation and flowers in great pots, outdoors! At home the best we can hope for is to force the massive bulb, in a wee pot, to push up a heavy head of blossoms.


Coming home we passed 'The Esprit', where we would like to stay next year, and looked for a vantage point to show you the incoming weather. The glow in the gap is created, in part, by blowing sand. The roads are plowed of sand drifts with rubber bladed plows, how novel!


There is no one coming in on our heels and so we were offered and accepted a two day extension here at the condo. So, instead of leaving today we depart on Friday!

Desperate Measures

Tuesday, March 30th

Communicating with my people means a lot to me and so having Internet at my fingertips is critical to my well being. Yesterday, we lost our connection at the condo. Twenty-four hours without and I was near convulsing in my withdrawal! So, Bill dropped me off at the extensive and beautiful Palm Springs Public Library for a hour and a half where I got all caught up.

Calgary has it's painted cows, Toronto it's moose and Palm Springs desert bighorn rams! He we are in the library's foyer, leaving after I had had my fix!

Hanging Out

Monday, March 29th

I can't keep up with Bill, playing tennis daily the way I did last year, so every morning he's been playing at Palm Canyon Villas, with some of the fellows we met there last year. I know he's enjoying this immensely. While he is gone, I play house and savour some pool time. Today I photographed this grapefruit tree outside our front door ...

We usually have lunch at home on the patio before stepping out for a look see. Today we revisited this thrift store to find not one, but two, baby grand pianos for sale!

Nearby there is this little mesa with a home perched on top which always catches my eye when we are passing by.

Social Sunday

Sunday, March 28th

Bill and I got up early and headed off to the market, where we knew Eagles Mosaic was going to be today. The quest is over. The sweetest bistro set I have ever seen is collapsed, wrapped and stashed in the back of our SUV. We also got the matching, tiny bird bath. It's all gonna look terrific on our front porch!

That done we went to the Simpson's to play tennis on their courts (nice) then joined them for lunch and the afternoon in their pool (exceptionally nice).

The Shostaks had invited us for happy hour so off we went to see them at The Emerald Desert RV Resort, at Palm Desert here in the Coachella Valley. It's a delightful place and it was good to have one last visit (this trip) with them.


Back we went to the Simpsons for dinner. What a fun, social day!

Triple Header

Saturday, March 27th

Bill was off playing tennis with The Geezer Boys (fellows we met at the complex we stayed in last year) and I went to the open air market at The College of the Desert, with Dale and Janice. Dale was after a ring and I was going to get the bistro set of my dreams. Imagine my disappointment when the Eagles Mosaic vendor wasn't there! There is a happy ending to this story, it just didn't happen today.

From there we met up with Bill and the Shostaks at La Quinta where we had lunch in a great Mexican restaurant before touring "Art Under Umbrellas" in Old Town.

The flat art wasn't terribly impressive, but the level of the artisans was superlative. Just look at these amazing blown glass gobbets ...

And how about these exceptional pieces of pottery with the tricky yet gorgeous crystal glazes ...

From here we went to "do" the galleries on El Paseo Drive. It is always more fun viewing art with another artist. Peter and I praised the good works and slagged the poor ones. This always works best when tastes are aligned and ours are!

Because You've Asked ...

Here are the paintings I've done since being here. They are all oil on linen panels 6" x 6"...

Patio Geranium
When we first arrived I bought this geranium and painted it when it had the one and a half blooms you see. Now it has four blossoms plus buds. You can virtually watch things grow here!

Freshly Picked
I wanted to paint an orange with leaves so I climbed one of the trees by the front door to get this one.

A Bit of Green for the Day
To honour the day I painted it, Saint Patrick's Day.

Avocado on Glass
March 17th, I was on n a roll and so I painted this one also!

California Shades
As suggested by Susan in my previous post.

California Shades

When Susan and Jim were here she and I both bought new sunglasses. Talking about what I could paint next Susan suggested a pair of sunglasses for my California 6x6s collection. I thought a hibiscus would work nicely along side them so I took a jaunt around the complex to find and clip one.

When I was finished, Bill suggested we go to El Gallito for a homemade Mexican, lunch where it is always busy. Inside, there was a line up to be seated ... at 2pm! I was yearning for a margarita, but they only serve beer and wine!