Palm Springs - Part 4

We are home now ... One minute 95 degree sunshine in Palm Springs, CA and in a few short hours later we land in Bellingham, WA and are back to drizzling wet skies accompanied by a cool 50 degrees.  What a shock!

And now that I am home in my native Canada with my personal computer, life is easier and less complicated with fun and sun ... and I can continue to share my memories of OUR VACATION.

Here is the lovely Master Suite.  It was very romantic.  The four post king sized bed was enormous and luxurious.  We slept like a king and queen.

Right at the foot of the bed was a two sided fire place (that we didn't use, of course, as we wanted to keep the indoors cool with air conditioning).  Over it was a large flat screen TV.

In a side nook there was this very comfy chair that fits two perfectly.

Lovely reading and relaxing area.

Such a large master suite called for over sized furnishings.  Oh, did I mention that the house had 10 foot ceilings?

And then there was the Master Ensuite.  Another very open room and over the top with luxury.  Everything that one would needed to feel pampered.

Large open shower.  Large soaker tub. Accessories galore and many fine bath soaps, lotions, shampoos et cetera.

And finally a large closet off of the ensuite.  There was a padded bench in the center for sitting and lots of room to hang our clothes for the week.

And to add to the room ... almost for some sort of comedic accent ... were these two pictures displayed for all to see on a side wall.  I am not sure if they are of the owner in his younger days ... or per chance a model of yesteryear ... or if they portray a Viagra commercial of today ... but they made me chuckle each time I saw them.  Oh it's a wonderful life!

Palm Springs - Part 3

Vacation is no time to post on a blog.

Too much going on and much too much fun.

But I will try to give you a few more shots of this dream vacation home.

We have found that the exteriors of homes in Palm Springs, CA are quite similar to each other.  Tile roofs are the norm.  And stucco exterior is prevalent.  It looks like everyone has a landscaper and pool boy.

Not complaining though as the overall effect is very grand indeed.

Check out this beautiful chandelier hanging in the foyer.

Tile flooring is spectacular.

Although we don't drink, I can appreciate and share with you the bar off of the dining and living room.  The designer has a wonderful sense of detail.

This living room picture is a bit dark.  Remember that I only use a point and shot camera.  As you walk into the foyer, you look on into the living room, and out onto the deck and pool area.  You are wowed as soon as you enter this house.

The house is full of accessories to add to the luxury feel of the home.

Again this picture does not do the dining room justice.  High ceilings really add that certain something.

This is a seven foot mural painting in the dining room.  Beauty.

The lighting in the whole house continues with the grandness.

And then back to life in the pool where we have spent much of this vacation.  One night the winds were fierce and a pool chair was swept into the deep end.  Hubby's brute strength rescued it from the pool depths.

The girls peeking out from the hot tub and into the pool.

And me ... on vacation in Palm Springs ... bobbing along with the help of a pool noodle.  What a wonderful life!

Palm Springs - Part 2

Well, what a wonderful life that I live!  Allegiant Airlines safely carried us from Bellingham, WA to Palm Springs, CA.  I held me eyes closed from the the time of take off till we leveled off above the clouds but was given a vivid commentary by hubby of the aerial sights.  The two hours over the clouds were easy.  The descent was not so easy.  Rough winds, but a graceful landing. 

Welcome to Palm Springs, CA

The vacation home we rented in beyond belief.  I have decided to post pictures of different rooms or events each day.  For today you get to share in the excitement of the free form pool, hot tub (spa) and the back yard.

Waterfalls and bubbling water ... wonderful sights and sounds.  And salt water too.  Supposed to be gentle on the skin.

This area of the pool provides shelter from the sun, but a cool seat in shallow water.  Oh the life!

Many steps down into the pool.  Deepest area is about 6 feet.                 

 Johnnie Girl and Dreamer enjoy the opportunity to 'gently and gradually' build up their tan.

I am having a horrible time with this internet and my little lap top ... so I will close with this picture.  A close up of  the naked mermaid holding a fish.  I think that the fountain is rather beautiful up close like this.

Palm Springs - Part 1

Palm Springs, California.  Ever been???  Me neither.  But tomorrow we're heading to Bellingham, WA and flying on down to our dream vacation.

I am not one to say that we deserve it, because I KNOW that there are much more deserving souls than our family.  BUT this is our first big trip in 25 years.  Hubby, Dreamer, Johnnie-Girl and myself are about to find out why many of you actually take vacations.

I am bringing my little lap top and hope to document our travels and adventures on this blog.  If I am having too much fun vacationing, it may have to wait till our return in a week.

We leave tomorrow.  Wow, I can't even say it without getting excited shivers.  Genius has opted to stay home to hold down the fort, feed the dogs, and water the flowers ... Oh and work.  He has vacation plans of his own coming up that he will need to fund.

My dear friend KaYo (in code to protect her secret identity), proved to be a dear, dear friend once again.  She put together a little travel bag for me complete with traveling goodies.  What a sweetheart.   Look at the little bobbles acting as zipper pulls.  How cute it that?!

Oh ... one more thing ...

I haven't been on a big air plane for years and years.  Not quite back to the days of Orville and Wilbur Wright, but almost.  Heights are not my favourite things, so we will see how that all goes.

Stay turned.

Mother's Day - 2010

Ah, yes, Mother's Day 2010.  I remember it well.  But alas I forgot all about posting about it on my blog.  Please allow this belated sharing time.

After church on Mother's Day our family loaded into the SUV and headed to Agassiz ... about a 45 minute scenic drive.

Agassiz is a very small town in British Columbia.  And in our opinion there is only one place to eat ... Jack's.  You can't miss it ... yep Agassiz is THAT small.

As a starter, I ordered a Greek salad.  One of my favourites.  Then I had Σουβλάκι (a chicken souvlaki dinner).  Three skewers of tender chicken, baked potato, green beans, nan bread with that sauce that starts with the letter "T" and I can't remember how to pronounce.  All was top notch.  Did I mention that the dinner included a hot fudge sundae?  Eaten too fast to snap a picture.

Continuing on ... Dreamer is always adventuresome at restaurants and tried a starter of escargot.  Yep, snails.  And she even let me have one.  You know, I thought it would be rubbery, but it wasn't bad at all.

Here is Hubby and I.  Happy happy happy.

And the kids.  Those countless trips to the Orthodontist have paid off in this one picture.

The quiet main street of Agassiz.

Look at those mountains!

Genius patiently waiting for us to saunter down the street.

I like this picture of the kids.  Reminds me of some cheap spy movie.

I wanted to get some pictures on the jungle gym they had in the playground, but as soon as the girls climbed up, a young family came along.  I told my girls that they could easily take on the the little toddlers and claim their status as Queens of the playground, but they were good girls and graciously released their thrones.

Genius took this shot.  Don't we look like giants?

 

An old train car is on display for us tourists.

Train travel has sure changed over the years.

My toes on the train deck.

Dreamers toes walking the rail.

And then after Agassiz we went on to Harrison Hot Springs for coffee and a perfect end to a perfect day.

 ~ * ~

Hope that your Mother's Day was as memorable as mine.

Riding the Hog

Well, Dreamer came home a few weeks ago with a boyfriend.  We have known this young man for a few years now as he attends our church, but it was still a bit of a surprise for us.  Maybe even for Dreamer!!!

But more of him later.

One of the added perks of  this particular man, at least in Hubby's eyes, is his Kawasaki 600 Enduro.

While boyfriend and Dreamer are away ... Hubby gets to play!

Even Johnnie-Girl gets to have a 'twirl on the hog'.
(Is that proper motorcycle slang ???)

Unfortunately the picture I took of Hubby popping wheelies has he sped down
our rural road, didn't turn out.

Hubby had his eyes closed :o)

The Rain in May

The rain in May falls mainly down my drain.  Wow, what poetry!

 

And double wow what a rain, wind and more wind storm did we experience yesterday.  I had to bring the dogs into the refuge of the garage ... actually they literally ran in the door when I called them.  

Heavy rain pelting down on their backs cannot be pleasant.

Sometimes, when we have these freak showers, the rain comes down so quickly that it over flows my eaves troughs. Consequently soaking my patio deck AND the patio carpet we have under our picnic table.  But ...

It can be rather beautiful.

Beloved, Let Us Once More Praise The Rain  by Conrad Aiken Beloved, let us once more praise the rain. Let us discover some new alphabet, For this, the often praised; and be ourselves, The rain, the chickweed, and the burdock leaf, The green-white privet flower, the spotted stone, And all that welcomes the rain; the sparrow too,— Who watches with a hard eye from seclusion, Beneath the elm-tree bough, till rain is done. There is an oriole who, upside down, Hangs at his nest, and flicks an orange wing,— Under a tree as dead and still as lead; There is a single leaf, in all this heaven Of leaves, which rain has loosened from its twig: The stem breaks, and it falls, but it is caught Upon a sister leaf, and thus she hangs; There is an acorn cup, beside a mushroom Which catches three drops from the stooping cloud. The timid bee goes back to the hive; the fly Under the broad leaf of the hollyhock Perpends stupid with cold; the raindark snail Surveys the wet world from a watery stone... And still the syllables of water whisper: The wheel of cloud whirs slowly: while we wait In the dark room; and in your heart I find One silver raindrop,—on a hawthorn leaf,— Orion in a cobweb, and the World.

Happy Finds

Despite the spitting of rain, there were a few garage sales this past Saturday.  One in particular was hosted by Save On Foods (the local grocery store).  All items are donated during the weeks before the event and all proceeds go the the Children's Hospital in Vancouver.  We try to go every year.

~ * ~

Dreamer and Johnnie-Girl rummaged through the great mountain of donated clothes.  For $5 per stuffed bag, they didn't mind that everything was piled rather than neatly pressed and hung on hangers.  They scored big time, but alas I didn't get any pictures.

~ * ~

Hubby was the faithful pack mule, holding while we searched.  I was able to purchase many books, a DVD, sunglasses, earrings, two nutcracker Christmas ornaments, and four pictures for a modest $5.

The wonderful thing about the pictures is that we had painted our office a lovely soft camel or tan or yellowy brown many weeks ago, but haven't finished moving in the furniture or decorating the walls.  Over my desk we needed a long horizontal picture to off set the long horizontal empty space on the wall.  I have looked at many stores, but never found the 'just right' picture, nor could stomach the $100 to $150 price tag.

~ * ~

Then along came the garage sale.  $2 for four screen printed pictures PERFECT for the wall.  The brown in the pictures is the exact match for the walls, and the black borders compliment the computer and file cabinets.  I am thrilled.

~ * ~

The Duggar Family must be right in saying and living the motto

BUY USED AND SAVE THE DIFFERENCE

Truth Based Hope

As per normal, our pastor gave us much food for thought in the church service this morning.  We were blessed and I thought that I would share at least his outline with you:

TRUTH BASED HOPE INSPIRES US TO STAND FAST

     1.  Know what you believe

     2.  Be prepared for affictions and tribulations

     3.  Be encouraged by the steadfastness of others

     4.  Pray for and encourage others

     5.  Live humbly pleasing to God and He will bless you with grace

    

How?

     a.  Abstain from the sensual dishonour of yourself or others

     b.  Increasingly love each other
     c.  Learn how to live quietly (peaceably)
     d.  Go about your business ethically
     e.  Work with your own hands

Why?

For the goal of honestly meeting your own needs as a blessing to others