Weather continues to be sunny and dry but storms are coming off the California coast. I have to add that the word storm down here means rain, and usually only a little at that. We had a little wind yesterday, up to 20mph, not a big wind but enough to have to take the awning down along with the lights on them.
We are taking golf lessons here at the resort for the next 6 weeks. Group classe with three instructors, about 20 people, and it is fun. The best thing is they are free, can't beat that!
We have been hitting balls at the driving range at the Rancho Mirage Country Club,which has an agreement with Outdoor Resort, and we get a better rate at the range or on the course there. We have also used the free putting and chipping greens here a couple of times. Definitely getting use out of our Xmas presents to each other(golf clubs).
Life here has slowed down a little since Mark and Carol left. We have gotten in some pool time since the weather has heated up to the mid seventies. We are doing more reading this last week and of course watching the NFL playoffs each weekend. Lots of news about the Seahawks lately, what with Mora being fired and Pete Carroll, of USC, getting the head coaching job. Although I'm a long way away I read "The Seattle Times" and "The Tacoma News Tribune" sports pages online each morning via my iPhone and with the iPhone app "Pandora Radio" I can listen to KJR Sports Radio in Seattle live. Just like being at home. We have been re-watching "Lost" getting ready for the final season of the show this February. We have the DVDs for Season 4 and have Season 5 (last year) on Netflix. We are really going to miss that show. Also looking forward to the upcoming "Survivor 20", their anniversary show, with past favorites of the show returning. That should be interesting if you are a fan of the show. Another thing we have be doing down here is getting back into going to the movies. I don't have my HDTV big screen down here so we are going to the movies more. I think I mentioned seeing "Avatar" at the IMAX theater in 3D. The plot was so-so but the experience is don't miss. We really enjoyed "The Blind Side" a lot. Sandra Bullock deserves recognition for her take on the mother. We saw an interview with the actual mother and she is a piece of work....Sandra really nailed her. Also have seen "Up In The Air", with George Clooney" which we liked but not as much as the critics seemed to, and last week we saw "Sherlock Holmes", also very good and Robert Downey Jr. was sensational. He seems to have cleaned up his personal life and re-emerged as on of the best actors of his generation. I still remember him in the Charlie Chaplain biopic where he played the title role and just blew everyone away with his performance. We are heading for the Meryl Streep move "It's Complicated" next, which we've heard nothing but good things about. Oh, before I change the subject of movies, I want to mention a DVD from Pixar/Disney we just watched called "Up". We rented it because critics were all giving it four stars and now I know why. Good family show and very creative. The take on dogs in general is hilarious. Give it a shot.
The last couple of Saturdays we have gone to the COD (College of the Desert) for the giant flea market they have every Sat and Sun mornings from 7-2pm. Pretty good deals, I bought three dozen Titalist golf balls for $25. Yes, there are some nasty water hazards here in the parks 27 holes. Even though its a par three course you hit over water several times. The idea of buying golf balls just kills me because in the garage at home I have a case and a half of Titalists golf balls in three pack sleeves. The must be 500 balls in there. Well, you can't remember everything when you pack for the winter. They will get used when we get backhome or next winterdown here.
Tonight we are headed for the Thursdays night "Street Festival" where they close off Palm Canyon Drive, the main street through downtown Palm Springs, and have booths, music, food, etc. from 6pm to 11pm or so. All the restaurants on the street stay open late and many have outdoor patios to eat on. We have not been there yet this year. Last year we bought some great homemade sour dough bread and fresh fruit and veggies there. They also had a booth that sold homemade dog biscuits that did big business. Ollie loved the peanut butter ones.
Tuesday, we had some fabric screens installed on the three front windows. They snap on and keep your coach cool by blocking and reflecting the sun and give privacy as you can see out through them fine but cannot see in from the outside. At night you can see both in and out so you still need to pull your curtains for privacy. Since we face the sun all day on our site it really helps.
We dumped Facebook since it was getting cluttered with too much advertising for their games, etc. so I will try and keep up with this blog better. It's more like our journal than anything else but some people have said they enjoy reading it too, so we leave it open to anyone who chooses to catch up with us.
This weekend is the Grand Opening of "Aunt Effie's Gardens" that our friends Paul and Michele Mahoney have opened in Palm Springs. Larry and Rose Mackey drove over for the opening from Canyon Country and we had a chance to visit with them before we drove over to the grand opening. We had been there a couple of times before but they keep adding things that are interesting. Garden art is throughout the location and we are dying to buy some but how do we transport it home? We will pick up a piece or two before we leave one way or another. After the garden closed we went over to Paul and Michele's place for a glass of wine. Later, the six of us went out for dinner and drinks. We met Paul and Michele two years ago at Larry and Rose's wedding. At that time we had no idea we would be spending winters in their home town. Small world.
Larry and Rose at "Aunt Effie's Garden" Grand Opening. A very pretty place. Lots of plants, etc. as well as garden art pieces.
