Lary and I went over to the new place and got it ready for summer's heat down here, which is up to 120 degrees F during July August and September. The rubber stopper for the kitchen sink had already stuck firmly to the arborite kitchen counter, so you know it's been hot here already.
The new insulated roof on our park model trailer I think has made quite a difference to the inside temps, and the roofers eliminated a skylight that had been letting in quite a bit of heat. Sounds as if the previous owners had had some leaks around the windows, but we haven't seen any evidence of that.
The owners had cut lengths of special silver insulating material to cover the windows and keep out the summer heat, and they were already labeled with which window they fit, plus there was a special tape to use to fix them into the frame of each window, so it went fairly quickly, though with the doors closed, it was pretty stuffy inside. And of course it got progressively darker, too.
There is a dove nesting on a strut on the outside front metal shutters of the unit, and today we saw her 2 babies, she was feeding them, looked like she was regurgitating food for them. With the sheers and heavy curtains drawn back we could see her pretty clearly.
Yesterday we had watched a kildeer family here in our campsite park, they were so interesting to watch the young kildeers learning to hunt and feed in the rocks of a wee pond here.
We also put most of the patio furniture in the wooden shed which has a ventilator turbine fan on it, and filled a household garbage can with water and left it on a towel inside the bathtub, to slowly give the house its needed moisture. There is also a bucket of water over the garburetor in the kitchen, and saran wrap over both the toilet bowl and the toilet tank, to maintain the toilet seal and try and avoid getting sewer gas up into the trailer.
Finally we covered the bed and furniture with plastic sheets, and laid down all the lamps, and unplugged all the appliances. Hopefully that will keep the place safe, and OK in the long hot summer months. Also be safe if this area has an earthquake of any serious magnitude.
It was quite a bit of work, and as this is a windy month, and has been a windy winter, there is dust everywhere outside. It doesn't seem too bad inside our new trailer as yet, let's see what happens after a few hot dry months have passed.
Wendy and Dave invited us over for Happy Hour tonight, and we will go out to dinner together tomorrow here in Desert Hot Springs before they leave Thursday and we go Saturday.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Last flute class today at Eisenhower
Had lunch with Wendy and Dave, and Dave's sister Ann and her hubbie Ron, at Sherman's.
Yum yum, huge portions, then 2 desserts ordered and shared among us.
After that Lary dropped me off at Eisenhower Hospital for my flute Monday class, and it was nice, though I am a bit sad, they are doing a kind of recital on April 13th at Rancho Mirage Library, and I won't be there.
Wendy and Dave are coming for dinner tonight, we're eating the steaks that Sue and Jen got us from Schwan's, the frozen food delivery service here in the park. Wendy is bringing her homemade bean salad, and we're doing a green salad. I'm still full from lunch.
Our friendly next door neighbour has left, and the park is emptying out pretty quickly, most all of the activities and meals end this Easter weekend. Boo hoo, tomorrow we'll head over to our park model home and "summerize" it for the season when it's really hot, and we're away up north. That will be a new experience for us both, learning to cover the windows with reflective insulation, and add a whole garbage can full of water somewhere in the house, cover the toilet and sink with saran wrap. Etc etc.
Yum yum, huge portions, then 2 desserts ordered and shared among us.
After that Lary dropped me off at Eisenhower Hospital for my flute Monday class, and it was nice, though I am a bit sad, they are doing a kind of recital on April 13th at Rancho Mirage Library, and I won't be there.
Wendy and Dave are coming for dinner tonight, we're eating the steaks that Sue and Jen got us from Schwan's, the frozen food delivery service here in the park. Wendy is bringing her homemade bean salad, and we're doing a green salad. I'm still full from lunch.
Our friendly next door neighbour has left, and the park is emptying out pretty quickly, most all of the activities and meals end this Easter weekend. Boo hoo, tomorrow we'll head over to our park model home and "summerize" it for the season when it's really hot, and we're away up north. That will be a new experience for us both, learning to cover the windows with reflective insulation, and add a whole garbage can full of water somewhere in the house, cover the toilet and sink with saran wrap. Etc etc.
Jammin on Sunday afternoon at the clubhouse
Lazy Sunday morning, then in the afternoon we attended the music jam here, there were lots of people with instruments, even a bass fiddle, and 4 accordians, as well as tons of guitars, trumpet, slide trombone and plenty of singers, and other things.
I signed up to play my flute, the newest addition to my family, made right here in Desert Hot Springs, it has a figure burned into it, and is the key of C. I was #24, so that made a lot of waiting and listening, this is the second to last jam session here in the park, all the activities pretty well shut down this coming weekend.
I played a short piece which I was happy with, and got a nice enthusiastic applause for it, reassuring. Then after that we had hamburgers up there with Dave and Wendy, later I was playing my flutes back at our site when our neighbour Michael brought over his guitar, and we played together, both sort of free wheeling, it worked out quite well, I was surprised and excited to find that out. Michael has made flutes, but it seems that he hasn't got them with him at the moment, and hasn't played them for a while. I was happy to show him my new clay drone flute from Nash.
Nice afternoon and evening, with a big full moon. Still gets chilly at night, it's the desert!!
I signed up to play my flute, the newest addition to my family, made right here in Desert Hot Springs, it has a figure burned into it, and is the key of C. I was #24, so that made a lot of waiting and listening, this is the second to last jam session here in the park, all the activities pretty well shut down this coming weekend.
I played a short piece which I was happy with, and got a nice enthusiastic applause for it, reassuring. Then after that we had hamburgers up there with Dave and Wendy, later I was playing my flutes back at our site when our neighbour Michael brought over his guitar, and we played together, both sort of free wheeling, it worked out quite well, I was surprised and excited to find that out. Michael has made flutes, but it seems that he hasn't got them with him at the moment, and hasn't played them for a while. I was happy to show him my new clay drone flute from Nash.
Nice afternoon and evening, with a big full moon. Still gets chilly at night, it's the desert!!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday evening at Jackalope Ranch for dinner
Saturday some people Di knew from Grade school came over from Los Angeles to visit, and we met them at their hotel, La Quinta Resort & Club, near Old Town La Quinta, and went together to the Jackalope Ranch. They are Eileen and Rick, Eileen went to grade school with Jen.
News flash, Di made an online reservation for dinner, and it worked!!!!! We sat outside on the pretty patio near the pond, waterfall and flower garden and ate guacamole and had a drink waiting for our dinner reservation time to arrive. First time ever to use valet service, too. Quite a thrill to turn over the truck to the valets. We 4 ate 1/2 rack of pork ribs each and they were very good, but Montana's still doesn't have that much competition, in my opinion.
After dinner we took them back to their place, and sat in their unit, chatting. There are small low buildings grouped around an outdoor pool and hot tub, maybe 6 or so units using the one pool. And the units are spanish style inside, white, with a fireplace, and large living/bedroom, living room had 2 loveseats nicely upholstered, facing the fireplace, bed over on the other side of the room, and then a large separate bathroom. Pretty complex.
I would wager that we hadn't seen each other for almost 40-50 years or more. And it was such fun chatting about the years in between, life and lives. Families and fun times.
Eileen had worked over on Saltspring Island as a realtor for quite a few years, both at PH and at Century 21, and we knew quite a few folks in common. Her mum is stil alive at 92, and living alone still in Victoria down on Broughton and Wharf in a condo.
News flash, Di made an online reservation for dinner, and it worked!!!!! We sat outside on the pretty patio near the pond, waterfall and flower garden and ate guacamole and had a drink waiting for our dinner reservation time to arrive. First time ever to use valet service, too. Quite a thrill to turn over the truck to the valets. We 4 ate 1/2 rack of pork ribs each and they were very good, but Montana's still doesn't have that much competition, in my opinion.
After dinner we took them back to their place, and sat in their unit, chatting. There are small low buildings grouped around an outdoor pool and hot tub, maybe 6 or so units using the one pool. And the units are spanish style inside, white, with a fireplace, and large living/bedroom, living room had 2 loveseats nicely upholstered, facing the fireplace, bed over on the other side of the room, and then a large separate bathroom. Pretty complex.
I would wager that we hadn't seen each other for almost 40-50 years or more. And it was such fun chatting about the years in between, life and lives. Families and fun times.
Eileen had worked over on Saltspring Island as a realtor for quite a few years, both at PH and at Century 21, and we knew quite a few folks in common. Her mum is stil alive at 92, and living alone still in Victoria down on Broughton and Wharf in a condo.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wed. March 24 bye bye sisters and friends
Sue and Jen left shortly before 8 AM, then we went and said bye to Bern and Gord, and darned if after that Penny and Peter didn't depart too. We went from lots of company, to just Wendy and Dave left here still, thankfully til near the Easter weekend.
In the evening we went up to the clubhouse to see the Freddie and Sheila Show, they are 2 very good guitarists from Canada, and she sings very well too. They enjoy each others company, and are such friendly positive people, it's a pleasure to watch them together.
Thursday evening we went into the street market in Palm Springs, and walked all up and down among the stalls and tourists, it was nice and warm. During the day Manny's came out and washed and waxed our trailer. We also had tacos and chicken enchiladas up at the clubhouse.
Friday Lary got up on the roof and did a rubber roof treatment, and during that time the wind came up, so that was almost more excitement than he needed or wanted. Spaghetti dinner at the clubhouse, after a bit of a swim and a visit in the pool.
In the evening we went up to the clubhouse to see the Freddie and Sheila Show, they are 2 very good guitarists from Canada, and she sings very well too. They enjoy each others company, and are such friendly positive people, it's a pleasure to watch them together.
Thursday evening we went into the street market in Palm Springs, and walked all up and down among the stalls and tourists, it was nice and warm. During the day Manny's came out and washed and waxed our trailer. We also had tacos and chicken enchiladas up at the clubhouse.
Friday Lary got up on the roof and did a rubber roof treatment, and during that time the wind came up, so that was almost more excitement than he needed or wanted. Spaghetti dinner at the clubhouse, after a bit of a swim and a visit in the pool.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Joshua Tree National Park and Pioneertown today
23 March it was sunny and 80 degrees. We got info about Joshua Tree from Gord and Bern who had just visited there. Set off at 10 AM with Sue and Jen in the truck, got lost a bit going for gas near the east end of Dillon Road. Filled up, then hit I-10 highway going east toward Joshua Tree National Park. It is 792,000 acres, and quite varied in both vegetation and elevation.
Went to the info center for tourist info, got a few things, then set off slowly through the park, stopping to read the informative signs along the way, and hunt for wildflowers. Didn't see many, and one showy blooming cactus we passed before we could stop. The I-10 highway has some pale yellow wee flowers blooming like a carpet on the desert floor, also some bigger plants with bright yellow flowers, and the odd pale purple flower also down low on the ground, very pretty in places.
The park is both Mojave Desert toward the north, then Colorado Desert toward the south, becoming the huge Sonoran Desert which goes way down into Mexico.
It has areas of creosote bushes, in bright yellow bloom at the moment, then on to cholla cactus, pale green with tons of thorns, and the old growth a kind of browny black at the foot of each plant, and then more north it gives over to huge Joshua Trees, like giant yuccas, but with many arms, many of them in creamy big blooms at the end of the branches.
It was very pretty, and quite interesting to see. We didn't see many birds or animals, though of course there are lots of critter holes beneath the creosote bushes in bright yellow bloom. We were glad that we didn't see the sidewinder rattlesnakes that exist up there, perhaps most of the animals are more night creatures, due to the daytime heat.
It was quite windy and a bit chilly, Jen and Sue hadn't brought sweaters, and the truck doors were really pulled open wide when we opened them to get in and out. There are no food facilities there, and we hadn't brought a picnic like Gord and Bern had suggested we do. In a nearby town we got to once we left the park we ate at a Country Kitchen, the chinese lady operating it was very amusing, and we had burgers and drinks.
Then we cruised a few shops up there, got some money at an ATM, and went over to Pioneertown, a cowboy western one street town that had been developed by Roy Rogers and some of the other cowboys of the 1940s, it was built as a stage set in the late 40s, and is just one dusty road out in the middle of nearly nowhere, though there is a tiny wee post office still functioning there, and several of the buildings are occupied by folks still in residence there. On the weekends it is more animated, with actors, and a restaurant that opens for the toursit trade.
We saw one business, the man has some beautiful western saddles and bridles for sale.
It wa apparently the scene for some 200 cowboy western movies and series on TV, and is named after the Sons of the Pioneers early country singers, who were also involved in developing the locale.
Came home, flopped for 20 minutes, then off out to dinner with Sue and Jen inviting us, we went to Agua Caliente, and had a yummy steak and seafood buffet dinner.
Sue and Jen packed up most of their stuff into their suitcases, they have to be off in their rental car for the airport before 8 AM tomorrow. After they leave we will pack up the linens and bring them home to wash, and soon we will have to pack up our new park model home at Almar Acres, learning to "summerize" it to prevent the desert high summer heat from damaging it. And then pull our trailer out and up towards the north, to get home for our April 7th appointment at Greg's in Duncan.
Went to the info center for tourist info, got a few things, then set off slowly through the park, stopping to read the informative signs along the way, and hunt for wildflowers. Didn't see many, and one showy blooming cactus we passed before we could stop. The I-10 highway has some pale yellow wee flowers blooming like a carpet on the desert floor, also some bigger plants with bright yellow flowers, and the odd pale purple flower also down low on the ground, very pretty in places.
The park is both Mojave Desert toward the north, then Colorado Desert toward the south, becoming the huge Sonoran Desert which goes way down into Mexico.
It has areas of creosote bushes, in bright yellow bloom at the moment, then on to cholla cactus, pale green with tons of thorns, and the old growth a kind of browny black at the foot of each plant, and then more north it gives over to huge Joshua Trees, like giant yuccas, but with many arms, many of them in creamy big blooms at the end of the branches.
It was very pretty, and quite interesting to see. We didn't see many birds or animals, though of course there are lots of critter holes beneath the creosote bushes in bright yellow bloom. We were glad that we didn't see the sidewinder rattlesnakes that exist up there, perhaps most of the animals are more night creatures, due to the daytime heat.
It was quite windy and a bit chilly, Jen and Sue hadn't brought sweaters, and the truck doors were really pulled open wide when we opened them to get in and out. There are no food facilities there, and we hadn't brought a picnic like Gord and Bern had suggested we do. In a nearby town we got to once we left the park we ate at a Country Kitchen, the chinese lady operating it was very amusing, and we had burgers and drinks.
Then we cruised a few shops up there, got some money at an ATM, and went over to Pioneertown, a cowboy western one street town that had been developed by Roy Rogers and some of the other cowboys of the 1940s, it was built as a stage set in the late 40s, and is just one dusty road out in the middle of nearly nowhere, though there is a tiny wee post office still functioning there, and several of the buildings are occupied by folks still in residence there. On the weekends it is more animated, with actors, and a restaurant that opens for the toursit trade.
We saw one business, the man has some beautiful western saddles and bridles for sale.
It wa apparently the scene for some 200 cowboy western movies and series on TV, and is named after the Sons of the Pioneers early country singers, who were also involved in developing the locale.
Came home, flopped for 20 minutes, then off out to dinner with Sue and Jen inviting us, we went to Agua Caliente, and had a yummy steak and seafood buffet dinner.
Sue and Jen packed up most of their stuff into their suitcases, they have to be off in their rental car for the airport before 8 AM tomorrow. After they leave we will pack up the linens and bring them home to wash, and soon we will have to pack up our new park model home at Almar Acres, learning to "summerize" it to prevent the desert high summer heat from damaging it. And then pull our trailer out and up towards the north, to get home for our April 7th appointment at Greg's in Duncan.
Monday March 22, cloudy and 80 F in DHS
Lary and I went in to Von's and bought 3 bar b que chickens already roasted for our part of the dinner. We also picked up a large platter to put them on, with handles. Had a swim and then Lary took Di into Eisenhower for her flute get together there in the Lucy Curci Cancer Center.
The group is busily getting ready for their flute recital on April 13th, Di feels very left out, as we will be leaving at the beginning of April, to get the trailer home and in for repairs in Duncan on April 7th. Still managed to play a bit, but you can definitely tell that I hadn't practiced while I was away in Costa Rica. Lary got his INR blood levels checked at Eisenhower Med while Di was in fluting.
Dashed home, and tore the chickens apart, and went up to the upper clubhouse to set up for dinner. By that time it was windy, so no tablecloths, but everyone arrived, Penny and Peter with olives, cheeses, and lots of delicious bread and fresh strawberries, Gord and Bern with a pasta/veggie salad, Dave and Wendy with bean salad, Sue and Jen with tons of fruit on a platter, and a cheesecake with varied toppings on it. All of us had our own libations, the joint effort meal was just delicious, lots of chats, Sue and Penny had worked together at the health unit in Nanaimo. We were sheltered from the wind up against the building, in the area that is somewhat covered with a kind of gazebo over the top of the picnic tables. We were cozy at 2 big picnic tables put together in a row. Perfect setup, nobody seemed to mind us there.
But after we ate it got pretty chilly, we hadn't started til 6 PM, so we asked Dave and Wendy if we could crowd into their park model, and that's what we did, all 10 of us, looking at their photos of C.R. on the computer, and continuing the libations.
It is very amusing because there is a pair of resident mallard ducks that insist on swimming in the swimming pool, they scoop up all the bugs that are coming into the pool at this time of year, it is a feeding frenzy for them, but of course what goes in has to come out, which we aren't very keen on swimming in. Other folks gave Jen heck when she tried to shoo the ducks out of the pool.
Fun way of getting together with all our company at one time, everyone seems to be leaving on Wednesday except for Dave and Wendy, all at once there is a group, then they all disburse and leave us alone once more. Boo hoo. We will miss them all so much.
The group is busily getting ready for their flute recital on April 13th, Di feels very left out, as we will be leaving at the beginning of April, to get the trailer home and in for repairs in Duncan on April 7th. Still managed to play a bit, but you can definitely tell that I hadn't practiced while I was away in Costa Rica. Lary got his INR blood levels checked at Eisenhower Med while Di was in fluting.
Dashed home, and tore the chickens apart, and went up to the upper clubhouse to set up for dinner. By that time it was windy, so no tablecloths, but everyone arrived, Penny and Peter with olives, cheeses, and lots of delicious bread and fresh strawberries, Gord and Bern with a pasta/veggie salad, Dave and Wendy with bean salad, Sue and Jen with tons of fruit on a platter, and a cheesecake with varied toppings on it. All of us had our own libations, the joint effort meal was just delicious, lots of chats, Sue and Penny had worked together at the health unit in Nanaimo. We were sheltered from the wind up against the building, in the area that is somewhat covered with a kind of gazebo over the top of the picnic tables. We were cozy at 2 big picnic tables put together in a row. Perfect setup, nobody seemed to mind us there.
But after we ate it got pretty chilly, we hadn't started til 6 PM, so we asked Dave and Wendy if we could crowd into their park model, and that's what we did, all 10 of us, looking at their photos of C.R. on the computer, and continuing the libations.
It is very amusing because there is a pair of resident mallard ducks that insist on swimming in the swimming pool, they scoop up all the bugs that are coming into the pool at this time of year, it is a feeding frenzy for them, but of course what goes in has to come out, which we aren't very keen on swimming in. Other folks gave Jen heck when she tried to shoo the ducks out of the pool.
Fun way of getting together with all our company at one time, everyone seems to be leaving on Wednesday except for Dave and Wendy, all at once there is a group, then they all disburse and leave us alone once more. Boo hoo. We will miss them all so much.
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