Desert beauty

The cactus are not going to be outdone by the spring flowers.

Indian Canyon blooming

We went for a hike this morning. Temperatures in the 70's - perfect. We hiked the Andreas Canyon (mindful of the name) following the palm tree lined creek, then above them to the top of the canyon. Flowers are blooming - mostly the yellow brittle bush but other brave ones trying to survive in the harsh conditions.

What to do on a hot day in the desert

We were expecting company and prepared for it by investing in a new swimming pool. Our guest approves! He had an afternoon swim and after a messy supper on the patio, we stripped him and plunged him back in for a cleanup!

It is cooling down in the next few days (from the mid-90's to the 70's) which means we can do some hiking in the desert. There is even a possibility of some rain which might mean desert blooming.

Normal life.....

We're living a 'normal' life right now - shopping, cooking, laundry, etc but enjoying breakfast outside, air conditioning inside, warm evening strolls, exercise room close by for Bill and sitting baking in the sun. We came with loads of books for me and a really fat one for Bill and are content to fill a lot of time with our noses buried.
Of course we're also glued to the TV like everyone else in the world and have been introduced to full-on CNN for the first time! If that was my total source of news I'd put a pillow over my head and call it a day! I feel there is enough tragedy, drama and reason for stress in the world without manufacturing more! The reporters are breathless with enthusiasm for crisis.
We were thrilled to remember that we can access CBC on our iTouch so now listen to Victoria all the time. I feel we are back in connection with the world as we know it because as far as anything we've seen or heard down here, it ends at the 50th parallel. There is occasional mention of other countries but never Canada. I think we should forget our angst about what the US thinks about our politicians and/or politics and accept that they just don't think about us at all! I'm okay with that.

Weed Warriors

Bill and I signed up to go out on a weeding expedition this morning. The National Monument Service has lots of programs and this is one of them. We thought it would be interesting and a chance to see Indian Canyon. We arrived at 8:00 am with long pants and shirts sleeves ready to work. There were four other volunteers and the park leader. She took us up the canyon then distributed black plastic bags and helped us identify the dreaded Sierra Mustard and a grass similar to our prairie foxtail. We then weeded for three hours!

Visitors to the pass would stop and question our behaviour but then congratulate us for our hard work. That and free Gatoraide kept us going. The other intrepid volunteers are the complete team who have been at work for four years. Our first thought was the impossibility of the task but one of the women assured me that this was the first trip into this canyon and that the other locations are now almost weed-free and easy to maintain.

We became intimate with the thorns of the mesquite bush and I had one tiny little fire ant give me a sample of their work. One of the other volunteers was flapping and jumping when she encountered them - they are up your sleeves and pant legs before you know it. My vicious little guy got me while on a walk so I had the opportunity of experiencing the amazing slow heat and pain of one bite without wanting to run crazily down the path to the river.

Bill didn't complain once, was bleeding from mesquite thorns, carried more than his share of garbage bags full of weeds down the winding path to the parking lot, and gave the whole experience a 6! Our only issue was the lack of promised gloves and the resulting thorns we are still picking out of our fingers....

Palm Desert

We're settled in on Adobe Springs Drive and have the telephone installed, the VCR working, and I know where the paring knife is! The owners met us when we arrived and during the conversation complained about the previous people moving everything. After they left, Bill took pictures of every room and then I promptly put most of the artificial plants in the closets! I guess nothing grows when you keep all the windows covered to keep out the heat. We have a patio that is suitable for breakfast and most of the morning but turns into an oven at mid-day. We also have a resident dove that knows one song and may not be here for the next renters if he continues to wake Bill up at 6:00 am.

Palm Springs Break

We have arrived in Palm Springs where we are staying for three days then moving into our Palm Desert place for a month. I expect nothing of note to happen in the next little while - you can find us sitting around the pool and reading. We're ready after our transient life.