Palm Springs - Communty Centre and Y

It doesn't get much better than fresh squeezed orange juice in the hot tub as a start to the day. We decided to have a laid back day as we are going out to the Thursday night street market tonight. The only things on the agenda involved Bentley - he needed a walk at the dog park and was scheduled for obedience training in the afternoon.
I accompanied Eve and Bentley to the dog park at the community centre. This is a huge park area which, besides 2 dog park areas has a swimming pool, water park, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, picnic areas, a gymnasium and the "Y" building.
I walked a lovely meandering path around the area and it took about 45 minutes, with stops to take photos of course.

The Legends Memorial Baseball Diamonds had columns commemorating famous baseball
players who had resided in the area. Most had retired here. There were two columns with
female baseball players, mostly from the war time years. This reminded me of Christine as
"A league of their own" is one of her favorite movies and some of these women played for the
Rockford Peaches.

In Palm Springs, as it is in a mountain valley, every vista has a beautiful background of chocolate and taupe rugged mountains. I find myself noticing the foreground, a building, plant, etc and then my attention is drawn away to the magnificent background.

Lawns, trees and the wonderful backdrop.

California, and much of the U.S. for that matter is experiencing a long drought. A drought that has people discussing having to make choices between people, agriculture, fish etc as recipients of this scarce resource. Given that fact it is amazing to see grass being watered, fountains and lakes in this desert area. It is, however, quite beautiful.

The walk took me past sculptures:

A series of ponds surrounded by ducks and sunning turtles:

I think they are painted turtles

Definitely a snapping turtle

Not sure what this guy is, here's a challenge to the birders in the audience but I was about 2 foot from him. Seems it is a black crowned night heron, thanks to the Jane St birders for identification.

Final picture for the post.

One of Bentleys's friends from the dog park.

Palm Springs 2014

I left Long Point on probably the most beautiful day of this winter. I was about  minus 7, sunny and had snowed about 2 inches overnight. If I was not leaving I would have probably cross country skied on the trails that the snow mobiles had left in the Provincial Park.

The trees all had woolly white sweaters.

But I shovelled (again) and then took Rasta down to Mum and Dads.

Rasta decided his favorite spot was on Dad's back support

After a slightly delayed flight I am in the wonderful dry warmth of Palm Springs, having had Mexican food and Margaritas for lunch followed by a swim.

No white woolly sweaters on these trees

These will provide tomorrows breakfast juice

Long Point - Rasta's 2nd vet visit

Lake views first

My pictures of wind storms never look as impressive as they feel and sound. However
this one had a beautiful sunset at the same time that made me try again

I love the long morning shadows on the snow.

Rasta's second vet appointment was this week and I took him to the Port Rowan office instead of the one in Port Dover. He was, again, good as gold while getting his shot and examination.

Not that impressed with the scale. 2.9 lbs now so he only gained .7 in the month.

We were a little concerned about his lack of weight gain especially as he eats very well. So, another round of worming medicine and some other meds to "sort out his stomach bacteria".

He needs to grow into those eyes and those ears.

New toy tied on to a bar stool, hours, (make that minutes) of fun.

Well this winter feels as if it has been basically shovelling interspersed by great meals and visits with friends and family. But if all goes according to plan I promise some travelling pictures soon.

Kindred Spirits Retreat, 2014

First an update on the condition of the lake and the snow drifts.

Still ice to the horizon.

The southwest wind dumped snow and sand on the northeast side of the house.

The good news is that I was able to dig out my recycling and garbage.

The combination of snow and sand looks like marble in places.

Last weekend I attended the Kindred Spirits Retreat at Apps Ridge, just south of Paris. This is an annual event run by the Paris arts group. There are courses offered, we sleep in bunk beds with a shared bathroom and it is catered.
I did not take any of the courses this year preferring to sit by the roaring fire, by the huge stone fireplace, and rug hook. However there was some beautiful pieces created. Unfortunately I have no photos of the painted silk scarves but managed to get the camera going for the painted floor cloth classes.

This one to match the artist's new kitchen

The communal floor cloth that everyone practised techniques on

I think this one is going to a cottage

They didn't all go together easily or according to plan. Sometimes there was considerable
repainting to get the desired effect.

When not painting (or hooking) we were chatting, drinking, knitting, eating (catered deliciously by Two Rivers) and listening to our Saturday evening entertainment; Tia McGraff and Tommy who were wonderful and drove out to us in an ice storm. The following link should take you to her video that was filmed on Long Point Beach.  http://youtu.be/RMCE7aUcdLw  Hope that works, its the first time I have tried to put a link in the blog.
Some of us worked on our "Scottish exchange" rugs as there is a May deadline for them.

In a full day of hooking, I got the grass done.

Warm, well fed and surrounded by friends it was lovely to look out at the Apps Ridge surroundings.

From the classroom area.

From my bedroom

And to end the post, the mandatory kitten picture. (People have been asking for them!)

Spoiled cat, too many toys already.

For the "foodies"

My internet has not been co-operating and so this post is about a week late. Sorry. Blame Bell!
Fiona and I were invited to dinner by friends in Port Dover and had an amazing meal, documented below. Andy and Debra (see blog posts in January 2013 for our visit with them in the Bahamas) have nearly finished renovating their apartment, including a beautiful new kitchen, and invited Paul and Sharon as well as Fi and I.

The salad was almost too pretty to eat; sliced pears, peppers, red onions and mushrooms in a circle of cucumber, on a slice of persimmon, surrounded by greens. Delicious.

Andy smoked the duck and then barbecued it. He also barbecued medallions of venison and chicken wings. The meat was complimented by roasted vegetables and two different kinds of homemade bread.

Fiona helped scorch the top of the creme brulee with the butane torch. Debra then topped it off with roast figs and a fruit and liquor compote. Wow, it was all fabulous.

Port Dover and Fort Erie

I just got back from 6 days away (aside from the brief return that I pictured in the previous post). The pictures from Sunday don't do justice to the amount of snow that there is here now, Wednesday. It has been blowing for 3 days and the drift is more than half way up the house and I am not kidding myself that I will see the hot tub again until spring. I had to dig myself in to both the garage and the cottage and that was just a narrow passageway. There will be more digging!
However my time away was fun; taking care of Fiona and then visiting Mum and Dad. Rasta is proving to be quite a peaceful travelling companion and settled quite well in both places we visited.

Very curious about everything

This was pretty well as close to Maddy as Rasta got most of the weekend. That is until Tuesday
morning, just before we left, when he jumped down a step and reached a paw to gently tap Maddy
twice on the back. Danielle thought he looked liked he'd dared himself to do it.

He enjoyed playing Mario Kart on the Wii with Fiona

and got totally relaxed on Dad's knees.

As both families have offered to "kitty sit", if needed,  its a good job he seemed to relax at both locations.

The snow was quite magnificent in Port Dover and there I could just enjoy the photographic opportunities without worrying about what impact all that snow will be having on the hot tub and the fact that my blue boxes and garbage can are well and truly buried.

Delicate snow sculpture on Port Dover Beach

Winter lighthouse

Winter fishing boat

Snow on cedars.

Long Point - winter was just toying with us

I have been taking care of my niece, Fiona, for the last few days, just outside of Simcoe. Given the crazy weather we drove back to Long Point to check on the cottage. Luckily the driveway had been plowed but I will have to dig my way in to the garage. We clambered into the cottage and then I dug my way out. The wind and the snow had built up into a huge drift that buried the garbage can, blue boxes and the hot tub. It will take me days of digging to clear it off.

The trench after I dug for about an hour

I did this post on my tablet thinking it will be easier to travel with but its not easy to use for this purpose and I don't think it has formatted the pictures right. I wont know til I post it, so here goes.