We got away to Southern California in January. It was not the vacation of our dreams! We got stuck for FIVE hours on top of the Grapevine. 6 inches of snow and it was crazy! I wasn't sure my bladder could withstand 5 hours without a break. When we finally got released, we stopped at a MacDonalds - but it was closed! We begged the lovely man inside to let us in and -bless him- he did!
It definitely wasn't as bad as it could have been - we had excellent reception, no kids in the car. Listened to NPR, 60s and practically everything else. The new car was good on slick highways. Got to Palm Springs later than expected, but 20 minutes before the hotel restaurant closed. Dinner was served and it tasted mighty good!
BUT it was raining in Palm Springs!!! The first rain they had for 18 months!!! Lucky us! But sitting around away from home is alright. No chores calling you. We went to see the "Green Book" movie and it was excellent. DH and I grew up in the Midwest. We didn't have the psychedelic 60s! We definitely had the segregated 60s. And they nailed that! See it if you have the chance. We've already qued up Don Shirley on Pandora! Excellent music.
My the pineapples are large in Mission Hills!
We did have a morning without rain! DH looked up the weather the day before we were supposed to leave ... a sunny weekend!! What the heck, we're retired, we booked a room at Cody's just off of downtown Palm Springs and stayed 2 more days. So glad we did. A lot of Sherman's NY Deli was consumed! I laid about the pool, reading. It wasn't quite warm enough to get in, IMHO!
My view from the poolside. Blue Skies!!!
We had a great time taking a Celebrity Homes Bus Tour in Palm Springs. We had Annie - a /Real New Yorker tour guide. She knew everything about those glory days. It was very entertaining, she told stories, answered questions and managed to guide a giant tour bus around the narrow streets, past a wedding and the Woman's March. All without incident!! I highly recommend the tour!
The mountains in Palm Springs are different than our Oregon mountains. These are certainly rock from the bottom up. That's my hat on the hill starting behind the strip center. Palm Springs has 3-5 earthquakes a day!!!! But since they are built on the sand over an aquifer, they don't feel them unless they are over a '4'.
I got to spend time with a birth-sister in Tracy. We had a great time talking and looking thru her family pictures. Funny to hear the 'other' take of the stories.
We got home and had to make a quick trip up to Portland. Boy, I'm too old for 'up and back in 2 days' trips! But had to get back in time for our Guild Quilt Retreat!!!
We go up the coast 25 miles to a SureStay Hotel with a nice conference room we take over! A rollicking good time was had. There was plenty of chocolate, snacks, good food and late nights! Who could ask for more??
I'm teaching a hand embroidery class at our local quilt shop. It started this week. The class was full and we had a good time, learned two stitches and they were sent home with homework on those stitches! I think it went well, but we'll see if they come back for week two!! LOL!
Then ... I was down and out for 2 days. I still don't know if it was allergies, stress, or the good old fashioned cold. But I'm still thinking allergies because a cold would have lasted longer, right??
Happy February!!
