Tram ride

We took a trip on the rotating tram just outside Palm Springs. It starts at the desert and goes up a valley to the very top of the mountain. We were informed that we could expect a 40 degree (F) drop in temperature and we all looked at our flip flops and light tops and wondered how we'd do! We only spent a few minutes outside in the freezing wind and cool temperatures but enjoyed the view on the way up and down. Stanley is still talking about going up up up in the tram....

Last post....

We're packing up after two months in Palm Desert! We're off to San Diego tomorrow to explore the zoo one more time - this time with a toddler! The temperature has been "cooler" the past three days which has meant being able to spend a bit more time outside. The area isn't really kid-friendly and we've had trouble finding things to do - especially when it is hot! I think young parents must just move from one air-conditioned house to another. But we've managed fine with lots of pool time!
We have a short-term rented house back in Victoria so will be there in time to start the count-down with Tori and Kevin. Imagine our good fortune: another grandchild on the way! Tori's last ultrasound revealed an eight-pound, two ounce baby - Doctor glibly said she could go ahead and have it...
Bill is driving home from San Diego on Monday. I get to be grandma back here at C&S's until I fly home next Friday.
Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Got your hat? Got your sunglasses? Sun screen??

Stanley is here and ready for fun in the sun! It has cooled down to a reasonable 32 degrees and is going to go a bit cooler than that in the next few days - perfect weather for sitting in wading pools and swimming with Grandma and Grandpa. We're in heaven.

Apple blossom time

So the egg isn't cooked but I am! Bill rescued me and took me up in the mountains today. There is an apple blossom festival in Oak Glen, an hour from here and we decided to escape the heat and spend the day up there. The temperature dropped from 41 degrees Celcius in Palm Desert to 29 degrees in Oak Glen. The difference in this eleven degree drop is night and day. One feels like sticking your head in an oven, the other a hot summer day. The apple trees up in the mountains are in full bloom and the countryside was beautiful. The orchardists survive by selling baked goods, preserves and crafts year round. Their big event is apple harvesting time in the fall but there were big crowds for this weekend's blossom festival.
We watched apple cider being made, sampled it and bought a jug, listened to a bluegrass band while chewing on candy apples and watched day-old goats - still wobbly on their feet.
A certain little guy and his Mum and Dad are flying in tonight and Bill and I feel like it is Christmas - just can't wait!

Melting.....

The heat has arrived! It is 10:00 am and the thermometer registers 100 degrees F. We had shopping to do yesterday so spent the afternoon in airconditioned car and shops. Looks like lots of residents head for the mall when the temp spikes.
I'm going to try to fry an egg on the asphalt today....

Any mail for me?

I love the rows of mailboxes in the countryside here - none of the tidy, controlled Canada Post boxes here - they are consistently individual in keeping with the dominant cultural theme.

The other side of the mountain

We decided to take a drive up to Idylwild yesterday. We could see the snow from down here and dressed accordingly. It took about an hour to climb the 6000 feet and we spent the day in the beautiful little mountain town. There had been lots of snow but it was melting fast - I watched one poor little guy get hit by a mini-avalanche off one roof. Not serious - just really wet and really cold. He didn't laugh nearly as hard as his Dad!

The little village was teeming with visitors who had come up to experience snow - kids with improvised sleds and lots of snowballs.

There is a mix of religious camps dotting the hills and mystic, incense-filled shops in town. The occasional shop with gun-related and apparently funny t-shirts reminded us we are still in the U.S. of A.
It was a beautiful sunny day and the snow was melting in huge drips and running streams - won't be there long. The shop keepers kept saying how beautiful it was in the snow - apparently not all that common. It was 8 degrees celcius when we arrived in Idylwild but increased to 13 degrees. By the time we drove back down, it was 24 degrees at 5:00 pm in Palm Desert. It is expected to reach 100 degrees fahrenheit by tomorrow! (sorry about the mixed temperatures - American thermometer at home, Canadian in the car...)