SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Yah it has been a while again since we posted. I think we should start a series on funny, dumb, awesome, cool signs that we have seen! So here goes!

COOL SIGN#1

Almost four years ago now, Kev and I went to Halifax for him to compete in the Canadian Skills Competition. What a blessing that was to spend a whole week together as he competed in the Design Studies competition. We certainly were able to do a lot of fun things that week. One of the things we could do was to walk around downtown Halifax to see all the beautiful old buildings, and enjoy the harbour etc. On one walk we saw this sign that I thought was really cool. What do you think?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Lorraine and I would like to wish all those who read this blog an absolutely wonderful Christmas season. Please remember to praise our great God for His most precious gift to us ........ His Son!

Have a wonderful time with family and friends, drive safe, and don't eat yourself silly!

A Victorian Christmas

BIRTHDAY GREETING EMPRESS STYLE
(Note: hand dipped "tuxedo" chocolate strawberries - signature piece) (Peter says it is a plate of vegetables from the hotel that we had no choice but to eat!) (for those that don't know, chocolate is a vegetable since it comes from beans!! :)

RETREAT FOR BREAKFAST, RELAXING OR VISITING WITH FELLOW GUESTS
(Windows to the left overlook the James Bay Harbour)

BC LEGISLATIVE BUILDINGS DRESSED FOR CHRISTMAS

FESTIVAL OF TREES - IN THE FOYERS OF THE EMPRESS

BUTCHART GARDENS AT CHRISTMAS - A FAIRYLAND OF LIGHTS

CARROUSEL AT BUTCHART GARDENS WITH HAND CARVED ANIMALS

As much as I love the snow piled high on the edges of our sidewalks and tumbling over the eaves of our homes, we decided to experience a piece of Christmas where such sights are rare and chronicled in pictures and diaries for years yet to come. As much as we were relieved to miss another Prairie cold snap, a Christmas without snow seems to be missing something. When all is said and done, there is no danger of my heart having been captured by Victoria BC and it's "Victorian Christmas". This is my home. But it was fun to see what others see and hear what touches their ears this time of year!

The Empress is a Grand Old Gal to be sure! Christmas season or not she is always dressed in her finest of attire and prepared to have her guests treated like visiting kings and queens worthy of her very best. Tantilizing treats to tempt ones personal tastes, softest of feather pillows to rest ones weary head, views of a century old harbor with buildings and homes whispering secrets, many of which are long forgotten. In spite of the many additions over the years and a number of major "facelifts", the character and personality of the hotel remains the same. Christmas time adds a touch more elegance to what has never been lost with the changes the years have brought about. She is still the Grand Lady of James Bay!

Bloomin' Trees!

While we were down in Palm Springs area, I tried to take a number of photos of the flowering bushes and trees. Here are a few of them. It is just beautiful to see how different the landscaping is there compared to what we are used to here up "north". Just another note, while we were there, they planted all sorts of bedding plants at the entry to the compound and other locations around. In Canada, we were pulling out all the dead ones from the early frost etc!The tree above and the flower below!The dried up "lily" on the end of a Joshua tree branch. We were there at the wrong time obviously to see the real thing.

Our trip to Palm Springs and area certainly was a blessing! To sum it all up in just a few sentences would be difficult. We definitely had highlights and yet also experienced things we wouldn't repeat. I think if we have the opportunity to return to the area we will. Maybe not Palm Springs itself - but one of the other "cities" stretching on down the valley! If I had to say what I enjoyed most it would be spending good visiting time while soaking up sun! We had lots of laughs (at least Bev and I did!) yet lots of serious conversations as well. That's what family is for!

Besides enjoying the sun and warmth I would say I liked Joshua Tree National Park the best - both during the day and again a few days later at dusk! Stopping at the Cap Rock viewpoint and shutting off the car to see all the stars was so cool - if a bit unsettling. We're not used to being out in the darkest of night in the middle of nowhere whatsoever! I think I could sort of get used to it though with some practice!

The tramway up the south mountains was very enjoyable too! Fully rotating around while travelling upwards gave us lots to look at! Again ascending up a steep rock face is different than any other tram I have been on! It was a steep climb up! Peter mentioned that the top of the mountain reminded us of our beloved Alberta. As much as I enjoyed time south and would do it again, this is still home! Cold and all!

The Air Museum was really cool too. In a warmish sort of way. Being right next to the airport we felt a lot of heat from the asphalt while walking outside. Even though the displays were American airforce I could still appreciate the effort put into the fight for freedom! I was the only one of us four who wouldn't walk the catwalk in the B-17 - but I did get a thorough explanation of the display of all the gear a fellow would have to wear when flying. Incredible!

Now we need to refocus and think of work, finish cleaning up the yard for winter, start gearing up for next summer's L Days and this November's Craft Sale. Palm Springs was a blessing and now I am enjoying reading a bit of history about where we were and actually discovering a few places we might have missed! Next time.

Blessings #7

Well, we arrived back in Canada safe and sound even though there was a fair amount of turbulence on the flight! We left Palm Springs with the temperature hovering at 90 degrees F and came back to Calgary with the temperature about 36 degrees F with a bunch of snow around. Reality sets in real fast eh?

The next few photos were taken right at the airport in Palm Springs.

This is taken in an area between the main building with the check in areas and the gates themselves. We were a bit early so we spent about an hour just enjoying the final time outside. We did get to see numerous planes take off and land will we sat there.

Will waiting at the aiport we saw a few hummingbirds just flying all around. They took turns sitting on this sign. The sign was probably 18"x12" big so when you see this and the bolt holding the sign on its post, you can understand how tiny this beautiful bird is! What a blessing to see these birds numerous times during our stay!

Blessings #6

Our blog entry is a bit later today since we spent some time at the College of the Desert Street Fair. It is a lot like Thursday nite's street fair but way better and way bigger. It is very hot today. As we drove back to the villa, the car temperature gauge for outside said 100 degrees for part of the drive. But the time we got back to the villa, it cooled down to 97! Time for the pool again! Here is a photo of us four in the pool.

Last night was very special and another blessing! We decided to travel the 60 miles again from our villa to the Keys West viewpoint but this time to see the sunset and see the stars. We a sight! We arrived right before 6pm when the sun was already behind Mt. San Jacinto. We saw the orange in the sky change to darker and darker. It was very warm for 5100 ft above see level. Just around 60 degrees. We stayed there for a while and we were not the only ones who wanted to see this sight! A few other couples were there as well but left before we did. Then it felt erie. We were the only ones left at the viewpoint and it was very dark! There are no houses, businesses anywhere near! We were very alone! We drove back to the Cap Rock palring area and then took a few minutes in the pitch black to view the stars. The moon was just a sliver shape but very bright. We were able to see a portion of the Milky Way though and also the Big and Little Dippers!

View towards Los Angeles with a Joshua tree in the foreground. Mt San Jacinto on the left side.

This photo was taken viewing east from the Keys West viewpoint. Just to show the cool landscape! That is the Salton Sea in the background which apparently is 50 times saltier than the ocean and is about 235 ft lower than sea level!

After coming back from Joshua Tree National Park it was time to head to the pool again. We met a very nice couple from Fullerton, California and we all talked till just about 11pm! Found out lots of info about the States!