A cold front blew into the desert these past few weeks, dropping temps into the mid teens … Celsius that is 🙂 … shivered my way through some brisk morning walks! Nonetheless, MIckey, Gordon and I managed to find an appreciation for the clear blue skies and crisp air, as we tootled about together, researching places to hang our hats for a few months next winter …. lots of inventory to weed through in this valley …. my dear friend Linda arrived the following week …. have enjoyed some quiet spa time together, or listening and chanting along to our favourite Deva Premal music …. good peaceful days of simply ‘being in the moment’. We have been friends for so long, Linda is really extended family … a sixth sister!

However, nothing quite compares to being around Aliana, for bringing one into the moment! Sarah and Rob arrived a few days ago with that little travel trooper in tow! Aliana is such a happy little bundle of joy …. my heart literally sings when she is around! She is like a gift from God … a gift that just keeps on giving. Thankfully, the weather cooperated, resuming its typical desert temps, allowing for leisurely swim days at the pool, and watching Aliana splash around in her plastic boat 🙂 … many beautiful moments to savour. Wishing Brian and Tim could have joined us … Tim, as I type, is on his way home, undoubtedly squirming around in one of those tiny seats, counting the hours until he can get off that long long flight from Brisbane, stretch out his lanky limbs, and crawl into his own comfy bed …. an amazing two month Australian adventure comes to an end. Looking forward to a Sunday family reunion in Calgary … and Tim’s inevitable interesting travel stories. In the meantime, back to the present and the beauty of a morning sunrise in the Santa Rosa Mountains!

Shook off the remainder of that nasty flu bug that even I, who am normally immune to flus, managed to catch a few days before my flight …. But a few days of sunshine, warmth and fresh air and health is restored ….. am back in the land of the living! Mickey and Gordon joined me, arriving a few days later, for their break, leaving behind Vancouver’s dismal rainy season …. Dealing with unpleasant winter weather conditions would appear to be a Canadian pastime 🙂

My favourite morning walk along the Santa Rosas has patiently waited my return ….. the beauty of a desert sunrise grounds, soothes and continues to draw me to this valley. The peace is extraordinary! The club atmosphere that prevails throughout the Coachella Valley, not so much … but the brief, little over two hour Westjet commute and the balm weather surely does!! … golf is certainly one of the main draws for those who arrive every winter and I keep telling myself I will take it up again one day …. although I don’t totally dislike the sport and Lord knows my husband and kids love a good round of golf, it does strike me as a rather strange way to spend one’s retirement years, chasing a little white ball around 🙂 …… my conflicted attitude prevails regarding retirement lifestyles …. will I morph into one of those folks who goes on and on about a golf score as a source of major excitement for the day or worse, enjoying a fabulous bridge hand?? Nah ….. My DNA would more likely dictate that I hit the trails, find a comfy rock, sit a spell and contemplate the beauty of life, surrounded by this prehistoric mountain vista …..