Rainbow Spa Patio Sale

The best organized one I've ever been to. The free 'car door to door' taxi service of 8 golf carts was amazing and they said they were so well paid that we couldn't even tip them.

                           There was a pirate at the gate and clowns all over.

                            There was music and dancing in the streets.

                       There was the 'fill up the brown paper bag for $3.00' and a taxi ride down the street to the sale next door.

CalAm's - The Sands Golf and RV

We are spending our 'out' week at CalAm's newest park, maybe the only one in Ca.

There are 3 dogparks, the one behind the sign is perfect for running.
There are 8 new bocci courts.

Eight championship pickle-ball courts have just been built with tons of room for entertaining.

The pool overlooks the golf course, but doesn't have an indoor shower, sure they'll be improving that soon. And it looks like
 they're building a bar beside it.

The golf course is well used, even a tournament today with food and drink.

Guess who was parked behind us, S and L from home, so we enjoyed their company for a week.

IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum presents the Smithsonian traveling exhibition.
A typical dwelling is displayed in the back patio and all plants are labeled with the uses for food, medicine and household use.

Since the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, the lives of Native and African peoples have been closely intertwined. From pre-colonial times, they intermarried, established communities, and shared their lives and traditions.

 Racially motivated laws oppressed and excluded them. Blended tribes worked to preserve their land and rebelled against displacement.

 Their survival strategies included involvement in social movements, joining together to fight oppressive conditions, and regaining economic sustainability. Their unique African-Native American cultural practices show through food, a great example is gumbo or jambalaya from the south, one of my favourites.

 Language, writing, music, dance, and the visual arts have also thrived.
The Band is building a new 60 million dollar Museum will continue to exhibit Smithsonian exhibits. The current one is a tiny building in the Village Plaza with a orange roof.

There is an authentic old time
 

Happy Hour for Vicki

Delightful to see Vicki after a year.

                            Lots of friends.

             Had a great time.

Desert Art Festival in Palm Springs

While Ron watched a football game I went downtown to see blown glass,

.                 funny sculptured creatures.

                                      24kt sculptured glass.

                                                      Amazing pottery.

                           Beautiful photography and paintings.

                            And finally, tin men.

Arriving in Desert Hot Springs and Catalina Spa RV Resort

Driving here we saw the evidence of the Jan. Pacific rain storms by the snow on  San Jacinta and Santa Rosa mtns left and San Grogornio right, from 125 miles away with the Coachella Valley below. A first for us.

 I started coming down here in 1976 with my 3 teenagers to visit my mom and dad for Christmas and had so much fun. Ron and I started coming down, staying with mom and dad in 1982 and came every year for a sunshine break while we were working. We changed to an RV in 1992 and bought our membership at Cat Spa so imagine our surprise when we saw this sign driving in. 

The lower hot tub was redone this year and popular as usual.

The upper family pool is always busy with aqua fit, water volleyball, set and spike and the large hot tub.

The bridge of the pond was redone this year but the pool had to be drained to remove the silt buildup from storms and the fishes got stuck in little pools and were eaten by birds but our 3 turtles remain.

Puzzles are always on the go and Arla is mounting them on the walls and put up a little plaque thanking the puzzlers.

The mini golf course has just been refinished. It got delayed when the cooler weather didn't allow the glue to set, so Thurs tournaments are back now.

Laughlin, Nevada

We left Mesa Jan.1 and headed for Laughlin. I played in a Slot Tournament at the Golden Nugget Casino. I've always wanted to do that so finally did. I reached 5,500 points while the winner got 13,000. 

The world largest nugget on public display, 61 lbs, 11oz, the Hand of Faith, is here. It was found by a family of 6 with a metal detector, 6" below the surface on their property in Australia.             

 

I love their chicken pot pie in their ClaimJumper Restaurant. Delicious but so large I have to take 1/2 home.

I went to a Chili Cook-Off on Sunday which was the Nevada State Cook-Off. Saturday was the Laughlin Regional Chili Cook-Off both under the auspices of the ICS, International Chili Society. Next stop for the winners is the World Championships. The chili used chili, meat and sauce with secret ingredients.

There was red chili, ,no beans please: Green Chili, (chili verde) and a salsa category. the whole weekend was a huge party with music, drink, fabulous tastings and hysterical names of the chili and teams