Friends and Fun

We're in Desert Pools for a week and were delighted to see Rich and Tina beside us. We went on a cruise with Sandy and Michel in 2010 together.

                       Next trip was down to Indio to see Pete and Sandy.

            The weather is cooler than usual but still lovely in the sunshine.

Oaxaca Artists

Cabot's Museum brought in amazing artists from Oaxaca, Mexico. It was very interesting to me as we'd seen them there on our 2007
 49 day RV Caravan throughout the Yucatan peninsula.
The Trading Post displayed 3 distinct arts today.
The weaving is a dying art in the Zapatec native tribes.

It has been taught by the elders using techniques centuries old. The dyes are natural, from plants and insects. To get the red from an insect, one must use 6000 insects to get 1 lb. of dye.

This artist has been instrumental in liaising with the Smithsonian Institute and they are helping this weaving to survive. They are apprenticing 15 young people learning the trade.

The 2nd craft is hand carved mythical animals and whimsical creatures.
The artist who doesn't speak any English used to climb up to the ruins of Monte Alban and gather the Copal wood for the carvers in his village. While delivering the wood, he observed the carvers and eventually honed his his skill until he is now world famous. All the painting is done by hand.

There was  woman painstaking making silver jewelry much designed like the colorful embroidery  on the women's dresses.
The black pottery is amazing. We visited the home of Doona Rosa when we were in Oazaca wheere her children and grandchildren now carry on.She discovered this technique in 1950 by firing at a low heat, then polished the clay with a quartz stone to bring our the black colour.

3 Stunning Winter Storms

After we watched everyone at home shiver through 6 weeks of snow and winter, it was our turn. We had 3 separate storms in the past 8 days, blowing over from L.A and the Pacific ocean. First there was pouring rain, up to 4 inches in LA and causing dangerous flooding in the burned areas from the summer wild fires.Cars have been swept down the street and into run off areas with several rescues needed.

 There was heavy hail and the mountains got 4 - 6 ft of snow.

                                                  Trees were down everywhere.
50 % of California is now officially over the 9 ? year drought conditions. The weather is so fast here. Pours rain, then clears up and out we go. It is 10 - 20 degrees cooler than usual but when the sun comes out, I'm fine.

Didn't stop us, we met Pam and Derick at Mikes Thompson's for lunch and checking out RV's.

Catalina Spa and RV Resort Reno

You wouldn't believe what we found when we arrived at our Home Resort. It was sold last November and they are doing a massive reno, starting with the lower pool, ( fenced off ) and L shaped clubhouse. The old pool room on the back right will be a new exercise center.

The new pool room is in the the center of the building, looking out to the pool beside a new store and washrooms in the same spot as 

before.

.

The hot tub is still 12 x 24, covered now but new skylights framed in. It was supposed to be finished in March but the only problem,
they didn't get the proper permits and now a big sign is posted Stop Work Order! No telling when it will be finished.

                                                 No telling when it will be finished.

Enjoying Good Friends

Had a great visit with Jenny and Paul - has been about 3 years.

Also had a fun time with Willy and Jo at the usual VFW, which Ron first thought was the WWF.

One thing that is very respectable  - The VFW ( Veterans of Foreign Wars) has a permanent place, always set for the soldier
 MIA / POW. I didn't know about America White Table. It is set with pride with a red rose for the hopes and prayers of those waiting for their loved one to return, a red ribbon for the nations determination in finding them,  a candle signifying light in a world of darkness,  a slice of lemon for the bitter fate of the missing, a pinch of salt for the tears of their families, an inverted glass for the missed meal and a black serviette for the prisoners of war.

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Laughlin, Nevada

The road to Laughlin is terrible. Up and down repeatedly until you could get seasick.

Recent rains wash right across the road and make new paths.

Never the less, we had fun and I had my usual chicken pot pie at the Golden Nugget.

The casino lights from the campground at night.

On the way down to Needles when we left, it said 'rough road' and the whole thing is. We always monitor the car in the rear camera, but all of a sudden, it didn't look right. Luckily we could pull over and we discovered the right side f the tow bar harness had pulled right out of the car and was wedged under the bumper. We could get the car off as the cross bar was quite bent. A good Samaritan came along asking for directions and 6 hands and a hammer finally got the job done.

New Years Day 2017

We drove to Quartzsite and joined Pam and Bryan in a new boon docking spot.

Enjoyed the sunshine and later watched the Rose Bowl Parade Parade that is held every NYDay. Everything on the floats must be made from flowers, seeds or plants only. They are just beautiful.