Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year 2012

Happiness deep down within.
Serenity with each sunrise.
Success in each facet of your life.
Family beside you.
Close and caring friends.
Health, inside you.
Love that never ends.
Special memories of all the yesterdays.
A bright today with much to be thankful for.
A path that leads to beautiful tomorrows.
Dreams that do their best to come true .
Appreciation of all the wonderful things about you.

An Apple A Day

Ouch. Owen woke up one morning pre Christmas with a sensitivity to hot and cold. He calls the insurance company, his dentist at home and then a dentist in Desert Hot Springs. He visits Dr. Yu and has a consultation and xrays. It is determined that the filling in one of his teeth in the back is 'breaking down' and that he needs to keep an eye on it and come back if it gives him anymore grief. Two days later, eating dinner with June E, out comes a huge chunk of tooth connected to a filling. And you can guess which one.

Well mention dentist in southern CA and a whole raft of people can recommend dentists across the border where the prices are increcible. To have a crown done in the US (and Canada too), I think you are looking, at the very least, $1200. In Mexico, $250. Las Algodones is a 3 hour drive. Upon arrival to this little border town, that thrives on touristas with hawkers selling pharmaceuticals, alcohol and souveniers, we come to a ginormous parking lot. It takes us longer to walk across the parking lot than it takes us to walk across the border into Mexico. Owen is visiting Dra.Laura Quintero. Well, come to find out, there are actually 4 people with varying degrees of education and aptitude that work on him. After much pulling, yarding, jamming and mucking about in Owen's mouth, they sent him on his way but not without a root canal and temporary crown and an appointment to return for a permanent crown. He was also in a lot of pain and was prescribed pain killers and antibiotics.

Long story short. Owen has his root canal but won't return to Mexico for dental work again. Did I mention I had tons of fun shopping for the 2.5 hours Owen sat in the dentist chair?

An evening at the art museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum is lovely. Andrew Wyeth (one of the best known artists of the 20th century) was the guest exhibit. He was an amazing artist. No pictures allowed. But I did take a bunch of photos in the other rooms and exhibits for your visual enjoyment including a Chihuly piece. My favorite is the 1st one shown. I was gobsmacked. She looked so real. Lots of mixed media.

Thrift Store Finds

We are renting a sweet little double wide trailer (shhhh, oops, I keep forgetting the locals like to refer to them as ‘manufactured homes’). It’s old, has character, fresh white paint, new windows and new French doors that open in front of the ninth hole green. This is a great community and we enjoy the folks that live here year round and the snowbirds. Our landlady, Marsha, who resides in Sechelt is decorating in blues, yellows and splashes of red. Cute. Yesterday I went thrift store shopping and the items shown are additions for the house. $20 later and voila!

Keeping Jeremy's memory alive

A note arrived today to touch base, say hello, discuss how the family is, etc. It ended by saying "Nadine, I want you to know, that not a day goes by that I don't think of my dear friend Jeremy. I miss him so much!! You can be proud that you raised a real fine, honest, hard working, and generous and loving man. I shall always miss him! I am grateful to have known him and been his friend." It's notes like these that make me smile and cry and I love the fact that we are keeping Jeremy's memory alive by continuing to discuss our love for him and his for us. Thank you Jim.

Smile

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry ~ give life a thousand reasons to smile.

Green Chili Stew

Had the best homemade organic 'green chili stew' tonight for dinner complete with tortilla's, pinto beans and red sauce on the side. Thanks Charlotte and Char.

A Cultural Day

We've heard about the Tamale Festival since we arrived and so this morning decided to check it out. 160,000 people visit this event annually over two days and it boast the Guinness World Record for biggest tamale. We happened upon Lucy's Tamale Factory who has won awards for the past 3 years. The tamales were tasty little morsels. Unfortunately Owen's didn't agree with him and he has spent the night in bed. It could have been a bug of another kind, but who knows for sure. What are those little traveling carnivals with merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels called? Well they had one of those, music, beer garden, vendors, lots of people and because of the wind, a lot of swirling dust. We didn't stay long.

Art Under the Umbrella

Also on our tour today we visited Art Under the Umbrella at Old Town LaQuinta, a unique old town on the east side of Palm Springs. Some amazing fine art. I met a warm and generous artist by the name of Lauretta Lowell from Palm Desert who did magical assemblage. See her work at whimsicalcuriosities.com. Owen visited and was intrigued by Tom Thornton, a Fine Art Woodworker. See his work at tomthortonwoodworking.com AND Bob Fulton who did garden art and you can see some his work below in the photo of the art balls. Pretty darn cool. I'm meeting with the LQAF on Monday and hope to volunteer with them through the winter.

The LQAF, La Quinta Art Foundation, mission statement; In keeping with our mission of Promoting and Cultivating the Arts,La Quinta Arts Foundation will present an exciting slate of activities for the 2011-2012 Season, celebrating our 30th Anniversary. We are committed to provide innovative cultural events, learning and self enrichment opportunities for Coachella Valley residents and visitors. Creative partnerships with artists, musicians, local business, civic and charitable organizations ensure delivery of successful programs to the community.

Visit their web site at LQAF.com.

Peace Within

"Today may there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of us."

Be Kind

"Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."