Easter week in the desert...

With so much going on in the valley, Allan and I were ready to enjoy it all.

Started off by going with friends (some of our U.S. compadres)  to Greg Norman's Wallaby's at PGA West for Happy Hour on Thursday evening...so much to do and see here...

a car show...lots of Corvettes (Allan decided ours would have looked good here, too.)

...and a live band which played our kind of music (but I guess you can tell by the age of the band members).  Everyone was dancin'.

Then on Friday, we hit the FREE concert at the LaQuinta Museum...Ted Herman and his orchestra...big band music.  Another beautiful evening outside.  Met up with a couple from our tennis group (more Americans...the Canadians are all gone) and headed out for pizza...dined under the stars again.  It's that time of year to sit outside.

And with all the specials going on at the grocery stores over Easter week-end, I found my Almond Champagne on sale ($3.30 off per bottle).  I now have my stash for Tahoe this summer (unless I drink it before I get there.)

On Saturday, we headed over to the Augustine Casino for their 2nd Annual BBQ & Country Extravaganza...had live bands playing all afternoon.

...and lots of people line dancing.   (Now we need to take line dancing lessons.)  Where are Diane and Larry when we need them!

and "guess who" decided to ride a mechanical bull (said it was on his bucket list).

He started off okay...but

soon slipped to the side...and then

finished his ride in a whopping "8 seconds."  (He thought he had ridden for 30 seconds.)  No injuries, just lots of laughing.

The Cow Pokes...

On Sunday, we met up with long-time Alaskan friends, Pam & Chris Birch for Easter Brunch at Rancho Las Palmas Country Club.  Pam's mother has a condo there.  Introduced them to my Almond Champagne...loved it!  Chris & Allan got their Master's at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks together...many moons ago.   (P.S.  Chris & Pam were the couple that introduced Karen & Daryl together.) 

Back at our house that afternoon...we had invited Lainie over for Easter Dinner...so lots of eating that day.  Great visiting with everyone.

Hope your Easter was fun, too.

Tennis Group Hike - Lake Cahuilla 4-04-12

Seventeen of us from our tennis group headed out to Lake Cahuilla to have our final picnic of the year before everyone heads back north.  Some of us decided to hike Coral Reef Mountain which is beside the lake...lots of hiking trails from which to chose.  Everyone brought something to share for a picnic afterwards. 

Heading up...

The view from above...notice the jetty in the lake

Heading back down...was a short hike, but fun.  We knew beer and champagne was waiting for us.

Here we are on the jetty...thought it would go across the lake, but didn't.  Oh well...got to see the carp up close swimming in the lake.  Lots of fishing going on here.  Was a great day for hiking.  (Note:  I never have to persuade Allan to go hiking...must be that new back of his.)

The adventures of Sooki in the desert...

What's that out on the golf course....

Shall I jump through the fence to get it or shall I wait here...wonder what it is...a golfer?, a golf ball?, a dog?

Oops...it's inside now...

That darn roadrunner just teases me all the time...some day I'll catch it.

Okay, so much for that...couldn't catch it, so I'm relaxin' now.

Donna & Dave's visit...lots of eating was in store

Donna and Dave arrived  on 3-28 and flew out on 4-4...their main reason for coming was to collect on the pricey dinner bet (the annual Syracuse vs. WVU football game).  Unfortunately, we lost this year, so they were quite anxious to join us in the desert.  "Camp Eckle" was in full swing from eating out....

....at the Jackalope Ranch for lunch, one of our favorite dining spots.  Then we headed over to Shields Date Gardens for a date shake.  While we were browsing in the gift shop, we ran into Lainie.  She is working at a nursery here.  What a surprise to see her!  The next night she joined us for dinner at our house with the Bewleys...got caught up on what she has been doing.

Allan can't pass up the ribs at Jackalope...and he doesn't care how messy they are.

...to shopping on El Paseo Drive (our Rodeo Drive of the desert).  Donna was quite surprised to see what Dave had gotten her for their 35th Anniversary present....a diamond bracelet.  Go girl!  Stopped in for a cocktail at our favorite on El Paseo "Mama Gina's"...then headed to Palm Springs to catch some of the "Dinah Week-end" celebrations (the lesbian event of the year).  Quite interesting!  Had dinner at the "Europa"...great outside ambiance, tasty food, but the service not the best.

...to the polo match at the Eldorado Polo Club.  Had to go for the 2:00 p.m. divot stomp (always a free glass of champagne is awaiting.)

Had breakfast first at the polo club...and couldn't pass up taking a picture of this hunk of a polo player.   (Was pretending to take a picture of Dave, but just moved the camera slightly to capture the hunk...he could be a Ralph Lauren model.)  Then a gorgeous gal, Irena, sat down beside Dave at the bar, and, as always, Dave can always strike up a conversation.  Found out she was originally from Russia...currently lives in San Diego...and just so happens to be a professional ballroom dancer...who helps choreograph dances for "Dancing with the Stars."  Donna and I were thrilled...got some of the inside scoop.  Never know who you'll meet at the polo matches.

Pricey dinner night...dining at the Lavendar Bistro in LaQuinta.  A beautiful restaurant, fantastic food, great wait staff, and such ambiance...twinkle lights all over the outside courtyard.  This was our final pricey dinner bet (after 30+ years of betting)... with WV & Syracuse both leaving the Big East...we won't play each other any more.  WV is going to the Big 12, and Syracuse goes to the ACC. 

"Camp Eckle" continued with a trip to the Living Desert...the tortoise was out and moving about (not too quickly, of course).

A strange looking stork...

And a Bobcat...stretchin'....

the cactus were bloomin'...

...and more dining out...celebrating the Bewleys' 35th Wedding Anniversary.  Wanted a special restaurant...so Donna and I researched on the internet and found this one...La Spiga, Ristorante Italiano.  We dined outside in their gardens where they grow their own herbs...everything is made from scratch.   A fabulous dining experience!

Happy Anniversary, Donna & Dave!

And, we're just celebrating, too...glad to be together after our 42 years.

So much eating out...now we're on our "Super Get Back in Shape" exercise program. 

Bewley's are here...Ladder Hike 3-30-12

Donna and Dave arrived on Wednesday...and we have "Camp Eckle" in full swing.  Since Donna has a knee problem, only Hiker Dave was available to go on our first adventure into the desert.   Went to our favorite spot out at the Mecca Hills to the Painted Canyons and the "Ladder Hike".

Off to an early morning start to avoid the sun...without Miss Donna.  (She's babysitting Sooki.)

The start of the hike...a little rock scrambling.  One has to know where the hike starts.  This makes our 4th time hiking here...I feel like we can be hike leaders now.

A series of ladders one has to climb to get into the slot canyons...Dave felt this was awesome.  He doesn't get this on the PCT.

Allan and Dave just waiting for me to come on up....no ladder assist here...just deciding where to place your foot and grab a rock to pull you on up makes it a challenge.

In the slots...Dave said it makes him think about flash flooding...and hopes that it doesn't rain here.  But we have only had 3/4" of rain since July 1st last year.  Don't think we need to worry about that.

Sometimes it can be a little tight...what topography, though.

Allan can't pass up making a cairn....it's the engineer in him.

A great time to hike...flowers were bloomin'...here's the ocotillo...my favorite desert plant.

And look what I captured in this shot...oh, I'm getting so artistic.

Heading out of the canyons...here's a Pale Verde tree in full bloom.  (Have one of these in our back yard.)  How in the world does it bloom without water.

Janet heading out...last time we hiked this there were no ladders and we had to repel down this section with the rope that you see to the right.  Always makes for an interesting exit.

Dave starting his descent...is a little tricky trying to get onto the ladder.

Allan made it....there's a smile on his face?

Best part of all...sipping a "brew" at the end of our 3-hour adventure. 

There was only 1 car in the parking lot when we started, and 10 there when we returned 3 hours later, but we only saw 2 people on the whole hike...don't know where they were.