Hi, sorry if I’ve been lagging with posts.  I was working at the LA Textile Show, studying for an Algebra exam, and planning a baby shower for my friend Kim.  The show is now over, test taken, and the shower a success!  A very busy week indeed.   Next week is Spring Break which will be nice.

1.  Some french macaroons I bought along with some harissa paste and some frozen mini-quiche crusts from a little local spot called Nicole’s Gourmet Foods, which I’d highly recommend.

2.  My sleepy cat.  Used to be a hellion, but you’d never know it.

Took a set of drawer knobs that have been covered in many coats of paint over the years by my landlords:

…and with some overnight soaking, some carving, and some scrubbing turned them into this:

… and finally this…

Sorry for the lack of posts- the hubby and I went out of town for our 3rd anniversary this weekend.  We headed out on Friday morning and got back yesterday.  It was a leisurely weekend at the newly opened Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, mostly spent in the pool.  One day we ventured out into downtown Palm Springs, but I can’t really say that I felt there was much to report.  It’s one of those places that requires a local to show you the good stuff.   Anyway, we made good use of the Amigo Room and Kings Highway restaurant which are part of the Ace Hotel.

The Kings Highway Restaurant is very tasty… everything is presented in mason jars or glass bottles, which is lovely.  It has the atmosphere of old diner which has been revamped into a more cleanly-modern establishment.  My favourite meal was their ricotta pancakes with maple crunch butter.  When you order their coffee, you pay about $4 for a french press full of rich and delicious Stumptown coffee, perfect for a table of two.  Seth ordered their brisket burger and fries, which was apparently amazing.

Out by the pool we ordered boozy snowcones and beer.  Pretty awesome.  The Amigo Room bar had what seemed to be great drink specials on their menu like: “Whiskey Ginger”- Jameson Irish whiskey, honey, ginger juice & cinnamon tincture or “Dark and Stormy”- Appleton rum, Gosling rum, ginger beer & lime; sounds great right?  I came with the memory of my amazing Whiskey Ginger from Clyde Common in Portland (part of the Ace Hotel up there).  Unfortunately they were mixed poorly and were super sweet.  I suspect that the bartender had never actually sampled and of the drinks on their special menu.  I will cut them some slack since they just opened and are probably still training staff to make their special elixirs!

Anyway, it was a lovely place and we had a very relaxing time.  I totally recommend it if you need a little weekend away and you don’t want to do much but swim, drink, eat, and enjoy the company of your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse!

Look what just bloomed in my garden today!  It’s the first time it’s bloomed.  I think they are the most charming little flowers.  This variety of Euphorbia is called “Tiny Tim”.

I scored this book the other day at one of my favourite thrift stores.  Some times I don’t have patience for thrift store book sections because there is generally no organization and it can be quite overwhelming!  I was glad I did last week because I found an old Jacques Cousteau book on Squid and Octopus; a first edition Shel Silverstein book; a great old Life book called The World We Live In; and this book on geology that I’m picturing below.  Score!  I especially love the endpapers in this geology book.  Gorgeous.

So this past weekend we went to the Salton Sea with some friends to go camping, and we paid a visit to Salvation Mountain, which is just past Niland in Slab City.  Here are a few photos of this incredibly dedicated ongoing art piece by Leonard Knight (age 77).  Regardless of your religious persuasion, this is a lovely and committed piece of folk art.  We were able to meet Leonard and hear him a song that he wrote a long time ago called “Flower-tree and You”.   Seth made a recording which you should give a listen to.  If you ever are feeling like a road trip to the California desert, you should definitely make a stop by Salvation Mountain and explore.

So, do you think it trumps this one in the cuteness department?

I’m very excited.  My husband just booked us into the newly opened Ace Hotel in Palm Springs for our 3rd anniversary.  It looks like it will be beautiful.  Any specific suggestions as to what there is to do and see in Palm Springs?  I haven’t been there since I was a child, and all I remember are a lot of date stands where you can get things like “date shakes” (I guess that dates are something you can grow successfully in a desert).   Anyway, I’m totally looking forward to it!