Pardon me if all I can offer you this morning is eye candy. But while I managed to get safely home, still dry, before the snow fell last night, waking to very wet white stuff this morning — a palette of grey and white and messy — did not let me “feel the love” on Valentine’s Day. . .
I have mixed feelings, still, about mid-winter sunshine-chasing travel, and I’m still sorting what I think about Palm Springs as a destination, but there’s no question that sunshine and bright colours and warmth and easy mobility and the beautiful backdrops both of majestic natural geography and striking architecture enhance the mood. Not to mention the cleared sinuses and the bones and joints sighing deeply in contentment.
And there’s much to be said for time with loved ones gathered around a pool or strolling to a nearby restaurant, walking back to the desert motel together after the twelve of you stretched around a table filled with food and wine and laughter.
This morning, by contrast, I’ll be sloshing my way to my neighbourhood knitting store for a particular, necessary needle I was sure I already owned so that I can move from the coloured, Fair Isle section to the dark brown, plain stocking stitch section of the sweater I’m knitting. A louder metaphor than I’d like, if you see what I mean. Knitting. Wool. Winter. Dark colours. . . .
So do pardon the eye candy.
Or just, perhaps, enjoy it.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Just what I needed to cheer my on yet another foul wind and rain drenched day. I’m liking the sound of your fairisle jumper and look forward to its completion. Oh to be able to walk out to my nearest wool shop. Sadly it’s amazon or wool warehouse for me:) B x
I've been so lucky to have had a very good yarn shop within walking distance for the last 20 or so years. I do love seeing the colours and feeling the textures up close.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Snow started to fall on Monday-it is almost all gone,but I enjoy watching your beautiful,sunny,warm photos
You've finished the colourful Fair Isle section?!
Brava!
Dottoressa
Glad to hear that snow didn't stick — neither did ours, although there's a chance it will happen again this weekend before skies clear and temperatures drop.
Yes, that part is all done now — still wondering if it's too bright/high contrast for me, but we'll see. . .
Any excuse for a visit to Three Bags Full! What a shock to wake up to that schlocky mess this morning…
Pearl
So we're neighbours! Hello! Perhaps we'll meet in TBF one of these days.
Yes, we are! I’m in Cedar Cottage, about a 10 minute walk from Trout Lake.
Red flowers, yellow flowers, sun, siblings,wine? I'll take it!
Good to get the warmth into your soul.
A.in windy,damp London
Yes, not much to complain about there. Hope the wind dies down and the sun comes out for you (actually, ceri p. just posted a blue sky behind the British Museum. . . .
I too had that conflicted feeling when I visited my family in southwestern Florida every winter. "Ah", I'd think, "so this is how a body feels unclenched." Since they died we have not chosen a winter warm-weather getaway, but might. Glad yours was fun and relaxing.
I can only imagine how much you'd crave that warmth in a Montreal winter (probably you were doing that from To, I know). Here, we're not suffering the same cold, but the persistent grey and wet can be draining. Still, much as I enjoyed this quick visit, I'm not sure how soon I'd do that again. Ask me mid-January next year! 😉
We did have sunshine breaks in winter , before dogs , & used to enjoy the contrast of bright sun , glowing colors & exotic greenery . But I didn’t care for the middle of the day brightness & hated sunbathing . Mornings were the best for me , up early for that fresh gentle sunshine , as you did on your family walk .Later in the day was lovely too , being able to eat outside on soft , balmy evenings . The hot midday , no , it was the price I paid for the rest of it . Too hot , too sticky , too dazzling & too tiring . Into the shade for me . I’m just too English . Having said that , I loved your pics & they brought back happy memories . Icy sleet & winds here today .
Wendy in York
OH, I'm too English as well, if one generation removed 😉 I don't do beach-lounging, although I do love swimming and I can nestle happily under a generous umbrella if I have a good book. But yes, I was the sibling sitting in the shade and occasionally disappearing back inside. Stay warm, by the fire perhaps, with those lurchers snoring nearby. . .
Welcome home, Frances. Back to the great white north… where we are still up to our you-know-what in snow, and where many will spend Valentine's Day night glued to the television for the midnight women's Olympic hockey game in Korea. Sigh. Hockey hangover for many tomorrow. Ha.
Great Wet North is more like it here.. .
I didn't watch that game (fat chance!) but I do love to see women's sports grabbing so much attention.
I haven't been to Palm Springs. It looks dry and sunny. My mother-in-law used to go and she enjoyed it. I enjoy Tucson as we have a Mexican feel (if M. isn't so keen on the real thing.) The blue skies and desert flowers are lovely. I've never had a holiday with a group of my sibling and partners. I'm not sure….
You're used to a winter vacation in a warm sunny spot, and I like the way you've set it up as a volunteer experience that also strengthens your Spanish — purposeful and relaxing.
The potential for problems with siblings, etc., can be high — we manage pretty well, generally careful to avoid the touchy subjects and to allow each other ample space.
The warmth fairly emanates from your photos. So lovely.
Thank you!
We were lucky, no snow over here. I have mixed feelings about sun vacation durning the winter also. I think the population of our small island drops by almost one half in the winter. The favoured destinations seem to be Mexico or California. We have not been tempted yet. I actually enjoy being home during this time of year. We get things done around the house that we never take the time to do during better weather.
There were times during the last month that we were very tempted to get on a plane and just go though….
Ali
I think that despite my quibbles about the weather, I, too, enjoy the enforced slow-down, the chance to settle into activities and tasks that get pushed aside in favour of outdoor activities the rest of the year.
I love leaving Vancouver in February for sunnier climes, namely the Big Island of Hawaii. What isn't there to like about sitting in the shade watching the waves and the surfers. Reading, napping, eating, swimming whenever. Tonight I had the complex pool to myself and I floated with thousands of stars for company. Heaven!
That sounds glorious, Margaret — I don't need to tell you to "Enjoy"! Hope you're not coming back until next week's predicted below-freezing weather moves along. . .
Interesting that you're conflicted. I think I am too on this issue. The sunshine looks gorgeous, from a northern winter standpoint, but I don't think a winter sun holiday is something I would ever be tempted into booking. The thought of re-entry shock is one thing that puts me off! The main thing tho is that however dark and wet/frosty/snowy/grey our winter is, the rhythm of our seasons is deeply engrained in me, and tho I might flag slightly sometimes I don't want to flee this time of dormancy and quiet. Thanks to some wonderful IGers, I'm savouring some books on Celtic spirituality and its roots in the 'great round' of our seasons.
Yes, this is where I've always stood (not that I had much choice the years I was teaching — there was very little possibility of taking time away from marking or class prep). I went this time because it's something many of my siblings have been doing for years, and it seemed we should join them at least this once. And I can't pretend I didn't love that spot of heat and sunshine!
Lorrie said exactly what I was thinking! … I can almost feel the warmth! We've had a mix of awful grey, never really gets light days and bright sunny ones! I do think it breaks up the winter to be able to visit somewhere warm and sunny for a while. In Switzerland we're often able to be out in the snow, whilst enjoying the heat of the sun …. best of both worlds! 🙂
Lovely that you were able to meet up and enjoy the company of family, Frances.
The fairisle yoke on your sweater is looking beautiful … Great colours!
Rosie
Your Switzerland is sounding better and better — truly! I think we may end up going through it on a different train route later this spring. . .
Thank you for sending us these lovely images…they are so beautiful!
I've been to Palm Springs several times during our winter months and really like the warmth…it must be fun to have your family there to share it with too.
It was a really good way to spend time with family — 5 of the 6 couples had a room/suite in the same motel, so we could gather around and in the pool if we wanted, but could also have time on our own.