SB crepes, battery prep, pool

This morning trying to figure out what to make for breakfast, and I wanted to use some of the first strawberries. So I decided to make crepes with strawberries topping in a little syrup, probably one of Jim's favorite. We both really enjoyed it there fun to make. Then Jim started working on battery prep getting ready for our batteries that are supposed to be in today. We took a walk around half the campground. Had lunch of leftovers Jim had beef noodle soup, think I had a salad. Need to go to the grocery store and pretty soon have to work on the list. Jim was  outside for a while and I was doing my thing inside. Then I started making dinner a little early,  trying to do dinner closer to Pennsylvania time . We did get a call that the batteries were in that Jim was waiting for,  by then it was too late to go get them, We have three batteries, but he pulled out only two, so there's only one in so we still have lights,  and we're going to let them take the three batteries to recycle,  he has to wait till we actually have time to put them in.  We're going to go tomorrow. Later he ended up watching hockey outside on his TV I was inside trying to watch some stuff he doesn't like. I also went to the pool during this time I was in the hot tub, probably three or four other couples and we were all talking. Our neighbors in fromt of us came in too, Paul and Lucy. When I got back Jim came in we watched the network shows for the night stayed up later than we wanted to.

College of the Desert

This morning  I made a smoothie,  I shopped  the other day for Frozen pineapple and accidentally bought peaches,  so I made pineapple, peaches mango banana smoothies with spinach . And we got ready to go to College of the Desert. Which is a huge flea market that they do every Saturday and Sunday I think from 9 to 2. They raise money by donating the fees paid by the vendors to sell, to the College. So many different vendors they had veggies and a large food truck area. I took a few pictures but a lot don't want you to photo anything.

It was a lot of fun for me, Jim not so much.

But he does it because  he knew I wanted to. Their were picnic tables to sit and eat and everyone shared and we got to talk to a few really cool people, one lady was very chatty and fun to talk with. Everyone's always fascinated when they hear we're off for 4 months and traveling in the FW. We shared a piece of pizza that was made in a fire brick oven on sight, shared a chicken gyro, waffle with strawberries and a pineapple ice cream thing was non-dairy really good. We bought one soda total for food was $26, it wasn't too bad. We walked around here's a picture of some things I bought

grill mat, strawberries really nice soft dates so I can make date nut balls for Jim, great for travel day and some S-hooks mother gave us a long time ago, very handy.  I also bought a wrap, he said it was made out of bamboo $35 but really nice, I can use it at the pool, I really wanted to cover up my neck and shoulders from sunburn. I better get a lot of use out of it. We made a quick trip back to the truck and got more soda and water Jim sat down for a minute. And then we walked back and realized it was almost 2, should have checked the time. It was about to close, people were shutting down, it gets too hot after that. The other neat thing was there was a  roof, I guess the college kids can park under, but the roof was made out of solar panels that pretty much runs the whole College. I think Jim has a picture of that too.

It was really fun to walk around a lot of upscale things not a normal flea market by any means. They had such neat things that would be fun to decorate and do a Southwest flower bed I just love their look, I think I have a picture of a small one I really like,

you can do the whole thing with all the purchases at this one shop.

So by then we were really tired from walking around in the Sun so it felt good to finally sit in the truck, we just ended up driving back to the campground which is pretty close to this place. Jim got our chairs out and we sat for a bit. We watched a few campers come in for the night then Jim started working on the battery monitor to get it installed, we're supposed to get the batteries Monday. The hardest part was getting a wire run down the wall and down through the hole where the battery compartment is, he had to crawl in this tight spot 4 times. I helped him as much as I could and he finally got it wired. He drilled a hole inside near the downstairs air conditioner controller he mounted it there. Then I thought about what to make for dinner. Jim had some of the beef noodle soup I made him, I ate the rest of the vegetable chicken soup. I had five taco shells left so I made three beef tacos for him and  turkey burger for me. We had some fresh berries with topping for dessert. Then we had another enjoyable relaxing evening together.

Pool, Walk, Fed-X delivery, Grilling & Chillin

One thing about this lifestyle is all the decisions you have to make. When were in Pennsylvania we wake up go to work come home have dinner, and enjoy our relaxing time in our FW. Here every day is a new adventure and we have to decide together and what we're going to do next. I know it's a good problem to have but some days making a decision is the hardest thing we do all day.
So we had breakfast today Jim made his own eggs. Eventually we turn the fireplace off and open windows. And as we watchd the temperature rise we realize we need to turn the air on again. Tomorrow we're going to do it before we leave, we waited kind of long and then it really had to work hard to cool it down. We sat outside it was just so beautiful we just can't get over it. California Dreaming. I was crocheting a little outside just talkin, we went for a little walk. It was kind of warm so we only did half the campground. We were sitting outside, the way the fifth wheel is parked we're in the shade when a car pulled up next to the truck, Jim stood up we didn't know who or couldn't see who it was, then we realized it was our FedEx package, Jim had ordered the battery monitor it's supposed to come tomorrow  but we got it today. So he was looking at it to figure out where he's going to mount it. Made some lunch, which was leftover soup and  a burger. The  we sat outside some more made a big decision to go to the pool. The water temperature is probably at least 90 the hot tub, fabulous. Mary Jane was there, I talked to her when I was selling my bags, we had another nice little chat. Jim went back first and I followed him shortly after we finished our conversation. Our biggest decision was whether to go to the College of the Desert, that Mary Jane told us about it's a big flea market, only on Sat/ Sun Jim's favorite LOL not. So we saw that it closes at 2 so we decided to go tomorrow early, LOL that's funny too. So then I started some dinner I use the broth from Jim's tri-tip beef that I made, put onions celery tomato and carrots in the instant pot sauteed them a little, strained  the broth, added a little more water and a couple handfuls of noodles cooked it for 5 minutes let it naturally release and then I added the beef. He said it was really good. Then he grilled some zucchini planks green beans and onions.  I made us a salad, we sat outside at the picnic table and had dinner, it was getting dark but what a beautiful sunset. Then we did our normal evening routine.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Today we had a fun adventure planned. So when we got up I made Jim eggs and sausage. I had cold cereal and yogurt and a tiny piece of sausage. And we got ready for our day trip. The first place we went, was a new place  Jim found for an AGM battery .  He thought they were pretty good price at $305 each , we needed three,  and he said they would be here in 3 days .

  Tomorrow he'll order a battery monitor from Amazon.  Then we went to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. We went to the visitor center first. Then we drove up the hill 4 miles and parked, then you ride a bus to where you get on the tram. Each tram car holds 80 people approximately over 14000 lb. They don't look like they hold that many and it rotates and goes around twice in the duration of the ride.

It's the largest rotating Aerial Tramway in the world. It's a total of 2.5 miles one way, which has an elevation of 2600 feet. Our ears were popping on the way up and down.  The mountain station has an elevation of over 8500 feet, where the tram starts the elevation is 2600 ft, and has a temperature difference of 40 degrees colder at the top, approximately. Established in 1963 and coined the 8th Wonder of the world when it opened. Here's a picture of the counterweight,

with more details on the sign, but the motor at the Valley Station always pull the car down which in turn pulls the other car up. There's a total of 5 towers and as you pass them they warned you the first time or two but it really gives you a rush because the car moves slightly like it's a rollercoaster ride. There are two restaurants at the top, but decided not to. There was a path you can walk around all outside and see the snow which is the only way we want to see it.

There was a display inside with all the animals  in the area. Some people can actually see the mountain goats walking around the rocks. Some people bring their sleds to sleigh ride. But the grossest thing we saw was a lady picked up some snow and actually ate it, can't believe we saw that because it wasn't quite untouched Virgin Snow it was there for a while and looked dirty. But then we were really tired and getting hungry and the altitude was making us feel weird. Once we got back to the truck, trying to decide what we wanted to do next, we were really hungry by then, but didn't know where to go, wanted to do a few other stops but not without eating first. Almost wanted to just eat at the camper, then we drove by Applebee's and decided to go in there, which we like. We got an appetizer and shared, Jim got an all-you-can-eat thing I had half a sandwich and a salad which ended up taking the salad home and then we shared  two mini desserts, one sundae in a shot glass and a mini brownie bite thing, we racked up quite the bill. Then we got home relaxed, amazing how such fun makes for a tiring day. Relaxed I took a shower we'll do it all again tomorrow. More fun I mean!

Nearly PERFECT weather day

I decided to start labeling with a date and where we are, which goes at the bottom just to help keep  track, that is if I can remember. We got up early if you're in California, we got up late, if you're in Pennsylvania. We were used to getting up at 5 a.m. for work in Pennsylvania, we have to get up here at 2 to keep it the same. I guess I should stop talking about that. Today I remembered  to make a smoothie, as breakfast was almost ready, we got our Greens in first, I made fried potatoes eggs and apple maple sausage. Small portion especially for me. Watched The Today Show. Then me went for a big bike ride,  we actually rode every road twice. Which probably took around an hour. We finally met the other people from Pennsylvania, his name is Allen. They were from Milford. Had a nice chat. We finished our bike ride. And then we started grilling the meat we bought yesterday. I had thawed out a steak so Jim grilled it For lunch and me a piece of chicken. I had it on salad, when we were  finished eating we grilled the rest of the chicken. And then two turkey burgers for me and two beef burgers for him. While all that was going on I started the instant pot with vegetable soup. I put in every vegetable I could find, mostly fresh a few frozen. Then later I added some of the grilled chicken, good way to get in your veggies for the day. Everybody kept walking by and saying it smelled good. Then we were finished we probably were grilling for an hour. We sat outside the weather was so perfect Jim still can't get over why we don't live here LOL. We sat outside in the sun, was just beautiful, blue skies no clouds, hardly any wind. We are near the airport so we keep seeing planes going over all the time which I love to watch them. Always did, even as a kid, love to watch planes. We sat outside and talked, and talked to neighbors walking by. Keep talking about going into the pool, sounds like I will be but probably alone. Because somebody doesn't want to go in. I did end up going into the pool alone. To many kids around. The pool and hot tub was so nice.

It is very drying on the skin with as dry as it is here. I did not stay in very long. Went back after I changed, I'm sure Jim missed me. He had a few beers in by then. We had a bite to eat, took showers, and watched TV. I bed to bed first.

Said goodbye to the Santa Ana winds

Jim woke up on California time 6:30 a.m. . The three-hour time difference is crazy to get used to. There's a fine line between trying to stay on the old time and working with the California time. But I wonder how long you have to live here before you were used to it. We just are worried about going back, so you're not  so off-kilter and feeling like you have jet lag. We're trying to stay at least somewhere  in the middle. I got up California 7 a.m. . We're ready for dinner by 3 California time,  but it really is after 6 so we feel like we're starving  sort of.

I forgot to do a smoothie Jim said darn. I made us some breakfast, we went for a walk it was very windy, we cut it  a little short. We took a drive looking for AGM batteries, but the store was no longer in business that he had found online.

We found the Chinese buffet place for lunch not that great but okay, wouldn't go again, so I guess that says a lot. Found a Sam's Club, and Walmart next door. We thought about turning our freezer back on and we can fill it up in there. There really is no need, to so we didn't. What we did by was some pills that I forgot I already had, eye drops Jim likes his mixed nuts and cashews some greens. Jim bought Fireball whiskey later he wished he would have bought some beer, ( He said he is going BACK) Jim said it was so much cheaper there. They had Diet Pepsi cans on sale, bulk magic erasers. Then Jim dropped me off at Walmart I went in by myself, biggest thing we learned last year in Florida I need to shop alone. That's when I bought some meat a few other items that you just can't bought buy small enough amounts. We found diesel for 3.47 a gallon. Driving around we had such beautiful views of the snow top mountains, I will never get sick of looking at that. Jim said why don't we live in California again. ??? You know we can make that happen. What to do .what to do :) 
When we got home after we put everything away we went for another walk. The wind had died down a lot by then. Jim only had sandles on so he cut out on me early, but I walked every Road not sure how long it takes probably good half hour. Don't get me wrong we did have a lot of relaxing today, on and off all day, so good,  so good. We had a light dinner of salad, and a couple peanut butter crackers and we shared a protein bar that  we also got at Sam's, it was only 3 grams of sugar very filling, and good for travel days.
By this time I was soon ready for bed, we were trying to watch This Is Us so tired have to rewatch a little of it since I had it recorded. By then it's after 11 that were used to. I can't remember what time we do something, let alone trying to remember what we did in two different time zones. Way more confusing than you think it's going to be, till You're Living the Dream, good night.

Santa Ana winds

Woke up around 6:30 a.m. California time. Which is kind of late for us, early as we went to bed, was 9:30 on our old time. I made smoothies, later I made pumpkin pancakes with sausage and eggs. I started laundry didn't do any since before the rally. I think I did 5 loads at least. Hung our sheets outside which I love to do. We went for a little walk but the winds were blowing so hard we were getting sand in our eyes. I've always heard about the Santa Ana winds, now we know. We went back and had lunch. We watched as we got a few new neighbors behind us. This was a nice day to stay home and relax, because it was our choice plus it was not raining, and it was beautiful and sunny, and when there's palm trees all the better. Then we went for a second walk a lot less windy. Jim talked to Byron for a good part of the Walk. We saw an RV with Pennsylvania tags on our walk and I saw a camper that was at the Bash but nobody was around, we wanted to say Hi to them. We went into the rec center and I signed up for the craft sale on Friday. She said they have to pay $0.10 for a bag when they shop here in California. When we got back I brought the sheets in. Put my last load in the dryer for today. I can do some more tomorrow, so nice having the washer and dryer in here, saves so much time. And money. I made us a light dinner of leftovers. That is about over tomorrow I'll probably actually have to cook something. We called DirectTV and had to change our service location again, this time it was pretty quick. We took showers Jim washed the silverware them we watch some TV.