More desert blooms

I will miss a lot about going to the desert so often, not least is seeing what is in bloom.  There are people out there who are not flower people, I know, but I love them.

This past weekend I had a couple of morning walks, one to myself and one with Van.  As we went about Magnesia Falls Cove, I snapped shots here and there.  Some of the blooms are native to the desert (and my gosh, the palo verde trees were a riot of yellow flowers - so incredible), and some were planted in yards and gardens.  All were lovely in their way.

So then, some flowers...

Ocotillo.

Desert willow.

Oleander.

Yucca.

Baja fairy duster.

Yellow trumpetbush.

Brittlebush.

Creosote bush.

 

Olive? Still loving and adorable.

A couple more posts from the desert to come, and I will get them up before too long.  But a short post in the meantime, a reminder that this girl is so sweet, and that her ear kisses are a welcome treat.

Monday night dinner

Shocking, but true:  I got into the kitchen again!

Conrad is not yet back from The UP, so Van and I had a nice dinner at home on the deck at Marengo.  I had found a couple of steaks in the freezer at the condo on Sunday, so I thawed them in the fridge overnight, and built dinner around them.  To be honest, they weren't the best steaks (and also to be honest, I could have cooked them better).  I hate when I buy pre-packaged portions of meat for two or more people and the meat is different sizes.  It makes for wonky cooking times.  Ah well.  Also, my piece had a fair bit of sinew in it.  Not great.

Ah well.  They weren't terrible by any stretch.  I roasted some carrots and cooked up a few Brussels sprouts and made a simple red wine sauce for it all. 

We sat outside at the table that Van brought up from the Rancho Mirage house, enjoying the evening on the deck. 

And then, to cap it off, as I finished a glass of pinot noir, Van did the dishes.  Sweet!  😉

March 8, and it sucks only a tiny bit less

Posting this Tuesday (and taking a break in the end-of-life-in-Rancho-Mirage posts) to tell you that on Monday, May 8, I made it into the pool.  Twice in one month.  Wow.  Pathetic.

The swim was slightly less pathetic.  A half hour, 1850 yards.  So I made it to a mile.  Better than zero, as Conrad and I tell each other.  But yeah.

My hope is that, come fall, I can manipulate my schedule a little better so that I can get to the pool more than once a week!

Saturday dinner in Palm Springs

And then we came to it:  our last dinner of our time at the Rancho Mirage house.  While it might have been fitting to cook a last dinner in, it wasn't feasible given how little was left in the house.  And besides, we wanted as little mess and fuss as possible.  So it was that Van - looking very fine indeed!

- and I took ourselves into Palm Springs to go to a reliable place, one we've enjoyed several times:  Copley's.

It was an early dinner, which was good, because it can cool off a fair bit still at this time of year when the sun goes down.  We ordered a pair of the pomegranate martinis,

then settled in to chat, be together, people watch, and enjoy dinner.

I didn't photograph my chilled soup starter - some foods just don't photograph impressively, and a large white mug filled with a lovely green soup is one of them.  Pea and asparagus, a little sweet with some ginger.  It was a nice start, refreshing, not heavy at all.  And then I opted for the pork schnitzel, a new dish on the menu. 

I thought it was nicely cooked, but with the cranberry relish and the dried apricot bread pudding sides, it ate both autumnal and too sweet.  Tasty, for sure, but I think a nice light gravy or something to lend some salt would have made it just right.  I'd still order it again - the meat was nicely cooked!

We negotiated a dessert between us after that and opted for the apple strudel with salted caramel ice cream.  What came out was not even remotely a strudel, and I was startled when it was set down.  An apply tart is what I would call it.  Delicious nonetheless.

After dinner was done, Van and I wandered up the street a short ways to Truss & Twine

for a nightcap (even though it was, oh, 7:30ish at the latest).  We first tried the Fallen Angel there a while back, and we've been playing with making it at home.  Theirs is better.  Van ordered that, and I had The Brooklyn. 

We had a table in the corner by the window and no one next to us, and that made for nice conversation space.  Cocktails done, we headed home, fed the little girl, and had a surprisingly early bedtime.  Our last day full day of living in the Rancho Mirage house was done.

afternoon spritzes

Continuing on with the last full day of enjoying the Rancho Mirage house, there were afternoon cocktails.  Well...

Almost everything was packed up, and that included the bar.  Van had the presence of mind, however, to pick up a few things just in case, and among those few things were some little individual size serving bottles of Aperol spritzes.  They hit the spot just nicely!

Saturday breakfast

You ever get hankerings?  In the mood for some particular food or beverage?  I get that way, for sure.  Fly to Hawaii, and by gosh, I need some Spam.  That sort of thing.

Saturday morning we did a rare thing in the desert and went out to breakfast someplace other than walking to Koffi or to Starbucks.  Equally as often, it seems, we would just have some brewed coffee (well, decaf for me) and a light bite at home as well.  Saturday, however, Van and I wandered up the 111 to The Atrium for breakfast at The Palms Cafe.

Breakfast is a conundrum for me sometimes.  I have come to love eggs as an adult (I was so-so on them as a child), and I seldom make them at home, so I usually want eggs when I go out.  Something savoury for me, some protein.  But I had a hankering for pancakes, too.  The solution?  Grand Slam it, as it were.

I don't usually eat breakfast in this quantity, but I told myself there would be no lunch.  Eggs over easy, bacon, hashbrowns (which are a miracle of potato cookery), and a side of a big pancake.  Perfect.  Van had his coffee,

I had my decaf,

and we started the last full day at the Rancho Mirage house together just right.

Maleza

Van and I decided that, for our last weekend enjoying the house in Rancho Mirage, we would have one meal at a place we know and have enjoyed multiple times before (to come tonight), and one at a place new to us.  That's why we found ourselves at an outdoor patio table at Maleza last night.  The restaurant at the new Drift Hotel in Palm Springs, it was full of a youngish (but not entirely) and somewhat hip and affluent crowd.  The food was Baja Mexican in nature, and the cocktails on the menu showed off some interesting ingredients.  We dove in.

It's a small menu, almost surprisingly so.  We didn't get desert either, which was fine.  I ordered a milk punch to start,

and Van had their version of a negroni.  His was especially bitter and a little smoky, neither of which is a bad thing.  I liked mine, but I switched to the Corn in the Valley cocktail for the second drink (and, sadly, did not get a clear shot of it).

We shared two appetizers.  The one was esquites - roasted corn with a creamy sauce.  What was interesting was that it was set atop marrow bones. 

I was tickled that Van went along with having marrow, and, whatsmore, seemed to enjoy it.  The other appetizer was a pair of tostadas featuring maitake mushrooms. 

Yes, I willingly ate mushrooms.  There are mushrooms, and then there are mushrooms, you know.  The tostadas were fine, though Van found them a little spicy.  I could think of vegetarian friends who would relish them greatly.

We shared a dinner plate, which is how they intend it.  Pork shank, not braised from what I could tell, but slow cooked and glazed with a delicious red sauce. 

The herb salad with it was outstanding.  I wish we had had more of the herbs and more tortillas and none of the rice and beans.  Then we could have made out own little tacos from the meat quite happily.

There was live music for much of dinner, and that was good.  The temperature was comfortable - no heat lamps in sight, and none needed, but not especially warm either.  I liked that we were at the back of the patio for a little more ease of conversation, but sitting back there meant that I had a view, facing away from the rest of the patio, of the brick wall of the next building.  Ah well.  Our waiter was fine, until he wasn't.  He checked on our pork shank, and then we pretty much didn't see him again.  No one cleared our finished plates, no one asked us about dessert.  Eventually Van waved down someone to ask for the cheque, then waved down someone else to take our credit cards.  The waiter came back with the cards and the receipts to sign and apologized without explanation.  It was an odd end to a pleasant dinner.  We weren't upset, though.  I was more hoping that the man was ok, that nothing had happened.

A good addition to dining in Palm Springs, I think.  I might wish for a pinch of salt in the food, or to finish it, but that's my palate.  I'd try Maleza again on a future visit, or just go for drinks that the bar and see what other concoctions they have!

tulip tree

I'd heard of tulip trees before.  I kind of thought they were supposed to be like magnolias, to be honest.  A couple of times on recent morning walks, though, I saw these trees that had maple-like leaves.  Except I know what maples in bloom are like.  These were not the flowers I expected.

This morning I took a couple of photos and then checked them in an app on my phone.  Tulip trees?  Cool!  If that's correct, which I hope/think it is.

I swear, the rains this year (and the generally longer, cooler winter/spring) have really done a marvel with blooms all around SoCal!

bucatini

A quick post, a photo of dinner last night.  Conrad had a work dinner to go to nearby, and I wasn't in the mood either to go sit with sushi alone at a restaurant or bring it home.  I kind of wanted to read my book I was well into and have a simple meal with things I had at home.

So, pasta it was!  Bucatini, and a big bowl at that (I had eaten so little breakfast and lunch, in my defense).  I caramelized some cabbage and onion with some seasonings, added some pasta water to make a sauce, then tossed it with the noodles.  I topped it with a bit of parmesan and some pancetta crumbles.  Yum!  Book in hand, an Aviation nearby, a bowl of pasta.  A nice Thursday night.

Tuesday night at Maestro

Tuesday night.  Yes, Tuesday.  Usually, Conrad (and, more recently, with Van) get to Maestro early on Friday for what used to be happy hour and now is simply claiming seats at the bar, which we enjoy.  But no.  Last night I had to work a little late on campus, and so it was shortly after 7 that Conrad and I wandered over to Maestro.

Oh, I missed them.

I read a book years ago about how to be a regular at restaurant, and I took some of it to heart.  In the end, though, I don't care about perks or such.  I just want to go to places that I genuinely love because the food and drink are good and because we are treated nicely.  Maestro is that place.  I have always felt at home there, but knowing the owners and staff is a bonus.  It means that we can chat with them, share holiday photos and travel advice.  And we can have a tasty meal.

Conrad and I popped over there last night.  Rigo made me Mezcal campfires (yum!),

and all was good.  Guacamole and plantain chips. 

Grilled octopus. 

Birria tacos. 

Such good and familiar and welcome and delicious foods.  Small wonder we go back and bring friends and family there.

So then, Tuesday night.  A little out of routine, but with all the travel (you read this blog, you know), routine is anything but this first half of the year.  We'll take it!

May 1 and yes, this still sucks

On the plus side, I got in the water.  Yeah, I've had some opportunities, but for a change this morning, I was not lazy.  Not that I swam all that much.  Not that I could swim all that much these days!

On the negative side?  Yep, it still sucks.  My endurance is crap, but I did take some pride in a reasonable stroke and decent turns.

May 1.  May I get in the pool in May more than once!  And may, by the end of May, it suck at least somewhat less.

porkchop

Last dinner of April, and it was a simple one.  I've been doing this with pork and lamb chops lately - I love meat on the bone! - an easy put-in-the-oven-and-ignore dish.  A layer of sliced onion on the bottom, the chops (seasoned well with salt and pepper), fresh thyme sprigs, more onions.  Let cook in a lower oven for a while, three hours or so.  The onions turn into something of a sauce, the pork is tender.  I made some farro and a few Brussels sprouts to go alongside. 

A nice, simple, tasty dinner.  And large - leftovers for lunch.  Yay!

a last hurrah

We had dinner out at Wally's last night.  It remains our go-to for when we want to feel a little more special, a little more cared for.  Is there more innovative food elsewhere in the Coachella Valley?  Is there a more hip and youthful setting?  Yes, I admit that is the case.  Wally's is a fine rebuttal in a sense, a place of white table cloths and people dressed a little nicely (sorry for the vanity shot!)

and teams of waitstaff taking care of the tables.  It's old school in its food, but it does old school so so very well.

Van's realtor and dear friend, Jennifer, treated us along with her husband and another friend staying with them at their Palm Springs condo to a meal last night.  It was a last hurrah of sorts - oh sure, we'll come down to the desert and we'll come to Wally's.  But it won't be like it has been, walking the two or so blocks over any time we had the urge.  A little bittersweet.

But we will make a point of visiting again and hope that they haven't forgotten us.  As always, it was the liver for me,

and we shared three souffles, including this raspberry one, for dessert.

By the time this posts this evening, Conrad and I will be back in Pasadena.  I'll be down in the desert again next Friday, and that will be my farewell to all the good times at this Rancho Mirage home.

an overdue reminder

This girl?  Delightful, adorable, gorgeous, sweet as can be.  An overdue posting featuring Olive and noting more than Olive. 🐕💗

will miss/won't miss

It's Conrad's last morning at the house in Rancho Mirage.  Next weekend, Van and I will enjoy our last couple of days here (Conrad will be in Michigan).  I'll miss a whole lot of things about it, having been down here at least, oh, 30 times since Van bought the place almost 2.5 years back.  Not least among the things I will miss is good old Mingo. 

No, we never could figure out how to safely mount and ride him, but we did get a kick at seeming him float and twirl about the pool.

What I won't miss?  This.

That was at about 11:00 or so yesterday morning.  In April.  Ugh.  I give immense thanks for being able to afford the luxury of air conditioning!

dinner with Geoff and Kent

It really is a treat when other people cook for us.  Truly.  Oh, don't expect to have to ever - I'm NOT demanding that anyone do so.  I love it when people invite us over for a drink, or ask to meet at a restaurant.  I know very well that cooking a meal and entertaining others is a lot of time and effort.  Which may be why I am so delighted when someone does.  I really appreciate it.

Geoff and Kent invited us over last night.  They've appeared in this blog in the past, but for most of our time in California we'd not been in touch with them.  In recent years, though, we have met up a few times.  It's been lovely getting re-acquainted with them and enjoying their company.

Kent manned the grill, cooking hanger steaks for us. 

Geoff kept the drinks and conversation flowing. 

Yes, some talk of the old days with the Smelts, but a wide range of topics.  A delicious meal (fries and roasted Brussels sprouts, and a citrusy tart for dessert), some decent wine,

and a fine evening that cooled off nicely as we sat outside.

We'll be in the desert far less after next weekend and the close of the house sale, but I hope that when we do make it down here (or if they come up LA-ward), we can all get together again!

a river runs through it (the desert, that is)

Remember how I posted about the Whitewater River, tucked up in that lovely reserve, all those flowers?  The river isn't just in the foothills, however.  It runs to the Salton Sea, though as I understand it, all too often any waters that make it as far as, oh, Palm Springs sink into the porous soil of the valley and end of flowing through the ground or just soaking in spot.

The generous snows atop the mountains this year have had an impressive effect, however.  The river is flowing and flowing, and so it is that it is sliding through the arroyo just blocks from the Rancho Mirage house.

Conrad and I took Olive down walking that way this morning and climbed down close to the river.  Conrad even dipped his hand in it, but I kept the little girl away so as not to muddy her paws.  The arroyo is normally the domain of private golf courses and driving ranges, but not these days.

I caught a few photos because I don't know when we'll see something like this again.  Oh, we've seen water down there on occasion as the outflow from a particularly good rain, but this?  No, not this.  In the one shot, looking toward the mountains, the near mountain (San Jacinto) contributes, but it's the far and taller mountain (San Gorgonio) that is the source of the stream waters. 

More snow up there still despite the recent heat, and so I expect and hope to see this river flowing again when I come back next weekend for a last few days in the house before the sale closes.

meanwhile, in the desert....

Conrad (Comard?) and Van (Fan?) and Olive headed down early Wednesday afternoon.  I'll catch up with them after work on Thursday (it's Wednesday night as I write this).  We've been messaging back and forth, and this attempted selfie from Olive kind of captures everything.

Is it any wonder why we love that girl?