Microblog

Retrieved one month of mail. There would’ve been more mail without: —E-billing. —PaperKarma to cancel unwanted commercial mail. —Catalog Choice to cancel catalogs. —OptOutPreScreen to opt out of credit card and insurance offers. Most of the mail still went straight to recycling.

Rode the tram at MSP to the LRT. When they were young, we’d take our nephews for rides on the tram. There’s a jog in the middle, which is always exciting if you’re not holding on tight. Truth is, I had as much fun as my nephews (maybe more).

One final hike above Palm Springs. We both wished the hike had been longer: “Leave ’em wanting more,” I guess.

My hike for the day: walked to a supermarket, walked back carrying provisions in my backpack.

Experienced contrasts as we hiked desert trails with wide vistas in the hills, then descended into oases wedged in canyons. The sudden drop in temperature and the sound of running water were always surprising. Indian Canyons, Palm Springs.

Friends couldn’t join us, but we walked out, anyway, to a wine bar we’ve never visited. Pupus were excellent: dates (terroir for Palm Springs) wrapped in bacon, and meatballs.

Temporarily stained our clothes with yellow pollen as we brushed against flowering brittlebush (encelia farinosa) as we hiked above Palm Springs. Everything went in the wash, including ourselves, when we returned to base.

Walked along residential roads lined by high hedges. The former home of movie mogul Darryl F. Zanuck, the first president of United Artists, hides behind this gate.

Walked through formal desert gardens at the Annenberg Foundation’s Sunnylands, the “Camp David of the West.”

With temperatures rising into the 90’s, stayed close to home. At about 4:00 p.m. the sun will go behind the mountains, and the temperature will seem to drop almost 20°, making it comfortable to sit on the balcony. Our 1947 rental apartment was designed by architect Albert Frey.

Hiked the trails of Indian Canyons, just south of Palm Springs: ridge trails, temperatures in the 80’s, flowering cacti, palm tree oases in canyons, expansive views of the snow-capped San Jacinto Mountains.

The last day of Modernism Week in Palm Springs: visited five recently remodeled homes. This home retains some original 1957 features, including the fireplace. The homeowners have gone for a consistent mid-century vibe with furniture choices. Nice, but I prefer to mix it up a bit.

Evening: community theater, “Palm Springs Getaway,” a “musical romp.” Afternoon: a lecture on desert modernism. Morning: walked to a visitor center, formerly a gas station. Architect Albert Frey was a character in the show, discussed in the lecture, and designed the gas station.

Walked through architect Albert Frey’s 1955 Cree House. The appliances are original and still working; the refrigerator is behind the three upper doors to the right of the range. The house is perfectly aligned to minimize the effects of the sun’s rays. It’s still privately owned.

One last hike in Joshua Tree National Park, High View Nature Loop Trail, before returning to Palm Springs.

Hiked Lost Horse Loop Trail, Joshua Tree National Park.