You’ve been so patient, so kind in waiting for the best, which we saved for the last of our Wednesday’s adventure posts.
We came across an abundance of pelicans, herons, gulls, and cranes on the shores of The Salton Sea, and this is what had Ken so preoccupied with the binoculars as I snapped away with my camera.
And so without further ado, we shall share our pictures.
Love and blessings,
Jenni and Ken
Gracefulness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Our intended destination for Wednesday’s adventure was The Salton Sea. However, since we dawdled an awful long time, taking in the gross extravagance of Palm Springs and that surrounding area, we ended up with very little time to explore the area surrounding The Salton Sea.
Harrumph. We will just have to return another day, I guess.
This beautiful graffiti was found on the fence surrounding the abandoned community pool.
We did get to explore a rather sad little community called Desert Shores, which is right on the edge of The Salton Sea. At one time, it probably was a nice little place to live; however, the economy, the housing crash, or what have you must have took its toll, because very few businesses remain open today. In fact, we saw an ambulance service, a motel, and a church, and not much else. Thank God there was a church so that the community would not totally be forsaken.
It saddened me that the community pool and the fire station stood abandoned, along with many private businesses. There were a few nice houses interspersed, but most of the housing was probably for the workers from the surrounding produce farms.
We did get some beautiful pictures, and I am pleased to be able to share them with you.
In our next post, we shall see what Ken was so interested in viewing. Until then, keep searching for your joy.
Love,
Jenni and Ken
The weather here in Southern California continues to be absolutely beautiful. I do not miss Portland’s dampness one bit, not when I can experience all this sunshine day after blessed day.
The daytime temps are perfect, allowing us to still comfortably wear our T-shirts and shorts even this late in the year, and the nighttime temps are just chilly enough to warrant snuggling beneath the quilt I made for Ken out of his old T-shirts. In other words, it’s just how I like it.
On Wednesday, we decided to take advantage of the gloriously beautiful weather by driving to The Salton Sea. On our way, we passed through Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, and finally Mecca, Desert Shores, and The Salton Sea. I think I named them all.
It was one town right after the other, blending so well it was difficult to say exactly when we passed from one to the next, unless we happened to catch the welcome signs. Although the farther we drove, the poorer the cities became. Then, it was easy to tell where the rich left off and the working stiffs began. The first half dozen cities were so opulent that even the bus shelters looked like stucco gazebos, for lack of a better description.
It was too rich for my blood, although Ken did catch me ducking into a Goodwill in Palm Springs. I just had to see what the rich had to offer. (Evidently not much because I left there empty handed!)
These are some of the pictures from the first part of our adventure. Mecca, Desert Shores, and The Salton Sea will have to wait for the next posts.
Along Highway 10 just outside of Banning, there’s a stretch of the desert that has been put to good use as a wind farm. I love seeing alternate energy sources being incorporated so well, as they are in So Cal. Some may call them ugly or even eyesores, but I find them beautiful in both their simplicity and purpose.
Peace,
Jenni and Ken
While we were in the mountainous region above Banning, which I spoke of in my last post, we came upon what remained after a recent wildfire. From a distance, the area looked, charred, desolate, devoid of anything good or life sustaining.
As we approached, I meditated on how life’s trials can leave us charred, alone, wasting away for want of that certain something that will renew our souls.
Then I walked among the burned relics, the charred bushes, the melted debris left behind earlier by litterbugs.
And this is what I found, life striving to survive despite all odds. The char was falling away to reveal glowing, vibrant branches beneath.
I was awestruck, speechless. The beauty I found in the midst of this destruction astounded and refreshed my soul.
Thank You, Lord, for all Your lessons and Your grace. Amen.
Love,
Jenni and Ken
Summer’s End
November, November
From whence did you come?
Why must you herald summer’s close
With such finality, such succor needs?
Though her chilling tentacles
elude this oasis, this pleasant cove
I still feel Sister Winter’s death knell
Clanging against my bones.
November, November
Your beauty does not escape me
Your crispness may herald
Sister Winter’s approach
But my love for you remains
True to the end of your days.
Jenni Lynn
November 1, 2013
Magnum Opus Alere
Velvet enrobes creamy coolness
Delicately fragranced
By vanilla’s gentle caress.
Smooth, salty caramel
Bathes my senses
With glorious contradiction.
Dark chocolate incites
Pleasure in my soul.
I give myself fully
To this divine
Yet earthly fascination.
I close my eyes
And take another taste
Of my Magnum
My sinful side’s
Opus alere.
Jenni Lynn
November 1, 2013
Have you ever stopped to consider how often the blessings of God grace your life? How everything, even the simplest of things, has been touched by His hand?
Have you stopped to study the intricacy of a single bloom?
Or stood silently in awe as a great egret took flight?
Or marveled at the glow of the approaching sunset? God can even take LA’s pollution and make it beautiful.
These are but a few outward examples of His love for us. For He also gave us friendship and love, laughter and tears, compassion and forgiveness.
The blessings in my own life are too numerous to count. All day long, I praise His Holy Name for giving me glimpses of heaven.
All of this, I witness and find joy in, not in spite of my pain and illness, but because of it. For through my struggles, He has taught me much, and I am ever grateful.
Where can you find blessings today?
Love,
Jenni and Ken
Thought you might enjoy a little more photography and a little less verbiage.
Thank you for following us,
Jenni and Ken
