a desert get-away

We began this month in one of our favorite warm spots...the desert near Palm Springs.  By the end of the month I will be immersed in all things Christmas and have long forgotten about our time in the sun...so I'll share a few pic's now.

We have stayed at this same resort many times...often meeting up with family or friends while we are there.

We had a ground floor suite this time...

...and watched the birds on the lagoon from our patio.

It was mostly a lazy time all around!  Though we started every morning off with a nice long walk...

...in the desert behind the resort

...around the adjacent golf course



...or through one of the many new sub-divisions sprouting up nearby.

We also hiked the Ladder Canyon Trail at Painted Canyon near Mecca for the first time. This trail has about seven ladders to help hikers make their way through the slot canyon. The trail-head was a little hard to find...but we met up with a boyscout leader that pointed us in the right direction.  The loop trail took us about three hours. 

Much of the scenery reminded us of that in Death Valley...several hundred miles away. The temperature was just perfect for hiking. 

If you are ever in the Palm Springs area and looking for a good hike...check out Mecca Hills Painted Canyon.

We spent a few days with family at the resort, met up with friends for dinner and church, and also drove to Quartzsite, Arizona to spend a evening with two of my sisters and their hubbies. But for the most part, we read books and floated on the lazy river.

I quite liked our desert get-away!  It was just what I needed.