Well, after three months here, incredibly, it’s almost time to go home, back north to the snowy scenes the Calgary couple house sitting at our place near Victoria have sent us in the past few days. There’s about 15 cm of snow in our driveway, which hasn’t seen a shovel yet this season. Major thoroughfares on the island were shut down completely on Sunday as folks who are just not accustomed to the white stuff struggled to navigate the snowy roads.
 
I know that I won’t get any sympathy from you if you’re in Southern Ontario with a storm bearing down, yet again. In fact, our Keswick-area guests, who were to depart today, flew out yesterday, a day early, to beat the weather. Thank goodness. I’ll be honest: I’m getting really worried about a book tour taking me from Oakville to Oshawa to Ottawa at the end of the month, but hoping that the Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast for rainy but milder weather turns out to be true. 
 
After what was meant to be a relaxing winter – and truly, at times, it was – we’re in full gear for the big adventure next week of a book tour. I still can’t really believe this is all happening, but here it is. At long last, Mourning Has Broken will be out, the TV events will take place and public appearances will be made.
  
I will be wheels-up from Palm Springs International Airport on Thursday, when I wave good-bye to my Valentine and fly home to BC. Rob drives home with Molly starting Saturday. Is your head spinning yet? Walk a mile in my Skechers!
 
My aim from here on in is to stay healthy! I’ve been drinking effervescent Airborne immunity boosters for the past week and have been slamming the Vitamin C tablets since one of our guests came down with a terrible cold, but have decided not to get the vitamin IV I was planning on before setting foot on an airplane full of wintry germs.
 
Although I used to get them in Toronto every November before I started getting run down with the incredible pace of our schedule every holiday season, the jury is out on how effective the IVs actually are, so I decided against it. (The same scientific jury is out on Airborne, too, but we think it helps.)
 
We haven’t had our flu shots this year because we left BC before we’d had a chance, darn it. So I’m just going to pray that I’m surrounded by healthy folks for the next two weeks and that I manage to get enough rest. After March 4th, I can let my guard down. I don’t know how my body will react to cold temperatures but clearly I’ve got some toughening up to do!
 
These last few days have been spent carpe-ing the heck out of each diem. On Friday, we ventured to one of the most beautiful spots I’ve encountered in California. It wasn’t on the ocean, but water did have a starring role in its beauty. At $7 per person admission to the Indian Canyons, its price may strike you as steep when you enter. However, you’re soon in awe of the incredible beauty of this place with its many hiking trails, a gift shop and snack bar. Take a look at some of the shots I took during our visit.
 

 
If you have time and funds to pay to see just one natural wonder, I’d choose this over the sprawling but unusual views of Joshua Tree Park anyday. I think next year we’ll bite the bullet, buy a $90 pass and visit regularly. It’s good for the soul and I hope it helped brighten your Tuesday, too.
 
Back here with you tomorrow with some more shots as we get set to put Palm Springs in the rearview mirror. I hope you won’t mind doing some California dreamin’ for a few days, as we will be soon as well!