Birthday celebration in La Quinta

We spent a few days of R&R in La Quinta.  It was a perfect way to usher in the new year and my birthday.  Life is good!

Just rolled in to town and found a great organic breakfast place.

Got to our room and was immediately in love with this resort.  This is our private patio.  We used it a lot. 

 My birthday sunrise.

I felt like God was literally pointing down at me and saying "Happy Birthday"

When we were sipping coffee on the patio a bee landed on me.  I think it was cold and moving slow.  Vince took his wallet and scooped it off of me.  We set the wallet down and put some of the cappuccino foam from my drink and the bee had a treat with us.  It stayed there for at least 10 minutes before flying away.  I looked up the symbolism of bees and it was quite positive.  Between God pointing down at me and the bee I felt there were many positive aspects and signs for my new year.

 The next morning the hills turned a deep red that only lasted for five minutes but definitely made it worth getting up early.

The moon on it's way down...

 I love this photograph.  It's me, arms outstretched, in front of a giant Christmas tree.  It looks like I'm flying in to the cosmos.

The tree elf:

 A little city of cans:

I thought of my Dad and Uncle Bob when we were eating breakfast on this golf course.

We didn't take pictures at Okura Japanese restaurant but I've got to say that it was the best sushi I ever had.  It was so beautiful and delicious.  I'll always plan on eating there when we're in La Quinta.
And for ice cream....we went to Nitroinfusions...an organic place that makes ice cream using nitrogen.  It had the most delicious consistency and good organic flavors.  A perfect treat after our hike in the desert.

And last but not least....on our way out of town we stopped at Manhatten in the Desert Deli and had a pig out - white fish platter and potato pancakes.  My friend Mark called this picture: "Jewish Food Porn."  :)