About Gronze.com

Which Camino route will you walk?

How will you find information on each?

One of my favorite websites for planning is gronze.com.

Type gronze.com into your computer. On the opening page you will see many of the more popular Camino routes posted. Click on the one you are interested in.

Along the top, next to the web address Gronze.com you will see the word "Roads." Click on that and scroll to the bottom and it will take you to the interactive map shown at the top of this blog post. You can also reach that map by clicking "Other Ways" at the bottom right of this screen.

When you open the route that interests you, it will show you a plethora of information. The first thing you will see is a short description of the route and a map of the route. Here, I clicked on the Primitivo:

Below that, you will see a list of the stages, including any variations. Here, you can see you begin the Primitivo in Oviedo, and once you reach Borres, you have two options for walking. You can walk via Hospitals or you can walk via Pola de Aliande.

Open the link for walking via Hospitals 

and you see the map below.

First, a bit about the route which passes by several old pilgrim hospitals. This variant is 4.5 k shorter than the alternative, but harder and without services. 

(Red dots indicate possible services)

On the other hand, it is one of the stages with the most scenic beauty of all the Caminos!

You can see this stage is 24.1 km.

It will take a person in good shape about 6.5 hours to walk.

It is a 4 star difficulty stage and the scenery is 5 stars

Your other option is to walk the variation that goes through Polo de Allande. You can see this stage is 28.6 k, and will take 7.45 hours to walk if you are in good shape. It also has a 4 star difficulty and great scenery. The red dots show where there may be services available.

If you click on the option "See stage profile" you will get a profile map, complete with heights listed in meters along the right edge:

Beneath these maps, you will find a list of the villages and services. If you have a Mac, you can choose to see information in English. But you may want to switch back to Spanish, as it will translate each village name into English and that can be confusing. For instance, the village Borres translates to "Delete" in English.

On my MacBook Air, 

this option shows up in the right hand corner...

At any rate, below the map, 

you will see a list of villages and services. 

Click on one to find more information about it.

The green/red bar shows reviews. 

Green are positive. 

Red are negative. 

The lowest price is listed to the right.

Here I have clicked on the 

Albergue de peregrinos Santa Maria.

It shows you the address, gives you a telephone number, gives you a little map. The basic data section says this IS exclusively for pilgrims. They will NOT take reservations so you must just show up. It is open all year.

Below that you can see the beds are in a shared dorm and are 5 euros each. There are 20 beds in one big room. There is a photo of the facility. Sometimes, you can click on the photos to see more that pilgrims have posted. Often you can see photos of the inside as well.

There are also feedback comments from people who have stayed.  You will need to create an account and log in to see those. They are worth reading, but just remember,

some people are never pleased, and unless the place is REALLY bad, you may not have other options.

Also remember, many of these lodgings are remote,

and quite inexpensive. In many cases the PILGRIMS are the ones who should be picking up a broom/mop or rag and cleaning up after themselves,

leaving the place nice for the next pilgrims.

That is part of the responsibility of being a pilgrim.

A pilgrim is grateful for a roof over his/her head,

and a place out of the weather.

A tourist demands and in my opinion,

should pay for a hotel instead of taking up space.

I hope this little tutorial has made your planning easier.

Please feel free to ask questions if you have them.

You can find me on Facebook as AnnieSantiago.

I have a Facebook Camino Planning page at this address: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790533477968666

This blogspot account often fails to notify me of comments so I apologize if I do not respond here in a timely manner..

Good luck planning and

Buen Camino!

Annie

Getting to SJPP

 There are several ways to get to SJPP.

You can fly into Paris and take a train to Bayonne, then another train to SJPP.

You can fly into Madrid and catch a bus directly to SJPP during the Pilgrim Season. Buses will be just outside Terminal 4. 

My favorite is to fly into Madrid, then bus or fly to Pamplona. (There are buses that you can catch literally right outside Terminal 4 in Madrid that will take you to Pamplona). 

Spend a couple of days in Pamplona adjusting to the time change and seeing the city. Then nab an inexpensive bus to SJPP.  This way, when the rest of the world is stopping in Pamplona on the way back through, you've already seen it and you can begin stopping "between" the Brierley stages, and hopefully avoid full albergues. It's worked for me on over 20 Caminos and I stick by this plan.

Bus information changes year to year. 

Check with Annie or check on the Camino Forum run by Ivar for updated info on bus schedules. 

Where to Begin - St. Jean Pied de Port

 

In the last several years, St. Jean Pied de Port has become "the place to start" for many pilgrims. For some, it is because they want to walk over the Pyrenees. The truth is, you are only walking over a couple of hills in the Pyrenees, but it CAN be a gorgeous walk! It is a difficult one, however and the decision to walk from SJPP should not be taken lightly.

Brierley lists the first stage of the Camino as beginning in SJPP and ending in Roncesvalles. This is how I walked it on my first Camino. I was 16 years younger and it almost ruined me. 

I had booked lodging at Orisson, having heard it was a good idea to break that first stage up into two days if you weren't in prime condition. The owner of the gite where we stayed in SJPP insisted that we should walk all the way to Roncesvalles. "You can do it!" he said, "It's easy!" he said.  So I cancelled our reservations at Orisson and soon realized I had made a mistake. 

I was younger and in good shape, and that section was harder than anything I could have imagined. I limped into Roncesvalles in pain, crying the entire way down the hillside, cursing that hospitalero! I was carrying my heavy pack. My feet were blistered. My muscles were cramping. I wasn't sure I would make it. Soon after starting down the mountain, a bus stopped at the top and let a group of tourigrinos out. They were teenagers. They ran down the hill, laughing and giggling, right past me. No backpacks. No pain. "Cheaters!" I thought, and I felt so angry.

Then one young woman stopped when she saw my tears. She asked if I was ok and offered me a chocolate bar. I just started bawling!  But that chocolate bar and her kindness got me down the mountain into Roncesvalles, where Joe was patiently waiting.  

This was the OLD albergue where we stayed. The bunkbeds were pushed tightly together - I was sleeping (literally) next to a strange man. The ladders were round metal bars. That night when I got out of bed to use the toilet, I screamed when my feet hit those bars. My feet were SO bruised from the walk. 

Since then, I have walked that section more times than I can count, and I ALWAYS break it up into two stages. 

So that is my suggestion to you, unless you are in absolutely prime shape. Yes, it's only 8 kilometers to Orisson, but it's the 8 kilometers from HELL! And if you don't want to ruin yourself for the rest of your Camino, just stop at Orisson or Borda and rest, then continue on the next day.

You will need to make reservations for SJPP.  You can book directly or you can find email info on gronze.com. You can also find information on Booking.com for both gite beds and private rooms. By the way, the lodgings are called gites (jeets) in France and albergues (al-bear-gays) in Spain.

Refuge Orisson

For Refuge Orisson, you will need to email them directly. They will open mid December for reservations and you can find their website here: https://refuge-orisson.com/en/

About 2 kilometers past Orisson, on the left, you will find Gite Borda. The owner, Laurent, has a Facebook page where you can request information and book beds. 

The differences between the two - Orisson has bunkbeds in a common space. They also have overflow, so sometimes you will have to walk back DOWN the mountain you have just walked up. Yikes!

Gite Borda

Gite Borda has little cubbies with beds in each, so you have a bit of privacy. Both serve a family style dinner. Laurent is a wonderful host who loves what he does. He is full of information for you. 

Both have high ratings. Prices change each year so you will have to check those out yourself. 

Another option if both of those are full is to book TWO nights in SJPP.  The first morning you will walk up to Orisson, then take the shuttle run by Express Bouricott back down about 2 pm. Have lunch or a beer/wine and watch the pilgrims trudge by while you wait.  Spend a second night in SJPP and take the shuttle back UP to Orisson in the morning and continue on to Roncesvalles. 

If you decide to walk the entire stage, be forewarned. It is probably the most difficult day of the entire Camino, in my opinion. Get up and out early - take breaks every couple of hours - and be sure you have a bed reserved ahead.

If you are interested in the history of St. Jean Pied de Port, see this older blog post. It is heavy with photos of the route from SJPP to Roncesvalles. Scroll down to find the section on history. 

https://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2015/11/starting-st-jean-pied-de-port.html

Where To Begin - Roncesvalles

If you are walking the entire route of the Camino Frances, the traditional place to begin is Roncesvalles, Spain.

Roncesvalles is an autonomous community of northern Spain and is in Navarra province. It lies 3,220 feet above sea level and is northeast of Pamplona. Nestled in this "Valley of Thorns" in the foothills of the Pyrenees is an Augustinian monastery. Traditionally, the hospital at Roncesvalles received “pilgrims and otherswho might wish to lodge at the peak near the chapel of Charlemagne." The papacy assumed responsibility for the maintenance and running of the hospital.

The monastery at Roncesvalles has always been of major importance to the Camino. It was once one of the wealthiest on the entire route and was famous for the treatment which pilgrims received here. A 12th century poem sings the praises of the monastery´s legendary hospitality:

"The door lies open to all, to sick and strong,

Not only to Catholics but to pagans too

Jews, heretics,

idlers, vagabonds,

In short, to good and bad, sacred and profane."

Monastery records from as late as the 17th century speak
of up to 25,000 meals being served to hungry pilgrims
in a year´s time, with the number reaching as high as 30,000 in some years.

The numbers of pilgrims passing through Roncesvalles currently rivals that of the pilgrimage´s original golden age. By July 2011, a Holy Year, over 1000 pilgrims per day received a Compostela, and many passed through the villageon their way to Santiago de Compostela.

In 1132, the hospital was transferred to the spot where it stands today.
In 1984, the chapter passed to the control of the archbishop of the city.

In the 15th century the hospital was temporarily closed. Two fires in 1445 and 1468 caused great devastation, but only briefly interrupted the work of the hospital.

The collegiate church was consecrated in 1219. It is considered to be one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in Spain. Fires, a constant hazard in the medieval era reduced much of the collegiate church to ashes. It was lovingly and painstakingly restored in 1940.

The Colegiata Real or Sala Capitular (chapter house), has served pilgrims down through the centuries. It is also known as La Preciosa (“the beautiful”).

In 1600 the cloister was demolished by a severe fall of snow. The poor standard of the reconstruction offended many artistic and religious sensibilities.

The Capilla de Sancti Spiritus or Silo de Carlomagno (XII century)
is built over the graves of pilgrims who only made it this far. The 13th century Capilla de Santiago is much admiredfor its Romansque-Gothic architectural style. The bell is known for guiding pilgrims in from the Pyrenees snow.

The Virgin of Roncesvalles (aka the Virgin of Orisson) celebrates her feast dayon the 8th of September, Mary's nativity. But it is in Spring when most of the towns and the valleys around make their pilgrimage
to the Virgin of the Pyrenees.



From the Roncesvalles webpage:

Of all the pilgrimages to the Virgin of Roncesvalles, 

the one of Arce Valley and the one of Oroz- Betelu, 

which are done together, are the most constant in history. 

It has been celebrated since the 16th century,

 although it must have been celebrated even before then. 

The pilgrims set off from 2 places: 

from Oroz Betelu at 6 am in the morning and from Arrieta at 7 am. 

The pilgrims from Azparren, Olaldea, 

Gorraiz and Artozqui go in the first procession, 

and those from Lusarreta, Saragüeta, Urdíroz, Uriz, Muniáin, 

Arrieta, Villanueva, Imizcoz, Espoz and Lacave go in the second.

Both reach the crossroad and continue,

each town singing its songs and praying the Rosary.

The parish crosses close each walk

and precede the mayor of the town,

who walks with his staff of office.

The pilgrims walk in two rows,

with the crosses on their backs

and holding them by the short side, with lifted arms.

When the Collegiate is sighted, and the Rosary is finished,

people start singing the litanies.

The "ora pro nobis" is something that has been repeated

during many centuries in the same place,

and it represents a clamour for forgiveness, happiness,

praise and compliments to the Mother.

The chapter welcomes the pilgrims, led by the prior,

and all of them enter the church to celebrate a large mass,

to confess, and offer their presents to the Virgin.

The meal begins after the mass, 

with the traditional "caldico" at the pilgrims' hostel.

In the towns, people eat "perretxicos"

(a kind of mushroom),

trout, lamb, and "cuajada,"

a type of curdled cheese

When the meal is over, and it is getting dark, 

in the Arce Valley and in Oroz Betelu, historic songs are sung,

whose melodies are used to conclude the day of celebration.

After this celebration, the pilgrims return home with renewed hopes.

In the best seller "Iberia," James Michener speaks of going on a picnic in Roncesvalles.

“The success of our picnic was assured by the fine tins Potter had brought and by the rare site I had selected. But insurance was taken out when Bob Daley, fearing that we didn’t have enough food, stopped in the town of Espinal, and while we studied the fine modernistic church quite radical in its architecture, he bought an extra loaf of bread and in doing so acquired a culinary masterpiece; it was round and flat, about the size of a large chair cushion and not more than 2 inches thick, so that it was practically all crust and better crust was never baked.”

He continues, “I had in mind a spot well beyond the monastery of Roncesvalles. A spot where a small stream came out of a woods, but …she caught sight of a meadow far below the road where 7 rivulets converged, their banks lined with moss-covered trees. We lugged out tins and bottles and Bob Daley’s marvelous chunk of bread down to the 7 streams and there in a glade so quiet, so softly green that it seemed as if defeated knights might have slept in it the evening before, we spread our blankets and prepared the meal.”

The albergue at Roncesvalles was HUGE and COL

when I first visited in 2006

There were over 100 beds in one giant hall.

It was quite an experience

and for a first time pilgrim, it was very exciting!

So many people with the same goal

crammed into such a small space;

some too excited to sleep, others too exhausted to speak.

Old Albergue

Today the albergue has been completely remodeled,

and it is much more comfortable 

with more privacy.

New Albergue

If you don't care to sleep in the albergue, there are hotels where you can make private reservations; Casa de Beneficiados, La Posada de Roncesvalles, Hotel Roncesvalles, and Casa Sabina. 

Wherever you decide to sleep, 

be sure and make your dinner reservations

when you arrive in Roncesvalles.

The local trout is not to be missed!

It is usually served with pasta or ensalada, bread, and wine.

After you shower and do your laundry,

spend some time taking care of your feet.

A nice foot rub will make them happy.

And don't jump out of bed too fast in the morning,

for they may not hold you

without a little encouragement.

It has been a long hard climb

and they have the right to be stiff and sore.

Rest assured,

from here forward, the Way is easier.

***

If you choose to begin your Camino in Roncesvalles,

I suggest the best way to get there is to fly into Pamplona. From Pamplona, during the Pilgrim Season, there are inexpensive buses to Roncesvalles that run each day. 

I believe the bus line is Artieda.

I believe Alsa also runs during the Pilgrim Season.

Off season, you can book a taxi with Caminofacil 

or other taxi companies.

You might also share a ride with BlaBlaCar.

Next, we'll look at starting in St. Jean Pied de Port.

Until then,

Buen Camino!

Annie

So You Want to Go on Camino?

You've heard all about the Camino Santiago and now you've decided you want to go walk across Spain. You need to plan. But where do you start? You start by asking yourself some questions: 

WHY are you walking?

How many days do you have to walk? 

How much can you afford to spend? 

Where will you begin your walk? 

Where will you fly FROM?

Will you walk alone? 

Will you require private lodging or are you happy to stay in albergues? 

Will you picnic or will you eat in restaurants? 

What equipment do you already have and what will you need? 

What time of year will you walk?

Is it important that you walk every step or are you open to alternative transportation when necessary?

 

Let's look at some of these questions in depth.

WHY ARE YOU WALKING?

Originally, the Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage. If a person walks the last 100 kilometers into Santiago de Compostela, they could get a certificate from the Church called a Compostela. It was a way of gaining forgiveness of sins and proving they had made the pilgrimage. 

Today, people walk for many reasons. Some walk for forgiveness of sins. Some walk to pray for others. For some it is a religious or spiritual journey. For others, a test of endurance.  Some want to experience the culture and food of Spain. And others just want to put it on their checklist of "things I did."

It is important for you to know WHY you are walking. If the Compostela is important to you, you must register your walk as "religious" or "spiritual" instead of secular, plus you must walk every step of the last 100 kilometers into Santiago de Compostela. If it is NOT important for you to have the Compostela, you can get a very beautiful Walking Certificate at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago. If the Compostela is not important to you, it's also fine to bus or taxi portions of the last 100 kilometers.

Why do YOU want to walk?

WHICH ROUTE WILL YOU WALK?

Do you want to walk the original Camino Frances? Or would you rather walk a quieter route like the Northern, the Aragones, the Madrid, or even from Lourdes? There is also the route from Malaga, the route from Montserrat, the route from Amsterdam, and many other routes from pretty much anyone's front door!

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE?

To walk the entire Camino Frances will take you somewhere between 30 and 45 days, depending on how fast you walk. Brierley lists 33 stages in his guidebook. But some of those can be too long for many walkers. You may want to add on extra days for illness, or for simply touristing in the larger cities. Personally, I think 6 weeks makes a nice comfortable Camino.

WHERE WILL YOU BEGIN?    

Of course, your Camino begins the minute you walk out of your front door. But once you arrive in Europe, where will you begin? Will you start in Lourdes, France? Will you start in St. Jean Pied de Port? In Roncesvalles? In Pamplona? In Sevilla if you are walking the Via de la Plata? 

By knowing where you will begin your Camino, you can then decide where to fly into. If you are beginning your walk in St. Jean Pied de Port, you can either fly into Madrid (my personal favorite) or you can fly into Paris and take a train to SJPP. 

WILL YOU WALK ALONE?

Do you need some alone time? Or do you prefer to walk with a group? Do you speak any Spanish? Does it frighten you to be in a country where you do not know the language or are you up for the challenge?

HOW ABOUT LODGING?

Do you snore? Are you a light sleeper? You may want to book private rooms. Are you on a tight budget? Albergues may be your choice, though many still do not take reservations. Can you be flexible? Or are you more comfortable with a set schedule?

WILL YOU PICNIC?

Are you willing to picnic to save cash? Or will you be eating in restaurants? This can mean a wide range in your budget. 

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU ALREADY HAVE?

WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO BUY?

In my opinion, your two most important items are your SHOES and your BACKPACK.  Those will make or break your Camino. I will talk about both in other posts. You MUST have shoes that have a deep, wide toebox and a narrow heel or you will get blisters. I'm not fond of boots, but if you've walked/hiked in them for years, they may work for you. A well-fitting backpack is essential, no matter what time of year you are going. We will also discuss packs in a different post. ARE  However, except for these two items, you honestly can go with whatever you already have in your closet. There is absolutely no need at all to purchase special "gear" for the Camino. If you have good shoes and a good backpack, the rest is easy.

WHAT TIME OF YEAR WILL YOU WALK?

A Summer Camino means less weight to carry but it also means big crowds. A Winter Camino means fewer people, but more planning and heavier gear. Both Spring and Autumn will have a mixture of rain and sunshine. 

In addition to these questions, there are others. Do you have Travel Insurance? What will happen if you get sick on the Camino. What would happen if, God forbid, you DIED on the Camino? How would your family get your remains home? What if you broke a leg or arm? 

All of these questions are necessary to really think through before you begin your physical planning. So I advise you to take some time and figure out the answers before you buy a ticket.

See you on the trail!

Annie

Rendering Lard

In my community we have
a "Buy Nothing" group on Facebook.

Day before yesterday I happened to find
a post for free hog fat.

A man had ordered half a hog
and didn't want the fat

so he posted it
on Facebook's Buy Nothing group.

Turns out he was just around the corner
from my house,

so I buzzed over.

He gave me several packages of back fat 

and leaf fat.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday 

rendering the back fat.

Two packages of fat - one back fat and one leaf fat.

This is back fat. 

Back fat is good for cooking eggs, meat, especially on cast iron. 

It's also great for making soap.

This is "leaf fat" and it comes off the kidneys.

Leaf fat makes a pretty white lard and it's good for pastries.

First thing I did was go wash all of my equipment.

I'm using a hand meat grinder.

Grinding the fat into smaller pieces 

means you can get more lard out of the fat. 

Start melting the fat on very low heat. 

I ended up with 4 full pints of lard, 

plus some in my bacon fat container.

I also ended up with a pint of "cracklings" 

which is the cooked portions of meat scraps.

Those are great in scrambled eggs instead of bacon

or put on top of casseroles.

Yum!

This morning, all my lard is finished.

Today I'm going to do the leaf lard.

It will be interesting to see if it's more white.

Stay tuned.

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs!!

 My son and I invested in a Harvest Rite Freeze Dryer a few months ago so while they're at a conference in Las Vegas, I decided to try it out and freeze dry some eggs.

I started with 5 dozen eggs. I decided to put 15 eggs in each tray.

I beat the eggs up. I did not freeze them ahead of time. The machine will do that. My understanding is these will rehydrate just like raw fresh eggs, which makes them perfect for van trips and camping. They also will last up to 30 years if I seal them correctly.

I forgot to take a photo of me filling the trays, but here they are in the machine.  I have no idea how long this will take but I imagine it will be around 24 hours. I'll continue when they're done.

This machine makes it so easy...

My eggs finished and they turned out GREAT!

So light and fluffy!

They feel like a sheet of REALLY featherweight styrofoam:

And when you crumble the sheets, which is easy,

they look like this:

The photo above isn't mine. 

I forgot to take a photo of them when they were being crumbled.

But they look just exactly like this.

I powdered them just using my hands,

and vacuum packed them into pint jars.

There will be about 8 eggs per jar,

and 2 tablespoons should equal one egg.

All you have to do to reconstitute these 

is add a bit of cold water,

then use them to cook like you would a fresh egg.

I plan on using them for camping,

and vanning,

making scrambled eggs!

I have diced ham in the freeze-dryer now,

along with some corn,

and some shredded mozarella.

Hoping to get another 5 dozen eggs done

before my son gets home.

Then maybe some beef stew

and spaghetti.

These will be GREAT in the van!

YAY!

PS:  The shells aren't wasted.

I put them in the microwave, then powdered them

to spread in my garden boxes!

Calcium!

What's Going On?

 

Berkey finally got set up

Well, a lot has happened in the past week.

First of all, 6 of the ladies from both Joe and my Autumn trip decided they were fine going without me needing to walk WITH them, with a little support from my end. So I've kept their lodging and transport reservations. They have paid me their full fees in exchange, and everyone is excited to walk! This has been a great relief to me, both spiritually, physically, and financially, and I feel they are also relieved. If this works out, it may be the way I offer this trip in the future. There's really no need for me to go along. Generally, after the first day or two, people are confident enough to head out on their own, so we'll just see how it goes.

The house is coming along. Joe spent a few days here helping me this week. We got mom's room completely cleaned out, the carpet shampooed, and the bathroom cleaned. It's ready for Joe to move in. 

My Entryway

Dining Room

Clean Carpet in Den!

I can finally hang photos of my family

I love my living room!

Joe got the Berkey set up so we'll have nice filtered water. 

He also worked on a sprinkler that's been broken and apparently leaking for the past year or so. I had just noticed it before I left for Spain and had been wondering why my water/sewer bill was so high! I tried getting a sprinkler company here to look at it, but they are working almost a month out, so he's going to see if he can't fix it. He did a few other "honey-do" jobs around the house, including moving a giant mirror in my living room, taking down some of mom's decorations, and putting some of my stuff up for me.  

I had him up the motion sprinkler to discourage cats from catching the birds at my feeder. We caught one orange tabby... scared the poop out of him, and we laughed so hard at the video. Cameron said it was "mean but effective."  LOL!  I'd seen about 3 cats going through that flower bed. They must talk to each other because we've been watching, and so far, so good.

Today I moved all the furniture out of the den and shampooed the carpet. I'm also working on the kitchen, going through cupboards and getting rid of the things I'll never use. 

I'm hoping to have an estate sale when the weather calms down. 

I had a 1.5 hour massage yesterday. I sure did need it. I think one more next week is in store. 

I've been sleeping SO much better now that I've figured out my hours. I've been watching videos on Circadian Rhythm and what I've learned is that my body clock is set to the hours I kept most of my life. 

My grandparents, farmers, were my primary caretakers and it was quite common for us to go to bed at 8 pm and get up at 3 am.  So that's what I've been doing and guess what? I'm sleeping 7-8 hours each night! I feel stupid that it took me this long to figure it out. Waking up at 3 am every morning despite what time I went to bed was exhausting until I figure out I should just go to bed earlier. I don't mind these hours, either. It's so nice and quiet in the world at 3 am. I get a LOT done in the mornings!

My eyes have really been bothering me. I think I need cataract surgery. I made an appointment end of the month with an eye doctor here in town. I went to Costco last time and have had trouble with my glasses ever since, so no more Costco. I guess you get what you pay for.

I'm going to Portland next week for my grandson's high school graduation. Wasn't it just yesterday he was this size and wanted to be a policeman?

Hiathan will be headed to Annapolis soon after graduation and we are all SO very proud of him. He had a choice between West Point and Annapolis and he chose Navy. I'm not sure why yet - I'll be asking when I see him, but it probably had to do with longer term benefits. He's pretty darned smart!

I guess that's about it for now.  Loving my house and my garden, and enjoying life. Looking forward to sunshine, which in Oregon is anytime AFTER July 4, so I can do some camping.

Life is good!

Annie

New Beginnings

I've been home now 4 days.

The time change has been tough on me. Going to Spain is always easier for me than coming home. 

I'm taking time to recover ... from 2 years of caretaking mom, from breast cancer and surgery, from this last Camino, from the time change. I did a bit of online research and one thing mentioned was getting out into the sunshine as early as possible. So yesterday I worked outside in the garden from sunup to sundown. It was very healing. 

I pulled up parsnips and carrots that had been in the ground way too long. Like me, they were soft outside, but woody and tough inside. The carrots had been in the ground too long and had grown too fat and split.  I've put them aside for the worm farm I'll start up again this week. I pulled some of the leeks and onions that had gone to seed and made a big soup when I first got home. Yesterday I cut the bottoms of the rest of the onions off - I think I'll dehydrate them today. 

My asparagus plants have a full bed devoted to them. They are in their 3d year.  I expected them to be full and lush when I got home, but they were looking awfully spindly, so I got online and tried to figure out why. Thinking I was protecting them, I had planted a row of onions in the same bed. The first thing I read was DO NOT PLANT ONIONS WITH ASPARAGUS! Apparently, the onions steal nutrients from asparagus. So I yanked all of those onions out, staked up the feathery plants, planted four more crowns in the empty space, and topped off the bed with some good quality compost, all the time apologizing to them and promising to do better. I think they'll recover.

I cut back an invasive blackberry bush. I didn't cut it completely out because I love blackberries and would like to figure out a way to keep it. The tiny thornless blackberry out front is full and doing great, climbing the chain link fence between my neighbor and my yard. I made a deal with her that if I could plant two plants there, she could harvest all the berries on her side. My golden raspberries are full and loaded, as are my strawberries. It's going to be a fruitful berry year!

The bees are loving my chive blossoms!

My figs are struggling and I'm not sure why. They feel stunted. I need to do some research and figure out what to feed them.

I hilled up my potatoes. Before I left for Spain, I planted a full bed of Peruvian Purple Fingerlings. They are VERY happy, and that made ME happy. I also have a few Yukon Gold plants that seem to be doing well. 

Before I left for Spain, I tossed some wild ramps on a pile of dirt in the corner. Looks like some of them survived. Hopefully they will spread.

I yanked out my 8 foot kale plant. I had hoped to harvest seed, but after checking the garden, found 3 new kale plants growing, so decided that was enough. I brought those seeds home from Spain a few years ago. The plants are harvested by pulling off the bottom leaves, and they just keep growing up, up, up, much like sunflowers.

I planted a few Mammoth Sunflower plants again. Last year they grew higher than the house and the neighbor told me how much she enjoyed seeing them, so I put in a few along our shared fenceline.

I cleaned out the last of the Swiss Chard and planted 3 varieties of squash in that bed. I put in a Delicata - last year one plant gave me over 2 dozen beautiful delicata squash fruits and those have lasted all year in storage. I still have two to eat. I put in a black zucchini and a patty pan summer squash. That bed gets full sun all day so hopefully they'll do well again. 

The Dahlia bulbs I ordered were sprouting in their bags, so I planted two of those. The rest will go in pots today.   

I planted a few rows of lettuce and radishes.

I mowed the lawns after a rough time getting my lawn mower to run. It kept stalling and I knew it had to be something simple. After fooling with it for about half an hour I realized the problem was a safety feature and a simple matter of tightening the handle. 

When I finished working in the garden, I hosed down the patio and raised the blue umbrella. It will be a wonderful spot to have coffee and read in the mornings. I'm happy.

I stood back and admired it all. It was after 6 pm when I finished. I was pooped, but feeling good.

I love my garden! Being outdoors brings me such joy and yesterday was a wonderful day. 

 After a nice hot bath, I got to bed around 9:30 pm and woke up this morning at 4:30. It was the first full night's sleep I've had since getting home. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the house now.

I'm with coffee and my journals - just checked messages - I've canceled the Autumn trip and have offered to help a few of those pilgrims in exchange for their deposits. I can't afford to devote any more time to the trip without pay. I've already put in hundreds of hours. If they don't feel they want to pay a small fee for consulting, I'll return their deposits and move on. I'm waiting to hear back. 

Sunday, I pulled all of Mom's clothes out of her big walk-in closet. It was a HUGE job. Mom had some very nice clothes - she had expensive taste. Many pieces still had tags attached. After looking at it all, I decided I didn't want to sell her clothes in the yard sale. It didn't seem right. I also didn't want to just give it to a shelter because Mom's clothes weren't the type you could just toss in the washer and dryer. They needed care. We have a neighbor who wears the same size who Mom loved. So I called her and asked if she'd like to have the clothes and shoes. I told her, "keep what you want and sell or donate the rest." She was very happy! She and her daughter and friend came over after church and picked them all up. It was a huge relief for me to have found a home for all of those. In her old house, they had taken up four full closets!

I pulled the Berkey water filter out of my office and gave it a home in the kitchen where it belongs. Mom didn't want it in there so it's never been used - I'll have Joe set it up when he gets here, and we'll enjoy using it.

So here I sit now, in my newly decorated living room, getting ready for a new day and a new beginning. 

Today, after coffee and some journaling, I do a bit of stretching. Yoga or Callanetics. 

Then, I'll start cleaning and pushing things to the dining room and den, where Joe and I will stage for a big estate sale. Joe is coming tomorrow to help me. He is going to move into the house and share expenses for at least a year. He and I get along great and the house is big enough for each of us to have our own private space. The only room we'll share is the kitchen. It will be a big help to me.

I'm making the house my own and it feels right.

Life is good again.

Love,

Annie