Ah, my little WeeFee machine is going again.  Was trying to write this post all morning and the iPad was on strike.  Well, there is a pic of My Rebecca with our little roadside stand.  Just got that sign done a few moments before.

And the good news is we are selling stuff and making a few bucks.  We took in 1 dollar the first day, 8 dollars the second day and yesterday we got 26 dollars!  With that kind of trajectory I figure I will be a billionaire in a month, right?

There was some sketchy news in from Spain and the Camino.  Apparently Kelly is under doctor’s orders to stop walking because of blisters.  He and Mary Margaret are in Santiago checking the wine quality.  Details forthcoming.

I’m under doctor’s orders to do what I want.  Well I just made that up but maybe, have to check the fine print.  That ‘s all I have for you today.  Hot here and Our Jennifer is coming over to get her first archery lesson.  The venue is in the shade so all good.  OK, talk to you soon.  Billionaire love, Felipe.

That’s what the lady singer is singing here in the background, “I need some sugar in my bowl.”  I don’t know what that means exactly but it sounds like a good plan A.  That’s what is going on here as I get my first cup of cafe con leche.  Off to pick some berries for the roadside stand.  We made eight whole dollars yesterday our second day and one dollar the first.    We have a few things out there to prime folks for sweet corn coming in two weeks.  At least that is what I am estimating, two weeks.

I made a signboard so folks driving by could see what we have on hand for sale.  The paint has been curing so maybe I could put it out today.  I put that chalkboard paint on it so it would be easy to change and we will see how that works out.  A pic for you would be good.

In Spain I remember we bought produce along the way from local folks.  They had cucumbers, tomatoes and berries that we easy to consume.  I remember some of those little tiny towns that were sort of piles of stones which were the same stones as those that littered the ground around us.  This was in the west where they had the slate roofs.  The houses and barns were piles of stones with stone roofs that sort of leaned on each other for support.  Just piles of stones with an occasional wooden door and an occasional old lady selling a little basket of berries for a Euro.  How could I resist.

Yup, just selling berries as the world turns.  Love you immensely, Don Felipe de Viana.

Just  got back from my Thursday morning walk.  No one came to be with me so I said my rosary for a few individuals and the rock pile.  I love saying the rosary on Thursdays because that is the day of the week to ponder the Illuminating Mysteries.  These are a set of teachings/gifts that as it says “light the way” for us.

So, just want to say that anyone who would like to contribute to this blog, as in adding their two cents,  is welcome.  I certainly would like to keep things fresh and you could help me do that.  We do have some sort of central theme, I think, so whatever it is, it would be good to stick with it.  Yea.

Well, time to get to work.  It is so great to have you around me.  We are coming up on our 500th post soon.  That’s amazing.  Maybe we could do something special for that.  OK, keep it upbeat, love, Felipe.

Our Jennifer sent this in:

“A Prayer”

Let me do my work each day;
and if the darkened hours
of despair overcome me,
may I not forget the strength
that comforted me in the
desolation of other times.

May I still remember the bright hours
that found me walking over the silent hills of my childhood,
or dreaming on the margin of a quiet river,
when a light glowed within me,
and I promised my early God to have courage
amid the tempests of the changing years.

Spare me from bitterness
and from the sharp passions of unguarded moments.
May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit.

Though the world knows me not,
may my thoughts and actions
be such as shall keep me friendly
with myself.

Lift up my eyes from the earth,
and let me not forget the uses of the stars.
Forbid that I should judge others
lest I condemn myself.

Let me not follow the clamor of the world,
but walk calmly in my path.

Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am;
and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.

And though age and infirmity overtake me,
and I come not within sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me still to be thankful for life,
and for time’s olden memories that are good and sweet;
and may the evening’s twilight find me
gentle still.

Max Ehrmann

Just received this via email and is is fresh to you!

“We’re already more than halfway and it’s flying by as I become sadder each day to see the end approach, even while I know Santiago is only symbolic of the personal Camino that begins there.

Yesterday we took the tour of Samos, went on to Sarria and then took a taxi back for Vespers. Beautiful!

Kelly, my niece and grandniece are in a hurry so I stayed behind for a desperately needed rest day here in Sarria (argh, those stairs at the end if a 24 k day!) and discovered the lovely, small 12th century Convent of Mary Magdalene. ”

“Tomorrow to Portomarin!

Haven’t met any angels yet but I know they are here. It’s alperfect.

Camino love,
Mary Margaret”

I ‘m sitting here listening to Aretha Franklin and wondering what charismatic means.  Here, I am going to copy some things from the big fat dictionary:  exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others… Of or relating to the Charismatic Movement in the Christian Church… of a power or talent divinely conferred… A person that claims divine inspiration.   Sounds good so far.

Last evening I went with a small group from church to the mainland to attend a big healing service put on by a charismatic outfit within the Catholic Church.  First I heard but very inspiring gathering to get caught up in.  The big drawing card was that the Bishop of Assisi, Italy ( is there more than one?) was there to lend horsepower.  What a beautiful man, total positive energy.  I am sorry that I don’t have his name as I lost the paperwork in the flow but that is sort of irrelevant really.

The Bishop gave a wonderful homily in near perfect English.  He talked about how illness fits into the big picture.  I feel more clear personally after listening to him.   Then afterward everyone came forward for a personal blessing.  I was helping a friend who couldn’t stand for too long so we got to cut in line.  I remember grasping  his forearm as he held my head in his two hands and prayed for me.  Most powerful!

So, the day after, and attending to the day to day stuff but kind of floating along.  OK, alperfect, love, Felipe.

Yesterday, Sunday, Marie came to walk and talk.  What a lovely lady.  What a long way that she drove to be here with me, with us.  Chris was here to walk also and this was the regular scheduled Sunday afternoon Camino.   Then afterward we just slid into tapas as usual.  Of course she said something like, “Oh, you don’t have to do this for me.”  Whereupon the three (plus My Rebecca) of us assured her that this is what we do.  We didn’t say that this is what we do best but that is true also.

Marie had heard Reverand Bonnie Barnard speak in Arizona about Phil’s Camino and was excited about us.  So she was up here in the Pacific Northwest in Portland, Oregon visiting family and decided to come up to see us for herself.  That’s a four hour drive up and a four hour drive back for her yesterday from Portland, significant.

Just want to mention that Rev Bonnie will be here on Vashon this coming Sunday the 19th.  She will be speaking at our local Burton Community Church at 1100 AM.  Please come and be inspired.  I will be calling around to make sure the pews are full, giving you a warning.   Hehe.

So back to Marie briefly and then I have to get to go.  Her family is originally from Sicily and this gave me an opportunity to talk about our major Camino buddy Lucia.  We are thinking of Lucia her at Caminoheads.  So, Marie has four surviving sisters that she is going to gather up and show up here with in there future.  Five Sicilians come to work us over, can’t wait.  Thank you Marie for your visit and your contribution to our community.   Please show up any time, love you.

Still waiting for significant rain to fall on us.  Going to set up the roadside stand today and get some sales going.    Couple weeks till our early sweet corn but flowers are ready.  I am going to put sunflowers out and My Rebecca has marigold leis she creates.   Yea, stop by!  Felipe.

The grasses are mostly all golden except for stuff growing along the margins in the semi shade.   The new crop of fawns are here being all awkward and inquisitive.  People doing their best to conserve water.  It’s cloudy this weekend and it looks like rain but it just sprinkles once in a while quite casually, nothing serious so far.

This coming Saturday is the Vashon Island Strawberry Festival.  Lot of stuff going on like a parade, street fair, music all over.  There is a pancake breakfast put on there somewhere. Sometimes I go and try to do some of it and sometimes I avoid it at all costs.  But what I want to tell you about is that Reverand Bonnie Barnard is coming to preach this Sunday at our little local community church.  We originally got introduced to Bonnie through Annie maybe back a year ago.  My Rebecca got her to fly up for this occasion.

So, I am going to try and round up local Caminoheads and others to fill up the pews for Bonnie.  She will be worth the effort I guarantee.  That service is 1100 a week from today at the Burton Community Church.  I will be harassing you locals by phone and email.

I have an archery lesson to give in a few minutes and need to do some prep so have to go for now.  Hope that your day is pleasant and rewarding.  If you need rain I hope that it rains for you.  If the other way around than I hope that it doesn’t rain for you, that easy.   Love you big time, Felipe.

Today was our Relay For Life here on Vashon.  This is an event put on by the American Cancer Society to raise money and awareness to help in the fight.  The basic idea is that people walk and their mileage is recorded and then folks give so much money per mile to the fund.  So I helped out by giving a ten minute talk at the opening ceremony and then I walked six miles.   It was fun to walk and talk just like always.

So, I went to Confession at church and we are off to a neighbor’s birthday party.  Then we will try and return to the Relay afterward.  Sort of a Vashon Saturday.  I am feeling pretty fatigued from the chemo treatment of a few days ago so I think that I will leave this right here for now.

Relay For Life may be in your neighborhood one of these days and it is a good way to give.  Thanks, love you, Felipe.