The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage has a religious or spiritual history. It's namesake is St. James, whose remains are buried in Santiago, Spain, the end point of the trek. The starting points are from all over Europe and there are seven designated routes across Spain. Some believe the route originating in France, located under the…

Packing our packs, this is the real thing, our Camino is happening. Weighing each ounce I'm sure everyone has one weakness they can't live without. That is unless you're C who apparently has nothing he can't live without and is willing to let me know it regularly. I've read what people bring. iPads, books and…

We're off on our adventure with plenty of magic so far along the way. Secure in the knowledge that the house will be well taken care of in our absence, our first stop included the family magic that results from the joy of a new baby. While in Edmonton, in the middle of the night…

First the baby. No longer a bump, second grandson, Parker Jay, arrived three weeks early on August 8th, 7 lbs 10 oz, 20" long. Proud parents and big brother: Elina, Sean and Rye. All's well back at home after a few nights in the NICU. Blogging bumps – in preparation for the Camino, I'm practicing…

We're weighing each item we're carrying in our Camino backpacks. Prior to the recent ankle fracture limb care included metatarsal pads, one ankle brace and a just-in-case knee brace. Our updated list has the addition of  gel inserts, an additional ankle brace and Injinji toe sock liners. Marathon physical therapy sessions and two trips to…

It's coming up quickly, our Camino de Santiago adventure. We're going with total flexibility, to take it as it comes and make decisions as we go. Nothing's set in stone considering the recent setback of the broken ankle. A week post-cast with the help of six cortisone injections and two ankle braces I picked up…

It was when we lived in Omaha we learned that expression "Don't like the weather? Wait a few minutes and it'll change." Now we know they say it in Calgary, too. And rightfully so. After two weeks we witnessed many changes in the sky, particularly from my daughter's front window.  Sunsets:   And storms: There…

1. I've been released from ankle jail getting the official word that this time the ankle has actually healed. Not like the last time, which has left me with a permanently broken right ankle. Both will require bracing for the Camino. Better safe than sorry, as my Mom would say. 2. My son's movie, a…

That title came back to me, having first been exposed to the expression as the name of a column in my high school newspaper. Funny how things just pop into your brain. The first month of retirement has been happy busy with visitors from Alberta, Seattle and Germany. I included previous photos of some of…

Ask C what he wants for his birthday (Father's Day, Easter, Christmas…). His answer is always Pavlova, believing that a quarterly indulgence of sugar and fat won't kill him. Well, I figure if it does, let him go happy. At some point, partners of those with health related diets have to have to throw up…