Pomegranate season is officially over in the Alpujarra. When we arrived in late October we had only a couple of weeks to get our fill of these extraordinary fruits. Most …
Ashes to the Universe
“Old friends cannot be created out of hand… For years we plant the seed, we feel ourselves rich; and then come other years when time does its work and our …
Tranquil the Whole Day Through
Our casita here in Mairena has a south facing terrace. It’s a pleasant place. I especially enjoy watching as clouds across the valley arise, linger for a while, and then …
1st Impressions: Mairena, an Alpujarran Pueblo
We’ve been in Mairena Spain for just over a week having arrived a few hours before the borders closed between the autonomous communities in yet another attempt to control the …
Joy is Good Enough
With time looking both more precious due to the pandemic and more endless during the recent lockdown, I decided to take up a new activity: oil painting. It was actually …
Vitamin D and Me
I’ve been reading a lot about the relationship of Vitamin D and Covid-19 complications in the news. I imagine you have too. I think it all got started when Dr. …
Change Happens as We See the Next Step
Susan and I have been thinking about moving on from Valencia for some time now. Valencia has been a nice interlude, but we never expected to settle here. Last year …
My One Year Yoga Challenge – Halfway
I’ve spent the last six months dabbling in the world of yoga. I’ve sought out different online courses, delved into a variety of yoga styles, and observed how my mind …
“Start Where You Are Today”
First thing each morning Susan and I head out to the Royal Gardens. A morning walk with exercise is our favorite activity of the day. This morning, though, we were …
The Importance of Small Pleasures
We resurfaced from the Covid-19 confinement of nearly two months with a renewed appreciation and soft spot in our hearts for the city parks of Valencia. They represent our little …
A Life Well Lived: Lizzie, the Best Dog Ever
It’s been two weeks since our Lizzie returned to the universe. She played like a puppy on Friday. Saturday the grand mal seizures began. She never recovered. Lizzie was in …
How to Get a Digital Signature in Valencia, Spain
We’re up for our second visa renewal this year. When I reached out for advice from our good friends at YesValencia, Linda asked me if I had ever considered getting …
A Year of Yoga: Daily Practice
About 60 days into Spain’s CV-19 stay-at-home mandate, I realized something. Without making it a goal, I’d practiced yoga every single day for the entire time. Some sessions were shorter …
Uprooted! I Didn’t Have a Checklist for That
Susan and I had coffee with a fellow American who had recently arrived in Valencia. As our conversation unfurled he quietly admitted that he’d been having second thoughts. After two …
Deja Vu High School
As I sat down to write this post it dawned on me that it has been 50 years since I graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in Racine, Wisconsin. Fifty …