Muxía

Muxía, Galician Coast, Spain,   March 2012

Like ocean treasures we saw along the Galician sea-coast, this daughter is finally laying down her thoughts and capturing my heart with her forthrightness and tenderness.
Como tesoros del oceano que vimos en las playas de Galicia, esta hija por fin posa sus pensamientos y cautiva mi corazón con su franqueza y ternura.

She writes of a long love lost:
I will not forget or erase the 27th's of my past. They are not stains to be removed, but rather are like shells on the beach of my life. They are to be collected and cherished. As the small animal within each shell has been washed away, so too has our relationship. But, I will not throw away the shell. It is beautiful. And it is mine to hold in my heart forever. Slowly I heal, I grow and mature.

Ella escribe de un largo amor perdido:
No olvidaré ni borraré los 27 de mi pasado. No son manchas que se tiene que limpiar, sino son como las conchas de la playa de mi vida. Son para coleccionar y atesorar. Igual que cuando el bichito dentro cada una ha sido arrastrado fuera, así también nuestra relación. Pero, no tiraré la concha. Es hermosa. Y es mía para mantener siempre en mi corazón. Lentamente sano, crezco y maduro.

Nuestra Fuente

La Fuente de Eragudina, Astorga, Spain 

Have you ever laid on your back and imagined that you were floating like a leaf in slowly moving water? Have you felt the water's cool presence on your skin and wanted to drift along and forget everything else? Soothing and healing water that washes over every hurt and pain.

¿Alguna vez te has tumbado de espaldas y te has imaginado que estabas flotando como una hoja que se mueve lentamente en el agua? ¿Has sentido su fresca presencia en tu piel y deseado dejarte llevar y olvidarte de todo lo demás? Calmante y curativa agua que lava las heridas y el dolor.

A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
Un corazón bondadoso es una fuente de alegría, hace que todo a su alrededor refresque en sonrisas.

-Washington Irving

God is the universal substance in existing things. He comprises all things. He is the fountain of all being. In Him exists everything that is. 

Dios es la sustancia universal en las cosas existentes. Él comprende todas las cosas. Él es la fuente de todo ser. En él existe todo lo que es.

-Annaeus Seneca

There used to be many fountains in Astorga, as in all the small towns of Spain. Most of them have dried up as the water table has fallen over the years. If fact this year's serious drought has left the decorative fountains of the town's plazas dry. Nonetheless, there is still the Fountain of Eragudina.  The water year round is crystal clear, fresh and delicious. It is optimal in terms of taste and health. So, whenever we are driving to leave town and travel below the Roman wall, we take the water jugs to fill them at the fountain. 

Antes había más fuentes en Astorga, como en todos los pequeños pueblos de España. Muchas de ellas se han secado, porque el nivel freático ha descendido en los últimos años. Ahora en Astorga sólo está la fuente de La Eragudina. Sin embargo, durante todo el año da agua cristalina, fresca y deliciosa. Es óptima en términos de sabor y salud. Por lo tanto, cada vez que conducimos o damos un paseo por esa zona bajo la muralla romana, aprovechamos para tomar las garrafas de agua y llenarlas en la fuente.

Another fountain just outside of town on the way to León 

DARTS Award

Del maravilloso blog, "la vinya vermella" recibí el Premio DARTS, la curiosa distinción que los blogeros se dan entre sí con el compromiso de cultivar los valores de arte, literatura, ética and cultura. Acepté este premio con gratitud y humildad y consiento cumplir las condiciones de distinguir 15 blogs. La elección es muy difícil porque hay mucha calidad en la mayoría de los blogs que conozco, pero tendré que distinguir aquellos de los que me siguen con regularidad, pero sin repetir aquellos que ya lo han recibido. Con todo mi amor, los blogs agraciados son los siguientes:

Chantel at Life Unexpectedly
Lisa at Lisa Liza Lou
Corey at Tongue in Cheek
Carlos at Trabajando por un Sueño
Enrique at A Cualquier Cosa Llamamos Chisme
Alejandro at Mis Impresiones
Risa at Behind Green Eyes and Unnamed Sister, Unknown Brother
Diane at A Circle of Quiet
Cecilia at Desde My Ventana
Atanasio at Desde Mi Chajurdo
Mara at Leonesando
Alkerme at En la Linea de Flotación
Julie at Madre's Musings
Frank at Postales desde America
Sara at An Urban Adventure

From the wonderful blog, "la vinya vermella" I received the DARTS Award, that curious distinction given amongst bloggers with the commitment to disseminate the values of art, literature, ethics and culture. I accepted this award with gratitude and humility and the agreement to fulfill the requirement of distinguishing 15 other blogs. That choice is very difficult because there is a lot of quality in most blogs I know, but I will have to choose those that follow me regularly and try not to repeat any blogs that have already received the award. With all my love, the fortunate blogs are those above.

Home is Where the Heart Is. . .  
I found a beautiful bouquet of lilies and daisies upon my arrival and rose petals throughout our house leading to this message.

Astorga, España, marzo 2012

Hogar es Donde está el Corazón. . . 
Encontré un ramo hermoso de lirios y margaritas al llegar, y pétalos de rosas por toda la casa dirigiéndonme a este mensaje.

Calzados

Annie's shoes, Sonoma, California

A daughter's All Stars who've lived much life, Sacramento, California

Peruvian flats, Freemont Presbyterian Church, Sacramento, California

Sunshine and straps,  Sacramento, CA

León, Spain

Single sole left at the Iron Cross, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Gypsy shoe stand,  open-air market, León, Spain

Fringed mocassins, photography exposition, Astorga, Spain

Boys shoes strewn about the laundry room show rough and ready wear

 Mom and daughter, Astorga, Spain

New sister and brother-in-law, Cantabria, Spain

Ragamuffin hippy look, niece Kicky, Eureka, California

Walk a Mile in my Shoes
es
Ponerse en la piel de alguien, o ponerse en su lugar

If I could be you and you could be me for just one hour
If we could find a way to get inside each other's mind
If you could see you through my eyes instead of your ego
I believe you'd be surprised to see that you'd been blind

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Well, your whole world you see around you is just a reflection
And the law of common says you're gonna reap just what you sow

So unless you've lived a life of total perfection
Mm-mm, you'd better be careful of every stone that you should throw

Yet we spend the day throwin' stones at one another
'cause I don't think or wear my hair same way you do
Well, I may be common people but I'm your brother
And when you strike out and try to hurt me it's a 'hurtin you,

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

There are people on reservations and out in the ghettos
And brother, there, but for the grace of God, go you and I

If I only had the wings of little angels don'tcha you know I'd fly
To the top of the mountain and then I'd cry?

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Better walk a mile in my shoes

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Oh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes,

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

-Joe South-

De Vuelta a Casa

I'm back home - 
Come, go on a walk with me!

¡Ven a dar un paseo conmigo!

Gorrión

"I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me."

Sara on the Way of St. James, traveling the pilgim's road to Santiago de Compostela,  Spain