Raymond's Bakery B&B at Elim Grove

06/08/2026

Final touches...

Grateful for so much love and support

Thank you

Figuring out next steps regarding my health and the bakery

What I know is this:

The magic of Community Pizza Night is beautiful and I will find the way to keep it going. To do this I will be needing to teach and train someone to stand in for me when my health dips.

Being honored to be welcomed into the meals and lives of so many people at our local farmers markets feeds my Italian Grandmother 👵 ❤️ heart, and we will be at the Occidental Farmer's Market on Thursdays and the Bodega Bay Farmers Market on Sundays. Hopefully starting this week!

I appreciate the kindness, compassion, and support more than I can say. The complexity of my health issues worsening these past few years has made me all the more fiercely focused on living my best life in creating ripples of kindness every moment of every day. It has also been incredibly isolating living with a constant level of pain and nausea that most cannot relate to.

My hope in sharing vulnerability is to both help others feel less alone who carry burdens that isolate; and to inspire curiosity and compassion for each other in not assuming we know all someone is carrying.

As always,
Love and Gratitude,
- Mark

06/06/2026

Finishing a few small trim pieces for the bakery kitchen....

06/05/2026

Yes.... yesterday was a tough day. Also beautiful. My kiddos giving me hugs and appreciation. Lots of cat cuddles. And feeling supported and cared about.

A truly fabulous part of yesterday was Jack stopping by to play with his tools and some interesting pieces of redwood roots for building a table for Pizza night!

Both of us in pain. Moving slowly. Sometimes drinking coffee and talking more than anything.

It helps not feeling isolated and alone.

Thank you Jack.

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Good morning beautiful hearts 😊

Another 3am wake up

So how play these health challenge cards aa beautifully as possible

I know being on screens is not helpful. Quite the opposite

I've learned to enjoy the cuddles of cats and convince them to let me get up

And simply walk out the door... today I thought I'd take photos of the garden... maybe stroll the creek...

Chatted with a fox

Looked at my bakery repairs and plan for the day... assessing where my body is and what's realistic...

Often I won't look at my phone until the afternoon... simply loosing myself in tasks, play, or puttering as mood and pain levels allow

What helps most is giving myself permission to use this extra gift of time to do things that feel right and enjoyable.... and not necessarily what is most important

Sometimes it's a 3am campfire for one. Other times re-potting plants by moonlight. Can even be laundry or straightening up. Or carpentry repairs. Just whatever brings moments of peace or joy. Letting go of any frustration around minimal sleep and pain

Hoping this helps someone,
Love and gratitude,
- Mark

06/03/2026

Slow, steady, and grateful 🥰

06/02/2026

Good morning, sweet ducklings 🐥!!!

06/02/2026

Pushing through

So grateful

I'll update more soon

So much love,
- Dad

05/24/2026

Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday weekend ❤️