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This has been a very trying couple of weeks... but... these things make us stronger, right?
I will expand on that sometime... but right now it is still fresh and somewhat painful
... and so I don't want to muddle it all with my emotions.

Tonight... we (BAJ, the daughter, and I) went out for dinner... and then we stopped at the most fabulous book shop EVER! ... right here in downtown ABQ. It was amazing... and I am delighted to have found it open and waiting for me to browse amongst the glorious stacks of books.


These last 3 photos were taken at Saggio's Restaurant here on Central Ave. We had a fabulous dinner (as always... the food is awesome!)... and I got to take a couple photos of the food (there is a shot of the canoli above) and the cacti that are right out front of the restaurant. It always amazes me that people will "graffiti" the cacti... but then... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...

This one (above) became my photo for the day. I altered it slightly ...

changed some of the color a bit... added some flavor/grunge a little...

... and this one (below) was taken of those same cacti from inside the restaurant. It was getting quite dark outside, and the lights from inside the restaurant were being reflected in the window... making the cacti look like they were having their own little party going on right there...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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------------------> photo by Elaine A. Russell

One of the things I have insisted on over the years... is a weekly "date" with my hubby.

Over the years... it has included movies... games... reading magazines together... taking a walk... as long as we do it together. Even when I have been away from home in PA... we found a way to play Scrabble and talk on-line together for our "date."

This year has been so terribly chaotic... and this guarded/planned/ reserved weekly time gives us a moment to catch our breath and go over stuff together.

I have found that this time is not only essential to our marriage...

...but also essential to my emotional well-being as an individual.

...what are the rituals and traditions that you have incorporated into your life

that have become essential?

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I have slowly begun the process of getting re-aquainted with Albuquerque.

I really do love it here. I also love PA... basically... I love being most anywhere, as long as I have friends and my dear hubby.... and a puppy or two or three....

Today I got to spend the afternoon with a friend talking about art, and the business of art... and it was awesome. There are so many truly talented people in the world striving to get their art out there and be seen... and so many who have devoted all their time and talents into making it their career as well. It is a rough and weary road... but I have to say, I personally am enjoying the trip.

After our visit, I drove by the Albuquerque BioPark; and while it was closed for the day... I was still able to get a few photos of the pond and cacti areas right near the front gate. I love this park, and I never fail to find something extremely exquisite there to take photos of.


And I have re-opened up my Etsy store after 3 months of being on "vacation mode."
My goal for the next week or so is to take photos of a tub o' stuff and get things listed.
So.. feel free to check it out (link here).



In the meantime... have a great night... and I will see y'all tomorrow :)


* photos by Elaine A. Russell

tis the season

photo by Elaine A. Russell

Over the next few days I am going to try to post some holiday inspired photos... I took this one at Home Depot here in ABQ *(where else would you find poinsettias next to the cacti ?!).

This weekend has been a little busy... unloading dishes, washing stuff and putting it away...cleaning.. usual stuff. Today we got groceries and did some last minute holiday shopping. Saw Santa at the Mall.. when the hubby went to get his hair cut. ...the mall was crazy busy....

We also went to a local glass mosaic artist's house and got some wonderful equipment that I can't wait to play with... all in all... an excellent day.

Cholla cactus sunsets

photo by Elaine A. Russell

The other night, my daughter and I went over towards the base of the Sandias. We were picking up a camera that someone was giving away on Freecycle... so we stopped to check out the view. It was quickly getting dark... so I wasn't sure that any of my photos were actually going to turn out.

This one, I was happy with.

I will miss the massive sunsets when we move from here... but in the meantime... I'm thinking I need to get out more and do some scenary shots. Anyone want to come ?

the quail are coming ...

--------------------------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

When we first moved here... our yard was a mess. There were 13 dead trees on this very small plot of property, tons of dead turf, and rock.

Now, while it would be arguable that we have done anything to improve the landscaping... we have naturalized it so to speak. We took everything that was dead out... and slowly have raked and spread the dust and dirt around to minimize the prickly stuff ( goatheads, prickers, oh my.. ).

Over the years several of our neighbors have pulled up all their cacti.. and rather than see them thrown in the trash, we have a "cactus garden" of sorts just over our wall and into the arroyo behind us.

Now we have a regular little sanctuary out there. It is amazing to watch. We have tons of jackrabbits, a Coyote that has built(dug) his den there, a great horned owl that comes to our cottonwoods at night, and today I saw 20 !!! (yes 20)... California Quail nesting in the bushes out back. I have seen them over the past 2 years cut through our yard... but I didn't realize they had been nesting (and apparently re-producing) so well back here.

I tried to take their photograph... but the little buggers move pretty quickly.