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---------------------------------->all photos by Elaine A. Russell


So... I have finally caught up on all my posts from traveling back to NM. So... If you are interested, check out the previous week's worth of posts of updated pics and such...I have added to the posts...

Today was a wonderful day. With the help of Vicodin (yes, narcotics are my friend)... I am able to move about without too much pain... and it is a "good thing." I have been going thru our DVD collection... and will be selling off about half of it soon on Ebay.. stay tuned for some fabulous auctions folks...


AND I have been watching and listening to the wind today. The wind here is absolutely amazing... and today was a prime example of the wild winds here in New Mexico. Accoring to the weather channel... they were blowing at 36mph with gusting up to 44mph....and the skies were just awesome.
And so... I took this opportunity to spend a few leisurely hours looking up fun info on the web... talking with my daughter... and nibbling on alot of interesting candy that we have around the house.
(we have: donuts, spicy peach rings, English tea biscuits, Mexican chile candy, Lego sweet tarts, Dutch mints, burnt candy peanuts, India sesame cookies, gummy sharks, German blueberry and raspberry treats, French pastel mints, sesame sticks, Swedish fish, sour peach and watermelon gum drops, and honey roasted almonds... )


I also received a brand new copy of this book: Look HERE.... of which I am one of the featured photographers. I was very honored to have been selected as one of only about 50 photographers from around the world to be featured in this publication... AND... I was lucky to have gotten a larger 6 picture spread. I am deeply honored... and personally, I think the book is pretty fabulous.
It is the first book I have ever been featured in... so it is really exciting! .... and I am hoping that it won't be the last...
I was SO excited when my book came...and then...to sit and actually be able to flip through the pages, and see all the amazing shots submitted for this project...well, I don't have words to describe the feeling.
Thank you to all who helped put this amazing piece of work together.... YEAH!
All proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to "Doctors Without Borders".


------------------------------------>freakin awesome!

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Today I was able to spend time with family.... enjoying the holiday. I saw both of my nieces and their families, and my former brother-in-law and his wife. It was a time of good food and good fun.
Spring is definitely in full swing here. Trees are trying to bud... the grass is becoming really green in spots... plants are pushing their way through the dirt. Birds are coming around and singing joyfully.... and last night I heard the snorting of a nearby bear whilst taking a walk (yes, I remember my bear encounter last year... ).

Today was also my parent's 58th wedding anniversary. They got quite a bit of company, and dad was able to enjoy the sun on the front deck while visiting with friends. My dad has been having alot of swelling in his legs still; and for the past couple of days... he has had bouts of severe cramps in his backside and upper legs. I can only assume his electrolytes are off... and we are trying to fix that through diet and a multivitamin until we can get a follow up with a doctor. He has been using massage and heat as well... with some relief... but it continues to come with some frequency.... and usually at night.
Mom hasn't had any more additional problems since her episode in the ER... thankfully.

And so .... we are all very grateful for the healthy progress so far..... but very tired.....





These are all photos from a house here in town. The people who live there have decorated the entire yard and house with decorations... including a huge ceramic basket full of ceramic eggs (top photo in this series), lots of bunnies and flowers and such... and these massive ceramic eggs in all colors... scattered about their flower beds. Each egg was just smaller than the average shoebox. It was pretty amazing......

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell