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December seems to be going out like a lion... hence my photo for today's post. It has been quite a year... and I am still healing and resting from it. My photo of the lion statue above, reminds me to have courage... to stand up for myself... to go forth and conquer. As one site put it:

"LION brings us courage to make the right choices. The Lion symbolizes the astrological sign of Leo, which rules the heart. Courage comes from the heart and from one's deep sense of personal authority, which creates the power to act in a way that accords with one's spirit. One who acts truly from the heart is capable of leadership, achievement, and the kind of success that encourages the accomplishments of others. It is also about not being able to speak one's own truth, or to roar if you feel threatened in any way."
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It has been bright and sunny here in Albuquerque... nothing like the traditional weather gracing holiday seasons back east. But that's not a bad thing... and I am enjoying the blue skies and sunshine. The photo below, and of the lion above, I took yesterday on my walk around the college area downtown.

My hope is that it will fill you with sunshine thoughts and blue skies... and courage to face your day.

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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---> photo by Elaine A. Russell

There is something so refreshing about a rainstorm. I have always loved the rain... the thunder... the lightening... it is all fabulous. However, since moving to the desert... it has become SO much more to me. It is amazing to me how such a "simple" thing can really mean life or death to so many plants and animals... Let alone peace of mind/ serenity... to humanity.

Mentally... rain symbolizes alot of things... but mainly people think of cleansing when they think of rain... and no wonder. After so much chaos in my life this year...... and even more so this week... it was an incredibly awesome event today to have the clouds gather... to start their rumbling... for the drops of rain to come down... one... two.... three..... then a massive downpour... washing away my stress away drop by beautiful drop...

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Tonight there was a wonderful storm here on the westside of ABQ. It's been so very hot... and today the storm clouds rolled in and took up residence. By suppertime, the rain was coming down... the relentless heat was abated... and it became fresh and alive again here in the desert.

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

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Today is monday... and I have had very little sleep. I am beginning to get cranky and exhausted... and so I took some extra time this morning to rest.

I picked up my mom from the hospital after lunch, and decided to take her for a drive in the countryside. It was a beautiful day today... and it was wonderful to enjoy the sunshine... the very blue skies.... and the plant life bursting to life around us.

We went onto some of the backroads today... and it was teeming with the critters and such of springtime. Bunnies... hawks... cows... goats and sheep and horses... even a turkey vulture looked at us as if we were disturbing his springtime frolicing.

I have been taking lots of movies and music up to my dad... and we have been enjoying them all over again. He rests alot in between times... but every so often he will burst into laughter and grin like a kid at Christmas over something.

It is a joy to see.

I am trying to make sure my mom is well rested and eats...

sometimes this is easier said than done.

But for now... here are a couple shots from our drive today...

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

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...today I didn't even get out of bed til 4pm. I have been sick, and I seem to be sleeping (or trying to sleep) more than usual. My hours are totally mixed up and confused... my sleep pattern... erratic at best. I have some pretty vivid dreams... and occasionally they are quite disturbing. So when I woke up, I quickly tried to do some housekeeping... and then I despaired because I thought I had lost what little light was left for me to take a photo for the day.... and then I went outside.

What had appeared to be a totally dull, lifeless, and blah kind of day inside.... was certainly not what was happening in reality outside....

These two photos I took of some items I have hanging on my front patio. The green wire globe is a set of wind chimes that I got several years ago... they make a beautiful tinkling noise in the wind. The globe and wire contraption is an art piece I got off of Craigslist about 3yrs ago. When it twirls, it gives the illusion that the glass globe is moving up and down the wire spirals.... It is an awesome effect.



These are the views from my driveway... looking south. It was just beginning to turn into a stunning sunset, and the clouds were on fire in multiple shades ...turning from pink to burnt orange in a matter of minutes...



And then I drove out to the edge of the housing neighborhoods... and this was our view looking westward....



So for now.... goodnight my friends...Stay warm. Rest well. And try to enjoy the beauty that is around us all... all the time....

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As part of the bi-weekly photo prompt put on by Susan Tuttle and Chrysti Hydeck, the word for this week of the ECHO Project-- is Whisper. My partner, Brenda Seaholm-Wampler, provided the photo of the beautiful angel statue with the quote from the Talmud. Mine is the rose.

It got me thinking about the word "whisper." According to Webster's... whisper means: to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords, especially to avoid being overheard.
But being a romantic... I like to think of the word whisper in terms of ....whispering on the wind... to whisper to your soul.... and such.

And so I got to thinking about the things that whisper and speak to my soul....



...the gorgeous skies and cloud formations here in the southwest.....



... bodies of water.... especially ones with gorgeous lily pads (like this one at the ABQ Botanical Gardens)



....snow.... breezes..... rain..... the smell of dirt when it's wet...

... snuggling with my baby girl Sabrina.... who has been enjoying the extra nap time...

...and some great music by Basia...


(...all photos by Elaine A. Russell)

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photos by Elaine A. Russell, taken at the Factory on 5th

So. About a week ago I hurt my neck and left shoulder blade area. Yesterday is was so painful... that I finally went to see a doctor. Those of you who know me... know that I have to be dead or dying to go to the doctor.. so you can feel my pain.

I went to see a local acupuncturist and traditional chinese medicine physician. He is fabulous. And while I am still in alot of pain today.. I know that I am on the road to wellness.

I have also been taking sleeping pills for about 3 years now, because I have a terrible time getting enough restful sleep. Hopefully, with the help of this new guy, I can get off those medications naturally.

And, I have been having trouble with some liver failure... and that was one of the first things he addressed... so I am feeling better in general.

Things are looking up. In light of that.. I have posted some photos of the Factory on 5th that focus not only on my physical limitations at the moment ( fencing/ barriers )... but also on the beautiful skies towards a brighter future.