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Today I got to see the most amazing house... and I am totally in love with it. It definitely needs some work... but I can completely see myself living happily there for years and years to come.
Problem is... our house is not ready to put on the market... and so-- we would have to fix it quick... and then it would have to sell quickly... and it's December. Yah.
Of course... conversely... maybe it's just a great thing to know what you want...

And so... in the meantime... I am re-starting the process of cleaning out our current house. Re-working some of the stuff we have... but also... listing lots of stuff we really don't need.

...And lighting candles in the hopes that the perfect house will find us... exactly when we can get it.

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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


Well.... I have managed to go through just about the whole house (except the garage and the attic space)... and it is a good thing. Along the way, I have found a few things to get rid of..... and a few of things to fix (sewing/ mending... ugh).
We are (hopefully) going to sell the stuff over the weekend (I have ads on Craigslist)... and whatever is left over is going to charity on Monday. It will be good.
Next week... I can begin working on the garage and attic space... which is going to be alot of work simply because it is mostly arts/crafts type stuff that I am sure I will have a hard time weeding through and narrowing down... but we'll see.
In other news... I think I have bronchitis. It is interesting to note that I am cleaning out my house... and my lungs are cleaning out themselves as well... This too... is probably a good thing... but it sure makes it impossible to breathe sometimes. I am sure a good therapist would have a field day with this.... he he.... probably along the lines of.... stuff suffocating my life.... crap suffocating my lungs... who knows. But it is interesting.


About the photo for this post: I took a photo of this cover art on a very 1950's book. The book details how wheat is grown and gathered for bread making. I loved the cover, but it wasn't mine so I took a photo of it. I especially like how the little girl is holding what appears to be a substantial knife ... something that would definitely NOT be allowed in today's advertising. I can just imagine the law-suit over allowing what appears to be a 4yr old wield such a hefty weapon.....

I plan on using this photo in a collage project.

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

Today was awesome. Normal everyday stuff... made extra-ordinary simply because I am in my own home and doing my own thing. Laundry, cooking, walking the dog... all simple chores... but joyfully done today because I am so happy to be home.


We are extremely broke... and tomorrow I am going to start the process of cleaning the house and clearing out items that we no longer need or want. If these trips have taught me nothing else... it has taught me that it really is so very important to have all your finances in order, all your information/ passwords/ codes for things etc tucked away in a safe place... and to downsize your stuff as much as you feel comfortable with.

I am also really looking forward to working in my studio space. It is a complete disaster at the moment; not just because all my art supplies and such are in chaos... but also because the area ends up being a dumping ground of sorts for excess stuff around the house.


As an extra bonus... my hubby not only got me some beautiful flowers to welcome me home... but he also bought me a container of Kona coffee :)
he knows me sooooooooooooo well.

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January has simply flown by. This new year is moving so quickly.

I have had a lot of blessings this month...

For this year, 2010... I declared that the word I was going to focus on was the word "Potential." Who knew it would already have such a huge impact on me? By simply narrowing my focus a bit... so many wonderful happenings came into view. ..and keep on coming...

I have been asked to participate in a book that is being published... an account of photos from 2009 .. sort of a "day in the life" kind of thing. I was asked to include several of my photos; and I really couldn't be more honored. More news on this as things progress along....

I was invited to participate in 52 Weeks of Creations; an art project/ challenge...started by Julia D'Arcy. Each week, each of the participants is asked to submit a photo of an art piece that they have worked on. I am submitting photos... that will eventually be published in a book. I am concentrating these photos on the theme, "an exploration of religion, philosophy and spirituality.... through photography."

I am continuing with the ECHO project... a bi-weekly photo challenge where the theme changes every 2 weeks. I am partnered with the wonderful Brenda Seaholm-Wampler (an artist in Texas). Here is our latest submission... the theme was "Face."

And I have joined the 365: Daily Photo/ 2010 Year in Pictures photo challenge on FlickR. I am taking a photo each and every day for the year 2010. So far; some days are easier than others... but the point (at least for me) is to spend time on my photography every day. Having only a simple Kodak... sometimes the challenge is to get what I want to express within the confines of a point and shoot camera.... but ... even that is causing me to expand and grow as a photographer.
And I am grateful.

I revamped this blog-site... and have had lots of wonderful feedback from my readers. I had my first ever "Give-Away" in celebration of having posted each and every day for the past year....and I started a weekly review of local art galleries here in ABQ. You can see those posts listed in the sidebar to the left.

The windows of opportunity have expanded for me locally as well. I have been approached by several local businesses and organizations that want to use my photos for advertising and promos. It has been simply overwhelming... and I am so completely honored and thankful. As an artist... the most important thing for me is that people actually see my work, and through these organizations and businesses; more people will be able to see what I am creating.. and that is awesome.

I had the opportunity and pleasure of helping to teach and give demonstrations at an art venue. I haven't taught in a long time; and it was alot of fun.

And-- I had the awesome pleasure of taking some fabulous classes through the Harwood Art Center. Teaching and learning.... they go hand in hand.

On a more personal level... we have been fixing up our house with plans to sell later on in the year. It is going very well so far, and we are right on track with our goal to move to a more ideal house for just the hubby and I.

We have also made great strides in tweaking our finances, downsizing our belongings... and in general; lightening our "load."

...PLUS... I have had the opportunity to take a roadtrip or two. I am (after all).. a gypsy at heart. And I love to travel and see new places.. even if those places aren't really that far away at all. This month I got to go to Socorro, Bosque del Apache, and the VLA. Who knows where I will go next month... but ... I know I will be going.

Wonderful January..... thank you so much.

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell