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After sleeping in a little this am... and helping write some notes of thanks to people for all the help we received since my father became ill... I packed up and left my mom's house around 3pm and started on my way back home.

Sabrina and I made a stop at the Allegheny National Forest... and delighted in the gorgeous scenery there. TONS of colorful leaves... stunning streams of light coming in through the trees... it was incredible. Soooo meditative... so restful... it was exactly what I needed.

After the break... the weather became increasingly stormy... and I drove the rest of the miles in PA in the thunder and lightening and rain. And so... we have stopped early for the night at a very posh hotel... and are enjoying some relaxing time.



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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(Vintage Conoco Station in McLean, Texas)

After yesterday; frankly; I was a little reluctant to head out on the road again.

But head out... we did. Somewhere near Kellerville, TX we drove by a nasty accident where it appeared that there were several fatalities. A helicopter was trying to land nearby... presumably to transfer a survivor that all the medical people were attending to. The police had traffic stopped on I-40 heading east, and were waving people to go on.. on I-40 heading west. I tried to find out what happened... but couldn't find anything. Within the next 20 miles or so... we saw almost 30 dead dear along the road as well. All I can think... is that the storm that has been around us... was actually ahead of us at that point... and must have caused some awful winds/ storms or whatever and caused the damage the day/night before. Tonight... while watching the news... I did see where tornadoes had touched down in that area as well. .. and also in Oklahoma.
It was all very surreal.

Life is so precious. I think that sometimes we take it all too easily for granted.

(local farm in Texas)

The rest of our day was relatively uneventful. We drove.... alot. When we were in Elk City, OK.... we found a massive 18 wheeler sized truck wash.... and washed the SmartCar. All the mud from last night's fiasco was erased... at least from the outside of the car. Kristin drove the better part of the Oklahoma turnpike route... and around the city of Tulsa. She did a fantastic job.

(Southwest Antiques, in Weatherford, OK)

We would stop... but mainly for gas,water, or to walk about.
We stopped at a fabulous Antique Mall in Weatherford, OK ( it was much bigger on the inside than it appeared from the outside); and for burgers at Braum's ( and Kristin got an awesome hot fudge Yogurt based sundae).

The scenery is changing from the almost completely flat fields and ranch land... to slightly more hilly areas... red dirt...and trees. It was great to see the wind farms in action... they are really cool. We are gradually seeing more water as well... rivers, creeks, and ponds. Signs of spring are peaking about as well... some fields have been really, really green. ... but most are still dressed in their winter clothing.

(sunset in Oklahoma)

And we stopped for the night in Miami, OK... just a few miles west of Joplin, Missouri. We are staying at a MicroTel Inn; and it is fabulous. Last night we paid about $50 for a really tacky and somewhat questionable Motel 6. Tonight; we spent about $60... and have a beautiful room; clean and fairly posh... and we get breakfast as well. Go figure.

( Theater in Miami, OK)

Talked to my mom on the phone... the hospital (actually .. a social worker)...is talking about the possibility of transferring my dad to a rehab place of some sort. She apparently told my mom that dad could be transferred as early as tomorrow. He just had massive surgery yesterday. He is still in a heavy fog of pain... and can't really move at all. Sometimes I really don't understand hospital/ insurance stuff at all. I can't really see how that could happen... but I am trying to get there.... in the meantime, I encouraged my mom to talk to someone tomorrow about it.

But for now... rest well. Be safe. Appreciate the bounty we all have.... health, family, friends... blue skies, happy puppies.

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell

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photo by Elaine A. Russell


I don't know why some days are so chaotically crazy as compared to others....
Today was going to be a simple day when I ran errands... and did some work in my studio in the afternoon. So -- of course, this was one of those nights when I didn't fall asleep right away.. nor did I apparently sleep very soundly until the am.. because I ended up sleeping until noon.
Took a shower... and have been on the run since. Post office, groceries, a few stores to get some stuff.... pick up an item off of Freecycle (Thank you Betty for my wonderful new cake stand!!!)... got stuck in traffic... 3 car pile-up....tried to take some photos for my daily photo project....lost my wallet. Re-traced my steps. Freaked out. Went home. Started calling places. Cleaned out my car -- and found it wedged in the passenger seat.

Ok. Time to slow down and breathe.

Made supper. Fresh salmon with lemon and butter... edamame....shrimp with cocktail sauce... fresh bread with brie cheese. My honey made coffee :)

Sorted thru my pics from the day. The one above, is this girl (dressed in a blue dog suit) who was dancing and jogging in place on San Mateo and Academy --advertising a local fitness place. Not sure if she was moving about as inspiration for people to get in shape... or if she was cold. ... But it was cute.
I also got a fabulous photo of a neon green alien statue on an off street ... and of the tumbleweed snowman on I-25 (which I took while driving down the highway ... don't try this folks... ).... I will try to get better ones some other time.. but it was a great exercise in creativity.


Which I guess brings me to the Living Simply section of today's blog post.

Don't rush. Organize your errands so that you can consolidate trips. And if all else fails.. enjoy the chaos. You might get a good picture out of it all..

driving

Kind of an odd day today. One minute it is cloudy and overcast, the next minute the sun is trying to come out. Last night we actually had some snow flurries in and around ABQ. I know this, not just because of the weather report.. but because I had planted fresh mint into pots on my patio.. and had to go and cover them up. (kinda like washing your car, only to have it rain)

I feel like I have been driving alot as of lately. To and from doctor's appointments, to and from CNM, driving around ABQ. Over the weekend, I was with some friends and we drove down to the gallery in Tome(http://www.tomegallery.net/). I have never been to Tome... and would like to go again sometime. I took some random shots out of the back seat windows as we drove down the highways and back roads. It was cool. (http://newmexico.hometownlocator.com/nm/valencia/tome.cfm)

The first shot I did in a style not unlike when I used to do Infrared B&W shots and hand color them. At one time, I was one of only a hand-full of artists doing this style... and I still really enjoy the look. So--- a little "driving tour" photographically today.... enjoy :)

**all photos by Elaine A. Russell

the day after

Wind farm in Oklahoma

vintage cans at Heartland Antique Mall in Lebanon, MO

amazing rainbow between Roulette and Coudersport, PA

Today I have been very tired. I slept quite well, and woke up around 11am to the sound of my brother mowing the lawn. Having lived in Albuquerque since 1995, we don't have grass in our yard.. and neither do most of our neighbors. So, at first, it was a foreign noise. I quickly figured it out.
My brother is an interesting person. He and I do not exactly get along very well.. but we are polite, and try not to annoy each other when we are in each other's presence. Sometimes this is easier said than done... but such is life. He rambled on about the local politics and bias in this small town... and as a parting comment (as he road on his bike down the street) was "did I say hello?" ...not waiting for a reply.
Visited a friend from years ago. She is almost 86, and is an amazing person. I want to be like her when I grow up. She is very smart, loves to read, garden, and travel. She is going on a woman's retreat this weekend. Today when I drove up, she was happily removing Japanese beetles from her asparagus ferns and drowning them in soapy water. We chatted about philosophy and life while sitting on her back porch listening to the hummingbirds fly by. She is in the middle of remodeling her bathroom with her grandson. He is doing alot of the carpentry and plumbing, and she is doing the rest.. saying... "I want to make it handicap friendly just in case I need it in the future." Somehow, I can't see this energetic, effervescent woman in a wheelchair.
Went to the local Chinese restaurant and ordered take-out for dinner. Everything was really good... except that I mistakenly got pork fried rice.. which my parents won't eat. OOPS.
Then my niece called, and I ended up helping her move furniture around her house. She is a divorced/single mom of 3 kids, 2 of whom are special needs. She is doing amazingly well with her kids, and I am so proud of her.

Went to Rite Aid (our town's version of Walgreen's), and was able to get my trip photos off of the camera and onto CDs. This way I can load my photos and work on getting all the spots from my crappy lens off of the pictures. Also got Sabrina some food.. and visited with my mom's neighbor who works there.

I am starting to run in to alot of people I know from when I was a kid....it's a small town after all. Should be an interesting visit.

more to come.........