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photos by Elaine A. Russell


First thing after I awoke ... I somehow got convinced into cutting my niece's hair... and all I kept hearing in my head was Bones from Star Trek... " I'm a doctor Jim, not a barber... " well...She likes it... and I guess that is all that matters.


I took my mom to the hospital to see my dad; but merely dropped her off for a visit with him alone... I decided to take the afternoon off. I'm not sure how that decision went over with *the masses*.... but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I went on a drive through some of the Susquehannock State Forest... which happens to have an area not far from town. Even though it rained the entire time I was in the woods... and even though it was really coming down at times... and I was soaked.... it was absolutely fabulous.

Anyway... now I have some pics to play with for a day or so... if they turned out....

On the way out of town... just past the nursing care facility... is a farm that my mom says used to belong to the Leet family. Not sure if they still own it... but it certainly is picturesque... and there were several families of Canadian Geese there... so I stopped to take a couple pics....

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One thing about being where it rains alot... is that there sure are some pretty ducks and birds around. My parents love to watch the birds... and they have their "regulars" that come to visit. Robins, evening grosbeaks, nuthatches, blue jays, cardinals, doves, wrens, finches.... the list goes on. There is also a local small group of ducks that come every night and wander through the back yard to get to the river.



This mated pair are just adorable. He follows slightly behind her no matter where she goes; always pausing so that she eats first and such... I'm not sure if mallards mate for life... but these two sure seem to get along well.



This afternoon, my daughter and I went slightly out of town on Route6 west to what used to be Dr. Clarence Baxter's home. My parent's don't seem to know who owns it at the moment... although I did notice that it's been for sale for a couple years now. It is a gorgeous piece of property... nestled in a luscious pine-wooded area.



At this property, is a whole flock of Canadian Geese. They are beautiful. My daughter and I walked around for a short while... watching the geese swim in the ponds, and wander about the grassy areas....honking all the while at our intrusion in their space....




And so... these were my photos for the day. Not much else is really going on. I feel ... to a certain extent... that I am simply treading water and biding my time here. I am not sure how very useful I am; save for driving my mom back and forth to the hospital, and talking with my dad. I do a little laundry, wash some dishes, burn the trash.... walk the dog. Simple stuff.

Well.... that and answer the phone as it is constantly ringing....

I went to the grocery store late this afternoon, and got some goodies.... Kristin and I made butter and garlic roasted chicken breasts, and a pan full of fresh veggies (yellow squash, red/yellow & green sweet peppers, fresh mushrooms, celery, scallions, garlic, & snow peas). I also made acorn squash slowly cooked in the oven with butter, brown sugar, raisins, cashews and almonds as a sweet treat....oh, and pickled beet eggs and whole wheat bread from the store.... good "country cookin' "...

...and so.... I will bid you all a safe and happy goodnight.....

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell

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(House of Care, Danville PA)
--all photos by Elaine A. Russell--

(Geisinger Medical Center, Danville PA)


It was an interesting night at the House of Care. The place is very, very nice... but I was sharing a room with my mom... and it just felt strange. Coupled with some alarming news from home... I just couldn't sleep. We got up early, and got to the hospital just in time to see my dad getting loaded and transferred via ambulance to go back to PA.

(Treats at Mom's Dutch Kitchen)

We then went to Mom's Dutch Kitchen for breakfast. This is a local (in Danville) restaurant with an attached gift shop that features alot of Amish related gifts. The food was a typical small town diner type experience... I had steak and eggs, hash browns and coffee. It was awesome. We then went back to the House of Care to do some of mom's laundry, and to wait for my aunt and uncle to arrive. They got there around 2pm, and then they all left for Philadelphia to attend my Uncle Ed's funeral.

I stayed around Danville briefly and took some photos... Danville seems very Colonial in style. They have some beautiful stone houses and churches.... and the flowers were starting to bloom a bit.


(Hellebore plants around the Presbyterian Church in Danville, PA)


(Historic "Montgomery House" in Danville, built in 1792 ... it was the home of William Montogomery [the founder of Danville PA]... now the Historical Museum)



I then headed out with all the stuff to drive back to Coudersport. The drive back was very scenic. The weather was nice... and I was able to get a few photos along the way. Just outside of Wellsboro, I stopped at an alpaca farm. The alpacas were very adorable ... and very friendly.


(the cutest little alpaca in the world)


I stopped at various area "landmarks".... Nine Mile Inn ( fabulous pond, creek, and cabins), the marshlands at Wolf Run (Canadian Geese hangout), Galeton (scenic downtown), Wellsboro Diner (converted train car/ now diner), Denton Hill Ski Resort, the old red schoolhouse (now an antique place), etc.


(Nine Mile Inn near Galeton, PA)



Once I got back to Coudersport, I went up to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and visited with my dad in his new room. He is not horribly happy, as he is having to stay on the extended care ward... but he will be OK.

It was very late when I got to sleep... but I had a warm cup of fresh brewed coffee with my daughter, and a snuggle with Sabrina... so all is well ♥

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

I am late in posting today... I have intentions of posting earlier in the day... and somehow it just doesn't happen. I don't know if it's from all those years of working night shift... but I really do more productive work at night. Plus... it's kind of a meditative thing to write my blog post summing up my day... at the very end of my day.

Still in the Lupus flare... annoying. I have been inordinately tired... and not getting much done. But it is simply nothing compared to what is going on with my parents. Tomorrow, they are driving a fair distance to go to a specialty hospital so that my dad can get some surgery done to combat his newly diagnosed bone cancer with mets. I am not sure what all they are going to do... and frankly, neither is he.

And so... feeling a bit low... and frustrated... and sad... I went down to the river late this afternoon towards sunset. I love the water. It always has a very zen/ meditative effect on me. I used to always dream of living near the ocean... but really; any body of water will do. And so, I trekked down to the river's edge. It was awesome. There were Canadian geese, ducks, bunnies... and the more I walked about... the calmer and more clear I felt.

Simply Living Tip for the Day: relax. Life can be sooo stressful sometimes... and if you let it build up inside... whammo. The good news is... there are as many ways to de-stress as there are stressors. You just need to find the ones that work for you. Pick one... and try it every day for a week or two. ... then take note of how it made you feel. If it worked.. great! If not... try another...

Here is a good link with the top 10 ways to de-stress: HERE