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photo by Elaine A. Russell

Some days I don't have any inspiration at all... or at least... very little. One of the more interesting shows on TV these days is the show "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist." While I don't think they showcase many pieces that I would actually hang in my house... I can certainly appreciate the effort put out by these artists to come up with something great on a day to day basis.
It encourages me to know that other artists struggle with inspiration as well... and, if I try hard enough... and am willing to open myself up to the process... lots of times something interesting will come out of it.

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Tonight is the last night I will spend in PA for a little while...

I am leaving tomorrow afternoon, and my niece is driving me to Williamsport, PA. I will stay overnight, and will be leaving at 5am for various flights that will eventually bring me home to ABQ.
And so today... I was trying to finish up a plethora of projects. I went to a friend's house... she recently had heart surgery and is still recovering... and so... I took a couple hours and tried to do some weeding in her gorgeous flower beds. She didn't ask me to do it... but I know how much her flowers mean to her; and I know she hasn't been able to do it for quite awhile. In the end... I got the largest of her beds (which runs the full front of her house) done... and she in turn, allowed me to dig up some white bleeding heart plants that had over-run another bed.

I took some of these plants to another friend... who was overjoyed... and immediately started to find a place for them in her yard. I still had a bucket-full.... so I took them to my mother's house.

I then went to one of the local nurseries... and bought a whole bunch of plants ( perennials and annuals)... to add to her pots on the patio, and to fill a bed just under the living room window. If my father is able to ever come back to the house... it will be this window that he will be able to look out... and hopefully be able to see some flowers. I also got her a stunningly gorgeous Fuschia plant that is in a hanging planter for her front porch. This will attract hummingbirds... which she loves... and will be able to see from her kitchen window.

After eating supper with my niece... and visiting with my dad... I found myself at 9pm -- weeding that over-run bed under the living room window that was full of weeds; and trying to get all these plants into the ground... and into planter boxes... and into hanging pots.

I finally finished around midnight.

Now I am doing a last load of laundry... and enjoying a lovely cup of tea.

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I believe in the whole philosophy of "Pay it Forward." If I am able to help someone have a better day by helping them a bit... planting flowers... weeding to make things look a little nicer... whatever... then I feel that the joy that it brings them will become a contagious thing. Perhaps they will in turn do something nice for someone else... and on it goes...

see more at this link: http://www.payitforwardmovement.org/

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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... to grow strong and upright in this world... you have to have strong roots... I am reminded of this daily while back here in PA. The natural world has so many lessons to teach us if we are just willing to listen to their wisdom....

this beautiful rhododendron is right in front of my parent's house. I never really liked these plants much as a kid (compared to others I suppose)... but I have grown more fond of them as of late. I think their exotic beauty is just stunning...

... and today it rained all day... sometimes coming down in buckets. I wondered if I would get a good photo for the day... and as it turns out... I got several :)

My dad is markedly more alert today than he has been... it's a puzzlement... but one I am grateful for. Today I spent a goodly portion of the day resting... in between phone calls.... and it was good.

I am very worried about getting my grant packet in on time... and have no idea what I am going to submit at this point... but I have to have faith that it will all work out. That seems to be my modus operandi at the moment...

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell