vintage

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So today... after making friends with some of my fellow motel customers (a very nice couple from Tennessee and their newborn daughter)... and some of the hotel staff (2 very nice ladies in the hotel office that talked with me about rescue dogs and Smartcars and such...)... I got some fresh coffee for the road and headed out.

This overnight stay has sort of changed my perspective a little on Texas... and that is a good thing.

Driving through the desert is a wonderful experience. And I was rather surprised at how happy I was to be back in New Mexico. Not just because I happen to live here and was coming home... although that is certainly a crucial factor. But it was more that New Mexico seems to be such a sacred kind of place. Yes, the economy sucks. And yes, there are certainly distressing things about living here... but it is also a very serene kind of place... almost eerily so at times. It's like you can feel the land and the stories it is trying to tell...

And so... I got home late in the afternoon... and it was an awesome thing to behold.



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Migraine... (I actually went back thru my blogposts and discovered that it's day 10 of this horrible migraine). And it's going as well as you'd think it would be. However... I did help my mom get some financial stuff settled today... and we did take a drive... and I did get some photos... and I did visit briefly with a friend of mine from high school... and it was all good.

If I can finish the paperwork that needs done... and help my mom with a few things on the "To Do" list... then I feel like I will have done as much as I can for this trip. Not to say that I've done alot... as I feel like I have been pretty much useless (*but I have tried... I think it's just that I have been sick and I always feel pretty much useless when I am sick)... but right now I am overwhelmed... and ready to be going home...
(and in the words of my very wise daughter... it's time).



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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(you can click on this photo; and see it larger )


I've heard the phrase..."God never gives you more than you can handle..."... and yet, I have to wonder. My mother is devastated. I have seen grief... in so many different forms and stages over the years... as a nurse.... as a family member.... as a friend.... I have seen so very much of death in the past.
Some people handle it with quiet resolution, others anger... but with my mom; the tears just keep coming... shaking with sobs... unable to calm herself... unable to eat... unable to sleep. She has always been a nervous/ anxious/ restless personality.... but this... there is no fixing this. I feel so helpless.

And I seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum... missing my father... and yet... relieved that he is no longer in pain... satisfied in the knowledge that I will see him again some day.
I believe that she feels that way too... it's just that her way of showing emotion is so very different than mine. Neither way is better... neither way is worse. It just is.

I mention this only because it was casually mentioned to me that I must not care or some such... because I was not falling apart with grief.
Needless to say, I know this to be far from the truth.

Today; after we had appointments making preparations for services on Friday... I took my mom to eat at a local burger shack type place. The owners are friends of my parents, and it was nice to visit with them. We got to talking about cars... and the owner went and got his 1959 Thunderbird to show me. He is only the 2nd owner... and the car has only 62,000 miles on it. Pristine! Gorgeous! Classic!

And I thought of my dad... who soooooooo loved vintage cars... and could feel him smiling...


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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--->photos by Elaine A. Russell


When I was back in PA... I was hard pressed to find time to take my photo for the day sometimes. One afternoon... I had about 15 minutes... and decided to walk up some of the alleyways behind the stores in town. This vintage fusball table, was amongst the rubble in one alley.

I loved it... and tried to take a quick photo or two that I could work on later. Today... I played around a little with them in Picnik... and I like the way they turned out.
I have always been drawn to the used and the discarded... perhaps it is the recylcer in me... or perhaps some weird quirk related to my gypsy heritage... but I love to work with materials that have been cast off. It is invigorating to try and make something out of an object that someone no longer wanted.
I find that as I am going thru my stuff in the garage... that the bulk of it is recycled material.
And it is good.

~~~



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I miss having my own mailbox. I know it seems to be a stupid thing... but I remember ... quite fondly, in fact.... having the mail person come up to the porch... say hello.... put your mail in the box and take any mail you may have to go out.
There are alot of communities across the nation that I suppose still have more personal service such as this... but not here in ABQ. In fact, we are not allowed to have an individual mailbox in our neighborhood... just these impersonal large metal boxes on each street for that particular grouping of houses.

I have done alot of mailing these past 10yrs ... selling on Ebay since 98, and on Etsy since 07... and I am always reminded of how complicated things have become within the whole mailing world. Labels, restrictions, packaging rules... it's all quite alot really. I completely understand how things have evolved this way; and I'm not saying it could be any better than it is... it can just be frustrating. Course... equally frustrating is the many, many people in line who don't really know what they are doing.

One of the things my local post office has done is have these machines installed -- which you can use 24/7 ... and allow you to print off your own postage and such. It is awesome... and really saves me alot of time ... because I can go to my post office during off hours; use the machines, and be out in no time.

--->photos by Elaine A. Russell

About my photos for today's post: I took these photos today near the house of a close friend. I love vintage cars & trucks... and they can be so much fun to photograph. These photos are essentially untouched... just a little soft focus on the edges, and a little tweaking of the colors.
What do the photos have to do with my post? Nothing really... except that the photos; like my memories... remind me of a somewhat simpler time. Guess I was a little nostalgic today...

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

About my photo for today's post: Alot of the stores in Nob Hill were having sales because of the festivities yesterday. This collection of items was outside one of my favorite stores... and I couldn't resist taking a photo of it. I destaturated the colors quite a bit... and added some grit and a vignetted edging. I felt that this made the photo appear perhaps older than it was... and gave it a vintage feel.

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

Today I spent the entire day taking photos at the "Nob Hill Days and Nights" festival (otherwise known as SummerFest)... located on Route66, here in Albuquerque. There was a vintage car show, tons of vendors and food, TONS of live music... dancing... demonstrations, ..... so much fun!
And now I am home... and wading through the photos briefly before heading off to bed.

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


I have the feeling, that this whole weekend is going to be sort of a blur to me. I am working most of the weekend on a photography assignment, and I am really excited about it.
Tonight I went to the preliminaries for a car show here on Route66; and it was awesome to see the old cars and trucks.... even though it wasn't the most ideal situation to try to take photos of them.
My father is a huge car aficionado..... and growing up, we would go look at the cars together. What little I know about cars; is definately due to his influence. I am hoping to print some of the photos to show him when I go back to PA to visit.... and am sure he will get a kick out of them :)

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


Sometimes there are many different directions you can take something... and it is difficult to decide which way to go. Today was one of those days. I'm not a horribly indecisive person normally... but I do sometimes get overwhelmed. Today I had taken only one descent photo... and then I got carried away and made 5 different versions of it... each one having a slightly different feel... a different style... a different perspective.

In the end, sometimes you just have to go with your gut... and pick one
... which is what I did today with my photo for the day project.
(Most days I don't waffle so much...)

It's hard to believe I have done a full 6 months of taking a photo each and every day for this project... and I have really enjoyed it so far.

To see all the photos from my 2010: Photo a Day Project *January thru June*... look here

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


I am too young to remember when Felix the Cat was popular. He debuted in 1919... and was a hot commodity thru the 20's. He gained some revival in the 50's, and some more in the 90's. It is rumored that there will be a new series starring Felix coming out this next year..... and so it goes. Animation is hot.

My hubby and I are huge animation freaks. Cartoons, comics, lithos, trade paperbacks... you name it. When we first got married... we started collecting the occasional piece of animation art, and now own a few really cool pieces.

I mention this only because I got into a discussion today about what is considered "High Art"... and what is considered "Low Art." To me... it doesn't really matter. What matters to me is if you like the piece... does it speak to you?.... does it evoke emotion inside of you?.... does it fill a void?...

About the photo for today's post: We went to the Cottonwood Mall today to get my hubby's hair cut. Downstairs in the middle section is an antiques and novelties dealer... and they have a whole lot of cool stuff! Everything from vintage magazines, to antique dishes, to costume jewelry and toys.... it is a fantastic place to wander through.... and so we did :)


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................artwork by Elaine A. Russell


I feel a little better about things today... mostly because we all went out to Starbucks for an iced coffee... and to Chili's for a light dinner... and then tonight I picked up a couple plants at Home Depot to fix up the pots on the front patio. The coffee was excellent... the food was delicious... and the plants I got are gorgeous.
Working in the dirt always has a therapeutic effect on me... and I always feel better when I have healthy plants around me.
As of tonight, I also have a huge pot designated for herb plants to cook with. I have always had an herb garden, but these past 2yrs I haven't had the time to prepare one as I have been traveling back to PA so much. I have missed that.

About my photo for today -- I did this piece almost 3yrs ago.. but came across a photo of it today. Using this photo, I added the vintage TTV layer to it... making it new and fresh. I had made it for a former friend... who may not even have it now... so I am glad I kept a photo of it. And while it was not that great an art piece... I do love yellow prairie cone flowers; which was my inspiration for the piece.

To see more about these kind of flowers: Look HERE

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Today on one of the trips my mom and I took to the hospital... we were going through town and saw this fabulous car sitting at the Courthouse. We stopped, hoping to get a couple photos to show my dad... who is a HUGE lover of cars.

While we were taking a few photos... the owner came out of a nearby building and came to talk with us. John Walk is from Westchester, PA... but has a cabin close by. He bought the car already restored, and believed it to be a 1944 Ford. It has been customized, and now sports cruise control, a CD player, and a gorgeous chrome dashboard with interesting looking tachometers. The body is all steel, except for the fiberglass running boards on the sides. Oh... and yes, it really was that bright a shade of yellow :)

My dad loved the photos... and actually was alert enough to look at them (*BTW... my dad thinks it is really a 1941 deluxe Ford.. but who knows...)


We also drove this afternoon to the Genesee Natural Foods Store (in Genesee, PA... about 1/2 an hour away). The store has been in business since 1979... and it is a wonderful source for all kinds of natural bulk items, foods, drinks, herbs, vitamins, and educational materials. It was a scenic drive over... in spite of the rain... and it was great to see such a fabulous store still doing well after all these years.




To see more on the Genesee Natural Food Store: look HERE

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Well.... dad's fever has finally somewhat stabilized.... and he is tolerating the IV antibiotics he is getting. His spirit is strong... but his body is betraying him these past few days. Today... it was discovered that he has a significant blood clot in his left femoral artery *left groin/upper leg area.
Ironically... the best thing for the pneumonia is to be as active as possible.... but with a clot.. he is confined to minimal movement at best... as he is getting blood thinners and such to absorb the clot and minimize more from forming. It is a viscious cycle almost.....




Mimicking the up and down of dad's health... is the weather here. I took this photo of a stained glass art piece in my parent's living room looking out to the backyard... and not even an hour later... we were in the middle of a massive snowstorm.


The snow didn't stay of course.... and I'm sure the weather will improve... it just seemed horribly ironic....


Walking around the house... I was really tired... and trying to figure out what I would take as my photo for the day....
And so.... I am including a photo of probably some of the most *ahem* interesting wallpaper ever.... (in my parent's bathroom)... and a photo of a hand-colored photograph of my dad taken when he was about 3 years old. Yes... my grandmother really did dress him like that for school. He says it was how he learned to fight so well as a kid (>>giggle<<).


* all photos by Elaine A. Russell

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**all photos by Elaine A. Russell



Today was a blur of: cleaning cars, burning trash, doing laundry, and such.
It was basically another really long day... but it ended with a fabulous dinner at Fezz's Diner. The original building was a diner in 1954; and it was bought several years ago and restored to it's former glory. The inside is all vintage... right down to the napkin holders, and the vinyl on the seats.


The menu can be seen here



We had a great meal (I had steak and eggs, hash browns and toast)... total cost for 4 people was just under $40.



One of the really cool things about the diner is the tons of memorabilia all over the restaurant. Records, model cars, vintage photos and postcards... all there to see. Original recordings are featured on the tabletop jukebox selectors, and there is a really cool jukebox in the larger dining room in the back.



Needless to say... it was alot of good food; and alot of fun!


Kristin is feeling slightly better; although she still has a terrible cough and stuffy head. Mom is still "under the weather"... ever so slightly better now that she has been taking antibiotics and steroids for a few days. Dad had a horrible day.

Hopefully... tomorrow will be better...

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Everyone seems wiped out today. Not sure if it is the weather (still raining most of the time)... or just everything catching up with us.... but it is one of those days when you wish you could stay in bed. Even Sabrina is content to curl up on a couch and let the world disappear for a bit.
Fortunately, I made a big pot roast the other day in the crock pot... and I do have some photos for my blog... so I just need to get a photo for the day ( for my 365 photo every day - photo challenge).



A friend of mine asked me yesterday where I find all the interesting things to take pictures of. I am not sure that my "subjects" are exactly riveting... (especially today)... but I try to take photos of things that perhaps we see every day.... but don't really see. I try to make what most people see as "ordinary"... perhaps a bit more extra-ordinary....



The photos for today were taken over a 10 minute break from running errands yesterday. I stopped near the Hershey Farms on Route6; and took 4 or 5 photos of the cows, the geese... the creek... simple, ordinary things that the people here see every day. I added a retro color filter scheme... to make them all look a little golden; a little vintage... and that's it. I'm not really happy with the photos of the cows... but they were being shy, and every time I tried to get a little closer; they would take off. Plus... using a simple point and shoot sometimes has it's limitations... and in this case... not much of a telephoto zoom. Some days are like that....



And this last photo is our submission for this week's Echo Challenge. Brenda (my partner in crime) did the photo of the guitars and I did the photo of the stickers. The theme for this week was "collection."
You can see everyone's entries here
And here is a link to Brenda's Blog

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Current Police headquarters for the town. It used to be the train depot. It is gorgeous.



Vintage train caboose... now part of the Coudersport Arboretum display



Back view of the caboose at night......



Today has been a really, really, long day. First of all... I slept til 2pm (except that I soon discovered that it was actually 3pm because if Daylight Savings Time). Took a shower, did some chores around the house.... and realized that today was the last day to enter photos in the Alibi yearly photo contest... so I worked on that.
Then, my niece called... so I spent the early evening hours helping her and my daughter put together a set of bunk beds (and watch 3 kids). It took longer than I thought it would... but they look great... and the kids seemed excited.

Afterwards, we went over to my local "Sheetz" gas station/super mini store extraordinaire... and started to take my photo of the day (with intent to include it also in my blog with a blurb all about Sheetz and how cool it is to have a 24hr mart like that in the little town of Coudersport).... but then the manager came out and proceeded to chastise me about illegally taking photos of the place (even though it is in the middle of the town... and I was across the street on other property). So... I deleted the photos. How sad.
So... instead I went to take some photos of the old train depot and a train car that is right nearby... and of a vintage sign.
It's such a small town... and most everyone is extremely nice... it just surprised me that she was so defensive and adamant about it all.

I am exhausted. Completely and utterly. And I didn't even really do anything today.

In other news: ... my dad is doing a bit better today. He is still massively distended... but he is progressing along. Still has the NG... still in alot of pain.... but better. The doctor told him that the pain meds may be contributing to his constipation/ distention.... so he didn't take any pain meds today at all. I encouraged him to at least take it at night. He is so stubborn.
No word on his impending transfer to the local hospital, so I will wait on going down. On one hand.... it would be good to go down and be supportive to my folks. On the other, if I go down too early I will really rack up the hotel fees, food costs, etc while staying there... which I can't afford to do. Somewhere in there is a happy medium that I am striving for.
My uncle's funeral is Thursday, outside of the Philadelphia area.... not sure if I can go or not.

It is still raining.
I fear this may be a trend. ie: Elaine is in town... it must rain.
The river is really high here. It runs right behind my parent's house, and through the middle of town. I am reminded of back in 1972 when we had a really big flood here. At that time, we were living in a bigger house on a hill... and when the floods came, we took in a couple other families that had been flooded out of their homes. I remember packing sandbags along the channel with my brother and dad. And as traumatic as it probably was at the time... I don't remember it being a scary thing. Plus.... the air around here smells so good .... wet and fresh with a hint of pine ♥

And... I saw some headlines as I was reading the news on MSN today. Apparently, those tornadoes and storms that passed through the Midwest when I was traveling..... they were only about 10 miles away from us; and only a few hours ahead of us. How scary is that.....and how fortunate we are ♥



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

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*all photos by Elaine A. Russell


My love affair with photography began at a very early age. I think at first, it was a self defense mechanism. See... I was very very shy. Painfully so. And I absolutely hated to have my photo taken. So ... at the very early age of around 6... I started volunteering to take the photos... rather than be in them. It worked out to my benefit... because my father (who had been taking all the photos up til that point.. for the most part).. had a nasty habit of cutting people's heads off and such when taking photos. So .. he was happy to let me take over.

My father had a Polaroid. One of the ones where you still had to peel off the picture... after letting it sit for a minute or so. I loved it. Instant gratification. The caveat; was that the film was expensive... and I think we only purchased less than a handful of packs a year.

My first camera was a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. I loved it. It went with me to Girl Scout camp... field trips... school...fishing trips to Canada.... everywhere. When my best friend moved in 7th grade... I gave her my camera. It was my most prized possession. I have since gotten one just like it... and still love using it.

As an exchange student to Germany in High School... I bought the newest camera... a Kodak 110 with a macro function! Woo-Hoo!!! Course, it had to be replaced when both it ( and almost me ) got knocked over a castle wall and off of a cliff. Believe it or not.. I was still able to salvage the film.. and the photos were ok. .. even though the camera was shattered. I replaced it with a similar camera... and it carried me thru the next few years.

When I graduated from college... I spent my very first paycheck on a brand new Ricoh 35mm with a couple lenses and a flash. I also signed up; and started taking classes through the New York Institute of Photography ( and graduated a year or so later). In 1986; I started working freelance; and selling my prints. I even made it into some national magazines, calendars and cards...

A few years later... all my equipment was stolen while at a park in Omaha, NE. I then replaced it all with a Nikon set... and started filling my spare time with freelance photo gigs.... weddings, portraits, kid shots and more. I also did a few advertising shoots and promos for companies and apartment complexes.

My specialty became Infrared Black and White photography, with an emphasis on hand-coloring and re-touching of vintage photos. I became one of a handful of people in the US doing this kind of work... and I loved it. Still do.

I used Nikon equipment exclusively until this past summer; when it all either died... or was sold. It had been well loved, and well used... but it was time. Unfortunately, I did not have the money to replace it with more pro equipment... so I opted to get a simple Kodak EasyShare camera until I can save up enough to get a new Nikon.

So... these are the cameras I currently own:

  • A vintage Polaroid Land Camera with flash attachment, additional lenses and leather casing. It's cool... but it is mainly a decoration at this point. When my husband and I were on our honeymoon... I found a beautiful version of this camera, and bought it immediately. A few years later, I was forced to sell it for "diaper money." Yah, stuff happens. But .. last year I was gifted with this one... WOW!




  • A Kodak Brownie Hawkeye... just like my beloved one I had as a kid. Complete with flash unit and original boxes. I still use this. I was able to find this one off of Ebay... how cool is that?!




  • A vintage Kodak Duaflex... the original version. I use this for TTV photography. I love it. It is a really, really, cool camera. Very portable... and it has awesome effects. This was also an Ebay find. I am so grateful to have been able to get this one...




  • A Polaroid instant camera. I have had several different Polaroid cameras over the years... giving them away at different intervals to students, kids... lovers of photography. This one was given to me recently by a dear friend... she even gave me a pack of film... which is increasingly hard to find.


  • Finally --- a photo of my little Kodak EasyShare camera that I got for $140 last summer. It has saved me in so many ways. I do not think I could survive *as an artist/photographer* without a camera... and for a little point and shoot... it is freakin awesome.