102:365:2011


I have been having a rough time...
I suppose everyone goes through days like this when they question everything they are doing...
everything they have done...
even their existence.

Am I doing anything worthwhile... have I done my best...
For some reason... this melancholy always hits me around my birthday...
and I find myself evaluating everything... and feeling like I have come up short...
failed... somehow let everyone down...

*photo by Elaine A. Russell

100/101:365:2011

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend.
Here are some photos I took today...







*all photos by Elaine A. Russell

((the last one is a "layered" composite of 3 photos that I took... and put together
...sweet dreams...))

99:365:2011

by Cat Stevens

Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come
Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh peace train sounding louder Glide on the peace train

*photos by Elaine A. Russell


98:365:2011


today was a day for sleeping... (didn't sleep last night)
...avoiding the harsh winds bringing up huge whirls of dust outside
getting KFC...
...talking with my mom on the phone
and perhaps reading a good book...

photo for today's post: was taken with an older Canon camera that has a fairly dusty lens,
and these light leaks that make the colors turn out wonky.
I love it...

*photo by Elaine A. Russell

97:365:2011


So-- I didn't realize that they had changed the medallions on the front of dollar bills from the Eagle design... to letters. I am assuming the letters have to do with where the money is printed... but I don't know.
Anyway... my son pointed it out to me today... and (not so co-incidentally) noticed that the bills in his wallet spelled F-A-I-L... as in EPIC FAIL... as in... today was a bad day...
but I thought it would at least make a cool photo :)


*photo by Elaine A. Russell

96:365:2011

Things I love:

going out for coffee
making art
homemade soup (butternut squash, chile pepper, and mint
the ballet in "An American in Paris"
Edith Piaf
good light... bad light... and taking photos anyway
the night sky



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

95:365:2011

Anatomy of an Art Date...
...and it goes something like this...

 
... go to a local fav restauraunt ( in this instance; Flying Star on Paseo del Norte )...
add in some great food...
...some great company...
lots of drawing and sketching and such
...people watching...
lots of coffee and tea
looking at magazines and other inspirational material

... and then leaving some free ART in secret places around the city...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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*photo by Elaine A. Russell


This print was made by first printing a photo of a ruby red ranuculus flower.
I had printed this off... but it came out a bit bad... because the colors didn't quite print right, and the settings were wrong on the printer.
And so I took this opportunity to alter it. I sanded the print and etched on it...
and then printed a 2nd photo on top of the first.

The 2nd photo is of a mural in downtown Tuscon that I loved when we visited there a month or so ago.
The combined effect... is pretty darn cool IMO...

Sometimes life is like this too... it takes some etching and sanding away to make it all better :)

92:365:2011


I wish I had something intelligent to say... but I don't.
And so... I will wish you all a very happy weekend.
May it be filled with sunshine...flowers... good food... good friends... and good times...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

91:365:2011


Today I am thankful for:

remembering my dad with this photo...
finding some cool clothes at a thrift store
RAIN! Even though it was only about 15 minutes worth... it was the first in months...
... and the smell of rain...
and the slight wind with the rain...
Netflix
recipes from friends
fresh brewed coffee
cheese puffs... and the orange residue it leaves on the fingertips

and the quote:
"he who knows nothing... gets the most out of everything..."
(--- don't know who said it... but it's awesome)


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

90:365:2011

The past few days have been great...
great sunsets
working on jewelry and crafts
taking photos
snuggling with the puppies
making awesome food
spending time with the family
... and so much more...

How are you doing?


*photo by Elaine A. Russell

89:365:2011

I was at Trader Joe's last evening to get some groceries... and was amazed (as always) of their glorious selections of flowers. At each of the check-outs; there was a box overflowing with fresh daffodils. I was reminded that it is the season for "Daffodil Days"... a time when local Cancer Society Members typically sell fresh daffodils.. with the proceeds going towards Cancer Cure Research.

My entire family has been involved with this over the years... and I encourage you all to show your support ... and get some lovely flowers to boot.



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

Bio

Elaine was born in Bradford, PA... and raised in Coudersport, PA. She grew up in the wild woods of the Allegheny National Forest... an area known for farming, hunting, fishing, and winter sports.
She started working at 13, and  has a strong ethic for hard work and doing the best you can.

After high school... she went to St. Joesph's Nursing School in Elmira, NY... and excelled in her career until an early retirement in 2003.

She has always been very active in creative pursuits... from rock collecting and wildflower identification... to drawing and photography... to needlework and even wood carving... she has probably tried her hand at it all.

Photography and recycle crafts are her main pursuits... particularly in the jewelry arts and metal fabrication.
She has won numerous awards with her photography, and been published in several magazines, on-line sites, and books.

You can see more of  her work at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/moongipsies

She loves traveling... and has been to most every state in the USA... and on foreign shores as well.

She married her best friend in 1990; and they have 2 grown children that she is very proud of.




88:365:2011

Things I love:

looking at photos... especially of my travels
Earl Grey tea... hot
when the winds die down
the sound of quail in my backyard
a new haircut
chatting with friends
book sales!
the texture on old chambray blankets
TV Show: Pawn Stars
songs by Adele
handmade candles
the smell of pot roast cooking in the oven
hugs...


photo by Elaine A. Russell

86/87:365:2011

I am constantly inspired by the most unsual things.
I guess I am really a kid at heart... just "excited to be here"...
(well... most of the time anyway)
I have been trying to work on alot of the projects that have been rattling around in my head... and it occured to me that the bulk of what I have been creating for the past 5 years... is all about recycling. It is taking things that are usually cast off as unwanted... and turning them into something new.

When BAJ and I were in Tuscon... we noticed that alot of people thought the same way...
There were tons of great gifts and shops that focused on the upcycled... the renewed... the re-invented. And I love it.

*all of the photos for this weekend's post are from 4th street in downtown Tuscon. There are tons of little shops in this area... alot of which focus on recycled goods. I love the free spirit of this area of the city... the hippie.... the gypsy... the bohem...

 
*photos by Elaine A. Russell

85:365:2011

...feckin allergies...

All I've seen today is the bottom of my Kleenex box
... and the inside of my shower...
but I am thankful that I made wonderful roasted chicken last night when I was feeling better
... cuz now I don't have to make supper
:P

*photo of my shower door... by Elaine A. Russell

84:365:2011

So I got a complete shock last evening...
I got a note from a fellow photographer here in ABQ that I had won a spot in the 8th Annual ALIBI Photo Contest.

WoOt!

This photo (below) won for the category of "Que Albuquerque"... and I couldn't be happier...
Winning gives me "bragging rights".... and a couple cool prizes... like a gift certificate for a local garden center, a local drink place ... and a local BBQ place.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

83:365:2011


Spring has definitely sprung... everywhere in my neighborhood... save the barren wasteland that is my yard. It is a shame really. I have always had gardens... and I have even had some glorious flower beds here at this house... But the past few years I have had almost everything in my yard die (except for all the trees thank god). I think it has alot to do with a malfunctioning drip system... and me traveling so much and not tending to anything. Right now... about the only thing "sprouting"... are some perennials in pots on the patio... and a few very brave tulips. Do not despair however... I am going to try to fix that... soon..



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

82:365:2011

(photo by Elaine A. Russell)

Sometimes a "good thing" -- is not necessarily a "good thing" for you.

Case in point. Since my son moved out of his apartment... I have had a very expensive mattress/box spring and metal frame SET in my living room. Now. It is a great bed... and one we helped buy... so I just didn't want to give it away... and so I was trying to sell it. (the son could use the money to pay off debt).

--- Epic fail ---

Add on top of that... the fact that I can still smell a slight hint of perfume on it... and I am severely allergic to the smell...
Add on top of that... that I have a small house... and it is taking up a very large part of it. I would move it to the garage... but I don't want it to get all dusty...
And so... tonight... hopefully... we have some friends coming over to get the set. They need a bed... and if they can float some money our way at some point for it... that would be awesome. In the meantime... it is awesome to get it out of the house.

So-- even though it is a wonderful set... it is not wonderful for us.
Kind of like so many things in life... you feel like they are necessary...
or even perhaps... needed... and yet... they may be the very thing that is holding you back.
AND... if you are lucky... you can pass it on to someone who could actually use it...

(about the photo for today's post: One of my neighbor's has this beautiful crab apple tree in their front yard... and it is blooming! Spring is here...)

81:365:2011

 
Sometimes you have to take a little time to smell the flowers...
...I feel like I could sleep until my butt hurts from being in bed too long...


*photos by Elaine A. Russell