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I have always loved plants. I used to help arrange the flowers for church on Sunday mornings... tend in my grandmother's gardens... help my mom and many others with their flower beds...
I LOVED biology class (and not just cuz my teacher was cute)... because we had to put together collections of plants and flowers. Later... I considered being a botanist... but then allergies reared up...

After marriage... we moved around alot... but I always tried to have gardens and raised beds... and things grew very well... until we moved here. When we first moved to ABQ... I had some pretty awesome flower beds... but over the years... with lots of travel (mainly in the summers) to PA... things slowly but surely died. And I think a bit of me did as well.

Now... things are looking much better. There are several clumps of decorative grass in the front yard, as well as some lovely potted plants on the patio... and the tree makes such a HUGE difference.. it is amazing.
All that's left in the front yard is to finish building the rock creek in the corner... and we are done there.
Almost time to move on to the back yard...


(About the photos for today's post: the top one is of a gorgeous plant down in Las Cruces...
 and the ferns are from a walk in the woods back in PA)

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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All day long today, I felt like I was in need of some intervening from Ganesha... and I was reminded of this photo that I took almost exactly a year ago. Ganesha is known as the "remover of obstacles"...  it was fairly obvious to me that this was going to be a difficult day... and that I should ask for his help.
Being in a Lupus flare... oftentimes makes even the easiest of tasks a bugger... and I had a lot to do today.

That said... we were able to get some grocery shopping done... had a nice dinner out... did some laundry... got some plants for the front yard... and even got through one of the many tubs in my studio space that I needed to go through (only about 20 more to go).

Along the way, I also gave a sort of "lesson" in jewelry making techniques to a friend... and made a couple pair of earrings. I also finally got up the courage to cut up a very old quilt that was severely damaged... in the hopes of being able to use some of the pieces in future projects. Whew!

And now... I am looking forward to (hopefully) a long night of very sound sleep.
Blessings to you all...

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I love this photo... but one thing a person must ALWAYS remember when in the desert... WEAR SHOES.

OW

~~~
The front yard is going well with it's re-vamping...
Elroy (the new elm tree) seems to be doing well at his new spot.
The peppers and tomatoes are looking healthy.
And we are building a small "rock creek" in one corner.
All that's left *in the front yard*... is to finish the creek...
and plant some decorative grasses.


About the photos for today: I bought this fabulous typewriter off of Craigslist for a friend. It is an Olivetti Lettera; an Italian made ... very mod... typewriter. It is awesome. It is housed in a leather case; so it's really portable. It's completely functional, and even has a super cool *ding* to it when it resets to a new line.
I have been wanting to take some photos of it... but haven't taken the time to do so... until this afternoon.

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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It's been a very busy week here...

I drove down to southern NM to get a friend... and she is going to visit for awhile.
And so... we have been putzing around the house for a couple of days. We fixed up a few more pots of plants for the patio out front... raked the sand-pit that is my yard (just the front so far)... and yesterday... we planted veggie boxes full of peppers and tomatoes... and planted a gorgeous ELM tree that I have named Elroy. He is stunning.

Along the way, there has been lots of coffee... tea... toffee... fresh bread and fruit... and today I am making roasted chicken with fresh rosemary from the herb garden. Pictures... (no doubt) ... will be forthcoming :)

*photo by Elaine A. Russell

175:365:2011


Sometimes you just want everything to come to a complete stop... if only for a short while.
Today was sorta like that.

As many of you know... I have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
 It's basically a pain in the arse... chronic... debilitating... but nothing that's going to kill me or anything.
Anyway... it's been a painful day.
A good friend (who is always sending me great tidbits to read)... sent me a link,
and I think the author does an incredible job explaining how many people with chronic problems spend their days. I thought it would be appropriate to share it... HERE
 ... and I encourage everyone to read it... and pass it on.

(*photo by Elaine A. Russell)

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So ... the daughter and I took a short road trip to southern NM... to pick up a friend. We stayed a couple of days in a really nice hotel (thanks Hampton Inn!)... enjoyed the sights and sounds of the area ...
And made lots of discoveries --

Such as... the unique contrast between my travel lunchfood (McD's and some coffee)... and hers (a gallon bag of fresh cut veggies and a bottle of water).... >>sigh<<... she is so good...







*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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I do love the Bosque...
I love the trees... the water... the sparkle...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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(click on photo to see it large)


Tired and sore... and so... it's pizza for dinner.
That said... it was an awesome; whole wheat crust pizza covered with mushrooms,
onions, green chile and butter fried scallions... YUM.
And did you see that moon?!


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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In homage to Buster Keaton... I decided to spontaneously do some pratfalls today...
And as I lay on the asphalt between a restaurant and the post office...
I decided that sandals and I are not a good match... and that I am really not very graceful when I fall.
I can only hope that I did not undo what the acupuncturist has been able to accomplish so far...

Anyway... so I had a great lunch with BAJ... and have been trying to rest more so that I can heal up.
In the process... I have been able to go thru a couple books that I have been meaning to finish... .
...which is awesome...

And how was your day?


*photo by Elaine A. Russell



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I wasn't able to attend the PRIDE festival here in Albuquerque this weekend... it just didn't happen... too much is going on right now. And so... I decided to work on some photos from last year's parade... that I never uploaded anywhere or shared with anyone. Hope you like 'em...
Hope you all had a great PRIDE weekend... and can celebrate love in any way you choose...







*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Sabrina is my baby... and also a rescue.

She was seen wandering around a town in southern New Mexico... and evaded being caught for over a year. Supposedly, one day... she just spontaneously "turned herself in" to the local shelter there.
From there... she was in a foster home for about 3 weeks *living with cats! ... and then came to me.

She does have issues though... she is deathly leery of kids... loud noises... and balloons... and anything that smells like beer. Go figure.
She has traveled with me on all my trips back to PA... and has kept me company thru illness, stress, happy and tough times. At approx 13 yrs old... she still acts like a puppy...

 
*photos by Kristin Russell

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Buffy is also a rescue.
We had gone to a birthday party near one of the reservations here... and there were these puppies in a cardboard box being given away. She was flea ridden, tick infested... and severely malnourished... and she jumped out of the box and parked by the front tire of my car... staying the entire time of the party... and not moving. When we went to leave... she begged to go.. and so she did.

Buffy, I believe.... is a victim of inbreeding. She has had all sorts of anxiety issues... learning difficulties... and such. But she is extremely loving... and well meaning... and she is beautiful *inside and out*...

She has been steadily going down-hill ... especially these past few months. She has troubles with movement, troubles with digestion,... and has had seizures and personality changes.  It's sad... she is still quite young (she is 8yrs old).... but she is in poor shape...I hate to see her like this.

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Genghis is a Newfoundland/ Chow Chow mix that we adopted years ago. He was found wandering along the highway here in NM, and was very sick. We saw him at the Animal Humane... and as soon as we locked eyes... knew he was meant to be with us. However, the day after we adopted him... we discovered he was extremely sick with Parvo... and had a less than 5% survival rate. Daily trips to the doctors for IV fluid, countless medications and such later... he flourished.

He has been wonderful. He is protective... loving... always ready to give a nuzzle and a wag. The past year or so.. he has progressively gotten more lame... and now seems to be in pain most all the time. We have tried countless medications, herbal remedies and such... but I just can't help but feel like it is "his time" to pass on.

I love you Genghis.... let's have an awesome weekend...

* photos by Elaine A. Russell

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so... I've been going to the acupuncturist this week.. and things are starting to (maybe) get a bit better.
Additionally, the daughter and I have been working on making the front yard/ patio more conducive to relaxation and summertime enjoyment... and it's really helped.
And so... I wanted to show a couple photos of "life on the front porch"...




*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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It's hard to believe that it's June already... and that half of the year is gone. Time goes by much too fast...

These past few days I have really had to sloooooow down... (back injuries will do that)... and I find that the process has really given me a state of the blahs. I feel like there is just too much to do... and not enough time/ energy to do it. And so ... today certainly feels like a monday to me...

In light of that... I am trying really hard to be optimistic... cheerful... and "sunny"...
... hence the yellow theme for today's post...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Getting me up in the morning... is like giving a cat a bath. It may get done... but it won't be pleasant.

Lately though... I have been waking  up around 4am. Not sure if it is because of heartburn *eash*... or because of the maniacal birds in my backyard who think it's time to be up and about...  but there ya have it.
And so...  this morning I decided to "ride it out"... and see what this morning thing is about.


I saw the paper "boy" deliver the am papers... Sunday Edition...
... and birds eating the Mulberry Tree berries for breakfast.


I heard tons of birds waking up and celebrating the day
... and the *whoosh* of a hot air balloon as it floated over the mesa.


I tasted some fresh mint from my herb garden
... and added some more to my tea.


I smelled the yellow broom plant in my neighbor's yard...
... along with the smell of wet dirt as neighborhood sprinklers came alive.


And I felt glad that I was up and about.



*photos by Elaine A. Russell